Gareth Southgate chose a very balanced team to face West Ham last night and the resulting team selection paid off with attacking football and some resilient defending.
Southgate must have been in a very gloomy position just before kick-off. A terrible league position, lack of goals, players not at their best and to make things even worse the stadium was half empty.
Our boss must have been praying prior to the match. This could have been curtains for him if a defeat had occurred. A loss last night and with Liverpool coming to the Riverside on Saturday I would have expected Southgate to have been out of a job, but instead after the win last night he is still the manager and fair play to him for making a good decision on the team selection.
I wonder what sort of pressure Gareth put himself under when he dropped Afonso Alves for last nights game? I'm thinking a couple of Boro board member eyebrows were raised when our £12million 'hit and miss' man was left on the bench.
The boss chose to play Tuncay and Aliadiere in attack which proved to be a breath of fresh air in our attack play. The movement these two produced last night was the best I've seen in a long time at the Riverside.
If there was ever the right moment to see your players have a good game, then last night was the time for the Boro boss. You could see the tension loosen around Southgate's neck when Tuncay struck the second goal. It was time for the manager to loosen that tie.
Southgate's decision to play a 4-4-2 formation was greeted by many fans including me with relief as we are very much a free flowing attacking team which creates chances from having two up front.
The defence has been key for me as well ever since Wheater and Huth struck up a partnership in the centre and with Hoyte at right back we have been more balanced in defending and going forward.
I believe if we can take 90% of last nights performance into every remaining game of the season we will be safe from relegation.
UpTheBoro
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