Middlesbrough fans have taken to Twitter to show their disappointment with manager Tony Pulis’ tactics in the club’s draw to Rotherham.
The manager highlighted the fact that his club put in 49 crosses at home against the Championship strugglers, but failed to produce anything, finishing the game at 0-0.
However, fans have been critical of the personnel that the Welshman picked, which wasn’t suited to that style of football. Furthermore, fans said that the team was too defensive, meaning that there weren’t enough men in the box to get on the end of the crosses.
The fans also accused Pulis of being clueless, saying that he should have changed his tactics after it became abundantly clear that they weren’t working. Not only this, but they said that a top team should seek to out pass their opposition, rather than just aimlessly crossing it.
This is what the fans had to say:
Same old same old for Boro, absolutely clueless in attack. £40m worth of attackers bought in last couple of seasons and they’ve scored fewer goals than teams who haven’t spent a penny. The whole club has a defensive first mentality and are clueless going forward.
— Mike Norman (@MikkyMo73) October 23, 2018
Most managers would have had the sense to try something else after the first 30 didn’t beat the first man
— James Proctor (@JamesProctor19) October 23, 2018
49 crosses maybe but there was only 1 that was any good. Either get the lads practicing corners or play wing who can actually take them
— Crouch (@Crouch59) October 24, 2018
Don’t help that small guy upfront nothing but crosses puts two tall guys upfront and tries to play through the middle. I still say Pulis is rubbish.
— Smoggie till i die (@Simonthesmoggie) October 23, 2018
Why were we putting balls in the box anyway? What happened to out passing football? Their centre half was huge and you still thought a few dinks would do fine? Absolute joke. When were at home to a basically league 1 sides we should be out ther tapping about banging them for fun
— Alex (@BEARYY__) October 23, 2018
49 either hit the first man, or floated in to no one. Our croases are dreadful.
— Ross Young (@RossYoung2) October 23, 2018
Put 3 up top and sacrifice a midfielder then. Tony clueless
— Gary (@Gazquig) October 23, 2018
47 crosses hit a defenders shin or a goalkeepers glove.
The quality of crosses was abysmal, and was never likely to work with so many defenders in the box and a lone striker easily marked out of the game.
Pace and energy is what breaks sides like that down.. Tav Wing Chapman.
— Terry Carter (@KingTerry1985) October 23, 2018
