We Are Middlesbrough

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Middlesbrough's play-off hopes suffered a setback in the 1-0 loss at Millwall on Saturday.

Former Boro midfielder Neil Maddison told the Red Alert podcast that boss Michael Carrick's inability to adapt their playing style in-game contributed to the defeat.

We asked for your views on whether Carrick is too predictable and if he is costing Boro a shot at promotion. Here's what you said:

Kenny: Carrick obviously lacks tactical savvy. He's clearly a reactive manager rather than proactive. He rarely, if ever, changes formation, making like for like substitutions. I think it would benefit him by getting a tactically astute assistant alongside him, other than the ineffective Woodgate, who clearly isn't up to the job. We are too predictable and slow with our play and opposition teams have very clearly worked us out and also know we have no pace or height up front.

Stu: Carrick is relatively new to management and is still learning. I would rather have a manager of Carrick's type than one who simply does the rounds, as we have had in the past. There is a lot more to come from Carrick and considering the player upheavals he has had to contend with, is one of the best new managers in the game.

Andy N: When we sold Latte Lath, we sold our only goalscorer. We didn't replace him and now we can't score any goals. I'm not sure where the mystery lies....

Luke: Carrick has to create a twinge of flexibility within the team. Usually however well we start, the opposition side is the one that improves at the end of the game. Never us.

Liam: Calm down everyone, we're still a top 30 team in England as we have been for the last 150 years more or less. Carrick is doing a decent job, we have a half-decent team but without Lath and Doak, we have no players who are above decent Championship level. When they were playing we were as good as anyone in the league. Once again Carrick doesn't get to have the same squad for a whole season and therefore has to adapt. Patience, endurance and belief. UTB.

Ian: He always plays the same style of football. Against teams who sit in we have no clue, no plan B. We are drifting along to miss out again. Too much sideways and backwards football for me. If we could shoot straight we could score a lot more. Carrick does not change things in games when it obviously isn't working. At times, the bench is better than what's on the pitch. So frustrating. We can pass teams off a pitch but can't win when we need to. He has brought us along to be a good side but I think he needs to go if we don't get in the play-offs.

Ben: Michael Carrick is one of our best managers in recent times. Financially, we're making profit on players who have developed under Carrick (Rogers, Akpom, Latte Lath), and the fundamentals in our style of play are some of the best in the country. While I appreciate we are an inconsistent side, which has been our downfall this season, there has still been glimpses of the quality we know the squad is capable of. Regardless of the outcome of this season, my confidence in Carrick's project remains the same, and I've got full confidence in him to deliver us the promotion we all desperately want.

Andy: Sadly, the Boro team are exhibiting the sanguine demeanour of its manager out on the pitch. Neil identified and exploited the soft underbelly and went for it. There's not much appetite for the fight amongst the players and their propensity to play conservative slow side-to-side football is costing us dear. Injuries have hobbled us no doubt, but the departure of Latte Lath hurt us badly and then the inexplicable decision to allow Clarke to leave when we were down to the bare bones in the centre-half department is unfathomable. I like Carrick but we actually seem to be going backwards under his management. I'd venture to say we have negligible if not no chance of getting to the play-offs and if we did by some miracle, the scope for embarrassment is definitely there.

Rob: We have to keep hold of MC. We've given him his first job in football and we should stand by him. UTB.

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After a disappointing loss to Millwall saw Middlesbrough unable to jump into the top six, some fans have begun to lose faith that they will see the Teesside club in the play-offs in May - and they've also begun to question the head coach.

Boro were the dominant force in the first half but the Lions took the second half by storm after some tactical adjustments from boss Alex Neil.

When talking after the game, former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison told the Red Alert podcast that he thinks the game was lost in Middlesbrough's inability to adapt their game style to the hosts' changes.

"We all understand the way Michael Carrick wants Boro to play but you've also got to mix that identity up," Maddison said.

"Two games have gone by and the same thing has happened in terms of that first-half quality in the final third and then getting worked out in the second half."

Is boss Carrick too predictable and, if so, is it costing the side a chance at promotion?

Let us know your thoughts here.

"The word damaging will appear a lot in regards to this game because that's a really damaging defeat.

"I've never really trusted this team and I think today is another example of many, throughout the whole season, that indicates that. Just very disappointing."

BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison is joined by former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison and fan Dana Malt to discuss a loss for Michael Carrick's side against Alex Neil's Millwall - but who's to blame?

Neil's tactical changes turned the tide in the second half, whereas Boro's steadfast game style could not adapt to the chess moves from the home dugout at The Den.

Is the issue mediocre performances from the players or inflexibility from the manager?

Includes post-match reaction from Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

"The one thing we lacked was that composure in front of goal."

Matty Nixon and Neil Maddison discuss Middlesbrough's 1-0 defeat by Leeds United at the Riverside Stadium and give their views on the best role for on-loan forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

The episode also includes a post-match interview with Boro boss Michael Carrick.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Red Alert podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick insists it is still all to play for in the last five games despite his side's narrow loss to Leeds United.

The home defeat was only a second in eight games - a run which has pushed Boro firmly back into the play-off picture.

They remain sixth but victory for Coventry City at home to Portsmouth on Wednesday will see the Sky Blues reassume the final play-off spot.

But the performance in pushing Leeds so close offers Carrick encouragement ahead of the run-in, which includes tricky away games at play-off dark horses Millwall and Coventry on the final day.

"A lot of our play and the creating of opportunities was really, really good," he said.

"But it's that final action which is the difference. They found it and we didn't quite find it.

"But everyone is really disappointed we didn't take anything out of the game after how we played and particularly after the start we had.

"We were the team pushing and pushing and pushing, especially in the second half, but we couldn't quite take the chances and that's football.

"We're disappointed because it's the result, but that shows where we are as a team. But it can't derail us and it doesn't change the season in many ways because the season is alive."

Image source, PA Media

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to BBC Radio Tees ahead of Tuesday's vital Championship clash with Leeds United (20:00 BST).

Here are the main takeaways from his press conference:

• The club are "still looking" at the injury Neto Borges suffered in the 2-0 win at Blackburn on Friday. "It looked like a really bad twist," Carrick said. "Unfortunate really, Neto's been fantastic for us. We will see how he is and how he can recover but it was a blow to lose him."

• Centre-back Dael Fry has returned to training following a calf injury and is "back involved".

• On Leeds' run of one win from six games (D4 L1): "It's similar to ourselves in many ways. It's a difficult league. You can have results and it doesn't necessarily mean there's an awful lot wrong. It's fine margins."

• He added: "We're fully expecting their best version, we know what they're capable of. We will expect that and be ready for that. There's a lot at stake for both teams".

• Carrick believes the fixture has "all the ingredients to be a good game of football". "The supporters will be up for it and all round, it makes for a really good night," he said.

• "The game is based on emotion and the passion of winning and you've got to use that," he added. "That's the beauty of it. That's why we all love the game because it drives you mad at times but it's the feeling of trying to get hold of something and achieving something."