Our Middlesbrough Fan Panel discuss Kim Hellberg's team tinkering

While there's plenty more to be happy about than frustrated over at Middlesbrough this season, Kim Hellberg’s team tinkering has been under scrutiny over the last week.

It follows last weekend’s decision to rest Will Lankshear and Sebastian Berhalter, while playing a back three at home against Cardiff City.

The result of that was being 2-0 down at half time and needing to change things up at the break to ensure Boro emerged from the game with a point.

While the draw kept Boro’s points per game ratio at a very healthy two-points-per-game, it's hard to escape the feeling that only self-inflicted wounds have stopped it being an even nigger points haul at this stage.

The question after last weekend’s tinkering has been: Is Hellberg changing too much game to game? Do Boro need more selection consistency to better function as a solid unit?

That's the question we asked our fan panel this week, this week consists of Youtube analyst Phil Spencer, Boro Breakdown co-host Dana Malt, Boropolis co-founder Chris Cassidy, and Twe12th Man member John Donovan.

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Dana Malt

In an ideal world, I’d like to see a more settled side as it’ll give Boro players the best possible chance to benefit from familiarity and repetition.

That is especially relevant to new players. I do think, though, with a concept coach like Kim Hellberg, and similarly aligning coaches like David Selini, for example, the general makeup of play should be close to seamless whoever slots in.

I do understand Hellberg’s point after the Cardiff game, however. He said: “What I've learned through a season is that if I don't rotate the team then everything you're going to ask about in three or four months will be around us having no depth.” He’s spot on with that.

We’ve seen so many injuries at Middlesbrough, and for what feels like the longest stretch of time too. It’s a difficult balance to strike between playing your best players, and managing their minutes.

Both Will Lankshear and Seb Berhalter didn’t get a ‘break’ in the break either. They both played international fixtures. That has to be factored in.

So, in short, I’d love to see a consistent XI, but I understand why that’s perhaps not so realistic to expect.

Phil Spencer

I think Kim Hellberg is absolutely right to change his team around. A key issue in each of the last few seasons has been the injury pile-up that has come as a result of being over reliant on the same 12-13 players, leading them to become high-risk for injury.

This season, after a big summer in the transfer market, we finally have quality and depth.

What we are seeing is that Hellberg still has a core group of players whom he trusts. That consists of maybe 14 or 15 players who he can rely on and so it seems sensible to manage his squad accordingly by using those players.

Personally, I don't think that he 'over-tinkers'. I think that given the hefty fixture list it is the smart thing to do to rotate certain players at certain times.

Okay, we got caught out against Cardiff with Seb Berhalter and Will Lankshear being named on the bench. But with Lankshear being so important to us and Berhalter traveling around the world and playing four times for the USA, it was sensible to rest him.

I understand fans' frustrations when they want to see the best team on the pitch for every game as it would appear to give us the best chance of winning.

However, winning now means nothing if we end up with 5-6 of our key players ruled out through muscular injuries as a result over overuse.

John Donovan

There is so much to be said for playing a settled side, and keeping changes to a minimum. As the old saying goes 'don't change a winning team'.

"But that's exactly what it is, an old saying. Football has changed so much since David Armstrong made 358 consecutive appearances for Boro in all competitions during the 70s and 80s.

Clubs now have a huge team of support staff who report to the manager/coach on each individual player's fitness and performance. Its a science in itself.

They will make recommendations to the boss about the energy level of a player and his likelihood of injury.

There is also the mental state of players to be taken into consideration. Pressures of having to perform regularly to the highest level, the intensity of games, taking on board opposition strengths and weaknesses, and time away from family can all affect individuals.

International call ups and all the associated travelling is also mentally fatiguing. A drop in a players' concentration levels can lead to mistakes which could prove costly.

Kim Hellberg has to take all this into consideration when choosing his team to play opposition teams that offer different challenges. At the same time he has to keep fringe players match sharp, should they need to be called upon.

We saw how tired Boro looked towards the end of last season, and, at Wembley, it was clear that energy levels were way off maximum.

We have increased and improved our squad depth, so the manager now has more options. His job relies on results, and I'm sure that he picks a team capable of beating the opposition.

But if some players don't perform on the day, or the opposition have a good day, results might not be favourable. No team wins every game.

Let the manager get on doing what he's been asked to do. With all the information at his disposal, he makes the calls for the good of the team.

Chris Cassidy

Whilst I understand the need to give certain players a rest, I’d personally prefer a more consistent and settled starting eleven.

As fantastic as Kim Hellberg is, I do think he’s been slightly guilty of tinkering and overthinking his teams at times this season.

You only have to watch his press conferences to know how in-depth and meticulous the Swede is with his tactical analysis, but I would question if that might become to his detriment if he approaches future games like he did the Cardiff game.

The 'Should Will Lankshear have been rested?’ debate is a whole different topic to my main concern from Saturday. Hellberg’s decision to play a back-five felt bizarre at the time and has only gotten stranger as the week has gone on.

I’m also not sure the constant change of shape from a back-five to a four is helping Boro defensively.

How are Ashley Phillips and Adilson Malanda, undoubtedly our best two center-backs, meant to build a solid partnership when their roles are switching from game to game?

Malanda is arguably the best center-back in the division; just leave him there. I understand his passing range can be beneficial higher up the pitch, but we’ve seen him be just as effective on the ball in a four. Having him beside just Ashley Phillips doesn’t detract from his qualities.

Injuries are inevitable over a Championship season, and Boro were rightfully praised for strengthening their squad for a reason. However, that shouldn’t have to result in constant changes in shape.

Players will also rightfully be rested. You cannot play the same eleven every week, but if Boro weren’t constantly shipping so many goals in punch-for-punch matches, they might be able to win games more comfortably and take players off earlier.

That way, we hopefully won’t have to have another repeat of the Lankshear debacle. I stand by the fact that when he’s available, he has to start for Middlesbrough.

I genuinely believe he falls into the ‘just enjoy him whilst he’s here’ category, so if he has to be managed when Boro are ahead in games, that’s absolutely fine; just please never start him on the bench again, Kim.

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As well as hearing their views on particular Boro topics on Teesside Live each week, you can also hear from them further on their respective platforms.

Phil Spencer runs his own Youtube channel Bonkers For Boro, which you can subscribe to here, while Ry Charman has his own Youtube channel Inrictus, where he does popular live watchalongs of all Boro games.

Chris Cassidy is part of the Boropolis Podcast, Dana Malt is part of the Boro Breakdown Podcast, and John Donovan is part of the Twe12th Man Podcast, all of which you can listen to on all major podcast outlets.

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