Cam’ and help us into the top flight! 2 0
IN-DEMAND Cam Archer had his pick of Championship clubs when Aston Villa decided to send him out on loan this month.
And it was the words of Michael Carrick whch proved decisive when the England Under-21 striker chose Boro ahead of all their rivals.
“The gaffer told me I was a different type of player that he needed — the missing piece of the puzzle is what he said,” recalled Archer.
It proved no throwaway remark by the rookie head coach on the evidence of Archer’s first start for the club.
The Boro revival under Carrick was already well underway before his arrival but the 21-year-old really does give them an edge previously lacking.
The former Manchester United man is too cute to suggest Archer could prove
Boro’s trump card in the promotion race.
But it certainly felt that way after watching the speed-merchant frighten the life out of a Watford side who infuriated manager Slaven Bilic with their error-count.
Archer, who scored seven goals during a previous loan stint at Preston, didn’t find the net against the Hornets with Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss scoring the first-half goals which lift Boro into third place.
Style
It was his impact, however, which helped them bounce back in style from their WearTees derby defeat.
“It’s been a long time since I started a game but there were plenty of positives to take,” he said.“It’s a fluid system but it’s been easy to adapt because the gaffer tells us to play with freedom.
“That was a big reason why I wanted to come here as well because I wanted to be myself.
“Ultimately, you want to express yourself and show what you’re capable of.
“We can definitely achieve something this season.”
Watford had arrived still insisting they could catch Burnley and Sheffield United but Bilic fears the play-offs could be off-limits if they perform this badly again.
And his players were in no mood to disagree.
“It felt like every time they had the ball, they had a chance of scoring a goal which is just nowhere near good enough,” said keeper Daniel Bachmann.
“They went through us like a knife through butter.”