So Boro are heading down to London this weekend for an appointment at the Palace where his royal high-and-mighty-ness the Duke of Lost Causes will hopefully bestow on our humble club the honour of three points for out long service in the defence of the clean sheet. Having made a right royal mess of his public duties as King of England, Big Sam abdicated his reign to allow a young former courtier at the Palace, Prince Gareth of South Gate to inherit his crown. Being caught jesting appeared not worthy of an excuse for a man who has seemingly waited longer than Prince Charles for the top job and the lords of the FA duly sent him into exile.
But the master of escapology has returned, though his hands appear still tied at Selhurst Park where the plan was to turn around a struggling team and chalk up another success. However it hasn’t gone to plan and Palace have lost six of their seven games in 2017 and have only scored in two of those. They didn’t get the bounce from Big Sam in the way Hull and Swansea did and the players confidence in the boss’s methods must now possibly be starting to come under question.
As a child, before I was into research of course, I often wondered why tomorrow’s opponents had such a seemingly odd name – Well in football terms, Crystal Palace first got an outing in 1861 as an amateur football club, which was created by the workers from the exhibition building after it was moved from its original location in Hyde Park to Sydenham Hill in south London. This amateur club only existed for around 15 years but after the stadium in the grounds of the Crystal Palace Exhibition building became the home of FA Cup final in 1895, the name was revived again ten years later by the owners of the building when they decided to form their own team as a means to attract visitors to the Palace.
During the First World War the football club were forced to relocate to Herne Hill after the Admiralty requisitioned the Exhibition building and then they subsequently took over Croydon Common Athletic Ground (known locally as the Nest) after Croydon became the only First Division team not to continue as a club after the war had ended. Finally in 1924, Palace moved to a purpose built stadium at Selhurst Park where they have resided ever since.
Well that’s enough history for today – now back to the crucial cliche-magnet relegation six-pointer on Saturday. This must be a game that Boro fancy they can get something from, though both teams seem to be struggling to score and the smart money may be on a goalless encounter and the last slot on MoTD, which has probably already been booked. Particularly as Allardyce has told his players that this is a ‘must not lose’ game for them. In his press conference, Karanka dismissed the notion that he had put a similar label on the game as he doesn’t want to place any undue pressure on his players. Though he re-iterated his belief that it was important not to lose a game if they couldn’t win it and he tries to ensure his team stays in the game as scoring in the 93rd minute is always possible (though not an often occurence to make it a game plan).
As for the team at Palace, Boro have injury problems with their full-backs – Barragan is still out and George and Chambers haven’t trained with the first team all week and are major doubts. It may mean that Gibson will play at left-back, allowing Fabio to return to his more natural right-back slot with Ayala and Bernado continuing their FA Cup partnership in the centre. The only other possibility would perhaps be a back three and some form of wing-backs – but I suspect Karanka won’t want to experiment too much on such an important game.
The Boro boss seemed to hint in his press conference that the team would continue in their more recent attacking vein, which could mean just the two defensive midfielders and possibly a start for Guedioura (the Watford lad) – though Downing has had some good games of late when he’s played and would want to impress his old gaffer. Perhaps Leadbitter and de Roon will get the nod this time but it could quite easily be any two from four.
I also expect Gaston on the left, Negredo in the middle and Adama on the right in terms of attack – so it could well be 4-3-3 or possibly even 4-2-1-3 depending on who is selected.
So will Boro leave the Palace bestowed with greatness or will Karanka fall on his sword as the team head back to Teesside with a knight to forget. OK, I know many of you have already had a busy week making predictions for the Exmil Challenge (and don’t forget the deadline if you haven’t yet submitted your entry to the Challenge closes at 14:00 on Saturday – an hour before kick-off) but perhaps you can indulge in one more – Score and Scorers, plus will Leo eat a Spanish Tortilla during the game – what are the odds on that Mr William Hill?
We now face a group of five fixtures which will be critical, although the moving of the Sunderland game further down the line makes this period not quite the make-or-break it would have been. Although it isn’t great to have a midweek fixture, placing a more likely-to-be-winnable game towards the end of the season may help us in the survival struggle.
We are resilient enough to get points from anyone, but it terms of likelihoods we would probably assume nothing against Man U. If we drew at Palace, Stoke, Swansea and Hull that would be no disgrace and 4 points, but I don’t think 4 are enough. Two wins and two losses yields 6 points, which would be the absolute minimum needed I suspect, and puts us on 28 points.
We don’t know if we will find these four games relatively easier: will they be like the Leicester away performance, in which case a good haul of points would be relatively likely, or a re-run of Watford away when we were hanging on for a point?
It looks to me like AK needs to regard these games as a group where we have to place the emphasis on winning, rather than thinking of them as ‘must not lose’. Not losing will not be enough for us in the long term, because of our very difficult games in the run-in.
We don’t want to go for very open game-plan shoot-outs, as that will tend to favour the home teams. We need to remain resilient, but to have new options to create and score the goals we have failed to score in most games so far.
I hope we don’t get beheaded at the Palace and the only execution is our win over Fat Sams team.
I still don’t believe George is unfit and that mind games are being played.
After his display over the last few games I’m also unsure about Espinosa as if he plays like he did last Saturday giving the ball away in the first few minutes we could be facing an uphill struggle.
I don’t think Ramirez will start but will be on the bench. I do think Downing will start as really he is our only other playmaker in the squad
I also think LeAdbitter has played his way into the team and although we played a team in an inferior league his forward passes and vision coupled with his dynamic energy has surely made him a starter for this game
Just a thought I hope Fat Sam of Buggsy Malone fame doesn’t splurge us and leave us for dead after the game
I must say that I do regard this as a must not lose game, along with all of the games against our rivals but we have to win at least 3 of them, so we will have to “go for it” at some point. I doubt that we’ll do that tomorrow but the sooner we pick up a couple of wins, the better.
If we fall into the bottom three now, I fear it will severely damage the team’s morale and could prove fatal.
I hope I’m wrong.
UTB
Fear not of gong into the bottom three because
Quote”
Aitor Karanka is a brand ambassador for 3D Futbol Tactico Coach, succeeding Vicente Del Bosque in this role. For more information visit http://www.3dfutboltacticocoach.com/en. ”
Unquote
Palaces strength is down the wings, Zaha and Townsend so the full back situation is a concern,
The atmosphere will be electric and I hope we cope,
We just have to get in their faces and frustrate them, and I hope the ref isn’t fussy, we are in London you know!
Heard that Chambers hasn’t travelled with the squad for tomorrow so if George is fit it could be a flat back 4 or 3 centre backs with Ayala in amd two wing backs with Fabio and George
Or Ben could play left back or Downing could drop back to that position
Oh hell I don’t know I’m going to bed
Pre-match trash talking with a Palace supporting colleague.
Me. ‘We’re worse than your lot.’
Him. ‘Yeah, but we’ve got Fat Sam.’
Anyway, neither of us are optimistic of our chances.
I think this has nil nil all over it.
Been away all week travelling around Germany with work so could only dip in and out at times and likely to be the same for the next month or so but congratulations to Werdermouth and Exmil for the challenge, absolutely brilliant work.
The sacking of Ranieri doesn’t surprise me and as Ian I think pointed out there has been a pattern of successful managers being sacked after having served their useful purpose. Such is the lot of the life of a Football Manager even for AK eventually. Very few get to leave under their own terms despite cups, trophies or promotions. What happened last season or indeed last week is no guarantee of their future value. Its the main reason why I can’t get overly emotionally attached to them even AK despite where the club was and where it is now.
Going back a bit but picking up on something on the Valdes and Negredo thing I don’t think I’ve boxed myself into a corner with the pair of them at all (can’t remember if it was BP or Simon perhaps?). The Gazette piece that I referenced was positively euphoric over Negredo, yet here we are tomorrow in a relegation 6 pointer with the lowest attempts on goal and lowest goals scored. Hardly a ringing endorsement for any Striker let alone the embarrassingly OTT gushing Gazette terminology.
Negredo always puts a shift in and I have no personal vendetta against him apart from that he has had a fairer crack of the whip then most without the results to show for what he is actually costing (which probably goes part way in explaining why he hasn’t been dropped when other mere mortals have been). The main reason he is here is because of a similar goal drought at Valencia allied to his costs. He puts 100% effort in absolutely but nowhere near as effective as I would have hoped for the outlay.
I remain convinced that any of the others given the same minutes would have returned equal or a better goals return despite his ability to supposedly hold a ball up for errmmm? yeah, hold a ball up and then tumble-weed blows past whilst AK’s midfield amble forwards. Not the lads fault but he is what he is, a very expensive low scoring striker. A Spanish Danny Graham for me, loads of genuine heart but not enough.
Valdes was very poor at the start of the season but pulls off spectacular saves and clearances now as the months have progressed and his confidence improves or his injury has held up (delete as required). An improvement so he has done a lot better of late but something special, sorry no not for me. A distinctly average keeper in every way in all but height which I believe is his Achilles heel in Premiership Football. Very fortunate to have been in goal for that great Barca side but so far seen nothing that makes me think he is better than any of the others and that includes Mejias. Good enough maybe, but nothing special, a Spanish Jason Steele as I’ve said before, spectacular dives with a clanger in him.
Onto tomorrow and I think we will get something from Palace. I suspect that AK now knows that draws are not enough and will have strategically worked out where his wins will come from. He won’t go gung ho but will be moderately more expansive in the opposition half. I hope Grant gets his game as he has a goal in him but importantly he does seem to add positive synergy amongst those around him. He lacks a lot in skill but makes up for it with drive, passion and a fierce desire to want to win which is infectious.
The back 4 could be interesting if George isn’t fit along with Chambers. That would leave the possible CB pairing that we saw against Oxford (please no) with Ben LB and Fabio RB unless Husband is ushered in. There again we may see Stewy LB with a back three and Fabio RB. Or maybe its all mind games.
Maybe tomorrow is the day when the exhilarating, fantastic, wonderful and eye catching (a bit of Gazetteer spin there) Traore actually delivers an end product and runs into the box winning a penalty or actually hits the target with a shot instead of the floodlights.
Ramirez must be wondering “what if” the Leicester deal had come off, the moral there surely is careful what you wish for! Speaking of morals will he feel a moral sense of responsibility for the Manager, Club, Fans and Players that revived his career? I hope so with the emphasis more on hope than belief. Tomorrow would be a great time to start even if it is only to play himself into a new big money move in the Summer. As it stands right now if not astute he may find himself a peripheral Boro squad player and leaving in much the same manner as he did the Saints.
I’m going 3-0 to Boro with a Grant pen won by Traore, a Negredo forearm smash on the keeper and a Ramirez wonder free kick, oh and Valdes keeping out Benteke with a spectacular triple salchow back flip punch at the near post. Or maybe he just gets flattened at a corner and we go 1-0 down.
RR, you are more optimist than me!
I am still in Lirhuania on business but will be back home before the CP match.
I will go for a 1-1 draw as I am not as optimistic as RR by narure. I hope his is right, though. But if Slunderlabd won by 0-4, then Boro must do better…
Up the Boro!
For those who had problems sending their Exmil Challenge Entry with the interactive form (Allan in Bahrain, NeverGiveUpOnBoro, Plato) I’ve created a page on the Diasboro blog to allow you to post your predictions manually by means of a normal blog comment.
There is the list of teams to cut and paste into a comment and the fixture list for each team – we can then fill in the form from your predictions supplied. Just click on the link below and follow the instructions.
https://diasboro.club/exmil-challenge-part1-manual-entry/
Worried that we are going to return empty handed from south london.
I expect to the usual well drilled difficult to break down performance, but I still don’t have the confidence we will be able to make many meaningful attempts on their goal. On the other hand, as RR has said, Valdes is always at risk of a clanger and I fear Benteke will benefit from such largess. 1-0 to Palace on the day for me, except I hope my usual poor predictive capability is once again proved totally wrong!! COB
About the sacking of Ranieri. So crazy that even Shakespeare is commenting that!http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/39079683
I feel sick for Mr.. Ranieri. The stadium must be named after him and he shoul be made a honorary member of the Leicester board.
Perhaps they get Nigel Pearson back now. And Raniery next January. That would make sense.
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
It was only a few weeks ago that quite a few were calling for the head of AK even though we won promotion under him. I think a lot is to do with attitude and the Boro crowd did not like being criticised. SG doesn’t like being criticised but no apology from AK and he seems to have weathered the storm at least until the end of the season.
It’s a shame about Ranieri but coaches can only do so much amd of midfielders don’t play telling balls and strikers don’t score there is not a lot they can do.
The other thing is their defenders are another year older and they look a lot slower this season
Although the players apparently want Big Nigel to return he made a lot of enemies down there and it appears unlikely he will return .
Werder
Having trouble doing the Exmil challenge still after sending you a blank copy. JavaScript is enabled on my phn but says it isn’t,my laptop is so old it won’t fire up so I’ve sent you my predictions like this hope that’s ok
Bournemouth LLDD. 2pts. (28)
Swansea. LDWD. 5pts. (29)
Boro. WDL. 4ots. (26)
Leicester. LWL. 3pts. (24)
Hull. WLLL. 3pts. (23)
Crystal Palace. LLL. 0pts. (19)
Sunderland. LLD. 1pt. (20)
Yes that’s fine – I posted those predictions under your name using the interactive form so that they get into the database and are mailed to Exmil.
There’s probably some settings on your smart phone that conflict with the posting of the form online – I can’t check that as I don’t have a smart phone or a mobile signal at home.
I don’t have a particularly good feeling about today – Palace have a much better squad on paper than the rest of us, yet their home form seems to have become a real albatross. You feel it has to turn round at some point.
I can’t also say that AK’s words during the week filled me with confidence
“Asked about the importance of the clash at Selhurst Park, he said: “It’s big because it’s a direct opponent.
“But one thing clear is we mustn’t treat this as a final because we have more games.”
Then again, SA wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence.
“With Sam Allardyce billing the game as ‘must not lose’ for his players”
So, perhaps 0-0 is nailed on. Palace of course have the aerial threat of Benteke and we have struggled with long balls at times, though Lukaku is currently on a mission to escape the depth’s of Ben Gibson’s pockets.
I think Pedro talked about Leicester benefiting from the new manager bounce – well Palace fans are still waiting for their bounce – SA has 4 points from his first 8 games.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38986643
With three tough games coming up before the FAC semi (Stoke away, Man U home) three points from them may be about as much as we can expect, most likely from a series of draws. Some points are worth more than others now though and I’d happily swap a defeat at Stoke for a win today. A win today would also give us a bit of a buffer to play with some more confidence in those two games.
As for the team, it sounds like Leadbitter may keep his place ahead of Forshaw. Hopefully we can patch one of Chambers/Friend up and get them on the pitch (or Bernardo might have to switch to RB) – Stuani probably to get the nod over Ramirez at the moment still?
I’ll go with
Valdes
Chambers
Bernardo
Gibson
Fabio
Clayton
Leadbitter
De Roon
Stuani
Traore
Negredo
Phil, you are a born pessimist, too! But I feel like but let’s hope for the best. UTB!
Apparently Chambers hasn’t travelled with the rest of the squad
Currently laid up in bed with the flu (original) not man flu! I am feeling a bit sorry for myself and also distinctly worried about our trip to Palace where I believe our record is not good. Never saw us win there on numerous visits with MSC London Branch as it was then called.
I think RR is being overly optimistic – how many times do we score three goals in the premier league let alone away from home?
I am with Steely on this one and believe it is a must not lose game. I fear that if we do lose and other results, which have favoured us in the past, go against us and drop into the bottom three then this could spell the begining of the end. I fear for AK’s temperament once the pressure really begins to impact.
I have gone for a draw in the Exmil challenge but that was very much based on a choice from the heart rather than the head. Given our recent defensive frailties, the news that Chambers has not travelled and that George has not trained all week does not bode well. I am concerned about the threat that the pace they have down the wings pose and also the strength of Benteke. The atmosphere at Palace will be hostile and if they get us on the back foot it could result in a rout – I just hope that I am being overly pessimistic.
Palace 2 – 0 Boro. Benteke & Zaha.
Borophil – I don’t think we are quite in the FAC semi just yet as much as I wish we were.
CoB
KP
Get well soon a spot of Carlos I not Carlos III should help to aid recovery. I used to live near Jerez for over two years when I was working down there and lived next to Senor Pedro Domecq who was a really nice guy. it really is a most agreeable Brandy
Don’t worry about the Palace one thing I’ve found with this team is when the chips are down that is when they play to their best
Yes, letting myself get a bit carried away there…
I don’t know what to think about today.
On the one hand, I see a Palace team devoid of confidence and woeful at home, up against ourselves who have looked a greater attacking threat of late.
On the other hand, as BP suggest, I see a Palace squad with some very good attacking options that must surely click at some point, as must the Allardyce effect. Gulp.
Not a clue what the outcome will be but I predicted a Boro win in the Exmil challenge so I’ll stick with that. Palace 1-2 Boro (Negredo, Leadbitter (p)).
Greater attacking threat? We’ve failed to score in 8 of the last 11 games! We must have been really bad early on in the season.
It is grey and a chilly wind is blowing in Norfolk but I feel optimistic about today. I’m going for Palace 1 – 2 Boro. We go into a lead just like last week and then do a typical Boro and defend on the 18 yard mark. We must not lose.
There that really has cast the runes.
UTB,
John
Just worked out that if we lose and Hull & Sunderland win we will stay out of bottom three on goal difference – until Monday when Leicester win at Liverpool!
Still confident that AK will go for it today (relatively speaking of course which simply means we may average 5 shots on target instead of 2). The objective to survive has always been clear, the ability to achieve that is now much more focused as games run down and a victory today could put a stake in the hearts of Palace.
The Eagles Home record is woeful, Fat Sam’s magic has lost its mojo as it seems his credibility and believably has waned somewhat after the England debacle. Psychologically that saga seems to have had a heavy effect on him and the new Manager bounced hasn’t materialised. Their fans feel the same as do I suspect his players. His two week “intensive” training has meant he has lost both Loic Remy and Mathieu Flamini, imagine had such a Crockliffe type session had the same effect up here! Working harder doesn’t fix things it just means you can make more of the same errors you have been making but in a shorter time-frame thanks to upped fitness levels.
To add to Remy and Flamini, Scott Dann and Bakary Sako are in the same boat as Chambers and Friend and are unlikely to make an appearance this afternoon so they have problems on availability of their own.
As I said above AK now knows what he needs to achieve and this is now another knock out cup game albeit in the Premiership. Sunderland destroyed them only a few weeks back so if they are put under the cosh quickly they crack and collapse. Their confidence levels are shot unlike Boro’s. I get all the talk about their squad of players and what they should be capable of achieving on paper but as Boro fans we know only too well what having a team of superstars can ultimately bring.
Hi, chaps.
I have not previously entered the Exmil Challenge though I have been interested to see what other people have predicted, and the results as they come in. HOWEVER, this time I thought I’d have a go. Largely, it has to be said, with the expectation of propping up the table when the various predictions are checked (and starting today with an away win at Palace, it might be a case of letting heart rule the head).
The reason for mentioning it at this stage is that, for any technophobes out there, I have to say that a big pat on the back is due to those who have set up the technical details. It was the easiest of tasks to complete the form and submit. You know the drill from countless other websites…..please complete this form, it will only take a couple of minutes etc, and then you enter the land that time forgot, and manage to lose the work you have done before submitting! This one really DID only take a couple of minutes, maximum, and could not have been easier. I was really impressed.
Of course, my predictions will still be rubbish but I decided on a “gut feeling” approach – put down what you first think. Always a problem with over thinking these things. In the old days when people did the Pools, the winners would always seem to be little old ladies who picked ridiculous results that the form tables would laugh at, or would be results that came from picking the same numbers each week, without reference to which teams were playing home or away and therefore where those teams would appear in the list. We will see……
Right! The shower calls. Full Yorkshire Breakfast has been duly dispatched, two pots of tea have disappeared. The weekend can begin after the shower. First task after that will be to read the posts received in this thread.
Thanks Dormo, the position I come from when designing and programming web pages (not that often these days) is to make the user experience a good one – I’m from the view that you use the tools of technology to better organise a task and make life simpler and not more complicated – the hard work should be invisible to the user.
Twelve months ago Leicester were everyone’s second favourite team, I doubt that is the case now.
Stories emerging of players going to senior people in the club and complaining about the manager, whatever the truth the first thing each of them should do is look in the mirror and ask them selves what they have done to help the team.
I suspect many fans will think the players deserve to go down.
The truth is the manager always carries the can. The same is true at boro, AK is the top of the pile, the players will keep us up, the manager takes you down
Ian
With regard to managers then public face of Ranieri was always one of an affable and smiling man but to be everyone’s friend does not fit the profile to be a successful manager in any walk of life.
We must therefore assume that Ranieri has a hard streak in him and to be a winner it needs leadership focus and determination.
If management had listened to the players then they will never be successful again.
Our own AK has a Reputation for being a moody and aloof person but then you see recent photos in the Daily Mail this week with him laughing with Forshaw during training. Everything is a variable and not polarised into one type of personality or another it is always a mixture.
Karanka has been feeling the strain and whilst Leo was away injured he felt alone against the Boro world. Now that Leo is back as his sounding board and after talking to his Chairman I think we have had a renewed determination to succeed. Perhaps a sweetener of a bonus perhaps for keeping Boro up may have helped ?
Whatever the reason I think there is a hunkering down and fighting attitude amongst the Boro squad to do well coupled with the return of club captain Leadbitter who leads by example.
Management is usually the stick or the arm around the shoulder and Ramirez needs careful handling to help him and indeed the Boro to get us over the line
OFB thanks for your best wishes and suggested medicine, unfortunately at present I am just managing with lemsips and ibuprofen. If they don’t work I will turn to the hard stuff.
I hope you are right about today’s game and that we do an untypical Boro.
If we don’t pick up a point I don’ t think I have enough nails left for the run in after supporting boro for 50+’years.
CoB
OFB re your comments re Ramirez – do you think either management technique will work with him?
Having listened to last week’s match and motd highlights coupled with comments on here it appeared that he was generally going through the motions and not giving everything.
To go straight off the field at the end of the game says it all for me – he still does not want to be at Boro.
It’s been documented elsewhere that Ramirez may have problems off the pitch
One way to try and get his mind straight is to play football as sport can be quite cathartic
I hope he does perform but I fear not
OFB
I saw an interview with Claudio as he left Leicester’s training ground for the last time this morning after saying goodbye to the players.
He stopped his car wound the window down and answered a few questions, towards the end the reporter clearly felt tact was needed in such an unhappy situation so he asked Claudio if he felt stabbed in the back, badly treated.
Such sympathetic handling of an interview! Beggars belief.
I’m not sure if he wasn’t giving everything, he was almost giving too much – he appeared reckless to me. Going straight off the pitch at the end seems odd but he certainly seemed happy to celebrate the goal.
BoroPhil do you think to the extent that he was looking to get sent off so he could sit out a few games?
It does happen as I know first hand of one former premier league player who often engineered to pick up a red card just before Christmas!
Well, I had the feeling he wouldn’t have been too bothered if he had been sent off, if not actively looking to get sent off. He’s always looked to me like a red card waiting to happen, and even more so now.
but as AK rightly says, that fire is what makes him so good, so if he can channel it properly…
Ok friends, big, big game upcoming against the Palace where the rot has set in and the will to win has taken wings and flown off into the distance.
Big Fat Sam has gone public & admitted there’s a scism of Grand Canyon proportions between himself & his squad of lovelies. Yet, all things being as they should be, this is the Boro we’re talking about and ‘typical’ is what we know i.e. when all the potents say the opposition is ripe for the picking, the Boro fail to turn up, run around like headless chickens, and in this case AK will appear at the Press Conference & pass the buck elsewhere.
So much for the doom & gloom. Boro may yet surprise us. They may turn on the afterburners and blaze away coming out with a score that would make even Jarkko gulp with surprise, bring tears to his eyes & allow him to lambast all the Boro weak hearts & doubters – may it be so!
For your very own Spartak, I believe AK should select Ayala to play alongside Ben. We need the ariel power to combat Benteke. Doesn’t matter if the crosses come in as long as you have big guys who can head them away all day.
Midfield is good from our point of view as we can start with three DM’s, Leadbiter being essential for his ability to lead.
Upfront it’s a toss up but I would play Negredo, Gaston (yes I know!) on the left, if his head’s right & Adama on the right just for the fear factor.
If Palace come out all guns blazing then hitting them on the break will be a breeze. However, if they do folliw Fat Sam’s orders and keep their shape then we probably will be looking at a bottom of the tableish midfield grind with 1 goal making the difference either way.
Now the important bit – this game will be decided on the confidence levels of the respective teams, which is why I’m keen to see Negredo, Ayala and Leadbiter play. If the spine of our teamis solid, then with Boro bursting forward & scoring the first goal, we’ve got a chance for three points.
Palace, if reports are true, are brittle, they’re nervous. Get into their faces, keep our shape & cool, and a happy day can be enjoyed. Oh, dont be surprised to see Stuani on the pitch from the get go – he may even score.
UTB
Spartak
A very reasoned and reasonable insight into the game and respective philosophies of our managers and teams.
I’ll settle for a 0 0 thank you
Almost got it working but now it wont send. Never mind. The submit button doent work but the score do and the sender whilst entering shows incomplete.
For the record this is what I am trying to send.
Bnmth – 28 – LLDD
Swans – 27 – LDDD
Boro – 24 DDl
Leic – 22 – LDL
Hull – 22 – LDDL
Cpal – 21-DLD
Sun 20 – LLD
The form itself looks great and easy to use and I am sure we will get alot more predictions now that we don’t have to use our spread sheets. well done all.
That’s ok Allan – I’ll post that through the form from my end for you – the manual backup page was for any problems that are hard to pin down so everyone who wants to can submit an entry. Good Luck with the Challenge!
🔴 BTW If anyone else still want to submit an Entry to the Exmil Challenge but has a problem using the interactive form and needs a more manual option then visit the page on the link below and follow the instructions (you have until 14:00GMT)
https://diasboro.club/exmil-challenge-part1-manual-entry/
Spartak
Agree with that, a lot will depend on how we approach the game.
Hoping today is the day Boro pull a tremendous result out of the bag and beat Palace instead of giving opponents who are low on confidence a helping hand and 3pts.
A draw not a disaster but not ideal and a defeat could harm us confidence wise for the rest of the season
Gastons the big conundrum is his head right? Does he have the desire to want to win and give 100%? Or is he Leicesters secret against and plotting his revenge not giving big away a penalty or two and picked my up a red card or two.
Same old same old I know but we need to get at them from the 1st min and not getting be them time to settle,rattle them to bits their confidence must be shot shreds
Nothing less than a win for me today
3.0 crowd 30,036
Jeez big fingers on an iPhone lead to wrong words! You get the drift though
Interesting today on BBC football focus that Jermaine Jenus (whoareyer!) has pointed the finger at Boro to go down as we don’t score enough goals and only signed championship strikers
That’s it then the Sky sports panel have gone three for a Palace win and one for a draw!
CoB
Just watching Leeds Sheff Wed Rhodes missed a penna and been subbed doesn’t look as he got any service
Reach fairly innocuous
Still want these lads ???
Just saying like
I wouldn’t disagree with the sale of either player.
What I would disagree with is some of the players who were brought in to replace them. Or alternatively the lack of a replacement. For example reach would have made a fairly handy LWB with Fabio as a RWB. Not an option now. And I’d still have Rhodes over gestede any day of the week.
Big big game today. Although if we get beaten I don’t for one minute think we’re down in terms of morale, support of the manager etc I do feel ultimately a defeat today will be terminal.
Will we set up like rr suggested with an attacking line up or will it be like bp suggested and be ultra negative with three holding midfielders and only three forward thinking players on the pitch one of which is the ‘creative’ stuani with the impressive stats.
I fear that it’ll be the latter. A game of attrition where the home side will get more desperate to win and we’ll eventually fold a la Watford, Burnley, spurs etc etc.
The pro ak fans will say we were unlucky and the anti ak fans will say same old same old, Groundhog Day!
Unfortunately the games are running out and for me this game is nothing short of enormous in terms of its importance.
Thought boronurk summed it up well in the first comment. We don’t want an open game but attacking intent must be shown.
This post didn’t get through??
Have a look at this. Very interesting…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4256972/A-day-life-Middlesbrough-manager-Aitor-Karanka.html
Thanks Dalla a very interesting and illuminating article.
Watching Leeds 1 Sheffield Wed 0 , Jordan Rhodes has missed a penalty and has been substituted on 67 mins.
I will post the final batch of entries shortly, here is today’s BORO lineup:
Valdez
Da Silva
Gibson
Ayala
Espinosa
De Roon
Forshaw
Downing
Rameriz
Stuani
Negredo
Come on BORO.
Well its good enough for me, Exmil.
AK’s put Ayala into a three CB arrangement- lets hope they click rather than get in each others way.
2 DM’s instead of 3 so as to accommodate the wingbacks of Fabio & Stewy.
As anticipated Stuani starts & Negredo is a fixture. With all the training hours they’ve put in together this season they should produce a goal or two.
First 20 mins to set the scene, last twenty to bite yer nails to the quick.
Urrraaaahhhh!
UTB
I think Gibson will be LB and Fabio RB with Downing central in Midfield
I agree with your line up RR.
MFC website says 4231 so I agree with you and RR.
As stated above, I’m worried by all this talk of Palace being there for the taking. We know how that usually ends!
I hope not because defeat spells disaster for me.
UTB
How do we expect to score goals when our cf is staying on the half way line and trying to score goals from there
Forshaw ineffective Stuani poor need s a shake up subs in the 89th minute ?
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2017 (Part1) (closes 1400, 25 Feb)
The final 10 entries and welcome to all the new posters.
Poster: Allan in Bahrain
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 27 (LDDD)
Middlesbrough: 24 (DDL)
Leicester City: 22 (LDL)
Hull City: 22 (LDDL)
Crystal Palace: 21 (DLD)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
Poster: NeverGiveUpOnBoro
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 29 (LDWD)
Middlesbrough: 26 (WDL)
Leicester City: 24 (LWL)
Hull City: 23 (WLLL)
Crystal Palace: 19 (LLL)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
Poster: Forever Dormo
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 29 (LWDD)
Middlesbrough: 26 (WDL)
Leicester City: 21 (LLL)
Hull City: 25 (DWDL)
Crystal Palace: 20 (LLD)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
Poster: Werdermouth
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 29 (LWDD)
Middlesbrough: 25 (DDD)
Leicester City: 23 (LDD)
Hull City: 25 (WDDL)
Crystal Palace: 20 (DLL)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
Poster: Jarkko
Bournemouth: 30 (LLWD)
Swansea City: 28 (LWLD)
Middlesbrough: 27 (DWD)
Leicester City: 25 (WDL)
Hull City: 25 (DDWL)
Crystal Palace: 20 (DLL)
Sunderland: 22 (LLW)
Poster: Smoggyinexile
Bournemouth: 30 (LLDW)
Swansea City: 30 (LWWL)
Middlesbrough: 24 (DDL)
Leicester City: 22 (LDL)
Hull City: 24 (WDLL)
Crystal Palace: 21 (DLD)
Sunderland: 23 (DLW)
Poster: Redcar Red
Bournemouth: 30 (LLDW)
Swansea City: 28 (LWDL)
Middlesbrough: 26 (WDL)
Leicester City: 24 (LWL)
Hull City: 24 (WLDL)
Crystal Palace: 22 (LLW)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
Poster: Tees Transporter
Bournemouth: 30 (LLDW)
Swansea City: 28 (LWDL)
Middlesbrough: 24 (DLD)
Leicester City: 22 (LDL)
Hull City: 23 (DDDL)
Crystal Palace: 21 (DLD)
Sunderland: 22 (LLW)
Poster: SteveH
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 31 (LWWD)
Middlesbrough: 24 (DDL)
Leicester City: 24 (LWL)
Hull City: 21 (DLLL)
Crystal Palace: 21 (DLD)
Sunderland: 22 (LLW)
Poster: borosupporter82
Bournemouth: 28 (LLDD)
Swansea City: 27 (LDDD)
Middlesbrough: 29 (WDW)
Leicester City: 24 (LWL)
Hull City: 22 (DLDL)
Crystal Palace: 20 (LLD)
Sunderland: 20 (LLD)
I make that 39 entries and the only entry not to get through is from plato but if you can post it on the blog before 3, I will accept the entry because of the problem putting it through.
If anyone else has not seen their entry listed please let me know, good luck to everyone and thank you for taking part. Especially thanks to Werdermouth for his technical whizz.
Come on BORO.
Exmil
I haven’t seen my entry
Ignore that, I can’t read!
RR ok lol.
Come on BORO.
fffs Downing what a load of rubbish..
One down, under pressure. Exmil challenge looking shaky.
Palace keeper never tested so far….!!!!
No shots on target again. How much longer can people keep justifying ak keeping his job!!
I would like Traore on at half time, but sadly he will be on the wrong side from the dug out.
I agree give Van Aanholt something to think about instead of marauding down the wing and scoring goals
Boro absolutely not in it!!!!! Three at the back not working with Bernardo and Ayala losing Benteke all the time. Zaha having a clear run of things, no midfield tackles and another defeat, against a bottom club that we can ill afford, in the offing.
I know it is not PC, but boooo
Be interesting to see AK´s take on this. Probably say the players did not follow the script. Mind you there were some very poor performances in the first half. Yoy could substitute at least eight of them.
I hope AK gives the hair dryer bollocking of all time, in English and in Spannish.
No Traore, Gestede on for Negredo, like for like, why ?? Unless Negredo is injuerd.
Acklam Exile
Radio Tees said Negredo might have a niggle.
Ian
I’ve got a few niggles as well !
Niggle away OFB because I will be looking forward to hearing them 🐕
Well the main niggle is or lack of shots on goal
I have heard a rumour that Karanka handed in his notice to Steve Gibson but he refused saying it’s too late for that now
Should have done it a few weeks ago when he lost the crowd
Absolutely woeful performance , where the hell do we go from here .
I can think of one solution which anyone with half a brain should have seen six/eight weeks ago!
Re : One solution which anyone with half a brain should have seen six/eight weeks ago.
Like me ?… 🐕 I woofed 6/8 weeks ago to get this AK idiot out. If AK has learned so much from JM why the hell are we where we are now ? We have given AK too much rope & now it’s time to hang him with it.
You can speculate on our fate until the cows come home but we have to face the stark reality that is staring us all in the face & has been for 6/8 weeks. The players shouldn’t be blamed because they can only follow the manager’s mantra. To that end AK is a failure.
Yes, only woofing like.
There is only one place we go from here and we have been there far too long previously!
Braveheart
Ipswich next year?
Shocking – yet again-
This was a massive game for us, and yet again we played the defensive game.
I’m really worried.
The biggest worry is that we have to rely on other teams to be worse than we are rather than us showing that we are in any way better than they are. It is going to go down to the wire…
I’m not a betting dog, more of a petting dog. IMHO at least half a dozen regulars on this blog could manage Boro with their eyes closed & certainly make a better job of it than AK.
I just hope SG can see the writing on the wall & react.
Re : One solution which anyone with half a brain should have seen six/eight weeks ago.
Like me ?… 🐕 I woofed 6/8 weeks ago to get this AK idiot out. If AK has learned so much from JM why the hell are we where we are now ? We have given AK too much rope & now it’s time to hang him with it.
You can speculate on our fate until the cows come home but we have to face the stark reality that is staring us all in the face & has been for 6/8 weeks. The players shouldn’t be blamed because they can only follow the manager’s mantra. To that end AK is a failure.
Yes, only woofing like.
Just rewinding like…
AK knew he had to get points on the board in the 1st half of the season to give the team any chance to stay up, yet he didn’t set his team up to get those results. That’s why we are where we are.
Please enlighten me if I’m woofing up the wrong tree🌲
Where do we go from here? Apart from down that is. I do not know. We seem to be relying on a lucky shot or a ricochet for our goals and that is not a winning philosophy
Unless there is a philosophical change in the approach to games that are”win-able’, and aren’t they all, we will be relegated. If we don’t shoot we won’t score. We do not seem to pose any threat to teams, well not unless we get lucky. The dogmatic approach is not working so now we need to see a more flexible approach. I do not believe in seeing real benefits in the misfortunes of other teams that simply separates the people from reality.
I fear that the hood is on and the noose is in position.
I’ve tried reading the EG report but couldn’t get past the advertisements so I gave up.
Redcar Red’s report will be a very interesting read.
UTB, as always,
John
Well fellow brethren of the long suffering Diasboro, it is what it is!
If Negredo had been on crutches I dont think it would have mattered, we simply (at least as the team was setup today) haven’t got the capacity to score in a brothel. We couldnt hit a barn door with a sledgehammer from three paces & parties in breweries are for others.
Once again, when it matters most, we lose & unfortunately the famed fire in the belly of AK doesnt transmit onto the pitch & the Boro are as enthused as a month old flat fish in a Redcar wet fish shop.
We’ve got 4 wins in 26 matches. Whatever AK does best, it aint winning footie games & I’d challenge anyone who isnt on medication to argue I’m wrong.
Bless AK & his management team, but now is a good time to say has della vista.
SG, with all the good will in the world can you really see us winning against anyone bar Sunderland? I await the grim announcement on Monday.
A win against Sunderland isn’t a certainty.
I don’t like to comment unless I was at the game but the consensus so far is “same old” yet the BBC stats suggest that we had more possession and more shots on target than Palace. Lies, damned lies and statistics then?
As the games are running out and the wins aren’t materialising, it’s hard to be optimistic. Just have to keep on hoping.
Absolute disaster. Boro were so incredibly defensive first half. We had no outlet from the constant pressure. Second half was better. 4 or 5 shots on target, with Gestede winning a lot of balls in the air. But still we had precious little creativity. Ramirez zilch. Traore not brought on until 75 mins and he barely touched the ball.
Tactics wrong. No shots first half, and no shape or composure. Why didn’t AK go for it from the outset rather than waiting till half time? This was a nervy Palace side which should have been there for the taking.
Extremely disappointing.
Oh, and by the way, this was the worst view I have ever experienced at a football ground. Like looking through a letter box and with half of one goal nearly blockrd by a bloody great post! Premier League? Yer having a laugh!
But only one of these 2 sides is likely to be in the Prem next season.
Zaha tortured us all game, Traore should have been on from the start doing the same to them.Why is our main striker not in the middle but drifting right always ? And as the commentators pointed out with Gestede on (6 foot 4 and a physical presence ) yet no crosses played to his strength in the air. Can someone please explain why we spent millions on Bamford yet he isn’t playing ?
Karankas tactics ( ho hum) are baffling.
Dead man walking.
Clive
Wasn’t an obstructed view better than seeing the whole match?
I wonder if it is worth paying £3.99 to get the Gazette Premium views of the match? Add the match to the charge sheet.
Luckily I couldn’t get tickets for Stoke, last time we went there we played a few pretty patterns with no bite and lost 1-0. And we were relegated.
It was brassic, elsewhere in the UK it was pleasant spring sunshine, almost shirt sleeve in fact. But not at The Britannia or whatever it is called now. Knowing the area I turned up with gear that would have suited Scott of the Antarctic. Boro fans turned up dressed for a sunny day at the Riverside, the only ones that dressed right wore the blue and black away kit so their bare arms matched the shirts.
We are the rrrrrright sssside, ttthe rigghhhht side, theee frostbite bbbluuee arrrrmyyy.
OK Redcar Red has retrieved his laptop after throwing it out of the window and glued it back together to file his Remote Review of Boro’s display today – I’ve just added the match stats and posted it up to continue the Palace post mortem…
https://diasboro.club/2017/02/25/palace-v-boro-match-report/