Boro v Bristol City

Original Fat Bob · 2024-02-07T19:46:07Z

Middlesbrough (12) v Bristol City (14) Saturday 10/2/2024 - Riverside Stadium - K.O. 3 P.M. Well, after a game against our “Derby” rivals Sunderland last Sunday, which felt more like a defeat than a draw, we turn to our next opponents. Hopefully we will look more like the team we were last season, as we can then gain all three points and climb upwards to the playoff positions. Is it really achievable? Can we do it? Can the Boro get into a playoff spot and gain promotion this season? After reading the excellent posts on this blog it would appear that the realists amongst us think we’ve blown it this season and they’re probably right. Still let’s revel in what’s left of the season and hopefully make it a joyous time for all. So it’s one of the Bristols who come bouncing into the Riverside on Saturday and we look forward to playing with them. Bristol City make an appearance at our home and hopefully we can grapple with them and get some satisfaction at the end. It's being widely reported that it’s at both ends of the pitch where Boro are being punished. Oh dearie me, and the fans are frustrated! I’m frustrated!even Carrick is frustrated! The Boro style usually consists of dominating possession in games (their season average is 53.1%), but this season they are too often letting in sloppy goals like Sunderland's, and not finishing their chances as often as they should. For once, our manager making a rash judgement to substitute 3 players all at once, which undoubtedly led to the loss of continuity and dominance and the loss of two points against Sunderland. Repeating the stats published by the Gazette and admittedly not the most definitive measure, their current xG shows they should have scored 4.5 more goals than they have this season, while their xGA shows they've conceded 8.7 more goals than they should have. That's calculated to have cost Carrick's side eight points this season, the addition of which would move them up to fifth place, one point above West Brom. So I’ll say it again, it’s frustrating! All together now one, two, three, “It’s frustrating!” I don’t think we particularly noticed the loss of Morgan Rogers on Saturday as Sam Greenwood was full of energy and bounce against his boyhood club and eventually ran out of steam. If he plays,like that in every game, can he solve our missing centre forward position? I suppose it is what it is, Coburn obviously will have to have surgery for his hernia problem during the summer. Latte Cappuccino will need time to recover from his injuries. Forss if he is fit, is probably our best goal scorer. Next season we will have to recruit wisely, probably from one of the premiership clubs junior players or overseas. I wouldn’t really fancy having a loan player again as all we appear to do is coach them, turn them into better players and then lose them at the end of the season. This leaves big gaps in our squad which are hard to replace and consign Boro to another season in the Championship. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing a fully fit and mobile McGree on the pitch on Saturday as Hackney is certainly not being played in his best position so far up the field. Indeed the whole midfield looked flat and uninspiring. Is it because we’ve had to fit in new players to assimilate in the team as Azaz had to fit into the style of play? I thought the midfield was disjointed and both Hackney and Howson looked out of sorts. Perhaps Howson needs more than a 10 day rest after his recent cup games? Barlaser is undoubtedly a fine passer of the ball but seems to go missing during a game and is not consistent enough to be a top rated player. If I was the manager I would move Barlaser on at the end of the season as for me he doesn’t do enough. I haven’t checked his stats but then stats don’t mean anything! Hang on though! The only problem with moving Barlaser on is that we will also probably lose Howson and Hackney at the end of this season. One who will probably retire and the other move to a Premiership club. We can’t just throw all our midfield players away and have to recruit a whole new midfield Our goalkeeper knows he made a mistake on Saturday letting the ball slip under him as he dived the right way but still let a soft goal in. I still expect him to keep his place on Saturday. By the way, I couldn’t believe how much space there was on that left hand side of our defence to let an unmarked player calmly slot into our goal. Luke Thomas I think will make his full debut as left back on Saturday as Carrick perseveres with his strategy of playing out from the back. Luke has stated that this is his preferred method of play and is well used to it. Does this mean Engel will move further forward or move to the bench? Hopefully Jones will have recovered sufficiently to return to his position on the right hand side of the pitch. Undoubtedly his pace has been sorely missed. The two cup games may have brought some revenue into the club, but at what cost to the injuries sustained to th...

Page 3 / 3 Prev

2023-24

Last Post by Powmill-Naemore 2 years ago

72 Posts

19 Users

368 Reactions

4,273 Views

Paul in Boro

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 636

February 11, 2024 7:37 pm

@original-fat-bob

I assume fire brigade were in attendance when candles blown out 😉 happy birthday

Liked by 7 people: Clive Hurren, Powmill-Naemore, Selwynoz, Forever Dormo, Original Fat Bob, Malcolm and K P in Spain

ReplyQuote

Malcolm

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 984

February 11, 2024 8:12 pm

Very best wishes on your birthday ofb all the very best.

Liked by Clive Hurren and Powmill-Naemore

ReplyQuote

Len Masterman

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1120

February 11, 2024 8:42 pm

Happy Birthday, Bob. Have a good one

Liked by Clive Hurren and Powmill-Naemore

ReplyQuote

John Richardson

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 913

February 11, 2024 9:47 pm

OFB, happy birthday and only three candles?

UTB,

John

Liked by Clive Hurren and Powmill-Naemore

ReplyQuote

Forever Dormo

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1793

February 11, 2024 11:47 pm

Surely FOUR Candles, OFB?

Liked by Clive Hurren, Powmill-Naemore and Original Fat Bob

ReplyQuote

Selwynoz

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 983

February 12, 2024 9:31 pm

Happy belated birthday and best wishes for many more

Liked by Clive Hurren, Powmill-Naemore and Original Fat Bob

ReplyQuote

Original Fat Bob

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 3352

Topic starter February 12, 2024 11:06 pm

Thanks for all the birthday wishes it’s appreciated.

i too received my early bird season ticket reminder today and now have to persuade Mrs OFB to come with me ! After the game on Saturday when 20 minutes had passed we both wanted to go home.

My grandsons go to another part of the ground and after joining them one Boxing Day after climbing the heights it nearly killed me ! So I will stay in the comfort of the east lower with only a few steps to climb and watch !

Let’s face it what else would I do on a Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday or even a Friday night ?

It's in the blood and whilst it still runs through my veins it’s Boro or nothing !

Players and managers, coaches may come and go but it’s still my team !

OFB

Liked by 6 people: Malcolm, Forever Dormo, John Richardson, Clive Hurren, Martin Bellamy and Powmill-Naemore

ReplyQuote

Powmill-Naemore

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1992

February 13, 2024 7:50 am

Been a little preoccupied with life beyond the Boro lately so only just managed to catch up on this entire thread.

I missed the game in Daturdsy. I couldn't even do my usual and follow it on the social media platform formerly known as twitter. It sounds like I missed nothing and it also sounds both disheartening as well as disappointing.

At least there's been a birthday to celebrate. Belated all the best Bob and we'll done to all for the obligatory funnies.

Liked by 4 people: Malcolm, Clive Hurren, jarkko and K P in Spain

ReplyQuote

K P in Spain

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 2846

February 13, 2024 10:28 am

@powmillnaemore. “Daturdsy” just about summed it up! 😎

Liked by Malcolm, Powmill-Naemore and Clive Hurren

ReplyQuote

Powmill-Naemore

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1992

February 13, 2024 2:17 pm

Posted by: @k-p-in-spain

↑

@powmillnaemore. “Daturdsy” just about summed it up! 😎

fat fingers strike again ! 😊

This post was modified 2 years ago by Powmill-Naemore

Liked by Malcolm

ReplyQuote

K P in Spain

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 2846

February 13, 2024 2:57 pm

@powmillnaemore. “Fat fingers strike again”. Sign them up we need a few strikers! 😎

Liked by Malcolm

ReplyQuote

Powmill-Naemore

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1992

February 13, 2024 3:07 pm

Posted by: @k-p-in-spain

↑

@powmillnaemore. “Fat fingers strike again”. Sign them up we need a few strikers! 😎

🤣

Liked by Malcolm

ReplyQuote

Page 3 / 3 Prev

RE: Portsmouth v Boro

By K P in Spain , 2 minutes ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@presidentjump At least TransferMarkt lists Bangura's p...

By jarkko , 16 minutes ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

Not to criticize Edwards and his team but I think they ...

By exmil , 26 minutes ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@jarkko i wonder how versatile Bangura can be, any idea...

By PresidentJump , 7 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@pedro I think Bangura were our best option at left bac...

By jarkko , 8 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@pedro yes it would seem the hammering that Coventry ga...

By PresidentJump , 21 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@werdermouth As I posted yesterday, HH and AM where m...

By Pedro de Espana , 21 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@werdermouth Apologies for my flawed research. &#x1f...

By Pedro de Espana , 21 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@werdermouth - To be honest I'd struggle to recognise B...

By Forever Dormo , 22 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@forever-dormo I agree the midfield is integral to b...

By werdermouth , 24 hours ago

Forum Icons: Forum contains no unread posts Forum contains unread posts

Topic Icons: Not Replied Replied Active Hot Sticky Unapproved Solved Private Closed