@werdermouth. You may already be aware but Belgium does not have an EFL broadcast partner, so I tend to pick that as my ISP address through my VPN before logging onto Riverside Live. 😎
OK, don't tell Mrs Werder but I'll be settling down to watch on the sofa with a Leffe Blonde on Wednesday evening😉
Many thanks for a fine opener, Deleriad. I think Boro are certainly good enough going forward to trouble Ipswich. It’s obviously at the back where we’re likely to have more problems tomorrow, especially given our injury and suspension issues, allied to our ‘occasional tendency’ 🫣🫣🫣to concede soft goals. I’m looking forward to an entertaining game - I’ll go 2-2.
Many congratulations, Martin, on the birth of your granddaughter. May she bring you and the family much joy.
And Dormo: I’m very envious of your whisky cabinet. I’m willing to bet there are more ‘trophies’ in there than in Newcastle United’s silverware drawer!
Re the Hull game I flagged earlier, I also note it is being shown live as the main match on Sky. 😎
I have watched Coventry v Birmingham tonight and I am really impressed by Coventry’s Sakamoto, who only cost £1m.
Come on BORO.
Well the weather has redefined miserable here in West Norfolk, when my midfield and I went for the early morning walk she was a white terrier and by the time we got she was mostly earth coloured, let's hope Boro adapt to the conditions as well.
As always Boro please manage a clean sheet Boro and scoring three yourselves would be good too. It would certainly brighten the day and give our single malt drinkers cause to celebrate rare than commiserate and Werder I hope that is a large bottle of Leffe Blonde that you are going to indulge in, a lovely beer.. I haven't had a whisky for almost two years now, I may have to rectify that at Christmas. I used to do work for Laphroaig so there is some in the sideboard along with some Highland malts plus there is a bottle of Port Ellen bottled in the late seventies that the Boss has hidden away.
Anyway come on Boro and get us all in a celebratory mood.
All the best to everyone.
UTB,
John
@john-richardson It’s no better up the coast in East Yorkshire - not a day for great football I suspect.
After a week of snow over here the thaw set in last night and is now a balmy 7 degrees so will get a quick walk in before the game to warm up my aching body after working out with the snow shovel the last few days.
I hope Michael Carrick has some better news on the injury front and has a defence to pick from and hopefully Hackney as well.
I've got a feeling Boro will be up for this game this afternoon and be playing with intensity from the start - the key will be cutting out those errors - though may be worth mentioning that Boro have kept 4 clean sheets from their last 5 home games.
Team News...
Fry returns to defence with van den Berg likely at right-back and Engel at left-back - still no Hackney but Greenwood comes in for the suspended Jones.
It’s 23 degrees today on the Costa Blanca. 😊😎
@deleriad Belated thanks for another different Headliner for this afternoon’s game.
One has to feel for MC with the ongoing injuries and continued shooting in the foot by certain members of the squad. How we approach this game going forward maybe the most important part, hopefully taking some pressure off the midfield and the defence.
We really need for the senior players to stop their rather loose passing, yes, Howson, Barlaser and Crooks. Also we need for Greenwood and Rogers to play a bigger part defending the midfield and defence.
I we can do that, we can get a result, if not, then a Ipswich win is certain. We need something to raise the crowds expectations and importantly keep in touch with the top six.
Here in the south of Spain, it is a little cooler than KP’s 23. A balmy 20 with a cloudless sky. But rather nicer than the rain we have had this week.
Oh no! The Tractor Boys a goal up after 36 minutes. 🙁
Oh no! The Tractor Boys a goal up after 36 minutes. 🙁
CJ:
Harsh on Boro because it's the first real chance they've conceded. Sloppy header in the middle of the park by Rvd Berg sets Ipswich away. Cross from their right is intercepted by Howson, but he can only chest it down to Chaplin, who smacks it sweetly from the edge beyond an unsighted Dieng.
@stircrazy. It was deflected by Mat Clarke and had he not got a touch it may have been saved by Dieng.
Ipswich looking quicker than us going forward and pressing more effectively. 😎
Both sides canceling each other out for most of the first half but in truth Ipswich have had to do very little to prevent Boro creating chances as our passing has been pretty poor.
Don't think Boro are set up right as there's no pace out wide and Latte Lath has been given balls better suited to Josh Coburn. Maybe Carrick should actually bring on Josh for Greenwood and put Latte Lath out wide and possibly Silvera too as at the moment it's too easy for Ipswich and Boro have a limited threat.
Not a great game with both sides too worried about leaving themselves open to counter-attacks. That has led to both sides playing some uncharacteristic long balls out of defence. If that's going to carry on, we need two up front as suggested by @werdermouth
Latte Lath missed a magnificent opportunity to equalise. he had half the goal to aim at and put it wide. He doesn't seem to have confidence in his ability. Rogers is a good player but his first touch can be dodgy. Greenwood very subdued.
We can pull this back but need to attack better.
UTB
We really need for the senior players to stop their rather loose passing, yes, Howson, Barlaser and Crooks. Also we need for Greenwood and Rogers to play a bigger part defending the midfield and defence.
OK, yes it is a rather depleted starting team, but we have been so slow, with passing that you would expect in a Sunday league match.
Although there was a deflection for their goal, with Howson gifting the ball to Chaplin, Ipswich have been for the ether side and a yard faster. I am not sure what Maddison is watching, when he says there is not too much between the teams. Listening to him drives me mad.
We need more pace, so Silvera is neede fairly quickly.
Crooks booked in the 51st minute. How many does that make?
0-2. Thank you and good night! 😎
Ipswich makes it 2-0 in the 67th minute courtesy of the sub,sent on 5 minutes earlier. Time for MC to shuffle the pack a bit?
Boro simply not good enough today - probably only Clarke, van den Berg and Howson were at the required level of performance needed. The team looked disjointed and the passing was poor and the shape didn't work with the players selected - no pace out wide and a game that needed the focal point of Coburn to hold the ball and allow others to get into the game. Surprised it took Carrick so long to realise Greenwood wide-right wasn't working and not sure why Coburn didn't even get on the pitch. Never looked like Boro were really up for this game and they lacked the intensity from the off and ran out of ideas once they crossed the halfway line. Jones will have had his stock rise more than any other player after today.
CJ's verdict:
Comfortable away win. Boro started quite brightly, but just had no cutting edge in the final third. Ipswich score twice from three shots on target, which highlights the difference between the two sides, not just today, but all season.
And before the start of injury time:
This one has dwindled out to an undramatic conclusion. Difference between the two sides today has ultimately been in the two boxes. Ipswich score two from three shots on target, while Boro have rally lacked a cutting edge. Not linked well in attack today, with the makeshift nature of the side telling.
Coburn should have definitely been brought on. Crooks very poor as many others. Thought Carrick should have introduced more subs as what was on the pitch wasn't working.
Boro ratings vs Ipswich as they struggle for quality in flat defeat
According to those ratings in the Gazette - Howson, van den Berg, Crooks, Rogers and Greenwood were the worse players on the pitch 🤔
According to those ratings in the Gazette - Howson, van den Berg, Crooks, Rogers and Greenwood were the worse players on the pitch 🤔
The Echo was less charitable, with only Matt Clarke & ELL warranting a 6 & 4s for RvdB, Barlaser, Engel, Greenwood & Rogers:
I guess it was a low bar today but didn't think Howson was the worse player and tried to drive the team forward plus thought van den Berg was one of the few putting in an effort during the last 30 minutes as most others looked to have given up.