I loved your opener, werder. It really made me laugh and at the same time told me lots I didn’t know about the FA Cup! Thanks and well done.
I’m very ambivalent about Saturday’s game. On the one hand, I always want Boro to win. A good cup run builds confidence and, if you’re subsequently drawn against one of the Premiership big boys (or Newcastle!) can boost fan enthusiasm and help refill the coffers. A win against Blackburn is well overdue, and it’s high time to overturn the hex they seem to have over us.
On the other hand, this is probably a distraction we could do without right now. Players will have had a chance for a bit of a rest this week, but we still have lots of injuries, and I wouldn’t want to risk any more in what might turn out to be a meaningless game. And Blackburn! It’s probably one of the least attractive draws we could’ve had, against fellow championship opposition who may bring only a few fans. It’s hard to get excited by it. So, I’ll be disappointed if we lose, but not too much, as our focus this year is clearly on more important things.
Incidentally, I would have wanted Isaiah Jones to play in this one, especially as he seems to have been coming back to form recently. But it seems he’s off to Luton. Or at least, it did. Now that Rob Edwards has left the club, will this deal still go through? Personally, I hope not, especially with the Doak situation still uncertain.
@clive-hurren I think I read, as much as you can now believe what you read, 🤣 that the Rob Edwards part would have no bearing on the deal.
I too am a little disappointed to see him go, I thought he still had a part to play in the Boro squad. However choosing Luton is a bigger surprise than leaving. A struggling club and probably unlikely to attain the heights of their promotion season in the future.
I appreciate that as a relegated club, they probably can offer better wages than Boro, but I see the move as down over for him.
Of course, not knowing his family situation, he may be happier nearer to his home, I guess as around the London area.
It seems FA Cup 3rd Round weekend is a popular time to sack your manager - Everton just sacked Dyche too!
I have just read that too and was about to post that perhaps this is a good opportunity for Wayne Rooney .... 🙄It seems FA Cup 3rd Round weekend is a popular time to sack your manager - Everton just sacked Dyche too!
Or the return of Moyes...
Marcus Forss is expected to be the only new players back in the squad for the Blackburn match as Carrick sticks to the cautious stance he gave after Cardiff on Morris and Ayling, who will hope to push their case for next weekend's return to league action at Portsmouth.
Seny Dieng, Tommy Conway and Jonny Howson are still at least a couple of weeks away, while Tommy Smith, Darragh Lenihan, Sol Brynn and Alex Bangura are longer term absentees.
Good to see that Morris and Ayling are back soon for the next League match. Up the Boro!
Hollow whispers in lots of marble halls it would seem. None of them making sense but merely adding fuel to the debate. Football is bizarre, truly bizarre. Meanwhile Boro appear to be approaching the crossroads but who will they meet there? The FA Cup pales into an almost insignificant role. Sad.
UTB,
John
Sunderland looking to (possibly) push the boat out, with the loan signing of 20 million pounds midfielder from Roma. Trying to break into the autos?
Whilst Boro sell Jones for three million plus 2 million add ons we may never get. That may just about cover the loss on outgoing Mr Hoppe.
On the injury front, Forss may be back on the bench on Saturday. Hurrah at last. However, Morris, back for Christmas, may now be back in a week or two, then has to get match fit. Same for Ayling.
As for making space in the 25 squad, that the Gazette keep talking about, by getting rid of Jones, we have Smith and Lenihan who may be back by who knows when. Certainly not Rockcliffe.
It must be odds on to lose at least one of Doak and LL. Evens to lose just one of them.
Hopefully Scott and his squad will have ready made, ready to go into the first team players, already lined up.
Isaiah Jones has completed his transfer to Luton Town, in time for him to be registered to play at the weekend in the FA Cup, against Nottingham Forest away.
Come on BORO.
Good look to him- I believe he’ll do a decent job at this level with the right support.
Let’s hope Boro are looking for a replacement .
Philip of Huddersfield ☹️☹️
Apologies for the short absence, whilst I’ve been trying to get my head together.
When Diasboro was first launched, after the demise of Untypical Boro, I used to think that it would be a good idea to have a political space within the Forum, where we could engage with people of different views in a respectful and mutually beneficial way. I think I’m now of the view that this isn’t the place for those conversations.
As time has gone on, I’ve come to think of Diasboro as a virtual pub where all the locals are Boro fans. For sure, like all pubs, there’ll be drinkers who hold different views, but it won’t be a shouty place and everyone will get along. Like real pubs, some conversations will happen that I don’t want to engage with, for fear of causing a falling out and I’ll simply finish my pint and make my way home.
Post the US election, post Xmas and New Year and with things happening in UK politics that are simply beyond my understanding, I’ve become increasingly depressed and despairing for what might be coming. On the back of my low mood, a couple of posts on here that normally I’d shrug off as other members’ legitimate views, touched a raw nerve and I was in danger of reacting in a too negative and aggressive way, hence my decision to step away for a few days.
I’ve continued to read the posts and have enjoyed the discourse which has been of its usual high standard, both in regard to developments at MFC, and on other wider subjects.
A bit of sunshine and some physical work in the garden has gone some way to getting my mojo back and I’m looking forward to engaging on here again.
I’d like to thank a couple of people who reached out to me beyond the Forum - you know who you are and I’m genuinely very grateful for your kind words.
It’s good to be back. UTB
Weve all been there at some point in time it’s a natural progression of our lives.
So pleased that you’re back !
OFB
@martin-bellamy I have daily arguments with Alexa. It tends to win but I feel better by calling it a talking toaster and switching it off. I suspect I am becoming a little eccentric but there we go.🙂
@chris-from-barlby I'm sorry but I took a more radical view of Alexa interfering. I'm sure after days or months of interfering that shat she can still hear the twelve bore...
UTB,
Johh
Welcome back, Martin, I know exactly how you feel.
Today, we’ve assembled a new log store and filled it full of logs. A real sense of achievement and so good to be in the sunshine.
@martin-bellamy Glorious sun in your pics but I expect you will be burning a few of those logs to stay warm this evening!
🤣@chris-from-barlby I'm sorry but I took a more radical view of Alexa interfering. I'm sure after days or months of interfering that shat she can still hear the twelve bore...
UTB,
Johh
@martin-bellamy Delighted you are feeling a little better and to see you writing again and sharing your pictures.
Many of us have been there, overwhelmed by what goes on that is so out of our control. I take some comfort knowing that I am really no different to most people and that is OK.
So long as we all continue to have each other's backs, we can and will all be OK.
@martin-bellamy. Looks like a piece of modern art and a shame that you will have to partly dismantle it to keep the home fires burning; good to hear the fog has lifted. 😎
Glad to hear you're now revived after a short break from Diasboro and are ready to log back in 🙂
Boro team news is in!
Seven changes. Latte Lath on the bench, but no Ben Doak in the squad
Looks like Burgzorg is going to show if he can be a striker and let's see if Hamilton can offer more down the right than he has on the left - also looking forward to seeing how Law McCabe performs. Plenty of youngsters on the bench too and have not heard of Bailey Palmer before.
- @original-fat-bob and @werdermouth... I have just twigged the log and chip off the block references 🤔
@werdermouth. Yes some interesting choices and pity we can’t watch unless you have a link to a stream? 😎
I'll see if there are any once the game starts as while some sites often pretend to have links to get you to click on them
I can’t get the commentary via Riverside Live, anyone else having problems? Managed to pick up the BBC Radio Tees feed and hopefully that will continue when match kicks off! 😎