Forever Dormo, Your starter was a thorough piece of writing and a thoroughly enjoyable read after the days of small noisy children and teenagers who somehow didn't throw any mood swings, surprising but very enjoyable. Card games and talking with a good family atmosphere, the first Christmas I've really enjoyed since being diagnosed, now that was a bonus. Now they've all gone it seems very quiet!
Burnley visit the Riverside but which Boro will turn up at the stadium today? Will it be two different teams again? Will our defence be briefed, drilled understanding what they're supposed to do with the ball? Then there's the ongoing injury problems and a list that just seems to grow and grow. Will there be there any chance of a clean sheet for Boro? I know, a lot of questions so we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully we'll have a keeper between the sticks. From seeming to have too many keepers we seem to be struggling there too.
On a more predictable note Latte Lath's agent has flown in to have talks with West Ham, obviously he is running the show and Boro don't have much say in the matter. Unless it is done and dusted. Like a few of the posters on Diasboro the switch off has done me good so the result will be what it is and I'll be happy with a 0-0 draw but the chances of that are slim.
All the best everyone.
UTB,
John
Update
Whilst it’s great that your life long partner and wife has been to nearly all the major Boro events since 1966 and shared the highs and lows it does create a slight problem.
Mrs OFB has insisted that we go to the 8pm ko on a Sunday game tonight !!!
So it will be a first !
Sunday at 8 !
Up The Boro
OFB
@original-fat-bob. If you could pop in for evening prayers before the match we might receive some divine intervention which would see us on the right side of the result. 😇😎
I think I’ve used up all my prayers this year !
Now I’m making the effort to go to the game I’m sure we’ll enjoy it !
Lets face it whilst we can still get there we might as well go and wait for further advancing years to curtail our activities !
So will it be Boro3 tonight ??? Mmmm it could be Boro0-3 !
I think I shall cast the runes and look at the eyeballs 👀 in the sky !
Yes it’s going to be 👀
0 - 0
OFB
I can see an argument that prayer may be as a good a tactic as any other that the team has recently employed. And, for OFB, the weather outside seems brighter and certainly less foggy than in the last couple of days or so. Let's see if the collective will of the Boro Faithful can exert the desired effect tonight.
I seem to recall @ofb in an earlier post, suggesting that SG draft in a wise old head to give MC a bit of a back up. Could there be anyone better qualified than Tony Mowbray to assist? Might it be attractive to him as a gentle way back into the game?
@martin-bellamy. It’s an interesting thought but I am not sure MC would be impressed as it would suggest his capabilities are in question.
Similarly, I am not sure that this is the role TM is looking for as he has previously stated his intention to return to managing a club; added to which his teams in the past were not particularly strong defensively and that’s part of our problem at the moment. 😎
Just checked the Championship scores and amazingly they’ve all gone our way! Just need Boro to win now and jump up to 5th…
Well what an afternoon of football with all the results going in Boro’s favour. Sheffield draw with West Brom, Blackburn lose to Hull, Stoke beat Sunderland, Watford lose to Cardiff!
A great opportunity to make ground on teams above and move up to fifth; can they rise to the challenge or will it be another lost opportunity. Hopefully the former and not the latter but I wouldn’t put money on it. CoB 😎
It is a tough game tonight, with our injuries and suspension but other teams this afternoon take the pressure off slightly, Blackburn losing at home to Hull, Watford losing at home to Cardiff, Sunderland losing away at Stoke, WBA drawing at Shef Utd.
Come on BORO.
@martin-bellamy. It’s an interesting thought but I am not sure MC would be impressed as it would suggest his capabilities are in question.
Similarly, I am not sure that this is the role TM is looking for as he has previously stated his intention to return to managing a club; added to which his teams in the past were not particularly strong defensively and that’s part of our problem at the moment. 😎
Fair points, KP - maybe I’m clutching at straws.
Well. If this afternoon's results don't give the team an incentive to deliver tonight. Nothing will. Anxiously waiting to see what the starting XI will be...
@forever-dormo A fair reply regarding whether the Boro Coach at the time, uses or not, the young Acadamy players.
However, the point I was making was the economics of maintaining Category One Academy status. The current cost is circa five million a season according to the article attached.
Recent first team break throughs include Fry, Hackney, Sol Brynn and maybe Coburn. That does not seem a good return for the number of years and players produced.
However, the offset against PSP (2 mill a season, I think) probably helps the numbers.
@werdermouth Of course if Burnley win, they will go top and we will have played a game more than Watford and Blackburn. 🤣
That should hopefully put some pressure on them 🤞
Still Glover in goal, ELL & Edmundson back:
Well I feel that the eleven selected shows the strength in depth of the squad, considering all of the issues that we know about
However, the bench is starting to show that you can now touch the bottom of the pool.
I’m glad that Edmundson is in the XI as otherwise, like against Sheff Wed, the spine would have no talkers, leaders or organisers.
Let’s hope it’s the Boro that played in the first half against Wednesday all night tonight. I think the game suits Burnley though - a strong defensive unit content to sit in, be patient and break.
We would do well to sit back ourselves and surprise them.
@peter-surtees Engel, Clarke, Jones, McGree, Gilbert, Hamilton is not too shabby and we can only use 5 subs.
Come on BORO.
Managed to get a decent internet connection in the lobby where I’m staying and a beer - so unexpectedly watching the game on my new Chromebook 🙂
@werdermouth apologies, I did not see Leeds were playing. ☹️
My worry is can Edmundson avoid another booking in the next 90 minutes 🤔
My worry is can Edmundson avoid another booking in the next 90 minutes 🤔
From the Beeb's live commentary (4th minute):
Boro's Delano Burgzorg is roared on as he scampers down the left. But Burnley win it back and Jaidon Anthony breaks away before George Edmundson takes him out on halfway to stop the counter.
A long night on a yellow for Edmundson now.
That was Borges fault that Edmundsen had to take one for the team. Gave the ball away cheaply after great work from Burgzorg
Well, they've survived without conceding for 45 minutes...
@powmillnaemore Definitely - he just doesn’t look up to this level. He seems to go missing in action and can’t play the quick passing game we use. Rarely goes (or passes) forward - he’s definitely a weak link.