@philip-of-huddersfield   I think that Burgzorg does have something to offer at times and he was relatively cheap.

However, he is greedy, two or three times yesterday he would of been better passing, but tried to score himself from a difficult position. Yes he also, like Jones, does not get his head up sufficiently to find a Boro man.

But, for me, the biggest issue is that he takes space from Latte Lath. He wants to be the centre forward as he was at Huddersfield (according to his stats). Doing this reduces LL’s effectiveness. Carrick may have to be ruthless and drop him if he continues like this. 

@pedro We could have had better results but it is early days yet. Other sides we would expect to be competing with at the top of the table later in the season (e.g.Burnley Leeds Coventry) have also had mixed results. We have created plenty of chances and will get better at converting them. Both Derby and Portsmouth were fortunate to get the results they did. UTB

I’m a bit surprised at some of the reactions, tbh. Yes, we’ve made defensive howlers and clearly need to improve that part of our game. But we had 30 shots yesterday, 8 on target, and 13 which were blocked by Pompey defenders, often with last-ditch interventions. Their keeper had a worldy. Basically, we battered them! 

No-one has mentioned that we played some scintillating football at times, nor indeed have any of the reports I’ve read. Obviously, you don’t get points for being pretty (ask Tottenham!) but the way we played between and through the lines and often with players running at the Pompey defence was impressive and thrilling. The forward line was mobile and fluid, ably supported by Morris and Hackney. We were critical last week that Boro failed to get behind the Derby defence: not yesterday! We sent in cross after cross all game, though to be fair not enough of them found a red shirt and the great majority were cleared by stalwart Pompey defending. 

So I’m not disheartened. I think if we continue to play like that, we’ll beat most sides in this division. And sooner or later, some team soon is going to get a right hammering. 

Let’s hope the hammering starts on Tuesday against Stoke City although if it does we mustn’t read too much into it , if both teams, as expected, make half a dozen changes.

At this stage of the season it’s all about getting a pattern of play whilst picking up as many points as possible.

Corboran at WBA  seems to have got it right so far with 2 away wins. He builds his teams starting with a strong defence which I favour on the grounds that if you can stop the opposition scoring then you will invariably get chances with the possibility of nicking a win.

I am not entirely sure of Carrick’s way of playing unless it’s about passing the ball and keeping possession. I’m never filled with confidence that the team will be strong defensively as evidenced by last season ( only 3 or 4 teams conceded more goals ? ) and this season could follow the same pattern.

Yes, I agree , it’s early days but I’d swop WBA’s eventual League position with Boro’s. They are my prediction to easily achieve a top 6 position.

Philip of Huddersfield 

I hope no one will mind me posting this in this thread, but it is a reminder for people to get their crystal ball and tea leaves out to predict how the Championship will finish this season in the COTS challenge.

So far, only KP has put an entry in. Because I ended up AWOL for a longish period, it seemed fair to set a 31st August end date for entries rather than before the first game. We all have had a glimpse of the early form of each team, but we all know things will look very different at different parts of the season. So, come on everyone, let's not let it be a walkover for KP!!

Here's all you need to do to join in (full details are on The Diasboro COTS Challenge 2024/25 thread) and then leave the rest to me and my spreadsheet:

HOW TO ENTER

The challenge itself  is straightforward enough in that all you have to do is to predict 7 things:

• which teams will finish in the Top 6;
• which teams will finish in the Bottom 3;
• which teams will win automatic promotion;
• which team will be champions;
• which team(s) will over achieve;
• which team(s) will under achieve; and finally
• what will be the Boro’s final league position

All entries to be posted by the end of the day on 31^st August.

It would be helpful if you can use the following format, but don’t worry too much, so long as it is clear about which teams you are predicting to do what!

• TOP 6 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Team4, Team5, Team6, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
• BOTTOM 3 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
• AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Team1, Team2, Optional1, Optional2
• CHAMPIONS = Team1, Optional1
• OVER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
• UNDER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
• BORO = 1^st

A team will be considered to have over-achieved if:

1. it finishes the season 10 places higher than in the previous season, or
2. it is a promoted team from last season and it finishes inside of the top 9

A team will be considered to have under-achieved if:

1. it finishes the season 10 places lower than in the previous season, or
2. it is a relegated team from last season and it finishes outside of the top 9

Remember, if you elect to hedge your bets and take advantage of the optional team selections ( eg.choosing 7, 8 or 9 teams to finish in the top 6) you will not win as many points as if you had picked (in that example) exactly 6 teams to finish top 6. (See The Diasboro COTS Challenge 2024/25 thread to see exactly how points will be awarded.)

@powmillnaemore 

I've posted my reply in the 2024/25 COTS challenge but for some reason it has put the topic in Members Lounge, Social Club.

UTB

Posted by: @clive-hurren

↑

I’m a bit surprised at some of the reactions, tbh. Yes, we’ve made defensive howlers and clearly need to improve that part of our game. But we had 30 shots yesterday, 8 on target, and 13 which were blocked by Pompey defenders, often with last-ditch interventions. Their keeper had a worldy. Basically, we battered them! 

No-one has mentioned that we played some scintillating football at times, nor indeed have any of the reports I’ve read. Obviously, you don’t get points for being pretty (ask Tottenham!) but the way we played between and through the lines and often with players running at the Pompey defence was impressive and thrilling. The forward line was mobile and fluid, ably supported by Morris and Hackney. We were critical last week that Boro failed to get behind the Derby defence: not yesterday! We sent in cross after cross all game, though to be fair not enough of them found a red shirt and the great majority were cleared by stalwart Pompey defending. 

So I’m not disheartened. I think if we continue to play like that, we’ll beat most sides in this division. And sooner or later, some team soon is going to get a right hammering. 

@selwynoz 

Thanks Selwyn. I have seen that.

The challenge is in the forum that is the members lounge area which is where non-specifically Boro related things go.  Exmil puts his run in to the end of the season challenge in there as well.

If I recall, this separation of forums was to save the main Boro threads from getting clogged up with other things. The downside is that to see things in the members lounge, people need to be logged in, which is partly why I posted the reminder in the Portsmouth thread. I will probably put another reminder in the Stoke thread later in the week.

@powmillnaemore 

thanks. The system is actually quite weird when it comes to log in status. I often find that the like symbols have vanished and when I log in to restore them the system does it and then tells me that I’m already logged in. 

utb

@powmillnaemore 

Thanks for the reminder Powmill I shall try to start thinking of my predictions soon - incidentally, you set a deadline of the 31 August though there is a two-week international break after that so maybe there isn't that much time pressure.

Just to add that I'm planning to post the Stoke Carabao Cup preview later today after starting on the writing - I guess it will be sometime this afternoon as I also have some other tasks on my list this morning.

@selwynoz 

I could be your browser's cache as they often hold the previous session in memory unless you refresh or restart them

Posted by: @werdermouth

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@powmillnaemore 

Thanks for the reminder Powmill I shall try to start thinking of my predictions soon - incidentally, you set a deadline of the 31 August though there is a two-week international break after that so maybe there isn't that much time pressure.

Thanks for pointing that out Werder. I really have not been paying enough attention. Let's keep the COTS window open until 8pm on Friday 13th September. There is something quite satisfying about that date, not that I am in anyway superstitious 😱.

.

Posted by: @werdermouth

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@selwynoz 

I could be your browser's cache as they often hold the previous session in memory unless you refresh or restart them

You are quite remarkable Werder. Not only, in your non-professional time, are you a gardener and a builder/renovator supreme; a blog master without parallel; a devoted partner and father; and a multi linguist: now you are volunteering to be Selwyn's personal cache!

Is there no end to your talents? 😉

@powmillnaemore 

It seems my IT skills are lacking 🙂 

Posted by: @werdermouth

↑

@powmillnaemore 

It seems my IT skills are lacking 🙂 

@powmillnaemore 

Many thanks but I meant 'It' skills 😉 

Posted by: @werdermouth

↑

@powmillnaemore 

Many thanks but I meant 'It' skills 😉 

@werdermouth 

not sure what implications are but it sounds impressive.