Finally, festive greetings to everyone on Diasboro, hope you're all well fed and watered in time for the Boxing Day feast at the Riverside!
btw Also interesting to read that Carlos Corberán has left West Brom
Valencia have confirmed the appointment of Carlos Corberán as their head coach on a contract to 2027 after paying his release clause of about £3m to West Bromwich Albion. The Spanish club made an approach on Tuesday after sacking Rubén Baraja.
Merry Christmas everyone! I was going to post the news about Corberán, but I see that Werder's beaten me to it & it's no longer news! More details from the Beeb:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2vj5ky08mo
I wondered whether it was an early Christmas present...
Many thanks for a terrific opener, Jarkko, and indeed to all those who’ve made the excellent effort to write for us throughout the year. We are truly spoilt.
Happy Christmas Diasborians.
I guess we can only hope it messes up West Brom's season - even though I had them down as champions in the COTS Challenge 🙈
I echo everybody’s thoughts on your great starter, Jarkko. It was really informative and very well researched. Thank you.
I’ve no idea which Boro will show up tomorrow, as usual. I do know we’ll need to be at our best to beat a resurgent Wednesday who have performed much better than expected since their promotion via the playoffs last season.
A very happy Christmas to you all.
Great Starter Jarkko. As many have said this will be a tougher game than many expected. Reading Jarkko's article it looks probable that Rohl will have worked out how to play against us. Our record on Boxing Day is pretty good won 9 out of 12 but did lose to another South Yorkshire team, Rotherham, last season. Also no team starting with S has won a league game at the Riverside this season. I am less confident about this game as I am about the Burnley game.
Sorry, mate. In here it started at around 14 hrs on the Xmas Eve. All families eat togethen then, and the Xmas present are given by rented (or a famioy member acting as one) Santa Claus. I had my first Xmas Eve (24th) WITHOUT a rented Santa Claus visiting when I was around 50 years old. So before that I had not experienced a Xmas Eve without being given my presents by a "real" Santa. You can rent one easily over here for 15 to 20 min for 50 to 90 Euros.@pedro - Cool dancing.
Christmas starts here... Better get into the kitchen to rustle up the breakfast (with a certain French fizz). A BBQ to light for later (BBQ leg of lamb planned for that, but the stuffed turkey joint and the "usual stuff" will go in the oven!). Off I go then....
Happy Boxing Day., all. Up the Boro!
@werdermouth Werder, do you also celebrate the Xmas Eve generally in Germany? Up the Boro!
Yes it's always the 24th over here too but without the rent-a-santa and we always invite Mrs Werder's parents for dinner - plus I do all the cooking. Though this year didn't quite go to plan as Mrs Werder's parents caught one of the bugs going around and had to cancel last minute after I'd just finished doing all the food shopping so we had a quiet nostalgic Covid-style Christmas dinner instead with plenty of left-overs!
Which is not a problem as we're not particularly into traditions and we're not religious either so Christmas has no major significance for us other than it's a chance to rest and meet up with people we don't get to see normally. When we lived in England, we used to always take the opportunity to go away on holiday for a winter break for Christmas and New Year to recharge our batteries.
Although, back in the day as a kid when we weren't very well off, along with birthdays, it was the only time we'd get toys and presents so it was the biggest day of the year. Anyway, so at the risk of sounding like the Grinch on steroids, we don't do presents (except for our son of course) as we tend to have everything that we need or want already - most important thing for us now is having some relaxing down time.
A not particularly informative article by Dom Shaw in the Echo on what MC feels needs to be done about the number of goals being conceded:
From the Sheffield Star (no sign thus far of a Gazette live page)
Middlesbrough XI: Brynn, van den Berg, Barlaser, Fry, Hackney, Burgzog [sic!], Dijksteel, Azaz, Conway, Borges, Doak
From the Sheffield Star (no sign thus far of a Gazette live page)
Middlesbrough XI: Brynn, van den Berg, Barlaser, Fry, Hackney, Burgzog [sic!], Dijksteel, Azaz, Conway, Borges, Doak
And then it appears:
Interesting to see Engel on the bench to give competition to Borges... Also no Edmundson in the squad.
Left side of the defence still looks weak. If Engel is fit I would have preferred him to start.
Interesting to see Engel on the bench to give competition to Borges... Also no Edmundson in the squad.
CJ's "analysis" of the line-up:
Three changes from Carrick then. I went for Fry and Barlaser in my predicted team, though neither decision was because of any knowledge that Edmundson or Howson would miss out completely today. Both have knocks, we're told. We'll ask Carrick after about severity etc.
Fry felt like the right time to bring him back in. He and Rav feel like Boro's strongest two, but Edmundson, until just recently, had been in such good form. Clumsy of late, perhaps a knock explains that. Howson, I was thinking more to keep him for Sunday when Burnley visit, though, in general, I think Boro were looking better pre-Leeds, when Barlaser played.
The third change I predicted was Latte Lath for Conway, but Conway keeps his place despite Latte Lath scoring two in two, as rumours continue to swirl on Latte Lath's future ahead of the January transfer window. For a second game in a row, that feels a telling selection decision.
The third change Carrick has made is to reward Burgzorg for his impact at Plymouth from the bench with the start ahead of McGree, who drops to the bench.
Replacing Edmundson and Howson in the squad and on the bench are Law McCabe and the returning Lukas Engel.
It does sound like Carrick is trying see if Conway can be the lead striker if indeed rumours of a £25m deal for Latte Lath have substance - though Latte Lath was far more effective when he came on against Plymouth as I thought Conway was taking up mainly 'support striker' positions and not getting into the box and even crossing to an imaginary number 9 instead.
Interesting to see Engel on the bench to give competition to Borges...
Reminds me of the time Mike and Bernie Winters played the Glasgow Empire. Mike did a song and got some rough treatment.Then Bernie put his head through the curtains and did his toothy face, provoking the deathless response from the stalls: "Oh, Christ, there's two of them"
And a few thoughts from the Beeb:
Can away day specialists Owls extend run?
Is it the joy of coach travel, the delights of the service station stop-off, or a swift game of cards on the train? Whatever the reason or mode of transport, Sheffield Wednesday are a team enjoying their travels.
The Owls have won five of their last six on the road - beating Oxford, Derby, Hull, Portsmouth and Coventry along the way. Their only blip came when they stayed in Sheffield for the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane. Can they add Boro to their list of away day scalps this afternoon?
Danny Rohl’s men looked set for another season of Championship struggle after picking up four points from their first six, but are now just three points off the play-off spots after a run of four wins in six.
Middlesbrough’s form has been hit or miss of late, with just two wins in their last six, but they are clinging on to the final play-off spot and will move up to fifth if they win and Blackburn fail to beat Sunderland.
Michael Carrick’s [men] have at least begun to find their feet at the Riverside. They've won three of their last four and picked up back-to-back victories there for the first time this season when they beat Millwall 12 days ago.
Only second-placed Leeds (41) have bettered Middlesbrough’s tally of 38 Championship goals this season, but only today's opponents Wednesday (30) have conceded more goals among the Championship’s top 12 than the 28 Boro have let in.
'Boro looking to keep pace'
It’s a first sell-out of the season at The Riverside as Middlesbrough look to keep pace amongst the top six… they’ve only managed one win in the last four. And while manager Michael Carrick acknowledged his team’s tenacity at coming back three times to draw 3-3 at Plymouth on Saturday, he was very unhappy with their first-half showing there.
Sheffield Wednesday come here in the mood to spoil the party, with four wins in their last six. Wednesday boss Danny Rohl wants the club to “attack” the January transfer window. Surely that’s also a message to his own players as well as the board that they need to keep their foot on the gas.
Young Ben puts Boro one up in the fifth minute with a little help from Azaz. Keep it up, lads...
Young Ben puts Boro one up in the fifth minute with a little help from Azaz. Keep it up, lads...
Not another injury! CJ:
Injury for Tommy Conway immediately after the goal. He sat down and has had to come off after treatment. Latte Lath on, but that could be an issue for Boro with next month's transfer window in mind.
Young Ben puts Boro one up in the fifth minute with a little help from Azaz. Keep it up, lads...
Azaz himself gets in the act in the 15th minute with help from Borges, of all people.
OFB's favourite number!
UTB,
John
Boro3 is back! 🙂 Azaz again in the 31st minute as he knocks in the rebound from a shot by HH. Boro3 doing a pretty good demolition job on the Owls' away record at the moment! 👍
Sorry, I was so wrong about Sheffield Wednesday. But they WERE top of the away form table before today. But I won't complain. A very good performance by the Reds.
Enjoying the match. Up the Boro!
Well that was an almost perfect first half as Boro have a commanding lead and look as comfortable as can be with 70% possession and playing the ball around well. Finn Azaz back to his best with one assist and two goals and Doak looking like he's got their left-back where he wants him. I thought Borges was having a decent game too until he tripped over the ball with nobody around him to give away a corner. The only bad news is that Conway looks to have done his hamstring so that should focus any thoughts of cashing in on Latte Lath - who has looked full of energy on and off the ball. More of the same please!
Oh dear, are Boro playing for a draw. This could be a role reversal Plymouth here...
Oh dear,
UTB,
John
Did I say comfortable as you like? 3-2, down to ten men and Brynn off injured 🙄
Sorry everyone. I missed the first half and only switched on at halftime. It's me that has put the hex on us.....