Think I might turn up with my goalie gloves on Sunday, might get on the bench, talk about never rains but it pours, selling latte in January might not be the best idea now given Conway has a hamstring injury
@paulinboro. I wouldn’t put money on LL not departing despite TC’s injury.
The reason/excuse will be that the offer was too good to decline and we have other players who can play in his position (injury prone Forss/Coburn - assuming a recall clause exists). ☹️😎
Just watching the highlights of yesterday's game and Boro can perhaps consider themselves unlucky with the second goal which took two deflections (Dijksteel then Windass) to wrong-foot Brynn - plus the sending off was never a booking as RvdB at no point move his foot towards Shea Charles - who actually over-hit the ball and then instigated the fall over Rav's leg when he realised he wasn't going to get to it.
Still, signs of a loss of shape and disorganisation on several occasions defensively with the first goal seeing Dijksteel track his man but three defenders following one Wednesday player and leaving another completely unmarked in the middle who scored. Boro actually had 4 defenders versus 3 attackers and somehow contrived to leave Ingelsson completely unmarked and looked drawn to the ball rather than to the men. Incidentally, Ingelsson ran all the way from his own half unmarked with Barlaser closest but instead running to the ball where two Boro defenders were already were.
Not for the first time Boro got caught out when teams run at them after losing possession - definitely think we're missing Morris as Clive mentioned and hopefully he's back soon. Hackney had another poor game in midfield and we got outrun in the second half particularly in the first 15 minutes.
Unfortunately Boro will now be without Sol Brynn for quite a while after he dislocated his shoulder with Carrick saying it 'looks a bad one' - pity because he's looked very good and confident in goal.
Actually now that I have lowered the blood pressure with three(!) pints of Timothy Taylors Landlord I realise that Boro gave us a treat in showing us both Boro teams in one game. The first brilliant attacking football and three goals version of Boro and, in the same game 'Typical Boro' where they can't pass and the opposition seem to have 50% more players on the field. Brilliant. Well that's what I console myself with!
Tonight OFB I have four cans of Guinness Nitrosurge Draught and my pourer to test. What could go wrong on on Sunday when the prospect is viewed through dark glasses.
UTB,
John
Apparently it’s 3-4 months to fully recover from a dislocated shoulder so Brynn probably out for rest of season 🙁
An excellent report from Dom Shaw in the NE which says it all about the season to date and confirms the club is underperforming.
😎
@werdermouth. As soon as he came off yesterday I Googled dislocated shoulder and it confirmed exactly what you posted.
Glover did not fill me with confidence yesterday (not that he ever has) and nearly cost us a goal with his first kick.
Perhaps we will be able to recruit a keeper with the money from LL, the guy at Villa could do a job for us and might sort out the defence at the same time. 🤣😎
I forgot that I could have watched the game on the red button, which was probably a blessing. As others have said, OFB having a great day is far more important than the result.
Our family have now left for all corners of the UK, after a week of fun and frolics - we’re knackered but extremely happy to have had so many members of the extended family together, so, for once, the football seems a bit insignificant.
There are many posts on here expressing a lack of confidence in our coach, which I fully understand, but wonder who we could replace him with that would satisfy us as fans.
Promotion is looking increasingly unlikely but there’s a long way to go so maybe it could still happen. I’ve said before that I don’t see the Premier League as a particularly attractive Nirvana, although maybe the financial advantages outweigh the prospect of loss after loss each week.
I guess it is, what it is, and we should be grateful that we’re all still around to suffer at the hands of our boys in red.
@original-fat-bob - I went to the Ploated Pheasant yesterday evening, after my return from The Riverside. It allowed me to watch Wolves v Manchester United. The Guinness tap had a towel over it, and I was aware of some "supply issues" with the Irish dark stout in recent weeks. They were selling cans of Guinness instead of draught....
@martin-bellamy. I agree with you about the PL, especially the thought of being on the end of a hammering each week as the current squad would undoubtedly suffer.
The consolation would be that, if used properly, the riches would ensure survival for years to come.
What I find most frustrating is that clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Wolves can manage to survive/thrive for more than one season when they do get promoted and yet we can’t. 🤔😎
In one of OFB’s earlier posts he summarised the effect of being a dedicated Boro supporter when he said “All the crowd around me knew what was going to happen from the moment that the first Sheffield Wednesday goal went in”. We all knew didn’t we but why do they persist in putting us through this torment? Will it ever end?
It's been a very interesting discussion since yesterday. I'm especially intrigued by all of the philosophical ones about the nature of what's important to us, with a clarity of thought often aided by a drink of choice.
My son was home for Christmas and we watched the Owls match together via BoroLive.
He was asking me about Marcus Forss, though. I said he was back from the long term hamstring problem but has had some niggles since his two substitute appearances. I hope we hear an update on the fitness of the Finnish international soon.
Secondly, I would be interested in knowing what is the state of play with Leninhan's injury. He has been out for over a year now, if I remember corrrecly. He is a leader on the field and was missed yesterday.
Up the Boro!
@k-p-in-spain The reality is, that teams such as Middlesbrough, need to sell, to “reinvest” in new stock.
I can fully understand Martin’s take on gaining promotion to the EPL, only to suffer the same fate as Luton, Ipswich and other teams that that get beaten nearly every week.
However, Mr Gibson must sincerely believe in going for promotion, since he continues to stump up millions just to keep us afloat, and the top that up with what he is allowed to, under the financial rules.
He has invested a tidy sum this season in new players and the paying fans have coughed up with the increased ST payments.
But what value have the majority of paying fans actually seen at the Riverside? It has generally been poor fare. Six wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats. The draws and defeats against teams you would hope to beat. We did beat Sheffield United, but lost to Blackburn. The only teams above us.
So those still hoping for the playoffs, there are Burnley, Leeds, Sunderland, and Watford still to come. We are so inconsistent, that it is hard to believe it could be possible. How could anybody be optimistic.
Is Mr Gibson optimistic? After all it is he that will make the important decisions during the month to come. Invest more money in an underperforming team? Even he must be asking himself, is Carrick capable of taking the team up a notch.
Fortunately I am I not the one in charge of the decisions. If I was Mr Gibson and a twenty million offer, without add ons, came in for Latte Lathe, then I would take it.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, especially given our chances of the playoffs are diminishing every week.
The standard of discourse on this Forum, particularly after a match as disappointing as this one, is way beyond what you’d read on other online fan contributions.
There have been plenty of thoughtful and constructive posts and an acceptance that some things are more important than football. I’m delighted to be part of such a sensible and well meaning group of people.
Thanks to everyone who’s added their ten pence worth.
@martin-bellamy. I agree with you about the PL, especially the thought of being on the end of a hammering each week as the current squad would undoubtedly suffer.
The consolation would be that, if used properly, the riches would ensure survival for years to come.
What I find most frustrating is that clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Wolves can manage to survive/thrive for more than one season when they do get promoted and yet we can’t. 🤔😎
(my bold)
Contribution to the discussion to the Beeb's live commentary on the Brighton vs Brentford match (currently 0-0):
The incredible rise of Brighton & Brentford is not merely a co-incidence. Been built on a platform of long term planning, structure, bravery in decision making, recruitment & real charismatic leaders as their respective managers. Case study for other aspiring teams.
Jarkko
Currently watching the Finnish detective / police series freezing embrace by Walter Presents.
It’s certainly taking my mind off the Boro performance recently ! (Oh no it isn’t !)
Is this scenario a strategy dreamt up by Woodgate to take over as manager and get rid of Carrick ? He seemed to be giving Carrick all the options on the touch line the other day when we made some disastrous substitutes !
On the other hand looking at the Opposition substitutions did anyone notice how gigantic those guys were ???
OFB