Saturday August 17th - KO 12.30 pm at Pride Park
So the day after the night before….
And after what must have been the most exhilarating, skilful and emphatic performances by Boro’s second string in the entire history of the club, the big question for Saturday is “Who can possibly be dropped?’
Carrick, wisely, would never accept the terms in which I posed the question. He has always insisted that this is a squad game. There is no “second string”. Just a strong squad, any member of which has to be ready to step up at any time.
Well on Wednesday evening ,in the intimidating atmosphere of Elland Road, the entire team stepped up.
In terms of the squad “philosophy”, of everyone at some stage being given the opportunity to step in and make the position his own, the question of who gets dropped when everyone on the pitch played up to and beyond expectations, becomes even more difficult.
For opportunities on Wednesday were grabbed not simply with both hands, but with both feet and with a JCB-short of course, with exquisite irony, for Joseph Cyril Bamford, the company’s founder.
Dijksteel, I assume, has to play after his goal and M-o-M performance. He should also be removed summarily from the list of players for whom offers might be considered.
Conway, if and when eventually signed, will not be match fit after a long lay-off and will need time to be integrated into the squad, so Coburn, who did everything asked of him and more, should also be an automatic choice.
If there was a weakness against Leeds it was in the first half when Coburn needed support from an auxiliary central striker, a role for which Gilbert was not really suited. On Saturday Latte Lath alongside Coburn would be an ideal combination.
When Gilbert took up his more orthodox midfield role his control, passing, and movement were major contributors to our second half superiority. He really deserves to be retained.
So does Morris, who after two games looks to have established himself as a permanent fixture in the side. After a promising debut against Swansea, he was immense against Leeds, excellent throughout, but particularly standing strong when the going was at its toughest in the first twenty minutes. He has to play.
There is a strong case for Barlaser too, another who should be removed from the ‘available’ list..
He has always been one of our best distributors of the ball, and this was arguably his best game for the Boro, a calming controlling presence in both halves -of the pitch, and the game.
Dieng, as first choice keeper, will return, but I was happy with Brynn. He made a crucial early save, though there were a couple of lapses in concentration late in the game.
I could not be a greater admirer of the talents of Hackney, McGree and Ayling, all of whom I had assumed would be the backbone of the team and automatic choices when fit this season. But I think there is a case for for having them all on the bench at Derby and giving a vote of confidence to many of those who started against Leeds. They thoroughly deserve it, and what a prospect to have so much strength coming on for the last half hour.
To return to Coburn. Last week I urged Boro not to fumble the Tommy Conway transfer. We need another striker to augment Latte Lath, Coburn and the promising, but inexperienced Sonny Finch because we need to have four strikers to see us through the season.
I question the quality and logic of Kieran Scott’s thinking on strikers which has left us deficient in this department for for too long now.
Last season we were seemingly very relaxed about having only two main line strikers, a mismanaged situation which came back to bite us . When both were injured we were compelled to play too many games using Sam Greenwood and even, heaven help us, Silvera up front ,a situation ultimately as damaging to our play-off prospects as our poor start to the season.
And now here we are again. I deplore the briefings to the media that Coburn will be dispensed with once Conway arrives. The lad deserves better than that and I really felt sorry for him when the Sky reporter asked him about his leaving the club after his wholehearted display just minutes earlier.
You could see how upset the young man was, how committed to the club and the area and how unfair the entire situation was to him. Quite why he has to be discarded because we are signing an additional striker must be as mystifying to him as it is to most Boro supporters, with whom he has always been popular.
A decision to discard him could well cost us promotion this season when the inevitable injuries begin to take their toll, a case that Carrick will no doubt be putting to his ’superiors’.
And so to Derby, a city with a great footballing tradition (it was one of the Football League’s founding members), a fine stadium and wonderful support. Last season Pride Park attracted an average of over 27,000 spectators to its Division One games, a figure higher than that of six Premier League clubs
The problems inflicted upon the club by its previous Chairman, Mel Morris have been well documented, but under head coach Paul Warne they are now back in the Championship after a two season absence, where their primary aim will be simply to survive and consolidate.
After Boro’s comprehensive win at Leeds, Derby will be quaking in their boots. This is not a fixture they will have wanted so early, and if Boro reproduce anything like their midweek form there can only be one result.
But this will be, like Leeds, another great occasion. An important game in a great stadium with the home team roared on for their opening Championship game by a raucous and partisan full house.
Boro will need to keep their nerve, quieten the crowd, maintain their current defensive solidity against an attack that will rely more on energy and enthusiasm than skill, and play their own football. Wednesday’s match could not have been a more fitting dress rehearsal
On paper Derby look to have had a shaky start to the league season. In their opening fixture against Blackburn, themselves widely tipped to be Championship strugglers this time around, they trailed 4-1 until a late goal gave a veneer of respectability to the final scoreline.
In fact the Rams gave a pretty good account of themselves. After a disappointing first half in which they fell behind and offered little threat going forward, they took control of the game.
For 25 minutes after the interval, only 3% of the game took place in Blackburn’s attacking third, and when Derby deservedly equalised there looked to be only one winner.
As Derby pressed forward they were exposed at the back by three quality Blackburn substitutes, each of whom weighed in with a goal to put the game well beyond the visitors’ reach.
There were some clear lessons for the Boro. Both Derby goals and most of their near misses came from corners and set pieces, so sitting deep ,inviting pressure, and conceding unnecessary free-kicks in our own half would allow Derby to play to their strengths.
The pattern continued in the Rams’ mid-week cup win in the Derbyshire derby against Chesterfield. Derby’s winning goal coming from a corner converted by new signing Jackson, who had made little impression as a stand-in striker at Blackburn.
Derby’s success from corners doesn’t come simply from having big lads from the back who are capable of lethal headers, though they certainly have that.
It has more to do with the variety and creativity of their set-ups. No two corners are alike, and it is the hard work and imagination that has obviously gone into the coaching of their set-pieces that is most striking.
Boro’s defenders will be required to think on their feet and adapt to changing situations if they are to achieve their fourth consecutive clean sheet.
On the other hand Derby’s reliance on set-pieces conceals an obvious problem: they offered little threat going forward from open play. They are currently without a central striker, new signing Yates being suspended, and this is an obvious area of weakness.
Their most potent threat going forward was Mendez-Laing, which will tell Boro supporters al that they need to know.
But for me their most impressive player was their loan signing from Crystal Palace, David Ozoh, a 19 year old midfielder who on his debut was an imposing midfield presence, both in defence and attack, and in spite of some rough edges looked like a Premier League player in the making.
But when all is said and done Boro have the pace and talent to exploit Derby’s weaknesses in transition.
Anything other than a Boro win would be some disappointment.
But hey, this is football. This is the Boro. And this is a newly promoted team with a big crowd behind them.
Anything can happen, but Wednesday’s result must surely have induced a high degree of optimism in even the most cautious of Boro fans.
I’ll be happy with another 0-3
A superb starter, Len, highlighting the selection “problem” MC will face this season. I’ve never been a massive fan of Josh C, but he put in a shift last night and that through ball was a thing of beauty - like you I think there’d be merit on hanging on to him for the time being, unless we get an offer which is too good to ignore.
I can’t see beyond a Boro win at Derby - two league wins out of two would be a tremendous start to our campaign.
Excellent Len, Exceptional. Thank you.
Let's all hope Boro hit the same high standard at the weekend. To be in the automatic promotion places Wednesday's form is needed for every game. IS that possible?
Well we've yet to see OFB's prediction, I'm sure that as the Marton Oracle he's examining the entrails, tea leaves and runes as I type.
Right now for the lottery...
UTB,
John
Thank you Len for another superb piece of writing and sports journalism which would not look out of place in a top quality newspaper.
This blog has truly found its niche with the various contributors that we have and for that I am grateful.
As John said the Marton Oracle has been consulted and it’s. a 4gone conclusion !
OFB
What a great opening piece of writing Len, with a highly informative and well researched introduction to this season's Derby County. Thsnk you.
You also encapsulated what could be the biggest challenge for our still developing young manager, how to permutate the best selection from what looks like the strongest squad we have enjoyed for many years.
I agree about keeping JC and how insensitivity the media has reacted. I would love it if he were to continue to develop in our red and white shirts. However, this is a business as well a football club and so the numbers must also add up. On that basis we will have to trust in the management to make the best decision for everyone concerned.
As for the game in Saturday it would be great to see the same confident domination that was apparent after half time at Elland Road, but I suspect Derby County ( how refreshing they got their own identity back from having once been Wayne Rooney's Derby County ) will prove a more stubborn opposition than a disjointed Leeds. I'll be happy for us not to lose on Saturday, but happier still to win by the only goal in the game.
Thank you Len for another excellent, informative and enjoyable read; as others have said, journalism of the highest order.
I wholeheartedly concur with your views on Josh Coburn and said so in my after match comments on Thursday morning; he has to stay as does Alex Gilbert if we are to build and maintain a promotion winning team. MC’s biggest challenge will be his rotation policy and keeping them all happy.
I also agree that Dieng apart, and this is not a criticism of Brynn, we could start with the same team as on Wednesday with RvDB in for the injured Howson. I don’t think MC will do so and unlike you expect to see the return of Ayling, McGree, Hackney, RvDB and Latte Lath.
This could well be a more difficult game than Wednesday and we will need to show the same amount of organisation and determination to overcome a Derby team who will be roared on by a very partisan home crowd.
We need to display the consistency which was lacking for most of last season and hopefully come away with all three points against a newly promoted team and at least one point as a minimum; the other result would be unthinkable but as you rightly point out this is the Boro. CoB 😎
Thanks KP for your generous comments. I've written about what I would like to see on team selection, but I agree with you that i don't think it will happen, a view strengthened by recent comments in the press about the future of Josh and Alex Gilbert.
Azaz, on the other hand, who has yet to fulfil the promise that he showed at Plymouth, seems bomb-proof.
I wonder if that has anything to do with Scott's going on the record to claim exclusive credit for signing the player. It had nothing to do with the influence of the coaching staff.
That appeared to be a petty barb aimed at the general perception that the successful loan signings of Archer and Ramsey had been mainly attributed to the influence of Danks, who knew both players at Villa.
Azaz, as a former Villa man, fell into the same category, Hence Scott's weird and, I would have thought, divisive interjection
Thanks Len for another stylish preview that was right on the money from my point of view - the Championship season has proved to be one of attrition and playing twice a week soon sees the injuries pile up - especially as most coaches deploy high-intensity tactics where fitness is the key element.
I'd agree with keeping hold of Coburn as he offers much leading the line and he was unlucky last season in being forced to play with an injury for most of it that probably made it worse as there were no other fit strike options. Surely a lesson for the club in that expecting the worse must trump the worry of keeping everyone happy.
Indeed, there's an argument for keeping your strikers fresh with early substitutions and rotation during heavy fixture periods. So on that basis I'd agree that 4 strikers is a must for a team with promotion ambitions. Plus who knows if that 'offer to good to refuse' arrives late in the window for Latte Lath as the lower PL teams desperately scramble for options - what then if you've already loaned out one of your other options.
Success in the Championship is all about having quality in depth and players hungry to impress - it certainly looks that way at the moment for Boro but it doesn't take more than a few injuries and if a few are loaned out then that depth looks more shallow.
Still, we appear to have made some good signings already in Morris, Burgzorg and Hamilton - plus Dijksteel's resurgence is almost like having a new signing, who looks to have rekindled his relationship with Jones down the right.
Anyway, exciting times with both Hackney and McGree back to full fitness and confidence on the up - I guess the only thing to guard against is over-confidence and complacency, which I'm sure Carrick will do but there were a few signs towards the end of the Leeds game of pushing the envelope when playing out from the back that may have been unnecessarily ambitious.
Looking for another 3 points on Saturday and it probably suits Boro to be playing away rather than needing to break down a team at the Riverside.
Brilliant starter there, Len. Many thanks for the second league game of the season headliner. Brilliant.
When we play Derby County away, I will always remember meeting you there, Len. Near the Cloughie statue. I was there with HalifaxP and my wife - I cannot remember the year, though. And then we met for the second time later in Boro when the former players met in May 2015.
I think the match will be difficult. Always when a team has played well for a season and they continue in the level above. Except like Boro who bought about 14 new players after the promotion and was surpriced that the team did not work!
It will be tough as the Derby match comes so soon. So a draw will be accepted by me - but as Werder said, we use to play better away, when the opposition does not park the bus in their own penalty area.
Up the Boro!
An excellent, and emotive, opener Len. Thank you.
The Conway/Coburn conundrum is strange but we must assume Carrick knows what he's doing here.
All emotion and logic points to Josh staying. Why on earth would we want to sell him? He's young, experienced already, local and seems wholly committed to the club. And there's a lot more to him than we've seen I think removed link
Conway by contrast, is eight months older but with no link to the club or area. His interest has to be ambition or money and that's fine but it is an odd chase. That he is taking so long to sign unnerves too.
Their playing and scoring records are almost identical - and nothing special sadly - so it either comes down to three possibilities:
1. MC thinking Conway is a better fit
2. Adopting a gung-ho approach aka 2004 when we signed Viduka, JFH and Yakubu
3. Latte lath is on his way and we need cover.
Hopefully, it's point two but we played with just one striker for good parts of last season and LL, Josh, Conway, Micah added to Forss and Finch don't add up for two positions max.
If we can retain them all however and keep them all happy, then it's top two here we come.
This is a potentially a very good Middlesbrough squad let alone team and managing people may well prove MC's biggest challenge.
Maybe it's time to roll the dice and add more quality while keeping what we have. Maybe that's what it takes.
Some enjoyable contributions for Saturday’s game. I’ll not be mega unhappy with a draw but would be impressed again as we all were on Wednesday evening , with a win.
I am expecting a difficult win simply because it’s Derby’s first home game back in the Championship and a full house will be guaranteed. The Boro supporters will make it a noisy affair with lots of atmosphere.
Regarding Boro’s squad I hope Josh stays. He is usually in the right position when the ball is played into the box and is a natural finisher. He had a successful season long loan at Bristol Rovers two seasons ago. So if he were to be loaned out again, logically he should be going to a Championship team. If this happens he has a right to feel let down as Boro would be saying that Conway is a better player and he would be asking himself what does he have to do to secure his future at Boro.
I fully expect Carrick to select a side very close to those selected for the first game happy in the knowledge that those players on the bench are capable of slotting into the team. I would also like Carrick to bring on his substitutes a little sooner than he tends to do.
Philip of Huddersfield
MFC have confirmed that Conway has signed a 4 year contract with Boro.
Come on BORO.
A great interesting opener Len, thank you, although where you seem to lean towards the team that played Wednesday night, I tend to think what was the point of “resting” 7/8 first team players in preparation for the trip to Derby 🤔.
Would you leave RVB, Lath, McGree etc on the bench, in my opinion Wednesday gave food for thought to Carrick on who should be on the bench, bearing in mind it will not be as large a bench. I don’t think Conway (signed today) will be anywhere near match ready for a while.
It has been previously stated, over past seasons, one good performance doesn’t necessarily make a good season for a player (Sam Greenwood v Leicester as an example). The other thing to consider is what is in the best interest of the player, such as Coburn, Gilbert, a lot of time on the bench or regular football on loan, possibly initially loaned out until January or the option to recall.
I am glad I am not the one to decide, I wish Micheal Carrick and his team the best of luck in his decision making, I have complete faith in him.
Come on BORO.
A note about the new signings this summer. We are yet to sign anyone on loan. So we will have really motivated and committed players in our squad. And players we can keep or sell for good money.
That said, I would not be surpriced if we loan somebody at left back from the EPL until January window, when we know more about the injury and absence of Alex Bangura.
Life is good. I love the club. Up the Boro!
You are probably right that most of the players rested were rested for a reason and that reason being the next Championship game - though with Howson injured it will mean probably Morris playing again and partnering Hackney but Barlaser may get the chance if 3 games in 7 days is considered too much for him.
Whether Jones and Clarke will be up for another start will depend on their fitness levels but otherwise the team should be similar to the one that started against Swansea - in theory Hamilton should get more pitch time but there are plenty of options for Carrick.
It was reported that Finch and McCabe missed out against Leeds because of niggles but their chances now look limited - though midfield is down to 3 and central defence is also short on fit bodies so it may be a case of easing the squad through the opening weeks to avoid anyone picking up anything serious.
Can I add my thanks and congratulations for another superb opener, Len? Two in a week - we really are spoiled!
Keep Josh Coburn? Yes, please!
Boro to win 2-0 tomorrow. But it won’t be easy.
From the Derby site (still unable to copy & paste the team sheet from the Gazette site):
Middlesbrough Starting XI: Dieng (GK), Ayling (C), Hackney, Clarke, Van Den Berg, Morris, Jones, Engel, Azaz, Burgzorg, Latte Lath.
On The Bench: Brynn, Djiksteel, Barlaser, Conway, Hamilton, Gilbert, McCormick, Hunt.
CJ:
So it's one change from the team that started against Swansea last weekend and that one is enforced. McGree's knock means Burgzorg keeps his place from the side that won at Leeds in the cup. He's the only one to stay in though, with all but Howson dropping back to the bench. Howson misses out, as expected.
Interesting that it's Brynn who makes the bench today ahead of Glover, after Glover had been on the bench last weekend. 16yo Harley Hunt on the bench again too, with Lenihan and Fry both confirmed to be missing.
Having been registered in time, Conway is also on the bench today, but it would be a surprise to see him come on because he only signed yesterday and has had a very limited pre-season.
(no problems copying & pasting that! *shakes head*) - my bold
P.S. forgot to say, Len: splendid opener!
Thanks again Len for an excellent written Headliner. Well done.
I think it will be a difficult game today, but these are the games you have to get something out of, if you are looking for the top six spots, especially these first few "easier" on paper games.
I have just seen the team new, with no McGree. I hope this is not another injury issue after signing a new contract.
We have a good number of injuries staring to pile up and only two games in played. Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Bangura, Forss, Howson, McGree. That is a high number to start the season with.
As I have posted before and in Werder's post above, we are only one injury away from a selection issue at CB and it is tight at Midfield. The subs bench today looks a little light in areas for me.
No prediction from me, a draw would not be the end of the world, but a defeat would be disappointing.
County a goal up in the 14th minute. 🙁 CJ:
Disaster from Jones. Cleared from a Boro corner to Jones, who is the man Boro leave back. He looks to go back to Dieng, but gets it completely wrong, given Jackson a free-run to goal. He rounds Dieng and slots home.
"given"? *shakes head*
CJ verdict on the first half:
Boro behind to a self-inflicted wound here. Derby, having been gifted the lead, have been happy to sit in and contain. A particular weakness last term, Boro then haven't been able use possession to craft many clear-cut chances. Have to come up with a way after the break.
Poor display after Jones mistake and then Ayling nearly gave a goal away
needs some changes in the team
OFB
Damn - just missed the first half after forgetting it was a 12:30 kick off again - anyway, surprised to see Boro losing at H-T and hopefully it will be a good second half again!
@werdermouth. Didn’t miss a lot other than Boro shooting themselves in the foot courtesy of Jones! 😎
Poor display after Jones mistake and then Ayling nearly gave a goal away
needs some changes in the team
OFB
None at the start of the second half...
@powmillnaemore I do not really think so to be honest. We have been sloppy at times and much too slow with our build up play. Too many passes and not clinical enough with the chances we have had.
How many shots on target have we had?
I was only kidding Pedro. I agree. But that has always been the problem we have playingv this style of football, we do not play it at a sufficient pace to make the opposition pay.
We have dominated so far, without looking like scoring. Still 15 minutes for some substitutions to turn it around for us ...