Wed 1st January 2025 - KO 5.30pm
When Hull visited the Riverside only four weeks ago under temporary manager Andy Dawson most of the pundits were expecting a dour last ditch defensive performance from the relegation-threatened visitors . Instead we saw a team trying to play the ball out from the back, a tactic which played into our hands. Adopting a high press we largely kept the visitors pinned back into their own half, finding generous spaces to exploit whenever we turned over the ball.
A spectacular strike from Azaz with his weaker left foot followed by a clever looped header from Conway from a pinpoint Doak cross gave us a comfortable interval lead, though there had been a potentially game-changing scare when Borges found himself on the wrong side of Hull’s Joao Pedro. Grabbing the Brazilian’s shirt and bringing him down as he broke through on goal could easily have been a red-card offence, but the referee judged that the Hull striker had gone down too easily. Had the decision gone the other way we could easily have had an uncomfortable preview of the Sheffield Wednesday game on our hands.
As it turned out there was indeed an unexpected Hull revival. A weak header by Dijksteel let in the Hull winger, his cross being well converted by the unmarked Burstow , and, as Hull continued to threaten, the game was being turned on its head. The possibility of Boro conceding points in a game they had dominated was averted only by Doak’s continued threat on our right. The introduction of Giles did nothing to quell Doak’s influence as the Liverpool loanee beat him all too easily on the outside to set up Conway’s dinked coup de grace over the Hull keeper to settle the game.
The appointment of Ruben Selles, the former Reading and Southampton boss, has made the Tigers even more of an unknown quantity than they were a month ago.
As a service to the blog I watched the Hull v Swansea game as a prelude to our Plymouth match. It made for an interesting double-header. I have to say that if both Boro and Hull reproduce the form of those matches then we could be in for an unpleasant shock. Hull played well and far better than the Boro on the day
It seems to be one of the functions of recent match previews to draw attention to some of the pitfalls of fixtures that from a distance seemed to offer some easy pickings. That was the essential message of my Plymouth preview (“I wouldn’t rule out a high scoring draw”), and of Jarkko’s remarkably prescient warnings about the Sheffield Wednesday game.
I’m afraid that it is also the essential message of this piece. Forget about the league tables, What I saw in Selles’ inaugural 2-1 home victory over a disappointing Swansea was a team full of running and enthusiasm doing their best to impress their new boss, and thoroughly deserving of all three points. The scoreline flattered the visitors, and took Hull temporarily out of the relegation zone. In truth Hull did not play or look like a side that was relegation bound
Giles was very impressive. I am not his greatest fan, purely because of his defensive deficiencies, but this was the best i have seen of him since he left us. Hull’s most dangerous attacks came from the left and he was the one providing some real quality in a team performance notable more for its running and effort than slick passing and quality on the ball.
I also have a soft spot for Joao Pedro, a veteran Brazilian striker, who earned his stripes in the Italian leagues. He has no great pace, but is a wily character, who is good on the ball, difficult to knock off it and well capable of putting it in the back of the net given half a chance. He’ll need watching, as Borges can attest.
Selles’ second game in charge at Preston on Boxing Day did not deliver on the promise of the Swansea win. It was an evenly fought game of no great quality decided by a well taken goal by one of Preston’s standout players, midfielder, Brad Potts. Hull had their chances, one of them a sitter, but lacked a cutting edge.
So yesterday’s win at Blackburn came as a surprise but not as a great shock to me. Selles rang the changes to maintain fresh legs and Giles did not even make the squad. It worked to perfection, Hull getting a grip on the game in the second half, scoring a well-worked goal and coming closest to getting another.
Selles is an impressive coach who talks the talk, and he has clearly had an immediate and inspirational effect on his squad, They believe in him and will go into Wednesday’s game with a coherent game plan, commitment and energy to burn. and confidence aplenty after the Blackburn result . They will b expecting to win what has all the makings of a cracking game.
For Boro, last night’s game was like a return to serious Test Match cricket after a mini-series of 20 -over Slog Ball.. The six-fests of the previous two matches replaced by a boring high quality game in which, after much thought, muscle and effort by two well matched opponents there were no winners.
Perfect for me. I never became a Boro supporter because i was seeking cheap thrills.
I agree with all of the comments on the excellence of Fry and Barlaser, but for me the revelation of the night was the 12 minute cameo of Engel who played like a man re-born.. Like all of our left-backs, an all too fallible human being ,he had been taken back to the factory for a re-boot and has re-emerged as a new AI version possessing all kinds of options that simply had not been available on the old model, like skill ,pace , energy , creativity, enthusiasm etc. I hope he comes with a 6 month warranty.
Borges unfortunately didn’t. I feel sorry for the young man. He’s a long way from home and it’s not his fault that he is not up to the job for which he was headhunted.
He was at it again last night. Two major mistakes in the first four minutes which could have cost his team the match. The first led to the all-too- familiar sight of an opposition right winger running into acres of empty space. The second earning Edmondson a third minute yellow card as he attempted to retrieve the situation.
It was Brownhill’s miss of the match that Borges finally had to thank most of all for saving his blushes as he failed to deal with a one-on-one situation with his winger ,who set up the chance.
A lot has been said about our poor defensive record but our failure to recruit a decent defensively minded left back has been our Achilles heel all season. A great deal of discussion centred around our deficiencies against Leeds, for example, but for me the game could be summed up in a simple sentence: Leeds’ best player, Dan James, was pitted against our weakest. It was no match, and every Leeds goal, near miss and dangerous cross came from that source. We matched Leeds man for man everywhere else around the pitch, but not there. It was the game’s determining factor and much the same could be said about last week’s defensive shambles at Plymouth.
Leaked stories about our intentions in the January window are not encouraging. Carrick has already pushed back against the suggestion of a loan deal for Gilbert, and I cannot imagine that he is pleased about the crazy idea that Jones is surplus to requirements. The seeds of that idea were sown last summer, the plan being, apparently, to create the space for Scott’s protege, Hamilton. We need to look no further than that to find the cause of Jones’s fall off in form and confidence. The fact of the matter is that if Jones leaves then next summer we will have no proven right winger, and he will join Morsy and Watmore in Scott’s list of players sold from under his managers.
From a defensive point of view I don’t see the point of our continued interest in Giles, though Carrick was always positive about the lad. And all the signs are that Latte Lath may go. Given the physical intensity of Conway’s game he is always likely to be injury prone, which to my mind suggests that we need two more strikers to replace the one we lose. I suspect we will get one, plus a lot of flannel about having Burgzorg and Forss ready to step into the breach if necessary.
My prediction for the Hull game is that while we will have the quality in the squad to win, Hull will come into the game wit the momentum and the energy. It won’t be an easy game and it may well be yet another draw. I’ll go for 2-2.
Finally a happy and above all healthy 2025 to everyone on this wonderful blog. Each and every one of you has done more to restore my faith in humanity than all of the billionaires and politicians who hold our fate and that of our planet in their hands. Thanks and best wishes to you all.
Thanks Len for another flowing high quality preview with excellent analysis of both our opponents and the problems facing Boro as they attempt to keep their top six aspirations on track.
It’s fair to say that there are no easy games in the Championship and the moment you think so then you are swiftly back down to earth.
Boro probably need a win but will need to perform to even get a point - fingers crossed again 🤞
Thank you Len, for an(other) excellent and informed opener. I have to admit that I am concerned about this match. I too had noticed Hull's upturn over the last few weeks and all of us here have been concerned about our continuing Jekyll and Hyde performances.
At our best we will beat any team in this division, at our worst we will get beaten by any team in this division. The worry is we can never be confident about which Boro will take to the pitch in any fixture, or even in any half.
I agree with Len that Engel did enough in his short spell on Sunday to impress and I hope he is given a start. Glover doesn't fill me with confidence... is there any news on Dieng? If not Dieng, then has anyone had the chance to see young Shea Connor in action for the U21s?
I don't like Burgzorg playing out left. I would prefer to see McGree start if that is how MC wants to set the formation up. Otherwise, for me Burgzorg would be better playing as a centre forward with ELL playing off him.
I don't know about others in here, but I am beginning to think that Doak has been sussed at this level. Certainly as we have played him tied to the right he has looked progressively less and less effective over recent games. It was interesting to see him moving across the field a couple of times later in the Burnley game. Was that him trying to get into the game I wonder, or was it following instructions from MC. I do think that Jones seemed to offer us more when he replaced Doak and it is a shame he was not introduced earlier. I would rest Doak and start Jones on Wednesday.
Captain on the field of play is the other big issue we have. I agree with everyone about Hackney not being the man for the job. He needs to concentrate on his own game and arguably some of his loss of form coincides with him wearing the armband. Edmundsen would be my choice if neither of Howson or Ayling start.
No prediction as such from me. We cannot afford to lose the game and if we are to remain serious contenders for a top 6 finish, we have to start winning games.
So all that remains for now is to echo Len's good wishes for the New Year back to him and to each and everyone of you in here. Let's hope it's a good one for all of us, for everyone we hold dear and for that team we all adore that plays in red and white...
As an aside. I see Rooney has parted company with Plymouth. Not before time and I really hope they will turn a corner now and get themselves safe before the end of the season.
The crazy thing is that you can imagine some other club is going to be swayed by his (former?) celebrity and appoint him as manager. Will Lampard last the season at Coventry I wonder...
Thank you very much for an excellent starter, Len. As ever, a very interesting article.
Sorry to jump to another matter now, but I was really surprised to see Nottm Forest being second in the EPL table. Second! Have they found another Brian Clough or something?
I see that their home attendances have been around 29 500 spectators this season. The capacity at the City Ground is 30,404. Boro's capacity is currently 34 742.
What I try to say, is that the West Bridgford club is not really bigger than Boro. Ok, the Nottingham Built-up Area (BUA) - or Nottingham Urban Area - is bigger with around 730 000 people living in there.
Still they are doing well in the EPL. Like many smaller teams like Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, etc. So if we ever get promoted, we should do well there. Of course, we should not bring in 14 new players and hope to hit the ground running. We made mistakes when Karanka's team got promoted.
But first things first. We need to keep our position in the top six. So I hope we will win for a change. We have drawn the last three matches (unbeaten in four), but Hull is a tough opponent, though. We need to play well and concentrate on our own performance.
Up the Boro!
Boro should be looking to win the next 2 games to consolidate their league position. Draws are not a great help although I fear that may be the outcome tomorrow.
I am uneasy when I see Glover in goal and hope that Engel starts even if he has to come off before the end if tired. Burgzorg could be given a try on the right as clearly he can’t/ won’t cross the ball with his left. He is so predictable cutting infield when playing on the left - as he repeatedly did at Huddersfield.
There has been comments about a captain. No obvious candidates as a leader. I’d be tempted with Edmundson with his wholehearted displays but maybe that doesn’t feel right when he’s only here on loan.
The vibes are that Latte Lath will be departing if the comments of his agent are correct. If so, I hope it’s sooner rather than later so Boro can line up a replacement- essential as Conway’s injury may take time to get right. This could be an opportunity for the forgotten man - Forss ( although he’s missed so much football he’s got to be rusty.) I’ve seen snippets of the young Stockport player recently recalled by Aston Villa (?) who could be a useful acquisition.
Meanwhile, non of the young Boro fringe players consistently on the bench seem to be sufficiently thought of by Carrick to be given a chance.They don’t seem to be playing much football and Under 21 games are no substitute for a brief appearance in the Big Boys League( Championship)
Fingers crossed for tomorrow
Philip of Huddersfield
👍👍😁
Another great starter, Len. Like you I fear a loss of points tomorrow - if we’re the real deal we need to win the next two games but I wouldn’t bet in it.
Can someone remind me when the January transfer window opens please? Is it tomorrow? I suspect ELL will leave but if we’re serious about promotion we could do with him staying. Having said that, a disgruntled striker, denied a second chance of a move to a Premier League club, isn’t an ideal situation.
Len
Many thanks for a great leading piece which encapsulates our current situation and outlines our deficiencies and problems for future games.
This is a season I thought would be ours and leading from a position in the top two automatic slots. To see Boro struggle agains bottom of the league and lesser teams is disappointing but let’s face it, we should expect it, as this blog was originally called ‘Typical Boro” !
Whilst I don’t really like to blame individual players, our left back position has been weak and caused and still causing the team to leak goals at an alarming rate all season.
i don’t think we can afford to let Lath go unless we have a ready made replacement for him as it’s not just his goals but his energy in tracking back which we would have to replace.
Hopefully Morris is nearing full fitness as we’ve missed him in midfield and this may regenerate Hackney who let’s face it is not a captain and pulling his performances down.
As I’ve said before I would appoint Fry as captain to lead from the back and he spoke well whilst being interviewed the other day. I don’t think Boro should appoint players who are here on loan as a captain, however capable and it has to be a permanent signing and preferably a Boro lad.
i also think Doak has been sussed and whilst he did start to roam on the field the other day, his substitution by Jones made a difference.
Dijksteel has settled into the right back role and looks the part and his speed is important to track back when playing against wingers with pace.
I would say in conclusion that I echo all those sentiments said about fellow blog members and hope they all have a wonderful, healthy and safe 2025 !
Really appreciate your hard work on this Len you are really a star !
OFB
Thank you Len for a most enjoyable and balanced read as always, much appreciated.
At the risk of upsetting many, I was not overly impressed by the result of the Burnley game as it was a missed opportunity to make ground on the teams above us, which we failed to do. As in the away game, we were more than a match for Burnley with both teams tending to cancel one another out and failing to take their few chances created on the night.
It was pleasing to see a clean sheet and that we were defensively better organised but this was, to a degree, at the expense of our attacking threat. We have seen this in the past and MC and his team have yet to get the balance right and until they do so I fear that inconsistency of performances will prevail.
We have now played all the teams above us once, Burnley twice, and gained 5 points from a possible 15, W1 L2 D2. We have also lost to Watford who are just below us with a game in hand as have Blackburn, which doesn’t suggest we would be favourites to prevail in the playoffs.
The longer the season has gone on my conviction that we can achieve promotion is waning and even if we can secure a top six slot, I question whether the team has the mental strength, consistency of performance and resilience to come through the play offs and a final.
I hope they can but the team will need to display a significant upturn in the second half of the season. If we can retain LL, get Morris back into the side and with a fit Conway and Howson available then we may a chance. That is all without factoring in any changes that may emerge during the transfer window.
I agree that Borges is not at the required standard and that despite Engel’s shortcomings he is a better option. I am also not convinced that HH’s downturn in performances is anything to do with being made captain in JH’s absence, as some have suggested. It is to a large degree a symbolic role and doesn’t add a lot of extra responsibility in my view; he has not been performing at his previous level for some time and before he was handed the armband.
Doak is not producing as he did when he first arrived, in part through teams working out how best to negate him, so MC and his coaches need to try and find other solutions. Jones is an option but remains a frustration and would seem better suited to be used in a substitute defensive role, when needing to close games out.
As for tomorrow, who knows. We need a win but lurking in the background is the possibility of another Jekyll and Hyde performance against a revitalised Hull experiencing the new manager bounce.
Fingers crossed that untypical Boro turn up.
Finally, my best wishes to one and all for a happy and healthy 2025, coupled with success for our beloved Boro. 😎
Len another great starter, really well done. I'm giving out gold stars like Christmas Quality Street for these headliners!
So it's Hull City next, another team out there in the back of beyond a bit like the way people seem to view Boro but do we care? I thought not. Another team whose colours I've always liked and like Norwich have a sneaking admiration for the way they just battle on. It will be, as everyone has said a tough game, but as we all know they all are in his league so no change there.
I don't see the result as either of OFB's Bingo callers new favourites, eyes in the sky, zero or Number three Boro's favourite (or perhaps even thirty three should be the current favourite). For this one I'll go for 'key of the door', 2 - 1 as long as it's to Boro and we almost always concede.
I still feel that Latte Lath is a done deal and I'll be very interested to see what the fee will be, let's hope it is sorted out quickly.
All best for the New Year to everyone.
UTB,
John
The January transfer window opens tomorrow and will close at 11 pm on February 3.Another great starter, Len. Like you I fear a loss of points tomorrow - if we’re the real deal we need to win the next two games but I wouldn’t bet in it.
Can someone remind me when the January transfer window opens please? Is it tomorrow? I suspect ELL will leave but if we’re serious about promotion we could do with him staying. Having said that, a disgruntled striker, denied a second chance of a move to a Premier League club, isn’t an ideal situation.
Up the Boro!
I expect a win, if we are the team we think we are in this division, then it's time, it's time every player fights for a win, talent will get you so far, but the opposition with let's say lesser ability on paper will play above themselves to get their win, and I'm starting to wonder the character of certain players, how can someone like Lathe lose the ball high up the field , and chase back to defend,when others can't be bothered to even put a foot in to tackle, we know them.
It's crunch time , no more shudda cudda if only , No , it's time for Carrick and his staff, to lay the law down, replace , the only now and again performances, if your not willing to dig in, your out.
I have no idea what's going to happen in January, at what time I felt ,were fine don't need anything, really, but it's obvious we have issues, regarding consistency, and Consistency gets a team with talent, gets you up.
All the best to everyone in the New Year , COB
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed that there has not been a Carrick pre match press conference again, there wasn’t one prior to the Burnley game either, did someone upset him after the Shef Wed game (apart from the players).
All the best to everyone for the New Year.
Come on BORO.
On Hayden Hackney you simply have to use the evidence of your eyes to see that something is seriously amiss.
Even before the Burnley game at Turf Moor his appearance in the tunnel was shocking. As many on here observed, rubbing his eyes, bedraggled and unkempt he looked more like a lost soul than a team captain.
This was a far cry from the young athlete, fit and well-groomed who made such an impression from the moment he was given his first-team opportunity.
A far cry too from Carrick's description of him as a model young professional, first to arrive for training and the last to leave, who was destined for a great future in the game.
A far cry, even, from the beginning of the season when he had the energy to get up and support his attack, weighing in with crucial goals when they were eluding all of our forwards.
Now he looks like a sofa surfer, in need of a week's good sleep and some routine and discipline in his life away from football
Let's not forget that Hayden is just a kid, 22 years old in 2024. He's now a famous local lad and will be the subject of attention from all kinds of influences, many of them not benign.
Put yourselves, mature and intelligent Diasborians, into that situation when you were 22 with all of the freedom, money and local celebrity that Hayden enjoys. What would you have done? How would you have lived your life? How would you have coped?
My personal answer to all of those questions is "I shudder to think".
I don't think we should underestimate either the effect of the bug that has gone through the club.
I've had it for three weeks now and the little perisher shows no signs of leaving just yet.
You can see its effects upon Edmondson, who is not the sort to give in to these kind of inconveniences. He is soldiering on manfully , but it is inevitably affecting his performances.
The mark on Carrick's face is somehow emblematic of a club trying to cope with the tensions and pressures of this part of the season amidst a torrent of illnesses and injuries. It was originally a distraction during his interviews. Now it looks like quite a condition in need of serious medical intervention. The manager looks to be as much in need of rest and recuperation as the rest of his squad.
He won't be getting it any time soon but I do hope that the club is keeping a close eye on Hackney and providing for him the help and advice he clearly needs
I’d like to add my congratulations, Len, on yet another masterpiece! As ever, you present a really well-balanced, cogent and beautifully written piece. I don’t think any of your articles would be out of place in the sports pages of the quality newspapers.
Len has made me think again of the challenges facing us tomorrow. I hadn’t realised Hull had appointed Selles, nor that they are resurgent. I was rather thinking this would be a relatively easy game. I should know better after Plymouth and others! Nonetheless, we need to win and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t, but it certainly won’t be easy.
Clubs may have sussed Ben Doak and have started double marking him, but I do hope Ryan Giles plays at left back tomorrow, as Ben tortured him at The Riverside.
A very happy New Year to you all. I hope 2025 brings you all the happiness you all wish for.
On another note, it was interesting during the Burnley game , for a period he pushed Latte to the left and put Berzhog up front, was that a sign ,of things to come
@exmil. Yes I did as I always look out for them. I noticed that the Plymouth one was not the usual one with the press but an in house club or radio tees interview which was posted on the club website.
I suspect is is just the time of the year and once the festive period and matches coming thick and fast have slowed down it will be back to business as usual. 😎
@lenmasterman Hope you’re recovered soon from the bug - funnily enough I woke up this morning with terrible sore throat and feeling rough so the New Year celebrations will be mild side rather than wild 🥳😷😴
Happy New Year to all on Diasboro 🥂
@werdermouth I’ve succumbed too, having picked it up from the family over Xmas. No pub for me tonight, I’m afraid.
At least we should be match fit tomorrow without a hangover 🤞
Get well soon to those of you that have succumbed to the many bugs doing the rounds; hope it does not impact your celebrations too greatly and that Boro can provide you with a tonic tomorrow. 😎
At least we should be match fit tomorrow without a hangover 🤞
Don’t bank on it - I’ve got a supply of various single malts which I may well use to self-medicate.
Here’s one for all the Arithmomaniacs celebrating the arrival of 2025…
20 + 25 = 45
452 = 2025
I really like that Werder.Here’s one for all the Arithmomaniacs celebrating the arrival of 2025…
20 + 25 = 45
452 = 2025
Don’t bank on it - I’ve got a supply of various single malts which I may well use to self-medicate.
Hopefully on prescription 😏
Thanks again, Len, for your Match Preview. I enjoy reading the posts you write even though this one makes me a little less enthusiastic about predicting a (much needed) Boro win at Hull.
I must say that, although I had been aware Hayden Hackney's recent performances didn't show the dynamism and cutting contribution he displayed last season, I had not noticed anything about his appearance that made me concerned for his welfare or lifestyle. If there is anything in that, I really hope the club is aware and doing whatever is needed to help him out.
He is, of course, 22 years old and an adult. I am aware that, as part of its educational work with academy players, MFC does give information and lessons about the perils that might face a young professional footballer from a lifestyle and similar prespectives when he starts receiving the money that even a club like Boro can afford to pay. It would actually be foolish of a club not to do so. If Hackney continued the progress he showed when he first broke through as a first team player, he should be worth many millions to the club. Even if he couldn't achieve his football dreams with Boro, he could at least be responsible for putting enough back into the kitty to give some chance for the supporters' dreams to continue.
Jarkko - I am delighted with the start Nottingham Forest has made. I tend to support the underdog in these situations. The winning of the League Title by Leicester City was one of the best things to have happened in football in my lifetime. At the moment, and acknowledging there is a long way to go this season in all the English leagues, for me the winner of Manager of the Season is the man coaching Forest.
I will stay at home tonght but after the next pot of tea the wine will be opened and, in order to keep Martin company, I'll finish with a couple of glasses of Penderyn Single Malt, Madeira finish. Best wishes to all of you out there, even if the New Year has already started almost a day ago for some of you (looking at you in Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific islands!).
that would be a fine thing here in Scotland where Prescriptions are free 🥳Don’t bank on it - I’ve got a supply of various single malts which I may well use to self-medicate.
Hopefully on prescription 😏
That said, I don't really do whisky, single malt or not. I'm more of an Armagnac man myself.
Happy New Year to all. Thanks for the opener Len. Ryan Giles will be in their squad tonight, he had a hamstring issue at Preston so missed the Blackburn game. Ben Doak has been named as EFL Young Player of the month. Expecting a tough game tonight and think a draw is a likely outcome. Referee is Lee Doughty who hasn't refereed us this season but in the past has officiated in a number of away wins.
Len ; thank you, superb. I particularly enjoyed "cheap thrills". I agree with Sia - I do want cheap thrills - providing we come out on top. Let's hope for New Year fireworks and a 2-3 Boro win. Best wishes to everyone for 2025. Chris
It's here. 2025, or 45x45 as Werder would say.
Happy New Year everyone 🍾🥂