let's hope so. He covers a lot of roles.
Van den Berg and Clarke are first choice centre backs but we need to get Lenihan back playing and Fry as cover to sort out the back four with a number of other options amongst Howson and the youngsters.
Midfield is an interesting problem. What odds that Morris gets a rest and Barlaser starts with Hackney against Derby?
UTB
I think my first Championship Preview is not until the end of October so unless somebody else is particularly keen on writing the Round 2 preview then I could probably manage that one.
Genuine question: after years of knowing Leeds as the Whites or, more commonly, the Dirties ( 😉 ), why am I suddenly seeing them also referred to as the Peacocks?
Today, Leeds United are known as simply 'United' or 'Whites', after their present club colours. The club took its previous nickname of the 'Peacocks' from the public house that once stood opposite Elland Road, after having been known as the Citizens during the days of Leeds City.
https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/leeds-united/
I call them Dirties, too. Up the Boro!
Predictions, eh? This is what I wrote pre-Leeds:
‘My heart says we’ll win tomorrow - on penalties, probably. My head, however, thinks we’ll lose, perhaps by the odd goal.’
How wrong can you be? Who’d be a pundit?
Now, my head says it was a simply magnificent performance. My heart says I love Michael Carrick and I ❤️ love this squad. My heart also says we saw the potential league champions last night. In red shirts.
Well that was something of a surprise, I think most of us would agree. The second half was a joy to watch. Whilst taking nothing away from our performance, both clubs made many changes for the kick off and the result shows the MC got his choice to play better than Farke’s.
One area that does still concern me though is the defence. I believe Dieng is a top Championship goalkeeper, and in Glover or Brynn we have an adequate deputy. Although after last night, I would not be surprised to see the former leave.
However, beyond the Clarke / VDB partnership, I think we look vulnerable. It appears Lenahin is not quite there yet for regular playing and Fry could be weeks away for being able to to play 90 minutes.
Our backup choices at the moment are limited, and if we lost either of VDB or Clarke, then we could be in trouble.
As Jarrko said I think, I just do not believe we could even consider letting Dijksteel leave. He is a good squad player to have and retain, even if it it means him leaving on a free next summer. He could have been a better player possibly, if it had not been for his own past issues with injuries.
Ir does not appear as though we have any younger players ready to step up in the CB roles, especially as Hunt was on the bench last night, probably for the experience.
Injuries apart, we now look to have a deep squad of midfield and forward players all looking capable of starting a game, more so if Conway joins and gets match fit in the next number of weeks.
But defensively, at the moment we have Ayling, VDB, Clarke, Engel and then back up of Dijksteel. If my previous conjecture turns out to be correct, then do we need a new CB, possibly on loan?
Today, Leeds United are known as simply 'United' or 'Whites', after their present club colours. The club took its previous nickname of the 'Peacocks' from the public house that once stood opposite Elland Road, after having been known as the Citizens during the days of Leeds City.
https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/leeds-united/
I call them Dirties, too. Up the Boro!
Cheers, Jarkko. 👍
I have yet to see the goals but I listened to Boro Live all match except the last 20 mins when I had the link provided by Werder. But the the match was over by then (I am not going to complain about the 0-3 lead at the time, like).
Jarkko, if it's just the goals you want, see here:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13197178/leeds-united-0-3-middlesbrough-carabao-cup-highlights
Unusually, the clip lasts for four whole minutes! 🙂
The second half last night came as something of a surprise. It was the best 45 minutes of football I have seen from the Boro for quite a while and certainly so early in the season. I just hope we haven’t peaked too soon!
Most of the contributors on here have been critical of the recruitment team at the club based on their performance in recent times. So maybe it’s worth giving them the praise due for their work in the last couple of seasons that, based on last night’s evidence, has helped Carrick build the strongest squad we have had for quite a while. When was the last time a Boro manager made seven changes to a team and demolished strong opposition away from home?
I don’t want to provoke a typical Boro scenario but it could be a good season. Saturday will be a good test because newly promoted sides can be a handful.
many thanks I actually thought it would be you who would pick up the mantle !
look forward to it
OFB
Jarkko,
There's ten minutes of highlights on the MFC website now.
UTB,
John
@john-richardson Thanks for the links. Yes, I have watched the goals and highligts already twice. An excellent show. Up the Boro!
Belated thanks @OFB, for opening this thread and for for delivering another astonishingly accurate prediction!
I missed the first half and settled in to watch the second half with some trepidation after hearing the story and seeing the stats of the first half. As it turned out, I couldn't have timed it any better as several have posted already, we were treated to a superb display of Carrickball from a team that might be considered as full of second choice starters. Football is a confidence game and boy did that performance build my confidence in the squad we have that will surely deliver another hugely entertaining and this time (hopefully) successful season.
Boro News comment on the match:
But honestly, Leeds in North Yorkshire? "A beautiful waited pass"?!!! *shakes head*