BORO away v Millwall
The Den
Saturday April 12, 3.00pm (Mean London Time)
Saturday April 13, midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
When I have written introductions to other games, I have often found myself interested either in looking at MFC’s history with the opponent or alternatively concentrating on where we currently stands and how the match and the rest of the season might play out. This is my fourth intro this year and I find myself caught between writing about Millwall and looking at where we stand. I also took the chance to look back at the three intros and how they reflect on the season to date.
I started off against Watford in October and discovered, to my surprise, that there had been surprisingly few games played between the two clubs. Because of this, I found myself attracted to the different history of the two clubs and how we had only converged relatively recently. It then morphed into an analysis of how things were going in the season to date and what might happen in the match. I made one prediction, based on the fact that there had only ever been one 0-0 result between the two clubs. This happened in January 2017 and coincided with my having travelled all the way from Australia with my youngest son to glory in Boro playing in the Premier League. Being at home in Sydney, I felt safe forecasting anything other than 0-0 and was 100% correct in my prediction but, sadly, this was the game when Watford parlayed 38% possession into a 75th minute equaliser and an 87th minute winner. Something of a harbinger of the doom that kept on overtaking us at various points of the season as we let points slip away.
Second up was the away game at Burnley in December. Having conceded three goals in their opening four games, they had only conceded another three goals in the following fourteen games. We were coming off the back of a run of four wins in five games (damn Blackburn and damn that linesman, but at least we have paid them back) in which we scored 18 goals. Unstoppable Force vs Immovable object. One of the main points of discussion before the game was around the amount of possession that each side would have. Boro had played it both ways; either keeping the ball or conceding possession to another possession-based side. This game turned out to be slightly more of the latter with Boro only having 45% although still managing 15 shots to Burnley’s 19. A draw had seemed likely and so it turned out although it was still a surprise that Boro scored first through Dijksteel. 1-1 was a solid result and was typical of many of our performances against better sides.
After the draw with Burnley, we went on to lose to Leeds and beat Millwall which I dare say is an outcome that we would happily repeat. More problematic was the recurrence of our tendency to drop points against lower sides. We drew 3-3 at Plymouth, before criminally throwing away a 3-0 lead against Sheffield Wednesday. Those four points dropped would be a very welcome addition to our current total. In fact, I would go further and suggest that, given the goodwill that always surrounds a Christmas holiday home game and the optimistic anticipation of a new year surge, the Sheffield Wednesday capitulation was one of the fundamental turning points in the season. It was truly deflating. Carrick and his team should have been able to manage the second half and that might have meant that the cascade of points dropped -against sides such as Cardiff, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Watford (again) and Bristol City that we should have been beating – would never have happened.
Included in that run of points dropped was the away game with Sheffield United in February. Instead of concentrating on that one game, I took the chance to analyse the likely points needed to reach 5th and 6th place in the play-offs and, based on the last twenty years, I nominated 76 points as the magic number. For Boro that represented 32 points or two points a game over the 16 games that all teams had remaining. This provoked a range of responses from the Bloggernauts which seemed to settle around two statements
- Boro had not shown the capacity to gather that kind of return.
- The number of 76 was too high because there were so many teams involved in highly competitive games, and they would all drop more points than usual. 72 was thought to be a more realistic number for 6th
My only comment about the upcoming game itself was to say that Sheffield United were very strong, had further strengthened during the window and were sitting in second spot. Given our ability to play well against good teams, I left open the option of any result and in fact that’s how it played out. We equalised before half time, looked OK but were overrun in the last fifteen minutes to lose 3-1.
Since I did that analysis, Boro have played 11 games and taken 16 points and are sitting 7th on 60 points with five games to go. This is not terrible, but we are now looking at, say, 70-72 as a reasonable target. The 12 points we need to get to 72 can only be achieved with four wins out of the five games left. Three wins and two draws might be enough for 6th, particularly if we end with a win against Coventry.
Moving on to the Millwall game, this match has rather crept up on us and become a really important match. However, I am split between wanting to write about both the game/ run-in and writing about Boro v Millwall and so I’ll do indulge myself and do both. I’ll finish up with a look at the rest of the season but first here are some thoughts about the Millwall rivalry that I hope might raise some nostalgic thoughts amongst some of you.
For me, Boro v Millwall had always represented one of the fundamental battles of my late teens and even something of a coming-of-age ritual. I started supporting Boro as a kid in the late 1950s, but I don’t remember much of individual games except, bizarrely, a Cock O’ the North Cup match against Newcastle (I think) when the ground was packed, and I was still young enough to be allowed to sit on top of the big concrete barriers at the Clive Road end. That game, those barriers and the sound of Telstar as I ran up the steps remain my abiding memories of Ayresome Park.
Anyway, I started supporting seriously in my early teens and that just about coincided with the end of the 66/67 promotion season. Around that time, my family moved down south and so it was the games that Boro played in London that made the most impact on me. The game that represented everything hard, even brutal, about the old Division 2 was playing Millwall. I’m sure that the home games were just as hard but for me and my two older brothers, the trip to Cold Blow Lane, to the old Den was an annual rite of passage. We often went without scarves or hats, and I can never remember it being anything but freezing and hostile and it always seemed to be an important game.
Looking up the records, there were 7 seasons from 67/68 until 73/74 when Boro finally won the league. Here are the results of those seasons and the end of year league position in Division 2.
BORO MILLWALL RESULTS Comments
67/68 6th 7th LL They beat us twice.
68/69 4th 7th LDLD Including FA Cup draw/loss
69/70 4th 10th WL Finally – we beat them
70/71 7th 10th WL
71/72 9th 8th WLDW Including FA Cup draw/win
72/73 4th 11th WL
73/74 1st!! WW 12th The great year
As you can see, throughout this run, Millwall and Boro were there or thereabouts each season, battling for promotion; even if neither quite managed, and that seemed like the “natural order of things”. What I hadn’t realised until now is that, prior to the 1967/68 Division 2 games, Boro had only ever played 8 games against Millwall in all our history; four FA Cup ties, [1904, 1913(2 incl replay), 1914], two games in Division 2 in season 1928/29 and a League tie and replay in 1965. I had mentally created what I thought was a key rivalry but, in truth, it was only just starting and rather died away,.
After 1973/74, we didn’t play them again until season 85/86. Millwall came up from Division 3 at the end of 84/85 and we managed one set of matches before Boro were relegated to Division 3. We came straight back up in 86/87 which led to the amazing 87/88 season.
At the end of the regular season, Millwall came top with 82 points and were promoted to Division 1 for the first time in their history. Aston Villa came second with 78 points. Boro finished third, also with 78 points, and with the same goal difference as Aston Villa of +27. However, Aston Villa had scored 68 goals to Boro’s 63. I don’t know exactly how the rules worked but Villa went up and Boro went into the playoffs.
At that time, it was positions 3 to 5 in Division 2 in the playoffs plus the team coming 18th in the First Division. Boro won the semi-final 3-2 over two legs against Bristol City and had to play First Division Chelsea in the two-leg final. At home Boro won 2-0 in front of 25,000 (TRIVIA question – no googling – who scored the two goals? I’ll put the answer at the end). The second leg at Chelsea was watched by over 40,000 people. Boro lost 1-0 but hung on for a 2-1 aggregate win, with the crowd turning really nasty. I was living in Belgium by then and so didn’t go. Was anyone from the blog there?
1988/89 is the only year in the history of the two clubs when they played each other in the First Division/Premier League. Millwall managed 10th but Boro were relegated straight back down to Division 2 whilst Chelsea went straight back up, winning Division 2 with 99 points. The year after, Millwall came back down to Division 2, but the rivalry doesn’t seem as intense in my mind. In fact, there was a fifteen-year period after our promotion in 94/95 that we never played Millwall at all.
Finally, we come through to the period from 2010/11 when, with the exception of our jaunt into the PL in 2015/16 and immediate return, we have been regular Division 2 combatants.
Looking at this history, I discover that rather than Millwall vs Middlesbrough representing an ongoing battleground mired in the mud of ages, it only dates to the mid-1960s and the key rivalry only really lasted for a few years. My memories were very wrong. Throughout our joint history, we have only played each other 66 times. Boro have won 28 and drawn 16. 11 have been in various cup competitions leaving only 55 league games over all those years with one to come. Does anyone else have a 'key' Boro rivalry that they always remember?
Looking forward to Saturday’s game., it’s worth noting that Millwall have not been challenging for most of the season and, prior to Tuesday night’s game at Sheffield United, that seemed the way that it would stay. However, Millwall pulled off a very unexpected win and are now sitting 9th with 57 points. They are only three points behind us and are ahead of Watford (10th with 56) whilst Blackburn have dropped to 12th with 53. There will be a decision for Exmil to make when he sets up part three of the challenge.
Does the Sheffield United game give us an idea of how the game might play out. I’m honestly not sure. Here is the data from that game.
Possession Shots Corners Fouls xG
On-target-Off
SHEFF UTD 66% 5 25 11 5 2.50
MILLWALL 34% 2 5 4 18 0.91
From this data, it looks as if Sheffield Unted battered Millwall but just couldn’t score. However, reading the reports, it seems that Millwall had some good chances, with one created by their up-and-coming young centre forward who scored the winning goal. His name is Josh Coburn and, thankfully, he is not eligible for Saturday. They did hang on a bit at the end, but Millwall have now won 4 out of 6. They won away at Watford and Sheffield United and won at home to Stoke and Portsmouth.
I looked at the data for the 2-1 home win against Portsmouth and it shows Millwall with 48% possession but more shots, corners and fouls. I’m guessing that they will be aggressive and will try to knock Boro out of their stride. We will have to cope with that and I wonder if Carrick will be tempted to start with a back three of Howson, Fry and Van Den Berg with Iheanacho missing out. If not, what players play up front. Personally, I would have liked to see the four chances that we missed against Leeds falling to Forss. Maybe he would be a good option. More likely, Carrick will give Whittaker a shot at starting. The other question is what to do with Bergzorg. He gets in good positions but misses too many times. Is McGree fit yet?
Finally, how will the season play out. We could analyse things for ever but here is some data to start with. In my view there are six teams chasing positions 5 and 6 and they are listed below with their remaining fixtures. Given that automatic promotion, play-offs and relegation are still very much open issues, many teams will still be playing ‘live’ games and so there are many potential minefields.
BRISTOL CITY (63) A v QPR, H v SUNDERLAND, A v LUTON, A v LEEDS, H v PRESTON
COVENTRY (62) A v HULL, H v WBA, A v PLYMOUTH, A v LUTON, H v BORO
BORO (60) A v MILLWALL, H v PLYMOUTH, A v SHEFF. WED, H v NORWICH, A v COVENTRY
WBA (57) H v WATFORD, A v COVENTRY, H v DERBY, A v CARDIFF, H v LUTON
MILLWALL (57) H v BORO, A v BLACKBURN, H v NORWICH, H v SWANSEA, A v BURNLEY
WATFORD (57) A v WBA, H v BURNLEY, A v PORTSMOUTH, A v BLACKBURN, H v SHEFF WED
Make your own guesses. I remain optimistic but will feel a lot better if we pull off a win.
Answer to Trivia Trevor Senior and, of course, Bernie Slaven.
UTB
Thank you Selwynoz for a piece which is highly informative, thoroughly researched and an enjoyable read.
I regret that I do not share your optimism as I have been convinced for some time that we are no more than a top ten side; our inconsistent performances and a lack of steel and determination when it is needed at critical moments during the season being our downfall as far as achieving a top six slot.
We are having to play catch up and in my memory Boro tend not to do well in such situations, with a habit of just missing out. Often the case before that glorious season of 73/74.
Millwall appear to be on a roll and could be the surprise team that creeps into the playoffs on the last day of the season.
As much as I want us to win on Saturday and let’s be honest we need it, as a draw is not much use, I can only see three points for Millwall which will leave us hoping we can win all the remaining games and results elsewhere going for us.
I certainly don’t want the agony of still being in with a chance of sixth position and having to win at Coventry on the last day of the season as I suspect I know what would happen, unfortunately. 😎
A thoroughly comprehensive starter @selwynoz and a very interesting read.
I’ve no idea what to expect on Saturday - any result seems possible, although a Boro win is probably essential if we’re to finish in a play off place.
Selwynoz
That was an impressive opener and one of the best many thanks it’s appreciated.
The system of sharing the load for the opening posts works well and differing styles and views are displayed and avidly read by the Diasborians.
We are extremely lucky to have so many talented wordsmiths on this blog who are all like minded and unlike other blogs do not criticise or post adverse comments and it makes for more open and friendly discourse.
Im still positive and going for a 1-0 Boro win
OFB
@Selwynoz - that was quick off the mark! I will have to come back later today to read your starter which looks full of information. But the reason for posting this right now is...
@Jarkko - I have managed to get a couple of tickets for the Sheffield Wednesday away game. They will be posted to me so will hopefully get to me in good time to make arrangments with you. Obviously not everybody in the first two tiers got tickets as soon as their window opened. I thought we might have a difficulty with the lowish number of tickets being made available. I understand there is a possibility of more tickets being made available if the first tranche sells out, but there will no cash-at-the-turnstiles tickets available on the day.
A brilliant read @Selwynoz. Thanks you so much for that. You know, similar to you as someone who started following the Boro also in the later 60s and into the 70s I also grew up with the idea that a Millwall/Boro clash was a needle fixture with a history. I can recall tense standoffs between players on the pitch at Ayresome Park. Isn't it funny how you can grow up with these ideas. All the same, like you I am relieved that Josh Coburn won't be playing. How much a better option he might have been if recalled in the transfer window, with his great ability to receive and hold up the ball and then playing in team mates as they get up in support, not to mention his better finishing skill. I wonder if he will be sold on in the summer.
I was behind the goal at Stamford Bridge the day the Chelsea welcoming committee took it on themselves to suggest we had overstayed our welcome. Stewards were complicit in letting their support(?) onto the pitch and the police mightily slow in preventing them reaching our supporters, of all ages, packed into multiple roofless cages at the opposite end of the pitch. Not a happy memory and one that has left me with an unshakeable dislike of Chelsea and anything to do with them. One small typo to correct you on, it was Bradford City and not the Bristol variety that you mentioned, whom we beat in the two-legged play off semi-final. I suspect you were distracted by the Robins current presence in race to the play-offs. City [Bradford] beat Boro 2-1 at Valley Parade in the first leg, with Boro winning 1-0 in second leg at Ayresome Park after normal time. Boro scored once more in extra time, without reply, to go through and meet Chelsea.
So then. What about the game on Saturday? Certainly I do not think Boro will be dis-heartened by their performance overall on Tuesday evening. The better team did win on the night, but only dint of their having that bit more pace and alacrity in front of goal. Our performance during the second half shows we have the capacity to take on any team in this division and Millwall are certainly not Leeds. We need Burgzorg to show a little more composure and we need Iheanacho to have a nice day out at Whitby on Saturday and I will be confident of a victory,
I also rather fancy that Coventry will be lucky to get a point, let alone 3 at Hull, who desperately need the points and have shown themselves to be better than their position suggests on more than one occasion this season. The Robins may also struggle to win all three at QPR who still need a few points themselves to be absolutely safe. The race to finish 5th and 6th does look like it will go down to the wire on the last day, and I hope it does because that gives a lot more clubs (including ours) to have something worth playing for.
One last thing, @martin-bellamy, I don't think you are in any small minority when it comes to Michael Carrick. For sure there has been some comment about it being time for him to go, but I honestly think there are equal (or maybe more ?) numbers in here happy for him to be given more time. For sure there are things I'd love to see him try differently, but when all is said and done, given the injuries we have had to accept and the rather disruptive January transfer window and some questionable additions to the squad, he has kept us in the hunt. So, stick, not twist from me.
thanks for the correction. I had it down in my notes as Bradford City but definitely had too much Bristol on my mind.
utb
@forever-dormo Excellent news, Ray. I have your number so let's see where we can see.
So a big thank you to you and your friend. Up the Boro!
Selwynoz, an absolutely superlative starter that beautifully describes 'Unpredictable Boro'. Inconsistent, unreliable, unpredictable and I'd add wasteful to that. Who knows about this match but please do not play Iheanacho but I'm sure he will. Oh and please don't sign him for next season. We could easily... Will we keep Coburn? More importantly how are you OFB?
That was a brilliant starter, really good, thank you.
ATB everyone,
UTB,
John
A brilliant and comprehensive scene-setter, Selwyn, as have been your previous three openers. What I particularly like about your approach is that you provide the relevant evidence- the stats and data- for reaching your own conclusions, whilst leaving scope for other interpretations. It's an exercise in rationality, tolerance and truth-seeking that now seems to be, sadly, out of fashion. So thanks, not only for all of your work in the service of this blog, but also for demonstrating that the internet can be used for more illuminative purposes than the regurgitation of pre- formulated opinions. A great starter.
@jarkko - Just out of interest, on which date do you intend to fly back to Finland? Wife is currently out but I'm trying to work out which would be the best day to go out somewhere with you whilst you're on Teesside, if we can find a suitable date. Maybe I can talk to her when she returns home later in the day.
Camping season starts (for us) tomorrow when we go to Sutton-on-the-Forest just north of York (Friday to Sunday).
We had planned to go camping at Catterick at lunchtime on Thursday 17th April until lunchtime on Monday 21st (when you'll be going to Sheffield) but, because that is a 4 night meet, it is no hardship for me to go to Middlesbrough for the Plymouth game on Friday 18th April before returning to camp. I am booked in for a "shingles vaccination jab" at the Village Hall (50 yards from my front door) at 11.30am on Friday 25 April which is an appointment I was given only a couple of week ago but I would probably be available for the rest of that day unless a problem arises with the vaccination. I am not going camping that weekend. Obviously Boro v Norwich is on Saturday 26th April. Are you leaving for Finland on Sunday 27th April, or a date after that?
Thanks for asking John
more meds
more spaced out
more tests
getting nearer to op !
MISSED LEEDS GAME
OFB
I was at that Chelsea Boro playoff game the most terrifying game I’ve ever been to with my two lads !
OFB
Thanks for a superb opener. It’s thoroughly researched and really interesting from start to finish. I loved the way you referred back to your previous starters, which almost portray a picture of our season in microcosm when you analyse the actual performances.
If I may, I’ll refer back to my own opener for the home game against Millwall. I said we knew what we’d be getting against them, very probably a physically demanding encounter and an all-out aerial assault. I used my favourite phrase, ‘Tin hats will be provided.’ I expect exactly the same at their place and am thankful that Big Josh can’t play. If ever there were a game we might not fancy when we desperately need to pick up 3 points, then it would surely be this one?
I think this game will feature a real contrast between the two clubs’ preferred styles. Millwall will probably go direct, play it long, seek to batter us with their big blokes. Boro will seek to play cultured football on the ground, playing through the lines, our usual passing game. I just hope we’re prepared for the assault. It would be so good to see something akin to our first half at Blackburn and our late second half against Leeds. I would find room for Fry alongside RVdB and Howson, and I’d definitely start Burgzorg or Forss as I think they’re probably better at fending off rumbustious tackling than Whittaker appears to be.
@Selwynoz - Well, that was an epic of a starter piece and very good to read. It must have taken you AGES. Thanks for that. I really enjoyed it.
I'm sure Millwall will make it a hot experience for Boro, whatever the weather. Not an easy game at any time of the season but clearly both sides could do with a win to promote their Play-Off ambitions, so it may be a particularly tense (as well as physical) encounter. I'd like to think Boro can get something from the game but I'd like to think that about most games.
Maybe, to be more realistic, I shouild go back to my old ways. I imagine the likely score then, because there might be a tendency to allow the heart to rule the head in my imagination, I take a goal away from Boro then add a goal to the opposition's score. So if I thought Boro might sneak a 2-0 win, I'd take a goal from Boro and add one to the opposition. That would give a 1-1 draw.
I might go back to the drawing board and give it some more thought... Maybe I'll count the best (for Boro) of three guesses! I wish we could do that with the actual games.
OK, so Leeds beat Boro 0-1 earlier in the week. We play them again in a few days and lose that 3-1. But then we play them again and win, streakily, with an "offside" goal that the linesman missed and it ends 1-0 to the Boro. We'll take that third game as the one that counts and people's memories of the unsuccessful games would be expunged. A much better system. Obviously if Boro gets the result we all wanted in Game One, there'd be no need to play any other games against that particular opposition. We don't want to exhaust the players over a season that is already long enough.
Perhaps this is something that could be used on, say, eight fixtures every season. We don't want to be greedy. No need to demolish the division by replaying virtually every game Boro loses. 130+ points in a Championship season would raise suspicion and obviously there has to be some level of jeopardy in every season. We might fail to win some of the games even if we had "replays". But if we could have seven wins and a draw from eight games that would otherwise have been defeats, that would be an extra 22 points added to the end of season total (as well as taking some points from our competitors whose totals would, ever so sadly, be reduced). At THIS point in the season Boro would now be on 82 points with a much improved goal difference as a result of the replayed games whereas Leeds and Sheffield United would both have lost their two games against Boro and Burnley would have had one draw converted into a defeat (so their amended points score at this stage would be 82 for Burnley whose goal difference would be inferior to Boro's) with 79 for Leeds and 77 for Sheffield United. I imagine we'd HAVE to win the games against Sunderland, too, and there'd be room for one more win and a draw from games otherwise lost.
Football, indeed all sport, is said sometimes to come down to fine margins. It would be very enjoyable to be able artificially to widen some margins and to close down some others. Obviously this would be a system known only to Middlesbrough FC or even only to myself. It might catch on.
I know he won't do it but if it was up to me and everyone's fit my team
Walton
Fry RVB Borges
Dyksteel, Morris ,Howson, Hackney, .illing
Conroy, Whittaker
If Borges unfit,drop Howson in, and Mcgree in the middle
Travers for Walton...?
Walton Travers .... sounds like a good name for a theme park.
Collects coat and exits stage left
Travers for Walton...?
Walton Travers .... sounds like a good name for a theme park.
Collects coat and exits stage left
I think you’ll find it’s Travers Walton, retired CIA Agent. He’s been living a quiet life as a librarian, until he’s pulled back into service because his partner’s widow and son have been kidnapped by an unidentified, shadowy terrorist group. Showing now on Netflix, The Dewey Decimal Files, stars a generic B movie actor (who you’ve seen in something but you can’t quite remember what it was).
Brain freeze , Travers of course ,who remembers Kent Walton
@gt I remember being puzzled that someone had Kent as their first name. I’m not sure I’ve come across another Kent since then either.
@martinbellamy
I remember being puzzled that someone had Kent as their first name. I’m not sure I’ve come across another Kent since then either.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Nagano
I remembered Kent Nagano. But I genuinely thought he was an all-in wrestler, not a conductor! That must have been a subconscious link back to Kent Walton!
I’m sure a few players were called Kent by the Boro fans, although I may have misheard ?
OFB
@gt - "Good Afternoon, grapple fans". And so began, most Saturday afternoons on ITV, as a late segment to "World of Sport", a series of well choreographed contests, some single contests but other "tag team contests". Often between a "goodie" white-hat character (say Bert Royal or Big Daddy) and a "baddie" black-hat character (like Mick McManus or Giant Haystacks).
The goodies were loved by the little old ladies who watched, and we can probably all remember some of those ladies swinging a handbag at the baddies, or attempting to hit them over the head with an umbrella, as they made their way to or from the Ring. It was pantomime. Crowds were vociferous.
The thing is that, as Mohammad Ali realised from American wrestling, it was the "baddies" who tended to have the larger crowds, lots of people paying their money to watch bouts, hoping that the baddie would get his come-uppance. The baddies rarely did because, why would you kill the hen that lays the golden egg?
I certainly remember Kent Walton.
Thanks for that thoroughly brilliant opener Selwynoz that covered everything in superb detail and flowed effortlessly.
I always remember Millwall as being our promotion rivals in the old second division when I was a young lad in the early seventies and we always seemed to be both in and around the top six. Obviously, I had no incline of the reputation of their supporters at that age and it's a shame the club now seems more shaped by their unruly element and something that the fans almost seem to wear as a badge of honour.
I had Boro down for 7 points in the Exmil challenge with likely nothing from Leeds and a point from Millwall - though I'd fancy 3 points are probably needed now if out play-off challenge is to remain in our own hands.
I woudn't fancy being 4 points behind Coventry and 5 behind Bristol with 4 to play - though the latter have some tricky fixtures ahead. However, Boro really need to go into that final game against Coventry preferably level on points to avoid needing to win it.
I'd like to see a couple of changes today with Whittaker in the number 10 role and Forss on the right with Burgzorg back on the left - Iheanacho and Azaz to make way for them. Not sure on the injury situation of Borges but if fit he could resume left-back and allow Iling-Junior to play further up on the left instead.
Hoping for a win and a few surprise results elsewhere!
Courtesy of CJ:
Brilliant Headliner Selwynoz. Thank you for the exceptional time and effort to produce a superbly written piece.
Well this match must be the must win of the recent must win games. Anything other that three points would probably end the season early. Not mathematically, but we would be realistically too far behind the other teams.
I would go with warder's changes. Azaz has been off the pace for some time and does not deserve his place at the moment, Burgzorg is more effective on the left.
One up front and back to 4-2-3-1
And please can we have more crosses in behind their defence for Conway and the others to feed off.
CJ's update on the walking & not-so-walking wounded:
Michael Carrick said his squad will be pretty much as was on Tuesday evening for the Leeds defeat, with Edmundson not quite ready for this one.
Borges is still at least a couple of weeks away, while Sol Brynn, Darragh Lenihan and Alex Bangura aren't expected to major parts [*] this season, if at all. Ben Doak playing again feels increasingly unlikely, while Seny Dieng and Luke Ayling are out for the season.
[*] God alone knows what that's supposed to mean!