I’m sure I added a belated prediction, but I can’t now find it, nor can I locate your actual challenge. I think I suggested 12 points. I’ll stick with that, but I think it’s still optimistic.
I’ll stick with my 10 points prediction and I still think that will be tricky.
My biggest concern is the manager , I just have a uncertain feeling , I hope I'm wrong , but Watford canned him after 9 or 10 games, what was the reason, Luton fans said they didn't look fit, and seemed lost.
To me Gary O'Neil had a better resume
I can see Mowbray coming in ,around November to sort it out, I just have this unease about things, like I said , it my be totally fine, I'm thinking midtable,
Not being negative, just looks a Monk appointment
Saturday will be very interesting
Gary o Neill deliberately got booked as a Boro player to miss a game and play golf ? Remember .?
His wife hated the area and couldn’t wait to leave apparently?
So why should he want to return ?
Money that’s why he didn’t have the club at heart and I for one wouldn’t support him.!
Our new manager seems enthusiastic and his coaches are a step up from what we had. Give them a chance before a ball is kicked!
OFB
@original-fat-bob I'd agree with that Bob. I think RE's coaches are also a step up on what he has had previously as well, so I for one am feeling confident, (perhaps a little over-confident maybe, but hey, that's part of being a fan isn't it?)
@original-fat-bob
didn’t O’Neil once ask for time to play in the British open golf?
philip of Huddersfield 👍
For us living overseas, the Swansea match will be availabe on here: https://www.mfc.co.uk/live
Up the Boro!
The last thing we need is another below par manager…
like always I live in hope !
up the Boro
OFB
groan... 🤪The last thing we need is another below par manager…
The last thing we need is another below par manager…
As a certain fishing enthusiast and boro fan once said "it's of a very low quality"
I'm aware of his past, however he did under difficult circumstances keep Bournmouth and Wolves in the premiership, I'm sure a job will come up for him, by the way I'm not saying he would be my pick, I'm just comparing two coaches with the same profile .
Nothing would please me more than I'm proved wrong on Edwards
Insight to the recruitment at Boro:
Looks quite professional. Up the Boro!
Eleven entries in the COTS challenge as of Thursday morning. As Peter Surtees noted, that at least gives us a full team to start the season with. However, we could do with some talent on the bench to call on so come on everyone and cast those runes to predict how the Championship will pan out this year.
Remember, all you have to do is predict 7 things before kick off on Friday evening:
- TOP 6 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Team4, Team5, Team6, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
- BOTTOM 3 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
- AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Team1, Team2, Optional1, Optional2
- CHAMPIONS = Team1, Optional1
- OVER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
- UNDER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
- BORO = 1st
The same story is also in the Gazette Jarkko. It's just a big injection of PR in the face of what has been a problematic pre-season in terms of recruitment. Edwards' comments are exactly what you would expect from someone recently handed a plum job by his mate. It's called mutual back scratching and is the oldest technique in the world. It's also a fair description of the relationship between the local media and the club. We will see the proof of the pudding on Saturday and throughout the season.
Eleven entries in the COTS challenge as of Thursday morning. As Peter Surtees noted, that at least gives us a full team to start the season with. However, we could do with some talent on the bench to call on so come on everyone and cast those runes to predict how the Championship will pan out this year.
Remember, all you have to do is predict 7 things before kick off on Friday evening:
- TOP 6 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Team4, Team5, Team6, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
ipswich, Coventry,Middlesbrough,Bristol city,Portsmouth,Oxford,
- BOTTOM 3 = Team1, Team2, Team3, Optional1, Optional2, Optional3
- sheff wed,hull,PNE
- AUTOMATIC PROMOTION = Team1, Team2, Optional1, Optional2
- Ipswich,coventry
- CHAMPIONS = Team1, Optional1
- ipswich
- OVER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional1
- oxford
- UNDER ACHIEVER = Team1, Optional
- sheff wed
- BORO =3rd play,off,final winners
Sorry for the delay thanks for running this it’s always appreciated!
I’ll go for 10 points !
OFB
Since this is prediction time, I'll make a big one which I sincerely hope doesn't come to pass. Looking at the tough fixtures which lie ahead in the first third of the season, I'm afraid that we might well be looking for a new head coach before November is out. In mitigation I will add that I will be last person calling for him to go.
It is not only those of us on the blog who think we have a hard start Opta Stats agree
https://theanalyst.com/articles/championship-fixtures-2025-26-toughest-easiest-start
James Maddison crocked spurs in for hackney?
@original-fat-bob Thanks for the entry Bob. All recorded now. It is good to see some original thinking going on, with you definitely bucking the trend with some of your selections, though joining the consensus with regard to Ipswich and Wednesday.
Wow! Thanks for that. I hadn't seen those stats, but although I'm sceptical about most of the stats that I see about football, it's good to see there is some hard evidence from the conclusion I'd reached by simply leafing through the fixture list this morning.
The Opta Stats don't tell the whole story either. They cover only the opening 9 games. The fixtures which follow are
IPSWICH (H)
SHEFF W (A)
WREXHAM (H)
WATFORD (A)
LEICESTER (A)
BIRMINGAM (H)
December looks much easier, but will the fans' patience have run out by then ? I wouldn't bet against it.
Yes that’s how I read it as when both the local media outlets have exactly the same story then it’s not journalism but a narrative put out by the club to serve a particular purpose.
That purpose being the rumblings of supporters that the season starts in a few days and still the squad is missing key signings.
Still, it would’ve been nice if a journalist had accidentally been included that WhatsApp group like when the Atlantic editor was inside Trump’s team - though then again had Scott confused CJ Chris Jones with CJ Craig Johns…
RE: Guys how’s it going with recruiting me a striker as Steve said he can maybe get me Akpom 🙂
CJ: LOL where’s the money for that 🤑
KS: No way I’m hitting my resale bonus with a 30-year old 🙈
RE: It’s ok we only pay if we are promoted this season 😅
KS: 🤣🤣🤣
CJ: 🤥
Surely McGree is a like-for-like replacement 😏
Yes all the way up to the 3rd international break Boro play all the teams I’d place in the top 10 - plus 3 of the 4 teams who may struggle are away.
Couldn’t be a worse start really and Edwards will do well if Boro are sitting anywhere close to mid table 🤞
According to Sky Sports, Spurs are looking at Grealish to replace Maddison.James Maddison crocked spurs in for hackney?
Come on BORO.
Yes, Mcgree for Maddison wouldn't so much be one out one in, but one out another one out. A bit like Reform's immigration policy
@lenmasterman So, Mr Gibson will have to be patient, as he rubber stamped the choice of Edwards. However, come Christmas will he be so benevolent.
Our only chance possibly is to get some real extra quality into the team and pretty quick.