@andy-r Very good post there. Totally agree.
I also share the thoughts about Conway and Ayling as leaders and first to celebrate a goal. But I would like to point out that Morris has started to look like a captain, too. He is doing the talking after a goal and also in the get-together before a match starts. Sorry, i miss the English word - is it a huddle, perhaps? So Morris seems to be the most vocal leader, Ayling is a good second.
I think I read somewhere (BBC?) that this has now been the BEST start to the season in Boro's long history since 1876. So let's enjoy the moment - we are very unlikely see a season start like this ever again. That is history.
Up the Boro!
So top of the league for another week hopefully we all enjoy it. The one fly in the ointment are the centre backs and the fact that half of them appear to be made of glass.
But let's just enjoy it while it lasts at the moment we have manager who isn't afraid to make changes and is flexible in his approach, last season that match would have been a draw.
OFB hope you thought the effort of getting to match was rewarded
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE I SAY WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE 😀
I agree with your comment about Conway going down easily and being ignored by referees. I thought Boro had a credible penalty shout last night when Conway was brought down in the box but the ref waved it away.
OFB
many thanks for your comments it’s appreciated
A great view of the game and we could even see the lump on George’s eye !
OFB
Thanks for the comments appreciated!
It would appear that from the last two performances by the Boro that Morris has overtaken HH as the dominant midfield partner and is the one that drives the engine room.
The biggest problem for me is trying to identify the players on the pitch as there are so many new faces !!
Great atmosphere and a lot of it is down to the enthusiasm of the management team who have bonded the team and the club and the fans in a way that Carrick and Co never did unfortunately!
OFB
@original-fat-bob yes i agree OFB, the referee didn't give it a second glance, having now seen it back the referee got it correct, however, there was a couple of other debatable challenges on Conway which left him flattened that again the referee didn't give any consideration to.
I’m interested to read the comments about TC. I’ve struggled to see him as a prolific scorer at this level, but no one can question his effort and enthusiasm and, as others have said, he seems genuinely delighted for whoever scores.
It seems difficult to see many weak links in the team at the moment - confidence must be sky high and I’d say there’s more to come from the current squad.
All in all, we must all be delighted to be Boro fans (at last!).
@martin-bellamy - I look in the mirror and hardly recognise myself! Not that long ago it was "Oh no! Another football game today" and then setting off almost out of duty (and because I'd paid for the ticket) rather than a genuine enthusiasm to watch a Boro game.
I agree with everyone about Conway. He was my man of the match last, despite not playing the full 90. He was everywhere when he was on the pitch. His work rate is phenomenal.
@forever-dormo I guess you could pick one of many but I would opt for Ayling, he was immense all other the pitch, people doubting his legs last season, well I ain't saying he can stay at his current level all season but he is certainly doing fantastic right now.
So Stoke lost to QPR today. And Leicester drew.
So still FOUR points clear at rhe top.
Up the Boro!
@forever-dormo yes, I can see that too. In fact as PresidentJump noted, anyone of several could have had that accolade
How positive a thing is that?
@jarkko indeed. It might be a bit of a big ask to expect Oxford to contain Bristol tomorrow though. All the same, there is no harm in hoping.
Southampton thumped by Hull today, the pressure is building on Still, a midweek league cup game away to Liverpool for them, you cannot expect anything other than another defeat.
We could just be the team that puts the final nail in the coffin for Will Still come 5pm next Saturday - let's hope so.
@presidentjump except Southampton will be fielding their secret weapon, Werdermouth!
Boro now 5 points ahead of Leicester and 10 ahead of Ipswich and Southampton!
Ah ok, probably not been here long enough to truly understand that but I am assuming that Werdermouth is on the opener for Southampton and he hasn't got a great success rate when opening ?@presidentjump except Southampton will be fielding their secret weapon, Werdermouth!
@werdermouth Ipswich got away with one today, the heavens opening to save them from a defeat.
When werdermouth does the match preview, Boro never win 😱.Ah ok, probably not been here long enough to truly understand that but I am assuming that Werdermouth is on the opener for Southampton and he hasn't got a great success rate when opening ?@presidentjump except Southampton will be fielding their secret weapon, Werdermouth!
Come on BORO.
@exmil oh dear !!! Haha.
First time for everything is all we can hope for.
@presidentjump Rain in Lancashire - what a shocker!
Good to see that Forss scored 2 goals today for Bolton in their 4-1 win. I’m hoping he’ll get plenty of game time to rekindle his career to be a success certainly in Division 1 and possibly in the Championship although I don’t see that being at Boro.
I didn’t think the Championship League table could look so good. I’m not really bothered about the results of other teams just hoping that Boro keep up their new successful way of playing and finding ways to win.
Philip of Huddersfield
👍🤗😁
I think Exmil was being generous when he said Boro never win when I write the preview - Boro have actually lost every game when I wrote the preview!
Since we started the rotation of previews I have written 9 of them - my record is as follows...
Wrote 9 - Lost 9 - Scored 2 - Conceded 23
So hoping for a perfect 10 this time!
@werdermouth - And a mere 16 points ahead of Chris Wilder's Sheffield United! It might take the Blades a while to climb to 16 points, by which time Boro will hopefully be further out of sight and visible only using a telescope. Let's enjoy it. I mean, I'm not enouraging anyone to labour the point or to make fun of those currently floundering in the wake of The Championship's Flagship team. But if anyone did that, I would allow myself a surprised snigger.*
* I intend to remind myself tomorrow: do not count chickens before the eggs have hatched. For tonight I might allow myself some leeway.
Boro have 16 points now. If you take 4,25 times our tally of 16 points now, it will make 68 points. That total made it enough to reach the playoffs last season.
So we are already nearly a quater of season in there. You know what I mean. P ...
Up the Boro!
or if you like just 52 points required from the next 40 games at 1.3 points per game...
LOL, any chance you could take poorly in the next week or so - meant in the kindest possible way.I think Exmil was being generous when he said Boro never win when I write the preview - Boro have actually lost every game when I wrote the preview!
Since we started the rotation of previews I have written 9 of them - my record is as follows...
Wrote 9 - Lost 9 - Scored 2 - Conceded 23
So hoping for a perfect 10 this time!
@werdermouth Than is possible. Our current average is 2,7 per a game ...
Up the Boro!