“Electric Yetis” versus “Gilded Rhombus”
Tuesday 4th November, 19.45 - King Power Stadium
Yes, it’s an Anagram special (albeit a shortish headliner due to time constraints) for our upcoming “Awed Keg Mime” against the “Electric Yetis”. Will “Cheeky Any-Hand” score with another header or will “Own My Toy Mac” finally hear the referee blow for a penalty?
Will “Dad Browser” find his perfect starting eleven and will “Celery Grime” get on to the pitch again, after his 20 minute cameo on Saturday?
Ok, that’s quite enough of that nonsense - onwards to Tuesday’s game. I’ve posted this starter earlier than I would normally, for two reasons: I’m pushed for time on Monday and I thought we might want to move on quickly from Saturday’s loss, before too much negativity entered our heads.
On to the game then, and despite Emile Heskey ruining my day at Wembley in 1997, I bear no grudge against Leicester City. Winning the Premier League against all the odds in 2016 gave hope to all the clubs outside the Big Four and a belief that it’s something they could finally aspire to achieve.
Since then, of course, The Foxes have slipped down into the Championship, but started this campaign as one of the pre-season favourites to bounce back into the EPL.
Things haven’t quite panned out how they’d planned - after a reasonable start (unbeaten in their first 8 games) they’re now outside the playoff spots in 14th position, having only won one of their last 9 Championship games, with
4 draws and 4 losses in that time. They’ve only won twice at home so far this season and appear to have a problem scoring goals - so what could possibly go wrong for us on Tuesday night?
Well, I guess a result like the one against Watford could be what goes wrong! That starting eleven looked light on goal scorers and so it proved. I know the result was poor, but I’ve seen fans calling for RE to go, which to me is crazy. Why we’d be suggesting that questions should be asked of our manager seems a trifle premature too - we’re 2nd in the league, albeit not looking like promotion contenders during the current phase of games. There’s a long way to go though and there’ll be plenty of twists and turns before the season ends.
So which Boro will we see on Tuesday? Will it be “Doh, Glum Debris” or “Imbed Gold Rush”? Let’s hear your thoughts.
Thanks Martin for an excellent opener, my thoughts (for what they are worth) are to give Strelec an extended run in the starting eleven, how do the coaching team expect him to come to terms with the Championship with 10/20 minutes here and there. Hopefully Riley McGree will be fit enough to start also on Tuesday on the left with Conway behind Strelec. The conundrum is who to start on the right Whittaker, Sene, Hansen, Nypan. Defence wise, will Fry be out for a while, is Edmundson fit enough to start also as I mentioned last week about yellow card suspension, Ayling picked up his fourth yellow card unnecessarily for “gobbling off” to the ref so potentially could pick up his fifth soon (1 match suspension) do we want him unavailable for Birmingham (H) Oxford (A) before Coventry (H) 🤔.
I am glad I am not Rob Edwards.
Come on BORO.
A plea for help from PNE Dave’s wife. She wants to book Dave a surprise weekend away at the end of January, incorporating watching the game at the Riverside. Can anyone recommend accommodation in Saltburn? She’d like to travel from Preston by train and I’ve suggested Saltburn because they’ll be able to get the train into Middlesbrough on match day. We’ll probably meet them for a meal at the Seaview Restaurant while they were over. Any thoughts?
@martin-bellamy Brockley Hall, five minutes from the station. Sometimes they have offers on, especially during low season.
Period Hotel with a quirky dining room.
@pedro Thanks for that - I saw it when I did a search and thought it looked good.
@martin-bellamy Now that was a different Headliner, although I am still working on the “anagrams”. 🤣
The big question is. Can Edwards stop the rot. OK, it is not quite as bad as that, though it does feel like it at times.
The “rot” being the scarcity of goals and any creativity to our front runners for real gilt edge opportunities in the box.
Leicester’s position just proves how quickly things and places can change in the Championship. From fourth to 14th in three games.
So with only one win in the last six, can Leicester pull out of their slide. Or can Boro take advantage. Truthfully, both teams cannot score goals, but would you bet on either.
Unfortunately, we may just get more throwing of the dice in the air from our Head Coach, hoping to get three sixes, but ending with nothing and a long drive back for our beleaguered Team. Not withstanding the Boro fans.
We are all very pleased with the points Boro have gained and being second in the Championship. None of us forecast this.
But we can’t get away from the major problem of creating and scoring goals.
It seems to me that the attacking players just don’t have a way of playing in unison. We don’t have a couple of players we’d say should be automatic starters with the others as options later in the game. They are all much the same in terms of effectiveness.
We don’t have a natural threat on the wings with players beating their opponent and putting crosses into the penalty area. Sorry to say, the only player to do this is Silvera and regrettably he isn’t good enough.
Too many of the attacking players appear to be players you bring on as substitutes and not capable of performing at a high level for 90 minutes. I agree with Exmill we should give Strelec an extended start in games.
The midfielders also need to be more supportive of the forwards.
So this is Edwards’ biggest challenge . We all hope he can get the attacking players to improve. Much to do.
Philip of Huddersfield
👎☹️
I see Rob Edwards is "a strong contender" for the newly vacant manager's chair at Wolves...
Somehow I can't see that.., just more lazy journalism.
I see Rob Edwards is "a strong contender" for the newly vacant manager's chair at Wolves...
Somehow I can't see that.., just more lazy journalism.
Crazy isn’t it?
I see Rob Edwards is "a strong contender" for the newly vacant manager's chair at Wolves...
Somehow I can't see that.., just more lazy journalism.
Crazy isn’t it?
Gary O'Neil also back in contention according to the same article! Definitely bonkers!!! Never mind. Will Still's been given the order of the boot by Saints as well...
Talking rumours, this one may have more legs.
https://the72.co.uk/2025/11/02/norwich-city-ben-kensell-kieran-scott-open-returns/
I've finally managed to come our from behind the coach.
The Watford game kicked off at 2.00am Sydney time and up until about 3.00 am I was pretty happy. We were playing fairly well and Watford looked pretty toothless despite two goals that came from their only two shots.
At half time I posted that a quick Boro goal could see things turning round. Well that didn't happen and I crawled into bed just before 4.00am wondering what had had hit me.
One question and three thoughts.
Q Did their third goal hit the guy standing offside?
Thought 1 Hackney is not a number 10. He needs to be the link between the back 6 and the forward three.
Thought 2 If we want to score goals we need two forwards in the penalty area with one other in the spaces to support them. That suggests to me a 3-4-1-2 for games against strong teams. I'd set it up with McGree as the 1 with Nypan as his sub and Srelec and Conway as the two up front with Sene/Whitaker/Hansen/Burgzorg as the potential subs. Hackney pairs up with Browne/Morris and we play with solid wingbacks in Targett and Brittain who could be replaced with more attacking options if we actually had anyone other than Silvera.
Thought 3 Buy wingbacks in January. Nothing else.
UTB
Excellent opener within your opener Martin, loved that.
Hopefully get some time tomorrow to post my thoughts on tomorrow night.
Whilst I am here, I hear Southampton have sacked Still ? That is a job up Carricks street.
Thanks for the preview Martin and I think 'Dad Browser' is possibly a phrase that could be the new Boomer 😉 - Though when I first started reading your opener I was wonder why you were throwing in some Welsh phrases until I realised they were anagrams - which got me wondering whether it is indeed just a language of anagrams...
I initially thought a trip to Leicester was going to be a tough game but they are surprisingly struggling having lost their last 3 games and indeed only one win since August - surely can't be a better time to play them.
I've no idea how Edwards will set up but he really does need to start selecting his new forwards if they aren't to just wither on the bench - Strelec, Sene, Hansen and Nypan all looked impressive when they first appeared in the team but they appear to have been neglected to accommodate tactical tweaks and overlooked after international break training for games.
However, with only a few days preparation in between game then I'm not sure if there will be much time for tactical reassessment - that may well come in the next international break that follows this weekend. Hopefully, McGree is not jumping on a plane again now he's fit and unfortunately those new signings will also be missing too.
Boro need to win these next 2 games and in truth it's possible if we can score goals against two sides who are not in great form - though Saturday's opponents Birmingham beat Portsmouth 4-0 at the weekend so that looks harder than Tuesday's trip to the Midlands!
I was seriously wondering if the rumour of Scott returning to Norwich was based on inside knowledge until I got further down the article and read that "...the fact that Scott had a very good relationship with former Boro boss Michael Carrick" was bad news for Manning - I guess it's just another 2+2=5 article written by someone joining old dots that are just not there!
However, talking of rumours - Edwards being touted as favourite to get the Wolves job has come out of the blue and it would seem not something the club would want to entertain after carefully constructing a new coaching team in the summer.
Unless they feel they would be happy to keep hold of Adi Viveash and Harry Watling given they are not Edwards staff - would they even contemplate promoting one of them to head coach or even bringing back Carrick to work with them given another masterclass as a pundit on Match of the Day yesterday.
Still, can't see how Edwards could jump ship after just three months and keep his credibility but while Boro are still second his stock is high and in football timing is everything - sorry I forgot money is everything - he would certainly get paid far more at Wolves but with them being 8 points from safety it sounds more of a job for an out of work manager who needs to get back into the game.
Well after a dreadful start at Southampton Will Still be in charge? That question has finally been answered - looks like we've entered the sacking season ahead of the international break and Chairmen of clubs overachieving will also start getting nervous as others covet their man...
Watched the Wrexham v Coventry game, Coventry did a Boro ,and didn't show up, although Wrexham did work hard to not allow them to play their normal attacking game.
Then watched Leicester v Blackburn, Leicester didn't play bad ,but Blackburn did a Blackburn on them, paragmatic,stay tight, defend everywhere, and then hit them on two attacks,
Leicester very much rely on their two wide wingers , we cannot play with wingbacks, we will be wide open , back four a must , with our wide men helping on defending, maybe an old fashioned 442 ,
On this wingback system Edwards been using, Taggart is not a wingback, Sammi or Bangura is better suited , alot of our results have been more digging them out than overwhelming, Edwards is still trying to figure his best team out, so you can understand him looking at everyone,
We have a couple of players right now who are one game good ,one game average and one game poor, this is were I want the manager to make decisive decisions, either your at it or your out, meaning not only running but making the right choices with the ball.
COB
It’s a great opener, Martin. I loved the anagrams, though I still haven’t worked out the two which conclude your piece!
A point is the very least we must get tomorrow evening, though we might ‘expect’ all 3, given The Yetis’ current form. To get them, we’ll need to score at least one goal. So I share the views expressed here that Strelec and McGree should be in the front 3 alongside Conway.
@clive-hurren Rob Edwards, Riley Mcgree ? If that's the two you are relating to Clive.
Thank you for the starter piece, Martin. I realise the games are coming thick and fast and the Leicester game will be history tomorrow night. Boro really does need a good performance but, even more so, needs a good result. No prediction from me. I don't have any idea what the starting XI will be, much less how the team will play. A lot of weight will rest on the manager to get this right.
I'm not sure Rob Edwards will fancy the Wolves job if he looks at their upcoming fixtures until the end of the year...
Chelsea (A), Palace (H), Villa (A), Forest (H), Man Utd (H), Arsenal (A), Brentford (H), Liverpool (A), Man Utd (A)
For a club currently three wins from safety you can't see much there to offer any encouragement that they don't seem already doomed!
@werdermouth - They're doomed, Capt. Mainwaring, DOOMED!
So reading the local press reports on Edwards pre-match press conference it sounds like he didn't directly rule himself out of the Wolves job but instead deflected the questions by insisting that he's fully focused on tomorrow's game and hasn't given it any thought and even claimed he only heard about it from his daughter - who I understand is not his agent given AI Overview claims she was born in 2024. If true, then she sounds quite precocious to be on top of the PL rumour mill at such a tender age and asking her daddy if he's going to dance with wolves. Of course it was only the AI claims so it may be that she's a teenager - though I believe he actually has two daughter...
So much for AI search results - his daughters are 20 and 16 and a son who is 9
@werdermouth he really needs to rule it out unequivocally, ideally before the game tomorrow.
I wonder if someone has been having a quiet word in his ear over the last week ?
It would've been easy for him to say he's not interested if he wasn't but people tend to choose their words carefully when speaking to the media and who knows these days. A bit like when he said he was happy to be getting the Boro job as it was one of the best jobs at 'this level' or words to that effect. Still, he'd be mad to take over at Wolves as it's a hospital pass of a job with a team who have struggled to score goals and that's not his strength as we have seen this season.
@werdermouth part of my point was that if someone has been having a word in his shell-like, it could have translated to poor performance or decision making...
Thanks Martin for a very original opener.
I said after the Wrexham game that I was beginning to feel that the wheels were slowly coming off and then some did at Watford.
I just hope that we can repair the damage at Leicester but I am not feeling overly confident despite their poor form; two teams on a poor run could be a 0-0.
Fingers crossed it turns out better for us and not two losses on the bounce. 😎
Thanks for the excellent opener Martin, which was very entertaining. As I said you are not capable of writing anything which is not interesting and informative.
OK, I can give the blog a scoop. A scoop only because the the journos on the Gazette and Echo with an inside track on what's going on at the club don't seem to have spotted the bleeding obvious.
The key to the Watford game, which was both the closest we got to a goal and was the source of our defeat, was the fact that Edwards was using Targett to channel his desire to find another Alfie Doughty. It wasn't so much that Targett was (according to the papers' ratings) very pathetic as that he was peripatetic.
Edwards had obviously spotted that Targett had an eye for an accurate pass, and on Saturday he was promoted to the role of our dead ball specialist, taking corners from both sides and free kicks from one of which he produced what was easily our best attempt at goal.
Unfortunately the message that Matt/Alfie would be going AWOL at left back and would need cover whist he was attending to his other duties had not been fully taken on board or understood by the rest of the team, so that not once, but twice Watford were able to take advantage, not of gaps, but of acres of empty space down our left-hand side.
It was bad enough that the Watford winger had a completely clear field ahead of him when he took a simple cross field pass from inside his own half. But Jones's decision to stay in the middle, as one of two centre backs marking the Watford striker, rather going out wide to cut down the space and the threat was the fatal mistake.
This was something that happened a number of times last season when Van den Berg unaccountably stayed at home in the middle rather than going out to meet a left wing threat, but Boro eventually got a grip of it.
Even top-class centre backs can be weak in this area. It's something I've noticed about Virgil van Dijk's game. It seems that he has more confidence in his ability to deal with a cross when it eventually arrives rather than dealing with a speedy winger by going wide but out of his comfort zone.
It was Morris who gave chase to cut out the danger, putting in a 50 yard lung bursting run but failing to get to an opponent who had a 10 yd start.
And completing the defensive mistakes, having made the effort to get back, Hackney watched the ball instead of his man who scored. There were seven Boro outfield players in our box marking two attackers when the ball went in.
The second goal was out of the same playbook. This time Conway -to his credit - was the only one trying, but failing, to get to the Watford man in acres of space to deliver his pinpoint cross.
So Boro went two behind in a first half they had dominated. It was the result of a tactical tweak that is promising and should be persevered with. But Watford's exploitation of (and our failure to deal with) its obvious and immediate consequences were there for all to see.
Everything is possible but my view would that it's highly unlikely Edwards will be the next Wolves manager - it's more of a high risk job for someone desperate to get back into football with nothing to lose - so Gary O'Neil is more of a likely appointment or a higher profile manager with a few recent bad experiences who needs another shot...