@werdermouth I agree it is unlikely, but a lttlle destabilising none the less
Excellent and mind stretching opener. Thank you. I am still stuck on Gilded Rhombus, unless that is a reference to our playing style, preferring Gilded Rhombuses to little triangles!
Despite the disappointment of Saturday, there is still a long long way to go till the honours are decided. We mustn't allow ourselves to be deluded that we will stay top two all season. Although it would be nice to think that could happen. All the same, we couldn't have picked a worse time to visit Leicester. Let us hope their malaise will persist at least another 30 hours.
We also have to hope our malaise will disappear over the same interval and we will begin to turn dominance into goals.
For me we have to go with a back four, with Brittain and Taggert constrained from pushing too far forward, unless they are being covered.
Morris for me to play in front of the back four with Hackney and Brown ahesd of him. Conway and any one of McGree, Whittaker, Hanson or Nypan, playing wide and drifting in, or going around, to create opportunities for Strelec to finish.
Scope then to freshen things up later with any one of those plus Sène from the bench.
If asked, I would take a draw now. Just hope we can refind a little bit of magic.
Excellent and mind stretching opener. Thank you. I am still stuck on Gilded Rhombus...
Doh!. How could I not see that! Stuck no longer.
@powmillnaemore Sometimes it’s hard to see the wood from the trees!
@powmillnaemore I am with you, we must go with a back four. Leicester, similar to Waford have speed on the flanks.
I said pre-Watford that I fancied us to have more chance of us getting something at Leicester than Watford and I am sticking with that.
1-0 for me, Conway.
BBC is now reporting that Gary O’Neil has pulled out of the Wolves negotiations, even though he and the club were in contract talks. The report goes on to say Wolves have appointed several recent managers from the Jorge Mendes stable and may well do so again. Let’s all hope so!
Marine Hotel Saltburn nice rooms good restaurants near station half way up Saltburn bank car parking
OFB
Martin
Many thanks for the preview I enjoyed it immensely and of course had to think a bit !
we need to come out of the blocks quick tomorrow night!
OFB
@clive-hurren it is interesting, Edwards today didn't particularly distance himself from the job today, instead choosing to keep his words on tomorrow night's game.
He has in the past mentioned it can be difficult not seeing his family, who I believe live around ten miles from Wolverhampton so they would surely be temptation there if the offer came along.
I think we will hear more after tomorrow night, however, i was thinking Wolves will want a quick turnaround and would be more likely to have looked at an out of work manager.
A quote from the Beeb's report that Gary O'Neil had removed his cap from the ring in the Wolves talks:
Edwards' position at Middlesbrough, given his current employment, would provide some obstacles, with Boro believed to be entitled to a significant compensation fee. Edwards is a former Wolves Under-23 coach and was also first-team coach, having had a two-game interim spell in charge in 2016, and distanced himself from the role.
"I was told by my daughter yesterday [Sunday], so that probably tells you where I stand on it," he said. "You know my links to the club, but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around from the weekend in a really big game against Leicester. Speculation stuff is hard for me to comment about, anything else other than Middlesbrough, which is where my focus is, that we've done a decent job so far."
Stuart Boam RIP
One of the greatest captains of Boro
OFB
@original-fat-bob. Just picked up your post and said oh no out loud after I read it.
So sad. Agree entirely with you comments on his Captaincy. RIP Stuart and thanks for some great memories. 😎
@original-fat-bob I know we all look back with rose tinted glasses, but my recollection of watching Stuart Boam is of him being a colossus in defence, rarely putting in a poor performance and being a great team leader. Such a shame to hear of his death, especially at the age of 77.
Ooh, that hurts me. He was a club legend and was one of the best players when I started to follow Boro in 1970.Stuart Boam RIP
One of the greatest captains of Boro
OFB
In 2015, I was invited to sit in the table between Stuart Boam and Jim Platt. This was a Former Players' Assoosiation get-together with the fans at the hotel Leonardo in Middlesbrough. It had a different name in 2015, but the same building. I think Len Masterman was there, too.
So in addition to rating him as a club legend, I got to know him a bit as a person, too. He will be a great loss and today's match will be remembered for Stuart. I hope we will wear black arm bands tonight.
I will miss him greatly. He and Maddren were our heroes on the day. RIP.
Up the Boro!
I love this picture of Stuar Boam. The famous kit at Ayresome Park.
More about Stuart in here: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-legend-stuart-boam-dies-32808450
Up the Boro!
It’s a great picture. And that’s the Holgate behind him. Ah, the memories.
RIP Stuart. One of the greats.
As around a 13yr old youngster in the late 70s I probably only seen the last year or so of Stuart Boam's playing career with us and in truth probably wasn't old enough to appreciate how good a player he was.
However, i have heard and seen enough of him since to understand he was a huge player and captain of the club during a really successful period and a genuinely nice man.
RIP Stuart.
Really sad news. Stuart was a great centre-half and the backbone of a great team.From his persona on the pitch I always assumed that he might be a dour uncompromising character, but at the 2015 players' reunion that Jarkko mentioned he turned out to be the star turn. A natural comedian and storyteller with the kind of timing that made pretty well every sentence hilarious. He brought the house down and had the audience in the palm of his hands for a full 20 minutes. He was not just a great defender, but a wonderful all round character. His service to the club was not without its sacrifices in later life. He had difficulty in walking and getting around for many years as a result of all of those tackles and blocks. Thanks Stuart for so many fantastic memories both on and off the field
I don’t want to be that bloke, but compare and contrast the behaviour and class of Stuart Boam, with that of our ex-player Djed Spence this week. It’s a funny old game.
@clive-hurren. Thanks for the reminder Clive. I hadn’t taken much notice of the background and you quiet rightly point out it’s the Holgate End.
As I look at the picture I can see the barrier to the right of the goal I used to stand against with a few mates. Happy memories. 😎
@original-fat-bob thank you for posting that. Very sad news. Boam and Maddren the greatest centre back pairing of their era, despite what Derby fans and England selectors might argue. RIP and thanks for some of the best memories.
Like PJ, I think I only caught the last season of Stuart Boam as I didn't start going to Ayresome Park until I was 14 but always remembered him as a a no-nonsense defender with a no-nonsense sounding name and swagger to match.
A great pro who in his 8 years at Middlesbrough only missed 16 league games out of 672 with never fewer than 38 in a season.
They don't make them like that anymore and was pleased to hear from Len that he was a great character off the pitch too - a true leader who will be sadly missed but greatly appreciated and remembered by all Boro supporters as a club legend!
I'm not sure if that huge red circle was intended (unless it was a big cheese 🤔) but I removed it in case it got any bigger 😉
Looks like 4-2-3-1 as Edwards seems like he's going all Carrick on us - I'm getting quite puzzled by reliance on Burgzorg and Whittaker and the disappearance of most of the summer signings - plus what does Browne have to do as he was the best of the three midfielders against Wrexham but once again misses out.
I hope this selection works out but I guess we won't see the full-backs playing so high tonight I suspect - but also no Ayling supplying crosses either since he's part of a back two.
It looks to me like like Edwards fancies Burgzorg and Conway to be the ones to get behind the Foxes defence, with Whittaker the playmaker in front of Hackney and Morris... though we will see once the game begins. Options on the bench, but hope he doesn’t wait till the 70th minute if it isn't working...