Great opener Andy, we threw the game away at Portsmouth last season, hopefully we can come away with the 3pts from this one.

Obviously it is still very early days and the league table is still yet to take shape, however, throughout a season there can often can be a bit of luck involved with the fixture schedule, ie playing a team when they are having a bad run, playing a team in form, playing a team who are about to sack their manager, playing a team who have just got a new manager etc.

This set me thinking of the form of the opposition we have faced to date in our eight games and the average league position of the eight teams we have played is eleventh, we have played 3rd,4th,7th,8th,12th,14th 19th and 24th.

I just found that interesting as often you can look and think we have been on a good run but we may have played six of the bottom eight teams for example, whereas we have had a mix of in form teams, Stoke, West Brom and then early strugglers in the likes of Sheff Utd.

Portsmouth sit 17th so let's come back with the 3pts.

Another excellent opener, Andy! Thank you. Your analysis of both sides’ strengths and playing styles is brilliant. I particularly appreciated how you’ve considered Tommy Conway’s role. 

Good post, PJ. The league positions currently rather belie the view that we had been given a very difficult start to the season. Nonetheless, we’ve had very challenging away games at Millwall, Norwich, Preston and Southampton, and equally difficult home games against WBA and Stoke. Even the Sheffield United game could have been potentially very testing had The Blades lived up to their pre-season billing. Seven tough games, therefore, which makes it all the more satisfying that we are still top with as many as 18 points. Admittedly there are no easy games in the Championship, but I still reckon our start has been as tough as they come. 

It doesn’t get any easier, though, does it? As Andy pointed out, we face a Pompey side who pose some challenges aerially and who will be fired up by a passionate and vociferous home crowd. I’m going to Portsmouth, for the first time. I’m really looking forward to the game, but I’d rather not watch it through my fingers like I did the second half of the Stoke game. I hope Boro exert a lot more control this time and take the game to the opposition. A goal or two would be welcome, of course, as would the three points. I’m quietly confident. 

@clive-hurren As you say Clive there is no easy games in the championship, such an unpredictable league, probably explains why my £1 accumulator on championship games at the weekend never does any good !!

Yes, another toughie at the weekend.

Excellent opener, Andy, as we have come to appreciate, and at such short notice too.

Very good analysis of the Conway position, and I agree that this will be a feisty encounter whatever our relative league placings.

Last season's defeat there owed everything to our dawdling on the ball  and their exploitation of our left back weakness. Now our significant problem is at right back so I'm hoping that Brittain will be fit. It's not fair on Silvera to expect him to carry out a defensive role for which he is clearly unsuited.

Our best hope is for one or two early goals against a defence prone to basic errors and ensuring that we don't let them back into the game cheered on by a traditionally partisan crowd. Keeping that crowd quiet rather than giving them encouragement by making errors at the back should be our first objective.

The teams' relative energy levels will be an important factor. Both had gruelling midweek games. Boro's advantage in having a day's extra rest is probably counterbalanced by the amount of travelling we have had to do over the past eight days.

An early goal will settle us and will expose Pompey's vulnerability to a counter-attack. Otherwise I fear it will be another physical slog at the end of which the quality of our subs may prove to be the deciding factor.

I'll go for a 0-2 scoreline

That was an excellent Headliner Andy, especially given the short notice and generally your work commitments. 

The profile of one of our players in Tommy Conway was interesting also. However I think that given the system change he deserves some leeway, certainly for now. Of course what will be also interesting and very important to our success or not, is how Strelec evolves over the next number of games.

To be fair to TC, Strelec is not a “hold it up man” Does not have the pace that Latte Lath had and is like TC is generally a box man also.

It is fair to say that neither are that typical front man that Edwards would choose one would think. But one assumes that he must have had some say in his purchase?

Let’s see if Edwards and the Boro can increase the xG’s both in terms of chances and goals this weekend.

Thanks Andy for a brilliant opener as always.  Very interesting analysis of the strengths of both sides.

Always difficult at Fratton Park which I know from numerous visits and only managed to see one win, during Tony Mobray’s time; tomorrow will be no different and we can’t afford to give away a lead should we get one like last season.

I am not feeling confident, we should win if we have top two expectations but but but! CoB prove me wrong? 😎

Thanks for stepping in to do the starter, Andy, although from the quality of the writing it’s impossible to tell that this was a last minute contribution. A superb look at the upcoming game. 

I also have my concerns about Conway but, as others have said, he’ll probably have to continue in his current role, at least until others get up to speed. 

He’ll certainly score some goals, and no one can criticise his effort, but whether he brings out the best in Strelec is still debatable. 

I said this about the Stoke game, so at the risk of repeating myself, I think we’re going to have win games like the one on Saturday if we’re going to challenge for promotion. To be sitting at the top of the table when the next international break arrives would be a brilliant achievement for RE and the team. 

Already mentioned there is no easy games and Saturday I expect no different but yet I fancy a big win for us, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1

After conceding just three in five games Pompey have conceded six in three, I can see us taking advantage of what appears to be frailties creeping into their defending, added to that we have eight of our twelve goals to date coming away from home.

Let's hope i don't end up with egg on my face come 5pm on Saturday.

Many thanks Andy for another top preview and very astute analysis on the delicate balance of Boro's attack in and out of possession - Tommy Conway has shown himself to be one of the best forwards out of possession with an unbelievable work rate that typifies what Edwards wants.

It's an interesting question to how Boro are best served going forward and whether a better more complementary trio would lead to more goals. Indeed, the switch to an extra midfielder was commented on by Mark Robins as one of the reasons his side struggled to get into the game but whether Brittain's absence was also the reason it led to more opposition chances is hard to quantify with only one game to judge - Len's previous analysis on Silvera being targeted as the weak point was very illuminating and a point well made.

You would suspect Portsmouth would offer Boro a better chance to showcase their attacking ability and you wonder if the pace of Sene from the start would offer a better chance of an early goal over Strelec as other players are not yet seemingly on the same wavelength to make him as effective.

As for which Jose I'd rather play against this weekend - well for me Mourinho has become something of the Trump of football managers - a self-publicist who enjoys the chaos that follows him around and always pointing the finger of blame as nothing is ever his fault and there's always a conspiracy against him. I suspect Mousinho would be a better bet if he had the players at his disposal that the self-style 'special one' has enjoyed in recent years. 

Anyway, hoping Boro go into the break with a win and retain their status as top dogs - though worst case scenario is still one point off the top but maybe everyone is now getting used to our new status as front runners - who'd have thought such a change in the mindset of Boro supporters since the summer - the scent of confidence is in the air on Teesside - let's hope we don't bottle it...

I think we can mostly agree that we do not know (yet) who are our best 3 forward players if we play with wing-backs and three centre backs. 

But we have plenty of choise:

Riley McGree

Sverre Nypan

Tommy Conway

Delano Burgzorg 

Morgan Whittaker 

David Strelec 

Kaly Sene

Sontje Hansen

That is eight player fighting for 3 spots (without mentioning Hamilton and Gilbert). McGree is back in full training now, so he should be available latest after the International break. 

So very difficult to choose the best three. I can see why Whittaker and Conway were chosen over the more recently arrived players in the first matches - at least they were playing together last season. But on paper the best trio is not the same as best together. Very tricky.

It would sound strange to leave Strelec out now, but it looked like neither Hackney nor Conway were able to find him against Stoke on Tuesday.

So I am not going to say what is the best front trio. My long term favourite top three could look like McGree, Strelec and Sene, but it sounds unfair to leave Conway out. Tricky.

So it is not to find the absolut best individuals, but finding the best combo to play together. That may take some time to find out!

Up the Boro!

Back from Dalyan,Turkey after a 4 week stay. Used a Turkish Airline called Sun Express for the first time. Very impressive.

Thanks to you all, managed to read all the reports on the games.

As for Tommy Conway, I'm a big fan and hope that he gets picked for Scotland. Steve Clarke has done well overall, but sometimes loyalty to certain players can cloud judgment. If Conway keeps performing, though, it’ll be hard to justify leaving him out much longer.

@martin-bellamy 

Totally agree that Andy smashed it out of the ground.

Many thanks buddy it’s appreciated 

OFB

Andy

Superb last minute preview you’ve really helped me out of a fix. 

Many thanks buddy 👏👏👏

OFB

Posted by: @original-fat-bob

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@martin-bellamy 

Totally agree that Andy smashed it out of the ground.

Many thanks buddy it’s appreciated 

 

OFB

Hope you’re feeling better, OFB.

Thanks for the opener Andy. This is another bogey ground/team only 2 wins there in the past thirty years and only 3 wins total this century. Is this game going to buck the trend or is it the end of the unbeaten run. The Socceroos squad has been named, Silvera not included, likewise Conway not in Scotland squad, although Aiden Morris is in the US team.

An interesting fact that in this week's midweek EFL games there were no home wins the first time this has happened. 

Thanks for the great opener, Andy. The Tommy Conway question is certainly a very interesting one. I think it reaches into questions across the whole of the front end of the team. Since the window closed, the results have still gone well, but the performances, especially up front have been less convincing.

@ Peter A very good post.

I also started to think that Srelec and Conway co-op is not yet working.

And HH and Morris were coughing. Like an old engine - not oiled enough.

But really, we are top of the league, so better shut up now, me. Up the Boro!

I’ve just watched our Boro Manager Rob Edward’s press conference prior to the game tomorrow. What a difference to the taciturn sessions previously associated with Carrick. Obviously it’s down to personalities and perhaps MC was introverted and perhaps quite a shy and private person? If so then perhaps Football Mamgement is not for him even though other clubs may be circling?

The initiative instigated by RE to send letters to all those fans who travelled down some 700 miles round trip to Southampton and then again going down today and tomorrow has not gone unnoticed by RE. The letter thanks them for their incredible support and RE said in the Press Conference today he has spoken to fans who have told him the cost in train fares and overnight stays in hotels which is a significant amoutn. RE said that shows devotion and loyalty in supporting their team and that is why he is trying to build a rapport with the fans. Boro have never sent a letter thanking fans previously and RE admitted he has never done it before previously.

Quite an amazing turnaround from our previous management when there was distrust between the coaching staff and the recruitment team. Hints of nepotism and favouritism in selection of staff and recruitment of players who did not fit the profile of what was needed. Whilst it’s easy to blame one man on this situation, unfortunately the buck must stop at the head coach. I never thought that in such a short time there would be such a marked increase in enjoyment supporting our Football Club long may it continue.

Whilst I accept there is a long way to go and disappointment will probably lie ahead let’s just savour the moment.

Many thanks for all your kind wishes and thanks again to Andy for steeping up to the mark and producing a great preview.

Boro3 here we come……….

OFB

OFB,

Very sorry to hear about you having further problems. Having just had a double dose of cellulitis the second of which affected my eyes, you have my sympathy. A bit frayed and frustrated sums it up in an understated way.

Also a big thank you to all the Headline writers and posters. You keep me sane!!

Hopefully I'll be off the large size type setting on the computer soon!

Once again thank you all. OFB, stay positive.

ATB and UTB,

John

Tremendous work, Andy.

I'll add my own contribution by, firstly, sharing my observations over our style of play and some of our players. Primarily from the West Brom game, as that was the one I watched live. 

For starters, I like the idea of a 3-4-2-1 if we have the players available to fit it. Ayling is one of those players who looks like he's capable of striding forward and contributing well to attack. We had players like that in 2015-16, not just Ayala but also Tommy Kalas, and Fry looked like doing the same on what I think was his league debut at Preston. (Fry's performance was the highlight of that game, by far.)

Brittain and Targett look exciting and dependable, a more ideal fit for the kind of wing back role that, say, an Adomah would perform well in while you also got the feeling his attacking potential wasn't being fully utilised. I'm thankful that Silvera can come on and deputise, but I really want to see Targett out wide rather than in the centre, as I think that's where he can do most damage.

Hackney, Morris and potentially Kante? Maybe not as forceful or as solid as the Leads-Clayton axis but there's visibly more freedom in their roles, and I'm welcoming that. It's kind of a summation of REBoro and how they appear to compare to AKBoro - a similar dedication to a unified, upwardly mobile cause on the pitch, but with more openness, and more engagement with what fans need to see.

I'm a fan of Nypan, Strelec, Sene and Conway - because you know that they all have something different to offer to the attack, and they all possess boldness and invention in their style. Strelec's goal was, partly, straight out of the Pulis school of the long throw and the flick on causing havoc in defences, along with an exercise in both positional sense and upper body strength. It wasn't just that he knew where to be, but that he also kept his frame steady enough to ensure he got just the right touch on the ball. Sene's goal was a far better example of "pure football" - and illustrated how confident his footwork could be when actually in the box, with those gifts of positional sense and adjustment but in a different manner. Conway, meanwhile? I sort of see him as a Bamford type, a good footballing forward who can link well with the rest of the team, although I get the feeling we're not giving him enough service.

Credit is also due to RE for appearing brave enough to not only recognise Strelec needed a valuable rest - when I wanted to see Strelec continue playing - but also that variance in our attack, with Sene, would confuse the Baggies a little more. Goals like Sene's, and Kike Garcia's at Brighton in 2015, are tele friendly goals - the reflection of a well-oiled continental machine. But goals like Strelec's, like Jordan Rhodes's, are so undervalued, and with forwards like Strelec, Sene and Conway, we've got a tantalising balance.

With so many positives, I also have to admit that there was a lack of sustained attacking quality. The Baggies appeared more fluid and intricate, which is perhaps why they caught us out and turned what looked like a comfortable win into another narrow one. But for all that, they had nearly no end product, and you have to credit the way RE set the defence up for that. 

As Andy implies, Pompey will be a more physical test, especially on their own ground. Having said that... it's winnable. Because we have the individuals to make a difference, I'm convinced RE has faith in them to do so, and defensively we are holding together well as a collective.

@simonfallaha I enjoyed your analysis above, if I may just one small observation, you didn’t give a mention to Alan Browne, who in my opinion has ready demonstrated that he can become a very valued member of the squad.

Come on BORO.

@exmil 

Good point of observation Exmil I agree with that a seasoned pro who will help even more as the season progresses.

OFB

Thanks so much for that Match Preview, Andy.  Appreciated not only by OFB but by all of us.  Good to hear that OFB is OK or at least sufficiently well to dive into the debate.  Lots of good comments have been made by Blog members above.

Portsmouth (away) is a long journey and, looking outside at grey skies, rain and the branches bending under the pressure of 52+ mph winds in North Yorkshire, it might be an uncomfortable journey. The weather predicted on the BBC Weather App for Portsmouth tomorrow is a lot sunnier than it outside just now (or at least sunny intervals apart from an hour at 3pm!) though still very windy with gusts of 47mph.  It might not be a day for pretty football. 

Such is the season for football players and followers.  The heat of August, the expected crisp autumn afternoons, the dampness of late autumn and the cold and sleet in winter with only the thought of spring ahead to warm the heart. Apart, that is, from the satisfied glow you get when looking at the league table.  Let's hope that a good performance and result on the south coast gives us an international break when we can look down the league table with surprised satisfaction. 

And before I forget, it's so good to see Si back on these pages. I guess Northern Ireland is getting the brunt of Storm Amy as I type these words.  Be careful out there.  Let's put it this way: I'm glad I'm not towing my caravan up to Ullapool THIS weekend!

Good post, Si. It was a good win against the Baggies and the second goal really settled it. Up until that point in the second half, however, we were hanging on and I had the feeling that had WBA scored when they were so much on top then they might well have gone on to win the game. Going 2-0 up on a counter-attack came as a huge relief.

I too remember Fry's debut as an 18yo at Preston and he was outstanding. It was also Downing's first appearance after his signing from West Ham. He was underwhelming. The other thing that struck me from that game was Leadbetter driving forward from midfield, exchanging passes and then poking a very presentable chance wide of the post. I couldn't criticise Leads since he was the initiator of the move and had covered over half of the pitch in order to get himself into a scoring position.

But he got hammered by the fans for missing our only decent chance in the 0-0 score. In those days, under Karanka, we created so few chances that any player who missed one was deemed guilty of a capital offence. I remember Adam Reach suffering the same fate.

The net result was that Leadbetter effectively stopped being an attacking midfielder and settled into a more defensive role. I guess he just didn't need all of the abuse. And that is how he went from being a free scoring midfielder to one for whom the goals dried up. Much the same could be said of Albert Adomah in the process of Karanka making him a more "complete " player.

Part Two...

I'd like to wish Bob both well and a speedy recovery - and to say that I think he shares my thinking about Rob Edwards's level of fan engagement, which I am hugely impressed with. If a head coach comes across as distant and aloof, and it has happened before, that will only work when the team is winning - if that. RE's wave to the fans after the game was simply heart-warming.

Now for Portsmouth...

My reflection on our recent encounters against them tells me that they are one of those teams we find notoriously hard to beat.

That 5-1 reverse at Fratton Park in 2004 wasn't as meaningless as it seemed - we'd already won silverware and we were already guaranteed a European spot, but four goals from Yakubu surely put him on Steve McClaren's radar. I forgot, however, that Bolo Zenden's goal for us that day was actually quite a special strike. In many ways, we had it good then.

2005's visit to Fratton Park brought both a (brief) return from injury and a goal from Malcolm Christie, but again we lost (2-1) and again Yakubu scored, this time the winner. The following season, he did score for us against Pompey, at home (1-1), while our loss in the return fixture was part of a great Pompey run of six wins, two draws and just one defeat which ensured a miraculous escape from the threat of the drop. Again, a future Boro man, Gary O'Neil, scored their goals in these fixtures.

By 2006-07, we were out of Europe while they had money and were about to enjoy their two best Premier League seasons ever. (Though the spending would catch up with them.) The 4-0 Riverside reverse felt like the lowest of the low, but we got a credible 0-0 draw away - our first point and clean sheet in the league at Fratton Park in the twenty-first century! - so things could only get better.

They did, in 2007-08. Sort of. Two wins out of two without a single concession, and with Tuncay Sanli scoring in both games. By the 2008-09 away fixture, we'd a significantly weaker squad - Jeremie Aliadiere was playing on the right of midfield, Tuncay was absent and we had a strike force of Mido and Afonso Alves, who never really clicked. Nonetheless, they combined beautifully for a fine Mido opener (he started both 2007-08 and 2008-09 well before fading) and we led for over half an hour until a Jermain Defoe double turned the game. By the next fixture, Defoe would be back at Spurs and Marlon King would be partnering Tuncay up front with Alves on the bench. King grabbed a last minute point, and Alves almost snatched a winner, for a Boro side who went down after managing only two wins after November, one of them against title-chasing Liverpool. (Typical?) Boro Future again showed itself in the home fixture with the presence of a certain David Nugent.

Our second tier home encounters with Pompey between 2010 and 2012 brought late concessions in 2-2 draws. The first of these saw Pompey goals from Nugent and then former Sunderland man Liam Lawrence (Boro Past and Future Dave Kitson and Ritchie De Laet were also present for Pompey in 2010-11). Away from home, things were better - a 0-0 draw in 2010-11 and then a 3-1 win in 2011-12, only our second league win at Fratton Park in my time as a Boro fan! After that we had to wait until last season to play them again, and never mind that we had yet another 2-2 draw at home, I still feel the pain of throwing away the 1-0 lead and losing like we did in 2008-09.

Here's hoping for better tomorrow.

@exmil You're spot on ExMil, and I do apologise. Browne looks like a very valuable squad member indeed.

Just checked the stats for the above;

Leadbetter  2014-15  12goals

                   2015-16    4

                   2016-17    3

                   2017-18    3

Adomah   2013-14       12

               2014-15        5

               2915-16        6

Continuing with the Conway / Strelec debate and going back to this time last season, didn’t Carrick generally play one or the other but not both of Conway and Latte Lath?

That was nice to read Bob’s post and the initiative to send a “thank you” letter to the travelling fans. I do believe that MFC could do more, even in a small way, to help those, every away match regulars, that support the Boro on the road.

If we get a result tomorrow, then I would not be surprised to see the next away game at Sheffield Wednesday, sell out of the 3’699 allocation.

Going back to helping the fans generally, the tickets last Tuesday night against Stoke, were Category 2, prices, FROM £29 for adults. For night matches when it is difficult to match a Saturday crowd, couldn’t MFC offer a reduced walk up price that aligns more with ST average cost per game. I am sure that would encourage may be a thousand more at least. 

Think of the cold nights during the winter!!!!

Posted by: @exmil

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@simonfallaha I enjoyed your analysis above, if I may just one small observation, you didn’t give a mention to Alan Browne, who in my opinion has ready demonstrated that he can become a very valued member of the squad.

Come on BORO.

Up the Boro!