@pedro The Echo is dismissing the links to Mavididi this morning.
Boro are still monitoring wide attackers, although there is no substance to reports that emerged yesterday suggesting the club are interested in Leicester City’s Stephy Mavididi.
Up the Boro!
An interesting article here about the management pairing at tomorrow’s opponents. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/14/lincoln-have-faith-in-double-act-as-they-return-to-second-tier?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Final call to enter the COTS challenge this season.
17 entries posted so far, from:
K P in Spain; MW in Darwin; Martin Bellamy;
Len Masterman; Andy R; Pedro de Espana;
Peter Surtees; Selwynoz; Boro Beckys Dad;
Forever Dormo; Billog72; tupaia_heligo;
Clive Hurren; Powmill-Naemore; Chris from Barlby;
werdermouth; and jarkko.
There are a few previous contenders missing from that list as well as other regular contributors and lurkers. Can you be tempted...:
@Exmil ?
@Philip-of-Huddersfield ?
@simonfallaha ?
@Stircrazy ?
@Johnny-Canuck?
@John-Richardson ?
@Paul-in-Boro ?
@peasepudinperth ?
@OFB if you are well enough (I hope)?
or anyone else I've overlooked ?
Entries please, in the following format, by 8pm this evening (Fri 14th August):
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 TO FINISH: 1st (or whatever you think)
(Remember, an 'Over Achiever' is a team finishing 10 or more places higher than last season, or in the top 9 as a promoted team; an 'Under Achiever' is a team finishing 10 or more places lower than last season, or outside the top 9 as a relegated team).
Full details here: https://diasboro.club/forum/members-lounge/the-diasboro-cots-challenge-2026-27/
@selwynoz - Some worrying stats there!
As you say it will be interesting to see what the team selection and formation turns out to be. Knowing that they like set pieces then I think I need to change my team selection!
I think the idea of 3 tall ( well as tall as we have available) centre backs is not a bad idea. I think with Brittain and Arfsten we have the pace for them to operate as true wing backs.
Picking up on what Simon said about Vitek, then depending on he has been in training then I would still be inclined to play him given his height.
I would like to see 2 up front Joseph and Lankshear with 3 in midfield, probably Castledine, Whittaker and Berhalter.
UTB
We might be forced to play Malanda in midfield again tomorrow as cover for Morris.
Not ideal but at least it does give us that extra height when defending set pieces.
Given injuries/match fitness, I’m expecting something like:
———————Vitek————————-
Brittain Ayling Edmundsen Arfsten
————Berhalter Malanda—————
——Whittaker Castledine Joseph——
——————-Lankshear——————-
Sounds like it might be useful to have a six-foot-six keeper tomorrow - I guess team selection is dependent on who is fit but I'd go with most of Andy's team selection but would instead have Joseph on the right instead of Whittaker and I've quite liked the look of Fin Cartwright in pre-season and he seems to be able to move and hold the ball well.
For me Whittaker and Sarmiento look like impact subs when the opposition are tiring as they tend to be brushed off the ball when the defence is set. Edmundsen looked ok in recent games and has a physicality about him and back in his prime was good with the ball at his feet - he also has a long throw I believe if we need a set piece (and he can deliver it in less than five seconds).
btw Just remembered to purchase my Boro Live season subscription a few minutes ago!
It’s crazy hot over here today currently at 36 degrees in the shade so hope it’s much cooler at the Riverside tomorrow!
Difficult to predict the result of the Saturday match. The last time the two teams met was during the month when I was born. So over 65 years ago.
Difficult. As no experience.
I will go for a 2-0 win for Boro over the Imps. Castledine and Berhalter scoring in front of a sold-out crowd. Up the Boro!
No early decision on Spygate according to this article:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cly5pe3303eo
😎
Looking at some of the posts with regards to the Lincoln stats, information on set pieces and the look on paper of our vulnerable defence, this game certainly has the look of a banana skin result in front of a near "Full House"
Add to that Werder's woeful Headliner reviews and we may end up having a disappointing weekend to reflect on.
I am really disappointed at the continual injury issues, that appear to not being attended to or improved upon. Hellberg can only pick who is available, and whilst I, along with a few others on here would not start with Whittaker, I think unfortunately Hellberg sees him as a first pick. Not sure why?
I still believe we do not have sufficient tall defenders and physical players up front, and Lincoln will be up for it and a big test. First defeat at home possibly.
Do you think they will make a desision the the spygate already this season? Or next?No early decision on Spygate according to this article:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cly5pe3303eo
😎
Dear me, how can it take more than a week or two to decide when all the evidance were there in early May?
Up the Boro!
Personally, as long as we dominate play, I think we’ll be fine tomorrow. Of course, Lincoln will be up for it, as will their supporters, but we should be good enough to win.
I admit I’ll be more confident when KH has a full squad to choose from although does that ever happen? There are always injuries but we should have a big enough squad to cope.
Going back to our injury problems, Hellberg is now saying that Conway won’t be back until the International break. Given he will take a number of games to get up to match fitness, that could potentially add up to around 11/12 games missed. Nearly a quarter of the season.
Let’s hope that Lankshear stays fit and does the business.
Add to that Werder's woeful Headliner reviews and we may end up having a disappointing weekend to reflect on.
To be fair I did get some good reviews too 😏
It’s certainly a strange one as players charged with misconduct are expected to have their case heard within 28 days with an appeals process that can add a further 14 days - there seems no logical reason why this matter was not settled before the start of the season.
Eckert’s defence remains ignorance of the rules and we still don’t know just how many times they spied on opponents - only 3 cases have been admitted to but many more suspected.
It even sounds like Southampton are planning on how to work around any sanction and keep Eckert in place - in which case shouldn’t the owners be charged either bringing the game into disrepute?
Conway out until after the international break is a blow - not heard anything on McGree’s return either as both are our best left side options.
@werdermouth - The consolation is that we have Lankshear and Joseph to bolster the situation - without them we would definitely be concerned.
@boro-beckys-dad agreed. We are in a much better position now, squad-wise, than for a year or two.
According to Northern Echo, McGree is said to be 50/50 for today’s game along with Morris, Jones and Peart-Harris. Maybe one will start with the others on the bench. However , they don’t think that Joseph can last a full game so he might either start or come on as a sub.
UTB
@werdermouth And if you remember, I did give you credit for more than assisting with my Headliner against Watford. That counted as a win for you also in my book. 😎 👍
@werdermouth That did not come out, as I meant it to be. 🤣🤣. APOLOGIES
@werdermouth Sadly, only when available, which in McGree’s case, has not been often enough over three seasons now. Value for money, given his new contract and rise In wages, he has not been.
@selwynoz I don’t think Joseph actually did a 90 minute game for Hull last season. Or if he did, it was an exception rather than the rule. Hopefully he will play more than McGree has.
However, he will certainly have his minutes managed.
After others have pointed out Lincoln's prowess from set plays I had a look at the heights of their outfield players. In their current squad they have 10 players over 6ft 2in(188cm) and two who are 6 foot 5 ins (195 cm). In contrast we have 4 over 6ft 2 in, with Jones and Edmundson being 6ft 3in(191cm). So it looks like we might be in for an aerial bombardment. Apparently they use AI to work out the best set piece scenarios . "Their routine designs focused heavily on blocking space, crowding goalkeepers, and manipulating defensive lines to create high-value territory and opportunities at the back post" according to the Telegraph. Last season they conceded more free kicks per game than any other team in League 1(12.7 average) and were the third most yellow carded team (101). In contrast we were the team that conceded the least free kicks in the cHampionship last season with 9.3 per match average, and 20th in yellow cards with 74. From the BBC Middlesbrough recorded more pressed sequences than any other side in the EFL Championship last season (592), while only Ipswich Town (11) and Hull City (9) scored more goals following high turnovers than their eight.The referee tomorrow is Bobby Madley. His brother Andy was in charge of the Play off "defeat " at Southampton. I have a feeling that we might have to settle for a point from this one.
....I have a feeling that we might have to settle for a point from this one.
You may be right but it would be a great statement if we could show the world how good we are against what is essentially a team of bullies.
UTB
If all it takes is a bunch of big lads to beat us then we might as well pack in now.
It’s a shame some players are missing for us today but nonetheless Lincoln won’t have come up against the quality of a side like us all season last year.
Tactically and physically, perhaps even mentally as the underdog, the game may suit Lincoln to some degree but the potential gulf in ability most certainly will not.
Boro 3-1 Lincoln
I noticed that in the cup game against Wrexham the referee gave fouls against Boro at corners for what appeared to be fairly innocuous pushing. Perhaps the refs have been directed to police corners more vigorously this season? In which case Lincoln's tactics as mentioned by MW may be less effective.
Hopefully anyone who is 50-50 should have a chance of being on the bench but with the next game in a week it may be a case of giving them extra time to avoid risking a setback.
@werdermouth And if you remember, I did give you credit for more than assisting with my Headliner against Watford. That counted as a win for you also in my book. 😎 👍
Ok - maybe I can claim one assist 😉
Perhaps it's just the name - I could try writing previews in a nom de plume if things go pear-shaped today...