Tempted to try and get tickets, as Blackpool is just up the road, although I have a terrible record of watching Boro lose at Bloomfield Road. 

Prediction 1-2. 

Probably 0-0 and on to penalties.

If we can't beat a recently promoted division 1 team then questions will be asked. 0-2 CoB 😎

@k-p-in-spain

We didn't beat Luton when they got promoted. But the 3-3 draw was nice to watch. And Woodgate got some questions to answer. And was finally shown the door in the spring.

Seriously, I hope we will go through. So a win is needed. A McNair penalty and Ikpeazu goal seeing us through with a clean sheet. And Payero making his debut, too in a 60 minute cameo.

Up the Boro!

Here’s the gazette take on the game

Which first-teamers to risk and which fringe players to give a chance? - Boro selection dilemmas

Middlesbrough selection dilemmas ahead of their Carabao Cup first-round tie with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road

With the Carabao Cup not a priority for Middlesbrough this season, Wednesday evening's game at Blackpool could give Neil Warnock the chance to experiment a little with his side.

He may want to rest some first-teamers and he may want to give some opportunities to fringe players and youngsters.

How strong does Warnock go?

When asked about the trip to Blackpool after the hard-fought Fulham draw on Sunday, Warnock just smiled and said, 'We'll definitely use the squad for that one'.

It's an understandable way to go, given Boro's priorities are most certainly in the Championship this season and with a tough clash with Bristol City to come at the weekend - the first home game of the season that Warnock will absolutely want to win.

The squad is thin right now and can ill-afford injuries to particular key man, which makes the likelihood of risking them next to none

But despite that thinking, the Boro boss won't want his side to just go out and be hammered. He'll want to send out a side he believes is capable of winning on their day - with the potential of a home clash against a big Premier League side later in the competition an obvious financial incentive to try and march on.

Thinking about things more in Boro's control though, there are considerations over how strong a side to play, and which first-teamers to leave in?

Momentum is of course an important thing, and a good victory over Blackpool at Bloomfield, building on the draw at Fulham, would be a huge confidence boost to take into the Bristol City game on Saturday.

Could Marc Bola do with more minutes to build his match sharpness after not playing any pre-season? Or is he better off being rested so as not to put his body through too much too soon.

Could Uche Ikpeazu do with another game up top to try and build his confidence and try and get him that first Boro goal

After missing most of pre-season, might Jonny Howson benefit from more minutes in the tank?

These kind of decisions are certainly things that Warnock will have been considering since leaving Craven Cottage on Sunday.

One player we do expect to see in action for the first time is Martin Payero. Warnock confirmed on Sunday the Argentine would make his debut in the cup tie

After his super impressive cameo from the bench at Fulham, Isaiah Jones would certainly be a good bet to be given an opportunity.

He helped change the game in his 19 minutes of action and provided the assist for Bola's goal and would be well deserving of an opportunity to impress from the off against Neil Critchley's side.

A word too for Djed Spence who fell right down the pecking order over the course of the campaign last season and looked a good bet to be sold this summer.

There was some Premier League interest and Boro were certainly open to selling for the right price.

But Spence has returned this summer and gone about his work in a much more focused manner since the start of pre-season, impressing in the friendlies and earning the right to be one of three men brought off the bench at Fulham.

It's obvious that his strengths still lie with attacking, whereas Warnock prefers his full-backs to be more solid defensively - which explains why Spence tends to be used further forward than back now. But with options slim and key players unlikely to be risked, Blackpool might provide Spence with a chance to impress as an attacking right-back, depending on the system Warnock goes with.

Although not used at Fulham, Jeremy Sivi is another youngster who has really impressed this summer and could perhaps get his opportunity, while other talented youngsters such as Nathan Wood, Hayden Hackney, Connor Malley, Jack Robinson and Josh Coburn would no doubt relish the chance to impress too.

We could see three other debutants at Bloomfield Road too. Lee Peltier is highly likely to play, but what about two other Warnock referred to as being close yesterday. Sol Bamba has been with the club throughout the summer and is expected to sign a deal, while goalkeeper Luke Daniels joined on Monday.

Daniels will be expected to go straight into the team at Blackpool, and if Bamba is signed, sealed and delivered in time he might well be starting too

Given the expected amount of changes, it is a really difficult one to predict.

I suspect Warnock will want to blend his team with some youth but also some experience so as not to send a side out like lambs to the slaughter against a decent Blackpool side in their first home game with fans since covid.

For now, with no other confirmation, this predicted team is based on Bamba not being Boro player yet - but he would be starting in our predicted XI if he does, offering the chance to rest Paddy McNair as well as Dael Fry and Grant Hall.

McNair is the one first-teamer we give the nod to without Bamba though, with Fry and Hall both having previous injury problems and the Northern Irishman always so comfortable in a back three that Warnock once joked he could play there while smoking a cigarette

There are some youth players in our team, though they're combined with the experience of McNair, Peltier, Spence, Howson, Watmore and Crooks.

Formation wise, I've debated with myself on this one but, given Blackpool played 4-4-2 at the weekend, and Warnock's options probably suit playing this system more while allowing important players to rest, I've gone with the fluid 3-5-2 for this one.

Predicted Boro XI [3-5-2]: Daniels, McNair, Wood, Peltier, Spence, Howson, Crooks, Jones, Payero, Watmore, Coburn.

OFB

OFB,

Putting cynicism to one side it simply has to be a Boro win so that is what I'm going for totally ignoring the 'Typical Boro' thoughts that are circulating around my mind. Fielding a youthful team with a lot to prove could well be a surprise package and give our manager yet more to think about, the right kind of headache you could say.

For me the score is 1 - 3. I hope I don't regret that outbreak of optimism...

UTB,

John

PS,  OFB, stay calm, you don't have to drive that pacemaker like you stole it.

I honestly have no idea how MW will play this one although I am curious to find out what NW's formation will be for games that we are expected to win or at least have a good share of possession. This could be a game to try something out but I'm not sure that he will because he has players who need some game time with Payero at the top of the list. Perhaps he'll try him at he head of a midfield diamond as part of a 3-4-3. That would really be an attacking option.

I did see someone writing that Payero is seen as a very similar player to Crooks. That wasn't how he played for Argentina in the Olympics but might be his club form. If NW wanted to play the two of them together he could try the Leeds 4-1-4-1 with one holding midfielder and Payero and Crooks as the middle of the four. With two from Tavernier/Siva/Jones/Watmore etc on the wings it would be an interesting idea.

Anyway, my guess for tonight is Payero, Peltier and a bunch of the kids with an experienced bench. I hope that we don't take it too lightly because there's a lot to be gained from starting to build up some momentum.

I'm going for a nervy 2-1 win.

UTB

I see that James Husband is the Blackpool N° 3...

@selwynoz

According to the Beeb, it's a 5-4-1.

No streams ?

Boro a goal down after 31 minutes (Callum Connolly).  🙁

🙏

3-0! Questions need to be answered.  Second best for most of the game and Blackpool deserving winners.

Failure to win our next two home games will really set the cat among the pigeons. 😎

Only two games gone and I feel it’s going to be more of the same - a team which can’t create and score goals. So the best bet is to hold on and hope you might nick a goal - like at Fulham

Its all quiet about getting new players in and so things not looking good.

Philip of Huddersfield 

@philip-of-huddersfield

I think that Warnock was making a statement to the management that if things are to progress he needs to sign players who are not cast offs or 36 year old free transfers who turned out to be Boro MOM

Typical Boro

OFB

Just listening to Radio Tees it seems to have been a very disappointing performance. I don't know how much it was the 9 changes that affected the team or whether individuals weren't up to standard. Only 3 shots (none on target) compared to Blackpool's 21/5 is a reminder of last season's performances. I won't be at the 2 home matches coming up but have paid £81 room only for the next one (my new record amount). Add on the rail fare and an evening meal/breakfast and I am looking at a cost of around £130 (plus season ticket) so I expect better by then.

That wasn’t a great result to wake up to. Nine changes suggests that NW wasn’t taking any risks with any key players. It wouldn’t surprise me if Morsy doesn’t play on Saturday which could leave Lumley as the only starter from Blackpool to start on Sunday. We know that we have a good eleven but limited squad depth.

Anyway, given the side he picked, they probably get a pass for this one but good performances against Bristol City and QPR are now even more important and two or three more players.

utb

Another disappointing result. We have played 180 minutes this season and had 3 shots on target! Obvious that NW did not want us to progress as that would need more games. If we had won it would have been a home game against Sunderland. So onto Bristol City who have won one game in 11 and lost to a League 2 team on Tuesday.

Just out of interest what has happened to Steven Walker he played 18 games in League One last season, thought he might have played at Blackpool but he hasn't got a squad number. 

I predicted a goalless draw until I saw the team selected. Like Pulis before him we’re playing anti-football not worthy of the supporters of this club. A relegation battle? I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m not angry, just sad with the acceptance now that since our relegation we’re playing the worst football for over 40 years and feeling sorry for our loyal supporters.

Dear me, not the result I expected. Never saw the match so just relying on the very short reports on line.

I just wonder if Martin B. (we know Martin P. was making his debut) made the short trip to Blackpool? Not the best performance for MB to see I am afraid. Let's hope it was not raining, thought.

Anyway, I hope to see as many fans as possible at Riverside on Saturday. I am afraid that there have been so many changes this summer that it might take a few matches or months for the team to gell together. Unfortunately. 

Up the Boro!

@ken I see your point. My son - a Boro fan, too - was very skeptical when Warnock joined in. He remembered a Finnish midfielder complaining that the midfield was often by-passed with a long a ball, when the Finnish international was playing under Warnock at Leeds Utd.

But I also think we had the problem of creating well before Warnock arrived at Boro. Already since the Karanka era.

Fair play to Warnock, he has accepted the problem of goal scoring and has made some changes to our midfield. He has  said that Tavernier is essential to us. Also he has bought in Crooks and Payero, too. And Morsy before that (even he is not an attacing midfielder, though).

But at least we have had some changes in personel. But we still lack some width even though I think we will usually play 4-3-3 formation.

But how I would like to see a fit Ameobi on the left. Or signing Bolasie in there.

So all in all we are still in a change and work in progress. I hope the top eleven can take some points while we built the team and add some depth to it.

Up the Boro!

Oh dear. A reality check of huge proportions. Did Boro really want to win that game?

Next comes Bristol City who have won one in eleven and lost to a League 2 team on Tuesday. Time to prepare for Typical Boro I fear.

UTB,

John

At 6.30pm I was heading home from Merseyside last night up the M6 (M62 has now become a no go area for me due to constant and predictable delays since it was "Smartened") towards the A66. I saw the motorway signs for Blackpool and didn't even feel a tinge of regret or guilt that I wasn't going. Pulis, Woodgate and now Warnock has that effect on people.

I got home had something to eat and put on Sky Sports at about 10.00pm and just laughed to myself knowing that my disinterest was well placed. If the Manager, Players and Club can't give a stuff then I'm glad I didn't. A great shame however for those fans that did take the time, trouble and cost to show up.

Can't wait to see another crocked, over paid, washed up has been being inevitably unveiled as desperation sets in. Unfortunately Boro for me are rapidly becoming as predictable as the M62 and equally frustrating. Judging by the stats NW has a major problem with his side having shots let alone scoring. If it isn't addressed soon then with the fans back in feelings will be coming to the fore before long.

It was a team of strangers playing last night really and no real surprise that a disjointed performance followed.

Still, there doesn’t appear to have been any real positives to take from the game - no-one, with the possible exception of Bamba, who put any pressure on the first XI.

I know I bang on about formations but it was another poor performance with a back four, with players like Spence played out of position where he will have gained nothing and taken no confidence. It could have been a 3-4-3 with Sivi played instead of either Malley or Payero.

I don’t think we need to read too much into the result last night but agree with those above concerned about the performance level and continued lack of creativity.

We need a good performance against Bristol City to get some early momentum and get the season up and running.

How on earth can Craig Johns mark that performance with no player having  been given a mark less than 6? Surely the marks should be given on performance and skill not on effort. Perhaps every Blackpool player would score 10 using that criterion. Boro were fairly dismal at Fulham as well, you can’t win matches by only playing well for 15 minutes. How come Boro have been unable to recruit the players they were after? I know it’s a different level but Dave Challinor was able to recruit 8 players last week for Hartlepool. I feel sorry for Martin Payero being thrown into a match like that playing his first game  with a set of youngsters. In training he looked forlorn and friendless being unable to speak English like a 5 year old starting at a boarding school. When Juninho signed for Boro he too couldn’t speak English but was given a rousing welcome with banners in Portuguese and a samba band to welcome him, whereas not the same reaction welcoming Payero. It’s a pity Ayala wasn’t still here to befriend him. Also why didn’t Boro opt to play this cup tie before the league match against Fulham as part of the season’s warm up or were Blackpool ever approached to consider that possibility as neither club were taking the Carabao Cup seriously anyway? Who’s to blame for the lack of recruitment? 

On the plus side Sol Bamba is a charming charismatic man with a smile forever on his face and a great acquisition to the coaching staff and I wish him well, but at 35 years old I hope that Boro aren’t going to rely on him as  a regular first team player.

Posted by: @jarkko

Dear me, not the result I expected. Never saw the match so just relying on the very short reports on line.

I just wonder if Martin B. (we know Martin P. was making his debut) made the short trip to Blackpool? Not the best performance for MB to see I am afraid. Let's hope it was not raining, thought.

Anyway, I hope to see as many fans as possible at Riverside on Saturday. I am afraid that there have been so many changes this summer that it might take a few matches or months for the team to gell together. Unfortunately. 

Up the Boro!

I didn’t go Jarkko, so, for once, it wasn’t my fault. 😉 My step son went but I haven’t had chance to ask him how bad it was yet. 

@martin-bellamy The highlights are available at mfc.co.uk now. 

Jones had a great chance to equalife before the hit two in two minutes. Up the Boro! 

Just watched the highlights of last night's match and it was no better watching than listening live.

I understand the need to manage the game time of some of the players but surely the likes of Howson and Crooks are under cooked given their pre season involvement and could have played a part.

I am at a loss to understand exactly what the strategy was last night and am not sure what NW was trying to achieve.

Andy commented that last night was a team of strangers which in part is true but we have heard so often that all the squads play in the same format as the first team so they should not have been as disorganised/disconnected as they were.  

It appears that fringe players are also afflicted with a lack of composure in front of goal just like their senior colleagues, which does not bode well.

Saturday is a big game in more ways than one and a less than convincing win will start to see the discontent emerging and NW may not have the crowd with him for very long. 😎