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Boro v Brighton
 

Boro v Brighton

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Boro v Brighton

Emirates F.A. Cup

Saturday 7th January 2023

K.O. 15:00 Hours

Riverside Stadium

 

The Xmas decorations are down, but contrary to local folk lore and   pessimism, the Boro are not down with the decorations!

 

It would appear that gone are those days, when the Xmas season was traditionally the harbinger of doom and gloom for the year, as Boro used to hurtle down the festive table. Getting stuffed with each successive match, the fans going crackers  and the ancient soothsayers nodding their heads and sagely saying to one and all “ we told you so!” Our goose was well and truly cooked after the festive period!

 

But ! Our Scrooge like manager Michael Carrick has now won 22 points in his first 10 games in charge of Middlesbrough, the most by a Boro manager since Bryan Robson in 1994 (23).

 

The nervousness felt by Steve Gibson in previously having a manager who seemed intent on breaking up our team and hurtling into relegation, has been replaced. Steve Gibson is now nervous that his manager will be attracting the envious glances of Manchester United and other big clubs who want to emulate the success currently being enjoyed by the Boro.

 

Hopefully I’m not being too hasty in the assessment of our manager and his coaching team, but after attending the game on Boxing Day there seems a unified air of satisfaction and hope between the players and fans. A united front and genuine bonding which is something I’ve really only experienced before during a promotion season and hopefully this will prove to be the case in 2023.

 

So Diasborians, we kick off the new year on Saturday at the Riverside, in the FA Cup against Premiership Opposition Brighton.  Most supporters will be looking to this game with some warranted confidence after an amazing set of three away wins which has propelled the Boro up the table and back into a playoff position.

 

Let’s not be under any illusion however. Brighton are no mugs despite losing their manager Graham Potter to Chelsea. They finished 9th in the table last season and are hovering around the top half this season.

 

Out of the rubble of Brighton’s 4-2 loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday came one silver lining for the Seagulls, moving up to eighth position last night after demolishing and humiliating Everton away 1-4. The Seagulls scored three goals in six second-half minutes.

 

Brighton’s new manager Roberto de Zerbi was relatively unknown in the U.K. The 43-year-old former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk manager’s reign of 14 months at Shakhtar came to an end as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Shakhtar were top of the table when their last season had to be abandoned. He has also managed a number of Italian clubs, most recently Sassuolo, whom he led to an eighth-place finishes in Serie A in 2020 and 2021. His first stint in the top division with Palermo ended swiftly and unsuccessfully and he was unable to keep promoted Benevento in Serie A in 2018.

 

Turning to the Boro team, I do expect MC to make a few changes to the Boro first eleven  on Saturday to give members of the squad a run out. Firstly I think Liam Roberts deserves a place in the Boro goal to show what he is capable of. I don’t expect Steffen to be signed permanently due to his high wages (unless we attain promotion to the Premiership and can then afford him!)

 

It was also interesting to see Paddy McNair given a brief cameo role from the subs bench the other day and perhaps he could give Howson a rest by playing in midfield for the game.

 

Marc Bola was also given a run out on Monday at the end of the game and could play a more defensive role than Ryan Giles.

 

Matt Crooks whilst playing in an unfamiliar role as a makeshift centre forward is still unfit after his recent hernia operation and was huffing and puffing after his man of the match display scoring two goals and creating a third.

 

Hackney is a nailed on certainty to start as he is the fulcrum of the team probing and creating with darting balls forward for players to run onto and bringing others into play.

 

The rest of the defence and attack will remain to provide a solid base against a proven Premiership team.

 

Brighton have an Argentinian World Cup player in their team. Alexis Mac Allister who has insisted he is in no rush to leave Brighton after helping Argentina to World Cup glory. Mac Allister has only just returned to Sussex after a fortnight in his homeland celebrating his nation’s success in Qatar but, with the transfer window now open, speculation about his future is likely to ramp up. The 24-year-old has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea since raising his stock considerably with some fine displays at the World Cup, but he signed a new Brighton contract in October committing his future until 2025, and has said he is happy on the south coast.

 

Evan Ferguson The 18-year-old Irish striker faced Everton at Goodison Park and scored and is expected to retain his place against the Boro.

Jeremy Sarmiento also comes into the XI and Moises Caicedo is recently back from a suspension.Joel Veltman will also probably continue to play in the defence.

 

Brighton boast a squad of 12 internationals within their group of 24 players and will prove a stern test for the Boro on Saturday.

 

So will MC tinker with the Boro team or will he say “same again!”

 

Let’s have your forecasts which could be the start of another exciting cup run.

 

Me?

 

I’m going for another 2-1 win for Boro.

 

Have you noticed how it’s getting to be uncanny how my predictions are coming true !

 

OFB


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Oh and by the way !

Happy New Year Everyone!

OFB


   
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Selwynoz
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@original-fat-bob 

.and a very happy new year to you too.


   
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jarkko
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@original-fat-bob Thank you for the preview of the FA Cup third-round match. Appreciated as ever.

And Happy New Year to all bloggers and the Boro. This year has started well - long may it continue.

The Brighton match won't be available at mfc.co.uk as it is not a league match. I am lucky enough to see the match via Viaplay in Finland. So I can see the match on TV.

Very interesting to see what team Carrick and Woodgate will field on Saturday. I think he will give play time for a few players like Jones, Watmore and Muniz, for example.

If the Fulham striker won't get any minutes  we know his days are numbered. Especially so, if we believe in the rumours of the Aston Villa forward Cameron Archer signing for Boro.

A good Cup run will be much appreciated by any Boro fan - me included. I think Brighton won't play their World Cup winner in Mac Allister just yet, as he returned to England just yesterday. Or at least he is not in top notch just yet.

Let's hope we keep the momentum going and I hope to see a narrow 1-0 win and a rare clean sheet. A Forss goal making the difference. 

Up the Boro!


   
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Ken Smith
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This weekend’s FA Cup match for me depends on the selection process of the Sussex based side. Brighton have only appeared in one FA Cup Final in their history and that was 40 years ago. Already in a safe position against relegation I  think that they will want to have a good run in this year’s competition, but will not wish to have a replay if indeed replays come into play in the earlier rounds of this year’s competition. I’m not certain, but perhaps the result of Saturday’s match must be decided at the Riverside.

In any event Boro will want to give several of their players game time, though still wishing to advance in this year’s competition. Often in the distant past the FA Cup was the match I often looked forward to as FA Cup fever hit Teesside. In fact it was often the only time that spectators bought rattles and rosettes in support of their team. Of course in those days there were no duplicate shirts available to purchase, but the whole experience of especially evening matches at Ayresome Park were certainly those to savour.

Even as a Premier League team a win against Boro in any round of the FA Cup was almost a guarantee of reaching the Final. That occurrence started in 1997 when Boro lost to Chelsea in the Final, and was repeated by Arsenal in 1998 (4th round 1-2 defeat), by Man Utd in 1999 (3rd round 1-3 defeat),  Arsenal in 2002 (0-1 semifinal defeat), Man Utd in 2005 (4th round 0-3 defeat), West Ham in 2006, (0-1 semifinal defeat), Man Utd again in 2007 (0-1 quarterfinal defeat after a replay), Cardiff in 2008 (damaging 0-2 quarterfinal defeat when Boro were favourites to win the FA Cup), and Everton in 2009 (1-2 quarterfinal defeat after Boro led 1-0).  That’s 10 years out of 13 that beating Boro in an FA Cup tie resulted in an appearance in the Final. Granted that some of those defeats for Boro were not what Boro fans wanted to hear, but nevertheless set Boro’s opponents on long FA Cup runs for almost a decade. 

Boro now face a critical time in the League against 3 playoff contenders this month (Millwall home, Sunderland away, and Watford home), followed by another 5 in late February/early March (Sheff United away, QPR home, West Brom away, Reading home, and Swansea away) with only ten games remaining. Boro will need to be still in the playoff position by then, a tall ask? But in any event League tables will only really come into vogue in the final 4 match run in. Nevertheless, I don’t think that a long FA Cup run should derail Boro’s season as occurred last season.

Yet in some ways the form shown by Brentford, Brighton and Fulham in the Premier League does give Boro some hope should Boro be promoted this season, which I still have my doubts about. It’s just a case of enjoying the remainder of the season and not allowing defeats to upset the apple cart, nor getting too excited in the meantime.

 

This post was modified 1 year ago by Ken Smith

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Excellent opener, Bob, and Happy New Year to everyone.

Brighton will be a tough nut to crack and, in view of their recent results, provide us with a free hit.  No one will complain too much if we don't progress, whilst any kind of result will confirm our recent improvement. It's also a opportunity to give squad players a run out as Bob suggests.

I still have some difficulty in getting my head around the very concept of our being underdogs against Brighton. The first time we played them in the 1958-59 season we won 9-0 at home and 4-6 away. Cloughie scored five in the first match, walking off at the final whistle with a consolatory arm around the Brighton keeper. In the away fixture Clough got a hat-trick, his personal tally of 8 goals in two games against the same opponents presumably constituting some kind of club record. The same could possibly be said about the Boro's 15 goals against the same opponents over the two games. A word too for Alan Peacock who scored a brace in each fixture, an accomplishment which rarely gets a mention, overshadowed as it was by Clough's astonishing feat.

The differing fortunes of the two clubs since we last played and beat them at the Riverside is, I'm afraid, a telling commentary on their recent histories in the fields of management, recruitment and coaching, as well as on the field of play.

This post was modified 1 year ago by lenmasterman

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@ken 

Great Post Ken

OFB


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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Thanks Bob for introducing our entry into the FA Cup this season and for your New Years greetings, reciprocated and shared with everyone!

I am in the camp that the FA Cup does matter and progression to the latter stages has more benefits than negatives for the club.

 

I agree that it is a an opportunity to give some of MC's now more fringe players an opportunity, but I wouldn't expect to see wholesale change. So a couple of changes, perhaps seeing Djiksteel and Bola get a run out, with option to give a couple more a run out in the last 30 minutes or so.

I am sure Brighton will be up for it, I am sure their supporters will feel they still owe us one for pipping them to the post under Karanka. I agree too that this competition is Brighton's best opportunity to lift some silverware, so I expect that they will put out a stong side.

 

No prediction from me, just that I will be happy with any result, just so long as we are not embarrassed and that we don't pick up any injuries or yellow cards.

 

This post was modified 1 year ago 3 times by Powmill-Naemore

   
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@powmillnaemore 

 

Good post but note Dijksteel has a knee injury and will be out for a few weeks 

 

OFB

 


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

@powmillnaemore 

 

Good post but note Dijksteel has a knee injury and will be out for a few weeks 

 

OFB

 

Just goes to show how much attention I pay to things then doesn't it !

Perhaps he can have a hop about instead of a run out then 🙄

 


   
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Thanks to OFB for another excellent starter for 10. It's a shame that these days the 3rd round of the FA Cup feels like an interruption of the real business. There was always a real excitement about it but now too many teams claim to "concentrate on the league."

This is a new test for the Carrick Evolution. Does he stick with a winning side: after all there's a week between games. Does he bring in some of the second string to give them game time but doing that against a Brighton team that is really motoring could lead to a spanking. How he handles these kinds of decisions will tell us a lot about him.

It'll also be interesting to see if Archer is available. I doubt he would go straight into the 1st 11 but we are presumably allowed more subs in the cup.

Personally I would like to see us stick with a strongest 11 to start. Assuming Archer gets signed in time, Carrick is starting to have what looks like really healthy competition for the front 4 spots. Defence and midfield still largely picks itself

Realistically, Brighton will have too much for us but if they make a lot of changes and don't take it seriously enough we could definitely get a result. 


   
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@deleriad - Brighton has a very good Premier League team, but they are extremely unlikely to win the title.  So for them the concentration should be on finishing as  high as possible in the league which may have the side effect of participation in a European competition next season. Their biggest and easiest chance of silverware is to win a cup competition, given that you only have to get through 6 or 7 ties rather than performing well over 38 games. And if your team wins the FA Cup you find, as a bonus, that you will have qualified for Europe anyway.  If I were a Brighton supporter I'd want my club to put out its best team to maximise the chances of a good cup run and the possibility of winning the FA Cup for the first time.

For Boro, if a full team is put out (rather than "resting" players or giving other players a "run out"), the team is good enough to make things difficult and to challenge the majority of Premier League clubs.  Not necessarily enough to expect to WIN against the top PL clubs although, as we saw last season against Spurs, a win is possible in most one-off games. But enough to put us in with a chance.  Obviously if the current Boro were to play Spurs 10 times, we'd presently do well to win one or two and draw one or two but probably lose six or seven times, and it would be hard for us to do much better against Brighton but most of the games might at least be a contest.

Cup runs and success in the league are not mutually exclusive.  Indeed, success breeds momentum and therefore more success. And confidence, enthusisam and all the positive feelings that put a smile on the faces of supporters.


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When Michael Carrick took over Middlesbrough they were 22nd in the league table.

Boro have now taken 22 points from a possible 30 since he took charge.

Up to 5th in the Championship in just 2 months.

Transformed the playing style, adopting principles associated with clubs like Barca - fluid player positioning, positional rotations etc

It's his FIRST job in management

What a job he is doing! 👏

OFB


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Happy New Year to one and all and a big thank you to OFB for his FA cup game preview.

Having had time to reflect, I have changed my mind from putting out a makeshift team and decided we should keep the momentum of a winning team going; clearly if there are injury concerns or the statistics show players need a rest then changes will need to be made.  

All I ask is that we are competitive and what will be will be. If we should lose then I hope the loss does not deflate our confidence and impact on our league form. 

If MC sticks with the majority of those who are effectively “first teasers” then I believe we can compete with Brighton and could sneak a win. Boro 1-0 Brighton.

A mixture of players are likely to come unstuck and Brighton might run out as comfortable winners. Boro 0-3 Brighton. CoB 😎

 


   
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As of now only 5,583 tickets left for this cup tie, I hope it’s not a draw as replays are back in this season.

Come on BORO.


   
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Thanks OFB for the starter. I also have mixed feelings about whether we should put out our full team or make a few changes but if MC sees any of his first choices showing signs of niggles this would be the chance to give a bit of a break. I have my ticket but with the rail strike not having been called off it will be empty again. If we had been drawn against one of the "big" sides I would probably have travelled over on the Friday (by buses) but, although Brighton have been doing well since promotion, I have decided that this match does not justify the cost of two nights in a hotel. 

I hope we win and would like us to have a good Cup run but the most important thing is for us to put in another good performance and then to continue our great league run in the Championship from next week. 


   
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Philip of Huddersfield
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A couple of seasons ago and the thought of playing Brighton wouldn’t have sounded daunting but now they are a top Premiership team. They could achieve top 6 or 7 place this season and therefore be in  a European competition next season. Clearly they can’t win the Premiership and so will be quietly thinking the FA cup is a chance of success. For that reason I expect them to select a strong team and Boro should do likewise . It will be a test to show how far Boro have come.

I’ll be happy if  Boro give a good account of themselves and I’ll take whatever result if brings.

On the transfer front there is increasing talk of 3 Premiership teams being very interested in Akpom- if they are serious then I’d suggest if a ridiculous offer was made from 2 of them - Southampton and Everton- then Akpom would be well advised to decline their offer as both teams look good contenders for relegation. 
However football is all about money these days and at 27 the chance of a lucrative 3 year deal must be very tempting. Hopefully if an offer is made from any team then Boro will move heaven and earth to keep him.

Philip of Huddersfield 


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Sad to hear of the passing of Gianluca Vialli at the young age of 57.  An excellent footballer for both country and club and a successful manager who conducted himself with dignity.  RIP Gianluca.  😎

This post was modified 1 year ago by K P in Spain

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@original-fat-bob - I agree your comment from yesterday at 12.10pm about the job Michael Carrick has been doing so far at Middlesbrough.  I don't think any of us had the right to expect such a quick turnaround in the fortunes of the team.  It has been good to watch.  But like all fans now my appetite has been whetted, I'd like more...


Martin Bellamy
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The Guardian are gushing over MC’s managerial performance so far (and praising JW to boot):

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/06/michael-carrick-happy-to-continue-his-quiet-revolution-at-middlesbrough?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other


Powmill-Naemore
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@martin-bellamy 

You beat me to it Martin. I just read Louise's piece and came here to post the link,to fi d you have already done so.

It is a good read. Let's hope we stay sufficiently under the radar until we have completely eroded the Blades' lead over us.


   
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Looking forward to the game today on a cold very wet and blustery January afternoon.

I will still go for a Boro 2-1 win so let’s see what happens.

let’s have those prediction!

I see the Boro v Sheff United game is to be screened live should prove interesting 

OFB


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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@original-fat-bob  I'll join you with a 2-1 prediction Bob.


   
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It all depends on the teams selected.  If Boro puts out a strong team and Brighton rests a lot of players, it could easily be 2-1 to Boro.  We could even win if both clubs put out their best teams but, realistically, the chances of that may be 10/20%  More likely that Brighton will win.

Time soon to set off and I have to say it's been a windy and very wet day so far.  Take the bull by the horns - I will put my head above the parapet and say 1-0 to Boro but will keep my money firmly in my pocket (as opposed to the bookmaker's pocket).


   
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I think Brighton will target Giles as our main defensive weakness this afternoon and i don't see us keeping a clean sheet.  

We may have to come back from behind as we did so successfully at both Norwich and Blackburn. I'll go for 2-2 and an unwanted replay, and hope that Brighton don't run away with it.


   
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Image

Archer on the bench...


   
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@stircrazy 

I thought Paddy would be back in the side. Surprised that Roberts not in goal 

 

OFB


   
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George Gitau 

Bio

The right-back joined Boro in 2020 after previous spells with Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Brighton.

George was a regular for Boro's Under-18s in the 2020/21 season, and featured in our Under-17s' run to the Premier League Cup final.

He has also made eight appearances with our Under-23s in the PL2, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

OFB


   
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No Lenihan 🤔

Come on BORO.


   
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