Boro v Coventry
Monday 8th May 2023
Riverside Stadium
K:O 3:00 P .M.
I have thought long and hard how to write this opening post for this game as we have suffered such highs and lows recently as Boro fans on and off the pitch, that you must forgive my musings as I ponder and try and foresee how things are going to develop over the next few weeks.
Will we be successful? Will we triumph? Or, will we be typical Boro and end up as also rans, having to sell our best players? Will Boro have to let the loan players go back to their parent clubs? Even more of a potential horror story, lose the best manager we have had for a long time and allow him to move on to another club?
So here we go…..
We finally arrive at the end of this season’s games, or should I say, the original planned number of seasons games, as the two playoff semi-final games now await us after this last league game with Coventry on 8th May. So it’s a hurrah and chalk up a success for the season! We made the play offs, a full house (I’ll be there with Mrs OFB) and a lucrative financial end to the season for our club.
We have the two playoff games to look forward to, one on the 14th with a kick off time of 12:00 and the second on the 17th May at 20:00. After the stuttering performance of our beleaguered team over the past few games, most of us will be watching these games with trepidation, through eyes covered by the slatted fingers of hands covering our team from view, of a Boro that seems to have lost its belief and way recently. So will we enjoy these games? Mmmm, I personally haven’t enjoyed these past few matches and doubt many Boro fans have, even those of a staunch disposition haven’t enjoyed this period of the season.
Even, possibly just even, after playing these games, the final game of the season may still await us at Wembley on the 27th May. Ok, on reflection, this has been a magnificent season hopefully culminating in that prestigious play off final at a Wembley stadium where our promotion hopes were once dashed against Norwich, oh so long ago (well it feels like it was a long time ago!)
This season is one that started with such promise and hope after performing well in the FA Cup and just failing to reach a playoff place the season before. It quickly turned into a relegation battle with management, coaching team, recruitment team and players split and divided. Rumours of players and manager at loggerheads and coaching tactics and performances in obvious disarray.
I must confess that I have never been so disappointed in a manager for a long time as I was with Wilder. His appointment that was freely acknowledged as being one of expectation and experience and considered a good fit for a Boro team was shattered as Wilder appeared to be linked with every available managerial job vacancy from Manager, Coach to tea boy at Premiership, Championship and Northern League Clubs. Ok I may be exaggerating a little bit ! But you get my drift that I and most other fans were not amused that our manager refused to deny any rumour of a link to other clubs no matter how bizarre was the story. He did nothing to dispel the rumours and seemed to revel in the turmoil that he created. The expedient manner in which he was summarily dismissed by the Boro hierarchy pleased both fans and players alike. One plus point for all of us!
From a team that was facing relegation, enter a young manager, Michael Carrick, with a distinguished playing pedigree and highly regarded by his peers. So that’s another one plus isn’t it?
Oh and let’s not forget that bringing back Jonathan Woodgate was an inspired choice as his assistant, as JW knowledge of the club and players ensured a quick settling in period for our new manager, head coach or whatever his title is, ok Boss! So that’s three plus points isn’t it?
Michael Carrick has been on an incredible run with Boro from his arrival in October. He has overseen a huge turn in the Boro fortunes, rising from 21st in the league to clinching a play-off game with three games still to play. So that is one plus and is a remarkable achievement so what are we all worried about? Typical Boro fans eh? Four plus points and still going!
If we look at the stats. MC has won 18 of his 30 games in charge since taking over from Chris Wilder, losing nine in that period. Boro are guaranteed to finish fourth in the table heading into this final league day game against Coventry City so that’s another plus. So that’s Five plus points and the season isn’t over yet!
The only down side that is hovering on the horizon is that with injuries mounting for the Boro team our form has dipped since March's international break. Our team has collected just two wins from the last seven games which is not good form to be starting a promotion run and must give our competition hope that Boro are now a team that can be beaten.
Boro have lost their last two games including the latest defeat to the relegation threatened Rotherham United who fought for their lives in a 1-0 away loss for Boro. Whilst we can point to injuries and refereeing errors, Boro were quite frankly awful on the day and were not a good side to watch at all.
Michael Carrick admitted after that game “Middlesbrough are just having “one of those spells”
So after being hit with another two injuries ahead of Monday’s clash with Coventry and to add to the Boro’s woes, we will definitely be without defender Anfernee Dijksteel after he was sent off at Rotherham at the weekend for a last man challenge just before half-time in the 1-0 defeat at the New York Stadium.
Personally I thought Lenihan was covering and behind Dijksteel and it should have been only a yellow card. Conversely Boro were lucky that Hacker Hackney only received a yellow card after a strong challenge earlier in the game. Swings and roundabouts, these things have a habit of evening out. VAR or No VAR, it will only be available if Boro reach the final so it’s not worth shouting about until we get there!
Boro were able to welcome back for the Rotherham game some of our injured players. Tommy Smith, Paddy McNair and Riley McGree were added to our squad. However, Ryan Giles – one of the best in the division for assists, having set up 11 goals to date – was missing from the squad after taking a knock in training. Unbelievably things got even worse for Boro just before the kick off. Our influential Captain and creative midfielder Jonny Howson limped out of the warm-up ahead of the game which meant that attacking midfielder McGree was joined by McNair who slotted into defence in the revised starting line-up. Whilst the returning trio all came through the game fine, Boro are now left waiting on another two key players with the play-offs fast approaching.
Offering an update after the weekend defeat in South Yorkshire, Carrick said: “Gilo (Ryan Giles) got a knock in training and has been out for a couple of days, so we’ll have to wait and see. Then Jonny got injured in the warm-up, so we’ll have to see how he is as well. He had a pain in the back of his knee/top of his calf in the warm-up. We’re just having one of those spells at the moment when we’re having a cluster of injuries at the moment.”
Whilst Boro did welcome back the aforementioned trio at Rotherham, Howson and Giles now join Dael Fry, Matt Clarke, Marcus Forss and Aaron Ramsey on the sidelines. It certainly is a worrying statistic.
I for one don’t believe Boro are spreading stories about injuries in an attempt to lure other clubs into a false sense of security and that Boro can be ruled out as serious promotion challengers. I don’t think we’re that devious or clever!
Villa loan man Ramsey has been back in the Midlands this weekend but Carrick was able to reassure fans that it doesn’t mean his season is over.
“ He’s just there getting treatment because he’s their player,” he said. “There’s always hope [that he could be back for the play-offs]. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Carrick went on to say “On the others, again it’s just wait and see. We’re not sure when we’ll have him (Ramsey) back, and I haven’t got any more news, unfortunately.”
This is a huge opportunity for our Boro side, and one they simply must take. As fans we know that we have the quality of personnel, but it can often hinge on who can put the best form together heading into the play-offs. Let’s be honest, at present regarding current form and performances, that isn't this Middlesbrough team at the moment.
If we can find our rhythm, swift passing capability and goal scoring we can win, but consistency is the key.
Deport the huge improvements under Michael Carrick, Boro will need key players back for the run-in to hit that form again.
On a brighter note, with strikers such as Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer at our disposal, anything is possible, even if we are not the form team right now heading into the semi-final clashes.
Regarding transfer rumours over the weekend it was revealed that Middlesbrough are keen to sign Archer on a permanent basis this summer. But the same report also revealed that Boro would need to fork out at least £20million for the youngster should they want to sign him from Villa. Let’s be honest folks this is pie in the sky and we could only afford to sign him if we get promoted this season.
In conclusion, whilst Boro might already be assured of a play-off place we can also have a big say in who else finishes in the top six as we play a Coventry side that needs just a point to guarantee their spot on the final day of the regular season.
So “let’s be avin yer” forecasts..
Me? Me?
I’m consistent me …
Boro3 Coventry 0
OFB
Brilliant opening piece for the final game of the regular season OFB, perfectly summing up where most of our minds are at in respect of where the Boro is at now.
Regardless of what happens this next three weeks or so, given the unmitigated disaster that was Chris Wilder and the perilous position we were in after a quarter of the season was already over, then for us to finish 4th overall is nothing short of miraculous. How sweet is the irony that most of us had very realistically given up hope of achieving promotion this year, but now we will be equally realistically bitterly disappointed if we miss out.
What a breath of fresh air has been Michael Carrick and what a delight to be be able to enjoy what almost to a man and woman we are saying is the best football we have ever so consistently witnessed from a Boro team. I recall reading about the Boro teams from before WW2, that they were renowned for being great footballing sides. I believe that MC has given the club that mojo back.
But what does that mean for us in this final league fixture?
I am optimistic that MC has truly laid Typical Boro to rest. I am not saying the last few results have not been disappointing. I do though disagree we have been poor in all of those recent games. To be honest, I thought we were very good against Luton, playing with more than a few irregular starters and on another day we would have beaten them by three goals. I also didn't think we were that bad against Rotherham.Playing for all the 2nd half with only 10 men we dominated the game. I didn't see the Huddersfield game, but it did sound like we had a mad 10 minutes, but nothing much more than that. So, disappointing results, but not necessarily disappointing performances.
In front of a big and boisterous crowd on Monday, I don't think MC will have any problem in getting this squad up for it. Whichever eleven start the game, we will be too good for Coventry; Chuba will notch his 30th goal; perhaps Chuba will even grab his 30th league goal; Archer will be unplayable; the much criticised defence will keep a clean sheet; surely, Monday will be 'Welcome back Middlesbrough3' day sending a clear warning to all our play off rivals, they will have to be more than good if they are to best this Boro.
I am looking forward to the game. CoB.
An excellent intro from @Old Fat Bob and a sparkling riposte from @Powmill-Naemore.
There has been a lot of interesting discussions about how we should approach this final game. I think that Coventry would be a major obstacle and feel that we have an even better chance of beating them on Monday than we do over two legs. I do still believe that we can beat anyone over two legs but we certainly tend to leak a few goals away from home which could put us under pressure for the second leg. It should also be remembered that Coventry haven't played the 'new Boro' as the away game took place under Wilder. That could be an argument to a) take them by surprise and put them at the mercy of wins for Milwall etc or b) keep our tricks hidden.
Another point that I have also now come back to is the fact that we have been very inconsistent since the international break. We seem to be finding it hard to turn on the new style, particularly away from home. Because of this, I wonder whether the team actually needs the chance to go full bore at somebody to remind themselves how well they can play and give everyone confidence for the actual playoffs. That might be the best thing for the squad.
Hard to know, isn't it. However, I am glad that McGree is back and hope that he and Giles are available for the playoffs. Whoever plays in midfield, we seem to be able to create openings down the left and the Giles/McGree/Akpom/Archer axis can really make use of it.
UTB
A great post and I think your strategy is sound to go for it and hopefully put them (Coventry) out of the picture for the playoffs.
A full house at home with fervent Boro fans can spur this team to new heights and a magnificent resurgence of Boro3
Oh!
By the way it’s Original Fat Bob thankin yew!
i might be old but let’s not tell everyone!
OFB
P.S.
Should have given a shout out for Leo having steadied the boat in October and getting Hackney onto the pitch.
Many apologies. I winced when I came back to my post and saw what I had written. You are certainly 100% Original and, after all, age is but a number.
UTB
Great opener OFB and many thanks to you and Andy for all your hard work and excellent posts during the season; fingers crossed that between you it will be three and not just two more openers to put together.
Some excellent responses above highlighting the positivities of this season.
For me I see little point in trying to play mind games or any other games other than we put out our strongest side with the aim of getting our passing, moving and scoring traits back on track, with whoever is available.
On our day we are capable of beating anyone in this league and now need to show determination and the will over the next, hopefully, four games to get us where we all want to be. CoB 😎
Great opener Bob, really sums up the anxieties much of the Boro fanbase are suffering from!
I really don't know whether players are being rested or are genuinely injured or if it's a mix of both. My guess would be the latter.
Similarly I don't know if the recent drop off in results is down to missing players, or saving ourselves or just that lost edge of motivation knowing they're less meaningful games, or confidence or, or, or....
What I do feel confident about is that I believe that our best beats the rest of the playoff pack. On that basis I think that promotion is in our hands. And that's as good as it gets at this stage.
There are concerning factors - Sunderland and Mowbray, West Brom and Coberan, Coventry and their momentum, Millwall and their set piece threat / our weakness in that area (maybe Watmore too). These, in my opinion however, are footnotes against a fully firing Boro with the quick, interchanging passing and movement of our attacking midfielders, forwards and left back.
If we play to the level we have demonstrated for most of Carrick's time, the other lot will need to play above themselves and get a bit of luck to beat us. That is more likely to happen in a single game (the final) than the two-legged semis.
So, despite concerns about momentum, form and fitness, there is plenty on the horizon to be enthused about.
The question is, can we return to those levels? The answer likely lies in the reasons I mentioned at the beginning of this post as to why we've dropped off a little. So who knows?
My gut feeling is that we might not get the answers we want on Monday. A game in which cagey a draw suits both parties is more likely than most to play out that way. I'm not sure how capable this Boro are of playing a cagey game but it would not surprise me to see more rest and rotation at play with solid options like Mowatt and Crooks returning to the starting XI.
Boro 1-1 Coventry
Thanks for the right royal match preview OFB for Monday afternoon's special one-off bank holiday crowning glory of a successful season - though I'll be watching it in the Republic of Germany where for some unknown reason there is no holiday despite the close historical ties to the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which was hastily rebranded as Windsor during World War I due to anti-German sentiment.
Nevertheless, I will still be pledging my allegiance (to Boro) and hoping their succession to the Premier League will just be a formality. I agree that the other pretenders to the play-off throne have not shown the same pedigree that Boro have this campaign under Michael Carrick. So on that basis I feel a place among the elite next season is ours to throw away and as long as Boro don't lose their heads then I'm confident of glory come the end of May.
As to what Michel Carrick should do on Monday? Perhaps start with the strongest XI excluding any players carrying injuries - make 2 subs at half-time to take off Chuba (hopefully after he's scored) and one-other key player - make 2 more subs after an hour to rest other key player and give maybe a Bilonga some game time - then 15 minutes later make another sub to rest McGree.
If we're lucky that will see the squad safe for the play-offs and at least a draw with Coventry easing off in the second half - Prediction 2-2.
Let me firstly echo the praise for your starter, OFB - one of your best in my opinion.
I suspect we’re all getting a bit twitchy about the play offs, although a few weeks ago we’d have been confident about beating anyone over two legs. It’s been a very strange season in the Championship- I can’t remember another last day where so many clubs still have a chance of a top 6 finish. If we’re nervous now, imagine how we’d feel if we needed to beat Coventry to secure a play off spot.
If we get to Wembley I’m pretty confident that we’ll prevail. Our manager must have played there many times (over to you Ken to research the exact figures) and can surely pass on his experiences to the team. What a season for CA if he could score the goal that gets us promoted.
It’s time for positivity and belief that we can do it.
Great Headliner OFB, well written, as somebody said, may be your best to end the 46 game.
Also many thanks to Andy for his well written threads, different to yours OFB, but just a good.
Well I am seriously nervous, mainly because we have come from no-hopers to probably the best team on the day outside of the top two.
However we have hit a slump somewhat, for various reasons.
As we have all mused upon, the drop in form has not been helped by injuries, all coming after a season relatively free of them.
This has upset the rhythm of that there is no doubt. Achieving a place off place early will not have helped either. It must be impossible for the majority of players to continue giving 100%, knowing the opportunity that lays ahead.
So MC has had to manage this with a squad that is light in certain areas. Give a rest to some players were he can. All the time trying to keep the momentum going.
The reality is, you cannot, not with our available squad these past number of games. Huddersfield apart in truth.
All we can do is hope MC has a plan A, B and may be C
I hope we can keep what we have now, injury free and if I had to choose one player to come back to be fit, it would be Forss.
Another thing I’ve changed over the past three years is the “fat” I’ve gone from 18 stones down to 13 stones so I’ll probably just have to stick with OLD BOB !
Just jokin like !
OFB
@original-fat-bob Wow, that’s some achievement. Hopefully it was intended weight loss and not due to a medical issue.
@original-thin-bob
I would say congratulations Bob, so long as it was nothing sinister that caused that weight loss. You really will have to share your secret with us cos I could do with losing four or five stones myself!
Sorry OFB,
The name stays, it's changed to Old Fit Bob.
UTB,
John
This is going to be a hard thing to do for a lot of people.
I lost weight by walking every day and ….
Giving up Beer and corporate dinners at the Boro!
We still go but no food and demon drink !
I still enjoy my Vino but I’m moderately partaking of a glass these days.
Lets hope we all stay fit for next season in the Premiership!
OFB
Actually it has when I have set about walking for 2 or sometimes 3 hours a day that I have previously managed to get the weight right down. I struggle a bit to walk any distance now with painful arthritis in both knees. The perverse thing is that if I could lose a couple of stones, walking becomes much less painful.
So, I will have to follow your example and become less indulgent in my diet 😪
So, the Terriers blunt the Blades by winning 1-0 at the John Smith's to ensure that "Colin" engineers another Houdini act! Well done him!
I have to say well done to Neil Warnock for keeping Huddersfield safe after a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United
Just came back to write congratulations to "Colin" and the Terriers and see that I have been beaten to it. A great effort and I am pleased for him and them.
Incredible result tonight for Huddersfield Town and the achievement of Neil Warnock in keeping Town in the Championship. Incredible.They were dead and buried when he came.
Just unbelievable what he’s done.
So, for me I just need Boro to get through to the playoff final and then I’ll take whatever the result is, as the final is usually won by the team who manage the occasion etc.
Philip from Huddersfield
This is going to be a hard thing to do for a lot of people. I lost weight by walking every day and ….
Giving up Beer and corporate dinners at the Boro!
We still go but no food and demon drink !
I still enjoy my Vino but I’m moderately partaking of a glass these days.
Lets hope we all stay fit for next season in the Premiership!
OFB
Well done, Bob. I am proud of you, mate. Up the Boro!
Just to echo the praise for Neil Warnock in what he has achieved at Huddersfield - he was appointed with the Terriers joint-bottom with Blackpool on 28 points with just 15 games remaining. After getting off to a winning start against Birmingham he suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats at Burnley and home to Coventry, before a nil-nil against Bristol and a 1-0 defeat at West Brom that left his team six points from safety with ten games remaining.
He may well have been regretting his return at that point but his next nine games saw Huddersfield win 5, draw 3 and lose just one to secure their Championship place with essentially automatic promotion form of two points per game. An amazing run which has seen calls for him to be given another season in charge but Warnock has said he couldn't do another ten months in charge at his age as the stress of the last few months has taken its toll on him.
So back into retirement with a feeling of pride for Neil with his reputation further enhanced and yet another set of grateful supporters looking back fondly on his time in charge!
A great thread, this one, with yet ANOTHER cracking opener from OFB (I missed the "Old" Fat Bob typed in error, when I first read the response from Selwynoz). Andy's starters throughout the season deserve praise, too. Basically there's not a lot to disagree with here. I was also happy to see Neil Warnock's success at Huddersfield. I think he left Boro in good order (unlike Chris Wilder who left a bad smell) and supporters of Boro seem generally to wish NW well. He really has earned his retirement.
OFB should now be FHB - Fit & Healthy Bob. I'd like to join him in limiting the consumption of wine, but vinyard owners and their staff (mostly) in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Chile would object.
I'm not sure whether we really have a serious injury crisis or whether, to some extent, it is a "political" decision to claim that we have one, or whether it is a combination of the two. However I find it difficult to understand the position over Dael Fry. Has there ever been an official explanation of his position? For example if he had torn ligaments so that he'd be expected to be out for several month or even longer, is there any reason why that would be kept secret? Of if it is a succession of minor injuries, what is the club doing to reduce the risk of these? (I remember some years ago there was a Boro plague of calf injuries, and if there is a sudden outbreak of a particular type of injury that falls outside the scope of "just a coincidence" then that suggests something is being done in training that may be the reason. In which case, change the training regime or the particular exercises responsible). Hopefully we will have enough of our "regular starting XI" available when the play-off games begin because, as others have stated earlier, if Boro's team plays to its best, it is capable of blowing away any of the play-off opposition.
@forever-dormo It has been a topic of conversation about Fry's injury situation all season. The only thing I have read, some months ago now, is he has these niggles preventing him training / playing.
Of course he has also had niggles from time to time, over the years, missing a number of matches.
This season he is marked down as only 23 League games. I am not sure if this is match starts or including subbed on. The previous four seasons have varied between 32 and 36.
As for Clarke, I could have broken my leg and come back quicker. 🤣
Watched BBC North last night and MFC were featured and showed players training.
The clip included Fry, Giles and Forss. Not sure if it was old footage but may be an indication that players are on the mend.
No sign of Howson, MC stated in his press conference that he had not trained.
Only two more sleeps! 😎😊
EFL have agreed a new 5 year deal with Sky from 24/25 season, see attached:
https://www.efl.com/news/2023/may/efl-and-sky-sports-broadcast-rights-agreement/
😎
Although I have no inside information, the return of Ramsey to Aston Villa suggests to me that he is unlikely to take any further part in our season.
The explanation that he has returned "because he is an Aston Villa player" is merely a statement of the obvious, but it makes clear the power relations involved.
Villa are in effect saying that they will decide on the player's immediate future. They will make the decision on whether he is fit enough to play any more games this season. And while it remains a theoretical possibility that Ramsey could be given the all clear and return, it seems highly unlikely to me. The bottom line is that this will be Villa's decision and not ours.
This situation has a direct relevance to decisions that have to be made about Archer over the next 24 hours.
I wrote earlier that I would wrap both Archer and Akpom in cotton wool until the play-offs, although I accept that this is a minority view.
However this obscures a crucial difference between the situations of our two key strikers.
When Akpom got a couple of knocks against Rotherham, the whole of Teesside winced and held its breath. Fortunately he seemed to survive them and he seems likely to be available for the Coventry game should he be chosen.
If he is chosen and gets another knock then it will be entirely in the Boro's hands, as it was after Rotherham, as to whether he is fit enough to play in future games.
Should Archer sustain an injury at any stage then the final decision as to whether he takes any further part in the play-offs will be Villa's.
To be clear, this will be the situation in relation to the two strikers irrespective of their own feelings about the matter.
The Boro can insist on Akpom playing through an injury, even though only 80% fit, whether he wishes to or not. Because he is a Boro player.
In Archer's case both the Boro and Archer can declare the player fit enough to play, but this can be revoked by Villa if they deem it not to be in the player's and Villa's best long term interests.
Because "he is a Villa player."
What this suggests to me is that we should not risk playing Archer until the play-offs.
And then we must hope that he remains injury free, beyond any dispute, until the final.
@lenmasterman May I suggest that it is the seriousness of the injury that has caused Ramsey to return to Villa. It could be that MFC medical staff have realised that he will not play again this season, including the playoffs, therefore it is a joint decision for him to return. I have known in the past for injured players to return to their parent club and then go back to the loan club, if it is the case of Villa recalling Ramsey then it means his loan has been cut short and we no longer have to pay (what ever portion) of his pay for how many weeks including the week of the playoff final, ever little bit helps as some advertisement may say 😂.
Come on BORO.
My problem as a 5 feet 5 weakling is that I’m unable to increase my weight which has dropped from an overweight 12 stone to 10 stone despite not drinking any red wine this year.
As for Boro I want us to eliminate Coventry on Monday, a draw will be useless as I fear the Sky Blues more than I do Luton in the final. I expect Millwall and Blackburn to produce a draw, whilst Sunderland like a cat I’m hoping have had their 9 lives. My preferred opponents for the playoffs would be Millwall but at this stage of the season any side is likely to beat any other and Boro in my mind must eliminate Coventry on Monday as I’m not confident of Boro beating the Sky Blues over two legs in the playoffs.
1-0 would satisfy me on Monday.