We enjoyed a day out in Whitby. Lunch at the Magpie, naturally.
Also bought an away shirt with number 21 at the back. A bit biased, there. And then AV's book on the Boro shirts.
We had a stadion tour today, changing rooms, pitch "inspection", etc. Anthony Vickers joined me and wife for the whole tour. He has not been to all places even he works in the East Stand.
Leo had marked the changing room with a sign: "Any mobile phone used 90 min before kick off means a £ 250 fine."
No, we did not see Mr. Carrick at the stadium. A pity.
Tomorrow we will go early to the stadium and will hang around the FanZone. I will contact Dormo tomorrow, too. Let's see if we can see with a chat after the match in his local, perhaps.
I hope to see a win for Leo. He is a great chap. Up the Boro!
Come on Boro! Let’s do it for Jarkko and Mrs Jarkko!
🤞for you tomorrow, Jarkko. Hope you enjoy the game ……. and the result!
Despite writing quite a positive match preview (well, you have to keep it light don’t you?) I’m not overly optimistic about the game tomorrow.
Three times already this season we’ve had a false start having won a game only to lose the next. We’ve not got any momentum going.
No doubt, this is our best opportunity yet to win consecutive games but I don’t yet trust us.
The heart says that the change in shape and form of the opposition means we’ll win and possibly even win well but the head says it will be a stodgy affair between two teams battling with themselves as much as each other.
Heart: 3-1 to the Boro
Head: 1-1
Apparently Crooks is suspended tomorrow so that probably means PM back in midfield? 😎
Or an opportunity to push Giles up and have Bola play at full back ?
Seems logical to me especially for a game in which we are likely to have plenty of possession.
I’d like to see a midfield diamond with Howson at the base, Giles and Jones wide with then Hackney or McGree in the middle behind two forwards. This would give us a chance to have more players getting forward.
I’m going for a 3-1 with Muniz and Akpom both scoring and Forss getting one as a sub.
utb
Anybody know how Redcar Red is. Miss his honest post's
I did mention yesterday that Boro’s biggest wins at home to Huddersfield were 8-0 in 1950 and 7-2 in 1967 both obviously at Ayresome Park, but what about at the Riverside I asked myself! But when Powmill-Naemore mischievously suggested that Boro might win 5-1 that scoreline triggered a cord with me - it was Boro’s biggest home win against the Terriers at the Riverside albeit a third round cup match in 1996 on the way to their first League Cup Final. Fabrizio Ravanelli scored 2 of his 15 cup goals in 15 appearances that season, whilst Juninho, Emerson and Mikkel Beck also scored. A bit of deja-vu? Surely not!
He had a birthday this week and had a drink with his son the other night.
I keep in touch but he has a new job which is taking a lot of his time up and he is a new grandfather too!
I expect him to drop in and post as his comments amd match reports were valued.
OFB
Like Malcolm I also miss Redcar Red’s match reports, but probably he’s having to rebuild his work schedule which might have taken a hammering due to Covid. I also miss Ian Gill who frequently kept me up to date on Yorkshire CCC scores when I was abroad on holiday and unable to find cyber cafes.
By the way thinking of Mikkel Beck, I suppose Covid was to blame for the cancellation of the charity match where several ex players were hoping to participate at the Riverside Stadium. But does anyone know if that is retrievable sometime in the future?
I did mention yesterday that Boro’s biggest wins at home to Huddersfield were 8-0 in 1950 and 7-2 in 1967 both obviously at Ayresome Park, but what about at the Riverside I asked myself! But when Powmill-Naemore mischievously suggested that Boro might win 5-1 that scoreline triggered a cord with me - it was Boro’s biggest home win against the Terriers at the Riverside albeit a third round cup match in 1996 on the way to their first League Cup Final. Fabrizio Ravanelli scored 2 of his 15 cup goals in 15 appearances that season, whilst Juninho, Emerson and Mikkel Beck also scored. A bit of deja-vu? Surely not!
You’re getting me all misty eyed now Ken. Ahh, good times.
Thanks for the headliner Andy, well written and a positive Tsunami of optimism on DiasBoro. Wow!
After a week of hospital visits, having a mask fitted for the Radio Therapy, check-ups with the Consultant who is very pleased with my progress and all manner of other therapists it's been a good week on the Boro front. I know one week doesn't make a season but it certainly has made a change.
This afternoon I hope that the team play a blinder and win, obviously, for the fans, I hope the fans lift the roof at the end for Leo and Jarkko and his wife get to see a comprehensive win. It'll set me up for six weeks of five days a week radiotherapy too.
So just bloody do it Boro.
3-1 anybody?
UTB,
John
@jarkko - You have twisted my arm, Jarkko. All we have to do is to decide between the Ploated Pheasant, the Tortured Toad, the Battered Badger or the Flattened Frog. I am "known" in all of them and you have been to them all, and sat in front of the fire... (the fire might not be on in light of the tropical weather).
I might wander over to the FanZone when I get to the Stadium and see if I can spot you there. But if not, normal procedure is to leave the stadium at final whilstle after availing myself of a drink courtesty of Steve Gibson then going straight back to the village. Other like-minded Boro supporters normally go in for a drink or two and, recently, to moan about the football or the result or both. Let's hope this time we will be celebrating.
@john-richardson - I will join you in your wishes for the football. But also to wish you all the best in your treatment.
Many thanks Dormo, I'm in safe and caring hands at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
UTB,
John
I’m from the age before replica shirts were invented and often wore ‘civilian’ clothes of collar and tie, but have always hated any form of headgear from schoolboy caps to National Service berets and peak caps. Eventually I did wear a muffler when I was a paper boy in the winter covering my head and over my ears as I suffered from chilblains on my ears as well as my fingers. Eventually I did buy a woollen red and white striped scarf, and later still a black and amber scarf (Cas colours) but only wore them for away FA Cup matches along with a red and white rosette when they were available, but never saw the need to wear them for home matches as it was obvious who I supported. I was not alone in that as in the 40s and early 50s I probably looked anonymous in the crowd except that I was one of the few that were capless. I hated standing next to anyone with a football rattle, though they were usually only used for Cup ties.
Therefore I was surprised when replica shirts became available especially when they seemed to change season by season. In fact at the time many fans were of the opinion that MFC were ripping them off by changing their shirts so frequently. So how things have changed! I have to say that a sea of red shirts does add to the atmosphere, although I would probably still dress more soberly with a red pullover if I had one but still without a cap or tie, another useless appendage in my opinion. So would I be interested in buying Anthony Vickers book of Boro’s former shirts? Certainly not, but then I’m only an old fogey living in the past.
However I have to admit to wearing a Yorkshire CCC woollen sweater for the best part of 30 years. It’s getting a little baggy now with incessant washing, but it’s so warm in the winter months because I also have an aversion for long sleeved shirts since I retired 32 years ago. I only used to wear them for special occasions like weddings and funerals, and when I travelled on the Orient Express with my wife to celebrate our 40th Wedding anniversary 21 years ago replete with white jacket and shirt with a red bow tie and cummerbund for formal wear.
Some say I’m eccentric, and if I am I’ll acknowledge that - we can’t all be the same, can we?
@john-richardson. Good to hear that your Consultant is pleased with your progress John. Best wishes for the treatment to come. Here's hoping the Boro provide you with an added tonic today by achieving your prediction. CoB 😎
@ken : Eccentricity is the essential qualificiation in order to be considered British.
@ken : Eccentricity is the essential qualificiation in order to be considered British.
I’ve no problem with eccentricity, @forever-dormo, but that’s a bit harsh on all the British people who don’t consider themselves eccentric. I’m sure we’ve all seen plenty of eccentric folk overseas too - are they all British as well? The last thing this country needs is another thing to divide us. 😉
Another unusual team selection. Let’s see if it produces another unusual result.
Not the team I expected
DIDNT think Mowatt and McMair both to play or HH dropped
OFB
Not happy with the team choice, hope I am wrong. But Mowatt and McNair ahead of Hackney. ☹ Also thought Bola would be in and not Giles.
Well let's see.
Silly team choice and no sign of Carrick.
Well a familiar performance from Boro, plenty of domination and possession but little by way of threat. Huddersfield have gradually worked there way into the game.
Watmore brought down in the box but poor decision by the referee and penalty not given.
We have looked fairly solid at the back albeit Giles appears not to want to do much other than pass it back or sideways.
Jones and McNair were combining well in the early stages but Jones has been wasteful in possession and with his final ball.
Our tempo has dropped following a bright opening 15/20 minutes and will need to be improved in the second half.
Mowatt has had limited impact other than going close from a free kick. Could be a candidate for substitution in the second half unless he improves.
Still all to play for. CoB 😎
Boro marginally the better side but there isn’t a great deal in it.
The direct running of Watmore has been Boro’s only threat of any kind from open play.
The tempo is too slow and the midfield three just doesn’t have an incisive pass in it. McGree and/or Hackney needed.
I still think Muniz should be on the field as well.
Mowatt has had limited impact other than going close from a free kick. Could be a candidate for substitution in the second half unless he improves.
Duly replaced by Hackney at half-time.
I see that Josh Coburn has scored again for Bristol Rovers...
The score may have finished 0-0 ( 🙁 ), but Boro won the yelllow card count by 3-1 (Lenihan, Muniz & Howson). 🙁
The name of George Boateng has been mentioned to me as a Coach, at a time when people seem to take it for granted that Carrick will be appointed. Maybe he will, but it's far from a done deal so, again, I will just drop in George's name. Message ends. Pub calls.... I need it after Boro 0-0 Huddersfield Town this afternoon.
The name of George Boateng has been mentioned to me as a Coach, at a time when people seem to take it for granted that Carrick will be appointed. Maybe he will, but it's far from a done deal so, again, I will just drop in George's name. Message ends. Pub calls.... I need it after Boro 0-0 Huddersfield Town this afternoon.
If Carrick is appointed as the next manager, will Boro become known, in what appears to have become time-honoured fashion, as "Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough"? *rolls eyes*