Just reading that apparently Bola is now injured - just leaves Bamba and McNair! Also Sporar has an achilles problem but Payero, Hernadez and Siliki have trained.
What was that 2-3-5 formation again Ken...
I hadn’t heard about Sporar but have just heard about Bola. I think it will have to be a back three now given we’ve only one available (natural) defender!
Possible line-up?
Lumley
Howson Bamba McNair
Tav Crooks Siliki Kokolo
Watmore Ikpeazu Jones
Sporar has more of a niggle but Warnock is not sure if he will play this weekend - god only knows who could fill in if anyone left in defence either pulled up during the game or even red-carded.
Could also be a back four with Howson and Kokolo and maybe Malley in midfield - maybe Payero could play right-back but it's not a position that suits players who aren't fully fit.
I suppose this is a chance for Warnock to show his quality. We have about as many defenders out as Reading did when they beat us; if they can do it, so can we.
My preference is still for 3 at the back with a defensive midfielder and playing with wingers rather than wingers. Obviously Warnock won't do that.
Lumley
McNair Bamba Kokolo
Howson
Hernandez Crooks Tav Jones
Watmore Sporar/Ikpeazu
Hernandez usually played on the right for Norwich. McNair and Kokolo act as narrow full backs with Howson plugging the gaps. Warnock has broken Lea Siliki and Payero so we're left with Crooks and Tav in the middle. That's a team with pace, creativity and width and everyone is playing in a natural position.
You may well get your back three but there are some reports that Crooks could be one of the centre-backs tomorrow as he has apparently played in that position earlier in his career. It also could be Tav and Jones as wing-backs as Hernandez is perhaps not known for his defensive abilities.
Ref Crooks at centre back
He has played at centre-back in the past, most notably during his time at Huddersfield Town, but he has been utilised further forwards every season since.
Thoughts
It seems very unlikely that manager Neil Warnock would bring Crooks into a back three. He has been one of the club’s standout performers so far in a topsy-turvy campaign and to remove him from his tried and tested position into defence seems a misstep.
It is more likely Boro would utilise a back four with McNair partnering Bamba, with Howson at right-back and youngster Williams Kokolo at left-back, or Tavernier or Jones.
OFB
OK, Crooks would be a gamble in defence but with Bola now injured and the possibility of having just McNair and 36-year old Bamba now probably needing to play three games in a week, what happens if either one of them gets injured or red-carded?
It may be a sensible option to integrate someone like Crooks into a back three on the basis that he'll get up to speed playing defensively alongside a vocal Bamba - which is perhaps better insurance than needing him to play cold with McNair should Bamba get injured during the next week.
OFB it seems someone copied you word for word:
Come on BORO.
@original-fat-bob. But aren't we known for playing square pegs in round holes! 😎
I see that Neil Warnock is describing Boro’s squad as like a box of chocolates. I personally would hope not as I hate chocolate. It goes back to when I was a baby apparently according to my mother when some kind lady put a piece of chocolate in my mouth and I wouldn’t swallow it spewing it out all over my bib. I even hate the smell of chocolate as when my wife who loved chocolate was baking a chocolate cake I had to stay out of the kitchen as the smell made me feel sick. When I see tv adverts of chocolate especially chocolate fountains I have to divert my eyes as it looks like a bowl of diarrhoea to me. I once bought some muffins which I thought included blueberries only to discover that they were pieces of chocolate and had to spit them out. Even the sight of chocolate ice cream turns my stomach over.
When one hates a particular food it’s difficult to understand how anyone can possibly like it. I’ve never come across anyone who dislikes chocolate like me, which got me thinking if there are any Diasborians who have similar food hates. There are very few foods that I haven’t tried, even escargots, jellied eels, snake meat and caviar, but all of them are preferable to chocolate.
@ KP in Spain
Surely we must give an academy player his debut, that’s how Dael Fry was introduced.
I see that Neil Warnock is describing Boro’s squad as like a box of chocolates.
Probably explains why Boro have a soft centre and some can't play for toffee...
According to statistics Neil Warnock has never lost a match against Peterborough, 3 wins and 2 draws. Although Darren Ferguson will be banned from the touchline he has never managed a side beating one managed by Warnock, 4 defeats and 3 draws. In their 5 league matches away from home Peterborough have conceded 3 goals at Luton, Coventry and Reading as well as 6 against Sheffield United. Does that give me confidence about this afternoon or will it be another set of statistics to be overturned?
@ken. Totally agree Ken, however else are we ever going to discover if they are good enough at this level. I don't buy into all this sending them away to come back as men - why can't they do it playing for their own club.
Surely half an hour here and an hour there or even longer when needs must, will build their confidence and experience levels and benefit the club.
But then what do I know I am only a lowly supporter. 😎
Despite all Boro’s problems I’d just like to send out my good wishes to Marske United this afternoon in their FA Cup meeting with Gateshead. The draw for the First Round Proper takes place tomorrow afternoon and wouldn’t it be nice if they succeed to be drawn against Sunderland or even Hartlepool United come to that.
KP's post seems to have a bit missing, so here's the starting XI:
They also drive you nuts...
I'll take the terrier midfield for a walk. Then the darkened room treatment.
UTB,
John
From The Gazette!
Digesting team news
Actual Boro team with no formation leaves more questions than answers because we know some people are likely to be out of position. Is it 4-4-2/3-4-3? I'd guess the latter with Howson in the back three, but I did put forward the idea of Crooks going there, so we shall see at KO
I’m expecting a 3-4-1-2 with Howson and McNair either side of Bamba and Watmore behind Sporar and Ikpeazu. You never know though!
The four in midfield looks very attacking by necessity really: Tav, Crooks, Payero, Hernandez.
If that midfield plus the three ahead of them can’t cause Peterborough lots of problems then we may as well give up!
Could be a high scoring game. I’m going for Boro 3-2 Peterborough with Payero getting his first goal along with Watmore and Uche.
Listening to first half for my sins. This feels like the worst of both worlds. I could cope with a shambolic loss if it led to Warnock going and a reset. I could also cope with a convincing win that takes some of the pressure off. But a poor performance and a draw against the worst team in the league is not going to get Warnock sacked but it will add to the toxicity around the place.
Interesting also how critical the commentators are being.
When I saw the team and set up, I thought there should be no excuses today. Yes a little vulnerable at the back, but overall we should be more than capable.
All we have done is huff and puff. Too many long hopeful balls. it has nil all written all over it, unless Posh get a lucky goal.
Creating more at last although posh have had a couple of half chances.
Payero looks as though he has something but there are still so many loose balls. Whatmore at least making runs.
Boro take the lead courtesy of a Paddy penaty. Here's hoping they can hang on to it for the last four minutes or so...
Josh Coburn makes it 2-0 in injury time, assisted by Payero! 🙂
That has to be one of the poorest games Boro have played since Strachan was the manager
OFB
Didn't get home until the second half had started after a visit to see Mrs Werder's aunt, who is over from Berlin - I guess I should thank her for missing the first half given the comments.
Not that the second half was much of a watch until Jones came on and it probably needed something like a penalty to see a goal. Pleased to see Josh Coburn score the second as he's been out of the picture since early season. Thought Payero looked pretty decent and seems fit enough to me to be starting games - Sol Bamba also showed some poise in defence and hopefully will not be aching too much tomorrow.
Boro and Neil Warnock needed this win against a poor side but it wasn't much more than that with 2-0 flattering the performance. Still no real sign of a team gelling together but let's hope the team follow it up against Barnsley and put in a much better performance.
Vic's verdict:
Positives: kept plugging away & passing in final third; some delicious touches from Payero; Good movement from Sporar; Coburn scored again; Bamba rock solid again; Matt Crooks nuts & bolts work; kept composure
Negatives: slow start & almost caught cold a few times; massive penalty let off; so many final balls a fraction off - but that improved in final 20.
*** Payero: delicious touches
** Bamba: rock solid
* Crook [sic 🙂 ]: human shield for makeshift defence