Hot on the heels of Saturday’s satisfying 2-1 win over Bristol City, Boro host QPR on Wednesday evening in a crucial top-of-the-table clash! Ok, not quite, but both sides will have some kind of opportunity to take the Championship’s top spot in these early stages of this year’s second-tier slogathon.
After a difficult but very credible point on the opening day at Fulham, Boro went up a few gears at the weekend despite missing key players from a small squad, with rumours breaking out that the performance was thoroughly entertaining and that new, budget striker Uche Ikpeazu is Didier Drogba reincarnated! We’ll take that again, thank you very much!
QPR have also started with promise. A solid opening day draw with London rivals Millwall was backed up with a convincing 3-0 win away at Championship new-boys, Hull City. Surprisingly, central defender and one-time Boro target Robert Dickie has been the main man in front of goal for the Hoops having scored in both Championship fixtures so far as well as the Carabao Cup game in between. If Boro have looked suspect when defending set-pieces, Wednesday night would be a good time to tighten up on that front to ensure tricky-Dickie doesn’t leave us feeling sicky.
The two teams last met back in April when QPR went 2-0 up within 20 minutes at the Riverside, with that man Robert Dickie getting the R’s second before now-Boro keeper Joe Lumley pulled off a string of eye-catching saves. Yannick Bolasie pulled one back for the Boro but it was the visitor’s who took the points with a 1-2 victory. Earlier in the season, the clubs played out a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road with Chuba Akpom the Boro scorer. With Akpom ostracised and Bolasie banished it will be a new-look Boro looking to take on what is, in fact, a new-look QPR as well.
Indeed, both clubs have been busy in the transfer market without spending a great deal of cash. QPR have brought in no fewer than nine new players with the returning Charlie Austin the only name that might briefly raise the eyebrow of the casual observer. One addition for Mark Warburton’s side is of course Boro’s 2020/21 reserve goalkeeper – or at least he was until patience ran out with Marcus Bettinelli, who has since wound up at Chelsea somehow - Jordan Archer. Let’s hope Archer doesn’t do a Lumley, then.
Neil Warnock’s selection may well be a case of whoever is fit and ready after it was mentioned that both Marcus Tavernier and Duncan Watmore are unlikely to return this week. Payero is adjusting to Championship football and British life whilst Sam Morsy was rested for the Bristol-bashing but Jonny Howson’s performance may keep him waiting for a return if the manager concurs with the growing consensus that the pair are better apart. The main issues lie in the front three however with Sammy Ameobi apparently no closer to joining in. If selected, Djed Spence will be watched closely to see if he can build on a promising display last time out whilst Isiah Jones has caught the eye and should make it four appearances in a row.
No rest can be expected for the likes of Lumley, Bola, Djiksteel, Fry, McNair, Crooks and Ikpeazu and Warnock will be hoping that his players can put in another match-winning performance without picking up any injuries whilst he attempts to bolster his squad with promising non-league hopefuls, cut-price seasoned pros and the odd shock-forward or two.
With so much change, seemingly little between the sides and so little evidence to go on, I suspect supporters of both clubs won’t be able to predict this one with any real confidence (except for OFB, of course – 0-0 perhaps?) but whilst most Boro fans aren’t expecting too much this season, a win could leave the stands needing fumigation as one club heads towards the top of the table. Let’s hope it’s the home ends that need the foam fumes clearing.
Great stuff Andy !
Our system works !
Fir the good of Diasboro and all Diasborians worldwide.
OFB
Thanks for a great opener, Andy!
I think this is likely to be a harder game than against Bristol City. QPR had a really good pre-season and seem to have come zooming out of the blocks. They’re my surprise package to do well this season. I think we can beat them if we play as well as we did on Saturday and if the crowd gets behind us again, but I expect them to pose a greater offensive threat than Bristol did. I wouldn’t be dismayed by a draw.
Andy, that was top class as an opener. A big thank you, mate.
Albert Adomah was my favourite player when he joined Boro from Bristol City in 2013. I think Mogga paid around a million on him.
Since us, the 33-year-old right winger has played 113 times for Aston Villa and a lot less at Forest. On 5 October 2020, following his departure from Nottingham Forest, Adomah signed for boyhood club Queens Park Rangers on a two-year deal.
So he is back to his roots and playing for his favourite club. This season he has been on the bench in the League for QPR but started the EFL Cup match at Orient. As a QPR fan, he celebrated passionately in front of the away fans after netting the winning penalty at Orient.
We won't propably see so much of the Riverside favourite on Wednesday. He has played 19 times for Ghana and went to 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil where he played in one game.
I still have a soft spot for Adomah. I'd like to see him play but hopefully not helping QPR to win. Up the Boro!
After watching the game on Saturday I am starting to believe we may have the semblance of a team which although lacking in certain areas is capable of getting results.
Joe Lumley to stay between the sticks for starters. Bola and Dijksteel are certainly getting back to their best at full back and our centre back pairing of Hall and Fry are strong in the air. We must however cut out the set piece goals scored against us and we do tend as a team to concede from Free Kicks and corners.
Regarding our Midfield areas we have Paddy who hasn’t reproduced the same form as last season and hasn’t shown the same level of commitment, perhaps his head has been turned? Has Howson the legs to do three games a week? Perhaps Morsy will replace him for this game? Big Uche up front supported by Crooks, Spence and the impressive Isiah Jones. Which leaves a spot for Payero on the bench who seems a bit bewildered by the pace of the game in this country and in my opinion needs a fellow Latin American speaking player to bond with and make him feel more at home.
As for the result I’m going for a 2-1 home win. I think we have goals up front in the team but haven’t seen any signs of us closing up shop and preventing a goal going in against us.
OFB
@original-fat-bob Taking about the need of a fellow Latin American speaking player to bond with, did anyone spot Leo Percovich in the dogout during the Bristol game? He should be back from his holidays by now.
Second question is about Ameobi? Why doesn't any of the so-called reporters ask about Ameobi's knee?
Up the Boro!
Great opener thanks Andy.
As a team we seem to do better when NW has limited choices so perhaps it will be a case of same again against QPR barring any further injuries arising after Saturday's game.
I will be quite happy with a ⚽️ - ⚽️ to keep the unbeaten league run going but I have a sneaky feeling that QPR will have too much for us and may shade it by the odd goal.
I hope I am wrong but I fancy QPR to go up this season so it will be a good test to see how we fair against one of the stronger sides who are playing well at the moment. CoB keep the unbeaten run going. 😎
Thanks for the headliner Andy, well done. As for the result tomorrow, well I don't think they will be looking forward to it and Boro will shade it. I hope our bustling rough and tough centre forward has kept up the weight training and increased his Strong-arm and pie consumption because he'll get some attention tomorrow.
again, well done Andy our cub reporter.
UTB,
John
@original-fat-bob Taking about the need of a fellow Latin American speaking player to bond with, did anyone spot Leo Percovich in the dogout during the Bristol game? He should be back from his holidays by now.
Second question is about Ameobi? Why doesn't any of the so-called reporters ask about Ameobi's knee?
Up the Boro!
Are we sure Leo is on his holidays or could he be still scouting/negotiating in South America 🤔
Come on BORO.
Tonight our U23’s kick off their PL2 season away at Wolves (7pm) which is available to watch live on Wolves You Tube channel.
Come on BORO.
Another great opener, this time from Andy. Thank you.
I fancy that QPR will be there for the taking, believing a little bit too much in themselves this early in the season after a convincing 3 goal demolition of Hull City.
2 goals to nil for the Boro. A goal apiece for the reincarnated Drogba and Howson
Flemengo and Fulham are reported to have signed the paperwork for the transfer of Muniz, reports quote a fee of €8m and a 25% sell on clause.
Come on BORO.
This may be of interest to some fans:
https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/worldwide-live-stream-available-for-midqpr-160821/
Come on Boro
@powmillnaemore Didn't you get the scores correct for the first two matches already? 1-1 and 2-1.
And I hope it's third time luck now as you predict a Boro win.
I would say it will be a two all draw with Jones and Fry scoring. Mind, I hope the Boro will win. Very tough but even match. We have a decent first eleven now. Even if Tav and Watmore will be missing.
Up the Boro!
@original-fat-bob Taking about the need of a fellow Latin American speaking player to bond with, did anyone spot Leo Percovich in the dogout during the Bristol game? He should be back from his holidays by now.
Second question is about Ameobi? Why doesn't any of the so-called reporters ask about Ameobi's knee?
Up the Boro!
Are we sure Leo is on his holidays or could he be still scouting/negotiating in South America 🤔
Come on BORO.
Warnock said during his presser today, that Leo might be back at training today. He has had COVID-19 issues lately.
So I hope he will be fine and will help Payero to bed in at Rockcliffe and the area next.
Up the Boro!
Thinking about the team, I would normally assume that Warnock would aim to pick the same 11. However QPR play 3 at the back and 2 up front so we might try to match them and possibly pick a fairly defensive formation. I think that although Spence and Jones had excellent games that he doesn't actually trust them so I could see a team looking something like this with Bamba and Morsy coming in for Spence and Jones and a switch to 3 at the back. If we do get a new left back or left wingback in time, I think he might come straight in for Bola who is probably an injury risk due to lack of a pre-season. I suspect he'll look at giving Payero a full debut against Derby.
Lumley
Fry Hall Bamba
Howson
Dijksteel McNair Morsy Bola
Crooks
Uche
I hope not. I think the 11 that started against Bristol have earned the right, injuries notwithstanding, to play again.
Gazzette reporting Sporar is having medical at boro
MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon striker Andraz Sporar in the next couple of days, with Neil Warnock also closing in on a reinforcement for the left of his side’s defence.
Boro have agreed the terms of an initial season-long loan deal for Sporar, a 27-year-old Slovenia international who joined Sporting a year-and-a-half ago.
The forward is understood to have undergone a medical in Portugal today, with his move to the Riverside set to be completed shortly provided there are no late unforeseen hitches.
OFB
Bidwell starts for Swansea tonight which I'm guessing means that we are not close to signing him or that he is on his way out of the South Wales Club.
This may also be of interest to some fans:
BORO V QPR VIDEO (£10.00)
Live video streaming from the Riverside Stadium as Boro host QPR on Wednesday 18 August. Kick Off: 19:45 (BST) in the 2021/22 EFL Sky Bet Championship. 😎
I read in the press today a quote attributed to NW that was as follows:-
“We are trying to get the lads to have vaccinations, but at the moment I’d say the majority of the players haven’t had it”.
That I was gobsmacked is an understatement. Why are they only “trying” to get the players vaccinated? Why isn’t it mandatory? Does he know how many are not vaccinated or is his assessment an estimate?
Surely the management of the club should be treating vaccination as something essential for the business of the club and not something that the players can take or leave. If the majority of the squad is not vaccinated then an epidemic of Covid in the club is going to play havoc with the availability of players for selection. It seems to me to be madness not to mandate that all players will be vaccinated.
In addition to the potential impact on the clubs ability to select teams the failure of the players to take up vaccination sends a terrible message to the fans and the public as a whole. If the players can’t be bothered then why should they.
Seems to me to be classic case of the lunatics taking over the asylum.
I read in the press today a quote attributed to NW that was as follows:-
“We are trying to get the lads to have vaccinations, but at the moment I’d say the majority of the players haven’t had it”.
That I was gobsmacked is an understatement. Why are they only “trying” to get the players vaccinated? Why isn’t it mandatory? Does he know how many are not vaccinated or is his assessment an estimate?
Surely the management of the club should be treating vaccination as something essential for the business of the club and not something that the players can take or leave. If the majority of the squad is not vaccinated then an epidemic of Covid in the club is going to play havoc with the availability of players for selection. It seems to me to be madness not to mandate that all players will be vaccinated.
In addition to the potential impact on the clubs ability to select teams the failure of the players to take up vaccination sends a terrible message to the fans and the public as a whole. If the players can’t be bothered then why should they.
Seems to me to be classic case of the lunatics taking over the asylum.
I definitely agree that they should be vaccinated but I don’t think employers can make it compulsory. Why anyone wouldn’t have one, I just can’t understand.
Back from the first camping trip and just discovered the QPR wasn't yesterday so I've just parted company with €200.07 to buy a season pass given Boro are currently joint-top of the Championship! I've no idea about what much else has happened Boro-wise as there was zero wifi signal at our campsite but will be interesting to see how the team perform this evening - apologies in advance if Boro lose as they seemed to have managed quite well so far without my unlucky gaze on proceedings.
Quick thanks to Andy for his well written opener and as for predictions - well anything other than a 0-0 will be a bonus and let's see who is fit tonight and whether Martin Payero is settling in.
OK, time to prepare dinner before Boro give the Hoops their just desserts and take all three points from the sweet trolley of success...
I am also in agreement with views above on vaccinations but as Martin quite rightly points out you can't force employees to have a vaccination unless it forms part of their current contract.
MFC could make a it a condition when agreeing contracts for new players or as a condition when renewing an existing players contract but the player may not agree and refuse to sign. 😎
@werdermouth. Welcome back from you trip Werder, you sound refreshed!
Hopefully Boro will provide you with a nice welcome home present! 😎
A draw tonight wouldn’t be the end of the world as I think QPR are one of the better teams outside the three relegated teams. But a win would be fantastic given the missing injured players.
Regarding most players not having the vaccinations is appalling.
I wonder how many of them with young children have decided not to have them vaccinated against eg measles, mumps and rubella ?
I am sure NW is right when he says teams will have players getting Covid and therefore affecting team strengths and performances.
Philip of Huddersfield
Boro players not being vaccinated made the main news on Tyne Tees Tonight as a portable vaccination unit was set up all day in Middlesbrough Town Centre
OFB
Here's the team - basically those who are fit to play!
