Boro host QPR on Saturday for a 12.30pm midtable melee at the Riverside. The Hoops - owned by former Formula One moguls Flavio Briatore, once of Benetton and Renault, and Bernie Ecclestone – lost away at Rotherham last night which saw them fail to perform an overtaking manoeuvre on stalling Boro, remaining one place and one point behind us.
Boro’s pit lane upgrades back in January were designed to sharpen the front end but have instead added serious downforce as we fall further and further behind the divisions’ pace setters.
Speaking of divisions, there is talk of a less than unified Boro dressing room at present and understandably so with so many players facing uncertain futures. As it stands, Assombalonga, Fletcher, Johnson, Bettinelli, Archer, Bolasie, Kebano and Mendez-Laing will all depart in the summer with question marks against one or two others such as Hayden Coulson. With Djiksteel, Fry, Tavernier, Morsy and Browne all on the treatment table it does make for a spluttering first XI stacked with players who surely can’t be 100% focused.
In the corresponding fixture last season, it was QPR who took the points with a 1-0 win courtesy of a “Typical Boro” Jordan Hugill goal, whilst the reverse fixture earlier this season finished 1-1 with an anything-but-typical goal from Chuba Akpom.
In the form tables, Boro sit 13th overall and 7th in the home table of the last six games, whilst QPR are 7th overall but 17th in the away table, providing some hope for Boro fans. However, there doesn’t appear to be a huge amount to choose between the sides. That said, Boro will need to find a different gear if they’re to record their first win since 16th March, 5 games ago.
An interesting stat on the BBC Sport website shows QPR have 10+ players with passing accuracy of 70% or more against only 4 Boro players, of which 3 are injured, so don’t expect us to have much possession in this one – not that you would anyway!
Another interesting site to find stats and interpretations is whoscored.com. Their breakdown of the two teams also states that Boro are weak at keeping possession whilst QPR are strong but – based on the past two seasons – they come up with the following assessments:
- Middlesbrough will score from a fast break situation Very Likely
- QPR will dominate possession Likely
- QPR will be shown a high number of cards Likely
- Middlesbrough will make a comeback if they go behind Likely
- Middlesbrough will create many scoring chances Likely
I can live with most of that!
So can Boro find a fast finish to the season or will we coast around these final formation laps as we turn our attentions to tuning up for next season?
Thanks, Andy.
I just like to remind what OFB wrote earlier that Boro's match against Queens Park Rangers this Saturday will now kick off at 12.30pm.
Secondly, I hope to see Albert Adomah playing for QPR again. He was my fovourite while at Boro.
Up the Boro!
Great start from AndyR in pole position.
I'm beginning to struggle to be enthusiastic about the rest of the season now that it looks like we are stuck in practice sessions with no chance of actually making it to qualifying on the third row (5th or 6th position on the grid).
All the same I am hopeful that we will have enough in the tank to hang on to the racing line and so to prevent The Hoops from overtaking us in the table.
All in all, and considering the stats on both of these teams I dont expect we are going to witness any prancing ponies on Saturday and it looks to me as if Boro will be entering the DRS zone ... Draw Result Surely.
Great match thread from Andy to kick things off. I have to confess that my new working arrangements are taking up a lot of my time and the football that has been served up since Christmas has dulled my senses somewhat. With essentially nothing to play for the earlier KO time is a blessing as it gets it out of the way and leaves more time to do jobs and errands over the weekend.
Personally I would have thought that an earlier Funeral starting at say 11.00am and ending at however long it takes to cover the event by say 1.00pm would have made more sense in the grand scheme of things and probably kinder for the family to get things over with rather than dragging on through the day.
My only hope from now until the end of the season is that we see a few of the youngsters get an opportunity and even Archer in goal who although I rate him no more than a two or three out of ten at this level is probably two more than I rate Butternelli. I wasn't impressed when we brought Dimi to the Club at the time but he done a more than alright job for us and I'd be prepared to give Archer the benefit of the doubt. If he bombs then it isn't going to be costly and if we stick with the incumbent then it isn't going to be pretty. We may as well see what he can do and with Stojanovic hopefully returning to take the No.1 shirt Archer may provide acceptable and low cost back up for next season.
Hopefully we get to see what Josh Coburn can do, although he is still very raw he can't be any worse than the insipid striking displays we have endured all season. I would also go with Johnson wide left rather than one of the underwhelming loan players as I feel he has been hard done to and deserves an opportunity to maybe earn another contract.
Andy,
Very well done on the leader article, impressive work, thank you.
I know we all feel that the season has fizzled out a little, understatement there, but the interest will come in assessing the 'youngsters' that Mr Warnock has high hopes for. I just hope he is brave about it and holds his nerve, who knows what jewels he may uncover and hopefully one or two might solve some of the problems or the loan conundrums that he faces.
The game on Saturday has all the hallmarks of a draw but it would be lovely if Boro put a smile on our faces, and on their own for that matter. I'm not going for an 0(FB)- 0(FB), so 2-0 to Boro. Sorry OFB.
I will now voluntarily hand myself over to the men in the white coats.
Stay safe everyone,
UTB,
John
When it comes to using the loanees/players due to exit or not, I think it comes down to confidence levels of retaining them.
I can see little point in playing Bettinelli or Archer to be honest, given that surely both will depart in the summer, although it does depend on how close Sol Brynn is to stepping up.
Britt has no future at the club and has shown no signs of trying to "put himself in the shop window", so little point in playing him either.
It's less clear with the others.
My gut feeling is that Mendez-Laing will be here next year. Clearly Warnock likes him and he enjoys playing for Warnock, whilst he doesn't appear to have had loads of offers before we came in for him. The time he's had with us must have done him some good and I wonder if, with a full pre-season under his belt, he could be a useful player next term. I do feel there's something there.
Bolasie is less likely purely on wages but there again, there is a clear connection between him and Warnock and who knows, he may decide that he's made his big money and now it's time to enjoy what's left of his career. If so, we're very well placed to keep him and, like Mendez-Laing, he's had time out of the game and can only be better next year.
Kebano is a player I like - we don't have many who can receive the ball in limited spaces and use it - but his situation is intertwined with Fulham's and it may be too costly to extract him. I'm happy to retain him if we sensibly can.
Marvin Johnson? Well, unless MJ is keen to leave (which I doubt) then there's a deal to be done there if we want to.
That leaves Fletcher who I suspect is keeping his options open. My gut tells me he will leave and therefore I'd probably leave him on the bench.
As well as team selections, what the above tells me is that a squad overhaul may not be required in the summer. Lots of "ifs", but there is a possibility of having enough numbers for most positions and just needing to add two, three or four key players - certainly a striker who fits the NW mould and a solid keeper, the importance of which can't be understated. Players like Johnson, Bolasie, Kebano, Tavernier, Watmore, McNair and even Bola and Djiksteel can all play in more than one position which also helps:
Possible Squad (counting players twice who can play in several positions):
Goalkeepers
New signing, Stejanovic, Brynn
Full backs
Fisher, Djiksteel, Spence, Bola, Coulson? Johnson?
Centre backs
Fry, Hall, McNair, Wood, Djiksteel? Bola?
Central Midfiielders
Howson, Morsy, Saville, Wing, Tavernier, Hackney? Malley? New signing?
Wingers
Tavernier, Watmore, Coulson? Spence? NML? Bolasie? Kebano? Johnson? New signing?
Strikers
Akpom, Watmore, Fletcher? Bolasie? Coburn? Walker? New signing?
For the remainder of this season though, I would be keen to see what Coburn, Hackney and/or Malley can do as well as giving Coulson a shot.
Thanks Andy for getting us off to a flying start for the QPR game, although I am not sure we will be seeing the same from our beloved team.
As far as I am concerned it has all gone very flat and I have become somewhat disillusioned and disinterested but will login as usual for my weekly 90 mins + of typical Boro of one sort or another.
Having lived just outside of Bury St Edmunds for over 20 years, I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the two main East Anglian teams and I see that Norwich could be securing their return to the PL tomorrow.
It appears that Delia and her husband Michaël and their Chief Executive have found the right formula and perhaps this is something SG and NB need to look into and see what they can learn from the Norwich operating model as ours is clearly not working.
Whilst this season has not been as bad as last, it still has resulted in more questions than answers and the sooner it comes to an end for me the better. Sadly, I can't say I am looking to the next few seasons with any feelings of excitement or anticipation.
As for tomorrow, we will probably do well if we can prise out a 0-0 result given we have struggled to win against QPR in recent years. 😎
Yes, the London teams have followed the style of the big three, and are never beaten until they have fouled, followed by a dive, followed by three rolls and a good cry, and of course, it works, and will continue to work as long as there are refs who are aware of the press instead of calling the shots as they fall.
Great Opener Andy it’s nice to have different opening posts for each game to liven up a fast disappearing over the hill season.
I thought we were going to see the chequered flag at one stage this year but instead we’ve just had a chequered season and run out of ⛽️ gas.
Most of us are tyred of the platitudes given out by Warnock and even he seems to have lost his spark maybe he should just put a plug in it ! We need someone to ignite our team like a coiled spring and can be a shock so we can absorb the impact.
I’m sounding like an old air bag but we do need a rebore and I think even NW Is starting to believe he’s got a major rebuild to carry out in the garage during the summer.
Well done again happy motoring everyone !
Yes 👁 eyeballs 👀 in the sky tomorrow
⚽️⚽️
OFB
QPR have difficulties to field two fit centre halfs. They hope to put on a Dutch defender who broke his nose in the last match this week. Their manager was hoping him to play through the pain barrier as they have none other available.
We have rested a few days longer than the R's have. So what can go wrong for the mighty Boro?
We haven't won for ages now. So I will go for a surprise 2-0 win. Watmore and Hall scoring.
I know we will miss Fry and Tavernier who won't play this season anymore as NW told us today. Perhaps a good thing as we might keep them for next season now. We must tell every one they are seriously injured and not just small knocks, though.
Up the Boro!
I’m with you, Jarkko. If for no other reason than we’re overdue, I’m going for a 2-1 win today.
I think because of the meaningless nature of the game today whoever Warnock selects may use it as an opportunity to get in his plans for next season or to get their next contract wherever that may be. QPR will equally be seeing this as a futile trek up to the NE for nothing. With that backdrop I suspect a pressure free better footballing spectacle will see a Boro win.
Archer will start in goal today! Nice to see a debutant in goal and hopefully a confident showing. Up the Boro!
Team news - how Boro start today
Archer
Fisher
Hall
McNair
Bola
Howson
Saville
Spence
Kebano
Bolasie
Watmore
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock
Subs: Bettinelli, Coulson, Johnson, Hackney, Malley, Fletcher, Assombalonga, Akpom, Coburn
Well no great surprises and good to see that Bettinelli is not untouchable and could signal he won't be offered a contract at the end of the season. Looks like Fletcher is still getting the cold shoulder treatment. Midfield lacking creativity again. Hopefully Hackney and Coburn might get a bit of game time. 😎
It’s the team most of us would have picked except for probably Spence.
Betinelli had to be dropped after a string of unconvincing performances.
it’s quite an attacking line up and should have a good sporting chance with an Archer and a Fisher in the team!
I’ll get my coat......,
⚽️⚽️
OFB
Good news Archer is playing.....👏
Agree that it is to be hoped that at least Coburn will get a chance.
2-0 Boro....CoB
I hope we don't offer Fletcher a new contract or if we do it's a realistic one. The lad's "potential" has never fully materialised and I don't see it happening now other than maybe having one of those "good seasons" at some point over the next four or five years. If he was up for sale I wouldn't want to pay more than a £1M and no more than £10K a week which puts him in a category of lots of other League One/Championship Strikers at that price point. His injury problems are another concern which would be a deal breaker for me. I think it's time for all parties to move on.
I see Richie Bennett is banging them in again for Pools, could be a bargain Jamie Vardy at this rate. I'd rather see him here than Fletcher next season.
Never mind for Boro, Hartlepool 5-0 up away to Wealdstone at half time.
Well after an ignominious start we somehow managed to get back into the game and even looked the better side come half time. Bolasie’s miss was shocking, I would guess next time Watmore won’t be so generous. When Rangers went down to ten men it should have been the golden opportunity to seal not just one but all three points. What followed from Boro was lacking in any creativity and we could have played all night and still not scored. Technically this season this Warnock team has been sorely lacking on too many occasions but against ten men today it was painfully obvious.
The biggest annoyance for me today however was bringing on Assombalonga. I’m not sure why he was even on the bench, he has stunk the Riverside out for years and was then left out or went awol (the reason doesn’t really matter) for weeks and is leaving in a few more in any case. What incentive did Assombalonga have when he came on and what on earth did Warnock think he was going to do today that he hasn’t done for years? No surprise then that he came on and nothing changed.
I honestly thought that NW would have the experience and the guile to build a side that at least wouldn’t have spluttered and died the way it did since January let alone one that now looks totally bereft on so many levels. It would not be unreasonable to at least see a foundation of sorts but I’m struggling to see what he is trying to achieve let alone build. I see little of anything to give me reason to believe that next season will be anything other than a repeat of this season with an ongoing series of turgid soul sapping despairing displays by a mixture of journeymen has-beens and flopping loans.
I’m surprised to see the state that we have now become since all those loans came in in January and the spirit and camaraderie that evaporated at the same time. A very sad state of affairs but I think it is now time to end the relationship rather than prolonging it for another season.
RR, your last two paragraphs sum up perfectly for me the current dismal state of the club. It is a massive disappointment that NW has not only failed to build on what was a promising first half of the season but has managed to get the team regressing into something more resembling the disastrous JW period. Next season looks a forlorn prospect unless there are dramatic changes in management and playing personnel and I think we can all see that such changes are unlikely. Once again hope has been extinguished and the future looks bleak. Depressing in the extreme.
@redcarred. I agree RR and I believe that similar displays to what has been offered up since January, as is likely to be repeated next season, will see NW departing before Christmas.
The return of crowds will be his downfall as they will not tolerate such abject performances and will soon be on his back. He left Cardiff under similar circumstances and it will be no different with us.
Regrettably I don't see anything else happening as I don't see NW or SG changing their plans and parting ways before the inevitable happens. 😎
Assombalonga was a mistaken gesture of fairness, both teams playing with ten men.
UTB,
John
@john-richardson. I thought we were already playing with ten men before he came on! 😎😉
Yesterday was my 52nd 21st birthday so I was hoping for a good win in a game that only really mattered to supporters of both sides. Instead, when we went 2 goals down, I had a quick check of the league table to confirm that we couldn't be relegated. If the last few games are an indication of what to expect next season then we will be in a relegation battle. Our "defensive" midfield just let players run through and once they get within shooting distance of our goal our defence is wide open to anyone with an accurate shot whereas our attacking midfield and strikers seem to be able to find the opposition gk or defenders or miss the goal rather than the net.
We did improve after QPR's second goal but it was not a surprise that scoring twice proved beyond us even when against 10 men. I was also disappointed to see Britt come on and as usual he added nothing. I would have preferred to have seen Coburn come on even if the result was the same.
I did enjoy my Greek takeaway and managed (just) to keep to 1/2 bottle of Rioja. I expect to need the other 1/2 when we play Rotherham who must see this game as their best chance of 3 points.
Away to Rotherham on Wednesday. Will that be 3 successive defeats in the space of 11 days to clubs formerly managed by Neil Warnock? I mentioned a few days ago that Boro may not win again this season, and its looking quite likely now especially as the Owls are desperate for points. I wouldn’t be surprised if Derby go down now.
Like Barnsley I would be happy to give Rotherham the three points in their battle to survive and to see Derby and Wednesday go down. With that in mind I hope Warnock starts with Britt up front, Spence wide Right and Bettenelli in goal.
Just listened to the NW post match press conference where he talked about three or four players who don't want to be here! He said it was his job to get them out so it may not just be those whose contracts are up. Sounds to me as if all is not hunky dory at MFC.
He was clearly frustrated and it was interesting to hear him being critical of some of the things that we often comment on, such as players being offside when they can look along the line, taking short corners when you are chasing the game! He also criticised JS for losing his man and allowing the QPR player to score the header for the second goal. 😎