Every time I see that club badge I think to myself...... what was wrong with the old one, and who thought the new one was any good? Never mind better. It’s when you see it next to other club’s badges you realise how rubbish it is.
My missus is baking today so I will quite literally be able to mumble through my crumble during tonight's game.
I think you've missed out the more likely grumble...
I won't be able to watch or even listen to tonight's game as one of my best mate's mother gave birth 60 years ago with absolutely no thought whatsoever for the Boro fixture list in 2020. As a direct consequence I will now be involved in 60th birthday celebrations with him, wining and dining in local hostelries (unselfishly trying my utmost to reboot the local economy in the process) albeit there will probably be more lager involved than anything else.
I am however unusually optimistic that with the current spirit in the Boro camp, Neil Warnock will be taking this game as a serious friendly against lower League opposition. If this week's thrashing of the running scared Geordies is anything to go by I am most definitely not expecting a Crewe or Newport type debacle but then again there is always the shadow of "Typical Boro". 4-1 to Boro with Britt getting a brace, Fletcher and Hall.
And is Fry available? From all accounts he was quarantining.
I read that Fry is now out of quarantine and available for selection but is unlikely to start since he hasn't been training with the squad.
Reading some of Neil Warnock's remarks in the pre-match press conference it sounds like he'll be fielding a strong side and will probably use all his subs (is it still five?).
It sounds like a happy camp judging by Warnock's comments and he sounds pleased with the way the players have performed in pre-season - particularly the strikers, which was demonstrated by this amusing quote:
"I’ve told them all that with the football they’ve been playing, if they’re not careful, they’re going to get me a bad reputation, I’m sure they’ll change that though and I’ll be able to kick it out of them."
Is it too soon to start contemplating 'free-scoring Boro' - it's not something we've seen since Diasboro started with goals being generally in short supply. It certainly would be ironic if it was Warnock who ends up producing an entertaining side for the supporters - though you're never too old to change...
I think you've missed out the more likely grumble...
That may well come after RR’s report....
If you can’t get a stream you could always watch Saville and McNair in action for N. Ireland.
@werdermouth. Hopefully we will hear something on passes for league matches next week.
Statement on MFC website as follows: " Further information about streaming of Boro's league fixtures will be publicised shortly, after the EFL confirmed that all league fixtures will be available for broadcast or streaming whilst access to matches is restricted." 😎
@werdermouth probably means a start for Stubbs or Wood then (or maybe both)
@borophil probably Wood as Warnock has been praising him but hasn't really mentioned Stubbs - though longer term he has been talking about McNair as performing like Bechenbauer in defence during pre-season
@werdermouth yes, from what he said I wouldn't be surprised to see McNair in the back 3 with Fry and Hall next week
I think you've missed out the more likely grumble...
That may well come after RR’s report....
If anyone fancies reporting on the game feel free. My diary has a pre arranged engagement which means I may catch the opening 20 minutes at best on Tees and then miss the rest of the game.
@lenmastermanas the Boro bumble ?
OFB
Team News...
team predictions?
I'm going with
Stojanovic
Hall, Dijksteel, Fry
Spence, Wing, Howson, Tav, Johnson
Britt, Fletcher
subs: Pears, Stubbs, Bola, Browne, Folarin, Coulson, Walker
😎
(obviously I would have gone Wood in for Coulson had I know he was injured 😀 )
You must be picking the team this season 🙂
Although I suspect it will be 4-4-2 with Dijksteel as RB and Spence playing in the wide roles with Tav.
Still top marks for team selection plus nearly a perfect bench!
Like that team selection (and well done BoroPhil). Very pleased to see Tav, Wing and Fletcher all in the starting line-up together at last.
I predict goals.
Britt the skipper this evening.
Interesting to see the contrast in the man-management of BA from our past three managers: Pulis regularly rebuked him, Woodgate bigged him up, Warnock appears to have gone a step further.
Will we finally see what we paid all that money for this season? The cynic might point to him being in the last year of his contract.
Just logged into MFC to watch tonight's match and noticed that you can purchase a seasonal audio pass to listen to all league games home and away but there is not any mention of video passes.
I also note that tonight's game is covered by only one camera whilst league games will be covered by four and on that basis £10 is, as Werder has mentioned, a bit over priced. 😎
KP at the moment I am just grateful I can watch the match.
Come on BORO.
if it's just one camera and limited replays then that is certainly overpriced.
If Britt scores 20 plus league goals this season and we're p-------* - all the money we've paid him will have been worth it. Admittedly it's the world's biggest 'if'. Almost as big as our newly streamline striker.
*Use all your skill and judgement to fill in the blanks..
4-3.....
Whats going on!
Final Score. Phew!