BEE-LINE FOR THE PLAY OFFS
Boro Vs Brentford
So, when Saturday comes, it will be the start of what Neil Warnock hopes will be a sustained charge up the table into the playoff positions of the Championship. Hopefully, this will happen to a Manager who has experienced more promotions than any other in the English game and has now brought in squad additions who also know how to get to the Premiership.
Neeskens Kebano in the late (very, very, late) hours of the transfer deadline, coupled with the signings of Yannick Bolasie and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has injected some experience and skill into the Boro forward line.
Kebano has that bit of craft and skill from dead ball situations that the fans have been craving for. He has been on our target listthroughout January and it finally came to fruition on Monday. Fulham originally signed the 28-year-old player from Genk four and a half years ago and has made more than 90 appearances for them. I fully expect that if his transfer proves to be a success then the move will be made permanently.
He is a DR Congo international and a teammate of Britt Assombalonga and Yannick Bolasie, so hopefully all these players should quickly gel into an attacking force. The additions of Kebano and Yannick Bolasie will certainly add a great deal of proven Championship quality to what is an already talented side.
Nathanial Mendez-Laing is another player who has experienced promotion at this level and in his final game for the Bluebirds,scored two goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford. A player who has been described as having “issues” and whilst rumours abound on twitter, his initial contract until the end of the season gives him a chance to rebuild his career. He could have no better chance of a new start than under the guiding arm around his shoulder from his former manager Neil Warnock. The Cardiff fans loved the silky skills of this player and quite an outcry went up when his contract was terminated.
The departures of Patrick Roberts, Wing and Wood were not unexpected and whilst Roberts is undoubtedly a talented player,his skills are not what we need in the grind of the Championship. Wing appears to have lost his way a bit this season and hopefully the regular playing of games will help him to get back on track, as I think there is undoubtedly a player there just waiting to come out. Wood of course has time on his side and this loan spell will help him to mature as a man and as a player and I look forward to seeing him next season in the next stage of his development. A lot of people were disappointed that we did not swap out our centre forward during this transfer window and if he knuckles down the service he will get from his fellow international team mates should help him get his move come the summer by scoring goals.
Exciting times await, for Diasboro bloggers and the other Middlesbrough faithful, as the club integrates it’s new signings into the squad ready for our game at home with high flying Brentford on Saturday. I expect Kebano and Bolasie to start the game with Brit linking up in the middle.
Brentford have been fairly quiet on the transfer front signing West Ham's Winston Reid who has been loaned out to the EFL Championship league club for the remainder of the season. He hasn't played Premier League football for West Ham since injuring his knee in 2018 and the defender had previously been linked to a potential move to Premier League champions Liverpool before signing.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been quoted as saying that “Reid brings experience to the centre back position, filling in for injured players.”
As part of their desire to have an active youth conveyor belt of talent they have also signed Former Pompey Academy 18-year-old youngster Ethan Robb and have an impressive record of selling to Premiership clubs.
The last time Boro played Brentford this season which resulted in a 0 0 draw the Brentford team was as follows:
David Raya: Rico Henry: Ethan Pinnock: Henrik Dalsgaard:Mads Bech Sorensen: Mathias Jensen: Josh Dasilva: Vitaly Janelt: Bryan Mbeumo: Sergi Canos: Ivan Toney:
The comments from the home press was that Johnny Howson was outstanding on that day and hopefully will be again on Saturday.
I would personally settle for another “eyeballs in the sky” for this game what does everyone else think?
OFB
Great pre-match intro, thanks OFB.
I have just completed the EG predictor to the end of March and unfortunately we are still in 7th place, 6 points behind Watford with Norwich as champions and Brentford promoted in second place.
I would gladly take a ⚽ - ⚽ against a team who are flying. I think we have the ability to shut them out but still lack a cutting edge until the new boys are fully integrated.
Whilst I am looking forward to the remainder of the season I just hope that we can hang onto NW for another season if we miss out this time, as I believe he is developing a squad that perhaps could compete for a top spot the season after. CoB 😎
OFB,
I think we need an 'eyeballs' T-Shirt for you. And Jim-jams, a towel and a Onesy, we could even turn OFB into an 'Eyeballs brand! Seriously though I think this will be a harder match than Norwich and it's at, ahem, 'Fortress Riverside'.
No predictions from me yet, I need to check the tealeaves, burst teabags, goose entrails and Mystic Meg. Not forgetting the beer froth on the side of my glass, the more froth there is the clearer the signs become. I think our daughter calls them beer goggles.
Seriously though, a hard game coming up and with Mr Warnock's astute signings, when they're match fit, I feel hopeful again. That in itself is worrying.
Stay safe everyone.
UTB,
John
Great opener to get us kicked off OFB in what hopefully will become the dawning of a new era for Boro.
Ordinarily a 0-0 would be regarded as a reasonable and even decent result but we need points now. We messed up those supposed "gimme" fixtures so on the back of the Norwich game last Saturday we now have to take heart and push on in order to climb into the top six.
I'm going for a 2-0 win to Boro.
The departures of Patrick Roberts, Wing and Wood were not unexpected and whilst Roberts is undoubtedly a talented player,his skills are not what we need in the grind of the Championship. Wing appears to have lost his way a bit this season and hopefully the regular playing of games will help him to get back on track, as I think there is undoubtedly a player there just waiting to come out.
I was going to post that it would be interesting to see the outcome of the Rotherham vs Derby match in case either Wing or Roberts (or both) was (were) pitched in for their debuts for respective new teams, but I see that the match has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Thanks for an opener that is the bees knees ofb.
RR is right. We need more than draws now. I expect this is s great opportunity for us. Typical Boro does mean losing to the stragglers then giving it to the high flyers.
I am going to go 3-1 to Boro, and the 1 to them is only because I have no confidence in our keeper!
Jordan Rhodes scores in the 90th minute to give the Wendies a 2-1 away win over Bournemouth! Meanwhile, Millwall held the Canaries to a goalless draw at the Den...
At a stroke, that Bournemouth result has put us three points closer to the playoffs. If we’re realistic, we’re probably battling for sixth spot and, with so many teams losing unexpectedly or drawing games that they should win, something a little over 1.5 points a game could get us there.
I’d take the eyeballs on Saturday. On current form, Brentford are possibly the best team in the division and would be level with Norwich if they win their games in hand. They have an interesting game with Bristol City tonight who are one of our position 6 competitors and I’d be happy to see Brentford win.
We need momentum from not losing games and drawing successive games against the top two teams in the division would be a good start.
UTB
Middlesbrough's promotion rivals Bournemouth sack manager Jason Tindall just days after Jonathan Woodgate joins Cherries coaching team
Middlesbrough’s promotion rivals Bournemouth have sacked manager Jason Tindall following a 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
I wrote the same news elsewhere on the site, too!
I ask again. No info who takes over yet. Woodgate, anyone?
Up the Boro!
Well done OFB. It’s not easy to take up the mantle of Werdermouth and Redcar Red. It’s the research that takes up probably 90% of the time to produce a good blog, especially if one is not feeling 100%, I find that posting it is the easy part.
As for Stircrazy he might get his wish to see whether Wing or Roberts make their debuts as the game has been rescheduled for this evening weather permitting. That’s one slight advantage about spectatorless matches, postponed matches can be rescheduled quickly as there is no police presence.
I must admit that I hadn’t heard of any of Boro’s acquisitions except Bolasie as I’m not ‘au fait’ with many of today’s players as I was of those 20 or even 60 years ago, but it would appear that Neil Warnock has done well with his acquisitions. The squad looks stronger now, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to forecast match results not only in the Championship, but throughout all four divisions and the fact that matches are now devoid of spectators may have a large bearing on that. Suddenly Bournemouth can’t find a win anywhere and have now sacked their manager after only 6 months and have come within Boro’s range. Those two little words ‘if only’ now reappear, especially for Bournemouth as well as Boro. To still be in 7th position after 3 successive home defeats defies logic.
Our next opponents Brentford are now on a very long unbeaten run in the Championship, as are Norwich and as were Burnley when they were promoted. Such long unbeaten runs are rare, especially in a season like this. The Bees surely have to lose sometime and hopefully that will occur this weekend, so it’s a 2-1 win for Boro from me.
Thank you for starting the thread - a golden gesture, even! Yes, as Ken said, the research and planning is 80 % of the time, rest is writing. And pressing the 'ADD REPLY' button about 0,01 %.
I think this is a no-braner for a result. RR said 2-0. I will add that those will be scored by Britt. We will - hopefully - give him and Watmore more service now.
I just hope we start our own unbeaten run now. If the wobble is over. Or do you still have any Xnas decorations on on Teesside?
Up the Boro!
A new player signing for Boro today!
Attacking midfielder Malik Dijksteel has signed a contract with the club until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old, younger brother of Boro defender Anfernee, has impressed while on trial at Rockliffe.
Up the Boro!
Lightning strikes twice? As long as Bournemouth don't poach our current manager.
Plus anther interesting signing.
Stay safe,
UTB,
John
Thanks Ken
Redcar Red and I had a chat about the pre match blog as I didn’t want to overload him with all the work.
We are very conscious of the overload that Werder felt about running and maintaining something that could take over a great part of the day when other work dictates priority.
Redcar Red and I will probably try and share the previews as the games come thick and fast.
We’ve also discussed that we would welcome other bloggers to contribute if they would like to do a piece as we do not wish to appear to be monopolising the blog.
This is a nice forum to be part of and over the last few years we have grown in our virtual reality world with real friendships established.
This could turn out to be a momentous season for Boro as Warnock himself has said
“No manager likes to play my teams in the play offs”
OFB
I’m expecting this weeks game to be one of the most difficult as Brentford are the form team and Boro have failed to score in 4 out of the last 5 games. Injuries to Tavernier in particular, and also Browne don’t help.
You will say we’ve got 3 new forwards but I’d have to say that we can’t expect a lot from them until they are match fit.
Having said that Boro have surprised us in the past and so , who knows what Saturday will bring.
Philip of Huddersfield
You will say we’ve got 3 new forwards but I’d have to say that we can’t expect a lot from them until they are match fit.
We have the benefit of five subs at the moment that can be used. I would guess that we can get forty five minutes out of most of them or at least a last twenty or thirty minute cameo. Johnson and Kebano on each wing to start with then Watmore/Bolasie/Spence/NML to come on at some point in the second half. NML won't be match fit but I'm sure he could do a twenty minute run out if he has been keeping in shape.
Just to get it out of the way, have we failed to sell Britt? Now to the new Boys, they please me, like the idea of brothers in the squad, like the signing from Cardiff, if the Supporters were unhappy with his departure that pleases me even more. Someone was said to very good at dead ball situations, we had one who was better than that, unfortunately he had trouble getting the ball off Britt. Still he will a help to his loan team.
Lightning strikes twice? As long as Bournemouth don't poach our current manager.
Plus anther interesting signing.
Stay safe,
UTB,
John
Why? They already have Woodgate there 😜. UTB!
Official:
AFC Bournemouth can confirm that Jonathan Woodgate will take temporary charge of the first team, following the departure of manager Jason Tindall.
Woodgate, who has previous managerial experience at Middlesbrough, will oversee training and lead the team on Saturday for the Sky Bet Championship home fixture against Birmingham City.
Up the Boro!
Previous managerial experience? Hmmm. Maybe they spotted something Boro didn't?
Stay safe everyone.
UTB,
John
Apparently Woodgate is a front runner to be appointed the manager on a permanent basis .....
OFB
Warnock had a former player to thank for bringing Mendez-Laing to his attention, for the boss received what proved to be a superb tip-off about the forward - as revealed in Dominic Booth's book 'My Kind of Club: The inside story of Neil Warnock's Cardiff City'.
Below is an extract about Mendez-Laing's arrival at Cardiff in the summer of 2017, how the move came about and the forward's immediate impact.
The pre-season tour gave supporters the first glimpse of new signings: goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who had signed from Walsall and Rochdale respectively, as well as French midfielder Loic Damour, a complete unknown quantity, and former Rotherham striker Danny Ward. These were not marquee names who particularly excited fans, but they would become integral parts of the Warnock project.
I remember when I was at QPR, I signed Shaun Derry and Clint Hill,” says Warnock. “And the QPR fans said: 'Who the hell are these also-rans?
And it was similar here: ‘Who the hell is Mendez-Laing? He got released from Wolves, he's been playing at Rochdale' and Etheridge from Walsall."
Warnock had been eyeing both players since the previous January window. And they weren’t opportunistic bargains, despite both signing on free transfers; they were the result of some diligent background and scouting work, thanks to Warnock’s wide web of football contacts.
Kevin Blackwell, a former goalkeeper himself, had identified Etheridge as an option between the posts, while Warnock was tipped off by one of his loyal former players, Christian Short — who’d played under him at Scarborough, Notts County and Huddersfield — about Mendez-Laing.
"We did our homework on those players,” Warnock adds.
"Even when we weren't working, Blacky [Blackwell] and Ronnie Jepson had been looking at certain players.
“Christian, one of my old players who's [a fitness coach] at Oxford now, rang me and said 'I've seen a player for you, whenever you get a club, Mendez-Laing'. He said I'd love him.”
It was rarely straightforward for Warnock in the transfer market at Cardiff, however, and even some elements of these understated deals proved tricky.
Mendez-Laing and his agent were en route to Wigan Athletic when the call came from Warnock. Following a very literal u-turn and the promise of a better salary, he eventually became a Cardiff player.
He hit the ground running instantly in Warnock's Bluebirds side.
He and Etheridge had forced their way into the first choice side, which Warnock only made slight adjustments to during the first five games. The likes of Omar Bogle, Danny Ward and Lee Tomlin had arrived as new forward options, but couldn’t get a run of games as Cardiff went on an immediate winning streak.
Mendez-Laing — who came off the bench at Burton — scored twice against Aston Villa, embarrassing former England captain John Terry for one goal. He also scored in the Sheffield United win and against Portsmouth in a 2-1 League Cup victory, as well as a stunning strike in a 2-1 away win at promotion favourites Wolves, tearing Nuno Espirito Santo's side apart.
"Mendez was unbelievable that day,” Greg Halford says, remembering the Villa game.
“When he was focussed solely on football, there weren't many players who could defend against him in that league. It's just that focus that you need to get into him. He has the ability to do whatever he wants and that day against Aston Villa, he showed what he can do."
Mendez-Laing, who had come through the Wolves academy as a youngster before dropping down the divisions, now had five goals in four Cardiff starts.
"The penny has finally dropped with him," former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo told Channel 5’s highlights show that night.
"He was a young boy at Wolves when I was there and you could see the quality but it just wasn't consistent. And he's done what a lot of players do, they go down the levels and it sinks in. [Cardiff] know the qualities they've got and he's delivering."
He was a revelation and a crucial part of a new all-action Cardiff City team, which fans adored.
Above is an extract from 'My Kind of Club: The inside story of Neil Warnock's Cardiff City', by Dominic Booth.
OFB
Apparently Woodgate is a front runner to be appointed the manager on a permanent basis .....
OFB
It's an interesting development.
Harry is pushing for John Terry while the fans are wanting Frank Lampard. Maybe Bournemouth's backers are preparing for a budget Bournemouth period. Must admit I'm surprised that they have handed it to Woodgate so soon after arriving but it appears that he remarked about how quiet their Dressing Room was with a lack of characters. Maybe it struck a chord with the Director's as well as it did with Tindall himself just before he was axed.
I suspect they will give him a few games to see if he has the same effect as "Temporary Thompson" at Wednesday.
The departures of Patrick Roberts, Wing and Wood were not unexpected and whilst Roberts is undoubtedly a talented player,his skills are not what we need in the grind of the Championship. Wing appears to have lost his way a bit this season and hopefully the regular playing of games will help him to get back on track, as I think there is undoubtedly a player there just waiting to come out.
I was going to post that it would be interesting to see the outcome of the Rotherham vs Derby match in case either Wing or Roberts (or both) was (were) pitched in for their debuts for respective new teams, but I see that the match has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Match played this evening instead. Wing got on as a sub in the 68th minute & Roberts in the 72nd. The Millers won by 3-0.
Weird night in the Premiership. Who would have picked five away wins in those games? I’m glad to see that Brentford won and stopped Bristol City from moving up.
It will be interesting to see what NW does with the new players against Brentford . It probably depends just how they come through training this week. It may also depend on whether he fancies not losing to Brentford. Maybe a conservative start with the intention of unleashing some pace in the last twenty minutes.
UTB
I think Kebano will definitely start with possibly Bolasie in the middle supported by Watmore on the right playing as a number 10.
Fisher will also probably start as right back and the other usual suspects in all other positions
OFB
@Original Fat Bob
I don't disagree with you about Kebano but I wonder quite how he and Watmore fit into the same team. Kebano may well, ultimately, be used pulling the strings at the head of a midfield diamond with Mendez Laing on the right. However, in the short term, I could see Bolasie on the left and Kebano on the right with Assombalonga up top or even Watmore as a kind of false number nine.
UTB
Nice that we have options now. It will definately be an interesting afternoon - who will start in the more creative positions?
Only Howson is a must in midfield. And we have no clue about the front line. We can be pretty sure about the back four and the goalie for the time being.
I like it now. We have enough players bar defence perhaps.
Up the Boro!