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EFL Cup: Boro v Bar...
 

EFL Cup: Boro v Barnsley

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It's been often said in recent times that the cup is merely a distraction in comparison with the business of picking up points in the league but the Carabao Cup is in danger of being not even that. The first round of the competition began as a pseudo pre-season friendly and the second round has seemingly assumed it's normal status as a pseudo reserve fixture as Neil Warnock has indicated that he'll use the game to give his youngsters and fringe players some pitch time.

We should bear in mind that this is not a calculated gamble based on our opponents being weaker League Two opposition but they are in fact another Championship outfit in the shape of Barnsley, who are managed by the impressive Gerhard Struber. The Austrian coach is apparently looking forward to the challenge at the Riverside and sees the game as an opportunity for his players to stake their claim in his First XI following their 1-0 opening home defeat against Luton - whether that means he'll also be making wholesale changes as well wasn't intimated but it's unclear if he'll break with tradition and take the competition seriously.

OK, both managers may have had their team selection decisions influenced by the organisers (I use the term loosely) decision to have removed any potential excitement of indulging supporters with a third-round draw by impatiently running their algorithm to reveal who the real TV clubs of interest will be playing. As it happens the winners of this low-profile fixture have the prize of a trip to Stamford Bridge where Chelsea's squad players will probably nine times out ten ease past lower-league opposition. Both Warnock and Struber know that big six clubs now have 22 first-team players and perhaps have already factored in likely defeat - indeed an EFL Cup upset for managers not expecting to win the competition is getting through to the next round.

So it's with this backdrop of seemingly managers or indeed competition organisers not being particularly bothered about the early rounds of the Carabao Cup that somehow the supporters should show a keen interest or display mild excitement - especially if you add to the equation that they can't even anticipate having a day out at Stamford Bridge thanks to the empty Covid stadiums.

Basically, the EFL Cup has become a competition that hardly anybody cares about until it's down to the usual suspects in the final rounds. Does anyone even remember who was in the final last time - OK, it's generally a safe bet to assume Manchester City were as they've won four of the last five finals - including that unforgettable showcase final in 2019 against Chelsea that ended 0-0 after extra time that they eventually won on penalties.

However, the tie against Barnsley may have some passing matters of interest for Boro followers with the possibility of seeing (or probably just hearing about) the debut of our new Egyptian midfield protector in Sam Morsy - who will hopefully be the antithesis of another big player for Boro (some would say huge) and fellow countryman Mido. Anyway, let's hope he's more in the Leadbitter mould and proves to be a player who can provide the steel and leadership that has been missing since Grant's departure.

Other than that it perhaps provides a chance for a few others to impress enough to sway Warnock that they deserve a start or at least 15 minutes off the bench at the weekend. Still, I dare say there may even be a few non-cynics on Teesside (there are few) who are looking forward to the game and hopefully winning a place in the next round against Frank Lampard's Chelsea - some may even be anticipating pulling off a shock win at Stamford Bridge - though I imagine Neil Warnock is not one of them!

 


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Thanks Werder.

The prize of Chelsea in the next round is no prize at all this year given that our share of the gate receipts will be 50% of nothing. No wonder changes will be made to the starting XI.

With Bola, Coulson, Morsy, Wing and Browne all set to start, you would imagine it will be a change of formation tonight. A shame when you're trying to bed-in a way of playing in. Aitor Karanka would very rarely change shape and whilst that must have made us easy to predict, it largely turned out to be a strength. No such thinking so far with Neil Warnock, though admittedly he has so little to play with in his squad.

I hope that Wing and Coulson in particular take their opportunity to impress as well as Morsy of course. However, I like the way Barnsley play and was surprised when they were beaten by Luton at the weekend. Indeed, I had Barnsley down as possibly one to watch out for this season.

I'm not particularly optimistic about the result but there would be far worse games to lose, frankly.


   
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It'll be interesting to see what team and formation. I think he may try to stick with 3 at the back. I think I would go with

Bettinelli

Fry Hall Wood

Spence Wing Morsy Bola

Browne Walker Coulson

I think Bettinell, Hall, Fry and Morsy all need game time. The rest need a chance to make a case. It does look like a reserve team but with the possible exception of Walker and Bola, everyone there needs to be good enough to start for the first team. 


   
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@deleriad I'd be happy with that as a way of keeping things similar to the league setup whilst giving others game time.


   
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I'd totally forgotten about the tie tonight such is my heightened enthusiasm for a game with no spectators and likely no coverage unless I fork out ten quid for a reserve fixture to see who gets to be the token Christian in the Stamford Bridge Colosseum in the next round.

An extremely rare bit of work in these Covid times means that I will be unable to source a dodgy stream, coverage or otherwise of tonight's thrilling encounter. That means no report from myself but I will be back typing furiously for Bournemouth this weekend!

I'm guessing that it will go to penalties with Boro losing thus avoiding the expenditure of a trip to London along with the hassle.


   
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I was impressed by the way that Struber  managed to get his bargain-basement team playing decent football last season, even when stuck, seemingly irretrievably at the foot of the table.

I put him up as someone the Boro might want to look at if the dream of the golden thread, the keystone of the club's new philosophy barely a year ago, wasn't yet entirely in tatters.  

So the main interest in tonight's game for me, aside from having a chance to look more closely at Morsy and some of the more peripheral squad members, will be to see the extent to which the two reserve teams reflect the somewhat different football 'philosophies' of the two coaches. And which proves to be the most effective on the night, and in the (uniquely unusual) circumstances. 


   
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Thanks Werder for your pre-match introduction which as always was an enjoyable read. 

I have coughed up my £10 and courtesy of VPN will be watching tonight with interest as to how our latest recruit shapes up.  Hopefully, as Werder has said,   more in the Leadbitter mould than the Mido one.  

I agree with Deleriad that the defence needs playing time together even to the extent NW plays the same back three as at Watford if that is his intention for the remainder of the season.

I hope that Wing gets 90 mins and makes an impact as I fear that he is destined to be a bench warmer under NW unless he starts to produce some of his early career performances.  CoB 😎


   
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After our recent Egyptian failed forays perhaps Morsy can be.......

The Shawkyshank Redemption....


   
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Andy R,

I'm with you, play the same structure, well unless we just have a team of full backs or creative midfielders. I thought not, but a win would be good for morale so I watch with interest.

UTB,

John


   
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Interesting reading Warnock's comments about not signing Roberts, in that he can't as he would need to play Roberts in a 4-4-2 and we don't have any defensive full-backs.  Clear then that he doesn't feel Spence, Coulson (or Johnson) can play a defensive full-back role very well.  He also indicated that he sees Wing as someone who can challenge for Tav's position rather than deeper.

He also seems to be of the '2 players per position' mould which we can see as:

GK - Bettinelli, Pears/Stojanovic

RWB - Spence, Folarin

LWB - Coulson, Johnson

CB - Fry, Dijksteel, Hall, Wood, Bola, McNair

CM - Howson, Saville, Morsy, Liddle

AM - Wing, Tavernier

ST - Fletcher, Britt, (Walker), ?

So it's obvious why he is targeting strikers as this does seem where we are light.


   
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Team tonight I reckon

Bettinelli

Wood, Fry, Bola

Coulson, Folarin

Morsy, Saville

Wing

Britt, Fletcher

Subs

Pears

Dijksteel

Johnson

Liddle

Tav

McNair

Walker

 


   
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@borophil I think Browne will be involved and Spence to give him something to get his teeth into. I wouldn't be surprised if Hall also starts with the aid of some WD-40.


   
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@redcarred I knew I'd forgotten someone - yes, would expect Browne to player - maybe in the Tav role or instead of one of the front 2.   I'd expect Britt to play regardless.


   
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Team

This post was modified 4 years ago by grovehillwallah

   
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interesting, looks a back 4?


   
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@borophil.  Agree.  Midfield width from Browne and Coulson with Tav & Fletch up front or Tav in the 10 role. 😎


   
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4-1-4-1. ?


   
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listening to Warnock pre-match about Pears 'crying off yesterday' and Stojanovic being ill as well, I'm not convinced he thinks either of them are particularly poorly.

 


   
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0-1 after 22 minutes...  Here we go again!


   
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I see that the club mantra has changed  “ It is what it is“ being replaced by, “We are what we are”

This post was modified 4 years ago by grovehillwallah

   
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Posted by: @stircrazy

0-1 after 22 minutes...  Here we go again!

Make that 0-2 after 34 minutes...  🙁

 


   
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I've been hard at work all day on my latest 'project' (hopefully the last outdoor one) re-laying 5-stone paving slabs in the rather blistering heat of 30 degrees (timing is everything). Anyway, it had escaped my attention that it was a 6pm kick-off this evening - though wasn't planning on watching this one and now we're 2-0 down it perhaps was just as well!

The worrying thing is that looking at the line-up neither the midfield or central defence was on paper that weak in terms of who we may have expected to start this season. Thankfully, it doesn't look like our 'B-team' will be tested at Stamford Bridge...

This post was modified 4 years ago by werdermouth

   
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I only hope that this is Barnsley’s first team we are watching.

They are giving Boro a lesson in football passing against our continued from Friday, “hoof ball”. 
And to boot, ten quid for this rubbish.


   
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@pedro

Looking at Saturday's teamsheet, Strauber has made six changes from those who started against Luton - compared to Boro who have made seven changes.

This post was modified 4 years ago by werdermouth

   
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well this is dire.   have to agree with Maddison on the wing-backs, can't see the point in playing Coulson on the right.  

Certainly no-one making a case for a place in the team at this point.


   
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If Woodgate had started Coulson as a right wing back we would be raging at his incompetence.  Fundamentally we have no idea how to attack and haven't since Karanka went into his shell after Norwich. Playing Coulson as a RWB isn't the answer.

I would like to see us go 4-2-3-1 with these players or take off Bola, move Coulson across at put McNair on as RWB. 


   
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Pedro de Espana
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@werdermouthThat just makes it worse!!!


   
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Vic's verdict on the second half:

HT: Hints in the first 10, but then Barnsley stepped up a gear & twice have easily carved creaky defence open with sharp moves to score at near post. Boro WB too deep, no creativity, movement, penetration up front. Stodgy.

Same old, same old...


   
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Paddy McNair on for Dijksteel at the start of the second half.  Was NW listening to deleriad?


   
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