One thing that became apparent after watching the Mansfield game was
“BORO NEED A NEW KEEPER!”
OFB
I wasn’t a bit surprised that Hartlepool beat Blackpool, that’s the 5th time that Pools have beaten a team from a higher division this season but the first against a Championship club. Jeff Stelling in his last season presenting Gillette Soccer Saturday went completely berserk when the final whistle went at the Vic this afternoon “bring on Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, etc, “ followed that with “well perhaps not Man City”. He didn’t mention Boro though, but then showed highlights of the Boro v Chesterfield match from 1997. I suppose Boro were as lucky today against Mansfield as they were against Chesterfield in the first match. I did advocate recently to be in favour of League One and League Two clubs having the choice or venue when drawn against Premier League clubs as it would spice up the FA Cup nowadays, though Pools don’t seem to worry about who their opponents might be in Cup competitions this season.
Anyway with Coventry beating Derby today, Boro’s next home match against City would have to be rearranged anyway whether Boro won or lost today, so I’ll take today’s win in preference to a defeat.
I know I shouldn't laugh and schadenfreude isn't clever but richest club in the world 0 cambridge utd 1
I know I shouldn't laugh and schadenfreude isn't clever but richest club in the world 0 cambridge utd 1
And Sunderland failed to win at Wycombe with the Chairboys equalising 8 minutes into added time. But as well as Boro and Pools winning let’s give a thumbs up to Darlington who won their National League North match 6-0 albeit to second from bottom Farsley Celtic. I can’t remember the Quakers winning by such a margin especially away from home.
Boyd-Munce talked to Paddy before joining as they both grew up in the same area of Belfast and have met up at Irish Squads.
Paddy and Gorgeous George spoke to BM about how the fans were great at Boroand how great the training facilities were. Paddy told him it was brilliant to be at the Boro and BM at his Boro press conference couldn’t contain his enthusiasm to get going and celebrated his debut today with a goal and a win !
OFB
I'd be amazed if Caolan and Paddy grew up in the same area of Belfast. Caolan comes from the Turf Lodge area which is Nationalist and Paddy I believe is from Ballyclare and a staunch Rangers supporter. If true then one of them had a death wish. Ironically away from local politics the commonality of coming from the same part of the world despite the local differences does often create a cultural bond which sadly is virtually impossible back in their homeland.
One thing that became apparent after watching the Mansfield game was
“BORO NEED A NEW KEEPER!”
OFB
I haven't felt comfortable with any of our Keepers since Randolph went and even then he had the odd aberration in him from time to time.
The opening quarter of an hour had me settling in, comfortably expecting a cricket score but young legs soon tired and the amount of new faces soon exposed by a determined Mansfield side that had nothing to lose after going two down. Fair play to Nigel Clough's charges as they accounted for themselves very well.
The lack of understanding from Boro was understandable given the wholesale changes but there were a few glimmers of hope in seeing Kokolo showing some French Flair and Gibson steady away on the opposite side. I thought Wood looked a little off the pace and rusty after sitting on the Hibs bench for half a season. Boyd-Munce looked to be well up for it and put in a heck of a lot of effort which impressed considering he will have known next to nothing about his team mates barring Paddy.
It wasn't convincing in any way but we ground it out and what a star Jones is fast becoming, talismanic doesn't even begin to describe him.
The statement of living nearby Paddy was quoted by Caolan in his video conference presser on Boro Website.
OFB
The icing on the cake is that the cambridge player who scored against the mags is from Middlesbrough 🙂
Ian Ironsides son who played for Boro and made his debut when we beat wolves at their ground in 92 to get promotion !
OFB
@original-fat-bob. Glad it’s not just me but for a while now I have thought that all the current keepers are not Championship quality. They are all error prone and likely to make at least one serious error every game.
Rather than spend a lot of money on an untried, at this level, teenage forward why not see if we can get Darren Randolph back from the Hammers, even if only on loan; I don’t think he is even making the bench these days.
His shot saving will probably earn more points than the goals scored by the lad from Arsenal. 😎
couldn’t agree more - I know it may have been a one off performance but the Cambridge goalkeeper today was certainly special.
Surely there’s a solid goalkeeper out there. We need a Randolph type goalie.
The 2 senior goalie’s we have are consistent- always likely to drop a clanger of conceding a soft goal which can then change the game. It can’t be good playing in front of either of them.
Philip of Huddersfield
Ps - the locals here ( Huddersfield) are on a high with victory over Burnley- that’s 6 games unbeaten.
Philip of Huddersfield
Ikpeazu - is this guy not appreciated/ unfairly underrated?
His goal today was created all by him and finished in style. A stunning goal.
if that goal had been scored by eg Lakaku , or another top Premiership forward, then the pundits would be raving about it.
Philip of Huddersfield
Having watched every FA Cup match on the BBC iplayer I must say that the time given for every match was excellent. I wish that the beeb could do that for all EFL matches because I’ve given up watching Quest as sometimes if one blinks one misses the occasional goal. Also the time wasted by the self-opinionated Colin Murray and his cronies is so irritating and embarrassing in my opinion.
One thing that became apparent after watching the Mansfield game was
“BORO NEED A NEW KEEPER!”
OFB
Conditions weren't easy but he always seems to have a mistake in him. I don't think that it's any coincidence that CW brough Brynn back from QOS where he has been brilliant. I wouldn't be surprised if Lumley gets rested and then it's a question of which keeper gets the chance to play.
UTB
@selwynoz I would like Brynn to be given a chance. Finally we have a manager who will play young players if they are good enough. Like yesterday. Unlike Pulis or Warnock.
Up the Boro!
Somehow, the unbeaten run continues. I think the match showed two things. One is that the most important thing Wilder has installed is belief; this is two games in a row where we have conceded late but gone up the other end and scored. So many previous managers would have us trying to prevent them from scoring a third. The second is the importance of a settled formation and style of play; we had a lot of players out and a lack of time to train but at least the players coming in knew what they were supposed to be doing.
One of the things that surprised with Warnock is that he never settled on a formation and team.
I do get the impression from this game that Wilder doesn't rate any of our U23s. The ones that look to have the most potential (Malley, Coburn, Wood, Gibson, Kokolo, Brynn) don't get near the pitch except in emergencies and are first to be removed. In the meantime he seems to be sourcing young players from other teams.
Next stop on the Wilder Express: home to Reading. With any luck we'll have the covid outbreak back under control. Reading are a good footballing side on a bad run so this is a new kind of test for us: can we beat a team we are expected to beat at home? Win and we start to look like we can sustain a playoff challenge. Lose or draw and the doubts start to creep back in. Regardless, this is the most I've enjoyed watching us play since Mowbray's golden patch. (Under AK, there were some good dominant games but there was always stress and frustration watching us camping in our own half.)
Compared to Lumley and Daniels I'm wondering if Brad Jones and Brad Guzan were perhaps unfairly vilified by Boro fans. I don't think so or at least not yet but its a fine line becoming finer by the week. As bad as they are I don't think we will be hearing Boro fans chanting for the Referee to send our own keeper off, at least not yet.
Boro and Pools have earned £82,000 for reaching the 4th Round of the FA Cup. It’s maybe a drop in the ocean for Boro, but for the likes of Hartlepool, Boreham Wood and Kidderminster it might seem like manna from heaven.
I see that ‘Gentleman’ George Friend was sent off yesterday for two yellow card offences. I can’t recall his ever being sent off in his career with Boro. Can anyone enlighten me?
Diasboro thoughts on this please:
Come on BORO.
Whilst I sympathise with the sentiments of the letter it should also be noted that failure to reach the playoffs by Boro and not competing at the higher reaches of the league also affected the mental well being of Middlesbrough Supporters.
A lot of fans have been lost over the past few years never to return and we can see that on our own blog as contributors and followers have decreased over the years due to apathy and a feeling that the club has been sliding downwards into oblivion.
If the situation was that Derby fans had to write and support the Boro in a similar situation would they reciprocate? Did any other clubs fans support the Boro when we were deducted three points and as a consequence were relegated?
Personally I shall leave this to Steve Gibson and his executive team and reports that Derby have had an offer of £50m from Mike (ex Mr Newcastle) to buy Derby should resolve the problem.
OFB
2015
So, it's either Villa Park or Old Trafford for Boro.
Aston Villa and Man United play tomorrow night, so all eyes on that one to see where Boro are next. Either way, big draw.
I had hoped a home draw against a lesser team 🤔. Let's hope the Wilder team will bring a surprice! But everything is possible in the Cup.
The United vs. Villa match will be played tomorrow. Up the Boro.
@original-fat-bob. Excellent response OFB.
I for one do not want to see another club go to the wall but do not beleive that this situation is purely down to the actions of MFC; as you say this is one for the MFC Executive to decide on and without pressure from Boro supporters. 😎
As ever it’s the fans that suffer. Charles Amer sailed close to the wind with Boro and George Reynolds was the reason for the demise of Darlington. I have some sympathy with the Derby fans who have been hoodwinked by a notorious criminal, but what can Middlesbrough FC do about it now. I also reserve more sympathy for Bury who coincidentally thrashed Derby County 6-0 in the 1903 FA Cup Final.
Let’s not forget either that Middlesbrough FC reneged on a deal with Ironopolis in 1893 that spelt the demise of the Nops and for many years thereafter earned the current Boro club the name of The Scabs. Thankfully that is all in the past and Boro now have a chairman who is a philanthropist to the people of Teesside.
By the way a great draw for Boro in the FA Cup before a crowd of some 75,000 if it’s at Old Trafford and a great chance of beating a dysfunctional Man Utd. However Aston Villa would probably be a harder task as the FA Cup is all they have to play for this season.
Neither Man Utd nor Villa will be an easy game but think of the share of the revenue from either.
@exmil I think we all feel their pain, but given SG’s commitment and the financial support he’s personally provided, I can see why he wants his pound of flesh.
As others have said, I’ll leave it to the club to decide how they proceed. In Gibson, we trust.