Thanks for the opener OFB.

I agree we need to grind out a result at the weekend. Only 4 clean sheets all season away from home and only one under CW. I wonder if Bamba will get a game to do some organising at the back. Interestingly Millwall in their draw at Blackburn had no shots in the whole game. Reading the reports they have a number of injuries as well. Not sure what the line up will be but CW does not have many options. I see that Coburn, Daniels and JLS all played for the U23's on Wednesday night as they beat Arsenal on penalties, so it would be doubtful that Josh will start on Saturday. apart from stopping goals we also need to score more and CW does not have a great record in the past of getting strikers to perform. At Sheffield he spent 40 million on Brewster and McBurnie who had good records when on loan at Swansea, Brewster 10 in 20 Mcburnie 22 in 42. This season and last Mcburnie has 1 in 42 and yes I know CW has not managed a number of those games. 

Thanks for opener and all those stats OFB. A good bit of research.

Nice to see the ⚽️-⚽️ are still with us and I suspect your pragmatic assessment could be a good one. 

However. I am going to go with the heart and I think that we will see Boro out to make amends for Tuesday. We know we can perform away from home. Think QPR and second half Barnsley and Bristol. SheffU could be seen as an aberration in that it was the full 90+ minutes we didn't perform. I can't believe CW will not have them fired up to be at Millwall from the start. 

A lot will depend on who is on the pitch at the start. I mentioned previously it might be good to see McGree in midfield, moving Crooks up front to partner Watmore.

MW suggests bringing in Bamba to manage the defence. That might give the opportunity to move McNair into midfield and give Houson a rest. Alternatively to the bench to be able to swap Houson out after 55 minutes.

I expect we will see an entirely different and convincing Boro performance, with victory by two clear goals.... 3-1 is the foam-fuelled prediction then.

CoB

Great Headliner OFB. Thank you.

There is not a lot CW can do with our limited squad with regards to changes, especially improving the starting eleven. 

We are still too reliant on the right and Jones. The midfield do not create sufficient opportunities. Watmore apart, the forwards have been disappointing. 
However as much as Tav has earned many plaudits on here for his work ethic, he undoubtedly does not contribute as much as Jones. That should be his benchmark if he is to attract suitors from bigger teams.

I have the Millwall game down as a home win. After Tuesday, we’ll what can one say.

Thanks OFB. This will tell us a lot about Wilder and the team. On paper there aren't many options to change things around. If Dijksteel and McGree are still absent then there's no real midfield cover and I think Lea Siliki may have gone off injured in the U23 game yesterday.

History says that Wilder will stick with the formation and his first choice players in an attempt to motivate them to play better. Generally he seems to drop players quietly rather than after having a go in public so I suspect that there will be minimal changes.

On the other hand, our performances away have followed a pattern and it's arguable that if he doesn't change the system that the pattern will stay the same. Wilder and Knill came up with the 3-5-2 overlapping centre backs formation to fit Sheff Utd's players: before that Wilder was a 4-2-3-1 man. I doubt he will go away from 3 at the back but he may switch things around more than we expect if it is something they have been working on. 

I don't have any real insight here but this is exactly the kind of thing that separates out the best managers from the also-rans. It's knowing what your best team actually is and giving the players the self-belief they need. 

My prediction: pretty much the same 11 and formation with Wilder putting an emphasis on being compact and defending strongly so I think this looks like an OFB special.

I’ve no idea what to expect on Saturday but I’m quietly hopeful of 3 points. 
I don’t see CW making many changes - the team has shown it can win games and we were so outplayed on Tuesday that he can’t change every player who underperformed. 
Many thanks for the opener OFB. 

Great opener, OFB. Top work.

I must be mellowing as I get older as the midweek defeat genuinely hasn’t stung for me. A couple of days reflection and I still think that Sheffield United were just irresistible on Tuesday night.

I agree with those above that think Wilder will go with the same XI, with the possible exception of Taylor coming back in. That would make sense if Millwall are strong down their right. If they’re good in the air and play a lot of long balls then it may make sense to start with Bamba as well but I’m not sure that Wilder will.

I would also start with Watmore as his pressing sets the right tone for us. Pressing may be less important against a team that plays long anyway but his energy and movement give us a dimension up front that we miss without him. I’d probably pair him with Sporar purely because that’s the only partnership we’ve seen gel once or twice at the top end this season.

I went for a draw in the Exmil Challange and I’ll stick with that. 1-1.

There’s one player for Millwall that I haven’t mentioned and that’s George Saville. He usually gets about 6 or 7 per game on average and has 1 goal scored this season.  But that’s exactly what he is - average.

No flashes of brilliance, no outstanding performances just steady. I suppose he is a Robbie Mustoe kind of performer the type a manager likes to know he will do the job for them game in and game out.

I must admit when I heard Boro were signing an £8m player I eagerly anticipated his arrival and was somewhat disappointed at his performance on the pitch. Even Neil Warnock said that he had offered £2m for the player and couldn’t believe Boro had paid so much money for him.

OFB

The former venue in the Isle of Dogs was aptly named as in fox hunting terms it resembled a crowd baying for blood against their opponents. That continued when they moved to New Cross at the Old Den where it seemed at times that the opposition including Boro were being thrown to the Lions. Surprisingly Boro have done rather well at the New Den against the Dockers with 5 wins and only 3 defeats in the last 9 visits. Who can forget that 5-1 win there in 2014, but that was during a period when Boro’s away form under Aitor Karanka was quite exceptional with 10 away wins in successive seasons as Boro finished in the playoffs in 4th position one year and automatically promoted the following season. 

However whilst a draw might be considered the best Boro can hope for on Saturday, it’s only wins that will help Boro at this stage of the season. Millwall like Boro don’t score many goals, but seem to have been invigorated by the return of George Saville in midfield and it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored the only goal of the match to finally sink Boro’s hopes of a playoff position as they sink to mid table which in reality is where I expect them to finish anyway.

Thanks OFB for your excellent informative opener. 

I don’t like losing but accept that it is part and parcel of the game. What concerns me more is the manner of the loss and Tuesday was particularly unpalatable for all the reasons you have highlighted.

I agree that the blades are a good side (I posted some weeks ago when they were lower mid table that they were the team most likely to push into the top six) and played well on the night but their performance was enhanced by the fact that we were so poor and uncompetitive.

The result on Tuesday was not entirely surprising as I am conscious of the fact that our wins/performances  away from home have hardly been totally convincing but thought we might at least battle to a draw.

I have this one down as a home win and given our recent away performances I can’t see any reason to change my view, as CW has limited personnel options and little time to come up with a plan B; I expect to see very much the same team struggling to come to terms with a direct and physical approach from Millwall.

George Saville scoring would really rub salt in the wounds and anything other than us getting three points would probably see our top six hopes extinguished. I know others say there is still much to play for but as games run out then failing to win leaves your fate in the hands of others and makes catching teams above you increasingly difficult as each week goes by. 

1-0 to Millwall but hoping it is the other way round; in my view a draw is not much use to either side in their top six quest. 😎

The positive from Tuesday is that we cannot play as badly as that.

I really don't think Fry - for example - will play as terribly as at Sheff Utd. He was rated 3 out of ten by the Echo. And he is our best player!

So we can only improve. If we play as well as at QPR, for example, we should get a draw as a minimum. But at least we should not get beaten by three goal!

I will go with a draw like I thought last week, 1-1. But of course fingers crossed for a win to the red lions.

Up the Boro!

RE: the Cup match versus Chelsea.

Roman Abramovich's attempt to sell Chelsea has been halted after the oligarch was sanctioned by the UK government as part of its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The move is intended to stop Abramovich making money from Chelsea.

The government has issued a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket-holders to attend matches.

Season-ticket holders can still attend games for which they have tickets but the club cannot now sell any more tickets.

The London club's merchandise shop has also been shut.

They have already sold some tickets for the Boro away match. But currently no tickets won't be sold.

Up the Boro!

Shocking news has emerged regarding Mark Page:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60690547

When Chelsea was sold to the oligarch, I was already saying to a Chelsea supporting friend at work that that was not correct as the money he had made was "stolen" from the people of Russia.

The same applies still. Just cannot see why it was approved by the FA back then. But nothing has changed as we saw in the recent take-over of Newcastle United. Saudi Arabia is not any way better with their own war in Yemen. Or the human rights situation is even worse than in Russia.

Just saying, like. Love Steve Gibson.  Up the Boro!

Andy R

Shocking and very terrible news. I have missed any talk or news articles about this before, so this is the first I have heard about it.

jarkko

I expect there will be a lot of wailing and moaning about this by the Chelsea fans who have gotten to enjoy the benefits of all that wealth over the last 20 years.

I wonder how the club will be impacted in respect of transfer activity and if it will be allowed to enter competitions next season....

Jarrko, whilst I agree that Fry has played quite well since his return from injury, I am not sure how good he is really, in terms of possibly playing in the EPL in the future.

His biggest weakness for better teams is his inability to pass the ball well. He probably “hoofs” the ball forward more than any of the other CB’s.

@pedro Fry is hoofing the ball sometimes. But he was good against the Premier League clubs.

He was often refered as beckenbauer earlier. Perhaps he has less opportunities to bring the ball forward in the middle compared to Dijksteel and McNair. We do not know the instructions he is given by Chris Wilder. 

Perhaps he must empty his pockets, though - Ronaldo and Kane are getting old and more heavy. They were slowing him on Tuesday🤣.

Up the Boro! 

OFB thanks for the opener 👍

I do not see Coburn starting or even Bamba, Watmore is more effective as an impact sub as the opposition tire. Dijksteel (if fit) will come back in and I think he will start with Balogun and Connolly, as we don’t really know of the true level of injury to McGree, I don’t see him being involved before the international break, which leaves options available to CW very limited. I really hope I don’t see Lea Siliki involved except to fill a seat on the bench, although I would rather see Boyd-Munce fill that seat. What ever happened to Grant Hall, although I think Bamba is a better player.

Come on BORO.

Before we get too despondent about Boro’s match against Shef Utd and hopefully cheer some people up, let’s look at the week’s results and how it affected the top ten in the challenge, some played two matches as fixtures were caught up, how bad was Boro’s week:

Fulham 6 points 

Bournemouth 1 point 

Huddersfield 3 points 

Blackburn 1 point 

Shef Utd 4 points 

Luton 3 points 

QPR 0 points 

Boro 3 points 

Forest 1 point 

Coventry 0 points 

I know the performance was terrible but the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been, so we move on. Hope this has lightened the mood a little.

Come on BORO.

Exmil. Quite right to keep a bit of perspective on matters. There is still a long way to go.

Posted by: @andy-r

Shocking news has emerged regarding Mark Page:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60690547

Didn't surprise me.

As for match day announcer he was awful.

I found that the highlights on You Tube of the Real Madrid v Paris SG game last night really lifted my spirits. An exciting match of the highest quality and as good an example as you will ever find of football as The Beautiful Game.

Yes, I know that the financial structures behind these kind of clubs and this kind of competition are indefensible, but the game itself with its most gifted practitioners operating at the outer limits of their  skills was something to behold.  Do have a look at it if you haven't yet seen it.

Posted by: @malcolm

Posted by: @andy-r

Shocking news has emerged regarding Mark Page:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60690547

Didn't surprise me.

As for match day announcer he was awful.

It certainly surprised me. Did you have prior knowledge @malcolm? I’ve not seen anything earlier about this case but maybe you had. 
I used to quite like him when I was younger (before he got his break on R1) but he seemed lost on a national station. He never seemed popular as our Club Announcer but then how could he follow Bernard Gent and the Power Game?

Thanks OFB for a comprehensive analysis of the teams. When looking at our 3 consecutive away games I thought we needed at least 5 points to stay close enough to the other teams fighting for the playoffs in view of the remaining fixtures, especially with our poor away form. Unfortunately, after being completely outplayed by Sheffield United, I am resigned to another defeat by Millwall. The only change I expect is Balogun for Sporar. I wish Watmore could start a match in order to immediately put defences under pressure but it seems he now has to be used as a sub. I just hope we play better against Millwall though they will be aware of how Sheffield Utd pressured us and that is their normal way of playing at home.

After 2hr 40min waiting on the phone to the ticket office I managed to get my ticket downloaded to the season card. I will stay at my sister's for the weekend and avoid any Chelsea supporters who have managed to buy their tickets before the sales were stopped. I had been trying online since Tuesday but my payment kept showing as "REFUSED" or "FRAUD SUSPICION". Apparently Lloyds have changed their credit card security but BORO have not yet updated theirs.     

Posted by: @martin-bellamy

Posted by: @malcolm

Posted by: @andy-r

Shocking news has emerged regarding Mark Page:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60690547

Didn't surprise me.

As for match day announcer he was awful.

It certainly surprised me. Did you have prior knowledge @malcolm? I’ve not seen anything earlier about this case but maybe you had. 
I used to quite like him when I was younger (before he got his break on R1) but he seemed lost on a national station. He never seemed popular as our Club Announcer but then how could he follow Bernard Gent and the Power Game?

Martin, the case came to light well over a year ago and was reported in the Gazette.Took a long time to come to court.

Bernard Gent was a professional and a great announcer at Ayresome Park. He was well respected by home and away supporters. When Page replaced him it all went downhill and never got any better. 

I deffo agree about BG. I used to love it at Ayresome when Power Game was played.

 
If I’d seen the stuff about Me, Mark Page, I’d not have been surprised that he was convicted either, I guess. 

I knew Bernard Gent and remember when his son and mine were part of a group involved in trying to get organised football sport for juniors on Teesside. Several training games were held in Stewart’s Park then subsequently organised football for juniors evolved into the TJFA. Bernard a real gent with a voice like treacle.

I also know John Foster the current Mike holder at MFC Riverside. My wife and I had dinner with him and his wife who works for BBC and is a TV news reporter. The evening was hosted by Graham Robb the Marketing Guru of Recognition and his late wife at their home.

John Foster used to be the voice and host for games at Sunderland and I pleaded with him at the time to take over the job at MFC as he is an avid Boro Supporter.

Now that he has arrived at the Riverside, we have some professionalism at the microphone with a real Boro supporter who knows his stuff.

OFB

OFB

When I worked in the Teesside Borough Treasurer’s Department in 1968 there was a John Foster who had a Durham accent and was an Assistant Treasurer to the County Borough Treasurer JB Woodham.  I’m wondering if this is the same John Foster you’re referring to. However if it is I doubt that   he would remember me. 

Ken

ill ask him 

OFB