Millwall v Boro
Saturday 8th October 2022
KO 15:00 Hours
The Den
On Wednesday evening against Birmingham, Boro were under the interim familiar management of Leo Percovich, Craig Liddle, Mark Tinkler, and Lee Cattermole. This was following the very sudden departure of Chris Wilder and his staff just a few days earlier.
Ryan Giles returned, there was a recall for Paddy McNair, Akpom also made his first start since his injury, and Hayden Hackney was also promoted to the starting line-up for his first league start after some excellent performances for the Under-21s.
A game that relied initially on digging out the points and working tirelessly to achieve a result then developed into more fluid football.
The game was quite evenly matched and the stats showed possession of 46% for Boro and 54% for Birmingham. Both teams had 13 shots each at goal, with Boro having 3 on target to the Brums 4 and both teams 6 corners each. To be honest, the real reason that Boro won the game was purely the determination to do well in front of their fans and show some team spirit. I think a few players had a point to prove also after disappointing displays recently.
Chuba Akpom scored the all-important goal as Boro picked up the vital three points to move out of the bottom three in the Championship.
It was also pleasing to see some passion (and pushing ) from the bench led by Leo and finally a team huddle in the centre circle at the end of the game to engender and show team spirit.
This is a side that has been soulless for some time, led by a manager who thought he was the only one that mattered in a team game. Leo showed that it is the fans that support the club that matter and who will be here long after managers have departed.
There seems to have been a few sighs of relief that Wilder has gone, not only by the Boro management, but also by the players and fans. Everyone seems to be extremely happy that Boro have made another managerial change and are looking forward to a new chapter in the Boro story.
So after a turbulent week following the roller coaster ride of being a Boro supporter, we turn to another difficult fixture in the capital. It’s still expected that Leo and his coaching staff will still be in charge prior to a new managerial appointment by Boro.
Millwall who are currently in 16th position in the league table with 14 points after 12 games, play the Boro who have also played 12 games and have moved up to 18th place with 13 points.
Boro will have to look at a way of breaking through the Millwall five man defence and it would be no surprise to see Hayden Hackney keep his place in midfield to help the side get the ball to the strikers earlier. Muniz and Akpom seem to be a pair of strikers worth persevering with and maintaining a high press on the Millwall defence. Obviously when they tire they can then be replaced by Whatmore and Forss who have both shown energy and pace to create chances when the opposition are suffering from tired legs.
Crooks who is apparently suffering from a hernia is expected to retain his place in midfield with Howson and as I’ve mentioned previously, hopefully Hackney will get another run out to show his capabilities.
I don’t know if Jones will automatically return to the team after suspension as Dijksteel put in an impressive display against Birmingham. Apart from a slip up which nearly cost Boro a goal he played one of his better games and certainly has pace to trouble teams.
Boro now look like they have a goalkeeper at long last. Steffen probably had his best game for Boro against Birmingham. Let’s not forget players need games and especially goalkeepers to keep match fit and alert. Steffen hasn’t played much football this past year and will benefit from games and the input of the coaching team. I’m not sure if Alan Fettis our goalkeeping coach is still at Boro as he was a Wilder appointment but he has an excellent track record.
The Lions have failed to win on the road in the Championship this season and have failed to record an away win since beating Reading back in March.
Rowett tried to change that against Rotherham by tweaking the Lions’ shape.
Millwall ditched their usual five at the back and instead deployed a four-man defence, with Tyler Burey and Andreas Voglsammer sitting either side of Zian Flemming in a number 10 spot behind Tom Bradshaw.
The Lions did have chances to end their rotten away run after a rocket from Flemming on the stroke of half-time restored parity for the visitors, who had trailed to an early Dan Barlaser penalty. But ultimately, the visitors were forced to settle for a point.
And when quizzed on the decision to change, Rowett slammed the Lions’ away form as “nowhere near good enough”.
“The thinking behind it is that our away form has been nowhere near good enough, so I had to do something differently,” Rowett said. “I felt today was a game to do that. We had nothing to lose by trying something.
“The challenge I have now, of course is, our home form has been so good playing a [back] five, I have to then look at whether I want to keep that or change it back. We’ll make that decision based on the opposition, we’ll make that decision based on what we think and how players recover. But I was quite pleased with it. It didn’t leave us too open and we had good control in the game. It’s important then that our attacking players go and do the business going the other way.”
Rotherham United who got a point at home against Millwall on Wednesday had some interesting stats.
Firstly Rotherham had forty-eight per cent of possession and won forty-seven per cent of all duels, forty-five per cent in the air (not being the biggest side in the league that is no surprise really is it).
They had six corners which was two more than Millwall with both sides having fifty-six per cent of passing accuracy in their opponents half. In defence Rotherham won forty-three per cent of their tackles, Millwall won four per cent more.
So Diasborians it’s going to be a difficult game. I don’t think it will be 👀in the sky. I do think goals will be scored and I’m going for a 1-1 draw.
What does everyone else think ?
OFB
Thanks Bob. Great read as always.
I’d be bringing Jones straight back in and moving Djiksteel to right centre-back for this one. Otherwise I’d go same again and try to build some consistency.
If Clarke is available (not sure why he was missing v Brum) then, with the emergence of Hackney, we’ll suddenly have quite a deep bench and I can see Mowatt not making the squad at all tbh. Tommy Smith might also be at risk of missing out.
We will have to perform better though, in my view. To be honest, whilst we showed some very welcome grit and togetherness in midweek, I thought we were a bit lucky to get the win. Between them, Hogan and Deeney fluffed a fair few chances via dodgy finishing or poor control. I wouldn’t want to be relying on that kind of fortune each week. I also thought McNair might have been dismissed on another day. Fine margins and all that.
A win was a win though and I’m sure it will help with the team’s confidence.
We need a win really but I’d just about take a draw. I’m not overly optimistic if I’m honest.
Thanks Bob. Great starter as usual. Interesting to see what we do.
Assuming Crooks has a hernia I think he needs to get it operated on. Possibly he's been kept in the team due to worries about midfield. Millwall is always going to be a battle so I think I would go with.
Steffen
Lenihan - Fry - Bola
Jones - Hackney - Howson - McGree - Giles
Akpom - Muniz
I think we'll need the extra physicality of Lenihan if Crooks is out. I think Hackney has earned the chance to keep his place and McGree offered a lot when he came on.
We have been awful on the road but I feel we could be good for a draw here.
Thanks OFB for another excellent opener.
I agree with Andy that a win was a win but we rode our luck and on another night the result could easily have gone the other way for the reasons he has mentioned.
I still don’t think we look particularly solid and it’s clear that teams no longer arrive at the Riverside and park the bus, Brum played more football than they have for many a year.
The Den old or new is never an easy hunting ground and they are going well at home so regretfully I can only see a home win but hoping for better. 😎
Thanks OFB for the latest Headliner, good writing.
As for the Millwall game, unfortunately I am KP and a few others and expect a defeat and a draw a best.
We were somewhat lucky to get the three points, Hogan especially being poor itch his finishing. However Akpom took his one chance and they did not take theirs.
I am also with deleriad, in that Lenihan had probably his best spell to date, Hackney deserves to keep his place for offering more than the other midfielders, Howson included and Crooks needs his operation if the hernia story is true. He is looking short on pace and not up to the level of a year ago. So it is either the op or drop.
Jones has to return because it takes two players to mark him and in theory give us an extra man in that area.
I am not optimistic, but hoping Leo could be a lucky General.
Rob Edwards was interviewed for the Boro job on Tuesday apparently
The former Watford boss is the front runner and held talks with the club earlier in the week in a sign that Steve Gibson is taking his candidature seriously.
Edwards has a backroom staff ready to go if Gibson decides to appoint him, although he is yet to be offered the job as Boro do thorough due diligence on their managerial options.
He was also seen in the main stand at the Riverside on Wednesday taking notes
OFB
I have nothing against Rob Edwards despite the manner of his departure from Forest Green to take the Watford job. He seems to be a progressive young manager who can grow with the club and if the blog suggestions are true, he is a close personal friend of Kieran Scott which makes it all fit together even better. I am, however, a little concerned by the line that '(he) has a backroom staff ready to go". I would hope that all four of our interim team should be seen as a fundamental part of the MFC team. Admittedly, that could involve three of them going back to their Academy, U-21 and U-18 roles but, even if he does bring in his own assistants Leo must be retained as both part of the first team coaching set-up and as a club talisman. I hope that the club management realise how much he embodies the spirit of the club.
Heading away to Millwall has never been an easy task. After we moved to London in the late 1960s, I would travel with my older brothers around all the London grounds to watch Boro living out their endless exile in the second division (I was born in 1953 so I started going to Ayresome Park in the late fifties. Thus, football always meant the second division) and we never really had too many problems. However, there was a period in the 70s when Boro and Millwall were always close to getting promoted and we seemed in my memory to play out an endless series of tight 1-0 battles. I don't know if they really happened but I remember it that way. Anyway, the journey to Cold Blow Lane to see Millwall v Boro was always tinged with menace. It was a day to leave the scarves at home and keep your mouth shut as much as possible.
If we get a sneaky 1-0 win then I will know that the gods are with us.
UTB
- I have nothing against Rob Edwards ... I am, however, a little concerned by the line that '(he) has a backroom staff ready to go". I would hope that all four of our interim team should be seen as a fundamental part of the MFC team. .... I hope that the club management realise how much he embodies the spirit of the club.
I read that line and thought exactly the same as you Selwyn. I can't see SG abandoning Leo though.
Thanks for another detailed preview OFB and a good postscript on why Wilder's time was up at Boro - the club were clearly going backwards under his tenure for about half a season with no signs that he knew how to reverse the slide other than blaming everyone else for failing to support and execute his plan correctly.
Of course a plan is only as good as its application in the real world and sticking to it when it's not going according to, let's say, the plan is only stubbornly failing to acknowledge reality. Though when the results fail to materialise, those who you answer to may start to question if 'the plan' has become a barrier to moving the club forward.
Perhaps the single most damning moment came when Wilder decided his plan needed yet more casualties as he dropped both Giles and Jones, having already sidelined two-thirds of the summer spending in Forss and Hoppe, having also failed to make another big signing in Martin Payero feel he had a future under Wilder - plus opting to send a breakthrough youngster in Josh Coburn out for the season.
Interestingly, with Wilder now gone, the first move of Leo was to promote another promising youngster in Hayden Hackney, who demonstrated he had something extra to offer the staid one-dimensional midfield. It reminded me of when Jones got his debut when he also showed that he had talent and confidence - while clearly not quite the finished article that can only come by playing regularly in the first team.
And this is where surely the direction club need to go in order to progress - Boro have a much-praised academy with some good young players that could and should be promoted to the first team. Especially, if you consider the alternative of signing average players to bulk up squad, who perhaps are not going to improve that much individually or provide a real alternative to the First XI.
This is where Wilder ended up, the team was more or less picking itself with most of the new recruits becoming either bench options or less than convincing starters. I'm sure Steve Gibson looked at that Coventry game and thought 'where is my club strategy?' as Boro dropped into the bottom three with no sign of anything changing.
I'm pretty sure that the new head coach will only be appointed if he signs up to the club strategy that will expect youngsters and project signings to be developed into first-teamers and given useful experience on the pitch. Boro can't afford to buy their way out of the Championship and building a team that plays with confidence is the only way forward. It appeared from the outside that many of Boro's players had lost confidence under Wilder and in the end Gibson also lost confidence in him as the man to lead Boro.
Millwall away is never easy but the Lions are not the fiercesome beast that they were and a Boro team with the confidence of a win on Wednesday may yet back that up with another. Either way, a new head coach will need installing at the weekend in order to give them the benefit of the only free week in the calendar before the Qatar break to work with the players. Will it be as expected Rob Edwards or is there another twist ahead?
Absolutely bang-on Werdermouth, let's all hope that the penny has finally dropped, manager who is part oF the team from both sides. One of our 'cast-offs' is playing blinders at Aberdeen now. If you don't use the Academy properly why have it? It always fascinates me that other clubs queue up for our youngsters whilst previous Boro managers barely seem to give them a look only having an opinion on where they should go.
On another note thank you all so much for your kind good wishes, they are much appreciated and uplifting. Nobody expects 12 hours on an operating table at 76 but you all help towards the recovery. Thank you.
UTB,
John
Bet wishes, John, and welcome back. It's always interesting to read your posts and they have been greatly missed.
Excellent starter, OFB. As ever, many thanks.
Boro did just enough to beat Brum on Wednesday, but it was by no means convincing. We’ll need to up our game significantly to get anything at Millwall. I’d be happy to scrape a point.
Welcome back, John. Sorry to hear about your awful experience.
I think Rob Edwards would be a massive gamble. Apart from Watford, I have never heard of Forest Green. I'm not sure about the connection to Keiran Scott either. After all has he been a successful at Boro. Well that is debatable. Another rumour today is that Carlos Coberman has been invited back for a 2nd interview.
For what it’s worth, many of the locals here in Huddersfield would have preferred Corberan back rather than the unknown new manager.
Corberan was liked because if things weren’t going well he’d change the formation during a game and from game to game depending on the opposition and the players were so well drilled that they took up their new positions seamlessly.
If Leo can keep a bit of memento going then a point on Saturday would be a good result.
Philip of Huddersfield
I did hear a rumour at Wednesday’s match that Michael Carrick had been seen at Rockcliffe this week. Any truth in that,anybody? And is he in the running ?
I think Rob Edwards would be a massive gamble. Apart from Watford, I have never heard of Forest Green. I'm not sure about the connection to Keiran Scott either. After all has he been a successful at Boro. Well that is debatable. Another rumour today is that Carlos Coberman has been invited back for a 2nd interview.
Forest Green are based near Nailsworth in Gloucestershire and are a very progressive club. They are also a ‘vegan’ club with an emphasis on eco-friendly innovations. I fear they may be too woke for some.
@clive-hurren It’s been on the Manchester newpapers that he is a candinate for Boro. He was the caretake manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjær left Man Utd.
He is free at the moment. But no info if he was at Rockcliffe. Up the Boro!
Will Steve Gibson appoint another Spanish coach? The fact that Corberán has been recalled for a second interview suggests he may well do. He appears to be the right age, and the fact that former Leeds manager Marco Bielsa speaks so highly of him suggests that he could well fit the bill. I hope so anyway; Huddersfield were impressive last season, often able to put the occasional defeat behind them and bounce back with a couple of successive wins afterwards. They also had an impressive away record of 10 wins and 7 draws from their 23 matches and accumulated 82 points in total to finish 3rd. If Boro could replicate the Terriers form of last season in the final 34 matches of this season Boro could finish with 73 points, maybe not enough for the playoffs but 3 more than Boro achieved last season.
I'm not overly convinced by Corberan as he's another that falls into the category of one good season. Indeed, after 20 games last season his Terriers had scored 23 and conceded 23, which was identical to Boro's record under Warnock (17 games) and Wilder awaiting his first win after three games, which he got on game 20 by beating Huddersfield!
At the halfway point Boro and Huddersfield were level on 33 points (W9 D6 L8) and it was thanks to a much better second half of the season that they ended up in the play-offs after accumulating 49 points (W14 D7 L2) from the next 23 compared to Boro's 37 points (W11 D4 L8) under Wilder.
So maybe I should revise my category by saying Corberan has had a career with just one good half season - after which he resigned and left for Olympiacos but was sacked after 11 games - just like Rob Edwards was at Watford.
Whether success at Boro will see him head off again is the question Steve Gibson may ponder - Boro really don't need to be looking for another manager again next summer.
John Richardson
Glad to see you back John, must have been a scary and worrying few days. Now best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Michael Carrick is a candidate that will definitely be in the frame for the managers post.
I must confess out of all the names mentioned he is the one that I would prefer. He is the right age (41) and of course comes from Wallsend Newcastle which is where I belong !
He has always played at the top level and had been an influential captain and coach for Manchester United.
After retiring, Carrick became a coach at Manchester United and was given a position as part of the coaching staff with Jose Mourinho's management, after the departure of Faria He worked with Mourinho until the latter's departure on the 18 December 2018 then working with for Solkskjaer for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, the entirety of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, and for a segment of the 2021–22 season until Solskjær's departure at the club.
November 2021, after Ole Gunnar Solskjær left his role, Carrick was named caretaker manager
Carrick's first match in charge was a champions league tie away at Villareal which United won thanks to late goals from Ronaldo a first United goal for Samcho, sealing United's place in the last-16 of the competition.Following a 3–2 victory against Arsenal, on 2 December, Carrick stepped down as first team coach and left Manchester United with immediate effect.
Our association with United personnel has been productive in the past eg Robson/McClaren.
Given his pedigree he would be my preference over Edwards and Corberan. Any information as to why he left United? 😎
Thank you ken, much appreciated. I've got a visit to the Consultant next Wednesday then three weeks or so later the radio therapy begins. However I must say that the care at the Norfolk and Norwich has been caring and utterly exemplary.
UTB,
John
For those of us who had problems logging in on Wednesday I have reproduced the access instructions from the MFC website.
I must confess that I wasn’t aware of the need to scroll down the page to upcoming streams after logging in, to find the Watch Live button.
“How to watch Boro LIVE video streaming
Please note, these instructions are for supporters after they have purchased a video pass. These instructions are also applicable for listening to audio.
There are two available options to watch the stream.
Through the Boro LIVE page
- Visit Boro LIVE.
- Login to your MFC Digital Account
- Scroll down to Upcoming Streams
- For weekend fixtures, the Watch LIVE button will appear around 60 minutes before kick-off. For midweek fixtures, the Watch Live button will appear around 45 minutes before kick-off. This will appear against the corresponding fixture.
- Click the Watch Live button.
- You will be taken to our dedicated streaming page, where the video player is located.
Through the Match Centre
- Visit the Match Centre.
- Log in to your MFC Digital Account.
- Click Watch Live located below the team names.
- The video player will appear underneath.
- For weekend fixtures, the stream will begin around 60 minutes before kick-off. For midweek fixtures, the stream will begin around 45 minutes before kick-off.” 😎
It may be unfair but I always prefer a person who has lived in the rarefied atmosphere of the big time. Carrick will be well aware that he will be coming to a Club that has the rudiments of a serious set up. With a decent backdrop against which to operate. This is important, because it is hard enough climbing the Pyramid from halfway up without the added hassle of building all the add on's such as gyms and medical Centre's etc. I always thought that he was highly thought of during their domination of the Prem. So it would be Good to see him test driving our team.
Further to my previous post regarding log in problems, please find below the response from MFC:
"My recommendation would be to access the live streaming through https://www.mfc.co.uk/live/ . On this page you will see the featured live game, the upcoming schedule and FAQ's. Once on this page, click the head silhouette in the top right hand corner to log in to your MFC Digital Account. After you have logged in, it will return you to the Boro LIVE page. The featured game should now display "Video Purchased: Available Soon", or if you were to do this within the 60 minutes prior to kick off, it should display the Watch LIVE button.
You can attempt to do the above now. If you log in and see the "Video Purchased: Available Soon" message, you should be good to go ahead of the game tomorrow."
I have followed the instructions and can confirm I received the "Video Purchased: Available Soon" message.
I hope this helps to resolve any issues. 😎
Further to your point about Coulson up at Aberdeen, I just read this quote from a Swansea journalist about another unwanted Boro graduate, Nathan Wood who was transferred to the Welsh club...
"The defence has also shone through and we’ve seen more solidity at the back. Nathan Wood, who was brought in from Middlesbrough, seemed to be unwanted up there, he’s been a revelation and been our best defender."
Thanks for the starter again, OFB.
I'd be very happy to come away from Millwall with a point. Four points from 6 would be a bit of a turnaround from recent weeks. To be honest, three points on Wednesday against Birmingham was almost Heaven.
We will have to see where SG's attentions lie as regards the next manager. But can I put in a plea for an end to this "jobs for the boys" thing where a newly appointed manager brings in his own mates an installs them despite probably knowing little about the people who are already at the new club, so,e of whom may be doing an excellent job? As I have said before, and to use an analogy that I appreciate may be 30 years out of date, when a new CEO is appointed Head of ICI, you wouldn't have expected him to bring with him Plant Managers who've worked with him in the past in other companies, and then installed them into the Nylon Plant, Fertiliser Plant, Olefines etc as well as his own pet Accountant and HR Bod.