EXMIL CHALLENGE 2022
Two outstanding entries from Pedro de Espana and Clive Hurren with less than 6 hours to go, also errors to be corrected by deleriad and MW in Darwin.
Come on BORO.
Wilder confirmed that most players are fit in his presser today.
McNair is ok after playing for Northern Ireland.
Fry is fit. He was taken off as a precaution vs. Chelsea.
McGree is fit again.
Šporar played some minutes for Slovenia. He is fit again.
Martin Payero will be back soon in a week or ten days.
So it will look good fitness wise. Bring on the match. Up the Boro!
World Cup draw about to start on BBC1 or Sky for those interested.
Come on BORO.
England Group in order of play
England v
Iran
USA
Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
Come on BORO.
Huddersfield squeezed a 1 nil victory away at Hull, which to be honest didn’t look likely until stupid Tom Eaves got two unnecessary yellow cards (11 mins and 2 minutes into injury time) which changed the game completely but it took until 79 minutes for Huddersfield to get the goal against 10 men for the whole of the second half.
Come on BORO.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2022 - mw in Darwin
mw in Darwin as I am travelling to Peterborough tomorrow morning I will accept your amended entry as you had Huddersfield for a draw tonight, as long as you post a fully correct entry before 12:20 tomorrow morning.
Come on BORO.
Well that's my Exmil challenge part 2 off to a predictable start then ☹
Well finally back to business in the Championship after what has seemed the longest and dullest international break I can remember that consisted predominantly of meaningless friendlies, most of which didn't even get a terrestrial highlights showing.
Perhaps the experience of yesterday's 'random' World Cup draw that included around 20 minutes of drawing the red balls of the top eight seeds with further red balls of a predetermined first team position may have tested many boredom threshold. Plus what a random cynical statistical surprise to see that none of the eight second-seeded teams were drawn against the groups's first-seeded teams in the opening game - thus keeping the fate of the group alive till the end. Perhaps those group second place balls had been kept in the freezer ahead of the draw.
Anyway, back to the randomness that is the Championship where half the league is still hopeful of promotion as we enter the last fifth of the season. Many thanks to Andy for another excellent opener in what he has labelled the Britt Assombalonga derby - hopefully not as sign of a nil-nil encounter with many chances missed. Incidentally, Britoli Curtis Assombalonga actually scored more goals in his one season at Peterborough than he did in his last three seasons at Boro so he's probably still revered at the now blandly named Weston Homes Stadium.
Still, surely this is a game Boro should be looking to win against the worst performing side in the Championship, who have lost almost two-thirds of their games. Chris Wilder's team should be fresh and raring to go with everyone now fit bar Payero. The question is who will start up top and I would like to see Watmore and Balogun get the nod after the latter's international exploits. Perhaps the more attacking Bola may also get the nod as left wing-back given the opposition leaky defence with 76 conceded. I would also be tempted to play McGree ahead of Crooks unless the big man has been looking far sharper in training.
So lets hope Boro are quick out of the blocks and convert their chances - it's what Assombalonga would have wanted to honour his derby!
Whilst analysts of nine local journalists all agree that Fulham and AFC Bournemouth will gain automatic promotion, which clubs do they think will fill the 6 playoff places and in what order?
Starting with our own Scott Wilson who covers Boro for the Northern Echo, he goes for LUTON, BORO, FOREST and BLACKBURN.
Leon Wobshall from the Yorkshire Post who covers Boro, Huddersfield and Sheffield United doesn’t think that the Blades will make the top 6 goes for BORO, LUTON, HUDDERSFIELD and FOREST.
Danny Hall from the Sheffield Star also surprisingly doesn’t rate the Blades or Boro’s chances goes for BLACKBURN, HUDDERSFIELD, LUTON and FOREST.
Sarah Clopson from the Nottingham Post predicts SHEFFIELD UTD, HUDDERSFIELD, LUTON and FOREST.
Rick Sharp from the Lancashire Gazette predicts FOREST, BORO, SHEFFIELD UTD and BLACKBURN to reach the top 6.
Andy Turant from the Coventry Telegraph goes for LUTON, HUDDERSFIELD, BLACKBURN and MILLWALL.
Lewis Williams from the Luton predicts LUTON, SHEFFIELD UTD, BORO and FOREST to make it.
Dan Bennett from West London Sport who reports on QPR doesn’t fancy the Hoops at all and goes for SHEFFIELD UTD, FOREST, BORO and LUTON.
Kai Bennett from South London Press who reports on Millwall predicts that SHEFFIELD UTD, BORO, HUDDERSFIELD and FOREST will be the top playoff clubs.
So what can we make of that cross section of journalist’s predictions? Well taking some possible biased opinions it appears that LUTON, SHEFFIELD UTD, BORO and FOREST are the favourites.
Nice analysis Ken.
I predicted 3-1 to Boro previously, so sticking to that
Nevertheless although I think that’s a fair assessment, does anyone really know how this crazy league will finish? Well I don’t, suffice to say that I’ll be surprised if any one of those 6 playoff places are decided until the final day’s matches of the regular season.
Just to add to the point on the World Cup draw that none of the eight top-seeded teams were drawn to play a second-seeded team in their opening game - my calculations show that the chance of that happening in a random draw was just 3.9%.
Basically, there was a 2 in 3 chance of a second-seeded team not being drawn as the opening game (i.e. just game 2 or game 3 from balls game 1, game 2 & game 3).
So with the probability for each group being 2/3, then for that to happen in all eight groups that would be:
2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3
...which is 256/6561 and that calculates as 0.039 or 3.9% (0.039 x 100) probability
So I think FIFA would be very pleased that the draw ended up with this very low probability outcome given it, one allows the best two teams in each group to potentially have an easier opening game to get up to speed, and two improves the odds that the winners of the group will remain undecided until the last game.
Just to add to the point on the World Cup draw that none of the eight top-seeded teams were drawn to play a second-seeded team in their opening game - my calculations show that the chance of that happening in a random draw was just 3.9%.
Basically, there was a 2 in 3 chance of a second-seeded team not being drawn as the opening game (i.e. just game 2 or game 3 from balls game 1, game 2 & game 3).
So with the probability for each group being 2/3, then for that to happen in all eight groups that would be:
2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3 x 2/3
...which is 256/6561 and that calculates as 0.039 or 3.9% (0.039 x 100) probability
So I think FIFA would be very pleased that the draw ended up with this very low probability outcome given it, one allows the best two teams in each group to potentially have an easier opening game to get up to speed, and two improves the odds that the winners of the group will remain undecided until the last game.
werdermouth you have too much time on your hands, it’s time your good lady found you some more projects to be getting on with 😂😂😂
Come on BORO.
I'm still working hard on my projects - that's what I did in my break 🤔
Huddersfield won away from home. Forest winning 3-0 at Blackpool! Anyone getting a bit nervous! 😎
Can anyone point me in the direction of a Stream for today’s game please? I’m home alone and can’t go out because we’ve got a couple of guys tidying the garden ahead of putting the house up for sale. Frankly, I’m bored. 😉
Check this unofficial one out shortly before kick-off (they don't work until a few minutes before kick-off) but it normally works...
As usual you get pop-up tabs and ads that need closing - you may need to use it without an adblocker too.
Team News: Well it's Balogun and Connolly again starting up top but Bola gets the nod at left wing-back...
Check this unofficial one out shortly before kick-off (they don't work until a few minutes before kick-off) but it normally works...
As usual you get pop-up tabs and ads that need closing - you may need to use it without an adblocker too.
Thanks Werdermouth.
Thanks Andy, I agree with your comment that this is "one we dare not miss out on" especially now that Huddersfield and Forest have shown that they can win away when needed and our next hard fixture is home to Fulham. I feel rather nervous about this match though, so I will switch back from liqueurs to Malbec to try to calm myself. Goals from Connolly and Balogun very much needed and hopefully Jones will be too good to be stopped by Peterborough's planned defending.
Great goal from Tav and some excellent build up play but we are, yet again, failing to take chances against a very poor P’boro side.
Howson, Dijksteel and Tav have been positive. Jones not seeing enough of the ball. Connolly and Balogun need to be more clinical. Lumley’s reckless charge out of his box nearly cost us.
A win is a most but a few more goals would also be welcome but this game is far from over and Lumley looks to have a costly mistake in him. CoB 😎
Peterborough showing why they have the worst defence in the Championship but Boro also perhaps showing that they lack that clinical instinct in front of goal with some good chances spurned. Nevertheless, it was a great strike from Tavernier to put Boro ahead and it helped to give the team confidence as the passing in the first quarter had been a bit sloppy. Perhaps at least a second needed given the signs that Boro could contrive to concede a goal with some lax defensive moments and Lumley keen to show he's not quite over his penchant to do something unexpected. I'd probably put McGree on for Crooks as this looks like a game that needs some key passing around the box - also Watmore for Connolly would be better sooner than later.
Would agree with all of that Werder and KP.
Front two poor, then up pops Balogun to knock one in. The big problem is neither can hold the ball up.
Just not sure what has happened to Crooks, as once more he is not in the game. The defence is all over the place. How Posh have not scored is beyond belief.
Just as I was thinking that it was nailed on, you frighten the life out of me with your casual, "how they have not scored is amazing", now I'm worried!
Never mind the quality it’s about the result at this stage of the season. 0-3!
Now let’s do a job on Fulham. 😎
We need Whatmore and Coburn to start every game, at least they will be here next season.
It's not april fools day is it 4 - 0
Lets hope that we now play josh up front until the end of the season, he is the goods, and will have a great career, and as we are clueless in front of goal, lacking height, shooting ability, passing ability, plus the sheer will to shoot, it makes sense to bite the bullet, roll the dice, play him and take whatever comes our way.
Well that was a convincing 4-0 victory in the end that had strangely looked unconvincing at times with Boro only managing one shot on target in the first half with that excellent Tavernier strike. Lumley also not convincing many that he has ironed out his rush of blood to the head. Still an early second just after the interval made the result secure but Boro seemed to sit back and allow Peterborough to have the initiative. However, the arrival of Watmore made the difference as a great run create another goal for Coburn before a great individual goal with a superb strike - I still don't know why he plays so few minutes as he looks easily the best finisher out of the strikers.
Anyway, 4-0 away from home is a great result whatever the opposition but Boro will need to play better in midweek against Fulham to come away with any points. So hopefully the players won't get carried away with the result - I'm sure Chris Wilder won't but he'll still be happy with the result - job done!
Even better news, Coventry just scored a 99th minute equaliser against Blackburn to lift Boro up to 5th thanks to those two goals from Coburn and Watmore!