@pedro - Intriguing odds, Pedro. Thanks for that link.
@k-p-in-spain - Safe journey back to Sunny Spain (from a currently very grey, cloudy and damp North Yorkshire), KP. Let's hope you will have a spring in your step from a Boro victory in the midlands on Sunday lunchtime.
@pedro - The crime there, Pedro, was Smith trying the same trick a second time with the same result, and a goal ensued.
Well, here we are at last! The regular season over and only the play-offs to come between Heaven or.....(?). Fine margins between absolute elation and abject misery. Of course we shouldn't feel miserable about a season where we end up losing in the play-off semi-final or the last game, at Wembley (if it comes to that), especially bearing in mind the parlous state of the club in September/October 2022 when relegation loomed menacingly on the horizon. Supporters felt miserable, the players were playing as if they didn't know what to do each week and the manager certainly demonstrated no enthusiasm for the club we support and which employed him. It was almost a relief when he eventually picked up his metaphorical cards. The boil was lanced, as it had to be if healing were to occur. We really had no right, at the start of last October, to expect or even to dream of promotion this season. We'd have snapped Michael Carrick's hand off if, last October, we'd been offered safe lower/mid-table obscurity.
However, we are where we are, and that is a position tantalisingly close to promotion. Sufficiently near to have the sweet scent of success wafting around our nostrils, yet always in the knowledge that we have been here before (I won't mention that yellow and green team from East Anglia - what a gut-wrenching day that was, which felt over after about 10 minutes from the start).
Having arrived so close, it would be more than a pity not to take advantage of it all, and grab the lottery prize on offer. If not now, then when? Next year with Southampton and maybe Leeds and Leicester polishing their parachute payments in the expectation of a speedy return "home"? And with the other usual suspects like Blackburn, Norwich and Watford, quite apart from the unsuccessful play-off candidates from this season, champing at the bit for another opportunity to hit the big time.
It would have turned out a masterstroke if Carrick has "played" us all, so that Forss, Fry, Howson etc all suddenly appear, as fit as fiddles and raring to go, in the starting line-ups in our play-off games. I rather doubt it but would be happy to suspend my disbelief because we have all seen how Boro's "First Team" can blow opponents away. We are, however, likely to have to climb the mountain without some of our hardiest Sherpas.
Thanks to you, Andy R, for another great Starter. We have been lucky to have OFB (hopefully now almost fully restored to health) and Andy delivering these starter posts before each game. They have been a genuine pleasure to read. I have a feeling Andy & OFB would love to be dissecting the Manchester City, the Arsenal or the Newcatle teams in starter articles next season prior to those teams' games against the Boro. I'd certainly like to read them!
At this stage the anticipation is probably easier for the players than for the supporters, I guess, but imagine how Steve Gibson must feel...! Whenever you hear the phrase "put your money where your mouth is", that expression has been lived out for decades by Steve Gibson. He isn't perfect and all his decisions haven't turned out as he would have liked, but there can be no doubt his Boro heart is in the right place and it would be really wonderful to see some reward for the money he has pumped into the club from month to month, for years. So - here it is! On the doorstep to pleasure or pain. So near. Only the semi-finals and then, if successful, the chasm that is Wembley to cross before climbing up into the PL (the Promised Land).
You wonder if Karma is at work, i believe we have the twenty first best record in modern day football , hope it doesn't go to penalties, and we end up bridesmaids
Nice post Dormo and thank you for adding once more, what we all think of the outstanding work issued on a weekly basis by Andy and OFB.
That does not take anything at all from other contributors who have also added some wonderful posts over the season. Ken, Len, deleriad, yourself and many more and not least Werder for keeping it all going.
It has been a surprising and wonderful seven months or so.
BUT, I will be devastated if we do not win through to the promised land, if only for Mr Gibson.
And what will make it worse, the team finally winning, would not be Norwich, Watford or WBA. It would one of Luton, Coventry or even Sunderland. The later would be hard to accept.
@forever-dormo. Thanks FD. The weather down south is not much better today. Grey, overcast and cold wind. Been freezing my you know what’s off this afternoon watching the grandchildren playing on the slide and swings etc.
I do hope you are correct about Sunday but my Teesside “fear the worst” is getting the better of me, when I should be thinking we have nothing to fear based on how we have played under MC; sadly old habits die hard. 😎
I think that we will win over the two legs, but there is a danger that if the first game is too open then we may get caught more than once at the back a la Huddersfield.
In particular there is a danger if we fall behind that we try to chase the game and risk creating a two (or more) goal deficit that could be fatal.
A match that remains vividly in my memory from more than forty years ago was the first leg of a European Cup game between a Liverpool side with an impeccable European pedigree and a Nottingham Forest team playing in the competition for the first time.
Liverpool, the hot favourites, took the game to Forest from the start but went behind when a young local lad, Gary Birtles, converted by Cloughie from a midfielder into a striker, broke away and scored before half time.
Liverpool came out determined to teach Forest a lesson and played them off the park in the second half, but without breaching a stout Forest defence.
In the final few minutes Forest made the score an improbable 2-0 when full back Colin Barrett volleyed the ball into the Liverpool net.
Forest defended for their lives in the second leg at Anfield, holding out for a goalless draw, and going through 2-0 on aggregate.
The experienced Liverpool manager, Bob Paisley, and his boot room assistants, Ronnie Moran, Joe Fagan and Roy Evans, had been taught some salutary lessons: do not be so confident in the first away leg that you leave yourself open to a counter-attack sucker punch. And if you go behind it may be more important to prioritise not conceding a second than attempting to level the scores.
I wrote the above, minutes before sitting down to watch the Peterborough-Sheffield Wednesday game on TV.
Exactly the scenario I had outlined played out in that match.
Wednesday were the hottest possible favourites to go through to the final, having finished some 19 points ahead of the Posh in the league
They took the game to Peterborough and created a couple of gilt-edged chances which were squandered.
Completely against the run of play, a goalkeeping error allowed the home side to take the lead.
More Wednesday attacking, another breakaway, a deflected shot and Sheffield went in at the interval two goals down.
"No one on the planet could have predicted this," was Don Goodman's verdict.
The second half was a repeat of the first. Wednesday chased the game and were unlucky not to score. The Posh, growing in confidence, exploited huge defensive holes and scored two more on the break. 4-0 and the game effectively clinched by the underdogs by half-time.
After going a goal down at no point did Wednesday play as though 1-0 might be an acceptable and possibly winning result in the context of the tie as a whole. In seeking to draw or win the game they put it beyond their own reach.
It's a clear warning to the Boro that defensive solidarity should be our top priority at Coventry.
I would even consider playing 4-2-4 with Howson and Mowett playing in front of a back four with Hackney, McGree, Akpom and Archer playing to attack Coventry on the break, something they are all well qualified to do.
I don't think for a moment that this will happen, but the case for picking a side designed to meet the special circumstances of an away-leg tie seems a compelling one to me.
I honestly believe we cannot play defensive, if Stefen is at maybe it will make a difference, but don't be surprised by a 3-3 in one and a 2-2 , another is referees , they them play or stop at wrong times
Great opener Andy - it is a real pleasure reading this blog. I think we have a 50-50 chance of getting to Wembley so have organised my leave schedule to be there.
Obviously, I will be depending upon hospitality tickets expensive as they are but its a family afternoon out so what can you do - a once-in-a-generation thing almost.
Does anyone have any experience with the various hospitality outfits that are currently advertising their services?
It would be good to know who to be wary of and who provides a good but albeit expensive service.
UTB!!
Adding my thanks to AndyR for an excellent first déjà-vu Coventry away opener and praise and gratitude to both him and OFB for informing and entertaining us all season.
Great post from Len about the importance of approaching the two games as a single tie. Somehow I suspect that is not something we should worry about. Boro's game is a possession based game. We move the ball well and often rapidly and at pace.
I think talk about us not playing defensively misses the pont of our style. We might show defensive frailty at times, but that is usually down to individual errors rather than to the tactics. Our style is to hold onto the ball and move it around at the back, stretching the opposition till there is space for us swiftly to switch into direct attack. Arguably that is quite a defensive style of play.
I think overall the tactic is good and well suited to an away game in a two-legged fixture. Our defence is really not that bad when you look at the number of goals we concede.
We have let in 56 goals in the league this season. 17 of those were in the first 12 games under Wilder. Another 5 were conceded under Leo. Since the advent of Carrickball we have conceded 34 league goals, or very approximately a goal a game. The aberration that was Huddersfield and the exposure to Premiership class that was Brighton apart, our style of play has never really allowed the opposition to take a game out of our reach. On Sunday I expect Coventry will be hell bent on on scoring goals in front of their own support. They know a draw will not be a good result for them. That will play directly into Boro's hands as even though we may very well concede one or even two goals, Coventry will expose themselves as they play for those goals. That is exactly what will suit us and we are as likely to score one or more on Sunday as Coventry are.
Of course, it all comes down to everybody's individual form on the day. If Carrickball is clicking on Sunday and everyone is playing at their best, Coventry will not be able to live with us. If some individuals are not at their best and errors creep into the play, then we should still be good enough to match Coventry on the day.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious about the game. Afterall, anything can happen on the day. However, emotion to one side, I think we will come away from the Midlands with a positive advantage to take into the second leg. High scoring game for me on Sunday, 3-1 or 3-2 to Boro.
Thanks for the intro Andy. Like many I am apprehensive about what might happen tomorrow but after where we were in October the ride has been amazing and so entertaining and when have Boro ever been the great entertainers? I see that VAR is only being used for the final so we are relying on the onfield officials being on their game Tomorrow it is Bobby Madley who occasionally refs in the Premier and Wednesday it is David Coote who is a Premier League official but I have a recollection of him being distinctly average in the past.
I’ve always used Boro for hospitality packages and actually used them for the last Wembley play off final! (Is this an omen?)
I’ll post contact details up for you
cheers
OFB
Don't know yet whose available, but if Forss can't play, id put Burlaser on the right , he as a good range of passes and could be a Becham type knocking balls into areas Archer can exploit, our back four worry me though
COB
I NEVER worry about football or Boro or things in general nowadays that I have no control over. I wasn’t always like that, but in the great scheme of things que sera, sera. I have done enough worrying during my lifetime, like surviving the Second World War, etc. After all football is only a game and although I may be a tad disappointed if Boro don’t get promoted at Wembley this year, within a few days I’ll have forgotten all about it as just one of life’s unfortunate incidents.
Nevertheless good luck to Boro and Sunderland over the next few weeks!
Watching the first half between Sunderland and Luton. I wouldn't like boro to play Luton. Although 1-1 Luton are ruthless and have already 2 yellow cards. They are at you like tigers and comitting fouls all over the field. As for Sunderland they were rattled by the pace but have settled a bit and scored a great goal to equalise.All to play for second half.
I’m not particularly a Sunderland fan but I’m pleased they won today quite deservedly in my opinion and have a good chance of reaching Wembley where Mogga could have a match against between one team he played for against another whom he once managed. I’ve always been a supporter of North East football and let’s not forget that it was both Newcastle and Sunderland who’s votes resulted in Boro’s winning the chance to become a football league club in 1899.
Hopefully a Tees/Wear derby will satisfy the locals of both clubs. Bring it on, I say!
I thought Sunderland matched Luton for tenacity and drove down the flanks.
Two good goals by Sunderland
OFB
Thanks OFB - enail sent. All we have to do is show some promise this afternoon
Thanks Andy for another great starter and I add my appreciation to yourself and Bob for the work you have put in over the season. When the site was down I felt lost when I couldn't read other supporters comments and for a few hours thought something might have happened to close it permanently.
Woke up this morning with a very nervous stomach. I will have to prepare my lunch before the match starts as I don't want to drink wine on an empty stomach and I might need to get through a whole bottle today. I always find something to worry about. If I was not worried about something then I would worry about not being worried!
Unless some players have returned from injury it wouldn't surprise me if we play the same team that started the last match against Coventry. Hopefully we will start better as their goal came from the first of several poor attempts at defensive clearances which left McNair and Lenihan outnumbered in the penalty area. I don't really know whether, in the absence of Howson, it is better to start with Mowatt or Barlaser alongside Hackney (who must control his wild tackling). After Jones' re-introduction in the Hull City match he put in some good low crosses resulting in our goals but unfortunately he hasn't been able to repeat that in the subsequent games so I wonder whether it would be better with playing Hackney further upfield. Giles looked to not be fully fit and instead of going to the line and crossing he more often tried to cross from deeper and several times hit the first defender. The extra few days might have got him back to speed as we need good balls from the wing for Akpom to score again. Archer also needs more good balls to run at Coventry's defence and a bit more help up front.
I NEVER worry about football or Boro or things in general nowadays that I have no control over. I wasn’t always like that, but in the great scheme of things que sera, sera. I have done enough worrying during my lifetime, like surviving the Second World War, etc. After all football is only a game and although I may be a tad disappointed if Boro don’t get promoted at Wembley this year, within a few days I’ll have forgotten all about it as just one of life’s unfortunate incidents.
Nevertheless good luck to Boro and Sunderland over the next few weeks!
So true. I don't like to worry a match before hand. I just looking forward to it.
If we lose, I am dissapointed but the following day I start to look forward to the next match. I try to enjoy the season as much as possible. Supporting is not worrying.
I had this match as a 2-2 draw in the ExMill challenge. I hope I am wrong and it will end like 1-3 to Boro. Anyway I think KP had it as a defeat for the Mighty Boro. So it is the end of the world, if we both are incorrect today 😊
Up the Boro!
Well it's getting close to the moment of truth as kick-off approaches and firstly many thanks to Andy for his opener with a detailed analysis of the selection issues facing Carrick - plus some good posts arguing the points and particularly enjoyed Len's. For what it's worth I'd go with Dijksteel at right-back as it was evident in the end-of-season rehearsal that Boro's defence were lacking pace, which Coventry exploited down the right. OK, Smith is steady and generally reliable but not sure he can recover quickly enough in transition.
In an ideal world Forss would be fit to replace Jones, whose performances can perhaps be unpredictable and doesn't offer a serious goal threat himself. I also don't think Giles can play in the purely forward role so I'd keep him at left-back. The selection though does depend on fitness and Boro are always better if Jonny Howson plays - so fingers crossed on that one!
Whether McGree plays wide right instead of Jones is something worth considering and then maybe Hackney in the wide left role - but again it depends on Howson being fit as I'm not totally convinced of the security of a Mowatt-Barlasser midfield duo.
As for predictions on today's game - well Boro can blow teams away if they're on their game - likewise they could easily concede a few goals if the defence is off it. So could be anything from a tight draw with neither side prepared to risk carrying a disadvantage into the second leg - to a goal feast with both sides going for it.
Anyway, not long to wait now and we'll soon see if Boro can crank up their A-Game once more, which should prove enough to beat Coventry even on their patch.
Team News...
Still no Howson but Forss and Fry are on the bench with Smith getting the nod at right-back and Mowatt partnering Hackney in midfield.
@werdermouth I don’t think a coach wants to bring a player back immediately after his red card. Especially so as Smith has been so reliable all season.
Great that Forss and Fry are back in the squad, again.
Really looking forward to the match now. Up the Boro!
We need to be tight defensively today, so no risks from Steffen, Giles has a big defensive job, and both Archer and Akpom need to chase everything and defend from the front.
We should aim to do something today which we have found difficult so far, and keep a clean sheet.
What we mustn't do is leave ourselves short at the back or chase the game if we go behind. The worst case scenario of shipping goals which leaves us out of the tie before the second leg has to be avoided at all costs.
Not too difficult an objective , but Sheffield Wednesday failed to do it.
A 0-0. 1-0 or 0-1 would suit us, but i don't see that happening.
To say I am nervous about this game is an understatement. I am a wreck. As Werder says he could be a goal feast for us or a loss by a few goals.I am not confident at all. Time for Valium 🙄
@Malcolm I'm in the same state, our loss of form has destroyed my confidence, injuries and the prospect of a Tees Wear derby if we get through the next two games means it's the back of the couch again with ear plugs in and eyes tight shut for a finger nail shredding couple of hours. For me 'Typical Boro' has arrived like Marley's Ghost but it's all part of the joy of being a Boro supporter.
Before I forget a great opener Andy, as always, and thank you for your focussed efforts and analysis they're much appreciated.
Now do I draw the curtains as well?
UTB,
John