I must say that Kevin Blackwell talks a lot of sense in his appraisal of allowing fans into football grounds if the protocol that Middlesbrough FC is strictly adhered to. The trouble is there’s always likely to be one idiot who breaks the rules and spoils it for everyone else.
I read the other day that Helsinki airport is using trained sniffer dogs to detect people with Covid and apparently claim they are almost 100% accurate. I've since learned that they are also using Covid sniffer dogs in Germany too and it was reported that it only takes a week to train sniffer dogs to detect Covid.
Perhaps, all these wealthy clubs should be investing in sniffer dogs to allow just non-infected supporters into the ground - one bark and the stewards remove you from the queue (suitably distanced) to get in. Maybe you could have them outside pubs and other venues as pseudo doormen - indeed, why bother sending people 300 miles to get a Covid test when they can just send the dogs round...
Feels like a slightly shambolic 2-2 with us going behind twice but, really, I have absolutely no idea.
Teamwise, unless anything is going on behind the scenes or there is an injury we don't know about, it feels like we'll stick with the same team. I could half see Warnock starting Browne for Tav or possibly bringing in Fry and moving McNair to right wing back. However I think Warnock is trying to play Spence into form. I also suspect that McNair might line up on the left of a three but in reality man-mark their main playmaker.
The PL are not known for their altruism, any offers of money should be carefully scrutinised, perhaps by the same accountants who suggested the plan in the first place.
Sometimes you will find a live feed here....
Thanks for the prologue Werder. (I like Ken's suggestion.) Perhaps Boro should employ you to advise players how to maintain their form over the season.
I have been pleasantly surprised by Boro's play in the two league matches though the cup defeat by Barnsley showed we are still capable of being outplayed.
Re the closed grounds I am not sure that allowing 10,000 fans in would be as easily organised as 1000. It would take some time to keep that number of socially distanced fans into the Riverside and walking through the subways or even along the roads on the way there and back would be a problem. Not all of them would be able to follow the advice to travel by car. I didn't try to get a ticket for Bournemouth as I wouldn't at present want to risk the trains especially with part of the journey through areas in lockdown.
Just got back in and looks like Fletcher wasn't fit to play after all as he's not even on the bench - opportunity then for Chuba to show he can be a Premier League player. Other than that it's as you were with Fry still confined to the bench - at this rate he may contemplate an offer from Burnley!
Tricky game to call as I've not seen QPR play but I'm hopeful that Boro can continue to improve.
Prediction: 2-0 to Boro with Chuba being our top gunner and one for Tav too
Just catching up, so thanks to Werder for his excellent QPR intro.
Hoping for a decent performance from the Boro and would be happy for draw. What I really need is something to reignite some enthusiasm for football Bro.
Chuba (or "China", as Vic referred to him on his Twitter feed 🙂 ) Akpom marks his first start with a debut goal for Boro! *hat* *jig*
Hadn't seen Werder's last post when I posted the above. One half of his prediction comes true. Fingers crossed for the other half.
Chuba (or "China", as Vic referred to him on his Twitter feed 🙂 ) Akpom marks his first start with a debut goal for Boro! *hat* *jig*
Assisted by Paddy McNair, according to the Beeb (cross following a corner).
Update: Vic's Tweet about "China Akpom" appears to have been deleted. 🙂
The verdict on QPR's equaliser (+ video) posted on Vic Twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/untypicalboro?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Bit of a scrappy stop-start first half with Boro's final ball continuing to be delivered too late particularly from Spence - Chuba looks sharp but Britt's first touch has often been below par. Dijksteel continues to impress but Boro look vulnerable when QPR run at them and they've missed a couple of good chances. Boro probably need to score the next really as I'd worry if they fell behind. Might be wise to put Morsy on to block that hole in front of defence but not sure for whom.
End to end football, well more football from QPR, certainly down their right hand side, Johnson struggling as is Saville once more.
Good goal from McNair and Akpom, but poor from Bettinelli for QPR goal. How many goals is that he has had a hand in?? especially when NW bigged him up. To date looks no better than the other two.
Boro slack in midfield, Hall not commanding the central zone, although he should of had a penalty for a blatant pull in the box late on. But in saying all of that we could not complain if QPR were three to the good.
Not sure about Morsy, but we need somebody extra in-front of the defence. Tav not creating much either some maybe a chance for Brown again.
Well do need to tighten up though or we will lose this match
Agree with you about Bettinelli. He will cost us points and matches this season unless his keeping improves. It was a really poor effort for QPR's goal (as was the defending in front of him). Pears is a better keeper for me.
Well a point is perhaps all Boro deserved on that display - though they did look like they were building up to snatch a victory in the last 15 minutes. The arrival of Fry and Morsy seemed to give Boro a better balance and it looked like they had got to grips with QPR who had looked dangerous going forward, particularly with Chair but in the end it was Britt who missed another sitter at the death!
Happy with the point but not the performance, another disjointed and "if only" display.
Poor goal conceded, a good one scored but too many opportunities missed.
MOTM was McNair for me coupled with another good display from Dijksteel, Fry, Howson and Morsy. Need more from Spence, Johnson and Assombalonga.
Good goal from Akpom but not a great deal else at this stage and will need time to settle. Table topping Reading up next and will be another good challenge! 😎
not bad, not great. thought we were looking more likely to nick it at the end. Excellent start for Akpom.
Pros, I was impressed with Morsy. Tav looked a lot happier out wide. Fry did well. He struggles on the left of a three but he did really well in the centre. Dijksteel is doing really well. Although McNair and Dijksteel aren't natural defenders, having defenders who can attack with the ball and deliver a cross is really useful. Akpom did well and seems to have an instinct for scoring. We're a bit of a nothing team but we work hard.
Cons. We continue to be ripped to shreds down the left. Johnson can't defend, McNair is right-footed and Saville runs around without a lot of end product. QPR overloaded us down that side without even having to try. We still don't attack or defend as a team. Not once did we manage to get a 2 against 1; passing happens slowly and sideways. We rely on a lone person managing to beat their man. We're a bit like that defensively; we don't defend in groups which is why it is so easy to run through us. A bit better on the right as Dijksteel and Howson occasionally combine. Spence is really off the boil. Bettenelli is possibly suffering from a lack of sharpness.
If we can sort out the left hand side and the team keeps being drilled so that players start to understand where their team mates will be, we'll do ok.
Scrappy game with neither side mastering the blustery conditions.
Boro looked to be staring defeat in the face for much of the second half, but came through a critical period thanks to some great good luck, and finished the final quarter the stronger side.
Fry coming on for Hall was an improvement, and Morsey for Spence gave us extra midfield stability. I like the look of Morsey. Solid, with a low centre of gravity, and knows the game.
Our keeper looked suspect. Poor on their goal, and almost threw it away by badly misjudging a high ball towards the end.
McNair was immaculate throughout both in his defending and his set-piece deliveries, one of which produced our goal. He was our M-o-M by some margin.
Dijksteel continued his improvement and had an excellent game.
Spence disappointed, as did Britt, whilst Johnson, targeted as a weakness, was overwhelmed at times and needed more support. Tav flitted in and out, and seemed more comfortable operating out wide late in the second half. Akpom faded after an encouraging opening period and a well taken goal.
In midfield neither Howson or Saville were ever able to get control of either the ball or the game.
A satisfying result then from a slightly below par performance, but I was impressed by our resilience and attitude which saw us come more into the game the longer it went on.
From a longer term perspective the biggest plus for me was the return to best form and full fitness of Fry, whist the biggest question marks are over Bettinelli and the defensive frailties of Johnson
There’s a new Chub’s on Teesside...
We'll be laughing if Boro have an attack of Chuba Browne...
Thanks as ever Werder for taking the time to prepare and write the match preview it’s appreciated
OFB
I watched the game today and never thought we would lose and fully expected to win. The game changed when the substitutes came on. Fry looked a lot more solid than Grant who’s lack of pace saw is get caught out a few times. Mind we should have had a penalty when Grant was hailed down in QPR box. Very poor referee who ducked his responsibility at times.
Sam Morsy made a difference too when he came on and Tav moved over to the right. The team that finished the game should be the one that starts at home on Saturday.
OFB
Oh and the keeper looks dodgy too !
Who’d be a GK? He saved us against Bournemouth and now gets slated.
It appears I have got my fixtures wrong it is Barnsley next, international break and then Reading before Bristol and Cardiff so another tough run in prospect! 😎