I think we must not lose on Monday. Coventry head for the Riverside knowing a point will secure a place in the top six, while three points for the visitors will mean Boro and the Sky Blues will face each other in the play-offs.
If Coventry lose, they'll only fall out of the play-off places if Millwall beat Blackburn and Sunderland win at Preston.
I rather let Luton and Coventry play each other.
But I am more worried about our own form and injury situation. Especially I am happy that McGree is back.
Let’s hope we will see Giles back when the play-offs start. And then let the team play well. Up the Boro!
Coventry are in a slightly difficult position. They can't risk a loss because Sunderland & Millwall could overtake them. Keeping it tight and aiming for a draw is probably their best plan but that is risky against us because the one thing teams know about us is that we score goals. Plus, when you go out looking to draw, you can shoot yourself in the foot.
Coventry will be hoping that we are happy to settle for a draw but they'll know we could do with a win to get back into the groove.
Probably they will look to defend in depth. They usually play 3 at the back so they can drop the wing-backs back a bit and try to flood the middle of the pitch while making sure one of the CBs watches for the ball over the top to Archer.
Odds are we'll end up with a very sterile draw unless Carrick decides he really wants us to go for it. Akpom will be desperate to score as well.
Heard some chatter about us changing shape for the game. Doesn't seem likely; probably just a little disinformation.
Also hearing that Ramsey is out for the season and that it doesn't look good for Fry or Forss. Carrick said that Giles had a training injury but I think he's prone to a bit of misdirection. With Dijksteel likely to miss the game unless his card is rescinded and Smith possibly not 100% we might see a less-spotted formation change due to us running out of RBs.
Steffen
McNair - Lenihan - Bilongo/Bola
Jones - Barlaser - Hackney - Giles/Bola
Akpom - McGree
Archer
If Giles is legit injured and Howson out for a bit then I think Bilongo comes into the defence and we switch to wing-backs.
In theory we could use a version of 4-2-3-1 where Jones is the attacking full-back and Bola tucks in on the left; doing what we do with Smith and Giles but swapping sides.
That would be
Steffen
Jones - McNair - Lenihan - Bola
Hackney - Mowatt
Crooks - Akpom - McGree
Archer
Think though that I would rather have Jones's pace further forward.
Does anyone remember the very similar situation in 2015 when Boro went into the final dead rubber game before the play-offs?
The almost universal opinion then was that we should play our strongest team rather than using the game to bring some fringe players up to match fitness.
The game was a dead rubber because Karanka had made the catastrophic error of throwing away the previous game against Fulham.
We had fought our way back to 3-3 when Dimi was waved up to the attack for a corner in the final minute.
Fulham broke away, walked the ball into our empty net and won 4-3.
As a result the two top teams were promoted without having to fight for the privilege on the final day.
I went to our final league game against Brighton, as did Jarkko. It was played in front of a full house and is seared in my memory as a monumentally dull, almost comatose 0-0 draw.
The momentum argument did not fly since our performance was conspicuously lacking in it.
Of course, that game did not provide any pointer to our form in the two-leg play-off which we won comfortably 5-1 against Brentford.
Nor did the 'momentum' gained from those games count for anything in the final as we found ourselves two goals down within 15 minutes.
Thereafter we never looked like getting back into the game because Bamford was playing whilst not being fully fit and we had too few attacking options on the bench.
The conclusion I reach from that experience is that having your key players fully fit is more important than a momentum which may not count for a great deal in really big games. And that having a fully match fit squad is more important than relying almost exclusively on your strongest Xl
I still say we play our strongest team. Especially for the fans who will fill the Riverside. They are paying good money to be there and supporting their team for a win.
I still say we play our strongest team. Especially for the fans who will fill the Riverside. They are paying good money to be there and supporting their team for a win.
Agreed. I think you always play your strongest team from among the players available. Some games you can afford to rest 1 or 2 of your key players who are carrying minor knocks or are at risk of a serious injury due to fatigue to give them recovery time but other than that your focus is always on putting out the team that you think has the best chance of winning the game.
I was also at that game Len so the dull 0-0 probably had something to do with me being present as I think I'd failed to see Boro score a goal in most of my visits to the Riverside - so it wouldn't have stood out for me as anything unusal 😉
Though what I also remember from that day is Derby losing to end up finishing outside the play-offs after sitting top with ten games to go. I also seem to recall Boro winning at Derby towards the end of the season to go top but then losing a few crucial games including that one at Fulham to miss out on an automatic spot.
Interestingly, I've just looked at the final table for that season and Derby actually finished 8th on 77 points with Boro 4th on 85, one point behind Norwich and 4 behind Watford who finished 2nd.
Contrast that with this season where a play-off spot looks likely to just 69 points and Boro on 74 points having already secured 4th place.
But I agree with your wider point that making sure your key players are fit for the play-offs is probably more important than putting in a winning performance in a game that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Though having said that, Karanka's team were very methodical and hard to beat as opposed to Carrick's who rely more on being more expressive going forward and dominating possession. So a Karanks team was well drilled and maybe didn't need momentum but Carrick's probably play better when confident.
What has gone on since we blew automatic promotion, shows the value of a Manager who thinks ahead. Why we should be asking what is wrong beats me. Nothing is wrong, our precious team is alive and waiting for the playoffs, we have been watching football that we are only too familiar with, slow passing, check, no shooting, check, no fast direct passing, check, no running off the ball, check, our best players kept severely out of danger, check, one must not become paranoyd but strange things happen when desire overcomes sense in football.
Some convincing arguments from Len, deleriad and Werder.
I would be surprised if MC and even Woodgate are not having sleepless nights given the importance of each decision they make.
What surprised me a little was when the play off dates came out, they are both played with only three-ish days between them. 13/14 and 16/17. However, the Final is then played out on the 27th.
I do not see that as very fair on the arrangement side, for all the Teams. Not a lot of recovery time, then ten days for the Boro if we made it through.
It is REALLY difficult to know what is best for Boro. Like some others, I don't envy Carrick in having to make his decision. I can see the advantages in putting out Boro's best team in every game until the end of this season (as I have mentioned earlier) but I also understand the fact that Boro will be in the play-offs no matter the result of the Coventry game, but might end up with players injured who could have played a role in the knock-out stage to come if they had been rested now. The only way to prevent an injury is not to give a player a game, or even make sure thay don't warm up before the game (as we know from before the Rotherham game).
Basically if Michael Carrick rests any players who are not quite 100% but who might get to 100% fitness if rested, and if he has the players absolutely ready to give their best performance of the season in the last 3 (play-off) games so that the club is promoted, he has done the right thing. On the other hand if the fringe players are on the pitch and the team put out against Coventry suffers the club's third conseccutive defeat and either they or their "rested" team-mates can't suddenly change up a gear when play-off games are being played, so that Boro comes a cropper either in the semi-final or the final itself, people will point to that and say he was wrong in his choices.
The reality is that there isn't a 100% foolproof decision to be made. If he chose route A (pick the best team at all times) Boro could come against a team playing its game(s) of the season, or Boro could be unlucky, or Boro might have a player sent off early or suffer some serious injuries to the players he'd been trying to wrap in cotton wool so that it all turned out to have been in vain - in which case Boro go out and the "wrong" decision had been made. On the other hand he could decide to go down Route B (resting players etc) and everything still goes wrong in which case it's Michael Carrick's fault again. However the truth remains that whatever decisions he makes, if Boro end up being promoted, it will be seen in years to come as the right and successful decision.
A full, and bouncing, Riverside for the last game of the regular league season against Coventry, will be good to see. You'll also be able to hear and FEEL the support when the chest reverberates if/when Boro should score a goal. I hope it will be Akpom getting to 30 league goals in the regular season so that particular load can be lifted.
History is written by, or on behalf of, the winners. I THINK Michael Carrick is a winner now, at the start of his managerial career, just as his cabinet-case full of medals shows he was a winner as a player. Keep the fingers crossed in any case....
I suspect the longer gap between semi and final is more to with the logistics of selling tickets and organising the trip to Wembley for supporters but yes 3 days is quite tight between each leg - though it was the same last year too.
Just to add, the last time Boro were in the playoffs (the Brentford tie Len mentioned earlier) there was a week between the first and second leg.
@forever-dormo DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMNED IF YOU DON'T
@lenmasterman Yes, I was there. I was visiting Boro with 10 friends from my local football club. We hoped to see Sami Hyypiä as a Brighton manager, too. But Sami got sacked before our visit.
And I was at the former players evening during the week. Jim Platt had invited me to there and I sat beside Stuart Boam.
Who were in your table, Len? I think this was the second time we met - was the first time at Derby County?
Yes, the Brighton match was a boring draw. And my team lost a match against former Boro stars 12-3, too. But I scored from a corner BEHIND the great Jim Platt. My best ever moment in football.
Luckily I can still call Jim Platt a friend. Last saw him in October last year. Up the Boro!
Carrick as got to go back to the winning formula 4231 no Jones, he's not a ninety minute player, bits here bits there , no Crooks same thing , just hope Howson is fit if not Burlaser, but he as to realize his defensive responsibilities,
Coventry are no mugs, and if you don't compete with them you will be in trouble,
COB
This has been one of the best-argued threads for ages (from a very strong field!) You have all magnificently explained the pros and cons for the game against Coventry. This has been hugely impressive. As someone said, we don’t envy Carrick having to wrestle with this one!
For what it’s worth, I’m marginally in the play-your-best-team camp, on the grounds that we need to refind our momentum, that we might gain a psychological advantage over Coventry (who, let us not forget, have already beaten us once this season), and that we’re playing in front of a full house. Many of those coming on Monday may not have been to a game for ages; I would hate them to leave with the feeling of ‘Typical Boro’, in case they don’t come back if we don’t go up.
On the other hand (he says, nervously rehearsing the counter arguments, while chewing finger nails), we really must avoid any more injuries or suspensions. Will key players asked to play be fully committed? It could be tense out there on Monday.
I think I’ve used up my 50-50. Can I phone a friend?
I just hope that I am not the bad luck charm as on my last three visits to the Riverside I have seen 1 win and 2 losses.
Beat Birmingham 2-0, lost 0-3 to Derby and lost 2-3 to Cardiff earlier this season ☹️.
Must be due at least a draw or better still a convincing win, please! 😎
Interestingly a draw on Monday will suit both teams as Coventry will be guaranteed 6th place at worst, 5th if Millwall don’t beat Blackburn.
Come on BORO.
I agree Clive, on both counts - first that it has been/is a great debate, but also that I am in the camp of wanting to see us back to our best.
Now would be a very good time for us to record a clean sheet. If we are able to deny Coventry, and especially their talisman, a goal, then I think that will set a respectable marker down for whichever our opponents will be in the playoff. Chuba has to score his 30th goal on Monday. That alone will inspire both the crowd and the team for what is to come. However, as pointed out in this thread, Coventry will not be a pushover. All the same, they cannot afford to sit back and hope to pick us off on the break. Going into the game Coventry must play to win if they are to be certain of a playoff spot. That said depending on how other scores are looking at half time, they may be content to sit back in the second half. Who knows?!
Like KP, I'll be there on Monday, but I will not be able to attend the playoff fixture, so from my own very selfish perspective, I am hoping to see Boro win in style. That said, no goals for Coventry and Chuba netting for the Boro will be enough to send me away happy.
In an ideal world Boro beat Coventry convincingly a great team performance, Chuba scores at least one and we pick up no injuries or red cards - everyone goes home happy and other results conspire to leave Coventry in 5th place so that the psychological advantage is firmly with Boro.
Question is whether that is the scenario Michael Carrick is planning for - maybe as we speak he is busy calculating what the objective of Monday's game is and how much of it he can control to the advantage of Boro's playoff chances. A full risk analysis of all possible scenarios and a calculated plan to handle different stages should they unfold.
With other things on my mind this week I didn’t look at my iPad yesterday so until l had a telephone conversation with Clive Hurren last night I was unaware of the mayhem on Diasboro yesterday. I’ve had another bad week with excrement on the toilet floor and on the bathroom carpet so spent most of the day clearing up the mess. I’ve already had to dispose of two pair of trousers as far too soiled to put into the washing machine. I’m wearing two tena pads at the same time and with regular doses of Imodium capsules have fortunately avoided soiling the bed clothes so far.
A district nurse will be visiting me tomorrow to discuss my palliative care arrangements, if indeed I go ahead with them as I have no intention of vacating my home to live in a care home or sheltered accommodation. I can cope with wearing a catheter bag (but not an inserted colostomy), so this is the dilemma I’m faced with.
As for Michael Carrick’s dilemma I reiterate what I wrote a couple of days ago, that in my opinion Boro must beat Coventry on Coronation Day as I believe that they are the best ‘in form’ team outside of Luton and the team most likely to prevent Boro fulfilling their dream of Premier League football next season.