... Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Or to put it another way,
"Ya gotta go when ya gotta go!"
Regarding the FA Cup meeting with Mansfield in the FA Cup, Boro have twice played the Stags away losing 0-2 in the 3rd Round in 1967 when Boro spent their first ever season in the 3rd Division and after winning 5-2 at Chester needed three meetings with York City to reach that stage. The second time was of course in 2008 when Dong-Gook Lee scored his one and only goal for Boro in the televised 4th Round match.
However the two teams have also met in the League Cup in 1985 when Boro again lost away to Mansfield 0-2 in a First Round 1st Leg match and went out of the competition with a 4-4 draw in the 2nd Leg at Ayresome Park despite a brace from Gary Rowell, one from David Currie and an own goal from Gary Pollard. Another high scoring match was in 1966 when Boro won 5-4 at the Stags former ground Field Mill, the Boro scorers being two each from John O’Rourke and Derrick Downing plus one from John Hickton.
Interestigly though that the Stags were formed by a group of Wesleyan chapel members in 1897 and known as Mansfield Wesleyans before being renamed Mansfield Town in 1910.
@ken there is only one thing that comes to my mind from Mansfield - Stuart Boam, the former Boro captain.
Stuart Boam was signed from Mansfield Town in 1971. As we all know he went on to play 322 times for Boro.
He later joined the Stags as a player-manager after a spell at Newcastle (1979–1981). However, a back injury restricted his playing role to a handful of appearances, and as manager he failed to get the expected results, finishing fifth from bottom of Division Four in his only full season in charge. He was sacked as manager in January 1983.
I have met Stuart once in a former players' meeting and sitting next to him. He still lives in the Mansfield area.
Up the Boro!
Great opener, OFB. Many thanks once again.
Its tough to know what to expect from Stoke. They’ve been poor of late but got an excellent result away at QPR last time out.
Its a nice feeling knowing that Wilder’s Boro are more focused on ourselves than the opposition though and will stick to a certain way of playing whoever we’re against. We saw how successful that approach can be under Karanka and I’m hoping CW can do something similar in time.
For now, I’m happy to see Boro playing some real football and passing and moving. Tangible progress already and I just want to see that maintained.
A win would be a real sign of that progress but I’d probably take a point if offered one now.
Stuart Boam and Willie Maddren, my favourite (and for me the best) centre back pairing in all my years following Boro.
@powmillnaemore. I will second that. Pallister was good as was Nigel Pearson but those two as a pairing were outstanding and Willie was taken far too early. 😎
Another new back room staff for the Boro:
https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-ex-swansea-man-scott-agrees-to-join-middlesbrough/
Come on BORO.
Another new back room staff for the Boro:
https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-ex-swansea-man-scott-agrees-to-join-middlesbrough/
Come on BORO.
Oh no, not another Scott .... is this a sequel to Gordon Strachan's Jochification?
Yes, Willie Maddren was taken far too early. Neither player got the recognition they really deserved in their playing days. I think it was unfortunate for them that Colin Todd and Roy McFarland were playing at the same time and were preferred for England. I honestly believed (and still do) that as a pairing Boam and Maddren were better than Todd and McFarland, but the latter two had a huge advantage for them by not playing for Middlesbrough.
After Boam and Maddren, I liked the Southgate/Ehiogu partnership.
It's good to see a manager who lets the opposition worry about Boro. He doesn't disturb the formation or method of playing he lets the opposition do that and lets them tamper to counteract Boro. What a refreshing attitude and a bit different to some recent Boro managers.
Stoke v Boro, too early for a prediction really. Drunk on fumes a Boro win but I for one would be happy with a draw. But who knows? Judging by my SkySuper6 predictions not me.
UTB,
John
Another new back room staff for the Boro:
https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-ex-swansea-man-scott-agrees-to-join-middlesbrough/
Come on BORO.
Looks like the Club are seriously building a professional and competent set up behind the scenes and actually putting in place a "Golden Thread" at last. Andy Scott has a good background of Scouting experience with roles with Swansea, Brentford and Watford. It's looking good, almost worryingly good!
@powmillnaemore Willie Maddren & Stuart Boam, Mogga & Pallister and Ehiogu & Southgate - all legendary centre-back pairings for the Boro.
Plus all these pairs had a very good goalkeeper behind them. Perhaps we need an upgrade on the goalkeeper department, too?
Up the Boro!
@redcarred Another foam-hander in there? Should I be worried next? UTB!
@powmillnaemore Willie Maddren & Stuart Boam, Mogga & Pallister and Ehiogu & Southgate - all legendary centre-back pairings for the Boro.
Plus all these pairs had a very good goalkeeper behind them. Perhaps we need an upgrade on the goalkeeper department, too?
Up the Boro!
Indeed we do Jarkko.
@powmillnaemore Willie Maddren & Stuart Boam, Mogga & Pallister and Ehiogu & Southgate - all legendary centre-back pairings for the Boro.
Plus all these pairs had a very good goalkeeper behind them. Perhaps we need an upgrade on the goalkeeper department, too?
Up the Boro!
I think all strong defensive have a good goalkeeper behind them - it makes the centre backs, in particular, more confident about their own roles and positioning.
Let’s see what CW thinks about our current goalkeeping resources - maybe with some input from Leo.
@redcarred Another foam-hander in there? Should I be worried next? UTB!
It's the fumes of optimism starting to get to me (and Plato). Makes a change from suffering through the last four or five years. I think SG has finally accepted that it's best if he runs the business side of the Club and brings in Football people to look after the footballing side of things.
Who would have thought that Carpenters are the best woodworkers, Bricklayers lay the most bricks, Plumbers are no good with electrics but ace at putting pipes in, that Electricians do in fact do the best Electrical work and that Accountants are best at looking after the books yet are pretty lousy at bricklaying, plumbing and woodwork etc? It's taken a while but I think MFC have got there or at least nearly there!
A welcome 3 points for Hartlepools last night. I was glued to Flashscores and had almost given up on a win as extra time beckoned. What a sad life I lead when I have to resort to watching a digital screen to get excitement. Mind I can’t remember the last time that either Boro or Pools scored winning goals during extra time, although Boro’s wins against Basel and Steau Bucharest came close.
Under the government’s Plan B, only fully vaccinated fans will be allowed in grounds for crowds over 10,000 and have to show proof before being admitted, I believe this is because the new variant is airborne. This will be in force for our next home game against Bournemouth, question I have is, will unvaccinated players be allowed in the ground as they breath the same air.
Come on BORO.
Belated thanks OFB for another great Headliner.
Not sure what to think about Saturday and the possibly Team News and result.
As others have touched on I believe, injuries permitting, an unchanged line-up. Surely CW cannot drop Bamba. Also as poor as Tav has been, attacking wise and creating, his defensive duties over 90 minutes will keep him in the staring 11 for awhile yet.
Payero is the difficult one, potentially the player we need to help us get more out of Sporar and Watmore with his better range of forward passes. Although as an out of the box thought, we could move Tav to replace Bola and slot Payero in the middle?
Just hoping for a result and not a dip on the upward curve.
Heads Up
Boro on Football Focus Lunchtime Saturday with Clem (who is a Boro supporter!) and the team
OFB
As I haven't got a smart phone I decided to try printing a NHS COVID Pass to check it would be ok for 18 December. (I have booked in at the Premier Inn for the Friday night and the early kick off will mean I can get home on the Saturday night.)
Beneath the barcode it says "2D barcode expires: 11 December 2021 at 9:21 PM"!
However in subsequent paragraphs it says "Scanning the code will show your name, confirm your test or vaccination, and an expiry date. The duration of its validity depends on whether you were tested or vaccinated" and later "Your 2D barcode expires 30 days from the date of issue..." though the printout does not show a date of issue. I have had the first 2 vaccinations plus the booster.
As I can't read the barcode I don't know whether this print expires on the 11th or is valid for 30 days from today and I think I will have to get another print done on 17 December to make sure I am allowed into the Riverside.
Try and find someone with an iPhone with a bar code reader app who can scan it for you. If not play safe and get another one
OFB
As a keen crossword addict and Countdown fan, is OMICRON really a MORONIC pandemic?
I had to laugh at the late Peter Alliss’s confession on a golf commentary when he mentioned that when Carole Vorderman was listing the letters for the Countdown conundrum that he once managed to get a 7 letter word AROUSAL.
@david-in-cumbria David, if you have a computer or access to one.
Go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/
Here you can log in/create an account and print a paper copy of your vaccination details. OR if you phone 119 you can request a paper confirmation of your vaccine details. This in someways is better than having it on your phone. Usually arrives within a couple of days. No expiry date (at present)
Hope this helps..
Just been catching up on all your posts. Some great stuff.
I’m going to Stoke tomorrow. My first away game for yonks - thanks Covid. I must be mad. Their ground is freezing, it’s the middle of winter and the forecast is for heavy rain all day. Not the best of conditions, obviously. I’m planning to walk the 2 miles from the station to the ground. I may need to change that game plan! The words rat and drowned spring to mind…….. wish me luck.
It’s always a tough game there. Ask Arsène Wenger! I think we’ll need to be at our best to get something from the game. Having said that, I’m sure Wilder will have a good game plan, and if we can play something like we did at Huddersfield (by all accounts) combined with the sheer bloody-minded doggedness of the Swansea game, then I’m optimistic we’ll get at least a point.
Just learned about the return of your shingles, Ken. So sorry. I do hope it’s now very much on the wane again.
Good luck, Clive. Hope your courage and loyalty are rewarded.
If Werder could direct us to a possible streaming site in due course, I'm sure I won't be the only one to be really grateful. The tip-off on the Huddersfield game was much appreciated and very enjoyable.