[Social Media Channel]

This is something that always floats around as an idea - we did some nice stuff previously with a podcast (although very short lived) and Tom and Humpty did some nice video bits. 

It would be interesting to try and do something different to those that already do these things. Red Army TV, Boro Fan TV, Boro Breakdown etc. 

I would actually prefer a post match opinion - raw is always more exciting and interesting. Its where Arsenal Fan TV really made its name. Boro Fan TV do a bit of it though. 

I am happy to be involved, although not a particularly active member of the forum, having moved back down south. 

[JW The "humble pie" thread]

It’s gone well the last months, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

Still a lot to do and Woodgate has almost been forced into the way we’re playing.

At the end of January if things are still looking bright and we’ve moved up the table - then we can start to be enthusiastic! 

[Boro V Hull City 2-2 (Tavernier, Fletcher)]

Welcome to the Official oneBoro Match Day Thread for the EFL Championship fixture between Middlesbrough and Hull City. 

Boro currently find themselves in the bottom 3 of the Championship without a win in 7 league matches... that win against Reading seems an awfully long time ago... well that's because it was!

Hull find themselves middle of the pile in 12th having won 3 of their last 5, the wins coming away to Fulham and Forest whilst beating Derby at home. 

These sides have met 52 times previously in the league - Boro winning 25, 14 in Hulls favour and 13 draws - Boro will need to add to their winning total, otherwise even the most optimistic of fans and managers will have to admit Boro are in a relegation scrap!

Last Time Out

QPR 2 - 2 Boro

Britt Assombalonga scored twice for struggling Middlesbrough as they drew 2-2 at QPR in the Sky Bet Championship.

Boro were staring at another defeat before Nahki Wells' appalling back-pass went straight to Assombalonga, who capitalised by calmly lifting the ball over keeper Joe Lumley.

Wells' ninth goal of the season had brought Rangers level just after they had fallen behind to Assombalonga's first, and an own goal by Jonny Howson a minute before half-time meant the hosts led at the interval.

After 'keeper Darren Randolph pushed out Grant Hall's header, the ball bounced off the unfortunate Howson and into the net.

That seemed to sum up what has been a miserable season for Jonathan Woodgate's Boro side so far - but they left with a point courtesy of Assombalonga's 69th-minute equaliser.
(Source - Sky Sports)

Hull 0 - 1 WBA

West Brom consolidated their position at the summit of the Championship table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hull at the KCOM Stadium.

The Baggies did not have it all their own way in East Yorkshire and Grant McCann's side were confident having won their last three outings, but it was an old face that came back to haunt the Tigers.

Jake Livermore, who spent three-and-a-half seasons as a Hull player before joining West Brom in 2017, scored the only goal in the 28th minute, firing home from distance.

The home side had their chances, with Kamil Grosicki spurning their most notable opportunity, but West Brom showed the grit of promotion contenders to ensure Livermore's strike was decisive.

(Source - Sky Sports)

Lazy Scouting

Jarrod Bowen

The 23-year-old is already into double figures for the season with 9 league and 1 cup goal in the bag. Hull slapped a £20m price tag on the striker with Spurs sniffing around the youngster in previous transfer windows. He has continued his fine form from last season when he slotted 22 goals in 46 appearances in an otherwise unremarkable season for Hull. Signed by Hull whilst in the Premier League from then Conference side Hereford United, the punt on a young potential seems to be paying off.

Talking Points

- Will Woodgate stick with the same side from QPR?

- What is the key to Boro taking 3 points from the game?

- Will Britt Assombalonga now find some confidence in front of goal?

- Is Lewis Wing performing to his potential?

['Other Boro stuff']

5 minutes ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Thankfully, aye. Still think we'll sell in January.

Possibly, but I think people will need to give us good value. Same goes for any player. I think Randoloh, McNair and possibly Wing are the only players who's get any interest

['Other Boro stuff']

On 11/7/2019 at 4:30 PM, Denzel Zanzibar said:

 I'm saying the club are ready to push him out of the door as he's our only saleable asset and are keeping him from playing because they see Pears as his successor.

Playing with Pears on the bench.. looks like you're a bit wrong

[Boro V Wigan 1-0 (Assombalonga)]

The positives:

We won, Britt scored...

The negatives:

We looked disjointed, players lacking confidence and form, system still not right, were lucky not to concede.

 

Still 3 points though... Maybe the first brick of this season's foundations.

 

Another home game to come, a positive start against Millwall and it could start to look a little better... COULD

['Other Boro stuff']

1 hour ago, Changing Times said:

He's only been doing it for the last two years mate ?

You've got a point CT, it's been a tough thing to commentate on..

[New oneBoro Members joining from other Forums]

Could be Dorset or Kent.. if at all either of the Gillinghams

['Other Boro stuff']

Sadly only a few games were recorded. I'll have a look to see what I can dig up once I'm fully established back down here. My Mac is currently in a box under a bed ?

['Other Boro stuff']

I'm sure he is, I've followed a few commentators careers and being biased on local radio hasn't stopped the best rising to the top.

 

I'm led to believe Ali turned down moves up the ladder as he only wanted to commentate on the Boro. He was also the reason why so many of our games were picked for 5live/sports extra in his days when nothing else was on. Because the standard was high.

['Other Boro stuff']

I do agree, far from the worst commentary team we've had to listen to following the Boro. Addo is a decent presenter and the trio thing works.

Bernie had his time, it worked well as the Yang to Ali's Ying.

Higgy was good too - far more tactical awareness in his comments.

 

['Other Boro stuff']

1 minute ago, wilsoncgp said:

TBF to Mark and Maddo, last season there wasn't often much to talk about in the way of football, their commentary was about as good as they could make it.

Still, we've been left with whatever was second best to Ali Brownlee at the time. I remember when Mark Drury first came on board around the time Ali was ill and it all felt very weird, he'd done one or two before then but I think he's honestly got a lot better since then. If we don't get another like Ali, we've still been blessed to have had him in our lifetime for as long as we had him.

Drury and Maddo is also a lot better than Addison and Gill were 10 years ago when Tees first took the commentary back.

My problem with Mark Drury is it feels like he's commentating for a bigger aim - like it's a constant 5live audition. It's not what people generally want from a local radio commentator. 

Nothing wrong with a bit of bias - his only audience is Teesside and those willing to pay MFC - get less excited when the oppo score

['Other Boro stuff']

12 hours ago, Duvel said:

Can we swap you for the commentator on BBC Tees? ?

BBC Tees have a perfectly good commentator.. just a shame it's Rob Law and not Mark 'I love a cliche and club nickname and talk about anything but the game' Drury 

I don't think I'd go down too well either, with my southern accent and all.. long commute too as back in the land of over priced houses ?

['Other Boro stuff']

10 hours ago, Changing Times said:

That's cool that, mate ?

I guess you commentate more like the radio guys than the TV ones?

Essentially, yes. 

I'd like to think with none of the nonsense that you often get with radio commentaries. I describe exactly what's happening, very little time for fluffy stuff. It's more like the original radio commentaries before personality started to get in the way of things ?

['Other Boro stuff']

6 hours ago, BearSmog said:

Packing up to move house next week and came across this beauty whilst I was packing. 

Anyone else ever had a job @ the Boro? 

Spent the last two seasons working for the club as their audio descriptive commentator for blind and partially sighted supporters... Best job ever, despite having to put up with Pulisball ?

[Boro V Blackburn (A) 0-1]

36 minutes ago, DevKWat said:

                      Randolph 

Dijksteel   Ayala   Friend   Coulson 

      Wing     Howson   McNair

   Johnson       Britt       Fletcher

 

Friend in for Shotton the very obvious one, anyone taking Shotton’s place in the team is a big boost. 

Dijksteel has already won at Blackburn this season and apparently was excellent, giving the Blackburn attackers nothing down his side.

Howson can’t be left out of the team, given Dijksteel at RB he is more than capable of sitting in the holding midfield role. He is much better on the ball than Clayts and his defensive ability has improved massively, worth a try. 

I’d like to see Browne starting but I think that will happen next week if Johnson doesn’t perform, too harsh to drop any of them for this game. Johnson was good against Brentford first half but definitely a drop off from Luton. Personally see Browne far ahead of Johnson for the long haul this season 

Fletcher deserves a chance to play 9, big performance needed from Britt at Blackburn. 

Some great logic here - can't argue with any of it 

[Boro V Blackburn (A) 0-1]

I'm with Jimmy, let McNair sit.

I think he's got more in the tank than Howson energy wise and also has more defensive qualities having played right back and center back through large parts of his time at Man Utd.

[Boro V Blackburn (A) 0-1]

The next penalty is tricky.. it could be a while waiting for it too. Ideally it comes when we've got a decent (2+ goals)  advantage in a game and the scoring of it isn't vital. If that's the case, Britt takes it for me. If it's 90+ mins and the game is level, my thought process might be different...

 

Tricky game this, we need to improve as a pressing unit, were still half doing it leaving space at times.

 

Randolph

Dijksteel - Ayala - Friend - Coulson

Howson - McNair - Wing

Johnson - Britt - Fletcher

Is how I'd go. Clayton looks a bit lost in the press and is found too deep now allowing the back 4 to squeeze too, McNair clearly gets the press better and has been all energy so far this season. I think Howson is our best all round midfielder and Wing does what Wing does.

No need to tinker with our front 3 yet

[Boro V Blackburn (A) 0-1]

Saturday 17th August 2019 - 3pm KO - Ewood Park

Preview:

Both sides come into this fixture following home league cup fixtures against lower league opposition - Blackburn oversaw a battling Oldham side 3:2, whilst Boro only turned up for the last 15 minutes against Crewe and were knocked out on penalties. 

Blackburn have a host of familiar faces in their employment with Tony Mowbray has several ex-Boro players in his ranks including; Harry Chapman, Danny Graham, Richie Smallwood, Stewart Downing and Jayson Leutwiler. There is a decent 5 a-side team in there!

Both sides have only won 2 of their last 6 competitive fixtures stretching back into last season and Jonathan Woodgate will want to come off on top in the battle of the two ex Boro centre backs.

Last Time Out (League):

Boro

Lets look past the penalty defeat to Crewe for a moment after 10 changes to the starting line up and back to the defeat at home to Brentford. Boro had a great first half and could possibly been 2-0 up at half time after come controversial refereeing decisions - but those goals were chalked off and Woodgates side were unable to keep up the pace and pressing of the first half and succumbed to a much improved Bee's side who stole a 1-0 victory from under the noses of the Boro faithful.

Match Highlights (Stolen from Brentford FC's YouTube)

Blackburn

A superb Tom Cairney goal helped Fulham record their first victory of the fledgling season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage.

The Fulham captain, who endured a frustrating season in the Premier League, demonstrated the poise, positional sense and positivity which sets him apart at Championship level.

 

One to Watch:

It would be typical Boro if one of their former players were to nick a winner in stoppage time and they have plenty to look out for, but its ex Boro target Bradley Dack who is my pick of the Blackburn Squad. 

The ex Gillingham man got his first goal of the new season in the league cup, the London born attacker got 15 goals last season and will be looking to push on this season!

 

Talking Points:

- Who will be Boro's penalty taker going forward?

- Will we see two fullbacks playing at fullback?

- Who makes your starting line up?

- Will Boro pick their first win of the season this weekend?

[Boro v Brentford 0-1]

17 minutes ago, Randy Sandwich said:

But homophobia isn't illigal is it as its just a state of mind, if you publicly display homophobia which causes offence then I believe that's when it can be acted on. 

So he hasn't publicly done it but said something in private? Then you have chose to make a private conversation public? 

Am I correct or putting 2 + 2 together and getting five? 

The incident DZ mentions has been shared with mods and being dealt with.

[Boro v Brentford 0-1]

Right all, enough of the derailing in various ways.

Things that have been posted/sent have been dealt with.

 

Let's keep things on the game, respect opinions and not lower the tone or post potentially discriminatory things - no need on a football forum.

Let's keep it civil and polite. 

[Boro v Brentford 0-1]

Sounds like a great first half, more of the same and we should have the quality to put a chance or two away.

 

Keep the high press and tight at the back.

 

Come on Boro.. 3 points please

[Boro v Brentford 0-1]

Keep it pleasant please chaps!! 

 

[Summer Transfer Window 2019/20 Season]

I don't think we've weakened our squad with the outgoings (bar Mikel who we were never going to keep), but I am not sure we've strengthened either.

We've made good additions, who have potential.

We've kept our best players and we still have a strong spine, but our depth just isn't there in key areas. We are going to rely heavily on Randolph, Fry, Ayala and Britt. More worrying is our hopes of Wing doing it week in week out.

I think we just about have a first 11 that can push for playoffs, lose 2 or more and were hoping for top half.

One thing for sure, this season's football will be better to watch than the last season and a half.. I was struggling to drag myself to games and I was being paid to be there ?

[Red Rocket oneBoro transfer.]

26 minutes ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

She'll need to start posting a bit more regularly then, huh

Quality can't be confused with quantity ???