Boro v Millwall 0-1

[SmogInSheff 87 684]

Been 7 seasons I think since we last won on the opening day. 

Despite that, I'm going for a 2 - 1 win. 

Team will probably be the same as the last game. 

A lad on twitter was watching training yesterday and Howson and Coburn were involved so a possibility they could make the squad.

[Dynamo Kev 1,817 6.4k]

i'm going for a 1-1 draw. its written in club history dna to not win first game

[BoroSmoggie 4,022 4.3k]

On 7/31/2023 at 1:18 PM, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Carrick won't play Forss up front, it'll either be Rogers or *shudder* Crooks

Crooks will be in the no.10, which tbh I hate even more because he isn’t mobile enough or good enough on the ball to be effective there

[BoroSmoggie 4,022 4.3k]

First goal will be very important. Already a bit of tension and unrest amongst fans so conceding early really isn’t go to do this young team any favours. 

Defence really concerns me with Coulson and McNair being the likely starters. I think I’d honestly play McGree left back and have Silvera on the left wing. 

If we start with the same team as we did against Auxerre then I think we will really struggle to break them down. No pace or creativity in that lineup.

[ReservoirSmog 69 83]

23 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

First goal will be very important. Already a bit of tension and unrest amongst fans so conceding early really isn’t go to do this young team any favours. 

Defence really concerns me with Coulson and McNair being the likely starters. I think I’d honestly play McGree left back and have Silvera on the left wing. 

If we start with the same team as we did against Auxerre then I think we will really struggle to break them down. No pace or creativity in that lineup.

I agree with the lack of pace. One of Silvera/Jones has to be in the starting 11 for me

[trekkers 110 2.4k]

Looking for with anticipation and optimism for the new season. Gutted I'm travelling home from the inlaws in Boro on Saturday morning so I'll be missing the game.(have to go to Wembley on Sunday with my daughter as she's a City fan!!)

I reckon 2-1 to the Boro!!!!

[Erimus74 5,267 5.4k]

I actually think we're at the same stage as last season, no clue of how we are going to get on this season

After the Preston game Wilder mentioned on an interview after the Preston game about attitiude over ability, or something like that, he went on to say (PL) signings that wanted to come here, yet nothing materialised, who was going to score the goals, Akpom, who up to the start of the season had scored 8 goals, was told to find another club, things didnt look to good & so it proved to be the case, leading up to Wilders dismissal etc

Carrick just transformed the team overnight & in the end got us scoring for fun, this summer signings came in together, young, with potential, Woodgates ideas when he became manager, which for me is great in my book, but I was expecting the following signings to be, more experienced,  players who would most likely be in the starting 11, or the match day squads, than in & out around the squads

I'm excited with the development of Forss, Hackney, my modern day Craig Johnston,  will have another season under his belt & hopefully become even better than last season, Fry, Lenninhan, a good partnership if & bif if, Fry stays clear of injuries, souns as though Van den Berg could be an important player for us,  Jones too, has the potential to be an important player for us this season, Howson is a big player for me, who needs replacing, in a nice way, as he's 35 & cant go on forever, probably struggle to play reguarly this season & when he's not playing he's missed

Which brings me to the rest of the signins, Deing will start in goal, but then its Rodgers, Gilbert, Silvera, all unknowns who may, or may not start, most likely go with Crooks leading the line along with Rodgers

Millwall will be the same hard working, physical team that they always have been & will be up for it on the day, with 2 ex Boro players in their ranks, possibly starting 11 in Saville & Watmore who will want to show the club what we're missing

MFC v MFC

I would say, over my time following the Boro, there have been some excellent moments our last game before liquidation when the Boro triumphed 3-0, John Hendries forever remembered end to end goal, but if I had to chose two stand out home games v Millwall they would be

8th February 1972 -  This was has to be in there due to been the 2nd ever FAC match, my 1st match when I witnessed big John miss a spot kick  - FAC4th round replay at Ayresome Park -  Just 3 days previously & with 5 minutes remaining & winning 2-0 we threw our lead at the Den so back to Ayresome Park & hopefully finish off this time

A beautiful sight back then as young kid (11 years old) standing in the boysend with my younger brother, our dad standing infrontof us in the bob end, seperated by a 4 foot wall. Tuesday night under the floodlights in front of 36,489, Boro at the 2nd attempt done what they should have done 3 days earlier & won the replay with John Hickton scoring a re-taken penalty after Millwall keeper dared to saved big John's spot kick, the Millwall keeper had moved too soon, not like today when they can run from line to line, back then they had to remain rigid until the kicker struck the ball, the Millwall players celebrated but the ref blew he whistle for the kick to be re-taken, big John unnerved stood up & took the 2nd spot kick, bang, in the back of the net, scoring our 9th FAC penalty, normal service was resumed
 

29th October 1988 leading up to kickoff,  Peter Davenport had agreed to sign for the Boro after (unlucky for us) turning down an approach from Aston Villa, as unbeaten Millwall came to the Boro in a 1st division (now PL) clash

If TV had picked this game for a live match then it would have been a great advert for how football should be played, the game was end to end from kickoff,  Boro going 1-0 up,  then by HT we were losing 2-1, the 2nd half  kicked off & the Boro took full control, making a mockery of Millwalls unbeatn start to the season, as we drew level, went infront & then increased our lead to put the game to bed & send Millwall home pointless for the 1st time that season  - Gary Parkinson made it 4-2 when he scored our 200th home penalty  Boro winning 4-2 .             A typical Bruce Rioch Boro game during that excellent era, which had everything,  extra spice with Gary Hamilton v Trevor Hurlock battling out a midfield hardman contest, Hammy won hands down

 

15/1/1913 - Boro 4 Millwall 1 was the 1st fixture between the two teams on Teesside, since that game saturdays
Boro v Millwall game will be the 31st fixture on Teesside with the following record:

Won - 18
Drew - 8
Lost  - 4
Goals scored - 52
Goals against - 23

3 Boro players have scored hat tricks v Millwall 
15/1/1913 -  Boro 4 Millwall 1 FAC 2nd round - John Carr  became the 6th different Boro HT goalscorer when his scored his 1st Boro hat trick, the clubs 3rd FAC HT, our 10th HT & 12th overall
23/2/1929 -  Boro 3 Millwall 0 2nd division  - George Emmerson became the 19th different Boro HT goalscorer when his scored his 1st Boro hat trick, the clubs 3r8 HT, our 42ndth HT & 51st overall
6/12/2014 -  Millwall 1 Boro 5  Championship  - Jelly Vossen became the 58th different Boro HT goalscorer when his scored his 1st & only Boro hat trick, the clubs 40th away HT & 142nd overall & Boro's  last away HT too

 

[Hammy legend 1,244 1.3k]

That 4-2 game was an absolute cracker . Millwall had Sheringham and Cascarino up front. Second half, we tore them apart. Did Ripley score that day ?

[SzilardNemethsCurtains 3,911 4.4k]

12 hours ago, BoroSmoggie said:

First goal will be very important. Already a bit of tension and unrest amongst fans so conceding early really isn’t go to do this young team any favours. 

Defence really concerns me with Coulson and McNair being the likely starters. I think I’d honestly play McGree left back and have Silvera on the left wing. 

If we start with the same team as we did against Auxerre then I think we will really struggle to break them down. No pace or creativity in that lineup.

Auxerres second came from McGree losing possession and being out of position, not sure I'd trust him there at all. McNair will be fine though 

[edinboro 1,438 2.2k]

I'm going for a left field line up from Carrick.

              Dieng

    VDB.    Fry Lenihan

Jones Hackney Barlaser McGree

   Forss.     Morgan    Silvera

I like the balance and mix of options

Plenty of options off the bench to change things which is difference to last year.

3-1 Boro.

[Downsouth 8,144 39k]

Should be a good game let us hope we start with a win!

[Denzel Zanzibar 8,044 15.4k]

Akpom is gonna come off the bench, score a hat-trick and then run to Gibson screaming "SHOW ME THE MONEY"

[OldManGravz 2,325 6.3k]

Another one of these, please

 

[sanddancer 2,098 6.2k]

I could not even guess where we may finish the season so I’m not going to even try. The only thing I will hope for is we start better then we ended last season. 
New boys from the premier will be joining us. I think Leicester City and Leeds United will be up front fighting it out for a top three where as Southampton will be battling 10th to 7th or there about. 

["KM" 2,160 15.1k]