Coventry v Boro 3-0

[OldManGravz 2,305 6.3k]

Coventry v Middlesbrough

Saturday, 12 August @ 12:30

Coventry Building Society Arena

Live on Sky Sports Main Event, iFollow for those outside the UK, and firesticks around the country. 

Now officially the most successful oneBoro MDT author of the 23/24 season. Lets keep the run going as we face Coventry..... It seems like we are always playing Coventry recently, doesn't it?

The Form:
The mood on social media has certainly lightened following Boro's midweek victory over Huddersfield in the first round of the Carabao Cup. We may have only won by a goal but that certainly hasn't stopped (most) Boro fans from seeing the positives. An early mix-up between Van den Berg and Glover caused the nerves to fray a little but after Huddersfield were correctly reduced to ten men the Boro began to work their way into the game. Our new starting midfield of Barlaser and Hackney excelled when given the chance to work with a more mobile forward unit, spraying passes into the feet of both wingers which led to two of the key moments in the first half. Barlaser got some stick after the Millwall game but put the disappointment behind him and grabbed two assists to kick start his season. The three behind the striker all managed to open their accounts for the season, Silvera and Jones scored after starting and McGree after replacing Payero from the bench. I'm hoping we begin with those three on the pitch on Saturday also, after Silvera excited from the bench against Millwall too.

Coventry began their league campaign with a 2-1 defeat against recently relegated Leicester, but lets be honest who can blame them with the strength of that Leicester team? Kyle McFadzean scored the first goal of the post-Gyok era, as new signings Simms, Latibeaudiere, Dasilva, and Thomas starting the game while further debuts were handed to Van Ewijk, Sakamoto and Wright from the bench. This is very much a Coventry side which still needs to gel together and there is talk of Gus Hamer leaving for Leeds, so lets hope that happens before Saturday. Coventry fielded a strong side against AFC Wimbledon in the cup on Wednesday evening, but again went down 2-1 after two very late goals, despite leading from a Matt Godden penalty in the 17th minute. Sakamoto, Van Ewijk and Wright all made their full debuts so it would be interesting to see who starts on Saturday. It's worth noting this is Coventry's first home game of the season so the atmosphere should be electric.

The Line-up:
Boro have been linked with a new striker and a left back in the past 24 hours (ALL HAIL @Borodane) but you have to imagine that any signing made now would not be integrated enough to start on Saturday. With interest in Akpom appearing to liven up, you have to wonder if he would be risked even if he was fully fit. Forss was rested for the midweek win at Huddersfield so I do believe he will start here, although I would still like to see him played in the #9 position while we await our permanent signing. 

 

The View From The Otherside: 
The matchday thread on the Coventry forums can be found here! They seem to be a quite optimistic bunch on the whole although apparently there may be an injury to Thomas, who they have just signed from Burnley.

Questions:
1. Will we finally beat Coventry?
2. Will we get anyone new in before the weekend?
3. Is Chuba off?
4. Who are you wanting to see up front?
5. Are you more optimistic after Tuesday's result?

[Rob 6,209 9.5k]

4-0 to the boro

[Denzel Zanzibar 8,037 15.3k]

As much as I want to see Forss up top with Jones on the right, it's not going to happen.

The Rogers experiment continues, and we'll get a draw.

 1-1

[MRe 359 760]

1 hour ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

As much as I want to see Forss up top with Jones on the right, it's not going to happen.

The Rogers experiment continues, and we'll get a draw.

 1-1

Genuinely can't see the team being anything other than this

[Dan1234 1,226 3.2k]

44 minutes ago, MRe said:

Genuinely can't see the team being anything other than this

Don't underestimate Crooks finding his way back in the starting 11 despite being pap.

[Hammy legend 1,244 1.3k]

Yes

No

Yes

Forss

Yes

2-1 Forss double 

[Redcar Rioja 8,855 8.7k]

Silvera has to start and I'd prefer Jones as well but I'd also want Forss as the Striker and Rogers in the Chuba role. I also like McGree and would want him playing as well so how do we get 5 into 4 unless Coulson drops out for McGree at LB and in fairness to Coulson with Silvera in front I'm happy for him to keep his place and concentrate on keeping it tight.

My head says that Carrick will keep Forss wide right, Rogers up top and McGree wide left meaning Crooks in the Chuba role, sighs!

[Dynamo Kev 1,816 6.4k]

3 hours ago, Redcar Rioja said:

Silvera has to start and I'd prefer Jones as well but I'd also want Forss as the Striker and Rogers in the Chuba role. I also like McGree and would want him playing as well so how do we get 5 into 4 unless Coulson drops out for McGree at LB and in fairness to Coulson with Silvera in front I'm happy for him to keep his place and concentrate on keeping it tight.

My head says that Carrick will keep Forss wide right, Rogers up top and McGree wide left meaning Crooks in the Chuba role, sighs!

i think rogers up top silviera left mcgree central forss/jones right. probably forss knowing carrick. 

which i think will work. 1-0 boro. 

[OldManGravz 2,305 6.3k]

8 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

As much as I want to see Forss up top with Jones on the right, it's not going to happen.

The Rogers experiment continues, and we'll get a draw.

 1-1

I wouldnt be totally opposed to Rogers up top but I think Jones would be better than Forss on the right still. Especially with the space a wing back is gonna create, surely would be better going with a bit of pace for Barlaser and Hackney to knock balls into the channels

[Bruce 2,974 2.3k]

This is a bit of a challenge for Carrick. Make no bones about it, we're in a bad run right now with the end of last season hanging over us. He has tended to be very consistent in team selection. He is very supportive of his players in public and, clearly, in private but he will drop a player instantly if he thinks they aren't up to scratch. The win against Huddersfield showed both the best and worst of how we set up, the question is, how does he approach Coventry? 

We've played them 3 times under Carrick and they've come out best. I tend to think he may stick with what he regards as his first team counting out injuries.

Dieng

McNair - Fry - Lenihan - Coulson

Howson - Hackney

Forss - Crooks - McGree

Rogers

If he does, I see yet another loss against them and some distinct rumblings. On the other hand, he may have looked at how we turned the game around against Huddersfield. If he does, I would go with.

Dieng

McNair - Fry - Lenihan - Coulson

Howson - Hackney

Jones - McGree - Silvera

Forss

Hard on Rogers who has worked hard in a position that he doesn't suit but we need someone with a striker's instinct to capitalise on the limited chances we're likely to get against Coventry. Jones is still recovering from his illness and it might be that he struggles with consistency in which case we might see Rogers wide on the right.

I reckon, if we go with the pace and width of Jones and Silvera that we'll come out on top.

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 2,188 10.2k]

Asuming Howson isn’t yet fully fit I’d leave him on the bench, play Barlasar in his position, move Rogers into the number 10 spot, which I think is his ideal position and try Forss up front. I’d leave zJones on the bench as an impact sub…harsh I know, but we have an embarrassment of riches in those forward positions. 

Dieng

McNair - Fry - Lenihan - Coulson

       Barlasar - Hackney

McGree - Rogers - Silvera

                  Forss

[SouthernSmoggie 5,244 6.9k]

I think they're a step or two ahead of us in terms of being prepped for the season. I thought they looked good last weekend whereas we still have some players out of position and some who aren't top 6 quality.

Add in the fact their style is our Achille's heel (pack the centre with a box midfield, fast direct counters) and we couldn't beat them with Akpom, Archer, and Giles... And all I can see is a comfortable Coventry win. 3-0 Cov. 

Our season will kick into gear in the weeks after when we can hopefully replace some of the weakest links in the current side.

[edinboro 1,430 2.2k]

I think with Coventry playing 2 up front we might see something a bit different.

[Brunners 8,978 25.4k]

This is my best guess for who starts, although I can't rule out Crooks still starting in that 10 role, annoyingly.

1-0 Cov

[Downsouth 8,142 39k]

Coventry have not started as well as their fans would like maybe it is our time to kick them whilst they are down and probably the best time to do so,

An away win by the Boro will suit me down to the ground.

Good op @OldManGravz deserved more than 3 likes I believe