Middlesbrough (H) V Southampton (A)

Saturday 23rd September

KO 15:00 - Riverside Stadium

 

Form (Right is recent)

Southampton

WWLLL

Middlesbrough

DLLLD

 

Welcome

to the first OneBoro Matchday Group Therapy Session. Being my first matchday thread, I've taken the liberty to enact a zero negativity zone and replaced @TheJew with a bundle of import lavender incense and a whale noise cassette tape.

The one on the left is Phillip, look at his eyes. Cute isn't he.

Now, I want you all to relax. Take a seat on the sofa, settle down and close your eyes. League One isn't real and it can't hurt you. We've got 39 games left to go, meaning that we can still finish this season on an astonishing 117 points. That's a whopping 11 points higher than Readings 05-06 record season! It may seem like time is fast approaching and Tesco has already rolled out the easter eggs, but don't read into that too much.

 

Predicted Teams

Boro

Personal opinion, but this is the team I'd want to see starting, I imagine most people reading here would tend to agree.

Southampton

Southampton seem to have switched up their shape and lineup a few times, so i've used their most recent one from Ipswich.

 

Insights:

1. This is the first league meeting between Middlesbrough and Southampton since the 2016-17 Premier League campaign – we lost both games that season.

2. This is only the third time in their last 35 league meetings that Middlesbrough and Southampton will face outside the top-flight – we last did so in the 2011-12 season.

3. Southampton's Russell Martin has never won a league game against Middlesbrough in four attempts (D1 L3), all while Swansea manager, losing both games at the Riverside. Are we his... bogey team?

 

Questions:

1. What's your score prediction?

2. On a scale of 1 to "I can't watch this anymore," where does your pre-match anxiety level currently stand?

3. Would a solid win here win Carrick much-needed favour, or is there much more needing to be done?

 

And again, think of Phillip.

[Note: This matchday thread is intended for comedic effect and is not a substitute for actual therapy.]

Questions:

1. What's your score prediction?

Every time I predict a Boro win - we lose...

2. On a scale of 1 to "I can't watch this anymore," where does your pre-match anxiety level currently stand?

1  2  3  4   5  6  7  8  9  10  I Can't Watch This Anymore

3. Would a solid win here win Carrick much-needed favour, or is there much more needing to be done?

It would definitely give him some breathing room I feel. Would hopefully be a big morale boost for the players too.

 

Overall  W17  D15  L25

Home    W11  D7  L8

Away      W6    D8  L17

 

Last 10 (H):  W4  D1  L5  (F19  A19)

(back to 11th January 1997)

We do reasonably well at home to Saints, historically. Last 10 home games our record is decent...although given how long ago they were, it probably doesn't mean much. However, one thing that hasn't changed in that time is the distance from Southampton to Middlesbrough. We can only hope the travel takes a bit out of them and they aren't up to speed on the day. Goal difference over those 10 home games is 0. Again  might not mean anything, or it could point to another close encounter...probably NOT of the Third Kind...

My line-up for the game...

 

4-1 to the boro

I am hoping Bazuna gets injured and they have to turn to Lumley.  I would like to play 4-3-3 but not expecting it though. Its massively important we start on the front foot and lift the crowd.

Dieng

Howson Fry Lenihan RVDB

Hackney O'Brien

Jones           McGree

Latte and Coburn

 

I'd bring Howson in at right back for a bit more experience and solidity. Our full back situation really is poor at the minute.

Middlesbrough 0 Southampton 3

We look awful. 

2 minutes ago, Humpty said:

Dieng

Howson Fry Lenihan RVDB

Hackney O'Brien

Jones           McGree

Latte and Coburn

 

I'd bring Howson in at right back for a bit more experience and solidity. Our full back situation really is poor at the minute.

When did Howson become solid?

I'm thinking Bangura might be back for this one.  If not then Engel again.  RVDB isn't a right back let alone a left back, and for a team that likes an attacking fullback involved, that back four doesn't really include one.

2 minutes ago, TheJew said:

This is the game I've been dreading. Not a chance do we win, and not even a chance do we score first.

Southampton will be 1 nil up at half time and the toxicity in the stands will commence. It'll finish 3 nil and Carrick's tenure will come to end sayeth the prophecy.

Defeat is, inevitable.

Why have you been dreading this one as opposed to dreading the others?

5 minutes ago, Changing Times said:

When did Howson become solid?

I'm thinking Bangura might be back for this one.  If not then Engel again.  RVDB isn't a right back let alone a left back, and for a team that likes an attacking fullback involved, that back four doesn't really include one.

Solid/dependable choose whichever works relative to our current full back situation. We don't have any attacking full backs this season, so that's a moot point. Fair point on Bangura, if he's fit he starts at left back. I don't really listen to Carrick's pre-match interviews anymore so i hadn't heard what the latest was on him.

Edited September 21, 20232 yr by Humpty

Sinners V Saints!

1. What's your score prediction?

I'm going to predict that we continue and go 0-2 down before turning up in the second half and one goes in from a free kick that bounces off Crooks' backside. 1-2 final score and the ground emptying on 80 minutes after more turgid dross.

2. On a scale of 1 to "I can't watch this anymore," where does your pre-match anxiety level currently stand?

My anxiety is probably around a 2 or 3 as I'm now in the mode of expecting the worst and anything more than a defeat will be a pleasant surprise. The Rioja medication also helps.

3. Would a solid win here win Carrick much-needed favour, or is there much more needing to be done?

Only a win will save Carrick from a tirade of jeers and boos unfortunately, solid or otherwise. However if SG has already made his mind up then we know from the Southgate era it could all be irrelevant.

26 minutes ago, Rob said:

4-1 to the boro

You have gone soooooo negative on us @Rob 😞 

8 minutes ago, Humpty said:

Solid/dependable choose whichever works relative to our current full back situation. We don't have any attacking full backs this season, so that's a moot point. Fair point on Bangura, if he's fit he starts at left back. I don't really listen to Carrick's pre-match interviews anymore so i hadn't heard what the latest was on him.

I think if he was either solid or dependable he'd be in our midfield, and our midfield would have looked better than it is.  I see the rationale for playing him if we've got nobody else at all but I think we'd be better off playing three at the back in that case or playing that lad we brought in from Man City maybe who can apparently play there.

39 minutes ago, Rob said:

4-1 to the boro

Wait...you reckon we're gonna concede a goal? 😲

He's been solid and dependable for years in the midfield. Unfortunately it seems like his legs are going. He's capable of playing right back and i'd back him to do a better job than any of our other current options.

Well done @MRe on your first effort.

Lost both games when we last played Southampton in a season.......does not bode well sadly