I'm very close to backing Boro to lose in my bets just to guarantee us 3 points. 

I'm going to be so disappointed if that is the line up. Carrick has his complaints with the summer business of course, and they are valid. But his team selections and subs have been as bad as I've ever seen as a boro fan this season. 

10 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Alan Nixon has a story on us tomorrow 👀

Interesting 

Controversially I’d actually have Crooks in my starting XI, just not in that position. I think he links so well with Jones that we should make that partnership key to how we play, as it was the most effective part of Wilder’s system.
 

If everyone was fit, something like:

Dieng

McNair Fry Lenihan Bangura

Crooks Hackney O’Brien

Jones McGree

Latte Lath

 

would give us the best balance, bringing the best parts of the Carrick and Wilder systems together. Effectively a back 5 in defence with McNair dropping in and Jones coming back. We could make the pitch wide just like last season with Bangura and Jones playing the wingback role, but still with enough bodies in the midfield to keep that defensive stability, whilst still being equally dangerous in attack. I think Crooks would hit double figures again in that team. Like it or not he’s probably the best goalscorer we’ve got, at least until Latte Lath finds his shooting boots.

And no proper number 10, which is essentially a wasted position for us now that Akpom has left. We don’t have anyone that can play it effectively so we just need to get rid. McGree or O’Brien could still occupy that space when Bangura gets right up the pitch.

3 hours ago, diggerlad07 said:

If the line up i have been told is true, then imo its a statemement to the board and to the fans with all the recent criticism.

It feels one of those line ups where it could be your last game in charge doesn't it? I'm now taking Boro out of my accumulators and swapping it round to Southhampton win!

Got a feeling after the game it's going to be even more toxic on social media

I don’t know if it’s a statement to anyone mate.  He’s just looking to find a win from somewhere and trying anything.

                     Dieng

Smith    Fry      Lenihan   vdB

            O'brien Howson

                   Hackney

Jones.                            McGree

                  Latte Lath

2 hours ago, diggerlad07 said:

That is the line up I was told

Ah right so Rogers back in then?

2 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Really not a good sign that the team is being leaked hours before kick-off again.

I like it.  Gives us something to talk about before the game.

To be fair its not miles away from what our best line up could be.

I imagine O'Brien is LB because Bangura is not fit and Engel is crap.

McNair at RB because Smith and Djksteel not fit.

Howson CM because of O'Brien being at LB

Crooks at #10 I can't make a case for as it should be McGree but apart from that it's OK.

2 hours ago, GrimsbyBoro said:

If that team and formation is right will this be the first time we are seeing Rodgers start out wide?

Also is Coulson injured? He didn’t perform badly at the start of the season certainly far better than Engel has performed since.

Tbf I would imagine Rodgers is being asked to tuck inside to make the space for O'brien to move into from Lb.

Maybe Carrick thinks VdB mobility will be more useful this game, or simply doesn't want to drop the lad after bouncing him around to rb then to lb.

Where the hell are our real fullbacks?

On 9/21/2023 at 8:56 PM, BoroSmoggie said:

O’Brien left back on Saturday I reckon

👀

4 minutes ago, mj south said:

To be fair its not miles away from what our best line up could be.

Our best line up could be anything at this stage though.

Not really convinced by it either but whoever is out there has to be better than they've shown.

Infinitely more concerned at lineups being leaked. Don't know if it's one source or multiple leaking it but it usually only starts happening here when someone has an axe to grind internally.

2 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

👀

I bet you didn’t guess the rest of it mind 😀

12 minutes ago, Changing Times said:

Ah right so Rogers back in then?

Yeah from what I was told....  something has gone on inside the club this week which is getting kept very quiet....

Staff were at the club very late on Thursday