Can only see a defeat here. 3-1 leeds

 

 

Discussion points:

1. Score predictions and team lineups - Will we see any more injuries?!?

Elland Road hasn't been kind to Boro over the years, so I'm not expecting us to get anything there. Wouldn't be surprised if this is similar to the Bristol game where we are too passive and just invite them to score. 

Line-up will likely be the same as the Preston game, but no Greenwood on the subs' bench.

If the weather remains freezing like it is at the moment, I'd expect at least a couple of niggles. Touch wood (puts hand on desk) there won't be any serious injuries...but its that time of year. 

Score prediction: Weeds Untied 3 - 1 Middlesbrough

2. As we approach the halfway point of the season, who do you see as our best summer signing so far?

Got to be Dieng for my money. He's had a few dodgy moments but has grown into one of those "first name on the team sheet" players.

3. Brian Clough or Don Revie?

Clough obviously. Local lad, former Boro player and a more colourful character IMO. 

4. Did you get anything special in your advent calendar this morning?

We don't have such things in our Saturnalia celebrations...

Edited December 1, 20232 yr by AnglianRed

40 minutes ago, Whoppy said:

Can only see a defeat here. 3-1 leeds

Funnily enough exactly what I predicted just now. 😁

Saying that, Boro usually do the opposite of what I predict, so...

1. Score predictions and team lineups - Will we see any more injuries?!? 1-1 I’m sure there will be the odd injury, it’s Leeds for goodness sake. 

 

2. As we approach the halfway point of the season, who do you see as our best summer signing so far? I like that Jones fella, I’m sure he wasn’t at the club last year..

 

3. Brian Clough or Don Revie?

Brian Clough…”can Don Revie do this?”

 

4. Did you get anything special in your advent calendar this morning?

I got a can of Altitude pale ale from the white hag brewing co. Anyone tried it? 

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/michael-carrick-sends-ruthless-warning-28195238 The Middlesbrough manager saw his side win 4-0 against promotion candidates Preston, and face Daniel Farke's Leeds this weekend

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23960281.middlesbrough-michael-carrick-josh-coburn-emmanuel-latte-lath/  MIDDLESBROUGH'S lengthy injury list means a large bulk of Michael Carrick's team picks itself for Saturday's trip to Leeds United but the head coach has one welcome dilemma - who to play up-front.

https://the72.co.uk/2023/12/01/premier-league-standard-leeds-united-vs-middlesbrough-prediction-the72/ The72’s writers offer their Leeds United vs Middlesbrough prediction ahead of the Championship clash on Saturday afternoon.

https://www.leedsunited.news/news/ben-parker-predicts-the-score-this-weekend-when-leeds-united-play-host-to-middlesbrough/

https://motleedsnews.com/news/djed-spence-not-fit-enough-to-start-for-leeds-united-v-middlesbrough-archie-gray-could-be-rested/  Djed Spence not fit enough to start for Leeds United v Middlesbrough, Archie Gray could be rested  

never realised he went to leeds on loan, pretty much suits him lol, once a white always a white eh

 

4 hours ago, Rob said:

4-0 to the boro

Rob and TJ...the Yin and Yang of oneBoro. 

One predicts wins every week...the other sees only defeat... 

12 minutes ago, AnglianRed said:

Rob and TJ...the Yin and Yang of oneBoro. 

One predicts wins every week...the other sees only defeat... 

It's inevitable 🤷‍♂️

I just think they have too many good options in attack... and we showed in the first half v Bristol city how poor we can be defensively when ruffled. That penalty goal we conceded and the moments leading up to it still haunts me! But I didn't expect to beat Preston with all our injuries either. 

11 minutes ago, Whoppy said:

I just think they have too many good options in attack... and we showed in the first half v Bristol city how poor we can be defensively when ruffled. That penalty goal we conceded and the moments leading up to it still haunts me! But I didn't expect to beat Preston with all our injuries either. 

I have a feeling we will give them similar respect we gave to LC in being tighter than usual

41 minutes ago, Whoppy said:

I just think they have too many good options in attack... and we showed in the first half v Bristol city how poor we can be defensively when ruffled. That penalty goal we conceded and the moments leading up to it still haunts me! But I didn't expect to beat Preston with all our injuries either. 

fry wont be on the pitch you can relax. everytime we have a defensive wobble, not so young dael is always the main culprit this season. he can be great sometimes and equally awful. hes a defender we need to protect better. if hes exposed he completely loses the plot.

Edited December 1, 20232 yr by Dynamo Kev

I was at Elland Road on Wednesday night, so here are a few observations.

Firstly, people are talking as if this is a banker home win, but Leeds really aren't all that. Swansea bossed the first half, playing through the midfield at will. No tackles, no meaty blocks, just a weak Leeds CM pairing (Ampadu and Kamara, both totally anonymous on the night) which encouraged Swansea to play neat triangles around them. It was powderpuff stuff at times, though Leeds did toughen up a bit after the break.

Summerville looks lethal down the left wing, and that's where most of Leeds' attacks came from. But as soon as he loses the ball, he just stands still. He doesn't track back, which can leave an overload on, and I could see Izzy and Crooks having great fun two-on-one against Sam Byram. Also on that side, Pascal Struijk was pretty shaky, ducking a tackle that led to the Swansea goal - they're very permeable down their left. On the other side, they've got a teenage midfielder playing at RB (Archie Gray), who again looks much better going forwards than in defence. 

Leeds do have quality up front - Rutter is a class act - but Bamford got a tepid reception when he came on, and the fans near me were shouting at the other players not to pass to him. He's a shadow of his imperious former self.

Also, I know the Leeds fans will be more up for this than they were for a midweek game against Swansea (who also didn't bring many supporters), but the atmosphere was surprisingly muted. We can easily get a draw out of this if we approach it with the right mentality and quieten the fans down the way Swansea did.

I'm not of the opinion that the Players we put out against Preston are all second string. I think a few of them grasped their opportunity and will be buoyed by that. VDB looked the business at CB, Dijksteel has a few more minutes under his belt and I still believe he is the best RB at the club. Bangura has pace and energy, a different proposition to Engel but I think an opponent would fear hm more than Engel due to his speed. Paddy has been a revelation at CB and if properly fit Clarke can be an upgrade on them all.

Rogers I felt had his best game for us mid week and is looking better the longer he has had to settle in and crucially to understand the Carrick way. Greenwood is a miss but I'm not overly concerned about a player who can only seemingly manage a 10 minute cameo over the entire 90. Barlaser seems to add more controlled passing and dangerous through balls and is an interesting alternative option to Hackney or Howson.

I strongly suspect that our perceived "best 11" in October won't be our "best 11" come April and we have just seen glimpses of a few of them these last few games.

I think Rogers is the better player of him and Greenwood. Greenwood has a very useful knack of scoring goals but I feel Rogers will be a very good signing for us.