TeaCider24 13,945 18.6k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 13 minutes ago, BillyWoofs_shinpad said: It’s a televised game, which I think will mean our players raise their game a bit more, we often do in these situations. I don’t think we’ll win, but I don’t think we’ll get hammered either. Our team picks itself, Villa will rest a few players, so who knows? I hope there is a decent turn out and a good atmosphere, it seems an awful lot of supporters have given up on this one already, when realistically a one off match at home to a weakened side, compared to a 2 legged tie against a team who really want to get to the final is probably slightly more winnable. It's more winnable, but it's a far less important game. All focus should be on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyWoofs_shinpad 1,916 10k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 23 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said: It's more winnable, but it's a far less important game. All focus should be on Tuesday. In terms of possible achievements, yes. unfortunately I can’t see us beating Chelsea over 2 matches and I don’t see much chance of promotion this year. I’m not too upset about that, I’d like another season of progression in this division without the usual overhaul of players in the summer. The Villa match is a free hit and a chance to raise the club’s profile on national TV against a premier league side. Ultimately we are aiming to do that every week in the near future, so let’s not be shy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denzel Zanzibar 7,314 14.3k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 On their forum a fair few Villa fans seem to think they'll field a weakened team and lose, strangely. A few posters have pointed out just how big an injury crisis we have, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 6,494 15.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) 1 hour ago, BillyWoofs_shinpad said: It’s a televised game, which I think will mean our players raise their game a bit more, we often do in these situations. I don’t think we’ll win, but I don’t think we’ll get hammered either. Our team picks itself, Villa will rest a few players, so who knows? I hope there is a decent turn out and a good atmosphere, it seems an awful lot of supporters have given up on this one already, when realistically a one off match at home to a weakened side, compared to a 2 legged tie against a team who really want to get to the final is probably slightly more winnable. Why would Villa field a weakened side? Their next PL game is a week later, away at Everton which should be a fairly easy win, given their current form. Personally, I think Villa will stroll to victory. Emery might start with a few first teamers on the bench, but I'm sure he won't hesitate to bring them on in the unlikely event Boro cause them any problems. I think, as macapes said, we might give them a good game first half, being at home and on TV against PL opposition, but we won't be able to sustain it and I'd be willing to bet it'll be a comfortable win for them in the end. Chelsea have been blowing hot and cold all season - you could almost call them the Boro of the Premier League. I reckon we could hold them to a draw at home and even keep their fans quiet for the first half of the away leg, but our defence will let us down at some point. I also don't fancy our chances of scoring against them. We've failed to score against Rotherham & QPR this season, not to mention missing a bunch of chances against Coventry. PL quality defenders and keepers will be even tougher to beat. Quote The Villa match is a free hit and a chance to raise the club’s profile on national TV against a premier league side. Ultimately we are aiming to do that every week in the near future, so let’s not be shy. You do realise that Boro are at least another season and millions of pounds of investment in players away from being able to do that, right? 😆 Quite honestly, I'm not bothered about either game. We've had a good League Cup run and done well to reach the semis...particularly with all our previous rounds being away ties. With the state our squad is in, the last thing we need is more cup fixtures. Edited January 4 by AnglianRed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco 5,129 6.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 5 minutes ago, AnglianRed said: Quite honestly, I'm not bothered about either game. We've had a good League Cup run and done well to reach the semis...particularly with all our previous rounds being away ties. With the state our squad is in, the last thing we need is more cup fixtures. We have 2 league cup fixtures against Chelsea. The best thing that could happen to us is one more league cup fixture after those two games. I agree regarding the FA cup. We don't need any more of those fixtures after the Aston Villa game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCider24 13,945 18.6k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) 8 minutes ago, AnglianRed said: Quite honestly, I'm not bothered about either game. We've had a good League Cup run and done well to reach the semis...particularly with all our previous rounds being away ties. With the state our squad is in, the last thing we need is more cup fixtures. Either game, really? I get the Villa match, but Tuesday is our first major cup semi-final in 18 years. It's a huge occasion. We're massive underdogs and will probably lose, but it's a chance at Wembley and a major fiinal next month. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBG42 316 669 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 7 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said: Either game, really? I get the Villa match, but Tuesday is our first major cup semi-final in 18 years. It's a huge occasion. We're massive underdogs and will probably lose, but it's a chance at Wembley and a major fiinal next month. I agree, not being bothered about a major cup semi final is quite bizarre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 6,494 15.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Couple of questions Would it be in the best interest to save some of our players for the Chelsea Game? I think Carrick should start with his strongest possible side, but if / when it becomes clear Villa have got the tie sewn up, I'd like to see some younger players brought on for 20-30 minutes, to save the first teamers' legs a bit. Will we have a stronger subs bench against Villa as we did against Coventry? You'll have to ask MC about that nearer the time? 🤷♂️ Does anyone see any other result than a Villa win Absolutely not. Emery would have to field a mostly U-21 side and Boro would need to produce one of their better performances to even have a hope. Is the tie decided after 90 mins with a penalty shoot out? Just did a quick Google and apparently FA Cup ties still have replays, if scores are tied. Extra time and penalties from the 5th round onwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnglianRed 6,494 15.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 13 minutes ago, Blanco said: We have 2 league cup fixtures against Chelsea. The best thing that could happen to us is one more league cup fixture after those two games. I agree regarding the FA cup. We don't need any more of those fixtures after the Aston Villa game. I was mostly talking about the FA Cup. The Chelsea games are already in the calendar and there's no getting out of them...but again our chances of beating them over 2 legs are slim to none. 12 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said: Either game, really? I get the Villa match, but Tuesday is our first major cup semi-final in 18 years. It's a huge occasion. We're massive underdogs and will probably lose, but it's a chance at Wembley and a major fiinal next month. On paper, yes. But the reality is Boro are highly unlikely to beat Chelsea over 2 legs. A chance of a Wembley final, you say? About the same as a snowball's chance in hell. Hence my lack of enthusiasm. I might watch if I don't have anything more important to do, but honestly none of these fixtures fill me with eager anticipation...especially given the state of our squad. I'll be amazed if we can even give them a decent game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseAgainst 4,081 3.5k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) Would it be in the best interest to save some of our players for the Chelsea Game? It would be in our best interests to save as many as possible, though I'd start any new signings confirmed between now and then, to give them some game time. Will we have a stronger subs bench against Villa as we did against Coventry ? I think it'll be stronger because we'll play some of the kids and give the seniors a couple more days to rest before Chelsea. They might come on towards the end if we're only one goal down, but otherwise, I expect to see the likes of Howson, Clarke, Jones and Coburn on the bench. Does anyone see any other result than a Villa win Nope. It could be brutal. And we're going to be live on the BBC, for the whole world to see us getting bent over and beasted. Is the tie decided after 90 mins with a penalty shoot out? Sadly not. Which means yet another match if it's a draw (though at least we'd salvage some pride). Anyway, it's irrelevant. Even if they rest a few first-teamers, Villa will have more than enough to beat our academy graduates and walking wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 5,290 8.2k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 50 minutes ago, Blanco said: We have 2 league cup fixtures against Chelsea. The best thing that could happen to us is one more league cup fixture after those two games. I agree regarding the FA cup. We don't need any more of those fixtures after the Aston Villa game. maybe another 5 wins after the villa game will do in that cup for me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco 5,129 6.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 18 minutes ago, Rob said: maybe another 5 wins after the villa game will do in that cup for me You're not a greedy man @Rob 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 5,290 8.2k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 32 minutes ago, Blanco said: You're not a greedy man @Rob 🙂 no i'm not, i think its a waste of time letting other clubs take us to replays just to help them bring more revenue in from watching the boro again 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyWoofs_shinpad 1,916 10k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 47 minutes ago, Rob said: no i'm not, i think its a waste of time letting other clubs take us to replays just to help them bring more revenue in from watching the boro again Ha ha. Rob you are obsessed with money! I can’t remember a single one of your posts that doesn’t mention finances in one way or another. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco 5,129 6.8k Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 25 minutes ago, BillyWoofs_shinpad said: Ha ha. Rob you are obsessed with money! I can’t remember a single one of your posts that doesn’t mention finances in one way or another. What about “4-0 to the Boro” ? Although that’s multiple times on every match day thread 😂😂😂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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