Boro v Chelsea (League Cup Semi Final 1st leg) 1-0 (Hackney)

[Downsouth 8,161 39.1k]

10 hours ago, BoroAbroad said:

Bloody fantastic, Thx @AnglianRed for the link, Internet sh*t so not see all. But what I did see was a bloody good effort from the guys. Amazing result. @Downsouth Highlights please.

For you disattation old boy and like so many others do enjoy!

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/13045055/middlesbrough-1-0-chelsea-carabao-cup-highlights

Working now

[Barnaby 1,164 2.3k]

6 minutes ago, "KM" said:

Just waking up still on cloud 9 after last night what a magnificent performance everyone put a shift in Engel, Barlaser and Hackney In particular stood out for me. We’ve actually got a bloody good number 2 GK too! My only gripe is how poor Coburn was I really hope we sign another striker.

Anyway, we’re 90 minutes away from Wembley and I’ll remember last night for years to come!

 

 

And for the first time in years I've got a monster Hangover....Thank you lads well played...Priceless listening to the Chelsea fans Whinging all night...Completely forgeting its only Half-time 

["KM" 2,361 15.5k]

11 minutes ago, Barnaby said:

And for the first time in years I've got a monster Hangover....Thank you lads well played...Priceless listening to the Chelsea fans Whinging all night...Completely forgeting its only Half-time 

It was hilarious they were chanting right up until the goal went in then you never heard them for the rest of the match. 

[Downsouth 8,161 39.1k]

Tell you what and judging by reactions the football world took notice of Middlesbrough FC last night!

I would imagine that quite a few will be wanting us to go all the way now.

Terrific boys absolutely terrific

[Borodane 7,956 27.6k]

Chelsea having a 10 day rest before the second leg is annoying. They only have a home game against Fulham at the weekend to think of. 

[ScarBoro 1,148 1.5k]

2 hours ago, Mfcdanny said:

I actually thought he was one of our best players and the match ratings back that up. Seems like you just say the opposite of what everyone else says. 
Also don’t know how you can say Giles was better defensively aswell. Going forward Giles was superb yes but he was a very poor defender. Both Engel and Bangura head and shoulders above him defensively imo. 

Depends which match ratings you look at. A few had Fry, VDB and Engel level, but Gazette had Engel as the lowest rating. It’s all relative, but I agree with CT that Engel was the “worst” defender. That doesn’t mean he was bad, simply Fry was back to his best and RDV was really good as well. I do think Engel is a better defender overall than Giles though. He is more robust and stronger in the tackle and far better aerially. His problem is lack of pace. Giles often recovered after being beaten because of his speed - if Engels is beaten then a decently fast winger will leave him for dead. That highlights any times he either makes a mistake or is caught going forward by a quick counter. And he does have a tendency still to go for the tackle instead of simply closing the attacker down and giving others time to get back into position in defence.  All that said, credit to him for the big improvement since he first started and I think he can and will improve further- it’s really still early days in his transition to the Championship.

[Dynamo Kev 1,819 6.4k]

vdb was the best defender on the pitch. absolute quality. its like trying to get round a brick wall. the little tricks and touches dont fool him. he always blocks them. to be defending at that level at his age. hes not going to be with us very long unless we go up.

[Old Codger 4,269 4.9k]

One of the best games I have seen in the last few years and to me, nobody was less than good. We did ride our luck and took our best chance but the sheer effort put in from the lads made me feel that it deserved the reward it got. Referee appeared to be operating on the assumption that if a player was still conscious after a tackle, there was no need to give a foul and allowed Josh and Crooks to be battered all night. Kept the game going I suppose, but that sort of attitude is why players get bad injuries. Criticism of our guys not really justified but after 50+ years of going to the Boro, I know it is the way we are and it won't change. Job now half done and for those going down for the second leg, enjoy yourselves and let them know you support a real team 🙂     

["KM" 2,361 15.5k]

Haven't read many match day threads in recent years going to have to give this one a read to relive the moment! 

[Bruce 3,157 2.5k]

Not a million miles away from the Man Utd cup match under Wilder. First half, we could have had no complaints going in 3-0 down. Second half we largely fought them to a standstill, giving up just a few half chances. 

Here's hoping that the return leg at Stamford Bridge is somewhat like the Spurs match where we went toe to toe with them and held our own. Chelsea will still be favourites but we can make them sweat now.

I guess Hackney's goal sealed his fate. Scoring in a semi-final against a Prem league team pretty much guarantees some hefty bids for him in the summer and it will be hard for him or us to turn them down if we don't get promoted.

[JonnyMFC 1,930 2.1k]

8 minutes ago, Bruce said:

Not a million miles away from the Man Utd cup match under Wilder. First half, we could have had no complaints going in 3-0 down. Second half we largely fought them to a standstill, giving up just a few half chances. 

Here's hoping that the return leg at Stamford Bridge is somewhat like the Spurs match where we went toe to toe with them and held our own. Chelsea will still be favourites but we can make them sweat now.

I guess Hackney's goal sealed his fate. Scoring in a semi-final against a Prem league team pretty much guarantees some hefty bids for him in the summer and it will be hard for him or us to turn them down if we don't get promoted.

Hackney won't be going anywhere in the summer!  He strikes me as a lad that is as level headed as his manager, hes not driven by ego and is at the right age to know what Carrick has done and knows. He can still learn a lot from Carrick and as long as we keep hold of our manager we have a good chance to keep hold of Hackney!

[estonpidge 1,860 6.5k]

2 hours ago, Dan1234 said:

Don't want to tempt fate, but if we beat these and get Liverpool in the final do we get a European spot like past times? I'm unsure how it works now.

I've critised this team for being very poor mentally but last night they were spot on. All worked tirelessly to defend. I wouldn't say it was a great performance with the ball, lots of sloppy play and panicked passes but we dug in and got the result.

I believe it goes to a prem team unless we win!

[Mfcdanny 1,101 1.1k]

59 minutes ago, ScarBoro said:

Depends which match ratings you look at. A few had Fry, VDB and Engel level, but Gazette had Engel as the lowest rating. It’s all relative, but I agree with CT that Engel was the “worst” defender. That doesn’t mean he was bad, simply Fry was back to his best and RDV was really good as well. I do think Engel is a better defender overall than Giles though. He is more robust and stronger in the tackle and far better aerially. His problem is lack of pace. Giles often recovered after being beaten because of his speed - if Engels is beaten then a decently fast winger will leave him for dead. That highlights any times he either makes a mistake or is caught going forward by a quick counter. And he does have a tendency still to go for the tackle instead of simply closing the attacker down and giving others time to get back into position in defence.  All that said, credit to him for the big improvement since he first started and I think he can and will improve further- it’s really still early days in his transition to the Championship.

Match rating I’m talking about is Sofascore which is based on match stats. Engel 2nd to fry. I don’t like to look at stats a lot but this time I agree with it because o agree with the ratings. I just think it’s a bad way to put it saying he was the worst when everyone defended brilliantly imo. You’re right about giles pace but that’s all he had over Engel defensively. Engel is decent in the air and better in a tackle. I’m just glad we seem to have replaced giles between Engel and Bangura. Hopefully do the same at RB in the summer. 

[Bosco's Tuft 1,283 1.3k]

2 hours ago, Dan1234 said:

Don't want to tempt fate, but if we beat these and get Liverpool in the final do we get a European spot like past times? I'm unsure how it works now.

I've critised this team for being very poor mentally but last night they were spot on. All worked tirelessly to defend. I wouldn't say it was a great performance with the ball, lots of sloppy play and panicked passes but we dug in and got the result.

We didn't get a Euro spot after the 1998 final. League Cup runners up have never got a European spot. That has only ever been given to the FA Cup losing finalists.

 

 

[JCWamma 538 306]

For avoidance of doubt, if we're runners up and Liverpool win and get a spot in Europe, the place will go to the highest-placed Premier League team not in Europe, not to us.

So I guess we'd better win!