Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

Tuesday 23rd January

KO 20:00 - Stamford Bridge

 

Form (Right is recent)

Middlesbrough

WLLWWD

Chelsea

LWWWLW
 

Well then. Looks like we've got a free shot at it doesn't it? After our 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Rotherham, hot from bedazzling an inform Millwall and the 1-0 Riverside win to Chelsea , it really is "typical Boro" isn't it? This is really shaping out to be one of those special games, and the anticipation is palpable. I'd usually say that it's important to not get carried way in times like this, but honestly? No matter the result the main thing is the players and the fans alike go out there and enjoy themselves.

 

Predicted Teams

Boro

After the first leg against Chelsea, I'd be looking at a similar squad again, with Jones looking to be out last minute with a hamstring issue. We've shown at Rotherham that our usual formation and concepts can be broken down and stopped by packing the box and playing agressive football. I really don't see Chelsea doing that, funnily enough. I'd imagine we're going to be playing the balls-to-the-wall 3 at the back again and just going for it. We're 1 goal up on aggrigate, so not exactly room to breathe.

I think we'll go for something like this, injuries dependent:

* As @Adam P has pointed out, Ayling, Azaz and Greenwood are cup tied.

 

Chelsea

Sat at 9th in the prem, and winning 1-0 against a defensively decent Fulham, there's a lot of work needed to be done to get their reputation of a top club back together. They've certainly got the players, I don't think anyone is denying it, however cup games are famously unpredictable and results can be carved out on work ethic. If both teams turn up, we could have quite a game on our hands.

Here's their squad last time out:

 

Insights:

1. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of us winning the League Cup 2-1 against Bolton, a team we knocked out earlier in the current competition.

2. Chelsea last won the league cup in the 14/15 season.

3. Has anyone mentioned they spent about a billion on players yet? A billion! That's a lot of Cooplands sausage rolls.

 

Questions:

1. What's your score prediction?

2. If you really had to, how would you spend €977.50m?

3. Who would you want at right midfield if Jones isn't available?

Ayling, Azaz and Greenwood are all cup tied so won't feature. 

If we go 3 at the back it will almost certainly be VDB, Fry and Clarke. Engel LWB, RWB is up in the air with doubts around Jones. 

I think Howson and Barlaser sit with Hackney slightly further forward. Unless Howson is injured obviously. 

A combination of 2 of Crooks, Rogers, Forss and Coburn to make up the forward line. Probably Rogers and Crooks id imagine. 

Jones' injury will prove to be a problem if he doesn't make it. Don't think anybody else is suitable for the role. 

3 minutes ago, Adam P said:

Ayling, Azaz and Greenwood are all cup tied so won't feature. 

If we go 3 at the back it will almost certainly be VDB, Fry and Clarke. Engel LWB, RWB is up in the air with doubts around Jones. 

I think Howson and Barlaser sit with Hackney slightly further forward. Unless Howson is injured obviously. 

A combination of 2 of Crooks, Rogers, Forss and Coburn to make up the forward line. Probably Rogers and Crooks id imagine. 

Jones' injury will prove to be a problem if he doesn't make it. Don't think anybody else is suitable for the role. 

Woops, completely forgot about the cup tied players. Cheers.

Don't think Howson or Jones will make Tuesday, Paddy at RWB isn't ideal but i'd rather have VDB in that central three.

Forss replaces Jones and Rogers plays in his natural position. Coburn probably still isn't 100% fit so i'm expecting Crooks to start up top.

Either way we need a goal, we're not going to be able to just sit on a 1-0 aggregate win for 90 minutes.

Edited January 21, 20241 yr by Denzel Zanzibar

Kick off is 20.00 @MRe not 18.00.

I think we are all picking on you now 😬

4 minutes ago, Blanco said:

Kick off is 20.00 @MRe not 18.00.

I think we are all picking on you now 😬

I even looked it up! Now I'm wondering, have we ever had a 6pm kickoff in competitve football?

Edited January 21, 20241 yr by MRe

I would copy Rotherhams tactics against us when we play Chelsea....

25 minutes ago, OldManGravz said:

I would copy Rotherhams tactics against us when we play Chelsea....

 

And:

1. What's your score prediction?

Could go either way. Either we frustrate them and hold them to a 0-0 or nick another 1-0. But I think if they get a goal, they steamroll us 3 or 4 nil. Looking forward to it though. Big chance to get beaten at wembley again!

 

2. If you really had to, how would you spend €977.50m

I'd buy 3.6 billion freddos.  

 

3. Who would you want at right midfield if Jones isn't available?

Probably Forss. Can see him scoring a screamer against Chelsea. Then Chelsea enquiring after the game if they can buy him for £100m...

I think it's a big ask for Forss to start, after a good bit of time out and playing 70mins on Saturday. But we aren't really blessed with options at the moment with Crooks just getting back from injury and question marks over Coburn's fitness. 

What's going on with Dijksteel? I thought his foot injury was supposed to be a fairly quick turnaround?

Back to the barebones again for this one both offensively and defensively. Could O’Brien be used as LWB with Rav going RWB? Engel, Fry and Clarke as the middle 3. Or maybe McNair RCB or RWB if he is fit enough.

I think the awful luck we've been getting in the league is balanced via the league cup

Constant draws against lower league opposition, progressing to the semi final then with the injuries, fighting spirit & league cup lady luck we beat Chelsea in the 1st leg & with one foot in the final so let's hope our "against all odds league cup luck" sees us progress to the final

Now what a story that would be! 

4 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Don't think Howson or Jones will make Tuesday, Paddy at RWB isn't ideal but i'd rather have VDB in that central three.

Forss replaces Jones and Rogers plays in his natural position. Coburn probably still isn't 100% fit so i'm expecting Crooks to start up top.

Either way we need a goal, we're not going to be able to just sit on a 1-0 aggregate win for 90 minutes.

If we start with Crooks up top I'm turning the TV off.

I think Jones and Howson will both be fit so am going with:

Glover

VDB Fry Clarke

Jones Barlaser Howson Hackney Engel

Rogers

Crooks

Subs: Jones, Dijk, Paddy, O’Brien, McCabe, Forss, Gilbert, Coburn, Kav

Hopefully a couple of options on bench if we do go in to ET.

Nightmare scenario is they score early and all the hard work from the first leg is gone. Tbh it's a huge ask given injuries. It would be a huge ask with a full squad. But stranger things have happened.