QPR battered WBA and should have won. Let's hope they can't repeat that performance. They had 19 corners.On the other hand we might have gained in confidence. Hopefully Jones will figure at some point.

Questions:

How exciting was it to have Isiah Jones back, even of it was just on the bench?

Meh?

Its good he's back and apparently fit to play. Hope he actually gets some game time against Queue Pee Are.

Predicted starting line up?

I'd be tempted to keep it unchanged from the Norwich game, (injuries & fitness permitting). While we didn't look great when it was 11 v 11, I think 3 CBs can only help us defensively (maybe swap Dijksteel for McNair) and I really love the idea of Forss and ELL up front for us, with McGree being a tormentor-in-chief behind them.

How many will we win by?

This won't be an easy game by any means. The Queepars have been on a pretty good run of form for the last 6 weeks or so, including replicating Boro's feat of beating Leicester at their place.

If anything, I think they are favourites to win and are a better team than their league position would suggest (the table's lying!) Saying that I'm not writing Boro off. Less pressure away from home and hopefully the Norwich game will have reminded the players how scoring goals is done.

If we do win, it'll be by the odd goal. Another sweaty, nail-biting afternoon for us I think. Would be okay with a draw.

Who is your favourite footballing person to have represented both clubs?

Joe Lumley...just kidding!

Erm..Grant Hall or Manny Ledesma I guess.

Edited March 8, 20241 yr by AnglianRed

Questions:

How exciting was it to have Isiah Jones back, even of it was just on the bench?

I'll believe it when I see him on the pitch. Carrick would have someone with a leg amputated below the knee on the bench just to keep him involved. I'm not knocking it but I know it means nothing until he puts in an appearance and even then it could set him back (e.g. Coburn) if he isn't fully fit.

Predicted starting line up?

I'd stick with how we started after the sending off on Wednesday. Keep the momentum and the improvement in confidence going.

How many will we win by?

We rarely get a result at QPR but with nothing to lose right now I hope Carrick goes for it and uses the end of the season to show what we can do especially with a few injuries coming back like Howson, Ell and Jones. Normally I'd hope for a draw but lately I think we get tonked but bizarrely after Wednesday's win I think we just might get all three points so long as we don't have an ingenious tactical cluster£@0k.

Who is your favourite footballing person to have represented both clubs?

Has to be Albert, his celebration with the North Stand when we won promotion is still vivid in my memory. There was another incident where during a warm up he hit a ball which went into the stands and hit a kid sitting two rows in front of me in the North Stand Lower. He immediately ran over, leapt over the hoardings, up the steps and checked that the little lad was OK and gave him a big hug. Some actions are priceless as well as classy and for me he will be forever remembered fondly.

 

Anyone doubting we deserved that bit of luck vs Norwich! Appearing 3 times out of the top 6 is utterly mad

33 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

 

Anyone doubting we deserved that bit of luck vs Norwich! Appearing 3 times out of the top 6 is utterly mad

That QPR game earlier in the season was an infuriating watch.

18 hours ago, marvin said:

WHERE: Loftus* Road (*not the one near Redcar)

Just for the record Boro is closer to Redcar than Loftus is.....................Boro to Redcar 8.9 miles, Redcar to Loftus 11.7 miles

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 20241 yr by JonnyMFC

Middlesbrough is 18 miles away from Loftus.

3 hours ago, Neverbefore said:

 

Anyone doubting we deserved that bit of luck vs Norwich! Appearing 3 times out of the top 6 is utterly mad

I don't think that's bad luck mate.  I'd say it's poor finishing.

7 hours ago, Neverbefore said:

Not sure that first half gave too much comfort in that system. We were as poor as we've been this season so I wouldn't be annoyed it we go for something else against Norwich. 

If we do stick with it then hopefully they've seen the things that weren't working, and they've been able to adjust a few bits and bobs.  I can't believe the plan was to be as defensive as that so something went a bit wrong.  I know QPR did ok in midweek but they aren't a good side, they are where they are for a reason.  Think how disappointed we've been with our season, and then consider that we are 8 points ahead of them.  I'm not daft enough to see it as a nailed on win or owt as we aren't playing all that well ourselves but it should be a game we feel we can get something regardless of the set up.

18th March 1972 -  Pat Lynch, who we signed from Cliftonville in June 1970, was the 1st Boro player to make a sub appearance then never feature again for the Boro when he replaced David Mills late in the 2nd half in our 1-0 defeat away to QPR . Pat Lynch moved to Kidderminster harriers

Any leaks on the team for tomorrow?

2 hours ago, Changing Times said:

If we do stick with it then hopefully they've seen the things that weren't working, and they've been able to adjust a few bits and bobs.  I can't believe the plan was to be as defensive as that so something went a bit wrong.  I know QPR did ok in midweek but they aren't a good side, they are where they are for a reason.  Think how disappointed we've been with our season, and then consider that we are 8 points ahead of them.  I'm not daft enough to see it as a nailed on win or owt as we aren't playing all that well ourselves but it should be a game we feel we can get something regardless of the set up.

QPR been a lot better under the new coach  slow start under him but as with Sheff W they find their new system now. I would say both of those teams are better than us right now.

QPR team is built for keeping the ball on the ground, the new spanish coach is better suited for them than Ainsworth longballs....

44 minutes ago, ladyspite said:

QPR been a lot better under the new coach  slow start under him but as with Sheff W they find their new system now. I would say both of those teams are better than us right now.

QPR team is built for keeping the ball on the ground, the new spanish coach is better suited for them than Ainsworth longballs....

Yeah they've had a decent spell but it's still largely the same group of players that are below us in the league, and finished down in 20th last season.  We obviously aren't playing well at the moment but we've been okish away from home, well, before last weekend at least.  We did ok at Preston even though we lost, we won at Leicester and Millwall.  QPR's home record isn't that special.  I know they played well against West Brom by all accounts, and they've narrowly beaten Rotherham, but other than that they've tended to draw or lose other than a win against Millwall.  We've actually won more away in the same period than they've won at home.  That's not saying much, and if we'll need to improve on what we saw against Norwich but I think we can get something there.  

If Howson starts we have a chance. He only missed 3 games through injury so he will still be match fit, it’s not like he was out for a couple of months. Suppose it’s more a case of whether he’s suffered any kind of stiffness or soreness following his injury. Do we know what was actually winning with him?

10 hours ago, Changing Times said:

Yeah they've had a decent spell but it's still largely the same group of players that are below us in the league, and finished down in 20th last season.  We obviously aren't playing well at the moment but we've been okish away from home, well, before last weekend at least.  We did ok at Preston even though we lost, we won at Leicester and Millwall.  QPR's home record isn't that special.  I know they played well against West Brom by all accounts, and they've narrowly beaten Rotherham, but other than that they've tended to draw or lose other than a win against Millwall.  We've actually won more away in the same period than they've won at home.  That's not saying much, and if we'll need to improve on what we saw against Norwich but I think we can get something there.  

Yea, agreee with you there CH, I honestly think the only thing stopping us winning at their place today is ourselves, we need to believe we can win, we have been better away from home, as if our confidence is shattered at the Riverside oh & our poor record at Loftus road is probably another reason