Downsouth 6,733 36.2k Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 Venue: St Mary's Stadium, Southampton Date and Time: Friday 29th March 2024 KO 1500hrs (or 3pm if your prefer) Introduction "Oh will the Saints keep marching on, oh will the Saints keep marching on, I want to be in that number, when the Boro prove them wrong" Familiar ditty sung along to the tune of Waltzing Matilda if you don't know that!😉 I as you are fully aware am not known for doing MDT with a lot of fanfare and super illustrations to show but rather just a plain and usually boring Match Day analysis, so nothing has changed so get used to it! (though my form this season has only required 3 authorships so far and without a winning thread to boot) Well the Championship season returns as the final batch of games arrives and very soon who is going where either up or down will soon be known, Boro I believe we all know will not be moving anywhere soon because we have been naff far too many times this season and can use the injury situation as an excuse, any time and any where! But can we throw a spanner in the works to those teams who are in for a promotion shot ? We have Southampton and Ipswich away from home and Leeds at home so hey the chance to cause an upset could very well happen, could it not? The Game Southampton (who have not played in a while) come into this game with quite an impressive home form winning 8 out of their last ten games but recently losing to both Hull and Millwall before thrashing our local neighbours Sunderland 4-2. So is another NE scalp there for the taking? Boro who can not boast the same home form have to rely on their away form to cause an upset a tSt Mary's but over the last 6 games Southampton have won 3 and lost 3 whilst Boro have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 2 (so we are better than Southampton it seems!🤔 Injuries Sadly same old story for Boro never knowing who will be fit and well but indications are that the Forss will not be with us and uncertainty surrounding McGree. The list is far too long but could we see Hackney back for this game we will have to wait and see. Questions These need to be answered! Will the Saints number one fan (also known as The Prime Minister) take time off and be noticeable in the Directors box or will he be in crowd singing along "who the frigging hell are you" taunting the brave Boro souls? Can this game be viewed on the red button? I suspect not but will Boro TV cover this for a £10.00 fee? We beat Southampton in one of our rare home wins will the Saints (bless them all) be determined not to allow a double done over them this season? Will Matt Le Tiss be standing outside the Stadium waiting for a kiss? Will it be a Good Friday for the Boro? Will I get the chance to get my first winning thread of the season Your favoured starting 11 And finally will we get the chance for our faint hopes to rekindle? (don't win this and it has to end surely?) A view from Downsouth Should we win this will give us all a mini boost of that I am certain but what it will also do will start the ifs and buts questions about he way we started the season. It has not been kind to us clearly mistakes were made along the way nor has it been fun! Been a hard toil and not very memorable for most of us. Things can only get better......................right? Anyway thanks for your time and involvement in this thread, interest has waned of late in terms of post count so I shoud not be surprised if this one follows the same route! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcar Rioja 6,772 6.6k Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 It's a game that doesn't have much riding on it from a Boro perspective but a great deal from a Saints point of view. That being the case I can see Boro getting something purely because there is nothing to fear and we do tend to do better against the better sides. Regarding line up I have no idea who will be fit and who won't, being honest it's becoming a bit tiresome now, just when we think we are getting a few back there always seems to be another one or two who have mysteriously picked up niggles at the end of games or in training. McGree is probably crocked and I wouldn't be surprised if along with Forss was out for the season but who knows if Coburn, Fry etc. are nearing a return or still in rehab. Tactically I think we will go with the back 5 to try and build on the spluttering successes we have had with it. I doubt playing out from the back will cut it down there along with our inability to function with passing it around without shooting ourselves in the foot. My prediction is that Greenwood will be anonymous, Silvera will miss a sitter, Howson will get caught 20 yards out and at least two Boro players will get a hamstring or worse. Hopefully we see youth getting an opportunity because we need something to be cheerful for as we enter the sunset of our Annus Horribilis. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseAgainst 4,084 3.5k Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 I think the dwindling post count in recent MDTs is emblematic of the fact our season is basically over. It feels as if the club have given up on this season, so it's unsurprising some fans have, too. I ignored the last game entirely, checked the score at 5pm (it was 0-0), added one post on here and went off to do something more enjoyable. There is a stagnant malaise around the club right now which has been engendered by poor performances, an awful January transfer window (and a pretty dodgy summer one before that), a seemingly endless injury list and the ST prices PR fiasco. I normally make an effort to attend the final home game of each season, but I just can't summon up the enthusiasm this year. Will the Saints number one fan (also known as The Prime Minister) take time off and be noticeable in the Directors box or will he be in crowd singing along "who the frigging hell are you" taunting the brave Boro souls? I don't know how committed a Saints fan Sunak is, but I suspect he'd currently be booed at his own birthday party, so I expect him to stay away. Can this game be viewed on the red button? I suspect not but will Boro TV cover this for a £10.00 fee? It's not a Saturday 3pm kick-off, so it should be. Then again, I have sacked off Sky Sports - it's been increasingly crap for years, with deteriorating standards of studio punditry in particular, but the loss of Jeff Stelling and Martin Tyler removed two of the few reasons for continuing to subscribe. We beat Southampton in one of our rare home wins will the Saints (bless them all) be determined not to allow a double done over them this season? I think Southampton have bigger fish to fry than worrying about us doing the double over them. We're basically irrelevant at this stage. Will Matt Le Tiss be standing outside the Stadium waiting for a kiss? Only if he's taking the p*** out of the Swiss! Will it be a Good Friday for the Boro? If we don't nail our chances, I think we'll be cross over the weekend. Will I get the chance to get my first winning thread of the season Hope so, but I doubt it. Sorry. Your favoured starting 11 I'd start a couple of in-form Academy players in each match between now and the end of the season, to determine who (if any) should be incorporated into next season's squad. I think preparing for the future is more important than results over the rest of this season, and I sincerely hope the club are already preparing to jettison the extensive dead wood which is rotting within our squad. And finally will we get the chance for our faint hopes to rekindle? (don't win this and it has to end surely?) I know mathematically we're not out of it yet, but I find it inconceivable that we could gain seven points on four different teams in eight remaining games (most of those teams have a game in hand on us as well), given our plodding recent performances and woeful home form. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLF10 4,928 6.6k Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 I will assume VDB, Forss and McGree are out. I will also assume none of Hackney, Fry, Coburn or Bangura are fit to start. Dieng Dijk Paddy Clarke Ayling Howson O'Brien Engel Jones LL Azaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boro-unger 4,082 17.3k Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 Tbh, I don't even think it's that big a game for Southampton. They're a fair way off the top 2 and miles from 7th. They just need to tread water until the end of the season. I know if it was us in their position we'd definitely go on a 4 game losing streak though, so i'll go 2-1 Boro. Will the Saints number one fan (also known as The Prime Minister) take time off and be noticeable in the Directors box Looking at the bookie's odds before this game, he's probably just enjoying not having the reds as massive favourites for once... come election time, he ain't got a Saint in Hells chance. Can this game be viewed on the red button? I suspect not but will Boro TV cover this for a £10.00 fee? I dunno. Do I look like a Radio times?! We beat Southampton in one of our rare home wins will the Saints (bless them all) be determined not to allow a double done over them this season? Well it would be be quite contrary if we beat them at Saint Mary's. Will Matt Le Tiss be standing outside the Stadium waiting for a kiss? As long as I don't see Adam Lallana looking for a Banana. Will it be a Good Friday for the Boro? As long as our fans don't start singing "you're just a town full of lent boys"... Will I get the chance to get my first winning thread of the season Yes. Though you probably won't be happy with the post count. Your favoured starting 11 Whatever Boro team gets put out. And finally will we get the chance for our faint hopes to rekindle? (don't win this and it has to end surely I'm an eternal optimist. My hope has taken hold and burned half the village down the past couple of weeks. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus74 3,595 3.7k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 (edited) I'd start a couple of in-form Academy players in each match between now and the end of the season, to determine who (if any) should be incorporated into next season's squad. I think preparing for the future is more important than results over the rest of this season, and I sincerely hope the club are already preparing to jettison the extensive dead wood which is rotting within our squad. 100% agree this should happen, yes Saints have eveything to play for whereas we can play some kids in a high tempo championship game, knowing defeat will not alter our sesson & see if the academy lads can stand up to the championship football Edited March 26 by Erimus74 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLF10 4,928 6.6k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 @Erimus74. One win at St Marys ever I believe for us mate? Think we only visited the ground around 7 times mind since it opened in 2001 but think our solitary win was that Malcolm Christie goal in a 1 nil win. Well taken goal by all accounts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLF10 4,928 6.6k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 @Erimus74. Interesting you say we have “extensive dead wood”. I don't think we do if am honest but interested to hear your views: GK: No issue with Dieng, Glover and Jones in that order. Happy for Jones to be offered a further 1 yr deal which allows Brynn and Hemming to carry on developing elsewhere. CB: Paddy is on way out but other 4 in VDB, Lenihan, Fry and Clarke are a good a quarter as any in this league imo. Full Backs: Need a new RB but Smith as competition and Engel and Bangura at LB are good. CM: Need a new DM but Hackney, Howson and Barlaser (in that order) are fine. Barlaser has his detractors but as a 4th choice he more than fine. AM: Need another but Forss Jones, Azaz and McGree are not dead wood imo and I do believe Silveria will be better for this season. CF: 100% need a new CF but LL and Coburn I take no issue with as no.2 and no.3 (if we want a no.3) ………. Only Dijk and Hoppe are our dead wood imo. Thomas and Greenwood are not our problem as likely to return to parents club in summer. Gilbert 100% needs a season loan but he not dead wood imo. Not one to give up on him after 1 season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus74 3,595 3.7k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 2 hours ago, TLF10 said: @Erimus74. Interesting you say we have “extensive dead wood”. I don't think we do if am honest but interested to hear your views: GK: No issue with Dieng, Glover and Jones in that order. Happy for Jones to be offered a further 1 yr deal which allows Brynn and Hemming to carry on developing elsewhere. CB: Paddy is on way out but other 4 in VDB, Lenihan, Fry and Clarke are a good a quarter as any in this league imo. Full Backs: Need a new RB but Smith as competition and Engel and Bangura at LB are good. CM: Need a new DM but Hackney, Howson and Barlaser (in that order) are fine. Barlaser has his detractors but as a 4th choice he more than fine. AM: Need another but Forss Jones, Azaz and McGree are not dead wood imo and I do believe Silveria will be better for this season. CF: 100% need a new CF but LL and Coburn I take no issue with as no.2 and no.3 (if we want a no.3) ………. Only Dijk and Hoppe are our dead wood imo. Thomas and Greenwood are not our problem as likely to return to parents club in summer. Gilbert 100% needs a season loan but he not dead wood imo. Not one to give up on him after 1 season. I copied that sentence from poster CH, should have made it bold TBH, more so agreeing with his comment on playing academy players than the dead wood comment I agree, apart from Hoppe & Gilbert who, although limited appearances, they need to either be loaned out, or replaced with academy players on the bench, apart from those two im interested & hoping Silvera next season after his honeymoon season next season, I would prefer to keep Dijksteel but dont think Carrick fancies him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erimus74 3,595 3.7k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 2 hours ago, TLF10 said: @Erimus74. One win at St Marys ever I believe for us mate? Think we only visited the ground around 7 times mind since it opened in 2001 but think our solitary win was that Malcolm Christie goal in a 1 nil win. Well taken goal by all accounts. Correct 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downsouth 6,733 36.2k Posted March 26 Author Share Posted March 26 35 minutes ago, Erimus74 said: Correct 👍 Last time my lad and I were there was the 2-2 draw where Downing scored two late goals which we sadly missed as we left the ground but we heard the Boro roar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernSmoggie 4,447 6.2k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Last time there must have been Premier League when we lost 1-0? I remember going and it was beyond dire. Don't think we had a shot on target. Somehow I think there'll be more goals in this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaCider24 13,964 18.6k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Forgot this was on a Friday, woops. Might miss most of the first half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce 1,955 1.7k Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 1 hour ago, Erimus74 said: agreeing with his comment on playing academy players Agreed and, as Leo did with Hackney, I think he needs to commit to actually giving them time to play rather than just letting them watch a game from the bench. I don't know who's fit for Soton but we have learned that Latte Lath is much more effective with a strike partner and we're much more solid playing 3 at the back. Assuming Forss isn't available then don't play Silvera or Greenwood alongside Latte Lath, start Finch. The only way a player improves is to play alongside and against players who are better than him. After 60 minutes playing against a top 4 team he'll have learned more than a year of playing with the U21s or watching from the bench. Maybe he'll never make it or maybe he's one of those players like Hackney or Tav where the better the standard he plays in, the better he gets. You don't have to go crazy. You can take Finch off after 60 minutes, replace him with Silvera and then maybe swap a different senior out for a U21 for the final 30 minutes. But if Carrick puts Finch and Willis on the bench and Finch gets 2 minutes of injury time to run around in, I'm going to start losing patience with how Carrick treats young players. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rishworthian 169 265 Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Lads - don't forget that Hackney was outstanding for the u 21s - absolute head and shoulders above ! It would be silly to chuck them in just to fit a demand. They have to show what they can do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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