4 minutes ago, SzilardNemethsCurtains said:

It wasn't a weakened side either really, we both played strong sides

3 players from that match are starting for us today.

Dijksteel was 100% our backup right back when he was starting the first time too.

Edited December 10, 20241 yr by TeaCider24

Think maybe Carricks protecting Fry, two big games in less than a week, after such a long lay off, when he was, IMO, MOTM in both games & maybe thought the Ledds game coming so quick after the demands of the Burnley game was the time to rest him & save him for the Millwall game, time will tell

Hoping for another Latte Lath masterclass.

Hope Hackney steps up a few gears tonight. I'm surprised he's being entrusted with the Captains armband again. I'd have given it to Clarke or even Fridge myself. Maybe it's a burden that's weighing him down. His last few outings have been poor by his own standards.

Ell come on down...utfb

9 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

3 players from that match are starting for us today.

Dijksteel was 100% our backup right back when he was starting the first time too.

but he isnt now..

Have confidence we will score. Have little confidence we will keep a clean sheet. 

Battles all over the pitch tonight. Doak up against Wober who’s usually a CB. Borges worries me up against Dan James. Huge pace difference between them two!

Definitely not keeping a clean sheet, especially with Dieng in goal. We'll just have to score more than them 😉

Farke winning 7 of 8 Championship games against Middlesbrough isn't a stat I fancied seeing.

Break that hoodoo!

Edited December 10, 20241 yr by TeaCider24

11 minutes ago, BoroSmoggie said:

Have confidence we will score. Have little confidence we will keep a clean sheet. 

Battles all over the pitch tonight. Doak up against Wober who’s usually a CB. Borges worries me up against Dan James. Huge pace difference between them two!

Fully agree, James against Neto worries me, I'm hoping he has put Mcgree in to help try and hold onto the ball more than the Burnley first half, and also that Mcgree is more disciplined in his tracking than Burgzorg is. 

We need to try and get Doak running at Wober early on, that's our main threat tonight I think, and ELL loves playing Leeds of course. 

Questions

Is Leeds a local derby or just another ground to play football on?

Its 80-odd miles from Boro to Leeds. Are we counting that as local? Huddersfield and even Blackburn more more local to them.

We don't like them (and presumably they don't much care for us either) but I'm not sure that makes it a derby.

But I suppose the mutual dislike makes it a spicier than normal fixture?

With the likes of Burnley and Leeds do those teams have an advantage due to still receiving parachute payments?

Depends on whether they spend that money wisely or not. We've seen Boro have a few misplaced goes at spending big to secure promotion, only to fall short.

I saw a Leeds player go off injured against Derby which might be an advantage to us but did we suffer any injuries against Burnley?

No idea - I think we came through that game pretty unscathed from what I can remember. According to a BBC article on the match Carrick said he was "very aware" of the threats posed by Leeds. Whether that means he'll make any changes remains to be seen. 

Who do you prefer to start ELL or Conway?

ELL just because I think Boro need to get on the offensive early on to blunt Leeds' attack / put them off balance / disrupt their game plan. I think ELL would help us do that. Conway would make a better impact sub for this one.

How important is Azaz now to Boro?

Crucial part of our front 3 midfield. Provides much needed creativity and goals now.

Can you see an away win for Boro?

Nah. Like Burnley I think we'll be doing well to get a point from this...if we can stifle / frustrate their attackers. Our defence will need to be really on it all game. Leeds surely have to be the bookies' favourites for this one.

Edited December 10, 20241 yr by AnglianRed

Draw please 😉

5 minutes ago, Georgewhitt said:

Draw please 😉

Shush you!

Normally very optimistic but don't have a great feeling about this and have a feeling this place won't be pleasant to be around if we get beat

Mcgree, Azaz, Doak and LL is such a strong attacking four. 

There'll be some goals in this for us!