1. Who starts? Give us your lineup

Glover (two consecutive cleansheets, well done lad)

Engel, VDB, Fry, Dijksteel (a must to start)

Hackney, Barlaser (would love to see Morris but he's probably a while away)

Jones, Azaz (Would be happy with Gilbert) Burgzorg

Latte Lath

2. Final score?

3-1 to Boro, always give the opposition a goal, mind two on the bounce now without conceding

3. Were you at the 2004 cup final? What were your memories of that day? Did you have a pint in The Borough?

Yes with my dad & at the finla whistle my younger brother, both no longer with us but our dad took us both to our first ever Boro game back end of 71 so glad the three of us were together to witness us win our first major trophy (well second following our ASC cup triumph😉)

4. Who should we loan out in January? Silvera, Hamilton?

If Silvera comes back then I would loan both out, probably Hunt too 

5. Who will we bring in in January? Are we still going after Giles?

I don't have a clue, I would think not Giles, that transfer has long gone

Scott said when Ipswich came calling it was to late to go looking for a replacement so I would imagine, the talk of ELL potentially going has given Scott time to search far & wide looking for a replacement, such a massive job in itself & with Conway out for up to a month, add on another 3 weeks due to the clubs horrendous injury players being out longer than anticipated then a striker is a must, it's shown CM we can't just rely on Morris & Hackney 

6. How did you celebrate New Year?

Quiet, we had daughter & granddaughter stay overnight which was nice

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by Erimus74

You know I tend to ask this but what are the weather conditions forecasted for Saturday afternoon in the Middlesbrough area?

3 minutes ago, Downsouth said:

You know I tend to ask this but what are the weather conditions forecasted for Saturday afternoon in the Middlesbrough area?

 

Urrgghhh, I better bring my thermals in that case 🙂 

A glorious 2°C tomorrow at kick off, get your shorts packed.

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by TeaCider24

1 hour ago, Blanco said:

Urrgghhh, I better bring my thermals in that case 🙂 

I'd recommend that you bring Thermals for your Thermals, it's going to make the Baltic seem like Benidorm.

1 hour ago, Downsouth said:

You know I tend to ask this but what are the weather conditions forecasted for Saturday afternoon in the Middlesbrough area?

You may need your hot water bottle & flask, 😉👍

Any risk of overnight snow?

Offering an injury update, the Boro boss said: “We’re not really expecting anyone back for the next game. I think it’s too quick a turnaround for that. We’ll see after that. Hopefully the Blackburn game we can maybe start getting some boys back for that one. At the minute, it’s kind of where we’re at.

"Luke [Ayling] is pretty close. It’s just the cut on his foot now. It was pretty bad and he had to have stitches in that. It was inside of the foot where he kicks the ball, so it’s a bit delicate and a decision in terms of how long you leave it before he starts kicking a ball again. It’s pretty straightforward in some ways, but also a bit of an annoying one if anything. We’ll see on Luke.

"Jonny [Howson] will unfortunately be out a bit longer after feeling his calf. Marcus [Forss] is back training; fully trained once with us. Aidan [Morris] is not fully back yet, but is getting there. He won’t be back for Cardiff. Possibly the cup game for Blackburn, but it’s just a case of how hard we push it.”

I wouldn't be risking Morris in the Blackburn match if he's only a possibility.

Surely not worth the chance of him breaking down again when the league is far, far more important.

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by TeaCider24

35 minutes ago, Downsouth said:

Any risk of overnight snow?

They are forecasting possible snow in the early hours of Sunday morning then it turns back to rain. But when the weather front comes from the West or the South as it is Sunday we often get away with it.

When the snow showers are blown in off the North sea that's when this area gets dumped on.

Regards

Paul Mooney

Questions

1. Who starts? Give us your line-up

Fitness allowing, the same as last time. Would make Gilbert one of the "70-minute-ers" though. Deserves better than a few minutes of stoppage time. But expect Carrick will keep the squad rotation thing going and start with Conway, Burgzorg & Doak.

2. Final score?

Good BBC programme that lets you keep up with whats going on on matchdays. 😜

I'm feeling bold today and predict Boro will score more than Cardiff!

3. Were you at the 2004 cup final? What were your memories of that day? Did you have a pint in The Borough?

No.

We won the Carling Cup (though it was a nail-biter - typical Boro).

No - never been to Cardiff.

4. Who should we loan out in January? Silvera, Hamilton?

Both of them could probably benefit from some first-team football elsewhere.

5. Who will we bring in in January? Are we still going after Giles?

Doubt we will be in for Giles, but I could see us trying to strengthen across the pitch - a defender, CDM and attacking mid.

6. How did you celebrate New Year?

I was sick, so self-imposed quarantine. Booze, video games & TV. 🤷‍♂️

1. Who starts? Give us your lineup

Glover

Dijksteel, Fry, VDB, Engel

Hackney, Barlaser 

Jones, Azaz (Gilbert maybe to Azaz  break) Burgzorg

Latte Lath

2. Final score?

4-0, Cardiff are poor and if we are serious about pushing on, this is a game where we have to be ruthless at the sharp end and clean sheet at the back.

3. Were you at the 2004 cup final? What were your memories of that day? Did you have a pint in The Borough?

Yes, couldn't believe it when we took the lead and the whole experience at the end was almost surreal, like it was a dream. Boro had actually won a trophy. Even during the drive back North it didn't seem real and it was only the radio news bulletins that confirmed that it was true.

4. Who should we loan out in January? Silvera, Hamilton?

Definitely Hamilton, think the lad needs to play at a lower level to boost his confidence and learn the Men's game. If Silvera comes back then like Hemming I would loan them both straight out, same goes for Hunt. Think it's important that they get loans to a level that they will excel and stand out rather than throwing them in too deep. 

5. Who will we bring in in January? Are we still going after Giles?

I'd be amazed if we were still after Giles. The lad's career has tanked and I don't think he would be any more effective than Borges or Engel. He may provide some more crosses but a liability defensively. The bits I have seen of him recently makes me think he is a shadow of the player he was when he was here. No guarantee he would get close to that level again and I think Hull's valuation would be probably 60% more at least at what we may consider.

Think we need a Keeper, a Midfielder and likely a Striker if as seems likely ELL goes. If Doak is off then that would leave another gap to fill.

6. How did you celebrate New Year?

I was in bed fast asleep long before Midnight. Nice to wake up on New Year's day and not lose a day with a hangover.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c93gv9qwvpeo

I’d go same team but with Doak for Jones. McGree or Burgzorg I don’t mind either way.