Boro v Blackburn FA Cup 0-1

[Erimus74 4,914 5.1k]

Bit of an unusual OP sort of fictional storyline of the Boro there but I enjoyed the read

1: Result?

2-0 to the mighty Boro & an end to our shocking home winless games v Blackburn going back to boxing day 2012

2: Boro team and formation? Why? 

Just don't have a clue, players injured, others rested

3: Should we focus on the league and promotion, or is it a good thing with a nice cup run?

No, for em, any good cup run is good 

4: Are you going to the game? 

Yes, going with my son, swapping my wast end upper seat for a west stand seat 

5: Best FA Cup memory?

Seeing my team walk out at Wembley 1997. But favourite games v Man City 1972 (my first FAC game) Sunderland 1975. Arsenal 1977 & 1984 

6: Worst FA Cup memory?

Orient , Wolves but the no1 worst is Birmingham away 1975 FACQF my first Boro heartache, when even today, I've still not got over it

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 2,141 10.2k]

9 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Bit of an unusual OP sort of fictional storyline of the Boro there but I enjoyed the read

1: Result?

2-0 to the mighty Boro & an end to our shocking home winless games v Blackburn going back to boxing day 2012

2: Boro team and formation? Why? 

Just don't have a clue, players injured, others rested

3: Should we focus on the league and promotion, or is it a good thing with a nice cup run?

No, for em, any good cup run is good 

4: Are you going to the game? 

Yes, going with my son, swapping my wast end upper seat for a west stand seat 

5: Best FA Cup memory?

Seeing my team walk out at Wembley 1997. But favourite games v Man City 1972 (my first FAC game) Sunderland 1975. Arsenal 1977 & 1984 

6: Worst FA Cup memory?

Orient , Wolves but the no1 worst is Birmingham away 1975 FACQF my first Boro heartache, when even today, I've still not got over it

The 1984 match v Arsenal!! What a game that was, the atmosphere was amazing as we came back to win 3-2 McDonald with the winner if I remember correctly. I’d say that was my favourite FA cup memory, even though I was at Wembley in 97…the Arsenal game sticks in my memory. 

[Erimus74 4,914 5.1k]

2 minutes ago, BillyWoofs_shinpad said:

The 1984 match v Arsenal!! What a game that was, the atmosphere was amazing as we came back to win 3-2 McDonald with the winner if I remember correctly. I’d say that was my favourite FA cup memory, even though I was at Wembley in 97…the Arsenal game sticks in my memory. 

Mick Baxter with the winner from a Paul Sugrue header, this day 1984. Garry Macdonald put us one nil up, Paul Sugrue made it 2-1 & big Mick with the bullet header at the holgate end  

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 2,141 10.2k]

11 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Mick Baxter with the winner from a Paul Sugrue header, this day 1984. Garry Macdonald put us one nil up, Paul Sugrue made it 2-1 & big Mick with the bullet header at the holgate end  

Ah I stand corrected, it was Baxter with the winner. 

[Erimus74 4,914 5.1k]

29 minutes ago, BillyWoofs_shinpad said:

Ah I stand corrected, it was Baxter with the winner. 

I have a briiliant press photo of Baxter running away celebrating after scoring the winner

Paul Sugrue, Alan Roberts, Tony Mowbray, in the photo

[Hammy legend 1,224 1.3k]

David Mills hat trick v Arsenal in 1977 was a great day , drawing with then losing to Orient the next year weren't.  

The Everton games in 1988 were cracking.

I would like to see McCabe and Finch get some minutes and Gilbert start. 

A 1-0 win for us.

[Redcar Rioja 8,415 8.3k]

3 hours ago, Aphex_Boro said:

I propose SmogDane be excommunicated for using AI to author a match thread. Actions like this threaten the very fabric of our civilisation. 

I think we should sentence him to reciting Nobby's Notebook from 2013 to 2016 "The early years", that should be punishment enough and even more of a deterrent should anyone else be tempted to follow suit.

[SimonD 1,339 1.5k]

ChatGPT for MDT? 😞

1: Result?

3-1 Boro (Clarke, Gilbert, Jones)

2: Boro team and formation? Why? 

Glover, Djiksteel, Engel, Clarke, Edmundson, Barlaser, McCabe, Jones, McGree, Gilbert, ELL

Doak and ELL are in because they're probably both going 😞

3: Should we focus on the league and promotion, or is it a good thing with a nice cup run?

League

4: Are you going to the game? 

Nope

5: Best FA Cup memory?

Chelsea in the final, even though we lost 😞

6: Worst FA Cup memory?

Losing to Cardiff in 2008, urgh
 

Edited January 7 by SimonD

[AnglianRed 7,823 18k]

22 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

I think we should sentence him to reciting Nobby's Notebook from 2013 to 2016 "The early years", that should be punishment enough and even more of a deterrent should anyone else be tempted to follow suit.

Thats evil!

I like the way you think... 😈

[AnglianRed 7,823 18k]

1: Result?

Blackburn will win. Nothing I can really put my finger on...just a gut feeling.

2: Boro team and formation? Why? 

Because its necessary to fulfil the fixture?

3: Should we focus on the league and promotion, or is it a good thing with a nice cup run?

We're unlikely to achieve promotion, so we may as well give the cup a shot.

4: Are you going to the game? 

No.

5: Best FA Cup memory?

My mind is Swiss cheese. I struggle to remember anything from more than a couple of months ago.

6: Worst FA Cup memory?

See above answer.

 

Being just slightly more serious, I think a lot will depend on how seriously Rovers are taking the Cup this season. Are they prioritising the play-offs, or will they field their strongest possible team?

Also, how motivated will Boro be? Will they be itching to make amends for the Cardiff game, or will the players be trying to conserve themselves for the next league fixture?

Last but not least - how do Blackburn play? Will they come at us and leave space for our attacking players to exploit, or will they frustrate us with a stubborn defence?

I get the feeling Carrick will pick the strongest line-up possible, but much will depend on how fit / energetic / motivated the lads are feeling.

[Duffman 29 23]

Think it will be two reserve sides playing out a pretty uninspiring game. Hope to see one or two of our youngsters step up and give Carrick something to think about - particularly in midfield. 
can see it being a draw with the excitement of penalties cheering us all up. 
it’s sad how the FA Cup has lost it’s magic for clubs like Boro and many like us. 

Despite reasonable ticket pricing looks like potentially a sub 15k attendance? 

Terrible kick off time

Horrible opponents 

Fans not quite feeling the love (despite being in the play off positions). 

a run of home games. 
 

like every game we play I hope we win and play well but I don’t expect fans will be too upset on Saturday afternoon if we say goodbye to the FA Cup for another year. 

[RiseAgainst 4,807 3.9k]

I'll be upset! I don't want us throwing the cup in any season. I am contemptuous of clubs and managers who regard the FA Cup as a distraction or an irrelevance, and I don't want my own club to fall into that particular sinkhole.

In normal circumstances, cup games at least give a few fringe players 90 minutes to shine, but given the severity and length of some of our injuries, I honestly don't know how we can even field a reserve side without showing the Cup utter contempt - such as throwing half a dozen academy kids in to get drubbed. We're already down to our third choice RB and our third choice GK, we can barely field two fit CBs from one game to the next, our reserve CDM pairing is as weak as a recycled teabag, and our only fit striker is apparently halfway out the door.

Other than Gilbert, and possibly McCabe, who steps in for the players we might rest?

[AnglianRed 7,823 18k]

41 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said:

I'll be upset! I don't want us throwing the cup in any season. I am contemptuous of clubs and managers who regard the FA Cup as a distraction or an irrelevance, and I don't want my own club to fall into that particular sinkhole.

In normal circumstances, cup games at least give a few fringe players 90 minutes to shine, but given the severity and length of some of our injuries, I honestly don't know how we can even field a reserve side without showing the Cup utter contempt - such as throwing half a dozen academy kids in to get drubbed. We're already down to our third choice RB and our third choice GK, we can barely field two fit CBs from one game to the next, our reserve CDM pairing is as weak as a recycled teabag, and our only fit striker is apparently halfway out the door.

Other than Gilbert, and possibly McCabe, who steps in for the players we might rest?

Thats why I said I feel Carrick will name a largely unchanged line-up...simply because we don't have a whole lot of options, without fielding a team of kids. Guys like Gilbert & McCabe could get a start, but thats as far as I see him going. Bring on the regulars around 70 minutes, if necessary.

If thats the case, I could see us putting in an underwhelming performance...unless we feel Blackburn are there for the taking.

 

In related news I see Boro are doing tickets for under-18s for £5. Might help boost attendance.

Also just seen that last Summer MC brought his kid brother Graeme into the coaching set-up! Apparently highly rated, as a former Newcastle and England youth coach! 

[Neverbefore 14,278 28.8k]

17 hours ago, Rob said:

loved the karanka run, but that season I think we went up despite him.

Can't take away the first half of the season run that put us in that position, brilliant, but after he totally butchered absolutely smashing that league, I doubt he would of even been allowed back if agnew didn't cost us against charlton lol. I think had he won that match (like he should of) I'd assume they would of given agnew enough rope to save us from relegation all together (by not getting promoted ). 

I think if there was 47 games in that season we would of bottled it in the play offs I really do.

That's one way of looking at it. Another is that that Brighton game is the only high pressure game in 19 yyears that we got the result we needed in. We had a couple that could have saved us from relegation in 09, fluffed it. Play off final, fluffed it. Chelsea second leg, fluffed it. Two play off semi finals, all fluffed. We did exactly what we needed to get promoted and that's all that should really matter. 

Karanka gets a rough time of it but he's accomplished what many other managers have tried over the last 16 years, it doesn't matter how close he was to not achieving that.

[TeaCider24 17,175 22.4k]

We won both legs of the play-off semis under Karanka too, one of them was a battering.

We only managed 5 shots on target across the other 4 play-off semis we were in, and I think it's only the Lenihan header that actually tested the keeper.