Boro v Blackburn FA Cup 0-1

[Rob 6,084 9.3k]

44 minutes ago, Neverbefore said:

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.

I don't care about the method as long as we get there lol, but is probs one of the few times a typical boro result didn't come in for such a critical game , good job they never let agnew have 2 games in charge before letting AK come back after spitting his dummy out after that team meeting.

did yas have much insight/ITK other than what was reported in the press behind that walk out? 

[Bruce 2,524 2.1k]

I reckon that we probably have enough of our regular back-ups to avoid throwing a bunch of u21s in and seeing them get humiliated. Barring injuries one or another, I expect.

Glover

Dijksteel - Edmundson - Clarke - Engel

McCabe - Hackney

Jones - Gilbert - McGree

Finch

It's a bit lightweight up front but most of those are now pretty experienced Championship players. 

We might see McCormick but I suspect that we get more out of getting Engel back up to speed at this point. Might see Burgzorg get another run out at centre forward to see if he has improved in that position since earlier in the season. Hackney could do with a break but a midfield of Barlaser and McCabe is just asking for trouble.

Cardiff 2004. Isn't it great when you're living within 1/2 mile of the cup final. Least it would be, if I wasn't stuck in Darmstadt at a hypertext conference where I was an invited speaker long before we made it to the final. And flying back to Cardiff during the match. Got on the plane just as we kicked off. No wifi of course. Had to wait until I got back to Cardiff airport and turned on my old nokia to get texts saying we'd won.

[TeaCider24 16,744 21.9k]

Blackburn will be just as unbothered about this match as we are, so I expect it'll be two big fringe sides.

[RiseAgainst 4,754 3.9k]

10 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Blackburn will be just as unbothered about this match as we are, so I expect it'll be two big fringe sides.

And that's why we should go for it. They'll field an inexperienced team and they'll be there for the taking.

Players considering joining us this month might be slightly more inclined to do so if we put on a good performance in the world's most high-profile domestic cup competition, as opposed to watching us in the thud and blunder of the weekly Championship grind. It won't entice someone who has a chance of joining Barca, but if we put on a good show and make it into the fourth round, it does make us (fractionally) more desirable for short-term loan signings - and especially fringe players whose best shot of establishing themselves in our starting XI might come from good performances in a cup run. Go out in R3 and their only opportunity to play is in the league, and I'd argue our best XI is pretty hard to break into, barring departures this month.

[Nobby Barnes 371 628]

19 minutes ago, Bruce said:

I reckon that we probably have enough of our regular back-ups to avoid throwing a bunch of u21s in and seeing them get humiliated. Barring injuries one or another, I expect.

Glover

Dijksteel - Edmundson - Clarke - Engel

McCabe - Hackney

Jones - Gilbert - McGree

Finch

It's a bit lightweight up front but most of those are now pretty experienced Championship players. 

We might see McCormick but I suspect that we get more out of getting Engel back up to speed at this point. Might see Burgzorg get another run out at centre forward to see if he has improved in that position since earlier in the season. Hackney could do with a break but a midfield of Barlaser and McCabe is just asking for trouble.

Cardiff 2004. Isn't it great when you're living within 1/2 mile of the cup final. Least it would be, if I wasn't stuck in Darmstadt at a hypertext conference where I was an invited speaker long before we made it to the final. And flying back to Cardiff during the match. Got on the plane just as we kicked off. No wifi of course. Had to wait until I got back to Cardiff airport and turned on my old nokia to get texts saying we'd won.

Good shout that Bruce, I expect McCormick and Zorg to be starting 

[TeaCider24 16,744 21.9k]

12 minutes ago, RiseAgainst said:

And that's why we should go for it. They'll field an inexperienced team and they'll be there for the taking.

Players considering joining us this month might be slightly more inclined to do so if we put on a good performance in the world's most high-profile domestic cup competition, as opposed to watching us in the thud and blunder of the weekly Championship grind. It won't entice someone who has a chance of joining Barca, but if we put on a good show and make it into the fourth round, it does make us (fractionally) more desirable for short-term loan signings - and especially fringe players whose best shot of establishing themselves in our starting XI might come from good performances in a cup run. Go out in R3 and their only opportunity to play is in the league, and I'd argue our best XI is pretty hard to break into, barring departures this month.

I doubt any player cares either way.

We're not winning it, they won't be joining us to win it either.

I think we'll only be signing players who get in to the current starting 11, or a back up striker who's going to get plenty of game time either way.

A handful of cup games won't swing their decision.

[TeaCider24 16,744 21.9k]

I'd definitely be giving Hamilton a start here.

Especially now with the news that Jones is off.

[Redcar Rioja 8,076 7.9k]

I used to love the FA Cup as a kid "all the magic of the Cup" was a genuine thing especially when the minnows beat the big sides, still remember Ricky George scoring for Hereford.

Today the FA has sold its soul and the FA Cup along with it for Premiership greed. Congratulations as they have succeeded in acquiring a huge amount of wealth from the Prem but the Cup is now tarnished and holds little interest for me which is a shame. Consequently I'm more concerned about not picking up any more injuries or fatigue for the Championship battle so I'd play Kids and fringe players only, the FA only have themselves to blame.

[Downsouth 7,794 38.4k]

30 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

I used to love the FA Cup as a kid "all the magic of the Cup" was a genuine thing especially when the minnows beat the big sides, still remember Ricky George scoring for Hereford.

Today the FA has sold its soul and the FA Cup along with it for Premiership greed. Congratulations as they have succeeded in acquiring a huge amount of wealth from the Prem but the Cup is now tarnished and holds little interest for me which is a shame. Consequently I'm more concerned about not picking up any more injuries or fatigue for the Championship battle so I'd play Kids and fringe players only, the FA only have themselves to blame.

But the rewards are still worth is though!

I hope we set out to beat Blackburn because I would hate the thought of losing at home twice to them this season.

We aint going to win the Cup but a cup run is always fun

[Georgewhitt 1,444 700]

Serious question.

How many of you would sacrifice a play off place for winning The FA Cup?

[Blanco 5,454 7.1k]

4 minutes ago, Georgewhitt said:

Serious question.

How many of you would sacrifice a play off place for winning The FA Cup?

Me. I would. Winning a major trophy would be better than the potential of going up through the playoffs.

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 2,119 10.2k]

8 minutes ago, Georgewhitt said:

Serious question.

How many of you would sacrifice a play off place for winning The FA Cup?

Definitely, there is no guarantee of going up via the playoffs, but to win an FA cup would be an amazing achievement for the club. 

[TeaCider24 16,744 21.9k]

12 minutes ago, Georgewhitt said:

Serious question.

How many of you would sacrifice a play off place for winning The FA Cup?

I'd take that in a heartbeat, but it's not going to happen.

I'd take us getting relegated to League One and winning the FA Cup.

[TeaCider24 16,744 21.9k]

We're going to beat my low estimate anyway, so that's good.

[Leesider 1,317 1.4k]

2 hours ago, Downsouth said:

But the rewards are still worth is though!

I hope we set out to beat Blackburn because I would hate the thought of losing at home twice to them this season.

We aint going to win the Cup but a cup run is always fun

Absolutely, My favorite memories of the last few seasons would include beating Man Utd & Spurs in the cup. That penalty shoot out v Utd was incredible.

Sol (RIP) slotting home in particular with his only touch of the game was magical stuff.