Wasn't expecting to have to author another thread as my previous record has been abysmal. 

Welcoming another guest author for this one.. fresh from practically forcing the poor, brave, Venezuelan opposition leader to give him her Nobel Peace Prize and now wanting his share of a successful Boro Matchday Thread winning run..

President Donald Trump..

Introduction
Folks. Big game. Huge game, frankly.
Wednesday night at Stoke City. Tough place. Cold place. Windy. Very windy — some people are saying the windiest. Stoke away has never been easy, believe me, but Middlesbrough are arriving with momentum, belief, and frankly a lot of people talking about us right now.
Under Kim Hellberg, things are happening. Good things. Smart things. Attacking things. The kind of things that make other Championship teams nervous. You can see it in their faces.
This is a test. But we like tests. We pass tests. Tremendously.

Last Time Out: West Brom Away (3–2 Win)
Let’s talk about West Brom. The Hawthorns. Serious place. Very serious people.
We went there and dominated. Absolutely dominated. Controlled the game. Passed the ball beautifully. Went 2–0 up and looked fantastic — the best team by a mile, no question.
Then, very unfairly, they came back. Two goals. Suddenly it’s 2–2. People were nervous. Some people were pacing. Others were Googling “how long is stoppage time, legally?”
And then — boom. Last minute. Delano Burgzorg. A man who has heard opinions. A regular boo boy. And suddenly he’s the hero.
Some fans wanted him gone five minutes earlier. By the end, they were building statues. Others were joking about calling in outside assistance to escort him out of town — very dramatic fans, tremendous passion — but that’s football, folks. Emotional game. He steps up, scores, wins it.
That’s character. That’s resilience. That’s a group learning how to win even when things get strange.

Tommy Conway: Goals, Work Rate, and a Very Serious Debate
Now let’s talk about Tommy Conway. A lot of people are talking about Tommy Conway. Some unfairly. Very unfairly.
They say, “Where are the goals?” That’s what they say. And sure, goals are nice. Everyone loves goals. I love goals. But football is more than just goals, folks — very complicated game, incredibly complicated.
What Conway gives you is effort. Tremendous effort. He runs. He presses. He chases things that have no business being chased. Defenders hate it. Absolutely hate it. They go home tired, asking questions.
Does he score every week? No. But does he make the team better? Many people are saying yes. Coaches love this kind of player. Managers love him. Teammates love him. He does the dirty work so others can do the glamorous work. Very important job. Underrated job.
And let me tell you — goals come and go. Work rate? That’s forever.

Talking Points
1. Team Selection
Hellberg has options now. Good options. Some people are saying too many options — that’s a nice problem to have.
So what team are you picking for Stoke away? Same XI after that West Brom performance, or are you making changes because you’re bold, confident, and not afraid of the consequences?
2. Injuries and Returns
Everyone’s asking about it. Constantly asking.
McGree. Strelec. Sene. Big names. Important players. People checking team news like it’s classified information.
Do we see any of them back tonight, or are we still waiting patiently, pretending we’re calm about it?
3. January Business — The Striker Question
Let’s be honest. Everyone’s thinking it.
Goals win games. Strikers score goals. That’s just math.
Do you think we sign a striker this week, or are we backing what we’ve got and telling everyone to relax?

Score Predictions
Alright folks. Final question. Big question.
What’s your score prediction tonight?
Are you predicting with facts, logic, and statistics — or are you going full confidence, full belief, saying “3–1 Boro, never in doubt” and daring the football gods to argue?
Post them below.
 

UTB.

Looks like their main striker Mubama has broke his leg in their game today, very unfortunate and never nice to see. Sam Gallagher is injured too from what I’m reading so they don’t have many options up front. 

Edited January 17Jan 17 by DevKWat

11 hours ago, BearSmog said:

Wasn't expecting to have to author another thread as my previous record has been abysmal. 

Welcoming another guest author for this one.. fresh from practically forcing the poor, brave, Venezuelan opposition leader to give him her Nobel Peace Prize and now wanting his share of a successful Boro Matchday Thread winning run..

President Donald Trump..

Introduction
Folks. Big game. Huge game, frankly.
Friday night at Stoke City. Tough place. Cold place. Windy. Very windy — some people are saying the windiest. Stoke away has never been easy, believe me, but Middlesbrough are arriving with momentum, belief, and frankly a lot of people talking about us right now.
Under Kim Hellberg, things are happening. Good things. Smart things. Attacking things. The kind of things that make other Championship teams nervous. You can see it in their faces.
This is a test. But we like tests. We pass tests. Tremendously.

Last Time Out: West Brom Away (3–2 Win)
Let’s talk about West Brom. The Hawthorns. Serious place. Very serious people.
We went there and dominated. Absolutely dominated. Controlled the game. Passed the ball beautifully. Went 2–0 up and looked fantastic — the best team by a mile, no question.
Then, very unfairly, they came back. Two goals. Suddenly it’s 2–2. People were nervous. Some people were pacing. Others were Googling “how long is stoppage time, legally?”
And then — boom. Last minute. Delano Burgzorg. A man who has heard opinions. A regular boo boy. And suddenly he’s the hero.
Some fans wanted him gone five minutes earlier. By the end, they were building statues. Others were joking about calling in outside assistance to escort him out of town — very dramatic fans, tremendous passion — but that’s football, folks. Emotional game. He steps up, scores, wins it.
That’s character. That’s resilience. That’s a group learning how to win even when things get strange.

Tommy Conway: Goals, Work Rate, and a Very Serious Debate
Now let’s talk about Tommy Conway. A lot of people are talking about Tommy Conway. Some unfairly. Very unfairly.
They say, “Where are the goals?” That’s what they say. And sure, goals are nice. Everyone loves goals. I love goals. But football is more than just goals, folks — very complicated game, incredibly complicated.
What Conway gives you is effort. Tremendous effort. He runs. He presses. He chases things that have no business being chased. Defenders hate it. Absolutely hate it. They go home tired, asking questions.
Does he score every week? No. But does he make the team better? Many people are saying yes. Coaches love this kind of player. Managers love him. Teammates love him. He does the dirty work so others can do the glamorous work. Very important job. Underrated job.
And let me tell you — goals come and go. Work rate? That’s forever.

Talking Points
1. Team Selection
Hellberg has options now. Good options. Some people are saying too many options — that’s a nice problem to have.
So what team are you picking for Stoke away? Same XI after that West Brom performance, or are you making changes because you’re bold, confident, and not afraid of the consequences?
2. Injuries and Returns
Everyone’s asking about it. Constantly asking.
McGree. Strelec. Sene. Big names. Important players. People checking team news like it’s classified information.
Do we see any of them back tonight, or are we still waiting patiently, pretending we’re calm about it?
3. January Business — The Striker Question
Let’s be honest. Everyone’s thinking it.
Goals win games. Strikers score goals. That’s just math.
Do you think we sign a striker this week, or are we backing what we’ve got and telling everyone to relax?

Score Predictions
Alright folks. Final question. Big question.
What’s your score prediction tonight?
Are you predicting with facts, logic, and statistics — or are you going full confidence, full belief, saying “3–1 Boro, never in doubt” and daring the football gods to argue?
Post them below.
 

UTB.

This week I feel is a Pivotal Week...Game against Stoke Wed night... Away... followed by Preston at home 12.30 Sat as they say games come thick & fast...I've seen enough to know we have a very, very good side...Yes we need an outstanding striker, but it won't be the end of the world, if one doesn't materialise we've managed OK on what we have so I'm HOPING for a good outcome to this week....I've everything crossed

I can't see a new striker coming in this week but I would be very surprised if one doesn't materialise at all by the end of the window. Stoke having some injury problems in the forward areas. No fit strikers for our game so I have read but very strong defensively. Feel it will be another game of attacking a low block, so of course imperative we grab the first goal. 

I think we will go unchanged. I will remain optimistic we see Sene or Strelec back on the bench however also wouldn't surprise me if they aren't. There is still plenty of the season left and I would rather them be fully recovered than rushed back. Same with McGree if he is actually close to returning (again)

 

Edited January 18Jan 18 by KJA_mfc

17 hours ago, BearSmog said:

Friday night at Stoke City. Tough place. Cold place. Windy. Very windy — some people are saying the windiest.

Mr President, what do you have to say to people who claim that the match is on Wednesday?

We thinking same 11 that started v West Brom?

Not sure who deserves to drop out and I don't see any of the current injured players being fit enough to even make the bench, let alone start.

Would anyone be tempted to finish with same formation we ended with at WBA? Give Stoke something different to think about and play with two centre forwards? Something like a 3.4.1.2

Brynn

Ayling Fry Malanda

Silveria Hackney Morris Targett

Whittaker

Burgzorg Conway

Not accurate enough to be the Mango Mussolini, far too many coherent sentences for a start

I bet you are miffed that gifs are back had you waited you would have been in gf wonderland!

Should be winning really given Stoke's injury crisis up top. Same team, assuming we're as-is with our own injuries.

Remember an early trip to the Victoria ground to see the Boro back in 1975. Me & my younger brother went spud bashing to get the money to pay for our tickets on Beggs bus. Hard graft indeed. Boro lost 3-1 with Dave Armstrong scoring our consolation goal

14 minutes ago, Downsouth said:

I bet you are miffed that gifs are back had you waited you would have been in gf wonderland!

We'll just have to beat Stoke on WEDNESDAY night!

Southampton fans hated Bazunu because apparently any well hit shot in the area goes in which we kind of seen ourselves the other week. I think it’s kind of a gift we get to face him again, shoot on sight inside the box and we will get a couple goals

Aye I saw on their socials after we smashed them 4-0 I just hope we take shots at him every chance we get as saints fans didn't rate him at all. Stoke also don't have any strikers available apparently so we need to get at them straight from the off.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Borosniper77

3 hours ago, KeithLambsFaxMachine said:

Mr President, what do you have to say to people who claim that the match is on Wednesday?