21 minutes ago, Borodane said:

Tough game this with Stoke sitting just 2 points outside the Playoffs. Hopefully we will take our chances again and shore up in defence a bit better. Be interesting to see if McGree and Strelec are back in the squad. And what about Fry? Will he take the spot from Ayling when he's fit enough, or will he have to make do with a bench squad due to his inability to stay fit ie. it's better to have Dael on the bench for every match than to start him and see him get injured for the next month again.

no way you drop ayling, jones might even have a job getting back in if he maintains his form tbh, let alone fry.

injuries and suspensions could be a way in for either tho

20 minutes ago, Borodane said:

Tough game this with Stoke sitting just 2 points outside the Playoffs. Hopefully we will take our chances again and shore up in defence a bit better. Be interesting to see if McGree and Strelec are back in the squad. And what about Fry? Will he take the spot from Ayling when he's fit enough, or will he have to make do with a bench squad due to his inability to stay fit ie. it's better to have Dael on the bench for every match than to start him and see him get injured for the next month again.

I expect Ayling to start. He’s played very well this season and offers more of a creative output for the team. He’s so comfortable on the ball, which suits the way Kim likes to play the game.

Ayling didn't play well against West Brom but i think he's done enough to keep his spot. His ability to play into midfield and carry the ball will be important against a weakened and likely defence-orientated Stoke side.

Interested to see how Stoke play this. They caused Edward's Boro a boatload of problems by playing on the front foot and probably deserved to win the reverse fixture.

On the flip side, that could play into our hand under Hellberg, and they're missing some key attacking players. Will they try to park the bus instead?

The 11 that started against us in September

Johansson - injured

Bocat - barely plays....15 mins v QPR and no mins since 13 Dec

Wilmot - Will start

Phillips - Will start

Lawal - Will start

Seko - Didn't start v QPR (4 mins off the bench)

Pearson - Will start

Cisse - Likely to start

Bae - Likely to start

Thomas - Will start

Bozenik - Injured

Subs:

Manhoef - will definitely get minutes

Rigo - Will likely start

Mubama - Injured

Tchamadeu - injured

So there's only likely to be 3 maybe 4 of those players who played against us in September, not start tomorrow.

Their injuries can't be as bad as they are making out.

Whereas, from the 11 that we played in September, I very much doubt Edmundson, Jones, Nypan and Strelec start...

1 hour ago, Rob said:

no way you drop ayling, jones might even have a job getting back in if he maintains his form tbh, let alone fry.

injuries and suspensions could be a way in for either tho

I think with our dearth of options at Right Back at the moment if we can bring Fry in and shift Ayling out to RB as a natural option our defence looks much stronger, not been impressed with Browne at RB so far.

Sene and Strelec won't be travelling tonight.

He said they were both further ahead in their recovery, so I assume that means McGree won't be either.

One of the reasons Cov beat us 4-2 was we couldnt cope with their balls into the box. Need to just keep Frys minutes ticking over so he can complete the 90 in a months time.

3 minutes ago, ChipBarrington said:

One of the reasons Cov beat us 4-2 was we couldnt cope with their balls into the box. Need to just keep Frys minutes ticking over so he can complete the 90 in a months time.

Malanda looks pretty dominant in the air.

The press questions are awful. They ask about Sene and Strelec but fail to mention McGree and Brittain. Instead they ask random transfer questions which he bats away without breaking sweat.

Edited January 20Jan 20 by Boro-Loyal

1 hour ago, ChipBarrington said:

One of the reasons Cov beat us 4-2 was we couldnt cope with their balls into the box. Need to just keep Frys minutes ticking over so he can complete the 90 in a months time.

Fry was a huge miss that night.

Does anyone know if they're selling tickets on the door for this one? Or is it sold out?

36 minutes ago, Boro-Loyal said:

The press questions are awful. They ask about Sene and Strelec but fail to mention McGree and Brittain. Instead they ask random transfer questions which me bats away without breaking sweat.

yeah and they know full well them transfer questions are not getting answered as well.

3 minutes ago, Tom said:

Does anyone know if they're selling tickets on the door for this one? Or is it sold out?

computer says no

https://www.mfc.co.uk/tickets/away-tickets-and-travel

27 minutes ago, Humpty said:

Fry was a huge miss that night.

Almost as big a miss as Conway's!