Well, well, well. 5 in a row. Who would have thought?! I tell you who... Kim *** Hellberg!

To mark this momentous occasion.. Bob is back!

Here’s your Sheffield United away – Monday night (8:01pm, for reasons known only to someone with a clipboard) matchday thread:

Introduction

Hello Boro folk. Monday night football. The oddest of footballs.

Not quite the weekend. Not quite the week. A kick-off time of 8:01pm, which feels less like a decision and more like someone accidentally leaning on a stopwatch.

We’re off to Sheffield United, Bramall Lane a ground that always looks like it should have steam rising from it. Serious place. Proper football smells. The sort of stadium where flasks are respected.

This is late-night Championship territory — where legs are tired, voices are hoarse, and hope turns up wearing a coat.

Last Time Out: Norwich City at Home (1–0 Win)

Last weekend, Norwich City came to the Riverside in their luminous yellow, like highlighters with boots.

It was tight. It was tense. It was one of those games where you sip your drink but don’t really taste it.

And then Hayden Hackney decided to do something special.

First half. Ball arrives. Time slows down slightly, like when you drop a mug. He hits it. Wonder strike. The kind of goal that makes a noise even before it goes in.

One–nil. Game changed. Crowd delighted. Somewhere, a pigeon probably flapped.

We held on. Properly held on. The sort of win that feels like putting a lid on a saucepan before it boils over.

Aidan Morris: Midfielder, Metronome, Small American Engine

Let’s talk about Aidan Morris.

An American, yes — but very much operating on Teesside time. Keeps things ticking. Keeps things moving. Always there, always busy, always slightly out of breath in a reassuring way.

He does the quiet work. The intercepting. The passing. The appearing just when you think, “We could do with someone here.” And there he is. Like a helpful ghost.

If this team were a watch — and it sometimes feels like one — Morris would be the bit inside that actually makes it tell time. Not flashy. Not loud. But without him everything goes wrong and you’re late for things.

Absolute hero. Unsung but deeply sung in the heart.

Talking Points

1. Line-Up and Shape (Or “Fornation”, as it will be typed in haste)

Do we stick with what’s been working like a well-worn slipper, or do we freshen it up with something new and slightly stiff?

Does Sarmiento get his first start and immediately look like he’s always been there?

Is Strelec in from the off, stretching defenders like an elastic band?

Who are you trusting with your Monday night emotions?

2. Five Wins in a Row (Which Is a Proper Streak)

Five consecutive victories. That’s not an accident. That’s form. That’s confidence. That’s the footballing equivalent of getting all green lights on the way to work.

But can we make it six?

Or is five the sort of number that the universe likes to stop at?

3. The Striker Question (Again, Always Again)

Do we actually need a new striker?

Are we missing something?

Or are we simply enjoying the idea of signing one, like browsing sheds you don’t truly need?

Is what we have enough — or would another forward be the cherry on the Victoria sponge?

Score Prediction

Right then. It’s late. It’s under the lights. It’s one of those games you’ll still be thinking about while brushing your teeth.

What’s your score prediction tonight?

Optimistic? Sensible? Wildly specific for no reason?

As ever, interested to hear your thoughts.

UTB.

The 1 minute past kick off times are part of a CPR awareness campaign I believe.

Bamford injured in training yesterday, so potentially unavailable to face us.

Bloody hell you're keen aren't you? Game isn't for nearly a week!

Shame they won tonight, least Hull only got a point. See we have 2nd best defence and 4th best attack. Ipswich are the only team with better both.

3 hours ago, Denzel Zanzibar said:

Bloody hell you're keen aren't you? Game isn't for nearly a week!

Also the Norwich thread has been taken down, a bit too sharp.

Just watched highlights of sheff utds game. All their threat is down their right side and then Hamer floating around on the left.

I’d go with 3 in cm again and use Browne to almost man mark Hamer, he’s most dangerous when he has time to either pick out a long pass or take a long shot. Targett will need help at LB aswell as they do lots of doubling up.

Oxford did get in a few times down sheff utds left so Brittain and Whittaker could do a bit of damage. They do press hard though and wilder will have them well up for it, think it’s gonna be a tough one, if we start gifting away possession and being sloppy I don’t think it will go well

Brynn

Brittain Ayling Malanda Targett

Browne Morris Hackney

Whittaker McGree

Conway

Subs:

Mc, Fry, Munroe, Gilbert, Silveria, Hansen, Castledene, Sarmiento, Strelec, Sene

referee's get your sandwiches and wrong decisions ready for the man who used to fking love paddy mcnair , 4-0 to the boro

I think we'll start the same team as we did against Norwich.

A back 4.

Brynn

Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Targett

Morris, Browne, Hackney

Whittaker, Conway, McGree

They're in fine form, especially at home so it will be tough, but Bamford being injured (as usual) is good news for us.

Sorry to report that I'm going to Sheff Utd away, and i have probably THE WORST away record in the world.

The only saving grace is it's not a game in London, where my record is even worse.

Sorry.

9 hours ago, Erimus 63 said:

Also the Norwich thread has been taken down, a bit too sharp.

It has not been taken down only moved and still able to have posts added.

We did not have a further post for nearly two days so as I thought folks were finished with it I moved it

2 minutes ago, Jooky85 said:

Sorry to report that I'm going to Sheff Utd away, and i have probably THE WORST away record in the world.

The only saving grace is it's not a game in London, where my record is even worse.

Sorry.

Alright mate, we're going to need you to pull a sicky that day and not go - it's for the good of the team you understand!

6 minutes ago, Brunners said:

Alright mate, we're going to need you to pull a sicky that day and not go - it's for the good of the team you understand!

I'm already notionally banned from Wembley ffs!

Four home wins on the spin scoring 3 goals in each game makes this a concerning game and it will not be for the faint hearted.

Get the feeling our mini run will be coming to an end and that we are overdue draw wise.

So going with a 0-0 bore draw but we all know that this is one of the tough away games we will be facing in a short period