Denzel Zanzibar 6,931 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 EFL Cup Sponsored by Carabao First Round Middlesbrough vs Crewe Alexandra The Riverside Stadium Tuesday 13th August 2019, KO 19:45 It's the first round of the EFL Cup, a competition we won......ooh, ages ago, look! Pretty much since then we've lost to a lower league team in the first or second round or been beaten by a Premier League team in the Round of 16, apart from LAST SEASON when we went on an amazing run to the QUARTER FINALS where we were beaten by the mighty Burton Albion. Will history repeat itself? If so which version of history will we see? Could we go and win the whole thing? Steve Gibson probably hopes we go on a decent run again this season so he can do this: While the supporters do this: And the players do this: Stats vs Crewe Alexandra: We've only ever played Crewe once in the League Cup, where we won at Ayresome Park 3-1 back in 1961. *Not actual match footage. The view from the other side: Crewe Alexandra aren't talking about us yet, but when/if they do it'll be here. Talking points: Change the team? If so who comes in/goes out? Aim for a cup run or try to stay in the Championship? Do we trust a word that comes out of Steve Gibson's mouth? How terrible is my first ever matchday thread? 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Dan1234 1,048 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) My trust in Gibson is definitely faltering. Change the team for me. Pears Djiksteel wood Shotton Bola Tav Malley Saville Browne Coulson Fletch or Britt Could be a good opportunity for Britt to get some confidence, also would quite like to see Fletch play as the 9. Link to post Share on other sites
boroie 484 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Nice MDT Change the team? If so who comes in/goes out? Bola, Browne, Dyjksteel, Saville, Pears, (Gestede?) to all start. Probably change formation if big Rudy starts. Aim for a cup run or try to stay in the Championship? Can't we do both? We can bring in some players and scrape a win (like Woodys matches in charge last season) but not commit too many resources to it. We don't want costly injuries to first team players. Do we trust a word that comes out of Steve Gibson's mouth? Pass... at this stage How terrible is my first ever matchday thread? On a scale of 1 to a Fellaini, you are around a 3. Good effort, needs more headbutting though. :D Link to post Share on other sites
Brunners 7,952 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, Dan1234 said: My trust in Gibson is definitely faltering. Change the team for me. Pears Djiksteel wood Shotton Bola Tav Malley Saville Browne Coulson Fletch or Britt Could be a good opportunity for Britt to get some confidence, also would quite like to see Fletch play as the 9. Woodgate says he thinks Friend will play on Tuesday, so I'd swap Shotton for Friend, otherwise I think that's pretty close to what we'll see. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Jamie-H 1,322 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) I don't think we'll see Malley in Clayton's role more likely to bring Liddle in and showcase him for a loan move, plus he's a more natural fit, the 2 'box to box' selections will probably be Sav and Tav maybe have Malley or Hackney on the bench as a bit of a showcase. Up front is where the selection get's a little messy you have Browne on one side maybe you try Coulson on the other this will sound mental but as essentially our main backup striker it probably makes sense to give minutes to Gestede. I'd love Woody to stick a surprise option on the bench like a Balde/Folarin/Jones but might be a tad early to be uprooting too many from the age groups. Big performance from Saville I'd be interested if Woodgate tries Saville and McNair together at some point as a tandem especially in away games. Link to post Share on other sites
TeaCider24 12,396 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Looking forward to the match. I'd hope the team would be Pears Dijksteel Fry (if fit) Friend Bola Clayton Tavernier Saville Browne Coulson Assombalonga I think that Gestede will start over Britt though, and we'll probably have Wood or someone starting. I'd hope to have as strong a team as possible so that Woodgate can try and get his first competitive win in comfortable fashion. Link to post Share on other sites
wilsoncgp 9,228 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Suspect it will be something like: Pears Dijksteel Ayala Friend Bola Tav Wing Saville Browne Fletch Walker Walker was in the pre-match training yesterday so think he might come in for this. Also in two minds about whether we play Britt or Fletch for this because Britt clearly needs a bit of a boost. He didn't have a great game all-round against Brentford. Link to post Share on other sites
ChipBarrington 313 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Pears Dijk Friend/Fry (if ready) Wood Bola Tav - Howson (DCM) - Sav Marv - Britt - Browne Might be a good time to try Howson DCM, and see what the other 2 cm bring. Marv is playing OK so keep him in (debated Fletcher too as he needs a run of games too but if he gets injured that moves Gestede further up the pecking order), see what Browne can do from the start and Britt could do with some goals. Dont agree with playing Coulson as LW as he is still our rotating LB, we dont play with orthidox wingers (yet) and for me at his age we need to just keep him in one position and let him learn. On the wingers thing, has Marv been swapping with Fletcher mid game? Think doing this in 5 minute spells gives the opposition something different to think about. Link to post Share on other sites
Brunners 7,952 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 As far as I could tell vs Luton & Brentford Marvin Johnson has played exclusively on the right. Link to post Share on other sites
LBP 3,012 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 -------------Pears Dijks Wood Friend Bola -----Tav Malley McNair Browne Fletcher Coulson Link to post Share on other sites
Maccarone 264 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Great thread, no idea of the team but 2-0 to the Boro Link to post Share on other sites
Adam P 300 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 ----------Pears Dijksteel--Fry--Friend--Bola ---Tav ----Clayton---Saville Walker---Gestede---Browne I'd personally play Assombalonga to see if he can get some goals but I think thats something close to what we'll play. Wood in for Fry if he's not quite ready. Link to post Share on other sites
DanFromDownSouth 1,706 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, ChipBarrington said: Pears Dijk Friend/Fry (if ready) Wood Bola Tav - Howson (DCM) - Sav Marv - Britt - Browne That's near enough the team I'd want to see. Over the course of the season I would like to see us try both Howson and McNair in the "Clayton" role just to see if they could hack it or actually play there. Would also like to see Tav play from midfield this game, to see what he would bring to our midfield. The only change I would maybe argue for is seeing Browne on the right and Coulson playing on the left. I still think Coulson will end up a Left-back. From what I have seen in the 2 games so far. You can tell he is inexperienced at this level due to his positioning, but that should improve as he plays more and more games. The only other thing I have to say against Coulson is his physicality, I think he needs to bulk up a bit as he is very light weight at the moment (in my opinion). Think defensively in a tackle he is fine, just think he get shrugged off the ball and in air he is too easily beaten at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites
Downsouth 6,175 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Ok so it is early doors of the Cup competition but MFC and the fans need a win so I hope we will treat this game in a proper way, do not want to be dumped out by a lower league team once again. Get the job done no matter what 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Foogle 2,078 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 ----------------Meijas Dijksteel-Wood-Friend-Bola --Tavernier-Howson-Saville-- Coulson----Fletcher----Browne Good opportunity to get some full debuts. Would like to see Fletcher start up front for this game and Ayala has got to be wrapped up in cotton wool whilst we're struggling for Centre backs. Hoping we burst out the gates and get our first win of the season 3-1. Link to post Share on other sites
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