How confident about Middlesbrough?

[Seagull58]

Anything can happen and Houghton will get the kitchen sink out for the last half an hour - will be exciting whatever happens

But what will Hughton do? Houghton is of no relevance.

 

[sparkie]

If we'd beaten Derby and gone a goal down at Middlesbrough we'd be where we are now.

We still have 90 minutes to get the goal that changes everything.

I've unshakeable belief that we'll be top 2 after the game on Saturday.

 

[BBassic]

I can't see us getting a result but as others have said it isn't an ordinary game. It's a high pressure, winner takes £100m, pre-playoffs-playoff final and I think we're more consistent than Boro.

Worth bearing in mind I'm naturally pessimistic so, pinch of salt.

 

[Loftslaces]

He is pretty relevant - he could send the team out with 5 up front!

 

[graz126]

will be very tight and tense until boro sit back and settle for a draw with 20 mins left. at that point we need to take our chance and score. this is our best hope imo. we need to be patient then gamble like fooook last 20. we can do it. but aint confident.

 

[marshy68]

Yep confident that CH will have the team set up to play for the win. Yesterday was a funny day with so many variables before play.

Now the simple FACT is win for glory.

Agreed yesterday was a free hit. It didn't really matter if we lost or drew. A win would have perhaps meant we would be more defensive at boro knowing a draw would see us up. I cant work out if that would have been a good thing. I know there will be immense pressure on this game, but realistically we know what we have to do we have to win. Boro will have in the back of their mind that the draw is good enough. At least we can go there and give it a really good go.

Its very nauseating.....

 

[sparkie]

It's exactly like an away playoff 2nd leg after 0-0 in the first leg, then going 1-0 down knowing an away goal still takes you through.

 

[MattBackHome]

The Derby game was always going to be tricky - simply because despite what the team and CH said, the result really didn't matter at all. It was a weird feeling; a mixture of ‘valedictory end of season blow out party’ and a ‘calm before the storm’ sort of thing. The second half performance was pretty dire but the fact that the team was DESPERATE for the equalising goal, even if it didn’t make any difference. I think that was telling.


So there are a number of reasons that I’m remaining in camp positive:

• A match up against Hughes, Thorne, Bryson & Ince was the PERFECT practise session for our defence and midfield in preparation for Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Ramirez, Downing etc.
• Though it’s a blow to lose Dunk, it would be remiss to forget the superb run of results we had earlier in the season when GG was first choice. Plus you#d expect the the wily old Caledonian sea dog to be right up Rhodes’ tartan sphincter the whole match. Greer v Rhodes is the first of a couple of nice sub-plots.
• I don’t hold with the idea that it’s easier to go up there needing a win, but it’s undeniable that it will mean that the team is more single minded about what they have to do.
• The corollary is true. If there’s any hesitation at all in how Boro approach the game (and they have been hesitant in recent weeks) then it significantly improves our chances.
• As said above – the equaliser on Saturday meant nothing, but seemed to mean everything at the same time. This is a team that BELIEVES.
• Boro are imperious at home, but I reckon are marginally more prone to nervy wobbles than we are. The Boro team has struggled in the last couple of games. If Saturday is about ‘keeping your head when others around are losing theirs’ then I reckon we’ve got a marginal competitive advantage.
• They SPANKED us here. This sets the scene for a reversal.
• De Laet shits himself when he’s under pressure and can be known to resort to hoofball. Knocky knows this better than anyone – and is intimate with the intricacies of De Laet’s game. Knocky v De Laet is another nice sub-plot. #PrayforRichie
• Karanka seems to be auditioning for a part in Poyet: The Movie. Plus it’s important to remember the quality that Boro have in the team – they should have won this league by a mile. Karanka has underperformed.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m certainly not saying we’ve got this tied up or anything. Boro are definitely favourites. I just reckon we’ve got a solid shout.


Hurry up Saturday, please.

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

I'm not even remotely confident of us getting a win there, especially as they only need a draw.

 

[Whitechapel]

I can't see us beating them.

However I can't see us not getting promoted there.

I know that makes zero sense but that's where I stand.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

Greer to get the winner
It's in the script !!

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

Not at all. I'm not sure we have the quality to get in front and stay in front at their ground. Losing Dunk is a big blow as it weakens the defence and makes us less likely to score from set pieces.

 

[07May2016]

I can't see us getting a result but as others have said it isn't an ordinary game. It's a high pressure, winner takes £100m, pre-playoffs-playoff final and I think we're more consistent than Boro.

Worth bearing in mind I'm naturally pessimistic so, pinch of salt.

How can you possibly be more consistent than us? We're on the same points

 

[BBassic]

How can you possibly be more consistent than us? We're on the same points

'Consistent' possibly the wrong word. Luckily [MENTION=278]MattBackHome[/MENTION] has summed what I meant up quite nicely:

Boro are imperious at home, but I reckon are marginally more prone to nervy wobbles than we are. The Boro team has struggled in the last couple of games. If Saturday is about ‘keeping your head when others around are losing theirs’ then I reckon we’ve got a marginal competitive advantage.

 

[theonlymikey]

'Consistent' possibly the wrong word. Luckily [MENTION=278]MattBackHome[/MENTION] has summed what I meant up quite nicely:

Boro are imperious at home, but I reckon are marginally more prone to nervy wobbles than we are. The Boro team has struggled in the last couple of games. If Saturday is about ‘keeping your head when others around are losing theirs’ then I reckon we’ve got a marginal competitive advantage.

Imperious: To be arrogant and Domineering.

Bit of an odd choice of wording.

Why not just say Excellent? "Middlesbrough are Excellent at home" would have sufficed.

That said, based on home/away league tables, Brighton are more prone to an away wobble than Boro are prone to a home wobble.

 

[07May2016]

'Consistent' possibly the wrong word. Luckily [MENTION=278]MattBackHome[/MENTION] has summed what I meant up quite nicely:

Boro are imperious at home, but I reckon are marginally more prone to nervy wobbles than we are. The Boro team has struggled in the last couple of games. If Saturday is about ‘keeping your head when others around are losing theirs’ then I reckon we’ve got a marginal competitive advantage.

Fair enough, i wouldn't disagree with that. There have been a few games when we've looked a bit nervy. I'd say our defense hasn't been nervy until Friday night, that's the first time in ages that i've not been fully confident as a team attacks us. That will be the same for both teams on Saturday knowing what 1 mistake could cost them. I'm thinking it'll be a case of first goal takes it, can't see either team coming back from the deflation from conceding the goal.

 

[OzMike]

It would be just typical for us to miss out on goal difference.

 

[BBassic]

Fair enough, i wouldn't disagree with that. There have been a few games when we've looked a bit nervy. I'd say our defense hasn't been nervy until Friday night, that's the first time in ages that i've not been fully confident as a team attacks us. That will be the same for both teams on Saturday knowing what 1 mistake could cost them. I'm thinking it'll be a case of first goal takes it, can't see either team coming back from the deflation from conceding the goal.

Defence is definitely my concern after losing Dunk. It isn't a lack of faith in Greer / Uwe just the simple fact that neither of them have played for months and you guys happen to boast some very good attacking talent.

 

[Don Quixote]

I think it will probably be a draw. I can't see them beating us, but I can't really see us beating them. It will be a bit irritating to miss out that way, but we should still go up.

 

[BBassic]

Imperious: To be arrogant and Domineering.

Bit of an odd choice of wording.

Why not just say Excellent? "Middlesbrough are Excellent at home" would have sufficed.

That said, based on home/away league tables, Brighton are more prone to an away wobble than Boro are prone to a home wobble.

Yeah you'd have to ask [MENTION=278]MattBackHome[/MENTION]. I borrowed the words, didn't write them.