Shame it couldn't be both of us

[Lady Whistledown]

There's no shame in Middlesbrough being a grimy industrial town with shìt weather. This proud country wasn't built on people selling t-shirts on the beach in 40 degrees sunshine. Give me our economy over Brazil's or Mexico's any day.

And for that reason, I have respect for Middlesbrough and wish you the very best of luck in your play-off quest.

Nicely put, Sim. Boro itself isn't the prettiest as we all know, though I'd still put both Birkenhead (Tranmere) and Burslem (Port Vale) ahead of it in the "grimmest places I've visited with the Albion" stakes. The countryside around the town, pretty much as soon as you leave Boro, however, is beautiful. We drove over the Moors from Scarborough last season, returning via Robin Hood's Bay, and it's glorious.

All the Boro fans I met after the Amex game this season were very nice indeed, with the one exception, and it turned out he lived in Brighton anyway

 

[Goldstone1976]

I think we are trying to convince ourselves to settle the nerves, we are generally a pessimistic bunch our moto being "typical Boro". For a flavour of Teesside pessimism try Harry pearsons website the first thirty years are the worst.

We're just as, probably more, nervous. You tonked us when you visited, though a 3 goal differential probably flattered you just a tad. The truth is that you're overwhelming favourites to get at least the draw you need, but we cling to 3 things:

1 The side you'll be playing on Saturday is very different to that which you faced in December - it's much, much stronger. Though Dunk's moment of insanity against Derby clearly hasn't helped us.

2 We have a sense that too many of your fans think this is a foregone conclusion - we hope that complacency has spread to your team.

3 Will Karanka bottle it - again?

4 Oh - and blind optimism of course.

Thanks for the link to Pearson's website - utterly brilliant.

I can't bring myself to wish you any luck (except in the playoffs, I mean) - but Boro are a quality side who deserve to go up - even though you have spent a fortune putting the side together...

 

[DavidRyder]

Would have been great for us both to be going up Saturday, always enjoyed my trips to Brighton and found your fans a good bunch. Hope you have a safe journey and enjoy all bar the match, not the greatest night out Boro but we have some decent micro bars in the centre where the locals are friendly should that be your thing. Also your very own atilla the stockbroker plays Middlesbrough Friday night if your doing the weekend. Remember Teesside is a industrial area so not the nicest on the eye but we have some beautiful areas near by but don't tell anyone we don't want it crowded.anyway all's fair in love and war but will genuinely be rooting for you in the play offs.

Last year we went on a holiday to North Yorks, took a steam train to Whitby, on a Bank Holiday - half of Middlesbrough was there, it was heaving! (I think the Whitby train station only has the 2 destinations). Lovely part of the country, but didn't venture any further North.

I'm not looking forward to the game, far too tense, but appreciate your comments. I think we both deserve to go up, one way or another!

 

[Simster]

What is it with this 2nd spot malarkey? Is nobody looking at the table?

You or us could still be champions yet if Burnley lose at Charlton.

In reality, I think Albion can rule out being champions. We'd need a Burnley defeat or a 4-0 win at Boro and a Burnley draw. Boro's title credentials are more realistic as they "only" need a two goal win if Burnley draw.

Regardless, I can't imagine either club will be pissed off finishing second.

 

[The Oldman]

Agree that it would be a shame if the 3 best teams do not make it to the promised land. However, Derby looked really good on Monday and will be a real threat in the play offs. Despite us putting out a weakened side when we played "Boro at the Amex they looked a class team and the few "Boro fans I know are all good eggs. All I hope is that on Saturday the team that wins does so because it played the best football rather than it be down to bad calls by the officials. Looking forward to my 3.00am start and hoping for repeat of that Newcastle trip all those years ago. UTA.

 

[nicko31]

Yeah all the boys can do is their best on Saturday, keep the faith win or lose. It is sad both can't get automatic

 

[sydney]

Would have been great for us both to be going up Saturday, always enjoyed my trips to Brighton and found your fans a good bunch. Hope you have a safe journey and enjoy all bar the match, not the greatest night out Boro but we have some decent micro bars in the centre where the locals are friendly should that be your thing. Also your very own atilla the stockbroker plays Middlesbrough Friday night if your doing the weekend. Remember Teesside is a industrial area so not the nicest on the eye but we have some beautiful areas near by but don't tell anyone we don't want it crowded.anyway all's fair in love and war but will genuinely be rooting for you in the play offs.

thanks love....genuine nice post apart from the last 8 words where you lost the plot......22 fully grown men playing a game for 90 mins ...i honestly can't pick a winner here , we are a far better team than when we played you in december and you have what can only be described as the wobbles....it will be a great atmosphere no doubt....my gut feeling is we'll win , we carnt half play when we want to and all the pressure is on you.....mind you , you could buy some nice white sand for your "beach" with the 150 million.....bugger me i cant decide...

 

[John Bumlick]

Well, this is a nice friendly thread, isn't it?

If someone called 'statbrother' posts anything, just ignore him.

Good luck Saturday, hope you lose.

 

[Gazwag]

The Clappers had precisely zero to do with us losing that game. It might make us all feel better to imagine it was to do with that, but the simple truth is Barnes had a chance that was saved brilliantly. Then Zaha caught Bridge napping. Palace were the better side that day and deserved their victory. Some folded up bits of card had nothing to do with it.

That said I do hate Clackers and am hopeful we will never see them at the Amex again.

And of course a manager who didn't care

 

[KVLT]

In reality, I think Albion can rule out being champions. We'd need a Burnley defeat or a 4-0 win at Boro and a Burnley draw. Boro's title credentials are more realistic as they "only" need a two goal win if Burnley draw.

Regardless, I can't imagine either club will be pissed off finishing second.

And who is to say that Burnley aren't going to lose at what is going to be a very odd game at The Valley? They may have a superb unbeaten run at the moment but they've only been getting results by an odd goal lately.

In a season where The Foxes defied odds of 5000-1 over a whole season I wouldn't write off the prospect of a surprise result in one game just yet.

Boro lost there after all.

 

[Simster]

And who is to say that Burnley aren't going to lose at what is going to be a very odd game at The Valley? They may have a superb unbeaten run at the moment but they've only been getting results by an odd goal lately.

In a season where The Foxes defied odds of 5000-1 over a whole season I wouldn't write off the prospect of a surprise result in one game just yet.

Boro lost there after all.

Clearly it's possible but we're a best price 18/1 and personally I think those odds are a bit stingey. Still, you never know - you fill your boots.

 

[KVLT]

Clearly it's possible but we're a best price 18/1 and personally I think those odds are a bit stingey. Still, you never know - you fill your boots.

Hey it's a slim chance I know but anything can happen in 90 minutes of football!

 

[surlyseagull]

Well, this is a nice friendly thread, isn't it?

If someone called 'statbrother' posts anything, just ignore him.

Good luck Saturday, hope you lose.

Both teams deserve to go up so now tension has taken over from banter .

 

[Goldstone1976]

Clearly it's possible but we're a best price 18/1 and personally I think those odds are a bit stingey. Still, you never know - you fill your boots.

I see on Oddschecker that Coral's are offering 1/33 on Burnley being promoted! I haven't clicked through to check, but that can't be right, shirley? If so, I feel a quick call to the bank manager might be in order: "Look at this - gissa £10m, will you?"

 

[Sheebo]

I think we are trying to convince ourselves to settle the nerves, we are generally a pessimistic bunch our moto being "typical Boro". For a flavour of Teesside pessimism try Harry pearsons website the first thirty years are the worst.

I've convinced myself that we won't do it and also that we'll prob lose to Wednesday in the play offs - only way to deal with it as anything else would be a bonus. We've still had a great season. They say the table doesn't lie but my opinion is that Boro & BHA were the best 2 teams in the division. Loads of ifs and buts but one ref bottling it (sending Barton off for 1 of the 2 sending off offences) could have seen the table reflect that. If we don't go up, I just hope we keep the group together and go again next year. The fact someone is not going to get promoted on 88 or 89 points is also ****ing annoying and pure bad luck...

I'd imagine, if we don't make it Saturday, there will be many Boro fans cheering Albion on in the play offs - The main needle seemed to be Boro v Burnley fans (and managers)

 

[sydney]

I've convinced myself that we won't do it and also that we'll prob lose to Wednesday in the play offs - only way to deal with it as anything else would be a bonus. We've still had a great season. They say the table doesn't lie but my opinion is that Boro & BHA were the best 2 teams in the division. Loads of ifs and buts but one ref bottling it (sending Barton off for 1 of the 2 sending off offences) could have seen the table reflect that. If we don't go up, I just hope we keep the group together and go again next year. The fact someone is not going to get promoted on 88 or 89 points is also ****ing annoying and pure bad luck...

I'd imagine, if we don't make it Saturday, there will be many Boro fans cheering Albion on in the play offs - The main needle seemed to be Boro v Burnley fans (and managers)

think bolton handed up too many points to be honest which is ironic considering how close they came to tripping burnley up ....funny old game ...keep the faith geezer , UTA...

 

[Pavilionaire]

I have a couple of Boro-supporting friends so have looked out for their scores for many years. Good club, good chairman, good fans - if they don't go up this season it will be a travesty.

 

[sydney]

Clearly it's possible but we're a best price 18/1 and personally I think those odds are a bit stingey. Still, you never know - you fill your boots.

18/1 in a two horse race.......prrrrfttt are you f**kin serious......asking to be had off ....gotta be worth a 10 'er surely......leicester winning the league should show you what the odds makers are all about

 

[sydney]

I have a couple of Boro-supporting friends so have looked out for their scores for many years. Good club, good chairman, good fans - if they don't go up this season it will be a travesty.

ohw give over ffs......

 

[Pavilionaire]

ohw give over ffs......

Won the most games, got the best defence. They're one of the best 3 teams in my book, very consistent this season - far more so than Hull and Derby.