* The "Welcome Back" to the new season. Boro v WBA. Match-day Thread *

r00fie1

Well-known member
Its that time again>>>>>
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WELCOME BACK


Its been a hot summer, but the wait is over and we look forward to Chris Wilder`s team taking us to the Premiership by May 2023.🏆

At the time of writing [Friday 29th of July] we await the imminent arrival of Muniz [?] Armstrong [?] Hoppe [?] ....? We finally sold Spence to Spurs and now it looks almost certain that Tav has played his last game for Boro. Bournemouth beckons. Haydn Coulson is settling down in "granite city" Aberdeen. Lee Peltier has found a new home at Millmore alongside Grant Hall. Rumour has it that our "ginger ninja" is heading for the door, whilst we await to hear of the fate of "Big Ouchie" and Akpom. We will be facing Joe Lumley between the sticks against Reading. Its a funny old game.......

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Steve Bruce has described his teams season start against Boro as one of the toughest opening fixtures he could face. Albion expect to be in or around the chasing pack by the end of 22/23. Last season was poor by their standards - they had a promising start - sitting third when Boro visited The Hawthorns in November 2021. But they finished 10th after injuries and inconsistent performances.


Last Time Out:

A home win took us into the top 6.

Terrific goals from Paddy McNair and Tav.....



* See ya there (y)
 
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Match Preview:

*
[We welcome back old boys Steve Agnew and Adam Reach today]

Middlesbrough v West Brom preview: The first glimpse of Albion's class of 22/23​

By Joseph Masi. West Bromwich Albion Published: 29/07/2022.
The opening day of the new season always brings with it plenty of questions.
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And it’s fair to say Albion fans will be on the edge of their seats waiting for the team news ahead of this clash at Middlesbrough – with manager Steve Bruce having some big calls to make.
The main one will centre on Karlan Grant and where – if at all – he starts.

Bruce only has two options up front in Grant and Daryl Dike.

The American striker is still working his way up to full speed following the thigh injury which ruled him out of the best part of six months last season.
But he scored an excellent goal in the friendly against Hertha Berlin last weekend.

And his movement, combined with his pace and power means he is likely to get the nod up front at the Riverside Stadium.

It’s still going to be a tough call for Bruce to make.

Grant was Albion’s only reliable source of goals last season, with the former Huddersfield man scoring 18 times.
He also scored three in pre- season, a stat that has somewhat gone under the radar.
There are many, though, who believe the 24-year-old is at his best from the left.
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But that will put him in direct competition with Grady Diangana to start – a player Albion fans are desperate to see thrive.
Everyone knows, talent-wise, Diangana is one of the best players in the Championship.
Yet he’s struggled for form over the past two years.

There have been signs over pre-season, though, that he is getting back to his best.
The former West Ham man is naturally more creative than Grant.

And the thought of him on one flank creating chances for Dike and Jed Wallace on the other is exciting.
Grant, though, is a far more reliable goalscorer.

And for that reason, it is likely he will get the nod at the Riverside.
The only other big call Bruce has to make is at centre-back.

Semi Ajayi will start and is likely to be partnered by Dara O’Shea.

But Kyle Bartley is also pushing to start.

When Albion won promotion under Slaven Bilic in 2021, Ajayi and Bartley were the backbone of the defence.
O’Shea, though, is widely regarded as an Albion captain in-waiting so it will be interesting to see which way Bruce goes.
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Elsewhere, the Baggies team is expected to pick itself.

David Button will likely be in goal with Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend at full-back.
In what will be a 4-3-3 formation out of possession – but a 4-2-3-1 with the ball, Jayson Molumby, Alex Mowatt and John Swift are expected to be the midfield three with Jake Livermore missing out last weekend due to being ill. The game will also come too soon for Okay Yokuslu.

Up front, Grant is likely to be on the left with Wallace on the right and Dike central.


 
One To Watch:
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Jed Wallace - 210 appearances under his belt in the Championship for Millwall.
Signed for the Baggies in June this year.
 
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FLASHBACK

Boro 3 WBA 2

Middlesbrough FC beat West Bromwich Albion FC 3-2 at Ayresome Park, Middlebrough. This Second Division League game was played on the 19th February 1991 with an attendance of 15,334. Middlesbrough FC scorers: Robbie Mustoe, Bernie Slaven and Mel Reece (own goal). West Bromwich Albion FC scorer: Gary Bannister (2).

 
Just in case you hadnt noticed>>>

It feels like a life-time, but we welcome Marcus Forss to the Boro.
We look forward to seeing him notch up his goal tally as he joins Christopher Wilder`s rapidly assembling promotion team.

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Beyond Our Wilderest Dreams
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Its been probably one of the most turbulent close-seasons at Rockcliffe for some time.
Out go Peltier, Lumley, Samba, Coulson, Spence, Hall, Payero, Tav....

"Big Ouchie" and Akpom are expected to leave soon with rumours that Watmore will be joining those out the exit door soon.
There`s been much talk about "timing" and whether we can attract strikers - but isnt that what fans do every season?
We all want whats best for the club dont we?

The club has proven its no pushover on the transfer front in the close-season: Wilder described us as "tough negotiators". Spurs tried to stretch out negotiations - no doubt expecting us to give in to one of their offers [for Spence]. But, we stuck to our guns and got what we wanted.

In the pre-season friendlies, incoming players have given us a glimpse of their worth. Zak - the USA Goalkeeper appears confident and capable between the sticks. We need his stopping skills to give us those extra 10 points this season. Giles is....brilliant at getting the ball into the area down the left. Lenihan brings experience, Smith gives us that extra bite, Forss - a Finish International - is a proven striker, but has the potential to improve and do a good job in the red shirt.

Christopher Wilder has many tricks up his sleeve and we can expect a few more signings before the window closes.
In Wilder we trust.(y)
 
COME ON BORO!

"...thats why we sing this song,
for the Boro all night long........(y)

Here we go again.
UTMB.


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Thanks roofie, good to see this back.

One of my memories from ayresome is a 1-0 win to Brom, Cyril Regis goal when he he took it from the half way line and scored.

Amazing goal, you could do nothing against him. Loved Big Cyril.
 
If this is correct then west brom have never scored against us at the Riverside other than when they beat us 5 nil. I think it was that game that made up Gibson's mind to give Southgate the boot.

Picture of Gary O'Neill and Morrison is from that game I assume. Sums up the deficiencies of southgates reign. Got rid of a top class home grown talent like Morrison and replaced him with an absolute carthorse in Gary O'Neill at a loss. No sponsor on west broms shirt as it was after the banking crisis when companies couldn't afford to be splashing out on shirt sponsorships.
 
Opening day can always be a spring board to greater things. If we win with arguable half a team then it’ll be “dream time” but if we lose we’ll be screaming for new blood and to spend the cash from Spenner and Tav. Hopefully it’s the former as we need a bit of a g-up to get the fans feeling positive and ready for a battle!!
 
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