Official "Unofficial" Match day Thread. Boro v Millwall.

r00fie1

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Good afternoon everyone.
Its that time again.

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Millwall v Middlesbrough - Boro want points for different reasons at New Den

NEIL WARNOCK’S Middlesbrough have certainly come a long way since their last visit to the New Den in July.

By Leon Wobschall
Saturday, 20th March 2021, 6:00 am

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock.

Ahead of that particular game towards the end of a tense run-in in 2019-20, Boro found themselves in the bottom three, with a 2-0 victory representing a significant and cherished moment in a tough campaign and going a long way towards securing their Championship status for another year.

Boro head south in search of points for different reasons today as they seek to keep their season alive at the business end.

The Teessiders remain on the coat-tails of the top six and the margin for error is slim.

But should they win and other results go for them this afternoon, they may just give one or two clubs something to think about in the international break.

Boss Warnock commented: “We do have an eye on next season already and if at some stage we do drop out of it, then I will use it as a chance to give opportunities to players who perhaps haven’t played as much.

“But you never give up on anything, I have certainly never done that in my career.

“I still look forward to going looking for three points at this stage of the season to keep yourselves in the mix.”

If Boro do not make the play-offs and regardless of what happens today, it is likely to be events on home soil which Warnock will rue come mid-May.

Just as the club’s poor Riverside form was a key contributor in their ‘nearly relegation’ season, so a winter run of five defeats in six home matches would represent a big reason for their failure to reach the end-of-season lottery.

Warnock added: “The players have done well, but I am disappointed because I think we should have eight to 10 points more than what we have got.

“Sometimes that has been our own fault and other times it is been factors beyond our control. But it also does also show you the potential this squad has got.”

Understandably, Warnock has one eye on next season and he remains confident that key defender Dael Fry and winger Marcus Tavernier will be Boro players in 2021-22.

He added: “All the players know my situation, that I am here next year and they all know it would need to be an unbelievable offer that gets anybody out of here because if I am here, they are here.”
 
Warnock says Tav and Dael are "Going nowhere":


Dael Fry & Marcus Tavernier going nowhere as Warnock discusses what accounts mean for summer plans

On the back of the release of the club accounts this week, Warnock praised chairman, discussed his plans for the summer and had a firm message for clubs interested in Fry and Tavernier



Middlesbrough stars Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier
Middlesbrough stars Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier
Neil Warnock has a firm message for Premier League clubs considering a summer move for Dael Fry or Marcus Tavernier - they're going nowhere!

Boro's accounts for 2019/20, released this week, revealed the bruising double blow of the end to Premier League parachute payments and the impact of covid-19 - and that's before the entirety of this season was played behind closed doors.

The accounts yet again highlight the unwavering commitment of chairman Steve Gibson and after Warnock had digested the numbers, the boss told of how he's "proud to be working for an amazing man".

And yet despite the incredibly harsh financial landscape, Warnock says Gibson "is going to support me the best he can" - and that includes keeping hold of the club's brightest young stars.


Neil Warnock and Steve Gibson

Neil Warnock and Steve Gibson
Not that Fry or Tavernier want to move. Warnock has already discussed the future with the duo and they're excited about next season, regardless of the division Boro find themselves in.

Warnock is in no doubt that the pair will end up where they belong in the Premier League but unless Boro go up this year, they won't be in the top flight next season.

"I don't think Steve Gibson would sell Dael Fry for any sort of offer," said the boss.
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"Steve is like me, if I'm managing here he wants me to be successful. He knows Dael Fry is a very important part of that. Clubs have had their opportunities in the past and have gone for other players.

I've said to Dael, 'if you think you're going anywhere next year forget it pal, I'm here, you're here'."

Talk then turned to Tavernier, another Academy graduate who has established himself as a key figure in Warnock's side.
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"I think there will be certain interest (in Tavernier) from the Premier League this summer depending on who gets promoted as well from the Championship," said Warnock.

"All the players know my situation, that I'm here next year, and they all know it would need to be an unbelievable offer that gets anybody out of here, because if I'm here they're here. Tavernier is a very important player in my plans for next season.

"I had a chat with him about two months ago and I told him that I had decided to stay and that he wouldn't be going anywhere, and he said 'gaffer, I don't want to go anywhere, I'm loving every minute'. I can't ask anymore than that can I?"

"I think he'll be playing in the Premier League not the season coming but the season after. You don't know who with, but I think he will be playing in the Premier League that season.

"You don't get into the Premier League with just enthusiasm, you get into the Premier League with ability.

"Tav can finish, he's only a young lad and is still learning the trade. He's got all the attributes that you look for. I think Premier League clubs will look for the English type of player that you can rely on and I think he fits that bill.

"He has had one or two quiet games for me but he brings so much enthusiasm that rubs off on other players, in the dressing room and on the pitch. It's just getting him to play the ball a little bit earlier, that's all, he still as a young lad, holds onto it that little bit more when he could create even more than he is doing.

"I love having him around, he's full of it and it does rub off."

Boro's wage-bill fell from £40m in 2018/19 to £31m the following campaign, and that was further trimmed last summer when first teamers such as Rudy Gestede, Adam Clayton and George Friend left the club. Britt Assombalonga - the highest earner on the books - is out of contract this summer and as things stand looks likely to move on.
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It's no secret that Warnock will look to add to his squad this summer but he's again stressed that he'll be sensible and will look to make the most of the free-agent market, as he did to great success when he signed Duncan Watmore earlier this season.

He said: "I've got to try and get the best players that are available, hopefully one or two will be on free transfers. You can pick good players up, everything has changed with the pandemic.
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"The recruitment people know what I'm looking for. We have to come up with some answers. Steve is going to support me the best he can.

"We did get rid of a lot of big hitters last year, there's quite a lot gone there and one or two others have their contracts up (this summer). We've just got to try and get to a workable situation, but to do that we have to get the fans back in."

Warnock added: "I've just read the accounts myself this morning.
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"I don't want to hear anybody criticise Steve Gibson while I'm here. I don't know many people who would continue to do what he's doing because of his love for the club. He's an amazing man and I'm really proud to be working for him and to get the support I do.

"The fans should feel the same way. It just shows his commitment to the club and boy at this time, do we need it.

"We've cut-back quite a lot and he's happy in that respect. He knows there will be a turnaround in the summer as well. He still wants to support me the best he can and he knows I won't spent stupid money.
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"That's how we need to go about it. It's a very difficult time for owners, especially here where we rely on our fans, they're the hub of what we do.

"Fingers crossed we can get them back and he can get the support, because that's why he does it. He does it because he enjoys a Saturday afternoon with the fans."

Season ticket sales are going well, with the Early Bird deadline running until the end of the month.

It goes without saying having fans back in the stadium will be a huge boost for the club - but will also help the team on the pitch and Warnock can't wait to finally manage at a packed Riverside.
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"I think the fans have got behind me," he says,

"I know it's only looking on Zoom and things like that but I'm really looking forward to generating the interest and excitement that I first started in my early years. Whether it's my last year or not I don't know, but I want to generate that excitement for the fans coming to the games and going home talking about it.

"Most of the coverage I've seen since I've been here has been very positive, you always get the odd one when we lose a game, 'Warnock doesn't know what he's doing', but in general it's been very positive."

 
The Opponents View [short and sweet]

Preview | Millwall v Middlesbrough

Back in SE16...

19 March 2021

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@MillwallFC

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Millwall welcome Middlesbrough to The Den in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
The Lions head back to SE16 for the final game before the international break with mixed fortunes on their travels, but will look to sign off with a victory on home turf.

Gary Rowett may opt to freshen things up after Wednesday's 3-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, and if he chooses to do so then he may be able to call upon the services of Connor Mahoney, who is back in training after suffering an injury in late January.

Ryan Leonard, Maikel Kieftenbeld and Kenneth Zohore are all back in light training but may find this fixture comes too soon, whilst Matt Smith is absent with a broken foot.

Saturday's match will be available to stream on iFollow. Season ticket holders' information can be found here, whilst those who are not in possession of a season ticket can purchase a Match Pass to watch the action here.

Saturday's matchday programme, meanwhile, can be bought via Curtis Sport by clicking here.

Need something to pass the time until kick-off? Listen to Episode Six of Wall Talk with Kevin Muscat here!
 
I am sure Roofie is dying to know what my algorithm says for todays game, and even if yer not, her goes. Boro win today, and oddly enough we score first. The game is likely to be just the 2 goals, so 0-2 to boro.

Roofie you might be excited to learn that I am making some changes to my algorithm and moving it to google cloud bigQuery machine learning, so once trained it may be even more acurate hahhaaahhaaaaa, we'll see.

Here is a screenshot of it's accuracy for above/below 3 goals and NOT 1-1

Screenshot 2021-03-20 at 1.15.15 PM.png
 
I am sure Roofie is dying to know what my algorithm says for todays game, and even if yer not, her goes. Boro win today, and oddly enough we score first. The game is likely to be just the 2 goals, so 0-2 to boro.

Roofie you might be excited to learn that I am making some changes to my algorithm and moving it to google cloud bigQuery machine learning, so once trained it may be even more acurate hahhaaahhaaaaa, we'll see.

Here is a screenshot of it's accuracy for above/below 3 goals and NOT 1-1

View attachment 15627
I rely on your algorithims every game but unfortunately the bookies arent open on the high street!;)(y)
 
It is a bit hit and miss, when it's good it's very good, sometimes it is a mile off. It picked bilbao v eiber as less than 3 goals, it was 1-1 after 17 minutes.
 
For those who havent seen it:

Middlesbrough's Duncan Watmore wins Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for February​

[click link for the goal]

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I like the look of that team Roofie, much better midfield than we have now, keepers better, strikers are betterr, Dael Fry might get in that team, but thats about it
 
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