The next 5 Games

B

B_G

Well-known member
Last night is done, let's have a look forward. The festive period is an important part of the season. It's like the equivalent of Day 3 at the Masters (moving day). The games come fast and it sets the table up for the back half of the season with gaps usually appearing and the cream rising to the top.

Our next 5 Championship matches:

Dec 16 - Swansea (A) LDLDWD
Dec 23 - West Brom (H) LWWLWW
Dec 26 - Rotherham (A) LDLDLL
Dec 29 - Huddersfield (A) LDWDDL
Jan 1 - Coventry (H) DWWLWD

Boro form - WLWLLL

Slightly tougher set of fixtures than they initially appear in my opinion. 3 away games + 2 home games.

Swansea are unbeaten in their last 3 matches. Boro squad is decimated and looks tired. One less day recovery than what Swansea have had with a long commute. No obvious way to freshen up the starting team unless players come back from injury unexpected. I think Saturday could be another tough day at the office.

The 2 home matches are against teams in decent form.

Rotherham and Huddersfield seem winnable but our away form is pretty poor having conceded 3 goals in each of our last 3 away matches.

I would snap your hands off for 9 points from these fixtures but I think we will get 5 points from them.
The sooner we get some players back the better. Pray for Hackney. Pray for McGree.
 
Id take 5 points from that run right now - beat Rotherham and get draws against Swansea and Hudds - cant see us getting anything but tonked against West Brom and Cov seem to have our number with their famous 'box midfield' (whatever that is)
 
Don't forget the Port Vale game as well. That will be a tricky line up decision - you can see some of the players are running on empty, but a game against a lower league team with a chance of a money spinning semi, and possibly a Wembley appearance...?
 
atomicloonybin aka ALB said:
Don't forget the Port Vale game as well. That will be a tricky line up decision - you can see some of the players are running on empty, but a game against a lower league team with a chance of a money spinning semi, and possibly a Wembley appearance...?
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Any possible Wembley appearance looks an awfully long way away at the moment
 
atomicloonybin aka ALB said:
Don't forget the Port Vale game as well. That will be a tricky line up decision - you can see some of the players are running on empty, but a game against a lower league team with a chance of a money spinning semi, and possibly a Wembley appearance...?
Click to expand...
No doubt will be putting strongest team available for that match.

May even pick the team against Swansea with one eye on the QF
 
Just try the kids, as I've since a post. We simply have to give them a go. At the moment all we are doing is ruining morale, risking injuries due to tiredness etc. I felt for the 2 young lads night. Rogers sat on his backside all night and gets on. He didn't bother warming up. Yet gets on the pitch.
 
atomicloonybin aka ALB said:
Don't forget the Port Vale game as well. That will be a tricky line up decision - you can see some of the players are running on empty, but a game against a lower league team with a chance of a money spinning semi, and possibly a Wembley appearance...?
Click to expand...
It's come at the worst time, I'm saying this genuinely I feel they will tonk us next week, we just feel brittle at the moment, we are just waiting for players to come back and Jan incomings.
 
exeterboro said:
It's come at the worst time, I'm saying this genuinely I feel they will tonk us next week, we just feel brittle at the moment, we are just waiting for players to come back and Jan incomings.
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If we lose to Port Vale next week I'm sorry but Carrick will have to be sacked be totally unacceptable
 
Boro are in one of their “cannot see where the next win is coming from “ periods.
A month ago we were in “we can beat anyone in this league“ runs.

Taking just a quarter of our goal scoring chances last night would have given us 3 points.
At least Michael Carrick realises there is no one in the Boro set up going
to start taking easy chances ,of which there were more than a few last night.

By the time the January window is here, nearly half the season will have gone. Boro need to sign at least 1 good striker, possibly 2 if circumstances and finances are in place. Otherwise we are settling for mid table. Sacking Michael Carrick is not the answer.
 
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Dec 16 - Swansea (A) LDLDWD - Possible
Dec 23 - West Brom (H) LWWLWW - would be nice
Dec 26 - Rotherham (A) LDLDLL - i'd fancy 3 points
Dec 29 - Huddersfield (A) LDWDDL - not the same since warnock left
Jan 1 - Coventry (H) DWWLWD - playoff friends!

9 points from that lot would be steady away.. lead us nicely into the transfer window.. where all our business is done apparently.
 
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NZBoro1 said:
Home for the west brom game.

Win lose or draw, it will be my last live game for a long long time so I am determined to enjoy it
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That sounds really sad mate, I hope we get a result for you. Especially as your arms will be really tired flying all that way 🤣
 
I never fancy us away to certain teams regardless of form - Swansea are one of them. West Brom at home will be tough, have seen them a few times and they do not look great but are getting the job down a vital game we do not go behind in. No excuses to not expect 3 points away to Rotherham, a big following will hopefully get us over the line. Huddersfield, again are there for the taking and another big following will hopefully help. I hope we absolutely destroy Coventry and we start the year in style

I hope we can get 10 points from that if i am being optimistic.
 
OUR NEXT FIVE GAMES

FOUR WINS AND A DRAW: (Leicester City's current form)
40 points.. on track with Sunderland & Hull

FIVE WINS:
43 points.. 1.65 ppg on track with West Brom

At the minute it looks like Leicester, Ipswich & Leeds are running away with it.

Next two games takes us up to the half way point.. two wins 33 points.. would realistically have us around the 66point mark it not been for our dreadful start.
74 points the target I'm guessing.. should be just enough to clear 6th place.. then we'd have to go toe to toe with Leeds for a playoff final battle royal with: Southampton/West Brom/Sunderland or Hull

West Brom/Sunderland.. I'd fancy Sunderland to do it.

ANOTHER MIDDLESBROUGH vs SUNDERLNAD PLAY OFF FINAL LOOMING OVER US?
 
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