* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Birmingham City [03/24] Match-Day Thread *

TheYorkshireTerrier said:
If results go our way on Saturday (we win and Norwich lose at Stoke), we will be 2 points off the play-offs because Hull and Coventry don’t play this weekend (FA Cup).

Mental.

That being said, can see Stoke winning and us slipping up.
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Sam Gallagher will be looking forward to the game. He hardly scores all season until he plays us.

That said, Blackburn have been very poor recently. Smodicz has kept them afloat just about. He must be worth a few quid after this season.
 
Scrug said:
It’s the three at the back. We beat Leicester with it. We beat Chelsea with it. We’ve won the last 3 games with it.

I fear he’ll go back to the four but I pray he doesn’t.
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I agree. Luke Ayling looks a completely different player in a back 5. In the back 4 he was constantly out of position and left loads of space for their players to exploit. The Sunderland equaliser comes to mind.

Now in a back 5 he's assisted a couple of goals for us and has shown how effective he can be. I thought he was one of the star men tonight.

I also think Paddy being back in the team has been fantastic for us
 
Muttley said:
He wasn't alone. Ruddy was the worst goalkeeper when kicking the ball I have seen in this division probably ever. I don't think a single clearance or kick from his hands went to a blue shirt. The CBs were like they had wandered on from a recreation of the slapstick routine. A couple of them (Laird and Stansfield?) could run quite quickly. Jukavic (sp?) was anonymous... I could go on. They were terrible. Without seeing the stats I doubt if they had a single attempt on target?
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Correct. Zero shots on target
 
Normanby_Red said:
I agree. Luke Ayling looks a completely different player in a back 5. In the back 4 he was constantly out of position and left loads of space for their players to exploit. The Sunderland equaliser comes to mind.

Now in a back 5 he's assisted a couple of goals for us and has shown how effective he can be. I thought he was one of the star men tonight.

I also think Paddy being back in the team has been fantastic for us
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Paddy’s a fantastic footballer, I’m absolutely gutted it looks like he’s going. He gets criticised along the lines of ‘he’s too slow on the ball’ or ‘I’m not sure whether he’s a defender or midfielder’.

Stick him on the right of that back three and we’ll concede far less. His composure and nous is invaluable.
 
Normanby_Red said:
I agree. Luke Ayling looks a completely different player in a back 5. In the back 4 he was constantly out of position and left loads of space for their players to exploit. The Sunderland equaliser comes to mind.

Now in a back 5 he's assisted a couple of goals for us and has shown how effective he can be. I thought he was one of the star men tonight.

I also think Paddy being back in the team has been fantastic for us
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I think the pair compliment each other well in a 5 as they cover each other well. I like Paddy having that license to get forward too.

Ayling loved the scrap tonight. He was geeing himself up after winning a corner in stoppage time. Love to see it!
 
Laughing said:
Thought Engel was good for 60-70 minutes. Lost the ball a few times late on when it wasn't necessary, I wouldn't have had him second best either. CB's 1, 2 and 3 in any order, for me.
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I thought the same, Engel had a decent game until the last 20 minutes, were again he seemed to lose concentration and stated with his dwelling on the ball and not reacting to runners in behind him.
 
The last 3 games have been a breath of fresh air.
There is an obvious question: if the 3 at the back got us so far in the cup against the prem teams, why didnt we play it sooner in the league?
Any road, we are on for the play offs. No bother.
 
Its funny when you don't gift team's chances and space around your own final third how few goals you end up conceding.

Honestly, it seems like Carrick may have come to the realisation that playing out from the back is probably not the way to get results for the rest of the season.
 
It’s Blackburn next - we always lose against Blackburn, and Sam Gallagher reserves his customary one goal a season for us 😭😵‍💫
 
Merlin said:
It’s Blackburn next - we always lose against Blackburn, and Sam Gallagher reserves his customary one goal a season for us 😭😵‍💫
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Didn't one of their players chuck the ball at Riley's head and get sent off last year....just before Riley rifled a volley into the top corner in front of us?
 
BoroMart said:
Not the best technical performance but excellent tactically and physically. Back to back away cleansheets is never to be sniffed at. Did Dieng have a save to make?

Dieng 6 - flapped at a cross didn’t have much else to do
McNair 7 - sokid
Rav 8 - star man
Clarke 7 - was hot and cold but was resiliant
Ayling 7.5 - really good for 70 blowing the last 10
Engel 6 - passing was poor but worked really hard
Howson 6 worked hard
O’Brien 7 showed a bit more quality than howson but worked as hard
Forss 5 - game passed him by
McGree 7 - great goal in a hot and cold performance
Latte lath 7 - worked hard was a menace, tired

Greenwood 6 - worked hard, rubbish free kick
Azaz 5 - didn’t really get into the game
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I thought we played like a Championship team that wanted to win the game, really wanted to win the game, something we have lacked for periods this season.
 
Jr. SkinnyLegs said:
Its funny when you don't gift team's chances and space around your own final third how few goals you end up conceding.

Honestly, it seems like Carrick may have come to the realisation that playing out from the back is probably not the way to get results for the rest of the season.
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I think it’s partly that he realised we need both Howson and Hackney in central midfield to play that way.

Having Howson alter lath back has been equally important as not playing out entirely from the back
 
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