* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Coventry City Match - Day Thread *

The only thing I can think is that he wants Coventry to tire, then bring on Jones, Giles, Mcgree and Akpom to hit them later on
 
I am surprised with Bola for Giles - maybe thinks Giles needs a reminder his place is not automatic.

I agree with McNair and McGree on the bench after 2 full games in the break. Lots of subs allowed nowadays so still will probably be involved.

Akpom being eased in.

Lenihan - not fit enough yet?

Just noticed Jones not starting as per comments on Giles.
 
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I'd assume the thinking is, rather than play two 6 in midfield to make us more solid defensively like against Rotherham he is going back to two 8 but playing wingback that are stronger defensively. No real problem with that tbh. Both Jones and Giles have been poor defensively at times so far this season.
 
We were much more compact against Rotherham but perhaps less effective however it’s a new system and one which will make us better imo. Ok we want to see an attacking team but the opposition has been able to work us out too easily. It’ll be interesting to see how our new style plays out.
 
Having largely supported what we've been doing in the games before this, I was initially a bit annoyed by this team selection. But now I've been thinking about it, there's actually a lot of sense in it, especially after a long break.

Effectively, like us, Coventry will have had a long time to prep, but all of Coventry's prep will have been about starting their best XI and then making the best use out of that to counter our threats of Giles and Jones, and take advantage of the gaps behind them. The problem for them will be we've not started our best XI, and this version of 3-5-2 is very different. This will be enough to counter their threat and will probably be better at ball retention (but create less). Effectively keep things tight 1st half, where we've struggled a little in some games. Second half we'll have Giles and Jones on, to cause havoc against their tired and lesser players.

I'd be surprised if the players were not made aware we were going to do this, long before the team was picked, or at least we've worked on this variant, and it's a good chance for Bola and Smith too.

It's also a good game to try it, against the bottom side in the league (albeit played the least games, and not many at home), it will make us less predictable for future games, against better sides.

If we go 2/3-0 down though, then there's going to be a lot of questions asked, but I can't see it happening. Expect a boring first half, where we retain a lot of the ball, and don't over commit.
 
We have been rubbish at the back so he has gone with the defenders rather than the wingers out wide.

I wonder if Giles could actually play the left of the midfield 3 so his lack of defense is less of an issue, but we still get his crossing.

It's hard to say anybody should keep their place when results have been so bad.

Also - that is the best bench we've had in years
 
Think its back to the moment 24th Feb 1996, we'd lost 8 on the bounce, confidence was shot & more worrying, Robbie Mustoe was missing a big part of those games, if not all, it was a must win game with us slowly creeping towards the relegation spots, Coventry away, Robbie returns & the Boro pulled out all the stops to secured our 1st game without conceding since 18th November 1995

Massive game, Coventrys 1st home game of the season & a must not lose to our relegation rivals, 6 pointer
Can we be more ponderous than previous games, with a midfield as of today then yes
 
Aye genius. Don't play our best players, it's the last thing they'll expect.
I think it's more to manage the opposition, and counter 100% of what they would absolutely certainly have been prepping to do, the two week break has been a big factor in this, I expect.

At 2pm, their manager must have been thinking what the hell do we do here, we've got our team set up to counter two Boro attacking threats, and make the most of two Boro defensive weaknesses, but none of those even exist now, it's put 2 weeks of their prep largely to waste. Yeah we will probably do it second half, but their players will have been playing 45-60 minutes by then, with Watmore trying to run them ragged.

If anything it shows we're willing to change things up, it should make us less predictable, so we can get more out of Giles and Jones, when they're fresh.

I wasn't expecting it, and I wouldn't have done it, as I think we've been ok at the back, and largely unlucky, but those who have called for us to be stronger at the back, shouldn't be complaining about this, everyone knows our weakness is in the channels behind Giles and Jones, especially by counter attacking. Those who have been whining might then grasp that to create a lot of chances, you're going to end up giving a few away.

It's not like Jones has been in form either, and Bola can still play, it's not like we're playing with 9/10 players.
 
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