* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Swansea Match - Day Thread *

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member
Its that time again>>>>>
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Back off three draws and three defeats - its perhaps not the start Boro had wanted. A dissapponting defeat last time out at Reading, losing the lead against Stoke, coming on the back of a stupendous Sheffield encounter...has shown developing confidence. The big issue has been the long beginning to the final closing of the transfer window. Its been a big experience of many Championship [and other league] clubs. It is well reported that the usual transfer business has been a trickle - many holding out for deals to be struck further down the supply chain. For Boro its been no different. We know what we need to spark a momentum which puts us back on track. Its a time to tough it out and have faith. No player goes out to deliberately lose a game. It would be disrespectful to fellow professionals and to us fans - who pay good money - in a worsening financial climate. We`ve been here before - certainly for a particular age group. So lets push on and send our Welsh cousins back home with a flea in their ear - come 5pm on Saturday(y)
 
Swans Eye View - Talking Tactics

Talking Tactics | Middlesbrough v Swansea City​

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/talking-tactics-middlesbrough-v-swansea-city-1
Michael Obafemi goal Millwall


Swansea City make the trip to Middlesbrough this weekend as they seek to get back to winning ways. Ahead of this one, WhoScored.com preview the encounter at the Riverside, take a look at what to expect from Boro, the key battle and a key stat.
What to expect from Middlesbrough
Chris Wilder


"Middlesbrough have had a slow start, but they’re in a false position," Swansea boss Russell Martin said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday. Boro head into Saturday's welcome of the Swans second from bottom having picked up just three points from their opening five matches.

They're one of two teams yet to pick up a victory. The other, Coventry, have only played two league games this season. Going forward, Boro have been effective, they have netted seven times in five matches with that the fifth-best return in the Championship as Chuba Akpom makes up for lost time as their leading scorer.
Akpom spent last season on loan at Greek side PAOK, but has returned to the Riverside and made an immediate impact, scoring twice already this season, both of which came in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

Like a number of Championship sides, Boro also use a three-man backline, with head coach Chris Wilder favouring a system that uses two strikers. In this instance, he has three main options to use in Akpom, Marcus Forss and Duncan Watmore, while Matthew Hoppe and new signing Rodrigo Muniz are also available to Wilder.

Their best route to goal, unsurprisingly, is by going down the flanks to use the wing-backs and stretch opponents. Isaiah Jones has started the campaign strongly having earned a WhoScored.com rating of 7.03 this season; only Darragh Lenihan (7.14) has returned better of all Boro players.

Jones has had a direct hand in three of their seven goals, scoring once, and he routinely showcases a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'dribbling' as he ranks 12th for dribbles per game (1.6) in England's second tier this term.

Jones has a decent end product to his game, too, when he does break forward, averaging one key pass per game, that ranking fourth of all Boro players. It's a metric topped by left wing-back Ryan Giles (2.8), with the 22-year-old perhaps not as direct as Jones, but a handy attacking outlet for Wilder's side capable of delivering with real quality.

With these two working in tandem, it's no wonder that Boro are among the highest scorers in the division, so keeping Jones and Giles at bay will be key at the Riverside. Rather, the reason Boro are so close to the foot of the table is because they have struggled to keep opponents out, shipping nine times in the Championship this season, more than any other team.

Key battle

Blackpool away Michael Obafemi


Looking to capitalise on Boro's defensive record for the visitors will be young striker Michael Obafemi. The Swans may have only scored four times this season, but Obafemi has been directly involved in two of those; netting in the 2-2 draw with Millwall and providing the assist for Olivier Ntcham's late winner at Blackpool.

What's more, Obafemi netted Swansea's equaliser when these two met at the Swansea.com Stadium back in April, so he has previous against Boro.

The hosts will be looking to Lenihan to help keep Obafemi in check. The summer arrival, as previously mentioned, is Boro's best-rated player in the Championship this season, and he will be keen to help Wilder's side as they seek to earn their first win of 2022-23 and his first since joining.

Darragh Lenihan


Boro may have the worst defensive records in the Championship this season, but there has been a hint of misfortune about that return.
Wilder's side are conceding the fourth-fewest shots per game (8.6) in England's second tier, so if they can start to turn those figures into clean sheets they should quickly shoot up the table. Swansea, though, will be looking to make every opportunity count.
 
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NATHAN WOOD

In his own words:>>>>>

I will see a lot of familiar faces, but it's business first for me​

Nathan Wood in the third kit


Nathan Wood is looking forward to catching up with friends and familiar faces at Middlesbrough this weekend, but wants to make sure those reunions come on the back of a positive result for Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium.

Wood, 20, joined the Swans from Boro in June, and he has not had to wait long for a return to his old stomping ground.

The centre-half was on the books with the Teesside club from the age of 13, and went on to become their youngest-ever player when featuring in an EFL Cup tie against Notts County aged just 16 years and 75 days.

Wood will have a number of family in attendance at Saturday’s Championship fixture, and will see a number of former team-mates and individuals who helped him in his development.

But his primary focus will, of course, be on making sure the Swans make it two away wins on the spin.

“Obviously I was at Middlesbrough for a number of years, and I have good relationships with a lot of people there behind the scenes,” he said.

“A lot of people there were really good for me and really helped me. I will always be grateful for that and it will hopefully be nice to catch up with them.

“But it’s definitely a case of business first. I am a Swansea player and I want us to get the points we want, and I want to be catching up with some old faces with a smile on my face because we have got a positive result.

“I will have a family there, my mother and my grandmother will be there, as will my little cousins who are Boro mad and footy mad so I am sure some of them might be on the fence a bit during the game.

“There will be a lot of people I know from school and that just excites me really, I think it will be a really good atmosphere.
“But we had a good result in our last away game. We want to build on that and try to set out the way we play. We will focus on what we do and everything else comes from that.

“We know that a few key moments have made the difference over these first games, but this is an unpredictable league where every team will have good moments and difficult moments. The key is to be able to deal with whatever it throws at you and keep improving.”

Nathan Wood Plymouth


“But it’s definitely a case of business first. I am a Swansea player and I want us to get the points we want, and I want to be catching up with some old faces with a smile on my face because we have got a positive result.

“I will have a family there, my mother and my grandmother will be there, as will my little cousins who are Boro mad and footy mad so I am sure some of them might be on the fence a bit during the game.

“There will be a lot of people I know from school and that just excites me really, I think it will be a really good atmosphere.
“But we had a good result in our last away game. We want to build on that and try to set out the way we play. We will focus on what we do and everything else comes from that.

“We know that a few key moments have made the difference over these first games, but this is an unpredictable league where every team will have good moments and difficult moments. The key is to be able to deal with whatever it throws at you and keep improving.”

www.swanseacity.com

Nathan Wood | I will see a lot of familiar faces, but it's business first for me | Swansea

Nathan Wood is looking forward to catching up with friends and familiar faces at Middlesbrough this weekend, but wants to make sure those reunions come on the back of a positive result for Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium.
www.swanseacity.com www.swanseacity.com
 
SWANSEA LINE UP?

[Edit]

Swansea will remain without defender Joel Latibeaudiere and midfielder Jamie Paterson due to injuries, while Russell Martin may opt to make further changes after a disappointing defeat to Luton.1661550485828.png+1661550577649.png
Kyle Naughton could come into the defence in place of Nathan Wood, who he replaced at half time in that game, with Harry Darling and Ben Cabango set to keep their spots in the back three.
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Joe Allen will likely partner captain Matt Grimes in midfield, while Olivier Ntcham, Michael Obafemi and Joel Piroe form a dangerous attacking unit, with Obafemi and Piroe having produced combined tallies of 34 goals and nine assists in the Championship last season.
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Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Swansea - prediction, team news

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between
www.sportsmole.co.uk www.sportsmole.co.uk
 
BEYOND OUR WILDEREST DREAMS
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The focus of conversation in his Friday Media Conference has shifted from speculation about which players are coming in (?), when are they signing (?), who are they (?). At last, we understand the logistics and priorities behind buying players, building an effective unit and stripping away the "spin" and gossip - which often clouds the reality of being a successful Management Team.

In relation to winning with a settled back five and a focus of experience up front, when asked if Boro has been "sussed" and "found out" - Chris, in typically blunt fashion - said without any ambiguity, that "such talk is nonsense"

Focusing on the players - particularly the most recent arrivals - Chris appeared less anxious about struggling to get players over the line.

He made no excuses for the game against Reading, but expressed his honesty for his teams performance. His job is to right the wrongs and prioritise those areas, which need to be resolved - and quickly. "We all want to top of the division".

"The top and bottom of it is, I live in the present and when it needs saying to the players, whether we are top of the league or where we are now - Im not happy with certain aspects of my team s performance. I wont spin it! I wont cover it up! I`l say it as it is....."

Regards results so far - "Theres not a happy person at this football club at the moment".

Chris responded with typical honesty, [ to a journalist who questioned if the current issues for him were "tactical"?]
For the umpteenth time since the start of this season, Chris made it plain that "mentality", "intensity" and "a way of playing" were the key factors. "I`ve coached every shape: 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 / a 10 and two 9`s".


Now the big job starts - so lets get behind the team - feel the pain and tough it out!
Steve Gibson is the man who decided Chris Wilder will take Boro back to the Premier League. In Steve Gibson we trust.
 
I hope so but can see a 1-0 Swansea win, midfield is the issue - lack of pace and creativity. Can have the best defence and forward line but if your midfield isn’t up to it we’ll get overrun.
Alex-The-Kid said:
If we lose today there is going to be serious pressure on wilder. I think we will win today though.
Click to expand...
 
Last season I thought Swansea were the best team to visit the Riverside and our 1-0 win was most fortunate.
 
Wonder if Swansea will offer to bring Newport up with them this weekend and drop them off at Harrogate!?
 
We need that howson playmate, someone or even 2 where that position is theirs to play with or sometimes replace Johnny
 
Some selections that wasn't expecting. Am guessing this is on the back of his comment tear up and start again from last week
 
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