We look set to miss out on the play offs

A few things working in our favour

McGree - coming back
Payero - coming back
Crooks - resting
Fry - resting
Connolly - improving
Balogun - improving

Such fine margins, players and teams experiencing fatigue.. just as we are getting stronger and adding to our ranks.

We might just end up in the perfect storm of hitting form and playing the right teams at the right time! FINGERS CROSSED!!
 
I think it's easy to fall for a negative spin when we've lost two home games in a row and haven't scored for three. However, I thought we were outstanding against Fulham - against Peterborough, paradoxically, I thought we were average - and I can see both scenarios: we fail against Huddersfield and our season peters out; or we win and regain momentum. People forget how important confidence and momentum are in football. Remember how Blackburn kept winning earlier in the season, QPR too. Remember Derby's incredible, improbable run, where they looked odds-on to escape. Now we've had Forest looking impregnable, only to (possibly) have their momentum halted at Luton.

I do think Forest will be ok, and they are the main danger in the play-offs for me. Their loan signings up front (Davis and Garner) also highlight again our main weakness and why I have sympathy with the OP's point of view: can we score enough? Crooks' absence is a blow, but at least we have Bola back and I do believe McGree could be a big player in the run-in (and possibly Payero too). But we need Wilder to stop persisting with Connolly; it's almost making me doubt Wilder's abilities. Either he can't see what everyone can see, or he's incredibly willful and pig-headed and incapable of admitting he's wrong.

If we have Watmore and either Sporar, Coburn or Balogun on Monday, and we get the first goal, I think we'll be ok and probably make it. If Connolly starts and we go behind, I fear the worst.
 
Imagine you’ve just missed out on automatic promotion.. battled through the playoff semi finals.. you’re without your best player and you have to meet this fresh midfield five..

Jones—Payero—Crooks—McGree—Tav

Who plays up front? the new Alan Shearah? the next Ian Wright? the Irish Wayne Rooney?
 
Connolly should not start another game he offers absolutely nothing. Josh Coburn must be thinking "what do I have to do to start a game ?" Scoring goals seems to go against him as the other clowns upfront don't score . Come on Wilder see the light and end this Connolly shambles .
 
newyddion said:
Imagine you’ve just missed out on automatic promotion.. battled through the playoff semi finals.. you’re without your best player and you have to meet this fresh midfield five..

Jones—Payero—Crooks—McGree—Tav

Who plays up front? the new Alan Shearah? the next Ian Wright? the Irish Wayne Rooney?
Click to expand...
Why have you dropped Howson? And Bola?
 
TallaghtBoro said:
Connolly should not start another game he offers absolutely nothing. Josh Coburn must be thinking "what do I have to do to start a game ?" Scoring goals seems to go against him as the other clowns upfront don't score . Come on Wilder see the light and end this Connolly shambles .
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Looks like him and Sporar will be on their way in a few weeks time.....
 
Glover_elbow said:
I tend to concur with the OP. I was pleasantly surprised by the intial improvements in performance and results under wilder but I think it will be difficult to get back to wilders best the shortcomings in squad numbers and Wilders physical demanding style of play is taking its toll. The biggest factor still not addressed from Warnock's era is the poor poor strikers and very average goalkeeping options. The January window was disasterous who ever decided on Balugun and the woeful Connolly dropped the ball and it's very likely to cost us promotion
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Why is there so much hate surrounding balogun and connelly.
I know they havent scored loads of goals but other than mitrovic who did you expect/want us to sign.

Please remember this is the first loan alogun has had and has only been limited to youth football/u23 which even at international level is not as demanding as the championship.

I also think or both Flo and connelly we do not play to there strengths they want balls in between the lines slide through not high bll which as a team we ha e reverted too.

I hope crooks being suspended will bring mcgree in and he can start to find yhe right balls for them.

Connelly works hard and in honesty has had no real clear cut chances and for me is trying to hard he would haave created more chances by finding a pass instead of shouting.

We have not been at our best in parts of the last 3 but should of had more points on the board than we have managed to gain but as we know the champo is relentless and am sure all fans from other clubs are frustrated but its about being calm our destiny is in our hands and we all know there will be further twists before the end of the season.

Either way it will be exciting lets enjoy and hopefully we will e in the mix, either way what wilder and his team are building is very exciting!
 
Monday is a massive game Win that and it's absolutely game on. It does look as if a few of our players are a bit out of form but that can return. Hitting the back of the net is the big issue, not helped by a lack of creativity.
Whatever the outcome, it's been a helluva season, so let's get right behind the lads on Monday and see where we land.
UTFB
 
newyddion said:
Let’s say Wilder did leave for Burnley..

Surely Neil Warnock would get the call for the last 7 or 8 games!!
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Yeah!...an really **** the job up!:love:



Meanwhile on Talkballs:-

"Its like this ya see...me an Shaz love a bottle of wine after we`ve took the dogs out. We love it down here in Cornwall.
Im delighted to come to Middlesbrough. I`ve always loved Steve - I`ve got a signed picture on me wall in the out-house.
I was a bit disappointed that a much better Manager took the mess off me back in November, but now Im back at Boro, after that other blokes departure, I`ve the opportunity to keep us in the Championship - loan out all our best players and open a rest home for old crocks, my favourites and those otherwise over the hill.
I remember when I was sacked from Notts County / Gainsborough / QPR / Cardiff / Sheffield United / Leeds / Rotherham / Plymouth / Boro / Scarborough and Crystal Palace.....eee we had some laughs.
I was just saying to Jeppo the other day...hasnt the taste of tea changed since we left the European Union....
But I had a great time at Boro.....the fans loved me but some though I was a right winker.
Eeee, do you know what...
Its lovely when you think you`re "it" you know.
Them referees will love me.
I can **** and **** at them, bring the club into disrepute and blame all my mistakes on them ....or the players.
You do dont ya...
Ave really loved it up here...I had the chance to manage Sunderland you know and just lately I`ve had some nice messages from Boro and Newcastle fans saying why dont I go and join them - get them back where they belong.
I love the fans me like.....
Do you know what, the other day as I was sat on the pot ,I had a thought come to me as I was having a good........."


Voice: "Neil - its time for the team talk - the game kicks off in five minutes"!:rolleyes:
 
BoroMad87 said:
Why is there so much hate surrounding balogun and connelly.
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They are not the same and I'm pretty sure nobody picks on Balogun.

Connolly has started 13 of the 16 league matches since he signed. He has very much been the first choice.
He came off the bench in 2 of the other matches.
He has played the vast majority of the match in most of his appearances.

He has 0 (Zero) assists in 1,110 minutes of Championship football with us.
He is credited with 2 goals, one a massive deflection and the other an obvious own goal.

He is goalless and assistless in another 88 minutes of FA Cup football.

That is a goal every 1,198 minutes.
I can't imagine that is what Wilder thought when signing him.
Can any player we have ever signed have made less impact?

Come on Chris, you've seen the light with Lumley...
 
But then Chris is left with:

Watmore - who cant manage 90 due to aggravating his injury an losing him altogether.

Sporar - who, for all the bluster, is inconsistent and cant be relied on to score regularly.

Coburn - only a young lad just learning his craft.

Balogun - a decent player, but lacking experience at this level.

Not exactly spoilt for choice!
 
In the 73/74 season. Yes, the year when the Oxo boys won it for the Boro. We used to stand on the South Terrace after finishing selling the impossible to drink/over-priced beverage. At the Sheff Wed game (Title assured, final score 8-0), the Boro were 6-0 up and Souness started "showboating" on the halfway line. The bloke next to me screamed "Souness, you 'effin (insert abusive local term for sexual orientation here)! Get an 'effin grip man!"

Irony didn't arrive on Teesside until circa 1979.

Since that time I have always accepted that, for some Boro fans, the glass barely exists, rather than have some fraction of liquid in it.
 
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r00fie1 said:
But then Chris is left with:

Watmore - who cant manage 90 due to aggravating his injury an losing him altogether.

Sporar - who, for all the bluster, is inconsistent and cant be relied on to score regularly.

Coburn - only a young lad just learning his craft.

Balogun - a decent player, but lacking experience at this level.

Not exactly spoilt for choice!
Click to expand...
They're all better than him, all of them.
 
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