Middlesborough (A) Match Thread

[filbertway]

At first glance i'm taken back to some of those god awful games under Pearson. Interested to see how we approach this. Initial thought is sitting very deep and trying to clog up the middle. Hopefully Claudio has other thoughts in mind as that would be horrible.

[urban.spaceman]

4

3

Mahrez

2

?

 

Riyad with a free role essentially?

[The Doctor]

Just now, Facecloth said:

My best guesses are it's either a 4321 with King, Amartey and Mindy as the 3 with Okazaki and Mahrez behind Ulloa. Or it's 42321, with Mende and Amartey in the 2, Okazaki and Mahrez wide in the 3 and King central.

I like the idea but I think they might notice if we field 13 players

[SheppyFox]

Andre ****ing King.

[Marshall Cockney Fox]

We win a game with a half decent performance then rip it apart?????

[EnglishOxide]

Remember when our team was full of pace.

[MadKaw]

4 minutes ago, BigWesMorgan said:

 

Really don't know what to make of that...

And I thought Mendy was short.....

[sdb]

I was really optimistic about this game but not now. Diamond midfield against a side most dangerous down the sides? Play a good in the air but immobile striker with no wingers? Drop last matches man of the match. 

 

Tinker man is best when he doesn't tinker. 

[urban.spaceman]

Just now, The Doctor said:

I like the idea but I think they might notice if we field 13 players

Ssshhhhh they monitor fan forums for information like this. 

[M0901]

In a weird way I like this. Boro won't be expecting it either. Good to see Mendy and Leo get a chance (the latter especially deserving)

[yorkie1999]

Let's hope mahrez has a blinder, doubt it though, he'll be looking after himself for the acon 

[whoareyaaa]

Good to see Mendy, bit of a weird team but hey ho lets see what they can do!! Well up for this!!!!!

[foxoffderby]

Looks like a diamond to me. Mahrez in the hole.

[CloudFox]

Interesting line-up...shame about Drinkwater and Slimani, but Claudio needed to protect them, so that's fair enough. Would have liked to see Chilwell too, but 2 days recovery compared to how much rest Fuchs has had makes sense for him to be rested.

 

Guessing the formation is a sort of 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 with Riyad drifting in a free role.

[Jimothy]

1 minute ago, The Doctor said:

I like the idea but I think they might notice if we field 13 players

 oops

[Charl91]

Wat.

[casablancas]

Claudio has pulled a right turn with that formation here. So many of us guessing haha he certainly has adapted somewhat. Let's all wait to see how they fair without the all encompassing doom merchants piping up with forecasts of disaster. New year new formation let's will them forward to a respectable league table finish. All though admittedly we should never have been in this mess !  

[ozleicester]

well, this should be interesting

[lgfualol]

I have a feeling this will be a very drab game. Would have liked Musa in a 433, as Okazaki has been a bit anonymous in his last two starts. Hopefully him and Ulloa have a good game. 

 

Happy Mendy is back. 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Never like wingless formation 

[Guest CityFan 06]

Interesting line up, starts for Mendy and Ulloa. 

[Sharpe's Fox]

G'won Leo

[Slim Dog]

Seems like a 4-3-1-2 to me. Same back 4. King, Amartey and Mendy in the 3. Mahrez in behind and Okazaki/Ulloa up top.

[theessexfox]

It's obviously needs must for this game, we don't know which players are still weary from Saturday, and we have a couple of knocks and illnesses. This is a very makeshift team but I guess that's to be expected at this time. 

[TheUltimateWinner]

He might be playing Amartey RM.

 

Hes brought him on there before.