Leicester v Middlesboro - Tuesday 4th November

[Foxes96]

I hate it, but only semi realistic thing I could see Marti trying: 3-5-2. Let’s face it he’s not going to play any of the kids.
BDCR and Fatawu as wing backs? Ricardo in midfield? 

                      Stolarczyk 

        Okoli - Vestergaard - Faes 

                          Winks

Fatawu - Ricardo - James - BDCR 

                   Daka  -   Ayew

 

 

[AjcW]

56 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Probably worth just starting Silko up front. Can't be any worse. 

[pmcla26]

Stolarczyk 

 

Ricardo 

Okoli

Nelson

Aluko 

 

James 

Skipp

 

S. Thomas 

Monga  

Fatawu 

 

Mavididi

[bald reynard]

13 hours ago, Outfox the Fox said:

Aluko & Popov both withdrawn early from the Man City U21 game - I wonder if they're in line for a First team call up for Boro?

Although a couple of people have said Popov is not near First team quality atm, I still think he deserves (and could well get) a call up for the squad tomorrow. He's got a few goals for our U21's this season (including one against Southampton last week), as well as Wales U21's. The fact that he was withdrawn mid 2nd half in the U21 game at the weekend, gives an indication that he might be in MC's mind for Boro, though perhaps only on the bench.

I think Aluko is a very likely starter tomorrow.

Edited 3 November 2025 by bald reynard

[Chelmofox]

1 minute ago, bald reynard said:

Although a couple of people have said Popov is not near First team quality atm, I still think he deserves (and could well get) a call up for the squad tomorrow. He's a few goals for our U21's this season (including one against Southampton last week), as well as Wales U21's. The fact that he was withdrawn mid 2nd half in the U21 game at the weekend, gives an indication that he might be in MC's mind for Boro.

I think Aluko is a very likely starter tomorrow.

Astonishing if true.

[moore_94]

11 minutes ago, bald reynard said:

Although a couple of people have said Popov is not near First team quality atm, I still think he deserves (and could well get) a call up for the squad tomorrow. He's got a few goals for our U21's this season (including one against Southampton last week), as well as Wales U21's. The fact that he was withdrawn mid 2nd half in the U21 game at the weekend, gives an indication that he might be in MC's mind for Boro, though perhaps only on the bench.

I think Aluko is a very likely starter tomorrow.

Would not surprise me at all to see Martí finally give a chance to an under 21 striker and it not be the one who should have gotten the chance by now (Evans)

[Mahrezisawizard]

Heart says that I would love to see 2/3 u21s given a go. Hoping to see Aluko at the bare minimum. Anyone else is a bonus. 

Head says we will be looking at Faes Vestegaard partnership flanked by Thomas and Choudhury with Soumare Winks pivot! 

 

[filbertway]

I think it's becoming pretty apparent that this squads reputation is actually better than the ability. If you combine that with the general apathy and lack of desire amongst a lot of players, I do feel for Marti. 

 

He needs to find a way to get the players fired up, but as I said in another post. They're getting paid handsomely regardless of performance and their reputations will allow them to move clubs once they've drained us and pick up a nice wedge somewhere else.

 

We're badly lacking a core of players that have a point to prove and that's what contributes to such tepid displays.

 

Not a clue what you do about that but Marti has to find a way to get through to them and soon.

[Mickyblueeyes]

56 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Page is on international duty, and isnt Monga ill?

 

Nelson i agree with. I still think Aluko starting is very unlikely, but i want him on the bench instead of VK (who is probably injured anyway).

Page ok.

 

Monga - he had the flu. Returned to training Friday but Saturday was seen as too early. 
 

I can’t watch Khristiansen and/or Thomas anymore.

[BrilliantFox]

Aluko is a must.

 

Left Back is our weakest position.

 

When are we going to see a Ricardo Nelson Okoli Aluko backline?

 

None of those 4 above have been responsible for our 2 relegations. Yet Vestergaard, Faes, Thomas, VK the ones who have caused our 2 relegations keep playing?

 

 

Edited 3 November 2025 by BrilliantFox

[RedSoxUK]

Why are people just assuming Aluko is a competent enough left back?

 

He's not actually a natural left back is he??? Does he even play LB for the U21s? No? If he was in any way a competitor for LB in the senior squad, you'd make sure as shit he played LB for the U21s..

 

And Nelson isn't ****ing superman right?

[AjcW]

Not that it'll make a blind bit of difference to us, but they've not actually been that good this season.

The Watford result had been coming, they drew with Wrexham, scraped past Sheff Weds, hung on against Ipswich and lost to Portsmouth before that. 

 

Even their good start was Narrow wins and draws. 

[RoboFox]

12 minutes ago, AjcW said:

Not that it'll make a blind bit of difference to us, but they've not actually been that good this season.

The Watford result had been coming, they drew with Wrexham, scraped past Sheff Weds, hung on against Ipswich and lost to Portsmouth before that. 

 

Even their good start was Narrow wins and draws. 

We'll make them look outstanding tomorrow. 

[Sankey93]

We get beat tomorrow night and it’s as simple as that he won’t change it because he’s weak and unable to do so. Middlesbrough will be rubbing there hands together knowing there playing us 😂

[murphy]

1 hour ago, RedSoxUK said:

Why are people just assuming Aluko is a competent enough left back?

 

He's not actually a natural left back is he??? Does he even play LB for the U21s? No? If he was in any way a competitor for LB in the senior squad, you'd make sure as shit he played LB for the U21s..

 

And Nelson isn't ****ing superman right?

I hadn't thought of it like that.  Let's just stick with the usual defensive titans that have served us so well for so long then.  Good plan.

[STEVIE B]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

I think it's becoming pretty apparent that this squads reputation is actually better than the ability. If you combine that with the general apathy and lack of desire amongst a lot of players, I do feel for Marti. 

 

He needs to find a way to get the players fired up, but as I said in another post. They're getting paid handsomely regardless of performance and their reputations will allow them to move clubs once they've drained us and pick up a nice wedge somewhere else.

 

We're badly lacking a core of players that have a point to prove and that's what contributes to such tepid displays.

 

Not a clue what you do about that but Marti has to find a way to get through to them and soon.

Looking at the 20 man squad selected v Blackburn, l didn’t realise how poor it has become.

Pre-season some were suggesting we will go straight back up, play-offs etc.

 

l know The Championship is seen by many as being weak this season, but combining the lack of effort, fitness, will to fight with this squad, we finish mid-table at best. 

 

 

 

 

[FoxesWalk]

1 hour ago, RedSoxUK said:

Why are people just assuming Aluko is a competent enough left back?

 

He's not actually a natural left back is he??? Does he even play LB for the U21s? No? If he was in any way a competitor for LB in the senior squad, you'd make sure as shit he played LB for the U21s..

 

And Nelson isn't ****ing superman right?

People clutching at straws because they desperately don’t want to watch Thomas or VK again, which is fair. 

[murphy]

2 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Looking at the 20 man squad selected v Blackburn, l didn’t realise how poor it has become.

Pre-season some were suggesting we will go straight back up, play-offs etc.

 

l know The Championship is seen by many as being weak this season, but combining the lack of effort, fitness, will to fight with this squad, we finish mid-table at best. 

 

 

 

 

Guilty as charged.  However, this squad should be challenging for promotion.  I don't know how much the Blackburn team, that beat us so comfortably, cost, but I'm quite sure it would be nowhere near the £100m+ that we had on show.

 

The problem is that the squad is unbalanced, especially with Ramsey out and tactically we are easy to play against.  Morale and commitment is through the floor.  We have players being paid millions that are going through the motions and marking time which is unforgivable.   Add to that, the fact that the powers that be thought that we could get by this season without a proper striker and here we are.  But man for man, there are very few clubs that can match our squad.  This makes the fact that we are so woeful all the more infuriating. 

[Fox92]

13 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Looking at the 20 man squad selected v Blackburn, l didn’t realise how poor it has become.

Pre-season some were suggesting we will go straight back up, play-offs etc.

 

l know The Championship is seen by many as being weak this season, but combining the lack of effort, fitness, will to fight with this squad, we finish mid-table at best. 

 

 

 

 

The squad still isn't as bad as Blackburn or Portsmouth or Oxford... teams that have taken points from us, games that we should be winning.

[Richmondfox]

He will still play Soumare in midfield who will stink out the game, offer nothing in defence or starting any attack.

 

All he can do is float around looking like he can’t remember if he left the gas on and the constant blasted no look back pass to restart the chuckle brothers 20 sideways pass cycle. 
 

Ultimately it doesn’t matter who is playing if it’s Martis tactics. 

[Aleksz]

2 hours ago, pmcla26 said:

Stolarczyk 

 

Ricardo 

Okoli

Nelson

Aluko 

 

James 

Skipp

 

S. Thomas 

Monga  

Fatawu 

 

Mavididi

I'm at a point where I'd like the wingers to occupy the front three too. They can all interchange as they please, PSG esque. Can sit here and say none of them are strikers, but I think we'd all argue our actual ones aren't either at this point. 

[Kris_Boro]

Hello Leicester 

 

Seems everyone is expecting a Middlesbrough win - are things really that bad? If so, let me introduce Middlesbrough. We are excellent at ending baron spells of other teams over the years so do not be surprised if we help kick start your season tomorrow. 

 

On a serious note (although the above is serious), we are coming off our heaviest defeat of the season and a spell of games where the performances have been poor despite the results (which is all that matters really). Aside from Watford away, we have looked defensively solid - our problems are in attack. Despite 6 good players battling for 3 positions we cannot seem to find the balance and consistency and as such we are creating very few chance and struggling to score. In fact io think we are bottom 3 for XG and chances created. 

 

We work extremely hard and are very strong in midfield  but their is real concern in front of goal. 

 

I have absolutely no idea what to expect tomorrow. I keep expecting Leicester and Southampton to hump somebody and go on a run but it doesn't seem to happen (hence my opening line). Its my first visit to your place tomorrow, so looking forward to ticking off another ground despite been neither confident or unconfident. 

[STEVIE B]

Just now, Fox92 said:

The squad still isn't as bad as Blackburn or Portsmouth or Oxford... teams that have taken points from us, games that we should be winning.

Absolutely. Unfortunately if we don’t put in the effort, the hard yards, etc. it counts for nothing. Too many sides outfight us, outmuscle us.

Each game has a similar pattern, we start well (10 mins), we concede, visibly fade instantly, then huff & puff.
Something is fundamentally wrong for this to happen on a regular basis. 

 

[Chelmofox]

16 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

The squad still isn't as bad as Blackburn or Portsmouth or Oxford... teams that have taken points from us, games that we should be winning.

Enzo's team got beaten by Hull, Millwall, Plymouth and QPR to name a few. 

[The Year Of The Fox]

Chucking £100 on Boro returns £338 on Bet365