Boro Pre-Match Thread/Poll

[maddog]

With the game on Tuesday thought i would combine the pre-match with the poll.

This is a very important match, we are only 4 points behind Middlesbrough currently so a win here is needed to stick with them. The table is so tight at the moment, we just need to pick up a few good results and we will be back in the top six. But a few more bad results and we will be deep in the bottom half.

Boro lost 5-0 to the Baggies last time at the Riverside, so theres no reason why we can't go there, and Fryatt can get some more goals for us.

Last time out at the Riverside in 03/04 Juninho opened the scoring for them, but a second half Dickov double, and goal from Marcus Bent appeared to give us the 3 points.

We all know what happened next though, and in our last Premiership season where we repeatedly threw away leads and conceded last minute goals, which ultimately saw us relegated when we should have easily survived, Maccarone scored on 90 minutes and deep into stoppage time a John Curtis own goal made it 3-3.

We drew 0-0 that season at the Walkers but in 01/02 Boro did the double over us, beating us 1-0 at the Riverside and 2-1 at Filbert Street.

We certainly seem to be getting at teams more this season away from home though, especially in the first half, so hopefully we will do that at the Riverside and take our chances.

Team selection will be vital for NP, if he continues with the side that woefully lost to Preston, with Gallagher out of position and the side totally off balance, and we lose this game, then he will be criticised. You expect him to make at least 3 changes to the team, i will be shocked if it's less than that.

The three i would change straight away would be Hobbs for Brown, N'guessan for Adams, and either dropping out Gallagher completely or playing him up front.

Then theres Wellens who may not be fit, Neilson who was shocking yesterday and Howard, but i just can't see Pearson dropping any of them. Morrison hasn't even made the bench, so it would be against Pearsons character to just throw him in from nowhere.

Howard has been very poor but unless Pearson gives Kermo a start with Fryatt, who won headers yesterday, then dropping Howard would be pointless because our brainless players will continue to play long ball to 4 foot tall Waghorn.

I honestly have absolutely no idea what the team will be, so this game could go either way.

Pearson is not one to make loads of changes, or spring any surprises with his team selection, so i will be shocked if he does.

As much as i would love us to get back on track with a win, i can see our first back to back League defeats for over a year and a half, and Middlesbrough running out easy 3-0 winners

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Gonna say 1-0 win to us.

Think the PNE game will be a wake up call to us and NP. Hopefully he will have seen just how bad some of the individal performances have been, with Brown, Neilson and Howard all dropping to the bench.

I think we have a fairly good record there and just fancy us to nick it. Boro are on a bit of a downer with letting WBA out 5 past them and letting points slip away vs Cov.

Would kike to see Morrison & Hobbs starting in place of Neislon and Brown with Gallagher up front with Fryatt and Dyer/Adams on the left.

[Budweiser]

0-0.

After Middlesborough leaked in 5 the previous week, im sure they wouldn't be too disappointed with a clean sheet, likewise with us after the home defeat to Preston.

Hopefully, a couple of changes are made and we battle away to earn a deserved draw

COME ON LEICESTER

[JoeyB]

All i can say is i would be tempted to throw Morrison in at RB and have Tunch and Hobbs at CB.

Boro are a quick team and Adam Johnson down their left (our right) would just rip nealson to shreds with pace!

[martyn]

Hobbs, Adams and King in for Brown, N'Guessan and Howard.

Play Gallacher just off Fryatt and insist that the defence look to play the ball into midfield at every possible opportunity.

[flanimal]

Put Kermorgant in, Middlesbrough will know probably zero about him, he'll do something. Howard, just too predictable - I'm unsure whether he's Championship quality, and I hate the long ball stuff we play when he's on the pitch (and, also when he's off the pitch!).

[ousefox]

Think we can win this. I would play:

Weale

Neilson

Tunch

Hobbs

Bruno

N'Guessan

Wellens only if he is 100%/King

Oakley

Adams

Fryatt

Gallagher/Kermorgant

Would definately like to see Gradel make the bench.

[DarkTranquillity]

Put Kermorgant in, Middlesbrough will know probably zero about him, he'll do something. Howard, just too predictable - I'm unsure whether he's Championship quality, and I hate the long ball stuff we play when he's on the pitch (and, also when he's off the pitch!).

I agree, Kermo showed some nice touches and looked like he instinctively knew where the goal was from his half chance yesterday. Could work very nicely with Matty, although we have hardly seen anything off him yet so expect him on the bench again.

[DarkTranquillity]

Weale

Morrison - Tunch - Hobbs

N'Guessen - Oakley - Wellens - King - Berner

Gallagher - Fryatt

I'd like to see this given a try!!

[acooling08]

Weale

McGivern Tunch Hobbs Berner

Adams Wellens Oakley Gradel

Howard Fryatt

Subs:

Logan

Powell

Gallager

Kermo

Brown

King

N'Guessan

[Salieri]

I'm gonna try to remain positive and say we could nick a draw at The Riverside. I'll go for 1-1.

I am hoping to see NP at least tweak things a little, i want our manager to be proactive and respond to the obvious problems with the team, and the shape of it, evident in the last few games.

I'll be a little disheartened if the line up is the same, almost be a case of hope for the best! Having said that, if we came away with 3 points i'd swiftly backtrack on that opinion.

Very concerned as to how Neilson (if selected) will cope with the excellent Adam Johnson, could be a key factor in the overall outcome.

Glad there's not long to wait, lets bounce back from Saturdays defeat with a good result and performance to put us in good stead for a tricky trip to the Ricoh next Saturday.

[Tommeh]

Can't comment on the side as I wasn't at the last game so don't know who performed and who didn't but I'd like to see us go there and have a go, possibly counter well and if we go a goal down keep plucking away and come back with something.

Predicting and hoping for a late equaliser, good night out and 1-1.

[Karljohn]

Am I right in thinking we've only ever lost one game at the Riverside (1-0 Frank Sinclairs 40 yard o.g)? I remember winning 2-0 up there with Muzzy scoring from 25 yards, and a couple of 3-0 wins (I went to the one where Tricky Trev scored!) so im going to go for a 2-1 win, backs against the wall at times but Fryatt to bag a brace...its a ground we've done very well at in the past.

[Mark]

I'd like to see a front three of Gallagher, Kermorgant and Fryatt, Boro's defence has leaked alot of goals lately and Southgates under pressure there.

Yann was impressive when he came on, at least compared to the other alternative.

[Jiggers the Fox]

This is exactly the type of game we'll go and win!

[Fox92]

Weale

McGivern Tunch Hobbs Berner

Adams Wellens Oakley Gradel

Howard Fryatt

So, someone who didn't even make the bench against Swansea, and someone who we haven't seen play yet, out of position ahead of our full back? Is that what I am seeing?

Anway, my team;

Weale

Nielson Hobbs Tunchev Berner

King Oakley Wellens

Gallagher

Fryatt Howard

______

Adams is a squad player at the least, and although he has improved, still isn't good enough.

N'Guessan out.

Near enough the same team but I'd like to see Gallagher behind Howard and Fryatt with King covering.

I admit, theres no width, but lets ensure that the full backs ask for the ball/goalkeeper looks for them, and play real football.

[the buckwheat]

I'd like to see a front three of Gallagher, Kermorgant and Fryatt

Go, Go, Go Yann

It's time for the frenchie celtic n°22 to score for LCFC

Howard must rest

[Daggers]

I'll be amazed if he changes the team, and more amazed if it doesn't become yet another match of two halves...one of which being shite...ending in a defeat.

[Tilley]

If he persists with the same shite, 3-0 loss.

If Pearson grows a pair and rings the changes I'm confident we can nick a draw, even maybe a win.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Weale

Morrison

Tunch

Hobbs

Berner

N'Guessan

Oakley

King/Wellens (if fit)

Dyer

Fryatt

Howard (I'll give him the next two game then thats it)

subs: Logan, Neilson, Brown, Adams, Gallagher, Kermo, Waghorn

[Jiggers the Fox]

So, someone who didn't even make the bench against Swansea, and someone who we haven't seen play yet, out of position ahead of our full back? Is that what I am seeing?

We only signed him a couple of weeks ago!

[filbertuk]

As a foxile living on Teesside....I was listening to the local phone - in after Boro gave away 2 points at Cov (and on the back of 5-0 humiliation by the Baggies last Sat) - There is a lot of pressure on Southgate (from the crowd, not the board) and if we can keep them quiet for the first 20 mins the crowd will certainly get on their back.....

[flanimal]

The football we're playing is poor. Well, maybe not poor but average. We desperately lack that element of unpredictability - I think the only players that supply it are Wellens and Gallagher.

Howard offers strength in the air, but not a lot else. It's mainly flick ons. In this league, most defences cope with that. Kermorgant is a player who can do unexpected things, he's able to play people in with cunning passes, and he has a good shot on him. He doesn't offer pace, but based on the games Howard has had, against Kermorgant's potential, I'd switch it.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

We need to score early and kill te mood of everyone in the ground. Take our chances and we will be fine.

We should have learned a lot about ourselves from the last two matches, hopefully giving us our first away win on Tuesday.

The ref is M Haywood. Another one I have never heard of this season. Anyone know/heard of him?

[Simo86]

2-1 defeat. I can see us taking the lead early through fryatt, but they will come back at us and win. I don't think we'll be able to handle Adam Johnson.