Match Thread Middlesbrough vs Coventry City Play off Semi final 2nd leg Match Thread - Wednesday 17th May (3 Viewers)

[Nick]

I said it on another thread yesterday, I feel as if we need to go up to Boro with something, not necessarily to hold onto, but as a comfort blanket.

Boro will come at us with a lot more attacking intent on Wednesday, there fans will be expecting this.

If we can a strong defensive shape and nullify their attacking threats like we have done over the past 10 days in 180 mins, then we stand a great chance!

I'd bring Sheaf in for Eccles. I'd give Godden another chance. Aside from that more of the same. The game will naturally open up IMO.

Depends how injured Eccles was when he went off.

 

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[David O'Day]

Yes but that's what Boro want, they want you to press them high up & then they'll pass through you with their quality. Move it quickly & smartly & then one decent pass through the lines & they'll take 4 of our players out of the game. We obviously didn't want to get too involved in that but then at other times when pressed it looked like we could force a mistake from them.

I think it was Oggy who described it as a chess game & it really was.

Exactly

 

[RoboCCFC90]

Depends how injured Eccles was when he went off.

I think we still need to make that change, Sheaf offers a lot more than Eccles.

 

[Speedie's Head]

I said it on another thread yesterday, I feel as if we need to go up to Boro with something, not necessarily to hold onto, but as a comfort blanket.

Boro will come at us with a lot more attacking intent on Wednesday, there fans will be expecting this.

If we can a strong defensive shape and nullify their attacking threats like we have done over the past 10 days in 180 mins, then we stand a great chance!

I'd bring Sheaf in for Eccles. I'd give Godden another chance. Aside from that more of the same. The game will naturally open up IMO.

An early goal for us would be great, maybe essential!

 

[Boosh]

We probably can, get in behind Giles.

Yeah I think we can exploit Akpom at centre half too

 

[Briles]

Option 3 clearly. He had a poor game.

Can't play poorly if you don't touch the ball

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

An early goal for us would be great, maybe essential!

Certainly a massive boost to score first

 

[Speedie's Head]

I think we still need to make that change, Sheaf offers a lot more than Eccles.

He seems to be making up the numbers on the bench...

 

[Nick]

Yeah I think we can exploit Akpom at centre half too

Hopefully. It will be good to see.

 

[Boosh]

Hopefully. It will be good to see.

Yeah you’ll have a great view from your desk

 

[Nick]

Yeah you’ll have a great view from your desk

Make sure you change your IP address when you pretend to be there this time.

I'm not there on weds, will probably watch it in the pub.

 

[Boosh]

Make sure you change your IP address when you pretend to be there this time.

I'm not there on weds, will probably watch it in the pub.

I’m not a computer dork so wouldn’t know how to do that. I’ll be there as I have been for every game this season. I’ll be sure to bump this post with a picture on Wednesday

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Yes but that's what Boro want, they want you to press them high up & then they'll pass through you with their quality. Move it quickly & smartly & then one decent pass through the lines & they'll take 4 of our players out of the game. We obviously didn't want to get too involved in that but then at other times when pressed it looked like we could force a mistake from them.

I think it was Oggy who described it as a chess game & it really was.

I think this is what I found frustrating. Robins obviously didn't want the players overcommitting themselves and creating pockets of space for Middlesbrough to exploit which was a fine tactic.

But I felt the players almost took it too literally. To the point where they were more focused on consciously keeping their shape rather than trying to win the ball back and seizing the opportunity to do so if/when it presented itself.

 

[Nick]

I’m not a computer dork so wouldn’t know how to do that. I’ll be there as I have been for every game this season. I’ll be sure to bump this post with a picture on Wednesday

Poor man's mangan.

 

[Nick]

I think this is what I found frustrating. Robins obviously didn't want the players overcommitting themselves and creating pockets of space for Middlesbrough to exploit which was a fine tactic.

But I felt the players almost took it too literally. To the point where they were more focused on consciously keeping their shape rather than trying to win the ball back and seizing the opportunity to do so if/when it presented itself.

Their keeper didn't want the ball passing back when we pressed, pressured him a few times.

 

[Boosh]

Poor man's mangan.

Is that one of Middlesbrough’s wing backs?

 

[alexccfc99]

Middlesbrough getting cocky saying Vik is a ‘fraud’ cause he hasn’t scored in the last two games, local nightclubs already promoting their ‘We’re going to Wembley’ parties

They think they are going to steamroll us - Be hilarious if we turn up and win

 

[napolimp]

Middlesbrough getting cocky saying Vik is a ‘fraud’ cause he hasn’t scored in the last two games, local nightclubs already promoting their ‘We’re going to Wembley’ parties

They think they are going to steamroll us - Be hilarious if we turn up and win

? But Akpom hasn't scored in the last 4.

 

[Boosh]

Middlesbrough getting cocky saying Vik is a ‘fraud’ cause he hasn’t scored in the last two games, local nightclubs already promoting their ‘We’re going to Wembley’ parties

They think they are going to steamroll us - Be hilarious if we turn up and win

The lack of knowledge from their forum about us and our forum about them is baffling, especially given we played each other twice last week. They don’t seem to understand that we prefer to play out of possession and our game plan will remain the same at their place. One of their posters even said we changed system at half time?

Then on our forum one poster hasn’t figured out that they play with a back 4. So strange

 

[alexccfc99]

? But Akpom hasn't scored in the last 4.

To be honest since the moment this tie has been made clear it would happen we have been shown 0 respect as a club or side - Boro fans thinking they are entitled to as many tickets as they want in the 1st leg, The constant media narrative of a Boro v Sunderland final, being labelled as a ‘hoofball’ side

Far from a formality they win on Wednesday, for all their tippy tappy football yesterday they forced Wilson into once decent save

 

[CDK]

Personally,would like to see godden benched as not convinced there's a partnership there with Vic ,and go back to a box system as it might throw Boro,and help get hold of midfield adding Allen plus sheaf for Eccles who has done really well .

 

[alexccfc99]

This is from their man fans podcast as well, ‘Happy that we’re playing Coventry’

I’m on my knees for a Robins masterclass

 

[RoboCCFC90]

He seems to be making up the numbers on the bench...

Yeah I feel this as well, as Robins seems no rush to risk him, but we are at a point of no risk no reward, so if he's able I'd play Sheaf.

 

[Boosh]

This is from their man fans podcast as well, ‘Happy that we’re playing Coventry’

I’m on my knees for a Robins masterclass

She’s pretty knowledgeable in fairness, I enjoyed her insight

 

[TomRad85]

Middlesbrough getting cocky saying Vik is a ‘fraud’ cause he hasn’t scored in the last two games, local nightclubs already promoting their ‘We’re going to Wembley’ parties

They think they are going to steamroll us - Be hilarious if we turn up and win

Who's 'Middlesbrough' in this case though? Some social media gremlins? We have a few of them ourselves. Their fans in general seem ok, especially compared to the dribblers down the road from them.

 

[Boosh]

Who's 'Middlesbrough' in this case though? Some social media gremlins? We have a few of them ourselves. Their fans in general seem ok, especially compared to the dribblers down the road from them.

I imagine they’re baffled by some posts on here too. One about Forss at right wing back comes to mind

 

[alexccfc99]

Who's 'Middlesbrough' in this case though? Some social media gremlins? We have a few of them ourselves. Their fans in general seem ok, especially compared to the dribblers down the road from them.

They both just seem a bit weird and bitter to be honest -

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Ah ok figure of speech well the 6 blocked were on target

I mean by definition they weren’t!

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Their keeper didn't want the ball passing back when we pressed, pressured him a few times.

I think Robins probably had a word at half time to get the forwards to be more aggressive with their GK. During the first half he was taking the piss.

 

[mmttww]

More than once they would have the ball in their half, the player with it just standing still for a good 10-20 seconds or so while our players were static and just watching him.

If that is really what Robins wanted from his team then OK, but it was a really passive display.

Disagree. They want you to press so they can play around you when they do that. When they were moving the ball, we pressed hard and in sync. It worked. Penned them in second half. Genuinely think we've worked them out.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I’m not a computer dork so wouldn’t know how to do that. I’ll be there as I have been for every game this season. I’ll be sure to bump this post with a picture on Wednesday

Think I saw you at Norwich

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Do you ever get bored of being wrong View attachment 29678

We can take heart from this.

A lot of people, including myself, are quite jittery about going away without a lead. It is difficult, but Boro are the favourites and there’s a pressure for them to come at us. Over the last two games, they have struggled to break us down so far.

It is a chess game and Robins has been v shrewd to emphasise Boro’s status as the favourites. This a free hit for us as we’re punching above our weight.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Yeah, can still be on target.

Same as when a keeper blocks it.

The target is the goal not the defender’s bollocks

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We can take heart from this.

A lot of people, including myself, are quite jittery about going away without a lead. It is difficult, but Boro are the favourites and there’s a pressure for them to come at us. Over the last two games, they have struggled to break us down so far.

It is a chess game and Robins has been v shrewd to emphasise Boro’s status as the favourites. This a free hit for us as we’re punching above our weight.

As a chess player I take some offence at that analogy

 

[jordan210]

According to some of there fans they dint get out of 3rd gear on Sunday and will be a cake walk....