Nothing to fear (1 Viewer)

Sky Blue Pete · May 11, 2023

Play offs on merit

Two of the best players who win games week in week out
Think it will be 5th v 6th at Wembley and we have enough to win

Danceswithhorses · May 11, 2023

As posted previously on SBT, in the regular season games between the 4 playoff teams, we got the most points...nothing to fear.
In our 2 games against Middlesboro this season, we got 4/6 points...nothing to fear.
In our last game, Middlesboro were nothing special, and if Hamer hadn't lost concentration for a split second at the corner, we'd have done the double over them...nothing to fear.
Ignoring the aberration of the bizarre Stoke result, our form in last 16 games has been excellent...Middlesboro's form has been patchy....nothing to fear.
Now all the above, certainly doesn't guarantee a win, but it does means the team should be confident in their ability and it should help them banish any self doubts.

Paxman II · May 11, 2023

Lots of ways to spin this. Luton are a gritty side and do not lose easily. Sunderland have defied logic tbf. Just up from the championship but you can't dismiss a side full of confidence as they are.
Middlesborough since Carrick have been consistently good. Much better than when we beat them early in the season. Akpom has been a revelation as has our own Gykores. They have already made the playoffs when we went there so they could be excused for not going fully at it. There possession stats were good, and we must counter that. We will need a cushion in the home game before heading to Boro' under the lights for the decider. Don't think this will be easy. We need Gykores to find his goal touch if we are to make the final.
If we make the final, we win it. Our best opportunity is the fact Boro' have some injury concerns to a couple of key players and a slight dip in form. But form means nothing in one off games like this. I think a lot will depend on MR's team selection in each game. Sheaf fit must play surely? Eccles has made good contributions but I sense he would be the lucky loser. Get a two goal lead to take up there and we can pack the midfield with just Gyokeres up top and get the result we need. Anything less than a 2 goal lead and we will need to be at our very, very best up there.

napolimp · May 11, 2023

It's a lottery, anyones for the taking, just depends who turns up on the day over next 2/3 matches. All 4 teams have the quality to go up.

covcity4life · May 11, 2023

0-0 first leg

Lose 3-1 second leg

Gut feeling

Flying Fokker · May 11, 2023

covcity4life said:
0-0 first leg

Lose 3-1 second leg

Gut feeling

Troll.

Brighton Sky Blue · May 11, 2023

My gut feeling says a Boro v Sunderland final with Boro to win overall. If we can beat them over two legs though, I’d back us at Wembley.

procdoc · May 11, 2023

Bori are a good side but so are we. The playoffs have always been a lottery. I don’t fear any of the teams, just got to ensure we play at our best over two legs

harvey098 · May 11, 2023

I honestly think our fans play a huge part in this too tbh. Other teams will also have big numbers but they don’t have the noise we create. We have always done well in the important games since Robins’ return.

Travs · May 11, 2023

Brighton Sky Blue said:
My gut feeling says a Boro v Sunderland final with Boro to win overall. If we can beat them over two legs though, I’d back us at Wembley.

I would agree with this.

I know we're a counter-attacking team and don't necessarily need to dominate possession.... but i don't see us shutting out a quality side like Middlesborough across two legs, and think they'll have just a little too much for us.

(i shouldn't need to say this, one would think it was obvious.... but i hope i'm wrong)

Offhegoes · May 11, 2023

It's dangerous for Boro that Vik has had a slight downturn in form in the last few games apart from the pen he wrestled from Godden againt Brum. Hopefully saving his best form for these final 3 games.

richnrg · May 11, 2023

covcity4life said:
0-0 first leg

Lose 3-1 second leg

Gut feeling

bet you're fun at a party

shmmeee · May 11, 2023

I’m thinking Boro Luton final. I think people are underrating Luton who have been top four forever and overestimating Sunderland cos of their fans. And I’d want Luton to go up.

SleepyGinger · May 11, 2023

shmmeee said:
I’m thinking Boro Luton final. I think people are underrating Luton who have been top four forever and overestimating Sunderland cos of their fans. And I’d want Luton to go up.

Yeah I’d be very surprised if it’s not Luton in the final

Astute · May 11, 2023

We have the beating of Middlesbrough over 2 legs. Their style of play suits us. They also have a few injuries.

Would prefer Luton in the final. Our defence should hold them and the big pitch would suit us going forward.

SkyblueDad · May 11, 2023

Astute said:
We have the beating of Middlesbrough over 2 legs. Their style of play suits us. They also have a few injuries.

What is their injury situation any news or details. My guess it’s not as bad as being hinted.

hill83 · May 11, 2023

If there’s nothing to fear then WHY AM I NERVOUS AS FUCK.

Explain that please.

Sky Blue Pete · May 11, 2023

hill83 said:
If there’s nothing to fear then WHY AM I NERVOUS AS FUCK.

Explain that please.

Anxiety

fatso · May 11, 2023

We have nothing to fear as long as we can overcome our annoying habit of fucking it up when we get to the big games.

Keep our heads and we've got it.

Sky Blue Pete · May 11, 2023

fatso said:
We have nothing to fear as long as we can overcome our annoying habit of fucking it up when we get to the big games.

Keep our heads and we've got it.

Not so much the last few months

shmmeee · May 11, 2023

One thing I’m worried about is their pace means we have to be quite cagey. I hope the fans realise that and don’t get antsy if we’re ceding possession and counter attacking at home.

eastwoodsdustman · May 11, 2023

I was talking to some Boro fans on Monday as I walked back to my car. They told me to book my tickets for Wembley as they thought they'd lose to us over the two legs.

RoboCCFC90 · May 11, 2023

Sunderland are the most in form team at the moment coming into the playoffs. They've won one more game than both us and Luton. Boro have dropped off recently, but they've had injuries to some of their better players.

Boro have scored most goals in the last six, one more than both us and the mackems. Three more than Luton, but are missing Forss and Ramsey.

City have the meanest defence conceding one goal less than Luton, two less than Sunderland and a lot less than Boro

All games will be very close, I fancy us against Boro, but the final could go either way.

shmmeee · May 11, 2023

If we win the semi we win the final IMO. Nothing stops the unstoppable force of the SBA at Wembley.

Astute · May 11, 2023

slowpoke said:
What is their injury situation any news or details. My guess it’s not as bad as being hinted.

It isn't just fresh knocks.

Players that have been out for a few games won't be up to speed with the way they play. Exactly the same for us. Both sides play high energy football.

Look at us as a team. At the start of the season we were behind on fitness through not playing as much as the other sides. But once the fitness was in place we went on a run. Then we stopped for the world cup. We were shite again. But once our fitness was back we went on a run again. Only 1 defeat in the last 17 games now.

fatso · May 11, 2023

Sky Blue Pete said:
Not so much the last few months

Errrrr Stoke at home in front of the biggest home crowd of the season?

Sky Blue Pete · May 11, 2023

fatso said:
Errrrr Stoke at home in front of the biggest home crowd of the season?

Uh Birmingham boro reading notts county Sunderland Oxford Exeter Fulham sheff utd
Endless list over 6 years

TomRad85 · May 11, 2023

Honestly if Vik and Hamer are on song all we really need is the other 9 players to be solid/not shit. Its been that way for weeks now, getting better and better.

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Astute · May 11, 2023

RoboCCFC90 said:
Sunderland are the most in form team at the moment coming into the playoffs.

Sunderland 4 defeats in the last 17 games including against us and lost 5-1 to Stoke. Another 6 were a draw. 7 wins.

TomRad85 · May 11, 2023

Astute said:
Sunderland 4 defeats in the last 17 games including against us and lost 5-1 to Stoke. Another 6 were a draw. 7 wins.

Yeh they have some tricky players up top but they can be got at. I think we'd just out score them tbh.

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Astute · May 11, 2023

TomRad85 said:
Yeh they have some tricky players up top but they can be got at. I think we'd just out score them tbh.

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I think Luton will have a bit too much for them. And they're not very good at home. A bad result at home in the first leg will make it difficult to come back from.

Londonccfcfan · May 11, 2023

I'm deliberately going to be negative and play down our chances until that final whistle blows at Wembley.

Astute · May 11, 2023

Londonccfcfan said:
I'm deliberately going to be negative and play down our chances until that final whistle blows at Wembley.

You're always negative and play down our chances

Londonccfcfan · May 11, 2023

Astute said:
You're always negative and play down our chances

Unchartered territory

SkyblueDad · May 11, 2023

Been in the stars us and the Mackems at Wembley.

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