[Archived] Brill Middlesbrough Preview by m1st :)

[pick32]

Apparantly Dickson impressed last night, was also good to see Adam Henley get a run out. Aswel as a young trialist bagging a brace.

[Clitherover]

Aswel as a young trialist bagging a brace.

Was it Victor Zapata-Caicedo?

[pick32]

No Brendon Daniels, was released from Crewe he is only 20

[Bucksrover]

Do we know where we are with dunn and rochina? Dunn wasn't going to be out for long but he isn't in the reserves yet.

[SoldierMo]

Dunn injury a joke ahead scum game were told wil miss two games what injury isit by the way

[jim mk2]

Epic preview - thanks very much. Shame about the mis-spelt title. One poor chap lost his job at the ST after making the same error.

[gumboots]

You mean Middlesbrough? Although the club are known as the Boro, the town name has no o after the b. It's called that because it was the middle one of the three towns that merged what Bolckow and Vaughan built their ironworks and brought industry to that part of the country. Towns like South Bank (because it's on the south bank of the Tees, the north bank being unsuitable for the building of the heavy plants required, because of the mud deposits) and Grangetown also grew up at this time. I have a family of Boro supporters, one of whom is goalkeeper for Boro Ladies team, and I well remember the days of the prolific John Hickton, Eric McMordie, Billy Gates, Dicky Rooks, Gordon Jones, Willie Whigham to name but a few. My introduction to watching live football.

[Blue blood]

Thought the preview could've had a bit more detail

Seriously though a good read - never realized we had quite so many links with Boro.

All this talk of who we're putting out is a tad depressing, as really there is no room to maneuver. We're going to have to play at least 1 or 2 out of form midfielders, or the world's most inconsistent striker Best (10% great, 90% horse manure).

I don't rate Judge at all from what I've seen, but think it's probably worth him having a go in the hole. Wasn't that where he played for County where he did well? Certainly worth seeing if he can do it there, as he's pretty poor out wide and Marshall and Cairney have struggled in that position. I'd also pop in Taylor in the midfield who I don't rate massively but think he'll have more of an impact than Marshall.

Not keen on our defense either. Dann has horrible moments where he switches off and Kilgallon still looks a bit rusty. Worrying given Boro's forward talents. But who else is there to play? Equally Kean doesn't inspire confidence. We really do have a decent first team but no options for when players are struggling for form.

So my team would be in a 4-2-3-1: Kean, Kane, Kilgallon, Dann, Spurr, Lowe, Cairney, King, Judge, Taylor, Rhodes

subs: Marshall, Best and whoever else is available! Goodness me it's tough being optimistic with Rovers.

[JonnyBRFC]

Looks like Etuhu and Dunn are in contention for this game. Changes things slightly.

Whether I'd rush Dunn back so soon is another matter. Etuhu could be interesting. Big, strong player who could really help the defence.

Hopefully he'll be really wanting to right wrongs for his past performances, albeit alongside Danny Murphy..

[Bucksrover]

It is tricky to pick the best central 2 and one behind Rhodes.

I really don't like having 2 defensive midfielders as we invite pressure and sit too deep. If Etuhu is not fully fit I would start Cairney and Lowe Central (but tell them not to sit too deep.) I would play Marshall behind Rhodes - they linked up well for a bit against Watford and we know from the gospel that is you-tube that if he is central and gets space to shoot from 20 - 30 yards he can put them away. For me Judge is a tryer but hasn't got much else to offer - one to bring on in the last 10 mins to close teams down.

I would have Taylor and King on the wings. I have seen Taylor play well at times this season - he is not afraid to take players on so it wouldn't all be down to King.

Keeper, Defence and Rhodes pick themselves at the moment - although I hope we are monitoring Henley's recovery as I remember him being better than Kane is now.

[McClarky]

If Etuhu is fit he's got to play. We can't afford those kind of wages and not get anything out of him. I'd stick him next to Lowe in midfield and hope he can play up to his potential over this period that Evans is out. Would love to see Dunny back behind Rhodes as well, gives us a much better look as a team with Cairney and King as the 2 wide players. Doubt Dunn will play on Saturday though, it usually takes him a few weeks to get back into it.

[pick32]

I'd rush Henley and Dunn back because Best and Kane have had awful seasons so far.

[Majiball]

We've tried rushing Henley back before, slowly slowly for him.

Kean

Kane Dann Kilgallon Spurr

Lowe Williamson Judge

Best Rhodes King

[darrenrover]

Fantastic and informative preview m1st, thank you.

I disagree with your team selection but that's life.

I think only those closest to the players current mindset are in a position to select a team.

For me we need to attack Boro and the selection should be made accordingly.

3-0 Rovers.

[chaddyrovers]

They played more of a 4-2-3-1, but why would we want to play 4-4-2? Why does everyone seem to think it is the answer to everything. We get out played in midfield and forced to play direct which plays into our opponents hands.

Boro in the last game play with Kamara and Emnes up front with Adomah and Carayol on the winger.

far too much is made of formations and systems in football now

We've tried rushing Henley back before, slowly slowly for him.

I agree with that. we need to let Henley gain fitness abit more before we let him play for the 1st team. no need to rush him back so quickly

It is tricky to pick the best central 2 and one behind Rhodes.

I really don't like having 2 defensive midfielders as we invite pressure and sit too deep. If Etuhu is not fully fit I would start Cairney and Lowe Central (but tell them not to sit too deep.) I would play Marshall behind Rhodes - they linked up well for a bit against Watford and we know from the gospel that is you-tube that if he is central and gets space to shoot from 20 - 30 yards he can put them away.

I would have Taylor and King on the wings. I have seen Taylor play well at times this season - he is not afraid to take players on so it wouldn't all be down to King.

Keeper, Defence and Rhodes pick themselves at the moment - although I hope we are monitoring Henley's recovery as I remember him being better than Kane is now.

pretty much agree with all that tbh.

I would drop Williamson for Taylor and maybe Judge for Marshall even tho I thought Judge did well against Blackpool last week. so I would be happy with either Judge or Marshall playing in the hole behind Rhodes.

My team would be:- Kean; Kane, Dann, KIlgallon, Spurr; Lowe, Cairney; Taylor, Marshall or Judge, King; Rhodes

Subs:- Eastwood, Best, Williamson, Morris, Etuhu, Judge or Marshall, Dunn

[somersetrover]

Kean

Kane Dann Killgallon Spurr

Williamson Cairney

Taylor Judge King

Rhodes

[roversfan99]

Judge showed more last week than Marshall has altogether.

[Mike E]

Worried about this game tbh. 2 outcomes: we'll batter them or they'll batter us. Actually sod it, BRING IT!

[chaddyrovers]

Judge showed more last week than Marshall has altogether.

Marshall has more skill than Judge IMO as he showed against Watford in the second half when he came on in 65th mins. I witness this couple of his skills right infront of me in the Blackburn End.

but Judge played well against Blackpool and deserve to keep his place in the team but i would play Marshall there personal

[roversfan99]

Why would you drop Judge if he was one of our better players for Marshall who has done nothing to date? Sends out the wrong message. Judge is technically better as he showed with a lovely deft touch after receiving the ball from Cairney last week, his shot was saved but the turn was brilliant and opened Blackpool up.

I'd go:

Kean

Henley Dann Kilgallon Spurr

Lowe Cairney

Judge Dunn King

Rhodes

Subs: Eastwood, Best, Marshall, Taylor, Etuhu, Williamson, Kane.

[Mike E]

Why would you drop Judge if he was one of our better players for Marshall who has done nothing to date? Sends out the wrong message. Judge is technically better as he showed with a lovely deft touch after receiving the ball from Cairney last week, his shot was saved but the turn was brilliant and opened Blackpool up.

I'd go:

Kean

Kane Dann Kilgallon Spurr

Lowe Cairney

Taylor Judge King

Rhodes

Subs: Eastwood, Best, Marshall, Dunn, Etuhu, Williamson, Henley.

If all were fit, brilliant. But accounting for injury I'd go with these subtle changes.

I'd change personnel to your bag IF we need to change the game or are winning by a 2 goal margin, simply to grant game-time. Both are a tad brittle so I'd be careful regarding their first competitive matches in a while.

That being said, if Bowyer picks your line-up I'd be on tenterhooks with anticipation as it's near as dammit our best side (only missing Rochina and Hanley).

[roversfan99]

Also missing Evans and Robinson from what I would consider our best team. But both are long term absentees.

I agree that both of the changes you made would be fine, Dunn and Henley are both players that need looking after.

I think if Dunn isn't a starter, I would maybe go with Cairney right and Williamson in central midfield as Cairney plays well on the right, however that may be a bit defensive. I would definitely pick Taylor over Marshall as he has shown much more in his appearances.

[chaddyrovers]

Why would you drop Judge if he was one of our better players for Marshall who has done nothing to date? Sends out the wrong message. Judge is technically better as he showed with a lovely deft touch after receiving the ball from Cairney last week, his shot was saved but the turn was brilliant and opened Blackpool up.

I'd go:

Kean

Henley Dann Kilgallon Spurr

Lowe Cairney

Judge Dunn King

Rhodes

Subs: Eastwood, Best, Marshall, Taylor, Etuhu, Williamson, Kane.

Marshall is better player than Judge IMO. we need the confidence Marshall back for us. thought we were getting there after his Watford game performance from the bench. he used his skill and pace against the Watford defenders

also we cant be rushing Dunn or Henley back from injury. don't know why you want they rush back so quickly!!! they need to be slowly introduce into the first team games otherwise they will be injury again!

[darrenrover]

With opposing teams generally only playing one up front, I'd play 3 - 5 - 2 at Ewood. The formation may also best suit us in terms of players available.

We have to take the initiative at home, stop fannying about, throw a marker down and go for 3 points with conviction!

COYB!

[chaddyrovers]

With opposing teams generally only playing one up front, I'd play 3 - 5 - 2 at Ewood. The formation may also best suit us in terms of players available.

We have to take the initiative at home, stop fannying about, throw a marker down and go for 3 points with conviction!

COYB!

why do we need 3 centre backs against 1 striker for???

our best formation in my view is 4-2-3-1 and using our attacking players like King, Dunn, etc

personal think for too much is made of Formation in football these days