r00fie1
Well-known member
Its that time again [For the last time this League Season] >>>>
It feels like a decade ago when we came away from the Coventry Arena after a 1-0 defeat on 1st October 2022. It was a case of bewilderment, frustration and feeling completely dejected at our team`s abject display against a Sky Blues side, struggling at the bottom of the Championship on six points from eight games (!). They say every cloud has a silver-lining and thankfully [though we didnt realise at the time], it was the start of a new beginning: a time to regroup, reorganise and reassess where we were as a team. We started the season off with high hopes, but expectations dipped as the team was outplayed and results plummeted alarmingly. We fell to a Gyokeres (?) goal in the 17th minute and were lucky it wasnt a massacre by the final whistle. Thankfully, Wilder was sacked on the Monday and we thanked Steve Gibson for that!
Starting Line-Up:
Boro.
Steffen,
Djiksteel, Fry, Clarke.
Smith, Crooks, Howson, Mowatt, Bola.
Watmore, Muniz.
Subs: Jones, Giles, McGree, McNair, Forss, Roberts , Akpom.
Coventry.
Wilson,
Doyle, McFadzean, Panzo.
Dabo, Allen, Palmer, Sheaf, Bidwell.
Gyokeres, Godden.
Subs: Moore, Rose, Waghorn, Walker, Kane, Eccles, Desiderio.
Championship on October 1st after our defeat to Coventry:
Leo came in to steady the ship, applying the brakes and bringing an end to the stream of dreadful results. The 4-1 away win at Wigan was one of Leo`s successes in his short time at the helm. The bringing on of Haydn Hackney - who scored his first senior goal - was a master stroke. It wasnt easy trying to turn things around. One thing Leo brought back for us fans was hope. Its one of things which is key to a successful club. It meant we could dare to dream [this is Boro you know] and believe we could move forward and head up the league table. Little did we realise [or even imagine] at the time, that our whole world was going to be turned upside down.
Had anyone told us, we would have a rookie Head Coach, take us up into a position where we stayed on the tail of the automatic promotion spot in third place. Then end up in the play-offs looking at less than a few hours play to a Wembley Final and the Premiership - we would have laughed it off as a fairy tale!
Michael Carrick says he is going to treat Coventry with the respect they deserve and approach the match "just like any other game". He said in his recent Media Conference that this is a league match and he has no preference who we face in the play-offs. For him, "whatever-happens, happens". He also hinted at certain players in the Coventry squad whom he described as "dangerous" and commented how Boro staff are well "aware" of their main threats. In front of a packed house we have the opportunity to recognise Carrick, his staff and the players achievements - so far. The next few weeks is going to decide whether its going to be Plymouth on a wet Wednesday night in February or a local "derby" against the Skunks at The Riverside on Boxing Day!
Lately, its not been an easy watch for the last few games, considering the Captain`s Fare we have been served since the beginning of November. But Carrick repeated this week what he said last: its not just about results, but about performances and players knowing they have done what they are capable of. Injuries have certainly played their part, but Carrick is not a man to make excuses or throw players "under the bus". For him, we look forward together as a team, a club and as fans. He wants us to make as much noise as we can and give the boys that extra boost to drive them on. He`s not concerned who we may or may not meet in the play-off. Its about today and doing our best.
Now is the time, more than any other time this season, to get behind the team - like we have done home and away all season - and get this team over the line. We want to win the semi final [against who knows]. We want to have a good day out at Wembley and come away with a win! If someone told you we could be in the Prem next season?!
"Yerjokinarenya!"
Up The Mighty Boro!
Starting Line-Up:
Boro.
Steffen,
Djiksteel, Fry, Clarke.
Smith, Crooks, Howson, Mowatt, Bola.
Watmore, Muniz.
Subs: Jones, Giles, McGree, McNair, Forss, Roberts , Akpom.
Coventry.
Wilson,
Doyle, McFadzean, Panzo.
Dabo, Allen, Palmer, Sheaf, Bidwell.
Gyokeres, Godden.
Subs: Moore, Rose, Waghorn, Walker, Kane, Eccles, Desiderio.
Championship on October 1st after our defeat to Coventry:
Leo came in to steady the ship, applying the brakes and bringing an end to the stream of dreadful results. The 4-1 away win at Wigan was one of Leo`s successes in his short time at the helm. The bringing on of Haydn Hackney - who scored his first senior goal - was a master stroke. It wasnt easy trying to turn things around. One thing Leo brought back for us fans was hope. Its one of things which is key to a successful club. It meant we could dare to dream [this is Boro you know] and believe we could move forward and head up the league table. Little did we realise [or even imagine] at the time, that our whole world was going to be turned upside down.
Had anyone told us, we would have a rookie Head Coach, take us up into a position where we stayed on the tail of the automatic promotion spot in third place. Then end up in the play-offs looking at less than a few hours play to a Wembley Final and the Premiership - we would have laughed it off as a fairy tale!
Michael Carrick says he is going to treat Coventry with the respect they deserve and approach the match "just like any other game". He said in his recent Media Conference that this is a league match and he has no preference who we face in the play-offs. For him, "whatever-happens, happens". He also hinted at certain players in the Coventry squad whom he described as "dangerous" and commented how Boro staff are well "aware" of their main threats. In front of a packed house we have the opportunity to recognise Carrick, his staff and the players achievements - so far. The next few weeks is going to decide whether its going to be Plymouth on a wet Wednesday night in February or a local "derby" against the Skunks at The Riverside on Boxing Day!
Lately, its not been an easy watch for the last few games, considering the Captain`s Fare we have been served since the beginning of November. But Carrick repeated this week what he said last: its not just about results, but about performances and players knowing they have done what they are capable of. Injuries have certainly played their part, but Carrick is not a man to make excuses or throw players "under the bus". For him, we look forward together as a team, a club and as fans. He wants us to make as much noise as we can and give the boys that extra boost to drive them on. He`s not concerned who we may or may not meet in the play-off. Its about today and doing our best.
Now is the time, more than any other time this season, to get behind the team - like we have done home and away all season - and get this team over the line. We want to win the semi final [against who knows]. We want to have a good day out at Wembley and come away with a win! If someone told you we could be in the Prem next season?!
"Yerjokinarenya!"
Up The Mighty Boro!
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