* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Millwall Match-Day Thread *

Giles omission is a strange one for me.

Bola playing left wing back?

Millwall score a lot from set pieces maybe that has had a bearing. Myself I would still have started with Giles.

Good to see Lenihan in for this type of game.

For me Dijksteel and Jones was a close call I would not have played both of them and the management team have thought the same.

Smith and Clarke not in the squad - probably good to get Hoppe involved in some capacity to make him feel a little loved.
 
Badonde said:
Looks like we are trying to get last season's winning formation back.
5 at the back
ie, one attacking wing-back (Jones)
Bola seen as better defensively than Giles.
Click to expand...
I spoke about this earlier in the season. I like Giles, and it goes without saying that he offers us more of an attacking threat than Bola and Neil Taylor, but I do feel having him at LWB has been a factor as to why we've looked more defensively fragile than we did last season.

We don't know what formation the new manager will choose to go with, but if we're sticking with this formation for now then in some ways I think it makes sense to go with Bola when we're playing away from home, and Giles for the home games. Maybe this is Leo's thinking.
 
I just think playing two attacking wingback was leaving us too exposed and it makes sense to start either Jones or Giles from start and have options from bench to go either more attacking or more defensive during game. Big call but one I can understand.
 
Starting to think we should contemplate 4 at the back.
My thinking being that Jones/Giles could both start but operating higher up the pitch only.
The good thing is that they could both be expected to do a bit of defensive duties versus traditional 'wingers' who seem to have dropped out of the game.

If we did move to a 'four' who would we pick?
I think perhaps long-term Clarke (left) and Fry (right) as centre backs
(expecting pelters for Clarke but I'd expect him to perform better in a more specifically defensive role).
McNair or Smith as right back.
Bola as left back.

Lenihan needs to be squeezed in somewhere I guess - but always need quality CB cover
 
TheWolfman said:
Disagree with that he actually made it look easy getting to the by line numerous times. Maybe his final ball was poor but did well and was excellent defensively.
Click to expand...
He was OK defensively, if you ignore the silly backpass! His delivery into the box was woeful and he didn't seem confident crossing. He really wasn't very good as a wing back.
 
Badonde said:
Starting to think we should contemplate 4 at the back.
My thinking being that Jones/Giles could both start but operating higher up the pitch only.
The good thing is that they could both be expected to do a bit of defensive duties versus traditional 'wingers' who seem to have dropped out of the game.

If we did move to a 'four' who would we pick?
I think perhaps long-term Clarke (left) and Fry (right) as centre backs
(expecting pelters for Clarke but I'd expect him to perform better in a more specifically defensive role).
McNair or Smith as right back.
Bola as left back.

Lenihan needs to be squeezed in somewhere I guess - but always need quality CB cover
Click to expand...
If we did play a 4, Dijksteel would be nailed on at RB.
 
The Wall Starting Line-up:

1665235524828.png

Zian Flemming [pictured above] got MOTM on Wednesday and featured in the EFL Team of The Week [for what its worth].

Captain Shaun Hutchinson is 31 and the big no-nonsense type centre back. Incidently, he was born in Newcastle and played for Walls End Boys Club as a lad.
index.jpg

Jake Cooper has a strong partnership with Hutchinson and plays alongside him.
Expect a few hard tackles this afternoon!
1665235927245.png
 
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