[jjamez]

Neil Warnocks Middlesbrough side play host to one of the countless former teams he has managed as they welcome an imploding Huddersfield to the Riverside stadium as they look to put ends to a poor run of form that has seen them drop out of the playoff places. Talking of bad form, Huddersfield too are in dreadful form and have yet to win in 2021, whilst Boro have won just twice, on the 2nd against Towns recent conquerors Wycombe and on the  20th away yet again against Nottingham Forest.

Following their win against Wycombe, Boro headed to the capital to face Brentford in the FA cup but lost 2-1 thanks to goals from Halil Dervisoglu and Saman Ghoddos, Sam Folarin got the goal for Warnock's side, who claimed to be without 50% of their usual first team, or half to you and me. A week later and the Riverside dwelling side welcomed the return of a former boss in the shape of Aitor Karanka, who guided them to the Premier League in 2016, before being sacked a year later, it was the lst tume they reached the promised land. He's now at relegation threatened Birmingham, but was able to come out on top thanks to the solitary goal from former Villa forward Scott Hogan. After playing Forest, Boro hosted another former manager in the form of Tony Mowbray, the man Karanka had replaced, and he too came out on top by 1 goal to nil, Joe Rothwell grabbing the goal for Rovers, although the game was marred by controversy as Boro defender Dael Fry was on the receiving end of a high boot from Jarred Branthwaite, which saw the Boro man needing stitches  to his head and Warnock claiming he as close to losing an eye. Having seen the incident myself, it didn't look good from the Rovers man and Boro probably should have been awarded a penalty and I probably agree with Warnock in that Branthwaite should have seen red for the dangerous challenge.



A resurgent Rotherham side was next to visit the Riverside and Warnocks old team found themselves running out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals from former Town player Matt Crooks, Michael Smith and Ryan Giles before Boro travelled down to table topping Norwich. In what was a turgid game, the two sides played out a 0-0 with Norwich seeing star man Emi Buendia sent off for two yellow cards, the Canaries failed to register a single shot on target (we're used to that) and dropped their first points of 2021. Next up for Boro was another promotion chasing side in Brentford. Boro took the lead in the opening minutes thanks to a David Raya own goal, but that proved to be the stick that poked the bees nest, as Brentford put their foot on the gas and bagged 4. Ivan Toney bagged a brace, with Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen grabbing the other two. Last time out it was a trip to a steadily ascending Derby County, now managed by Wayne Rooney, the rams took the lead through reported Town target Lee Gregory and journeyman striker Colin Kazim Richards. Boro hit back through Fulham loanee Neeskens Kebano, but were unable to grab the equalising goal.



In terms of leading performers, Duncan Watmore shares the leading scorer tag with Britt Assombalonga on 5 goals. Watmore came in part way through the season on a free transfer after leaving Sunderland and has only made 15 appearances for Boro. Assombalonga meanwhile has made 27 appearances for the club this season and will more than likely lead the line again on Tuesday night. Marvin Johnson, George Saville and Chuba Akpom all have 4 goals with Marcus Tavernier having 3. With regards to assists, Johnson leads the way on 5, with Saville, Tavernier and McNair all on 4.



In comparison, Town still see the injured Josh Koroma leading the way on 6, Flip Flop Campbell on 5, with Naby Sarr and Isaac Mbenza both on 4. Carel Eiting and Bacuna both have 3 goals this season. Mbenza leads the way on assists with 7, whilst Toffolo has 5 and Bacuna and Eiting both have 3.

Boro were quite busy in the January transfer window, welcoming 5 players to Teeside. First through the door was drug shamed player and former Warnockite Nathaniel Mendez Laing, he was sacked by Cardiff for failing a drugs test, with it coming out this week that it is the second time he has been banned for the use of cocaine. Taken from the Beeb- UK Anti-Doping confirmed Mendez-Laing is free to resume playing. Its judgement also revealed Mendez-Laing had already served a ban for taking cocaine in 2019. Mendez-Laing provided an out-of-competition urine sample to Ukad officials on 9 December 2019, which found the presence of cocaine. The player was provisionally suspended on 7 February 2020, and was charged with a breach of the FA's social drugs policy on 21 April 2020. He received a three-month ban that was backdated and he became free to play again in May 2020. Mendez-Laing's second positive test came on 4 July 2020, after a match against Bristol City. The player admitted to taking cocaine at 10pm the night before.

Next through the door was full back Darnell Fisher from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee with Kebano and Yannick Bolasie both joining on loan from Premier League sides Fulham and Everton. Finally former Fulham goalkeeper joined on a free transfer from Motherwell.

Moving away from teeside was Lewis Wing, who left to join Rovrum on loan, whilst Patrick Roberts saw his loan terminated so he could move down to Derby from Manchester City, whilst striker and defender Stephen Walker and son of town goalkeeping coach Paul Clements, Nathan Wood both left to join Crewe on loan. Meanwhile, goalkeepers Tomas Mejias and Dejan Stojanovic both left the club to join Ankaraspor and St Pauli respectively.



Head to head makes grim reading for Town fans, with the side losing 42 times against the Teesiders, winning 33 and drawing 20. Last time out saw Town win (remember that feeling?) 3-2, Johnson opened the scoring for the visitors before Carel Eiting equalised. Campbell shanked a goal on the stroke of half time, before Assombalonga won a soft penalty for Boro and converted it in the 83rd minute. Josh Koroma would go down the other end and score the winner for Town in the 85th minute. The last time Town won away at Boro you'd have to travel back to 1986 and Ayresome Park for a 1-0 win. Since then Town have picked up just the 1 point away from home back in October 2013, where a James Vaughan striker was cancelled out by Ben Gibson. So will it be a turn up for the books?

Message from the managers

"It's positive to have games coming fast. We want to play again and change the feeling from the last game. We continue with the same squad and same players."

"The game against Middlesbrough will be similar to before. They have the same style as when we played them earlier this season. We don't have the best dynamic, but we continue believing in what makes us strong in the games."

"Danny Ward is unavailable. Jaden Brown trained yesterday and will today. If it goes well, he will be in the list of players to go to the game. Richard Stearman isn't fit to start. He will train today, but I don't think his situation will change much."

"I always want my team to have a strong mind and to have a lot of personality and character. We talk to the players about the character they need. It's important to try and compensate for the impact of the results on the level of the players."

"I'm not living the games in a different way. I was totally prepared to face this type of dynamic. I knew it could happen, especially if we face the same type of adversity we are facing. I am focused on facing this moment."

"I expect to have a very competitive game tomorrow. They are physically very strong and have a clear idea on how to defend. They use the skills of the players they have and use the wingers to unbalance the game."

"Everything we do this year will depend on us. We have to be focused on us. We need to have more confidence in ourselves, be brave, be stronger in defence. We can only focus game-by-game."

Warnock- https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/team-news-upd...er-and-fry

Team news

Town remain without the usual suspects in the form of Koroma, Schindler, Eiting and Aarons and of course Danny Ward, whilst Stearman is back, but apparently not fit to start? surely if you are fit to be on the bench, you can play, especially with 5 subs being available to use. Jaden Brown could feature at left back, meaning Lewis O'brien will be able to move into his more favoured midfield berth. Otherwise it appears to be as you were for Town. Will Carlos make any changes for tomorrow though? Hopefully.

As for Middlesbrough they appear to be without Bolasie and Tavernier for tomorrow, whilst Dael Fry will also miss out, so it would appear that it is as you were again for Boro too

Played for both

There has been a few to have played for Town and Boro in the recent past

Notably Blue beard Adam Clayton, who left Town to join Boro back in 2014 and spent 6 years there before moving on to the Blues of Birmingham.



but who else?

1) Versatile defender who spent 3 years at Town, making 54 appearances, he left to join Boro on a short term deal and made 9 appearances before sharpening up in Sheffield before being deemed mad as a hatter

2) Spent 3 years at town and was infuriating at the best of times with his ability and also failure to deliver on that ability. Spent time at Boro on loan but only made 3 appearances before moving away onto the continent as a journeyman.

3) Scored 6 times in a brief spell at Boro, before joining Wednesday on loan. Played for Town in his early career before earning a move to a bigger club (at the time) Is still looking for his goalscoring boots

4) Played 3 times for Boro during a 3 year stay. During that stay he was loaned out to both Fulham and town where he made 17 and 11 appearances respectively. Has spent the last 3 years playing by the beach.

5) Another who had a loan spell at Town where he made 15 appearances and scored 3 goals. His loan never got made permanent and he rocked up at Leeds also on loan making 12 appearances, before leaving Boro after a 4 year stay. Now resides in the Turkish second tier.

6) A hard hitting midfielder who spent 2 years at Boro and 5 years at Town before moving down to league 1. Made 1 appearance less for Town than at Boro, and also scored one goal less at Town than for Boro too, but was hardly known for his goalscoring touch

7) Made 3 appearances for Boro in a 2 year stay and no appearances for Town. Lists Blackburn as another employer of his, but made the most of his career appearances at Shrewsbury

Auntie Grams

1) Lurching Boa

2) Vibes Go Nest

3) Mom Ill In Waist

4) Oracles Gem Leg

5) Boob Trimmer

6) Honorary Tile


Initiate Operation Freefall

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, jjamez.

No chance of anything but defeat tonight. I've even put us down to lose in the prediction league for the first time this season.

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1. Crops up at every club we play. Martin Cranie.

[ritchiebaby]

Now I don't know what attracted me to this one , but

Auntie Gram No 5 is Bob Mortimer

[jjamez]

Now I don't know what attracted me to this one   , but

Auntie Gram No 5 is Bob Mortimer

Yeah as soon as I saw that as an option, there was no stopping me

[Lord Snooty]

Annie Gram 2. Steve Gibson

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Anagrams

1. Brian Clough

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2. Steve Gibson

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3. Tim Williamson

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Stuck now. Already seen the Bob Mortimer answer.

[Lord Snooty]

3. Jordi Rhodes
6. Dean Whitehead

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"You're gonna need balls this big to take this job on, Philip."

[Amelia Chaffinch]

I think Phil's asking Dean if the problem with his hands is to do with his illness. But it turned out he got RSI from counting his gold.

[Lord Snooty]

One change. Pritchard in for Vallejo. Can't understand that. We're creaking in defence, so we bring another dwarf in. I like Vallejo. He plays some decent passes, covers well in defence and as we saw at Bristol, he can shoot. Pritchard and Holmes are too similar.

[jjamez]

Too similar meaning shite?

I hope to god we don't see hogg playing at right back