MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Sutekh » 24 Apr 2019 15:21




When : Saturday, 27th April, 3pm
Where : Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS
Capacity : 35,100
Away Stand : East Stand near the SE corner
Which former players might I see in the area : John Craggs, Alan Foggon, Jim Platt, Peter Creamer

And so with the job all but mathematically done, Reading will drag themselves away from home for the final time and on up the M1 and A19 for one of, if not the, longest trek of the season.

Quite rightly the club will approach it professionally as they will want to try and earn the point that secures the mathematics under their own steam and of course they have a duty to other play off hopefuls to try and stop the ‘boro rather than experimenting for next season.

Middlesbrough are just a bit inconsistent at the moment having followed up 6 successive defeats in the league with 3 successive wins and then another defeat at an equally “flakey” Nottingham Forest. However their earlier season good form has seen them not drift too far from the play off positions despite their apparent recent downturn in fortune and so they still have a reasonable sniff of snatching 6th place.

Dael Fry and Daniel Ayala will be out for the rest of ‘boro’s season. In addition George Friend will also be an absentee all of which will weaken ‘boro defensively. This news is helpful as Reading have serious problems posing any threat up front following yet more injury pain with Oliveira and Meite probably out for the rest of the season with hamstring problems. Blackett also has a problem after the WBA draw but no information on how serious that problem is.

This game is likely to be a dull, dour low scoring affair as Middlesbrough have only managed 21 goals from 22 league games at home and only relegated Ipswich and Bolton fair worse. However while that looks pretty naff it should noted that Middlesbrough do actually have the best defensive home record having conceded only 16 goals.

As the last away league game of the season I believe this trip doubles up as inflatable day so don’t forget your blow up things though how good the turn out will be given the extortionate £30 asking price for an adult. Perhaps we should make the Birmingham game an inflatable day instead.

Referee

It’s the turn of Johnny Brooks to take up the whistle again. Things are at least on the up with him as last time out Reading actually managed to avoid defeat.



Previously

09 Feb 19 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Reading
26 Jan 18 > Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading (FA Cup 4)
23 Dec 17 > Reading 1-2 Burton Albion

Historically

League games with Middlesbrough stretch back all the way to 1927 but they are a bit rare with only 15 played in Middlesbrough to date. Of those 15 Reading haven't done too badly by recording 4 wins to 'boro's 7 however Reading have conceded twice as many as Middlesbrough (24 to 12) in that time.

Since 'boro moved to the Riverside Reading have visited on 9 occasions and won 3 but have lost 6 so the suggestion is there won't be any sitting on the fence and one side or the other will run out winners. Additionally there should be goals about as the only draw at the Riverside was 1-1.

So 0-0 it is then.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use an iFollow subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Old Man Andrews » 24 Apr 2019 15:22

Johnny Brooks will stitch us up, can see it a mile off.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 24 Apr 2019 15:39

They sound in a bit of a state to be honest. Very unhappy with Pulis and how the season has gone

3 shots on goal in the entire match against Forest (who slightly bizarrely were rumoured to be sacking O’Neill if they lost) speaks volumes

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 09:25

Reckon we’ll go

Martinez
Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
McIntyre
Gunter
Baker
Ejaria
Rino
Barrow
Baldock

Walker, Osho, Ezatolahi, Loader, McCleary, Harriott, Bod

Few interesting decisions to make - if Eza is fully fit, then he could come in for McIntyre. Loader may well start instead of Baldock

If Eza isn’t in, can assume he won’t sign for us

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by NewCorkSeth » 25 Apr 2019 09:56

-------------------Martinez
Yiadom---Miazga---Moore---Richards
-------------------Ezatolahi
----------Rinomhota-----Baker
McCleary--------------------------Ejaria
--------------------Barrow

It's a Pulis team so I guess we should try fast counter attacks with low crossing into the box and plenty of long balls for Barrow to chase.
Last edited by NewCorkSeth on 25 Apr 2019 14:22, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Nameless » 25 Apr 2019 10:31

Hound
Few interesting decisions to make - if Eza is fully fit, then he could come in for McIntyre. Loader may well start instead of Baldock

If Eza isn’t in, can assume he won’t sign for us


He's played half an U23 game in 6 months, would be making a huge assumption about his future to judge it on whether he makes the bench for a long trip to Boro or not !
Would be amazed if we changed our formation to fit in a player who definitely won't be match fit...

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 10:49

do you reckon he isn't playing any games in training then?

Baldock also has only played half a u23 match in months. So will he not play? Gunter barely played until Norwich, and then got thrown in. Bod hasn't had anytime in the U23. Also not playing? Players just don't play reserve games any more to get match fit. I'm sure he'll be fit enough to play if needed

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by URZZZZ » 25 Apr 2019 10:57

Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Gunter

Baker
Rino

McCleary
Loader
Barrow

Baldock

Let some play for their futures, McCleary, baldock, Gunter etc, see if it’s worth keeping them on next year and then give Harriott and bod a go from the bench as well

Harsh as it seems, if the loanees have no chance of returning and Gomes knows this, there’s no point of playing them now

Loader in, hopefully now the pressure is off he can start to deliver. Not really the greatest fan of ejaria anyway

Not sure if Blackett or meite are fit but it seems unlikely

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Denver Royal » 25 Apr 2019 11:16

URZZZZ Let some play for their futures, McCleary, baldock, Gunter etc, see if it’s worth keeping them on next year and then give Harriott and bod a go from the bench as well

Harsh as it seems, if the loanees have no chance of returning and Gomes knows this, there’s no point of playing them now

Yep, of the loanees, depending on who and who doesn't play in the final 2 games, it may possibly give us an indicator as to their likelihood of re-signing here. Assuming that Gomes is 'in the know', as you say.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Victor Meldrew » 25 Apr 2019 11:36

Sutekh,
Thanks for putting up the photo of our Johnny Brooks.
Having played for us he also played for Chelsea, Spurs and England.
His time at Reading was so long ago even I never saw him play but had the pleasure of getting to meet him and his daughter after they moved to live in Bournemouth (his mother used to live in the road opposite Battle Hospital).
John died about three years ago but managed to play golf until late on off a handicap IIRC of 10.

His son Shaun (also born in Reading) I know quite well and I hoped that he might have played for Reading-a good, ball-playing midfielder who wasted his time playing for the likes of Palace, Orient and Bournemouth and who has in recent years been active in non-league football management down this way.

Shaun has a son, Callum who was not as successful as a player but is doing well as manager of Dorchester Town.
That is the Brooks dynasty at the moment.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 11:43

Gomes will treat this the same as the last match. Very much doubt he'll pick anything other than the best team available until we are mathematically safe

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by NewCorkSeth » 25 Apr 2019 11:47

Hound Gomes will treat this the same as the last match. Very much doubt he'll pick anything other than the best team available until we are mathematically safe

I reckon so too. Gomes wants to win. You can see it in his interviews. The guy wants to be a champion.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 11:52

also have to think how much better coming 18th with 52 points would be than 4th bottom with 46

Ok, we'll be in the chump next year either way, but only have to look at last season to see how a poor end to the season can drag onto the year after.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by RoyalBlue » 25 Apr 2019 13:53

URZZZZ Martinez

Yiadom
Moore
Miazga
Gunter

Baker
Rino

McCleary
Loader
Barrow

Baldock

Let some play for their futures, McCleary, baldock, Gunter etc, see if it’s worth keeping them on next year and then give Harriott and bod a go from the bench as well

Harsh as it seems, if the loanees have no chance of returning and Gomes knows this, there’s no point of playing them now



Only Gomes has made it abundantly clear that the job is not yet done. Therefore, expect him to play his strongest possible team, including loanees, as he looks to get at least a point from the game.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 13:54

Gomes' confirms that Oliveira, Meite and Blackett all out for the season. Bod possibly fit for Brum but not Saturday

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Royals and Racers » 25 Apr 2019 14:30

Think we are likely to know more about who is likely to replace the injured players at 6 pm tomorrow evening when the U23 team is announced for the vital game at Stoke that evening.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Emmer Green Royal » 25 Apr 2019 14:33

[quote="Victor Meldrew"]Sutekh,
Thanks for putting up the photo of our Johnny Brooks.
Having played for us he also played for Chelsea, Spurs and England.
His time at Reading was so long ago even I never saw him play but had the pleasure of getting to meet him and his daughter after they moved to live in Bournemouth (his mother used to live in the road opposite Battle Hospital).
John died about three years ago but managed to play golf until late on off a handicap IIRC of 10.

His son Shaun (also born in Reading) I know quite well and I hoped that he might have played for Reading-a good, ball-playing midfielder who wasted his time playing for the likes of Palace, Orient and Bournemouth and who has in recent years been active in non-league football management down this way.

Shaun has a son, Callum who was not as successful as a player but is doing well as manager of Dorchester Town.
That is the Brooks dynasty at the moment.[/quote]

The very last game played at Elm Park was between the HobNob team and ex-Reading players. If my memory is correct, the last kick of the game was a Johnny Brooks penalty that I saved.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Hound » 25 Apr 2019 15:08

Royals and Racers Think we are likely to know more about who is likely to replace the injured players at 6 pm tomorrow evening when the U23 team is announced for the vital game at Stoke that evening.


hmm, considering the position of the U23, wonder whether they'd even slightly consider prioritising it a little, and letting them have Loader, Ezatolohi etc

Assuming not, but its an interesting situation

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by John Smith » 25 Apr 2019 15:11

NewCorkSeth
Hound Gomes will treat this the same as the last match. Very much doubt he'll pick anything other than the best team available until we are mathematically safe

I reckon so too. Gomes wants to win. You can see it in his interviews. The guy wants to be a champion.

We are going into this game to win and we are going to absolutely smash Boro. Even their fans can't stand their situation - they're going out with a whimper - think of them like a Derby of a few seasons back when we went and battered them as well. History will repeat itself and Sam Baldock will be the Kwesi Appiah of this season.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (a) sponsored by Jordan Holsgrove's dad

by Royals and Racers » 25 Apr 2019 15:12

Hound
Royals and Racers Think we are likely to know more about who is likely to replace the injured players at 6 pm tomorrow evening when the U23 team is announced for the vital game at Stoke that evening.


hmm, considering the position of the U23, wonder whether they'd even slightly consider prioritising it a little, and letting them have Loader, Ezatolohi etc

Assuming not, but its an interesting situation

Pretty sure they wouldn`t but could they play 1 or 2 tomorrow and also be on the bench on Saturday !!

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