It shouldn't be understated that Middlesboro is a tough place to go especially as winter sets in. A biting cold easterly wind off the North Sea can decide the men from the boys, today we showed character to not only play to our potential but also dig in deep when required to do so. A big three points with the added pleasure of knocking the Scousers back where they belong.

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by charierre

Great result today. Always hate playing up in the Northeast where for whatever reason we always struggle to come away with anything, so today was a massive result for me. I just can't believe the transition from that first half performance at Arsenal to what we have been watching ever since!! simply incredible. Two toughies coming up now, but with the wind in our sails and a fair sea in front of us, we should be looking for at least 4 out of 6 ? here's hoping !!! 

Great to come away with 3 points. I just knew it would be a tough game. 

They at times defended with 6, which made it very difficult. Overall we manged to grind it out. Even though i thought we looked rusty probably after the break.

now lets do spurs at home

8 minutes ago, Fansince65 said:

Great result today. Always hate playing up in the Northeast where for whatever reason we always struggle to come away with anything, so today was a massive result for me. I just can't believe the transition from that first half performance at Arsenal to what we have been watching ever since!! simply incredible. Two toughies coming up now, but with the wind in our sails and a fair sea in front of us, we should be looking for at least 4 out of 6 ? here's hoping !!! 

Newcastle granted but our record at Sunderland (despite last two) and Boro (2006 double defeats aside) in Roman era is pretty immaculate.

15 minutes ago, Fansince65 said:

Great result today. Always hate playing up in the Northeast where for whatever reason we always struggle to come away with anything, so today was a massive result for me. I just can't believe the transition from that first half performance at Arsenal to what we have been watching ever since!! simply incredible. Two toughies coming up now, but with the wind in our sails and a fair sea in front of us, we should be looking for at least 4 out of 6 ? here's hoping !!! 

 

The next two weeks will be a climb but I have faith. Also, it's great that City are playing more games than us in that span.

Conte said we should have scored more. 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Last 6 games..

P6 W6 D0 L0 F17 A0

That's ridiculous.

Sending a message loud and clear. Fantastic run of form.

We should have scored more, Pedro missed some great chances

Our first 11 is so set in stone now I really think we should get in the mix in January to make sure we have suitable replacements/competition. 

f**k it feels good to be top....

14 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Our first 11 is so set in stone now I really think we should get in the mix in January to make sure we have suitable replacements/competition. 

I think we have used the same 11 enough, we should start mixing it up with willian cesc Michy and Osca.  It will be a nightmare when Costa, Moses or Hazard gets injured.  But above all - Luiz please god Luiz should never get injured

1 hour ago, dkw said:

P6 W6 D0 L0 F17 A0

 

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by havelschayes

13 minutes ago, dhidza said:

I think we have used the same 11 enough, we should start mixing it up with willian cesc Michy and Osca.  It will be a nightmare when Costa, Moses or Hazard gets injured.  But above all - Luiz please god Luiz should never get injured

Why change a winning team? If they get injured then fine we change it but why change now when everything's going well? The players aren't gonna get tired either because they only play once a week. Lack of Europe is a huge advantage and we should exploit it to the fullest and not waste it.

 

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by Ivanov87

I think Tibo deserves a shout out for doing nothing much for 75 minutes and then pulling off a terrific stop to deny Negredo a late equaliser.

 

he's been criticised in the past for his concentration but that was mighty impressive.

16 minutes ago, dhidza said:

I think we have used the same 11 enough, we should start mixing it up with willian cesc Michy and Osca.  It will be a nightmare when Costa, Moses or Hazard gets injured.  But above all - Luiz please god Luiz should never get injured

We did in the EFL Cup, didn't go too well - would prefer to play a winning team and only change weak links, one (two if pushed) new player at a time if anyone is unable to play. Agree on making sure we have suitable replacements/competition though. 

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by nutmegsw6

3 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Am I right in thinking we'll lose Moses to ACON in January?

Nigeria didn't qualify.

 

in the circumstances (i.e. an away game against a tough defensive side after an international break), I couldn't ask for much more than that.

the defensive organisation was good, the fluency going forwards was still present and the game was managed well. no suspensions or injuries and another clean sheet. can't ask for much more than that. we created some really clear chances and on another day the result would've been more emphatic, and that isn't easy against boro. I watched their matches against city and arsenal and they both struggled in that department.

7 minutes ago, 1905 said:

Nigeria didn't qualify.

 

Someone said but thanks mate, it's good news 

35 minutes ago, nutmegsw6 said:

We did in the EFL Cup, didn't go too well - would prefer to play a winning team and only change weak links, one (two if pushed) new player at a time if anyone is unable to play. Agree on making sure we have suitable replacements/competition though. 

I'm not one to be changing a winning 11 but it's only a matter of time and teams will start to figure us out, so a bit of variation is good to keep opposition guessing, that's all I meant!!  We have a busy period coming soon over Xmas and we definitely need a good bench to go through this period.  It's the long game I'm looking at and we definitely need to have a plan B.  Happy with the 3 points though!

1 hour ago, dhidza said:

I think we have used the same 11 enough, we should start mixing it up with willian cesc Michy and Osca.

 

Yeah, maybe change the manager too.

46 minutes ago, dhidza said:

I'm not one to be changing a winning 11 but it's only a matter of time and teams will start to figure us out, so a bit of variation is good to keep opposition guessing, that's all I meant!!  We have a busy period coming soon over Xmas and we definitely need a good bench to go through this period.  It's the long game I'm looking at and we definitely need to have a plan B.  Happy with the 3 points though!

Don't worry we're gonna be just fine....keep the faith...

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by BelgradeCFC

I had doubt about this game, never know what the International break could do to the team. I thought we were about 80% of the team played Everton, never really go for the kill, but great to have the 3 points. Considering both Arsenal and City dropped points against Boro, that's a huge 2 points gained over them. This is probably the 3rd 4th point Costa scored from the corner, he's just very clever and confuse the crap out of the defenders with his movement. Pedro justified his selection despite not scoring, he's most likely goal scorer this game. Given a full week rest, I expect a much better performance against the Spurs. Now we are top of the league, although I don't expect us to stay on top from now to May, it's been hell of a transformation in the last 2 months.

5 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

We have been living dangerously all game. I don't know what is up with us, but we are a yard slower all over compared to what we was like against Everton.

Put that down to the international break...always hard for players to click right away after travelling all over the place...in many ways, this was a more pleasing win than the routs of a few weeks ago...we tend to struggle in the north east and we weren't at our best again, although some moves were still of the highest quality, and yet we still won the game...deservedly so in my opinion...for all their huffing and puffing, Thibaut only had one save to make

Edited November 20, 20169 yr by The Brit

Not at our best but we did enough and Borough don't offer much going forward.

Everyone a bit off their game today, not surprising after the international break and like we said we can't play like we did against Everton all the time.

I'd like to have seen hazard come off earlier, to me he looks like he is carrying a niggle or two. Thought matic was strong today as well as Luiz and Cahill.

Spurs are just a better version of borough and I would take 4 points from the next two games.