Ah memories of Robbie and THAT goal after 43 seconds at Wembely.

First leg away, then back to the Bridge and they showed they put up a fight against a very good Aston Villa side yesterday. Won't be easy but is the draw almost all of us wanted.

Got to make sure we dont pass up this opportunity to get to a final and play Liverpool again.

Also as for the title, you are welcome @Gol15 ;)

Edited January 7, 20242 yr by axman2526

I think Pochettino will have us line up this way.

 

Petrovic

 

Gusto

Disasi

Silva

Colwill

 

Caciedo

Gallagher

 

Palmer

Enzo

Sterling

 

Broja

question whether nkunku is fit. I would save one of Gallagher Caicedo or Enzo for sub and use Mudryck. I guess Broja will have to play although I don't think he is up to the job.Also possible Chilwell might make the bench.

I could  realistically see 

 

 

 Petro

gusto disasi silva Colwill 

Caicedo Gallagher

Sterling Palmer Mudryck

Broja

Edited January 7, 20242 yr by ozboy

Watching the Villa-borough game Borough have some pace and some good young players but Villa have all the possession and could have scored a couple in h1 even resting players. 

             Petrovic

Gusto Disasi Silva Colwill

     Gallagher Caicedo

Madueke Palmer  Sterling

                Broja

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Ah memories of Robbie and THAT goal after 43 seconds at Wembely.

First leg away, then back to the Bridge and they showed they put up a fight against a very good Aston Villa side yesterday. Won't be easy but is the draw almost all of us wanted.

Got to make sure we dont pass up this opportunity to get to a final and play Liverpool again.

Also as for the title, you are welcome @Gol15 😉

What a day - fond memories!  Remember some 'Boro fan stole my scarf on the walk into the ground.  Still have the matchday program upstairs - seems a lifetime ago going with my dad.  Nice shout!

Looking forward to these two legs.  Expect a difficult first half, and potentially first match, but we have enough to get the job done.  Want to see intensity and desire from the kick off, but sense they'll ease their way into the two legs.

29 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

What a day - fond memories!  Remember some 'Boro fan stole my scarf on the walk into the ground.  Still have the matchday program upstairs - seems a lifetime ago going with my dad.  Nice shout!

Looking forward to these two legs.  Expect a difficult first half, and potentially first match, but we have enough to get the job done.  Want to see intensity and desire from the kick off, but sense they'll ease their way into the two legs.

I was living in Nottingham then. Had a skinful on the train down then carried on in the pub before the game. Was tanked by kick off. Game kicked off and I was standing on my chair singing. Started to sit down then Robbie scored. Reversed from trying to sit to trying to celebrate...too drunk for that. Took about 10 people out. I reckon i would have got a slap or three if we hadn't just scored 

Best route to get back into Europe, over 2 legs I'd like to believe we will get through quite comfortably. Once in the final, Liverpool or not, any team could win an one-off cup final game.

Broja hat trick. 😆

Poch presser....

 

so there is a problem with Nkuku after all

Christ almighty. These injuries are beyond a joke.

23 hours ago, loz said:

I was living in Nottingham then. Had a skinful on the train down then carried on in the pub before the game. Was tanked by kick off. Game kicked off and I was standing on my chair singing. Started to sit down then Robbie scored. Reversed from trying to sit to trying to celebrate...too drunk for that. Took about 10 people out. I reckon i would have got a slap or three if we hadn't just scored 

What pub were you in I might have been there 🍺

46 minutes ago, Kev56 said:

What pub were you in I might have been there 🍺

Given I couldn't find my seat to sit on in the stadium when it was right under my arse it is unlikely I will remember a pub name! 

While we have a decent record against Boro in recent times, I still remember the awful playoffs in 1987. I think it was the last time we played them in a 2-leg match. We should have enough quality to beat them, but Boro will be up for it and I fully expect a hostile atmosphere in the first leg. The recent game at Luton should have provided us with an idea of what to expect. Ideally we can soak up the pressure and hit them effectively on the counter.

Has anyone watched Boro this season? How are they?

11 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Has anyone watched Boro this season? How are they?

Had a shocking start to the season, but turned it around with some decent form, but they're nothing special. win one game then lose the next. Above average Championship side from what I've seen but could easily be in the playoffs at the end of the season.

They are better than Preston though, so I expect a tougher game and they'll for sure treat this like a cup final. I watched them against West Brom before Christmas and the football was pretty piss poor so if we lose to them I'll be extremely disappointed. Should 100% be winning both legs, the problem is that playing away in the North East in the first leg, if Middlesbrough manage to get a scrappy win, the boys will panic in the 2nd leg. 

Need to win that first leg. 

1 hour ago, forbzy said:

While we have a decent record against Boro in recent times, I still remember the awful playoffs in 1987. I think it was the last time we played them in a 2-leg match. We should have enough quality to beat them, but Boro will be up for it and I fully expect a hostile atmosphere in the first leg. The recent game at Luton should have provided us with an idea of what to expect. Ideally we can soak up the pressure and hit them effectively on the counter.

Same here.  I'm fearing a similar outcome.  1987:  2-0 loss away and then only a 1-0 victory at home.  Can see the exact same happening again.  Too many similarities, they are in the league below, Chelsea were/are the far superior team on paper, 2 legs, away leg first, etc.  I can see the same scorelines with our inability to take chances rearing its ugly head again in the home leg.....

 

Edited January 8, 20242 yr by Chris Gundleton

Petrovic

Gusto Disasi Silva Colwill

Caicedo Enzo

Palmer Gallagher Sterling

Broja

I think we'll be too strong for them in this first leg.

Chelsea 2 - 1 Kiddy Fiddlers

Last time we played them over 2 legs we would want to forget. 1988 Play off Final (not 1987) when they relegated us. Slaven and Trevor Senior scored their goals up there. I was at Ayresome Park that night and they deserved their win as we were abject. I can't see the same happening again thankfully. We should beat them quite comfortably.

Edited January 8, 20242 yr by Parisian Blue

Win. Don’t care about much else, just win

1 hour ago, Parisian Blue said:

Last time we played them over 2 legs we would want to forget. 1988 Play off Final (not 1987) when they relegated us. Slaven and Trevor Senior scored their goals up there. I was at Ayresome Park that night and they deserved their win as we were abject. I can't see the same happening again thankfully. We should beat them quite comfortably.

1 of only 2 goals that Trevor Senior scored for them, despite being prolific at Reading. Typically he came good against us. 

Let's not talk about 1988 ok. 

7 hours ago, mojo said:

so there is a problem with Nkuku after all

Hardly a surprise.