2015-16 Championship Thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

With Sky announcing their live games for the start of the Championship season i figured we could use a thread

Who do we think will head up and down this season?

August
Fri 7: Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest (7.45pm)
Sat 8: Leeds United v Burnley (12.30pm)
Sun 9: Preston North End v Middlesbrough (12 noon)
Sun 16: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Hull City (12 noon)
Fri 21: Birmingham City v Derby County (7.45pm)
Sat 22: Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday (12.30pm)
Fri 28: Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers (7.45pm)
Sat 29: Derby County v Leeds United (12.05pm)

September
Fri 11: Reading v Ipswich Town (8pm)
Sat 19: Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough (12.30pm)
Fri 25: Fulham v Queen’s Park Rangers (7.45pm)

October
Fri 2 Oct: Rotherham United v Burnley (7.45pm)
Sat 3: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town (12.30pm)

*Other games may be added.

[Nico the gman]

Good point at Derby, fair result, and we played well, not many will take points off Derby at the iPRO, once they kick into gear which they will.

[Guest]

LiamB must be creaming in his pants over that Matty Phillips equaliser

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

LiamB must be creaming in his pants over that Matty Phillips equaliser

Scored again ...although that one is shocking goalkeeping

[NickisBHAFC]

What's happened to that Reading fan?

[Guest]

The Earl of Jeffs
AlexJeffs1992

If Charlie is worth £15m, Matty Phillips can't be far off! Quality player, highly underrated! #bbcfootball

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The championship is awesome

[GSC]

What's happened to that Reading fan?

I pointed out he was lying about his doctorate

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I need to get someone to change his ban time, I just smashed the first two numbers I could cos I'm a lazy oaf.

[GSC]

Yeah, it really needs to be a combination of 3 numbers

[NickisBHAFC]

I just wanna see deluded posts about reading.

[GSC]

Dat world class midfield.

Seems Lansburys staying now. And Antonios pulling the not in the right frame of mind to play card so hes off

[Derbymanc]

Rumours saying he might be refusing to play GSC, if so it's out of order

[GSC]

Lansbury managed to perform with a deal agreed with Burnley for the last week or so, so it clearly isn't that tough though.

if he wants to go though, all power to him. if Andre Gray cost 9m then he can find someone willing to get near it

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Oh FootballLight? If I did it it would have been long term

[NickisBHAFC]

I hate these players saying "heads not in the right place" it shows nothing but disrespect. Lewis Dunk can be added to that list.

[Derbymanc]

I think it's a shame sometimes, Antonio could be the cornerstone of Forest for a few years to come (and i'll be honest, think FFP is going to make them sort themselves out and get back in the PL) or he could be another Ince (I know he plays for us, i'm not a fan in all honesty) Scott Sinclair etc.

If you want to leave then fine, play your heart out and do it so the fans will forever cheer your name.

[NickisBHAFC]

Another player turns down Bristol City.

Feel a bit sorry no one wants to join them, then again the manager is a complete belle*d so I couldn't care less!

[Fernando]

Birmingham 1-0 Derby - Gleeson from 35 yards

Derby were the better side til then

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Derby create great shooting positions then pass - must be so frustrating as a fan

[GSC]

The 20 derby fans that showed up need a bigger flag

[GSC]

Another player turns down Bristol City.

Feel a bit sorry no one wants to join them, then again the manager is a complete belle*d so I couldn't care less!

Kinda funny, when our owner bought the club and sacked him, people were moaning along the lines of give him a chance with money.

[Fernando]

1-1 don't know who scored Was being amusing myself apparently someone has used my email to join ashley madison

[Fernando]

Martin booked for diving & Kuszcak with a mega save.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What a freaking save that is

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And this is a bloody good game

[NickisBHAFC]

Wish polish Tom was still our keeper

[Fernando]

FT Brum 1-1 Derby

[TopoftheChops]

We are top of the league say we are top of the league. This is town's year!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Evidently not learnt your lesson from last season

[Nico the gman]

Kike scores 3 goals in 2 games, Fabrini and Adomah torture Bolton and  play well against Derby, Gibson defends superbly against Derby, so as reward put them all on the bench put a team out with no shape then defend your team selection when you get beat.

Karanka lost us the game before a ball was kicked, awful team selection and tactics, all over the place 1st half, right back Kalas played centre half, despite having 3 centre half's in Gibson, Fry and our Southampton loanee Stevens in the squad, unbelievable.

[GSC]

Eh, its a long season and its the 5th game in 14 days or so. We made a load of changes too.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah if you're depth ain't good enough to best Bristol city at home you're in trouble when it comes to December time and you got a bunch of injuries

[Nico the gman]

Yeah if you're depth ain't good enough to best Bristol city at home you're in trouble when it comes to December time and you got a bunch of injuries

My problem is Olly you don't change a winning side if you don't have injury's, Karanka's talking about players needing a rest 5 games into the season.
Adomah supposedly looked tired, came on 2nd half and tortured the fullback. Your in the Premier League now Olly and you'll know you've got to put your best 11 out every week, barring injury, Karanka tinkered last season with a winning team and had to come out on local radio and apologise to the supporters for the wrong team selection, you can try to be a bit too clever sometimes.

[GSC]

If you put out your best XI every match, they wont be the best XI anymore by Xmas. Squad rotation is a massive part of the game these days, and if your squad has 0 depth you'll be lucky to accomplish anything regardless of the quality in the first XI

[Nico the gman]

If you put out your best XI every match, they wont be the best XI anymore by Xmas. Squad rotation is a massive part of the game these days, and if your squad has 0 depth you'll be lucky to accomplish anything regardless of the quality in the first XI

You don't change a side that's just played Bolton off the field and taken a point at Derby and drop a striker that scores 3 goals in 2 games and gets our man of the match against Derby, not 5 games in.

As for strength in depth we had 3 centre half's in the squad, one who's an under 21 International called Gibson and was superb last season, Karanka elected to play a fullback instead, we also have a £2million pound midfield signing called Forshaw, who was our best player in pre season friendlies, who many myself included feel is worth a starting place,its not about our strength in depth, its about picking the right balanced team and Karanka got it badly wrong, you don't drop 4 in form players.

The Bristol City manager was surprised at Boro's starting XI, rubbed he's hands with delight probably.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

From the Guardian:

"Albert Adomah could be on the move this week having told manager Aitor Karanka he wants to leave Middlesbrough. Dropped at the weekend"

[owen10ozzy]

Yeh think anyone even suggesting that it was an issue of strength in depth is talking nonsense in the sense they just saw our 3 best players thus far weren't playing and only read into that. Saturday was nothing to do with depth and everything to do with arrogance on our managers behalf...the fact he admitted afterwards he got it horribly wrong suggests he knows what he did was stupid and cost us, my hope is he learns and doesn't do it again (i don't hold out much hope though given he did the same last year and clearly hasn't learnt).

If you want to rest players then fine so be it, i'll begrudgingly accept that even when they are in form...but don't do it with added caveat that you then play others out of position..that was crying out for trouble! Also...what is it with his stuborness for 1 up front even at home against weak opposition. So many managers only ever play 1 formation be it at home or away; some would do well to play some football manager & learn that it's not a bad thing to have a few to work with! Barring the cream of the crop of the division we shouldn't ever be playing with one up top at home..ever!! Not when we struggle for goals as it is!

[Nico the gman]

Yeh think anyone even suggesting that it was an issue of strength in depth is talking nonsense in the sense they just saw our 3 best players thus far weren't playing and only read into that. Saturday was nothing to do with depth and everything to do with arrogance on our managers behalf...the fact he admitted afterwards he got it horribly wrong suggests he knows what he did was stupid and cost us, my hope is he learns and doesn't do it again (i don't hold out much hope though given he did the same last year and clearly hasn't learnt).

If you want to rest players then fine so be it, i'll begrudgingly accept that even when they are in form...but don't do it with added caveat that you then play others out of position..that was crying out for trouble! Also...what is it with his stuborness for 1 up front even at home against weak opposition. So many managers only ever play 1 formation be it at home or away; some would do well to play some football manager & learn that it's not a bad thing to have a few to work with! Barring the cream of the crop of the division we shouldn't ever be playing with one up top at home..ever!! Not when we struggle for goals as it is!

In total agreement, tinkered far too much last season, trying to guess Karanka's starting XI, is a puzzle to every Boro fan.

[dyrewolfe]

Only listened to the Bristol game on Boro+ but it sounded awful (1st half anyway).

Agree that you don't change a winning team this early into the season...or at least not 3 key players at once.

Squad rotation has to be a factor, to keep players fresh and match-ready, but at this stage you should only be looking at changing 1 player at a time, maximum, in the starting line-up.

If some of the players are feeling the hectic start, you can always bring subs on after an hour (hopefully by which time you have control of the game).

Boro struggle to play as a cohesive unit at the best of times. No need to make things worse by changing the starting XI willy-nilly.

Also agree that playing 1 striker is hugely frustrating and limits our options. Makes it that much harder for crosses and passes to find their mark and puts more reliance on the midfield to support attacks.

Really hope Karanka wasn't just trying to appease the supporters and that he really will stop messing with the line-up so much.

[Nico the gman]

Only listened to the Bristol game on Boro+ but it sounded awful (1st half anyway).

Agree that you don't change a winning team this early into the season...or at least not 3 key players at once.

Squad rotation has to be a factor, to keep players fresh and match-ready, but at this stage you should only be looking at changing 1 player at a time, maximum, in the starting line-up.

If some of the players are feeling the hectic start, you can always bring subs on after an hour (hopefully by which time you have control of the game).

Boro struggle to play as a cohesive unit at the best of times. No need to make things worse by changing the starting XI willy-nilly.

Also agree that playing 1 striker is hugely frustrating and limits our options. Makes it that much harder for crosses and passes to find their mark and puts more reliance on the midfield to support attacks.

Really hope Karanka wasn't just trying to appease the supporters and that he really will stop messing with the line-up so much.

Karanka dropped Adomah from the squad last night and stated he wasn't injured, asked if Adomah would be in the squad against SheffWed Karanka said he didn't know,this doesn't bode well.

Forshaw man of the match against Burton, his forward passing, tackling  and runs from midfield were supposed to be quality.

I keep saying it, Forshaw gets a run in midfield someone's struggling to get back in the starting XI, always looks comfortable on the ball, rarely gives it away, good movement.

Karanka needs to start realising Leadbitter and Clayton in midfield isn't always the way to go, creativity wins you games.

[owen10ozzy]

Adomah all but set to leave by all accounts; would be interested to see what we can get for him...don't want him to leave but it seems he isn't happy at the club. It's becoming a worrying trend that people seem to fall out with the manager (he most definitely has learnt from Mourinho hasn't he)...

If we can get 4-6 million (based of other deals would expect that to be the figure) where do we spend that money. Do we go and get a ready made replacement...if so who? Or do we use to it finally finance that Rhodes deal that seemingly every fan I have spoken to wants? I dont see it being the latter...it seems Karanka is happy with Stuani, Kike & Nugent. That worries me as simply not enough goals there for promotion in my eyes....not when he plays 1 up top. They are all strikers who need someone alongside them to play off.

[Nico the gman]

Adomah all but set to leave by all accounts; would be interested to see what we can get for him...don't want him to leave but it seems he isn't happy at the club. It's becoming a worrying trend that people seem to fall out with the manager (he most definitely has learnt from Mourinho hasn't he)...

If we can get 4-6 million (based of other deals would expect that to be the figure) where do we spend that money. Do we go and get a ready made replacement...if so who? Or do we use to it finally finance that Rhodes deal that seemingly every fan I have spoken to wants? I dont see it being the latter...it seems Karanka is happy with Stuani, Kike & Nugent. That worries me as simply not enough goals there for promotion in my eyes....not when he plays 1 up top. They are all strikers who need someone alongside them to play off.

Local Gazette has reported Adomah has handed in transfer request, Karanka has said Adomah won't be going anywhere, but if Adomah's head or heart isn't here then let him go, no player is bigger than the club, judging by today's transfer fees wouldn't take any less than £6mill for him though.

Carayol seemingly going on loan to Huddersfield, makes no sense should Adomah leave.Apparently Karanka doesn't see eye to eye with Carayol either by all accounts despite extending his contract.

[Nico the gman]

Adomah left out of squad for Sheff Wed game, this is not good news I think he could be on his way.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Blackburn and Bolton currently producing the worst game of football I've ever seen

[GSC]

Cant imagine those 2 struggling to produce a cracker

[NickisBHAFC]

We're top of the league were toppppp of the leaaaaague were Brighton & Hove Albion were top of the league!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

We are top of the league say we are top of the league. This is town's year!

Bump

In other news Derby finding out that hiring assistant managers to be a manager isn't a good idea

[TopoftheChops]

Was definitely being serious

[dyrewolfe]

Adomah all but set to leave by all accounts; would be interested to see what we can get for him...don't want him to leave but it seems he isn't happy at the club. It's becoming a worrying trend that people seem to fall out with the manager (he most definitely has learnt from Mourinho hasn't he)...

If we can get 4-6 million (based of other deals would expect that to be the figure) where do we spend that money. Do we go and get a ready made replacement...if so who? Or do we use to it finally finance that Rhodes deal that seemingly every fan I have spoken to wants? I dont see it being the latter...it seems Karanka is happy with Stuani, Kike & Nugent. That worries me as simply not enough goals there for promotion in my eyes....not when he plays 1 up top. They are all strikers who need someone alongside them to play off.

Local Gazette has reported Adomah has handed in transfer request, Karanka has said Adomah won't be going anywhere, but if Adomah's head or heart isn't here then let him go, no player is bigger than the club, judging by today's transfer fees wouldn't take any less than £6mill for him though.

Carayol seemingly going on loan to Huddersfield, makes no sense should Adomah leave.Apparently Karanka doesn't see eye to eye with Carayol either by all accounts despite extending his contract.

Bit of a shock about Adomah. Especially as he has been producing good performances of late. What on earth could he and Karanka have fallen out over?

I just hope he has a ready-made replacement lined up...its not like we have an abundance of natural wingers. Hopefully he's got some reasonably-priced Spanish bloke we've never heard of lined up, who will turn out to be quite good.

Would rather we didn't spend £12m-plus on Rhodes. However good he is, it would be a waste of money if Karanka persists in playing a lone striker, as we would still struggle to give him decent service. That would probably blow our budget for the season and we might still need cover for injuries come January.

Anyway, moaning over, it was a great showing against Wednesday. Completely dominated the first half, almost without reward. Got a bit complacent second half but their equaliser woke us up. Think the scoreline was a fair reflection. Good to see Reach and Stuani get on the scoresheet...hopefully that will given them the confidence to start finding the net more often.

[Nico the gman]

Boro sign Carlos de Pena from Uruguayan league leaders Nacional, their fans are not happy at losing their star player.

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