Match Thread Coventry City - Middlesbrough Match Thread - Monday 16th Feb (22 Viewers)

[SkyBlueMatt]

I'll be going into this game in more hope than anything. With us being a bogey team for them, might help us pull off an upset.

They are in great form and pulling results out the bag even when not at their best.

Live in hope.

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[Covkid1968#]

Just starting to feel a bit confident… no reason. Wife’s going to this which isn’t a particularly good sign.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Yes get in!

 

[Sick Boy]

Their fans seem to think they're the second coming of 2009 Barcelona at this point.

 

[clint van damme]

Their fans seem to think they're the second coming of 2009 Barcelona at this point.

Where as ours were totally grounded when we were top!

 

[fernandopartridge]

Where as ours were totally grounded when we were top!

Though we were top after a longer winning run and with a greater points gap and superior goal difference.

 

[Kris_Boro]

We are enjoying this current run and some of the performances that have gone with it. Its been a while since we didn't have an obvious weakness costing us and causing frustration most weeks.

Nobody is getting carried away. I don't care about finishing 1st or second i just want to increase the gap on 3rd.

Nevers definitely setting in. Over the years as Boro fan, more often than not things take a turn for the worst so despite our current form, i cant help worry that our run has to end and you have to turn it around - Never happy as fans are we.

We have just got manager and player of the month, we have a terrible record after winning such things.

Anyway, that's me over and out. Ill be back on Monday - Have a good weekend

 

[Ipad Boro]

Yes get in!

Like we weren't cursed enough playing you anyway, without that bastard award!

 

[curly_tom]

Being top is a much more nervy position to be in than chasing. You have something to lose. We still have that being in second. There is a feeling that everyone lese around us is in better form than we are which is dispiriting. I just can't really wokr out why we have lost form. When you watch you just sort of tell we're not going to win games. We have been pretty poor for quite a few games in a row even including the wins at home. I am not confident for Monday, I think a draw would be a good result even though we need 3 points.

 

[curly_tom]

I don't like the phrase 'must win', it feels like it should be followed by 'if we are to...' We must win this if we are to go back to the top.

 

[Torquay Sky Blue]

They'll come for and settle for a draw . Like they did in the playoffs a couple of seasons back. They passed back to the keeper from a free kick in our half. TBF that was with Carrick. The new bloke might be different but a draw suits them.

 

[Otis]

They'll come for and settle for a draw . Like they did in the playoffs a couple of seasons back. They passed back to the keeper from a free kick in our half. TBF that was with Carrick. The new bloke might be different but a draw suits them.

I've got a feeling they will attack us. They know we have looked weak at the back and their manager must be thinking, if we go a goal up, it will completely deflate the Sky Blues and immediately dampen down the crowd.

Have this feeling they will try to hit us quickly and from the off.

 

[edgy]

Yeah 100% they will come at us. All Hellbergs quotes suggest that.

 

[Torquay Sky Blue]

Yeah 100% they will come at us. All Hellbergs quotes suggest that.

Will be interesting that's for sure. I just don't think they'll risk losing but hopefully for us they attack . Suits us if they do

 

[shmmeee]

Think they come at us and they win, have thought that for weeks. They’re playing very well. But hoping for a proper performance and not a capitulation like Ipswich that to be the start of us picking up some form again. Just want it out the way and the several Boro fans in my life to get the gloating over and done with.

 

[EPSB]

A fair few tickets available, via the ticket exchange. Have a lot of people decided to watch from behind the sofa!!!

 

[clint van damme]

Will be interesting that's for sure. I just don't think they'll risk losing but hopefully for us they attack . Suits us if they do

They just went to Sheff U who had won 7 on the spin at home and went at them, I expect them to do the same here

 

[Otis]

A fair few tickets available, via the ticket exchange. Have a lot of people decided to watch from behind the sofa!!!

I am so tempted to save my poor heart and pause the live footage on Sky and follow the score on the BBC.soorts page and then press play on the TV if and when I wish/need to.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

They'll come for and settle for a draw . Like they did in the playoffs a couple of seasons back. They passed back to the keeper from a free kick in our half. TBF that was with Carrick. The new bloke might be different but a draw suits them.

I doubt very much, they will do that. Watching them on TV, they are all about attack mode. This could be high scoring. I'm going for a 0.0..

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Think they come at us and they win, have thought that for weeks. They’re playing very well. But hoping for a proper performance and not a capitulation like Ipswich that to be the start of us picking up some form again. Just want it out the way and the several Boro fans in my life to get the gloating over and done with.

Would be madness for Boro to do anything different with how we've been playing

 

[quinn1971]

Their fans seem to think they're the second coming of 2009 Barcelona at this point.

Exactly, they’ve shown the same goal about 50 times,

 

[Sky_Blue_Daz]

Its got all the hallmarks of a classic under the lights, sod it 4-1 to city . Wright , Mve ,simms and saka

 

[StrettoBoy]

Gamble on the midfield - Grimes, Frank the tank and Rudoni. Torp over Eccles if Frank does not want to throw the new man in.

I think that's a decent shout. We need to try and keep it tight at the back, at least to start with. Unless we rediscover our goalscoring form I fear the worst if we concede first.

If we need to put fresh legs on after, say, an hour I'd put Eccles on as a defensive option or Torp if we need a goal.

This is pretty much a must win if we are going to push for an automatic spot, whilst I see a defeat as being almost disastrous. A draw doesn't really do it for me.

 

[Dougin]

Frank needs to find a different way of playing its all so predicatable. Personally id be leaving Wright & Simms on the bench.

 

[Ipad Boro]

They'll come for and settle for a draw . Like they did in the playoffs a couple of seasons back. They passed back to the keeper from a free kick in our half. TBF that was with Carrick. The new bloke might be different but a draw suits them.

No, we won't. Hellberg doesn't know how to for one and we've only drawn one of his games so far. We'll go for rapid movement and attack, it's his way.

That doesn't mean it won't end up a draw of course, which I'd be satisfied with, with easier games coming up. It could go any way.

 

[Great_Expectations]

He won’t drop Grimes, he’s absolutely Lampards man.

Onyeka is a different style of player too, so it’s not just a player replacement but a tactical change too.

Onyeka should play, so it’s completely on Lampard et al to work out the best way to make it work and this elusive ‘double pivot’ that everyone is expecting to see.

If Onyeka and Grimes do start together, it’s a lot of pressure on the 10 to create, so whomever that is needs to be on fire.

 

[cov87!]

wonder if we see Grimes, Oneyka and Torp in there. Torp (albeit theyre a different beast now under Hellberg) found himself in the pockets more at their place and drove forward brilliantly to set up Simms. Torp I think has also played with Oneyka so wonder if we'll match them up in the middle of the park with torp more advanced and Oneyka on a man marking mission against Hackney. Rudoni off the bench, start Wright, Sakamoto and EMC. Back four (as much as they've been poor) picks itself really- MVE, Thomas, Kitching, JDS.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

wonder if we see Grimes, Oneyka and Torp in there. Torp (albeit theyre a different beast now under Hellberg) found himself in the pockets more at their place and drove forward brilliantly to set up Simms. Torp I think has also played with Oneyka so wonder if we'll match them up in the middle of the park with torp more advanced and Oneyka on a man marking mission against Hackney. Rudoni off the bench, start Wright, Sakamoto and EMC. Back four (as much as they've been poor) picks itself really- MVE, Thomas, Kitching, JDS.

Wright has 2 goals in 19 starts!

 

[RegTheDonk]

wonder if we see Grimes, Oneyka and Torp in there. Torp (albeit theyre a different beast now under Hellberg) found himself in the pockets more at their place and drove forward brilliantly to set up Simms. Torp I think has also played with Oneyka so wonder if we'll match them up in the middle of the park with torp more advanced and Oneyka on a man marking mission against Hackney. Rudoni off the bench, start Wright, Sakamoto and EMC. Back four (as much as they've been poor) picks itself really- MVE, Thomas, Kitching, JDS.

Many here reckon Thomas/Kitch a better option over Lats/Woolf because of their threat when we get a corner or set piece. I know Grimes delivers a lot of them but getting someone on the end helps! Anyone know what Frank is like at set pieces? Would it be better having him in the box and keeping our defenders defending?

 

[Otis]

Wright has 2 goals in 19 starts!

Well that may be right, but it will be 5 in 20 come Tuesday morning and that's not quite so bad I don't think

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Well that may be right, but it will be 5 in 20 come Tuesday morning and that's not quite so bad I don't think

Wright scoring 3, where is he going to find that form from? Hope you are right!

 

[SKYBLUES90]

Not sure why but I’m feeling pretty confident about this one, need to keep it tight at the back. Hopefully with the addition of Onyeka his legs in the middle could be crucial.

At some point it’s got to click again, let’s hope Monday sets us up nicely for Sheff U and WBA away to follow.

 

[Macca1987]

No use having Thomas and Kitching in for corners if every corner is the same and mainly get's headed away by a big CB. We need to change up our corners/throw ins/free kicks so the away team doesn't know what's coming, instead of same old same old

 

[cov87!]

Wright has 2 goals in 19 starts!

Poor return, but still better than Simms technically. Wright may find more joy against the american centre half they've signed. Would rather Wright weirdly for Monday than Simms, but it's genuinely a toss of a coin.

 

[matesx]

Poor return, but still better than Simms technically. Wright may find more joy against the american centre half they've signed. Would rather Wright weirdly for Monday than Simms, but it's genuinely a toss of a coin.

and this is a guy trying to impress for WC squad. He is mince