Match Day Thread Boro Away

Great little run we are on.
Some of us are optimistic & hopeful about title.
However, we shouldn't put too much pressure or expectation on our team. Last season we were 10th.
Top 4 or 4th spot aka G-Spot (Goon Spot) will be our primary objective & focus.
Lets leave the title delusions to Goons & Spuds.
Realistically Pep & Klopp are outsiders to Jose's title.

We have mixed record in Riverside. Time to get one back.
Aitor will be up for this - Loyalty to Jose or to prove against a top side.
Boro are defensively well organized & strong unit. They have held Goons & City both away.

Our team cannot get complacent & should be 100% focused after the international break.
Hope our guys travel safe & return healthy.

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Intl Updates:

Costa - pulled out
Hazard & Thibo - plays until Sunday should be back with 1 week time. Little mileage this Intl break.
Luiz, Alonso, Pedro - Home

Moses - scored 2 goals Saturday & done with Intl duty until next March.
Kante - 88th min sub against Sweden in home. Tuesday Ivory Coast Friendly again in France.
Matic - Travels to Ukraine Tuesday.

Dave - Sub against Macedonia in Home. Friendly Tuesday @ England
Cahill - Friendly Tuesday vs Spain

Match day thread.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/37592267

 

As you say, we must not things for granted against Middlesbrough in spite of the fantastic run we are on at the moment. In fact we should never take any match for granted.
The nice thing is the extra-special one, will never allow them to have that kind of mind set.
Work hard boys and let's get another 3 points

 

Boro have been organised and hard to break down, this will be a tough test but I think you'll edge it.

 

Boro have recently come away from both the Etihad and the Emirates with draws. They will make it tough for us and we should take nothing for granted

 

http://www.11v11.com/teams/chelsea/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/middlesbrough/

Looks like we have 6 straight wins against Boro without conceding a goal.
Prior to that we have lost 2 straight.

We should continue our win streak. especially our starting 11 has done little to no mileage & whole week to recover except for Matic may be.

 

No game is easy these days, ask City, Liverpool and Utd. Boro often stretch us, but in our form, we really should get the points. Any chance Conte might give the bench players more time on the pitch for this one? They must be getting a bit rusty through lack of use.

 

Rusty or not - we have some injury concerns for Hazard & Costa from the Intl duty.
Hope these are not too serious. Conte will be enforced for a change or two.

 

Anybody else resent these international breaks? Just want to watch some proper football!

 

yup, definitely.
Piss me right off.
Nothing to get excited about come 3pm Saturday.
No MOTD to kick back and watch with a few beers, of an evening.

 

Everybody does.

PL Fantasy says 75% chance of playing for both Eden & Diego with Calf & Groin injuries.

But sometimes that website is awful with injury updates. Hope that is not the case for our sake.

 

I agree with the entirety of your post, but please for the love of God change your profile picture, i'm having a nightmare with "customer service" at the moment. Looking at her makes me want to punch my screen!!!

 

you are not alone mate

 

Done

 

i must say, i approve of the "new model"

 

Won't be easy as boro will be stubborn but with our recent good movement and expansive play can't really see anything other than three points. Going for 0-3 Chelsea.

 

I'll settle for 0-1, but we are in mighty good form.
On another matter entirely, see Nathan Ake might be called back from loan for lack of playing time, then lent out again !! I think he's one of our more exceptional talents with an already good track record at 1st team level. If he's got the speed I remember, why wouldn't we add him to the squad? He's versatile, reliable and if he improves half as much as Luiz , Cahill, Moses and co did under Conte, he'd be a cracker.

 

Our record against Boro this century is W14 D3 L2.

And we have won six in a row against them with six clean sheets.

But they are an OK side. I hope they stay up and our excellent record against them continues.

 

yes I linked 11v11 website stats to show all the performances against them.
However there is something weird about North East travel & teams for us.
May be the distance or them fighting relegation or whatever. It is never straightforward. Will settle for 0-1.

 

Yep. Another clean sheet would be fantastic. Even 0-0 is not a disaster. Save our scoring boots for the one that matters next week

 

exactly a draw isn't a bad result especially after the break.
Will help us be more grounded & focused.