Match Day Thread Middlesbrough v Southampton, Saturday, 09th May 2026, 12:30 KO - Live on Sky TV
- Thread starter SR get out of my club
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Yeah right. If we're not 6 up after 30mins, then the #TondaOut calls must start.
The game at Boro was a weird one. We actually battered them first half, Fellows and Armstrong missing really good chances. The CB, Malanda made his debut for Boro and made a couple of unreal blocks.
Then in the second half they realised that if you get shots on target against Bazunu, you’re likely to score, and they did with 4 out of the 5 shots on targets.
In that game we played, Bazunu, Quarshie and Armstrong, and 3 at the back.
Different system now, different players, different form and different pressure.
I’m hoping that Boro will be go a bit gung ho on us and we’ll catch them on the break several times, but an easy semi final this won’t be.
Then in the second half they realised that if you get shots on target against Bazunu, you’re likely to score, and they did with 4 out of the 5 shots on targets.
In that game we played, Bazunu, Quarshie and Armstrong, and 3 at the back.
Different system now, different players, different form and different pressure.
I’m hoping that Boro will be go a bit gung ho on us and we’ll catch them on the break several times, but an easy semi final this won’t be.
Does feel weird having a whole week between games.
I just feel Boro have picked up a bit after a dodgy run and at the same time our levels have dropped slightly. Plus we've got a terrible record in the north east.
It seems eons ago now, but talking to some Borough fans at Southampton Central station on the way home last year, they were delighted to get a point against us. They also thought Adam Armstrong was a real asset.
Was 1-1 that day, same score on Sunday I reckon.
Was 1-1 that day, same score on Sunday I reckon.
4 months ago to the day, we got spanked 4-0 there.
Baz
THB-Wood-Quarshie
Fellows- Downes- Jander- Manning
Leo - Azaz
Armstrong
This time round i imagine there will only be 3 changes to that team
But a big 3 changes
Peretz
Bree
Stewart or Larin
Add to that the change in formation and the added belief and confidence and a bit onpressure on Boro I am hopeful we can come away with something.
Baz
THB-Wood-Quarshie
Fellows- Downes- Jander- Manning
Leo - Azaz
Armstrong
This time round i imagine there will only be 3 changes to that team
But a big 3 changes
Peretz
Bree
Stewart or Larin
Add to that the change in formation and the added belief and confidence and a bit onpressure on Boro I am hopeful we can come away with something.
form and past history is out of the window for this. It will come down to the performance on the day and we have had more time to prepare than any other game in weeks and have a squad that is cohesive and playing well.
I fully expect that Fellow's only goal this season will be the winner at wembley...
I fully expect that Fellow's only goal this season will be the winner at wembley...
This feels like a much tougher opposition than West Brom 2 years ago. They finished with 12 points less than us and there was a clear gap in quality. If you think how good we've been in the second half of this season and yet we finished level on points with Boro and just +1 on the GD. Shows how equally good they were in the first half of the season. Seems like we're pretty evenly matched to me. As much as you would rather be in good form coming into the play offs, once the games start I'm not sure how much difference that is really going to make. Sunderland from last season say hello. We in theory have a few advantages in that some of this squad have experience of playing and winning the play offs two seasons ago, and we have the home leg second, albeit Boro have been better away from home and our recent away form has been better than our home form too. I have confidence in Tonda and the team, but I do think this one is pretty evenly poised and could go either way.
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Taking the fact I'm a Saints fan out of it for a second and I think it's a cracking match up. As close as you'll get to a 50-50 imo.
I think whoever progresses wins the final.
Been thinking exactly the same. 2 real quality attack minded coaches too. Just really hope Tonda can outsmart them this time and we’ve got enough to do em over the 2 legs. That home fixture being our 2nd game really could be the biggest factor in swinging it in our favour as it’s gonna be such small margins I feel
I’m still feeling pretty numb since our last two relegations so I’m really not that bothered. I really enjoy the championship and feel pretty negative about the self entitled premiership.
So I’m probably the only fan that feels this way so I hope those that dont feel the way I do really enjoy the upcoming matches
You’re definitely not the only fan who feels that way.
With this manager and this squad, we would have a better chance of surviving in the PL than we did two years ago. But survival is probably as good as it would ever get.
Having said that, I still want us to win every game we play, always.
I agree about the PL, in fact there is much of it I hate. But I still want Saints to be playing there as we were before, an established PL team. (Which IMO we were despite what some people may think).
To be a regular Championship team though, one of a number of scenarios has to be realised.
1. A club that are in the promotion mix for most of the season but don't quite have enough to achieve it. This might seem to be the most attractive to fans of the Championship, but I wonder how long people would put up with being the nearly men every season. Can fans really be pragmatic about being in 1st or 2nd place for most of the season only to fall away at the end and say "we don't want the PL anyway" and mean it? Or regularly getting to the play-offs and losing?
2. We become a mediocre mid table Championship team similar to Bristol City, Stoke or QPR. Not good enough to get promoted and not bad enough for relegation. A few excellent results alongside some dross just to keep us bobbing along. Never going to win anything, just making the numbers up. In fact exactly the same as what people disliked about us being in the PL only with a much worse squad.
3. A yo-yo club. As we all know, one yo (promotion) is great but the other yo (relegation) is demoralising. In fact the relegation yo is worse than demoralising because you can also, quite easily, find yourselves in financial problems threatening the clubs existence. It's quite easy to happen as Leicester are finding out a yo-yo,yo club who have slipped another division and money problems.
When you are in the PL your objectives have to be lowered but occasionally you can upset the apple cart of the top teams and the quality of the squad is higher. We have done that on regular occasions in the past and we weren't thrashed every week as people misremember. Last season, yes but not when we were established and the only way to get established is to get promoted in the first place. IMO, the Championship is only enjoyable when you leave it (upwards).
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Stifle them early on and I think we'll be alright. Early goal and their tails are up and it makes it a much more difficult task. Think 1 all or 2 1 defeat which wouldn't be a total disaster
Yeah the PL is a sham. We only have to hope that we can do a Bournemouth or Brighton so it's possible but I am scarred from recent events.
Don't remember anyone calling it a sham when we finished 6th under Koeman.