I know we´ve got our own little date to look forward to, but not much has been mentioned about the other half of the equation. Personally I can see Brentford coming out on top over two legs, especially if they can take a win from tonight´s game. ´Boro are great if they can get their noses in front, and then defend it, but not so great if they´ve got to chase a game or a tie. If we can deal with our southerly neighbours, then I would certainly prefer Middlesbrough in the final rather than Brentford, who, if they got there, could be a real handful, but I´ll still be rooting for Brentford tonight, who despite home advantage are probably still rated as underdogs.
I agree they'll be 'underdogs', but I'm sure most of their players will be wanting to give their outgoing manager a 'farewell' to be proud of and i can just see them bring one of the teams walking out at Wembley on May 25th. Just hope we're the other one!!!!
Hope to be proven wrong but I can't see Brentford getting past Boro over two legs. Hope they do as I would rather play them in the final (on the assumption that we make it). Maybe the Wembley pitch size would help us against Boro - a nice big pitch is a bit more difficult for them to park the bus on and hopefully the talent in our midfield will have them chasing shadows in the heat. I can but hope.....
Well Brentford certainly didn´t do themselves any favours tonight, awful defending for ´Boro´s 1st goal, got themselves back into it when Konstantiwhatsit made a balls-up, and should have seen out a draw, whích they would have deserved, but now it looks a bit tougher, wouldn´t completely rule them out though.
Brentford have a mountain to climb now - Boro are so strong at home. Of course, one big decision or a moment of luck might be enough, but I can't see it happening. If we get past Ipswich, on balance I'd prefer to face Brentford because I think they are the weaker team, but I'd still back us against Boro.
Middlesborough must be clear favourites to get to Wembley now. I have no idea of the pitch dimensions but would assume that it is somewhat greater than league clubs are used to, hopefully a fair bit wider so that there would be more space between defenders parking the charabanc.
Hello RBF, I hope above all that things are O.K. (or as well as they can be) on the home front. I have just posted my thoughts on this subject on another thread, but essentially I fancy us to go through but lose in the final. Boro have something that we find hard to play against but Bamford is a handful for sure. Brentford are a bit left field. We were outplayed at Griffin park for much of the game but won 0-3 and then we were beaten at CR as you know. Anything could happen but it would also be Warburton's last game and I can feel the history books author's pen hovering over the papyrus!
Evening THURNBY, and thanks for your kind wishes. Today was actually the first time this season that I have seen us for the full 90 mins, and comparing that to the match I watched last night between ´Boro and Brentford, I´d have to say that all 4 teams are very much of a muchness. I thought we moved the ball quite well in midfield where there was a good understanding, but we didn´t move it quickly enough to really hurt them. Defensively we looked a bit too vunerable especially in and around Martin, who was actually instrumental in their goal, and almost gave them another in the 1st half, perhaps he just had a bad day, I haven´t seen enough of him there, to really make an opinion. I can see why we´ve scored a lot of goals from midfield, where Johnson and Howson get themselves into some great goal scoring positions, but our attack seems very anaemic, or at least did today, I know Jerome was involved in the build up to our goal, but he didn´t get into enough goal scoring positions otherwise. But on today´s showing we ought to get through to the final, but I´d say that ´Boro are probably overall just a bit stronger, very strong in defence with a dangerous counter- attack, while of the four teams I´d actually say that Brentford probably play the best all round game, just can´t really see them beating ´Boro on their own patch. So we agree, City for the final, but perhaps missing out to ´Boro.
Oh well, it's beginning to look as though tomorrow's victors will be facing Middlesbrough on 25th May!!!!! They're leading 2-0 with about 30 minutes to go!!!!
Not pretty maybe, but they´re a tough side to beat, JR, and they did it without Bamford -in fact I´d say they almost looked better without him.
Yes, looks like it, just hope our prediction for the final outcome, is way off - I really hope the players have learned their lesson from the league match, and don´t let ´Boro get their noses in front, can we manage that, then our chances improve considerably, I´d say..
I am a little un-nerved with the ease that Boro dismissed Brentford and of course they did 'double' us in the league, which I appreciate counts for nothing on the day itself. One interesting point in the straw clutching contest is this..............the last time Norwich played Ipswich outside of a league encounter was the semi final of the then Milk Cup. We won of course as is the case now and who did we beat in the final? Another side from the North East. Just a thought.
I agree that Boro hold the 'upper hand' in our encounters this season, but I have EVERY confidence that AN will have the players as ready for this match as they could be. It is then up to them not to take to the pitch and react like 'rabbits caught in the headlights', but rather turn in the sort of performance they did in the 2nd half against Ipswich. We can't afford a slow start or to give away a sloppy goal (as the vast majority of the goals against have been over recent years), but rather we need to take the game to them from kick off. Let's hope we get a good game and that the officials (Ref is Mike Dean) don't make any dubious decisions that have a major bearing on the final result!!!!!
To add to that, we lost home and away to Sunderland that season- good omen, if you believe in all that bollox
If it is a "good" omen then of course you believe it, but if it is a "bad" omen then it is a load of bollox. Lol.
