Still in Lithuania for this one but we got the win last wk so hopefully another tomorrow. Same team with maybe Rusyn in for Burstow for me.
Most new managers arrive at a club which is performing badly, implement changes and see immediate results (unless they're ****, or the team is beyond salvaging) Beale has come into a team that, in general, were performing well and just need to tweak some things to get that extra 10%. I think that is a much harder scenario to come into. Until you get it right, you might even have a slight negative impact. I've been critical of Beale myself, especially how late he makes subs in the game and some game management choices, but I still think there is more chance of Beale coming good for us and not bombing out. Imo, we'll start seeing improvement from this week onwards, now that he knows the players and has had time to work with them. Solid performance against Boro, then going on a good run.
Seelt has the attributes we need to show against Boro imo. I cringe sometimes with how easily big lads, like Ekwah, Jobe, etc, fail to challenge strongly or hang a leg out as an excuse for a tackle. The midfield also need to track back better and actually defend set pieces rather than expect Ballard and O'Nien to win every header. Boro have just lost an important player and took a real battering at Chelsea ... ... not the worst time to play them.
RTB As long as we say it’s not a proper derby, Boro will have the edge imo as that suits them. We’ve got to be bang up for it and want it more, then Clarke, Ba and co can do the damage.
It counts a derby for me these days. The skunks are an irrelevance now, they can feck off to some morraly corrupt middle east sponsored super league. As long as we don't pick up any injuries I'll be happy, but I reckon we will get a hard fought win. Stewart managed to get injured there before they even kicked off, so watch out for their crap pitch.
Many thanks RTB for another MDT We can win it , ref permitting, by playing football , 4/4/2 is the way, OaU
I'm biased. Being from Sedgefield, the split at school was mainly between the neanderthal smoggie fans, and the more sensible thinking Sunderland fans. There weren't that many mags fans around. Boro came nowhere near either Sunderland or Newcastle in their attendances or achievements, and were historically only ever a second division team, so were quite rightly never thought of as a serious rival or a derby match, but if you were going to get punched after being asked "who do you support", then you could bet that the knuckles coming at your face would have had BORO stamped into them with a compass and a bottle of quink.
Watched Beale's press conference and was pleased that he wouldn't accept it as a derby, rather "a team down the road". Wonder who's been giving out the advice. I'll take a draw and hope for the win. HTL
He does seemed to have settled down after his little rant of a presser. Mind you, you couldn't really blame him after all the **** he copped
