Team v Middlesbrough [H]

[HeCanDoMagic]

So we have 2 huge home games coming up, starting with Boro in midweek.

Team selection is a bit harder to call than usual, Basham suspended, and then we have the crazy 14 minutes from Friday - will anyone pay a price for that (I don't think they should, and doubt they will), however that still leaves the now regular question; McGoldrick/Duffy or Madine/Dowell.

Madine I felt was our best defender on Friday - and I don't mean that in a funny/sarcastic way - he held the ball up and often took the heat off the defenders by doing so and gave a platform for us to play higher up the pitch. I think in recent times we'd have seen more waves of attacks against us without that in our armory.

Dowell played very well - but a fully rested and fresh Duffy - tough call!

Hogan will presumably back on the bench and I expect to see him at some point.

This team selection malarkey is all of a sudden a bit harder to call.

My personal set up would be;


- - - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Fleck - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - Madine - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

Subs: Moore, Hogan, McGoldrick, Stearman, Dowell, Coutts, Lundstram.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Back to basics

Although Madine and Dowell played very well and they will be a threat at set pieces but I'd like to see McGoldrick and Duffy back in.

 

[Torrix1889]

Never change a winning team.......for 80 minutes on Friday that was a superb winning team....same 11 for me, apart from Bash obviously, where presumably Cranie comes in.

 

[FTPE]

Dowell breaks very very well. He's Sharp and direct.
We will have the ball more this game again though so it would be great to see Duffy start.

 

[Bladesman]

- - - - - - - - - - - Henderson - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - Cranie - - Egan - - JOC - - - - - -

Baldock - - Norwood - - Fleck - - Stevens

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - McGoldrick - - Sharp - - - - - - - - -

 

[Edinblade]

Dowell has to start. The more we play him, the better he will get. So important for the run in. Duffy is a brilliant option to have on the bench.

 

[wizadry]

It’s an hard choice for Wilder but there is one way we can get round it, hope the ref doesn’t count the players and start with 13 on the pitch with Duffy and Goldy to come in on top of the starting xi from Friday, it’s the only thing I can think of right now.

 

[The Hobott]

Although Madine and Dowell played very well and they will be a threat at set pieces but I'd like to see McGoldrick and Duffy back in.

Agree. Don't want another game where at the end we are disappointed and our best player has never left the bench.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Back to basics

Although Madine and Dowell played very well and they will be a threat at set pieces but I'd like to see McGoldrick and Duffy back in.

Based on what Wilder has done in the past, assume he’ll play his tried and tested A team, with Duffy and McGoldrick starting.
However of course, we have 3 top players on the bench desperate to play, Madine, Dowell and Hogan, so if anyone drops their standard we have great attacking strength in depth.

 

[sheffielder]

As much as I would like to play the tried and trusted starting 11, madine needs to start due to the Boro air raid. I would start Dowell too as I think he earnt it. Duffy is the kind to prove people wrong and he can either do that if required when coming on but starts against Reading, where he has a history of good games

 

[nopigfansintown]

I think the OP has got the team right with the possible exception of Goldilocks for Madine. Dowell and Madine for the away games in which teams come at us;Madine and Mcgoldrick for the games in which teams sit deep and narrow, and we have to probe to find our way through them. If that fails, a late Madine air raid.

 

[wizadry]

As much as I would like to play the tried and trusted starting 11, madine needs to start due to the Boro air raid. I would start Dowell too as I think he earnt it. Duffy is the kind to prove people wrong and he can either do that if required when coming on but starts against Reading, where he has a history of good games

From what I’ve seen of Boro they aren’t that strong in the air, recent evidence of this was against Newport where they caused them all sorts of problems from long throws and set pieces, don’t get me wrong, the deliveries were great though.

Anyway, we’ll tear these a new arsehole by playing keepball and not needing to resort to hoof tactics.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Harsh on a few.

But in an attacking sense, I would just love to see Dids behind a front 2 of Sharp and Hulkster at some point (probably Satdi rather than vs Boro).

Madine probably to start Weds simply for the aerial threat.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Bladey Blades putting their favourites before the team yet again.

Madine and Dowell were central to a superb performance, each contributing to two of our three goals.

The team picks itself.

 

[McGrath]

I'd pick Simon Moore after Fridays debacle. Had Henderson been an outfield player he'd probably be dropped, and no one should be 'untouchable'.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I'd pick Simon Moore after Fridays debacle. Had Henderson been an outfield player he'd probably be dropped, and no one should be 'untouchable'.

The golden rule of football management is you never drop a goalie based on a mistake
The logic is ALL goalies make the odd mistake or blunder, you’d be adding extra pressure and forever changing the goal keeper.
It would give the wrong message, hence why managers rarely swap and change.

You only change goalie as a last reason, it’s if there’s been a serious loss of form over a number of games.
This isn’t the case as Henderson is generally playing very well, so not much choice but to keep him in.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

Billy due a dry spell after scoring so prodigiously recently. So he has to be dropped.

Keep Duffy on the bench to prove we can win without him.

Both keepers apparently dog shit now, so extra CB playing goalie wag when required.

 

[wizadry]

I'd pick Simon Moore after Fridays debacle. Had Henderson been an outfield player he'd probably be dropped, and no one should be 'untouchable'.

If this is your thought process then we should drop JOC aswell then? It was one freak ten minute spell where I’d be very reluctant to drop anyone after a terrific 80 minutes.

 

[IOM Blade]

Bladey Blades putting their favourites before the team yet again.

Madine and Dowell were central to a superb performance, each contributing to two of our three goals.

The team picks itself.

The team with McGoldrick and Duffy have won the last four home games in a row.

 

[Pinchy]

The team with McGoldrick and Duffy have won the last four home games in a row.

Madine and Dowell were instrumental in what would have been a convincing away victory had they not been taken off.

We would not have conceded three had Gary Madine been on the pitch. He is hugely powerful in both penalty areas.

Same team as made it 3-0 and would have won a notable victory, please Tufty. Ignore the noise and nonsense.

 

[Pinchy]

If this is your thought process then we should drop JOC aswell then? It was one freak ten minute spell where I’d be very reluctant to drop anyone after a terrific 80 minutes.

...and we shouldn’t. Quite right. Same starting eleven, please, including the two lads crucially involved in two of our goals.

 

[wizadry]

...and we shouldn’t. Quite right. Same starting eleven, please, including the two lads crucially involved in two of our goals.

I like the look of Dowell and (cough, cough, splutter, splutter) Madine but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Wilder go back to the same starting lineup as the last set of home games, all of which we’ve played well in. I think it’s a case of see who Wilder picks and cheer the fuckers on, whether they’re your favourites or not.

 

[McGrath]

The golden rule of football management is you never drop a goalie based on a mistake
The logic is ALL goalies make the odd mistake or blunder, you’d be adding extra pressure and forever changing the goal keeper.
It would give the wrong message, hence why managers rarely swap and change.

You only change goalie as a last reason, it’s if there’s been a serious loss of form over a number of games.
This isn’t the case as Henderson is generally playing very well, so not much choice but to keep him in.

When do you drop a keeper then?

 

[S15Blade]

Never change a winning team.......for 80 minutes on Friday that was a superb winning team....same 11 for me, apart from Bash obviously, where presumably Cranie comes in.

But we changed a winning team... to the non winning team.

I'm confused

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Thinking about my reasoning in the opening post for playing Madine and I think I've fallen in the trap of thinking about the opposition too much. They have a lot of aerial threat and so I automatically think to put someone in to counteract that. Don't think that should be our approach.

We should let them worry about us. Out best home performances have come with Duffy, McGoldrick and Sharp. Let them worry about how they'll negate that threat.

 

[Davalon]

Madine and Dowell were instrumental in what would have been a convincing away victory had they not been taken off.

We would not have conceded three had Gary Madine been on the pitch. He is hugely powerful in both penalty areas.

Same team as made it 3-0 and would have won a notable victory, please Tufty. Ignore the noise and nonsense.

Are you suggesting Wilder listens to this forum, or any other outlet

I take it your post is also a backhanded criticism of Wilder if he reverts to DMcG and Duff

 

[originaltrueblade]

Same team apart from Bash of course. Madine and Dowell played very well would be an injustice to drop them. Duffy, Hogan and Mac off the bench. It’s a long time since we had all these options

 

[wizadry]

Thinking about my reasoning in the opening post for playing Madine and I think I've fallen in the trap of thinking about the opposition too much. They have a lot of aerial threat and so I automatically think to put someone in to counteract that. Don't think that should be our approach.

We should let them worry about us. Out best home performances have come with Duffy, McGoldrick and Sharp. Let them worry about how they'll negate that threat.

I knew you’d come around to the idea in the end, magic.

 

[Bobby b]

I think Madine is a cert to start the main reason for this is that Middlesbrough have a very tall side especially in defence and I think not only is Madine good in the air but he's a bruiser who'll make himself a nuisance in a way that mcgoldrick couldn't, I think Duffy will come back and I think there's a case for Steadman in defence because they'll send up the defenders up on set pieces
I also hope that when substitutions are made wilder does like for like ie Duffy for Dowell etc so that we keep our shape which I think was one of the reasons for the 10 minute batting collapse

 

[RammyBlade]

From what I’ve seen of Boro they aren’t that strong in the air, recent evidence of this was against Newport where they caused them all sorts of problems from long throws and set pieces, don’t get me wrong, the deliveries were great though.

Anyway, we’ll tear these a new arsehole by playing keepball and not needing to resort to hoof tactics.

Boro NOT strong in the air ? You obviously didntgo to Middlesbrough early in the season when we were 3.0 down all from headers and set pieces !!