Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United

EFL Championship Matchweek 4 - Saturday 30th August 2025 - 12:30 - Riverside Stadium
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/middlesbrough-vs-sheffield-united.753/

Officials:

Referee: Lewis Smith
Assistants: Alex James and Andrew Dallison
Fourth Official: Oliver Langford

Coverage:

Follow via S24SU Twitter: https://twitter.com/s24su
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@s24su
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s24su/

Need a VPN? - https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/vpn-usage.87094/

Live TV Coverage:

SUTV (in Unsold Markets or Non-Televised in UK): https://www.sufc.co.uk/live/

​

 

[Karlos]

Tanganga been quality.
Brooks has to come off now and possibly Barry too. Brooks can't control the ball and looks yards off the pace, on and off the ball.
Too many cheap free kicks and midfield is far too high up the pitch and not tracking back and also far too narrow, no width.
Changes have to be made at half time.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Brooks looks like he won a raffle to play

Add O’Hare to the list.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Barry and Brooks absolutely awful. Two wingers with the pace to track back in this system are desperately needed.

A big part of our success in the last few years has been due to not relying on wingers and their natural inconsistency

Give me 2 wing backs who are reliable 7/10 performers every week

 

[peakblade]

Can the matchday thread moaners from last season please come back
where are you ?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

We could win this with a scruffy og but I have seen enough. He's got to go.

Unfortunately we are singing another 5 foot 9 midfielder

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

That half seemed a lot longer than it actually was. Middlesborough are moving the ball around better than we are but bright side we are not losing yet!

 

[Terry Starlight]

Burrows really poor. Peck lucky to be on the pitch. I'd hook them both at HT.

Refs given them everything, don't think we've won a foul.

We're not that bad when we're sitting in but they're getting us on the break every time. Tanganga looking solid so far.

I was expecting to concede an early goal then capitulate so happy with 0-0 at HT. All set for an Ings debut goal to make it 1-0 in the 90th minute.

 

[metalblade]

I'd be hooking Peck and Burrows to start with, soon to be followed by Brook and Barrie if they don't do summat.cambell not in the game again no service.

 

[JayGreen17]

If all of the COUNTRY, pundits, supporters, commentators, can see what’s wrong why can’t Selles.

This is diabolical and only a matter of time before we concede.

We can’t go forward as we have no midfield, weak down the left, and a CB that’s bloody awful in Bindon.

Is Selles thick or does he want to get sacked…..

 

[Hackey Blade]

Let’s hope Betis is in the dressing room giving someone his p45

 

[BritishSteel]

What is wrong with Burrows?

Couple of times he`s been out of position and instead of busting a gut to get back he`s done a "Lundstram" and just jogged like a fucking Sunday morning parkrunner.

 

[AWetFlannel]

So having 3 midfielders who lack physicality and any defensive attributes, you agree with?

I don't agree with your assessment of those three midfielders, they all have some defensive attributes. Not all functioning midfields have a big destroyer in them.

All that said, I've also made clear I'd want Soumare starting and I don't like the balance of it given what we've seen so far.

 

[Addison]

Tanagana showing his class. Really need to get Mee over the line alongside him. Boro should have been two up. Our left side is cruelly exposed and playing Peck on his own in the middle is utter madness. A decent manager would change formation to match up against their wing backs but he won't. Its 0-0 but this has all the hallmarks of another defeat if we continue to play the same way. There is no threat and build up play is pedestrian. Effective subs would improve the matter not least Soumare and even Serki so we can go into a 3 at the back. Just isnt going to happen though as we are wedded to the managers system that clearly isnt working.

 

[NYkr]

Lots of frustration from both Selles and players, they really need to take the lead here to fire up the confidence,
Edit* just seen Peck’s challenge fookin ell should be down the 10 alright

 

[Willglynning]

A big part of our success in the last few years has been due to not relying on wingers and their natural inconsistency

Give me 2 wing backs who are reliable 7/10 performers every week

I think I’d sell my soul for a peak Enda Stevens right now

 

[MartBlade]

Got to go 3-5-2 for me. Burrows and Seriki as wing backs.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

A tactical duncerclass from Selles.

 

[Ukkonen]

So not only are we not getting exciting football (was boring previously im told) we arent going to get any wins now either.

Being near the top of the table seems many moons ago.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

Insanity....doing the same thing expecting different results. Otherwise our midfield set up

 

[SLB]

I'd be hooking Peck and Burrows to start with, soon to be followed by Brook and Barrie if they don't do summat.cambell not in the game again no service.

Yep, Ings,Soumare and Chong at the very least.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

We must beef up the midfield.

Hamer just jogging and pointing.

Wingers look either lazy or clueless out of pression- can't work out which.

Ohare awful once more.

Campbell also doesn't work in a pressing team.

 

[YES Blade]

I don’t know which is worse, the performance or that horrible purple kit!

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

I think I’d sell my soul for a peak Enda Stevens right now

We knew what we'd get every week, and game after game there were no passengers. It all adds up

If we go with 2 flimsy inconsistent wingers, that's all out of the window and we're looking at a total identity change

 

[coolasanidiot]

We are just way too open. I'd much prefer Wilder set up- NOT TO LOSE - then maybe nick a goal to take definite 1 or lucky 3.

What we have here is the worst of both worlds - the football is disjointed, we have no attack threat, and its highly likely we lose.

Sorry to say that was pretty poor and naive.

 

[Blade56]

Tbf COH seem to be backing recruitment all be it in a scatter gun approach but it’s clear they have no idea what they are doing and Selles should be sacked during HT

 

[bonobo]

What is wrong with Burrows?

Couple of times he`s been out of position and instead of busting a gut to get back he`s done a "Lundstram" and just jogged like a fucking Sunday morning parkrunner.

I dont think having Bindon and Barry on either side of him is helping. There is a lot of jogging going on down that side of the pitch.

 

[fifty shades of blade]

We must beef up the midfield.

Hamer just jogging and pointing.

Wingers look either lazy or clueless out of pression- can't work out which.

Ohare awful once more.

Campbell also doesn't work in a pressing team.

We seem to have sewn up the midfield pointer over the past few years. Hamer taken the captain pointer's band from Norwood

 

[bakeblade]

I'd be hooking Peck and Burrows to start with, soon to be followed by Brook and Barrie if they don't do summat.cambell not in the game again no service.

Peck can't come out 2nd half, hes one iffy tackle from a red. Ref will have realised he's made a mistake and will be looking to put it right.
Brooks, Barrie and Burrows also cannot complain if hooked

 

[Balti Pie]

No exaggeration to say that first half was like watching a professional football team versus a Sunday league side

 

[Working Class Hero]

That was terrible but at least we've made it to half time at 0-0. Now Selles has the opportunity to change nothing, like he openly admitted he did last week.