Home Match Day Thread 22/11/2025 - MDT: OUFC v Middlesbrough

[Northstandboy]

 

[Marked Ox]

Thought it was a fair reflection of the game, apart from the penalty shout. Also felt the L Harris challenge on another day/different referee could have been a red (high foot), but having said that, I couldn’t believe the challenge on Tyler wasn’t a free-kick/yellow!

Also, not sure his comment about Placheta being a threat with his pace rings true, but my god I wish it was!! If only he’d bloody knock the ball past the defender and beat them for pace!! Placheta seems more of a threat when he doesn’t have to think e.g. the goals against Bristol City (away) and equaliser against Millwall. When he has to think he either loses it or the ball ends up in row ZZ!!

Haven't looked at the highlights but it was not a penalty live, if anything it looked like his first attempt at a dive. But then we all have different colour glasses on when watching. Agreed on the challenge on TG but again only based on live.

 

[Marked Ox]

From our perspective, in the SSU on the half way line, we didn't see TG being lazy or not tracking back in quite the same light as you have. He was limited in options as he really isn't a winger in the normal sense and when he did get the ball to his feet was swiftly targetted by defenders. He was not quick enough, maybe, but not lazy.
What he did lack was, and this is going to cost him, that awareness and edge that he once displayed.
Will be interesting to see whether he features on Tuesday and/or Friday.

I agree but it was his first game back on a difficult pitch* and players can sometimes take a game or 2 to get going. *Yesterday the ball seemed to hold up inconsistently on the wings (caught out their 10 a couple of times) but skidded on in the middle.

 

[jaybeachjump]

People saying they're disappointed with the recruitment after three whole windows! Building a championship level squad with the type of athletic, fast, good players people are describing takes time, and much longer with a small budget. It's why things get easier in the third season, if you can survive that long.

 

[Marked Ox]

Did anyone else notice Cumming wore last seasons away kit yesterday? Wonder why?

He needs to start wearing last season's purple kit. We seemed to do well when he played in that.

 

[Oxymoron]

Did anyone else notice Cumming wore last seasons away kit yesterday? Wonder why?

FIFA rules state
"Each goalkeeper must wear colours that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials".

He has worn black previously when the match officials were similarly attired, so I can only assume that the referee insisted on a different colour.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Think for wing play the best are Mills and Krastev, Dembel is to light weight and Shemmy
Can’t see what he offers, today’s performance is not to dissimilar To other negative performances from him. He’s got pace but to be honest what does he do with it? He’s receives the ball runs two paces stops turns and passes back he’s got to have the courage of his convictions and take on the defender skim him and who knows? But so far nothing of note apart from his two goals

It's typical of a left footed player playing on the right Baz.
His instinct is to keep the ball on his left. He's very reluctant to go outside because he would have to use his right and he's not comfortable doing it. Defenders know this so they show him the outside knowing he'll probably take a few touches then pass it back inside or lose the ball under pressure. I think if you played him on the left he would skin defenders and get plenty of crosses in, but you then stop him coming inside and scoring a worldy on the odd occasion. On that basis I don't think it's worth starting him on the right. Use him for the last half hour when defenders are tiring.
I don't think Mills is Championship standard either.

 

[TailsWeWin]

Krastev showed what we were missing when Tyler came off. He is skilful, can find space, has a lovely touch and the ability to create chances IF he is played centrally. Surely he’s worth trying in the no 10 role? He’s the nearest thing we have to Ruben R as someone who has vision - just a little quicker in his thinking.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

FIFA rules state
"Each goalkeeper must wear colours that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials".

He has worn black previously when the match officials were similarly attired, so I can only assume that the referee insisted on a different colour.

Yesterday's ref was so poor be probably would've confused a linesman for a keeper.

 

[Swaby39]

Krastev showed what we were missing when Tyler came off. He is skilful, can find space, has a lovely touch and the ability to create chances IF he is played centrally. Surely he’s worth trying in the no 10 role? He’s the nearest thing we have to Ruben R as someone who has vision - just a little quicker in his thinking.

He’s got to play. I think Rowett is overthinking it a bit - my take is you get your best players playing and mould the rest around them. All this Hokey Cokey with him is a bit frustrating when nobody comes in and justifies his exclusion.

I don’t like him being out wide where all the running up and down drains his legs. Keep him in the middle and task him with creating for Lankshear - I think they could strike up a partnership. Hurts me a bit to have someone up top who scores goals and feed him nothing.

I’d play Goodrham and Krastev, one wide, one central, and let them swap to share the running and keep the opponent guessing. If one combination works more than the other then leave them there.

I think Krastev will start on Tuesday, as will Mills.

 

[uptheus]

Haven't looked at the highlights but it was not a penalty live, if anything it looked like his first attempt at a dive. But then we all have different colour glasses on when watching. Agreed on the challenge on TG but again only based on live.

Just to be clear, it was their manager on the interview clip that was saying it was a penalty, not me!!

 

[uptheus]

Thought the atmosphere from our fans was very poor. Always start off fairly well, but fades away after 10-15mins!!

Getting nearly as bad as England fans who only seem to be able to sing the National Anthem!!!

 

[uptheus]

My starting team for Tuesday v Norwich would be;

Cumming
Long, Helik, Brown, Currie
Brannagan (if fit, if not, Vaulks), BDK
Mills, Prelec, Krastev
Lankshear

 

[Nick the Greek]

Is there any update on Branagan’s availability? I know teams like to keep these things quiet so as to keep opponents guessing. Got a feeling he may be out for a while but time for the other players to step up to the plate!

 

[Bretch Hill]

Thought the atmosphere from our fans was very poor. Always start off fairly well, but fades away after 10-15mins!!

Getting nearly as bad as England fans who only seem to be able to sing the National Anthem!!!

Sounded fine in the east stand to me tbh.

 

[Marked Ox]

Just to be clear, it was their manager on the interview clip that was saying it was a penalty, not me!!

Apologies, didn't make myself clear. I was just following on and making a comment about the claim by Adi Viveash.

 

[Stanford yellow]

Thought the atmosphere from our fans was very poor. Always start off fairly well, but fades away after 10-15mins!!

Getting nearly as bad as England fans who only seem to be able to sing the National Anthem!!!

Thought the tannoy/music quiet in north stand yesterday

 

[OX14]

Thought the tannoy/music quiet in north stand yesterday

Was the same in the east stand but the adverts on the screen were blaring out.

 

[Boris]

The Rage Online match report is now live: https://rageonline.co.uk/fans-view-25-26-middlesbrough-home/

We have a new cub reporter (me)!

 

[holdsteady]

On my way into the east stand yesterday a steward was asking a few younger looking people if they were 18/whether they were with an adult? Is that a thing now? You can’t attend matches on your own as an under 18?

 

[uptheus]

Thought the tannoy/music quiet in north stand yesterday

We can never hear it in the SSU, Rosie always sounds like the muffled announcer at the station!

 

[carefreeoufc]

On my way into the east stand yesterday a steward was asking a few younger looking people if they were 18/whether they were with an adult? Is that a thing now? You can’t attend matches on your own as an under 18?

I got a denied entry with my ST when it was scanned. No explanation other than I needed to go to the ticket office, my son was scanned and fine.

After a bit of disagreement, the stewards let me in so I could get some spare clothes out of the bag for my boy who was soaked through.

Not sure whether they scanned it by accident and they believed I was already in there, or the team with decades of experience think I’ve been a naughty boy.

 

[uptheus]

Sounded fine in the east stand to me tbh.

Could hardly hear you, was hoping it would have been pumping yesterday, especially after the international break/nearly 3 weeks since a home game.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Sometimes it's easy to look at how a team gets outside us and think we're letting them get at us, but I think we were happy for them to have it wide and either defend crosses, or force them back inside to the congested middle of the pitch.

Interestingly (to me, at least) that was our lowest share of possession since Hull away back in August - yet the xGA of just 0.8 was only bettered in the Derby and Sheffield United games.

That is to say, Middlesbrough had a lot of ball, but barely threatened or carved out clear cut opportunities.

That pleases me, because one thing we haven't done well this season (as opposed to last) is limit those opposition who will have a lot of ball, effectively. We've seen the likes of Coventry, Stoke, even Millwall look like scoring with almost every attack.

Sometimes at this level it's about playing in the right areas, knowing when to squeeze and when to step off. As a side that will not see the majority of the ball this season that is even more crucial.

And equally, going forward, countering, is our best hope of goals from open play. We of course need better decision making at times, but our goal yesterday showed that.

At both ends of the pitch, yesterday could be our blueprint against the better sides - particularly away from home.

There are times when we should be more expansive for sure, but when faced with a technically superior outfit it's all about defending the box well, being disciplined, and having an effective outlet at the other end.

Maybe we've been guilty of trying to force it a little bit this season, leaving gaps, being too open.

We stayed up being pragmatic. We can certainly do so again, especially with more quality in the final third which we appear to have.

 

[Eaststanding]

Thought the atmosphere from our fans was very poor. Always start off fairly well, but fades away after 10-15mins!!

Getting nearly as bad as England fans who only seem to be able to sing the National Anthem!!!

b*****s.
Where were you in the ground?
From the east stand I always felt that at the right times the crowd were doing their best to get the team going.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Could hardly hear you, was hoping it would have been pumping yesterday, especially after the international break/nearly 3 weeks since a home game.

Same from the North Stand. Cannot fathom why we have about 50 singers in the East Stand and the rest are basically happy clappers

We have the least passionate set of home supporters I think I can remember, which if appalling considering the position we find ourselves in.

Ps. The only reason we're not in the East Stand contributing is because I have two young boys who wanted to get season tickets in the family stand.
That said, I reckon my eldest son and I are more vocal than at least 50% of those in the East Stand.

Where has our hardcore support gone?

 

[Manorlounger]

I got a denied entry with my ST when it was scanned. No explanation other than I needed to go to the ticket office, my son was scanned and fine.

After a bit of disagreement, the stewards let me in so I could get some spare clothes out of the bag for my boy who was soaked through.

Not sure whether they scanned it by accident and they believed I was already in there, or the team with decades of experience think I’ve been a naughty boy.

Had this experience as well. First scan goes through but they don't see it, scan again and, yup, you are already in the ground and ain't coming in again! First time was a right mess and I confess I was rather pissed off and got quite angry with the stewards on the turnstiles. Eventually, after much discussion, I went to the ticket office who showed their usual common sense and agreed that, as I was stood in front of them, I wasn't already in the ground.

 

[Pgyellow]

Exactly the same experience I had a while ago

 

[Oxymoron]

I got a denied entry with my ST when it was scanned. No explanation other than I needed to go to the ticket office, my son was scanned and fine.

We went in gate 12 and the turnstile operator didn't scan anyone's ticket. Instead, they were writing the seat number down on a pad, so it's possible there was a problem.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Ah! Not an isolated experience then. I’d usually be a lot less animated if I had been on my own. However, I was pretty hacked off at the suggestion that we’d already been in, given the six year old could have filled Farmoor Res with the water dripping off him. Fortunately, one of the security personnel saw sense and admitted us.

The joys of technology and not the old tear offs I guess.

 

[Yellow2K22]

I have just noticed that we are ‘top’ of the fair play table (least amount of cards for this season). I wonder if anyone more clued up than me with these things can analyse why this might be, and if this is good, bad, a result of being the ‘smallest team’? Or just a complete fluke…..