Match thread WBA v Middlesbrough 16 Jan 2026

[stargazer_1962]

Tried this earlier but it kicked me off
Will try to post team news at 6:45

[stargazer_1962]

Griffiths
Mepham
Bielik
Phillps
Taylor
Styles
Price
illing junior
Johnston
Grant
Heggebo

[baggieal]

Griffiths
Mepham
Bielik
Phillps
Taylor
Styles
Price
illing junior
Johnston
Grant
Heggebo

Huge concern in midfield for me and Junior FFS!

[Leicesterbaggie]

Mid-field, certainly a worry!

[On Balance]

Morrison still coach I read! Right or wrong? Did I miss something.

[Omegstrat6]

Very strange set up! Bielik I sort of understand for Campbell at RB, but Taylor playing in midfield leaving Styles at LB and then Grant playing where Diakite would normally start while Price is switched with Mikey so that he is on the right wing and Mikey behind Heggebo?

I think Grant can do well as a number 10 behind Heggebo but he is surely better suited to the left wing than Illing Junior while Mikey is surely far better suited to the right wing than playing behind Aune.? Seems we have straight away restricted our width for this game.

With Mowatt and Molumby still out injured, I get that Ramsay has limited options in midfield and I also can't disagree with Mozza that we failed to control that area of the pitch in the cup game, but Grant and Taylor? Maybe Whitwell might get his chance as he sounded decent for the brief spell that he was on for our last game before the suspected concussion.

Seems a very odd line up to me but maybe Ramsay knows or sees something we dont? He has re-iterated in his interviews the importance of clarity and of the players all being fully aware of their job roles and expectations of them but a few tonight will be playing in unfamiliar positions.

[kettering_baggie]

I thought that we had a new manager, sorry, head coach, no, sorry, head stats man. Ailing-Junior? Why? Surely Ollie Bostock deserves a starting place after his performance in the Cup? Ailing should be back at the Vile.

[Omegstrat6]

Very strange set up! Bielik I sort of understand for Campbell at RB, but Taylor playing in midfield leaving Styles at LB and then Grant playing where Diakite would normally start while Price is switched with Mikey so that he is on the right wing and Mikey behind Heggebo?

I think Grant can do well as a number 10 behind Heggebo but he is surely better suited to the left wing than Illing Junior while Mikey is surely far better suited to the right wing than playing behind Aune.? Seems we have straight away restricted our width for this game.

With Mowatt and Molumby still out injured, I get that Ramsay has limited options in midfield and I also can't disagree with Mozza that we failed to control that area of the pitch in the cup game, but Grant and Taylor? Maybe Whitwell might get his chance as he sounded decent for the brief spell that he was on for our last game before the suspected concussion.

Seems a very odd line up to me but maybe Ramsay knows or sees something we dont? He has re-iterated in his interviews the importance of clarity and of the players all being fully aware of their job roles and expectations of them but a few tonight will be playing in unfamiliar positions.

Then again, it could be the BBC website getting it wrong!😂 Midfield still a worry but they have just updated it so Styles is in midfield and Taylor at LB and Grant is on the right wing with Price behind him in midfield where Diakite would normally start. That might sound a tad better but they still have Mikey behind Heggebo with Illing Junior on the left wing.

[stargazer_1962]

I look forward to the game starting to know exactly what the team formation is

[Omegstrat6]

I thought that we had a new manager, sorry, head coach, no, sorry, head stats man. Ailing-Junior? Why? Surely Ollie Bostock deserves a starting place after his performance in the Cup? Ailing should be back at the Vile.

Think we will see Bostock and maybe a few others on at some point this evening Ketts!

[Omegstrat6]

I look forward to the game starting to know exactly what the team formation is

Yep, the whole "clarity" thing hasn't got off to a particularly good start has it?😁

[Dubbag]

Yep, the whole "clarity" thing hasn't got off to a particularly good start has it?😁

Yeah the clarity is a bit fogged up alright....

[stargazer_1962]

Sounds like a good start on the radio

[Omegstrat6]

Sounds like a good start on the radio

Long way to go but yes, we seem to have settled for not being over concerned with possession and getting everyone behind the ball when Boro have it which is making it hard for them to break through our lines while breaking a lot faster-and in numbers-than we have done which has created us a few chances. Sky commentators also pointing out that Ramsay achieved a really good conversion rate from corners and set pieces in the MLS which is an area we certainly need to improve on.

Mikey playing as a wing back and having some joy going forward though yet to see him under real pressure defensively. Apparently, Ramsay identified a decent winger at Minneapolis and turned him into an even better wing back so maybe trying this here?

Boro having most of the possession but we've had most of the chances and doing well so far.

[phild]

Same old, same old- 0-1