Matchday thread Middlesbrough v WBA 19 Sept 2025

[baggiematt]

Im not fussed that we setup defensively but I would have liked us to have reacted more after the second goal. We cant keep having Campbell, a centre half, on the ball the most in their half.

Put an attacking player on for him!

[stargazer_1962]

From what Mason said earlier before the match, he's biding his time to start Maja, and so I reckon next match he will definitely start him.
Who he drops, either Wallace or Heggbo I do not know.

[Omegstrat6]

Wallace did OK to be fair but it is clear that Mikey offers far more pace, energy and forward running. Maja now on for Diakite alongside Heggabo so lets hope its not too late to get something back. Lessons for Mason to learn here.

[Omegstrat6]

Excellent ball in from Mikey and pleased for Heggabo. Can we snatch a point in dying mins?

[TipperaryBaggie]

We are too slow in our build up. Only when Mikey came on did we up the pace. We must be more positive otherwise the season will be over before it starts.

[Omegstrat6]

Boro are a decent team but really feel that a different starting selection and we could have got a point tonight at least. Johnston needs to start ahead of Wallace and Maja either alongside Heggabo or ahead of him. I know we have been guilty of getting early goals and then sitting on them in the past but surely better to try and get ahead early than chase the game.

[SwedishBaggie]

Second season in a row with no recognized (fit) goal scorers - it keeps punishing us.

[TipperaryBaggie]

Must play two natural full backs instead of Styles and Campbell who are not comfortable in those positions.

[Prando]

Disappointed again tonight.
Poor performance from Price and Mowatt and Mulumby were not at their best.
As said by others, we were slow in our build up and I was hoping for a more positive attempt and maybe Mikey, Junior and Maja starting.
Campbell is steady, but ever passing back in the absence of a midfielder.
I’m afraid Colyer offered little … but did plenty of pointing … oh dear.
I’m still hopeful we may make the playoffs once Ryan assesses our preferred team.
COYB

[Omegstrat6]

How about Griffiths, Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, Taylor, Molumby, Styles, Johnston, Heggabo, Maja, Price?

[Bombers right foot]

How about Griffiths, Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, Taylor, Molumby, Styles, Johnston, Heggabo, Maja, Price?

Looks a balanced team, I would like Gilchrist instead of Campbell who seems to be turning into Furlong mk2

[Omegstrat6]

Looks a balanced team, I would like Gilchrist instead of Campbell who seems to be turning into Furlong mk2

I understand your point bomber-though Campbell is like Furlong in reverse, better at defending than him but clearly less comfortable going forward. Just not sure that Gilchrist will be an improvement in both areas. I know that elements of our defence are still not quite right but it seems to me that our main issue remains our sluggishness in moving the ball forward and our lack of goal scoring prowess.

With this in mind, my thinking was that Mikey needs to start ahead of Wallace (as he offers more pace and energy) and moving Styles into midfield in place of Mowatt should help creativity there. Heggabo is not the natural goal scorer that Maja is, but I'm mindful of his other attributes such as his ability to hold the ball up so think that playing the two together could work well. Price has been pretty ineffectual at times but he did seem to come alive more tonight once the subs were made and we started to play more attacking football.

Depending on how the game is going or on individual performance, Mowatt or Diakite may replace Molumby and Iling Junior (or Grant when he is back) take over from Mikey or Price but I've not been overly impressed with what I have seen from Collyer so far tbh.

[Prando]

How about Griffiths, Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, Taylor, Molumby, Styles, Johnston, Heggabo, Maja, Price?

That?ll do for me buddy.