v Middlesbrough (a) - 26/12/25

[rigger]

20 minutes ago, DE. said:

Can't say I'd be surprised if I found out the club had just left him to his own devices rather than ensuring he was getting the best care. Let's hope it's just a bullshit story though. 

Perhaps the physios have knocked-off for Christmas ? 

[Tom]

That twitter account is a bit of a clown show so take it with a pinch of salt.

On the previous debate I think Callum Brittain is a class act and definitely one of the best right backs in the league; Alebiosu for me has potential to be better and it’s certainly a worthy debate to suggest he may already be.

[norwichblue]

Merry Christmas Rovers fans.

Been a happy hunting ground for us in the past but they’ve probably got too much for us this year. Last time I went up there Paul Dickov won it at the dead and my mate did the Kuqi celebration and hurt himself. Simpler times! 😂

[bigbrandjohn]

Looks like Pickering is going to be potted in January. Doesn’t fit the system. Strange for a versatile left side or Centre back. 

Perhaps high earner syndrome, or contract rundownitis? Surely not. 

Probably be in the shop window Boxing Day. 

Funny how these reliable players become a liability under a different regime. 
 

Just call me sentimental. 

[47er]

On 24/12/2025 at 00:16, philipl said:

Bristol City beat Boro 2-0 in their last game, not because Bristol were brilliant but because Boro were distinctly ordinary. Brittain in particular was nothing like the player he was for us.

He'll have something to prove in this game though.

[davulsukur]

On 23/12/2025 at 13:16, philipl said:

Bristol City beat Boro 2-0 in their last game, not because Bristol were brilliant but because Boro were distinctly ordinary. Brittain in particular was nothing like the player he was for us.

I've watched a couple of Boro games this season and Brittain was really good in both.

Brittain is the better player as it stands right now but Alebiosu might develop into a better right back given time.

[infoman]

Any indication of how many tickets have been sold for the game at Middlesbrough?

Thank you.

[Neal]

Quite surprised some think Brittain is better... Alebiosu is a league ahead in quality and it's not even close in my opinion. He plays like a player who came through at Arsenal and even if he didn't make it there, should be playing in the same league. 

[Tomphil2]

10 hours ago, infoman said:

Any indication of how many tickets have been sold for the game at Middlesbrough?

Thank you.

I'll take a punt and say 1400 ish.

[Penwortham Blue]

2 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

I'll take a punt and say 1400 ish.

Well short of the 5,000 we took up to the old Ayresome Park on Boxing Day 1987. I think Boro, with Mowbray and Pallister, were top of the league and went on to get promoted via the play offs. We were 23 or something unbeaten with Steve Archibald up front. Garner and Bernie ‘the wolf man’ Slaven scoring in a 1-1 draw. It was certainly a rough old encounter, especially off the pitch, supporter bus windows being bricked and they attempted to turn our tranny van over, those were the days 😊

[Old Codger]

1 hour ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Well short of the 5,000 we took up to the old Ayresome Park on Boxing Day 1987. I think Boro, with Mowbray and Pallister, were top of the league and went on to get promoted via the play offs. We were 23 or something unbeaten with Steve Archibald up front. Garner and Bernie ‘the wolf man’ Slaven scoring in a 1-1 draw. It was certainly a rough old encounter, especially off the pitch, supporter bus windows being bricked and they attempted to turn our tranny van over, those were the days 😊

It was probably the boufant hair, make up and glam pants that irked the locals.. Roux Paul wasn't a celebrity back then, especially in the 'man's world' of Teesside..

[Wheelton Blue]

1 hour ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Well short of the 5,000 we took up to the old Ayresome Park on Boxing Day 1987. I think Boro, with Mowbray and Pallister, were top of the league and went on to get promoted via the play offs. We were 23 or something unbeaten with Steve Archibald up front. Garner and Bernie ‘the wolf man’ Slaven scoring in a 1-1 draw. It was certainly a rough old encounter, especially off the pitch, supporter bus windows being bricked and they attempted to turn our tranny van over, those were the days 😊

I was there that day and can still remember the coach driver telling us to seek cover in the aisle, moments before the windows went through!

[neophox]

4 hours ago, Neal said:

Quite surprised some think Brittain is better... Alebiosu is a league ahead in quality and it's not even close in my opinion. He plays like a player who came through at Arsenal and even if he didn't make it there, should be playing in the same league. 

He is a steal and will come back even stronger after the African Nations Cup. Hopefully he keeps himself fit.

[Rogerb]

Steve Archibald that was a signing with ambition.

[rigger]

3 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

I was there that day and can still remember the coach driver telling us to seek cover in the aisle, moments before the windows went through!

My first encounter with the "frontline".

[Tomphil2]

7 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Well short of the 5,000 we took up to the old Ayresome Park on Boxing Day 1987. I think Boro, with Mowbray and Pallister, were top of the league and went on to get promoted via the play offs. We were 23 or something unbeaten with Steve Archibald up front. Garner and Bernie ‘the wolf man’ Slaven scoring in a 1-1 draw. It was certainly a rough old encounter, especially off the pitch, supporter bus windows being bricked and they attempted to turn our tranny van over, those were the days 😊

Boro's highest crowd for about 20 years at the time and the opened up the terraced corners in the crumbling stadium.

Rovers fans pelted them with missiles and the Boro lot kicked through the steel fence outside afterwards.

Madness outside, was only young and don't mind to say we legged it 🙂

[Waggy76]

18 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

I was there that day and can still remember the coach driver telling us to seek cover in the aisle, moments before the windows went through!

Dangerous game that as was when we 5-1 or 5-0 a few years before !

Ayresome Park,   is up there with Burnden Park as the most dangerous grounds ,I have visited !

[Old Codger]

A safe journey to all travelling to Smogland for the game this afternoon. Fingers crossed for a worthwhile journey, and some semblance of a Blackburn Rovers that gives it Arte et Labore for the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Middlesbrough looking dry and relatively calm for the duration, so there will be no swampy pitch to contend with.

I do hope the PASHA OUT banner has legs and will travel. Keep the visual pressure up on the backroom snake, if nothing else.  Anyway, compliments of the season to one and all - let's hope  that the Boro side are in the mood for giving gifts, and that our Icelandic tapper inner has his shooting boots on. 

Here's hoping that the youngsters get another chance to show their worth too.

Give em the Road to Hell, so that when you're driving home for (the day after) Christmas you will be doing so with the satisfaction of putting Bob Mortimer (bless him) on his arse.

It will make Lee Mack happy, after all..

COYB!

VENKYS OUT!

Edited 2 hours ago by Old Codger
Rovers is a thread through my life, but the Venkys will never break that. Bastards.

[Atko's Engine]

Morning everyone & Merry Christmas (better late than never).

We're capable of doing a number on Boro today as we have done several times there recently. Hopefully our win v Millwall & their defeat at Bristol gives enough of a momentum shift for us to get the 3 points, though a draw would be v good too.

Sounds like we'll be without Andri, but hopefully we still have enough for a win by the only goal. 

 

[RevidgeBlue]

Completely free hit today, no-one really expects us to win and there'd be no shame in performing creditably but going down to a narrow defeat, so who knows.

[lraC]

34 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

A safe journey to all travelling to Smogland for the game this afternoon. Fingers crossed for a worthwhile journey, and some semblance of a Blackburn Rovers that gives it Arte et Labore for the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Middlesbrough looking dry and relatively calm for the duration, so there will be no swampy pitch to contend with.

I do hope the PASHA OUT banner has legs and will travel. Keep the visual pressure up on the backroom snake, if nothing else.  Anyway, compliments of the season to one and all - let's hope  that the Boro side are in the mood for giving gifts, and that our Icelandic tapper inner has his shooting boots on. 

Here's hoping that the youngsters get another chance to show their worth too.

Give em the Road to Hell, so that when you're driving home for (the day after) Christmas you will be doing so with the satisfaction of putting Bob Mortimer (bless him) on his arse.

It will make Lee Mack happy, after all..

COYB!

VENKYS OUT!

 

[lraC]

[Old Codger]

21 minutes ago, lraC said:

Definitely UNWANTED.

However, this odious toad is merely the mouthpiece of the unspeakably arrogant and vile clump of shit mulch that sits in Pune, overseeing the incremental dismantling of Jack's legacy and OUR club.

VENKYS OUT!!

 

[davulsukur]

23 hours ago, Neal said:

Quite surprised some think Brittain is better... Alebiosu is a league ahead in quality and it's not even close in my opinion. He plays like a player who came through at Arsenal and even if he didn't make it there, should be playing in the same league. 

Leagues ahead is some overstatement.

Alebiosu is decent, no doubts. Brittain is much better in regards to technical ability, Alebiosu looks almost clumsy but still gets past his man and has a knack of digging out a cross when it looks like he shouldn't be able to.

A game of opinions of course, though.

[chaddyrovers]

lets bring that 3 points home today, would take a point now tho. 

Will be interesting what we do if Gudjohnsen isn't fit.