[gazberg]

I’m not sure about this Frabotta in and switching Heggem. The pair of them were on the pitch when we conceded the winner on Saturday and neither of them were anywhere near an opponent . It was admittedly a very short time but to me I don’t see that that change is going to improve the team .

I don't hold much hope for Frabotta personally but we need to find out whether he can hack it or not, no point paying him for 3 years only to keep him on the fringes.

[hardtobeat]

We also have Styles that can play LB but he can’t even make the bench whic seems very strange as we seemed to have spent most of the window haggling with Barnsley over him .

[gazberg]

We also have Styles that can play LB but he can’t even make the bench whic seems very strange as we seemed to have spent most of the window haggling with Barnsley over him .

Very strange deal indeed, fully agree.

[johnny Cash]

I’d put Mowatt and Molumby back in and go with the side that started the season provided Mowatt is fit.

I was worried about this game before the weekend and don’t feel any better about it now, think it’ll be another defeat

[wbatillidie]

Personally wouldn't tinker with the back four for this one, we haven't conceded a goal at home yet and before Saturday had only let in two. Boro are also one of the best attacking teams in the league and chucking Frabotta in for his first start could be a disaster, as per Diakitie/Racic on the weekend. I would be tempted to get either MJ or Grady in for Grant, though. He might have started the season well and can't fault his work ethic, but I still just don't think he's a very good footballer

[KN22]

Would like to see a couple of changes from the weekend, I think now is the time.

Palmer

Furlong   Ajayi   Heggem   Frabotta

Molumby   Mowatt

Fellows   Swift   Johnstone

Maja

We need to win the midfield battle in this one as Boro are strong there. Grant has been much improved this season, but I just feel like we are missing a trick if we don’t get MJ in and up and running as he will invariably offer far more than Grant over the course of the season. Bartley has been really poor this season in half of the games so I would get Heggem into his natural position and get Frabotta in as a natural left back as they have Doak on their wing who is extremely highly rated and scored at the weekend

Agree re Johnstone for Grant and definitely the return of Mowatt and Molumby. Would leave back 4 unchanged and would try Grady for Swift. Not that I think Swift has been in the bad form that some believe.

[caravanc58]

We could try either Holgate or Mcnair at CB. Bartley may be out of form but do we have a better replacement?

[lewisant]

I think changing the whole left side of defence is too much when we have largely defended well all season so for me if we want to see how Frabotta does then Heggem should be rested. The amount of changes being suggested seems quite unnecessary considering we’re top.

I think we just need a freshen up and to go with Frabotta and Johnston in. Hopefully Mowatt and Molumby return as they are crucial to the clean sheets.

[MarkW]

You look at the goals conceded Vs Sheffield Wednesday and I think the midfield was the main problem. - I wouldn't tinker with the defence.

Goal 1 - Diakite is ahead of the ball and they cut a pass between Racic and another player I can't identify (Swift?) - suddenly they are 5 Vs 4 on our defence and we fail to get back in time.

Goal 2 - their CB has a load of time to get his head up (Maja slow in pressing him), and then what is Palmer doing? Is he coming or staying? Caught in no-man's land and makes it too easy. I don't like Bartley being caught out there either, but it's Palmer's positioning that means Windass can nod it in.

Goal 3 - Racic (I think?) fails to track the midfield runner, and then we have an overload at the back post that Frabotta fails to rectify.

If Mowatt and Molumby are fit they need to start. Middlesbrough love to dominate the ball so we need to be patient and look after it when we do get it, though using Fellows and ideally Johnston to counter them would be good.

[hardtobeat]

Bit harsh blaming Racic when he wasn't on the pitch ! Think it was Swift that didn't ho with Bannan

[MarkW]

Bit harsh blaming Racic when he wasn't on the pitch ! Think it was Swift that didn't ho with Bannan

My mistake, yes! Mowatt passes the runner off to Swift but Swift is ball-watching.

[boingboing1989]

My mistake, yes! Mowatt passes the runner off to Swift but Swift is ball-watching.

Swift also gave the ball away on the edge of our box that lead to the goal also.

[Droitwich Baggie]

Just looked at the BBC stats.
Same number of goals conceded. BUT !  They have had more shots on target. 36 against 29.

[Fritzl Palace]

Wallace in for Fellows, Mowatt in for Diakite.

Not sure on the former myself, but in CC I trust

[KingKoren]

I read the Boro forums today and their main concern seemed to their left back up against Fellows so it's an interesting decision. 3 games in 7 days you do require some rotation, he is clearly reluctant to risk injured players after the issues we've had in the past and it's hard to blame him.

[BaggieBoy04]

I would have changed Grant for MJ Myself, Fellows is our live wire, Wallace could have come in for Swift, Wallace can cross a ball though and now we have Maja we actually have someone to get on the end of them, Frabotta or Styles could have also come in for me. Traffic Cahos again, when are Sandwell Council going to improve the bottleneck that is the J1 Island

[TheBaggieMan]

Might Fellows be carrying a knock or potential tiredness?

[BaggieBoy04]

Possibly tired, and it isn't actually J1 it is the A41 and the road through Sandwell Valley that is absolutely gridlocked

[gazberg]

Some changes but the Fellows one seems strange to me, Boro fans reckon that Fellows was their main concern.

Hopefully Jed can come in fresh and firing. Nice to see Cole back in squad.

[Droitwich Baggie]

COYB

[Droitwich Baggie]

They are on the attack.

[Droitwich Baggie]

We have to get into this game.

[Droitwich Baggie]

We are playing on our left, possible because we have no outlet on the right

[Droitwich Baggie]

They mean business.

[Droitwich Baggie]

We only have 17.5% possession. Need our midfield to step up to the plate.