|
Ahead of Sunday's meeting with Middlesbrough at
The Hawthorns, we spoke with Rob from the website
One Boro.
He gives us his views on his
club's start to the season, their survival prospects, and more. You can follow
One Boro on Twitter @oneboro.
You can also check out their preview for the game here
 I'd
imagine last season will live long in the memory of
Middlesbrough fans?
After coming so close through
the Play Off the season before, it was quite a relief to get promoted without
having to suffer that again!
How's your
start to this season been?
Good! Well, in the Premier
League anyway. Taking four points from our opening 3 matches is a good start
back in the big time, plus beating
Sunderland is always a bonus!
Talk us
through your squad, strengths? Weaknesses?
I think it’s still early days to
see if our promotion winning team can make the step up. In defence, Gibson and
Friend look unfazed whilst midfielders Clayton and Forshaw look like they
settled pretty well.
New signings Antonio Barragan,
Alvaro Negredo have strengthened the team in key areas, with Negredo playing a
part in all of our Premier League goals so far.
In terms of weaknesses, Brad
Guzan looks a bit suspect however Aitor Karanka seems to be sticking by him. I
feel we’re still lacking creativity in midfield, if Gaston Ramirez were to get
injured we’ll struggle with a plan B.
What do you
make of Boro's business so far during this summer's transfer window? Anything
else the club needs to do before the window shuts next Wednesday?
Quite impressed with the
signings so far. I think an additional creative midfielder would be a great
addition to the squad, I’d be fully satisfied then.
Looking
back at 2015/16 again.. I'm sure there were a few but was there a particular
highlight of the season?
The moment the full time whistle
blew at home to Brighton on the final game of the season has to be the one.
Seeing Aitor Karanka and Grant Leadbitter walk out of the tunnel having sealed
promotion makes up for the pain we suffered the season before.
Moment to
forget?
Losing to the likes of Bristol
City and Charlton Athletic.
Player of
the season?
Not sure I can pick out just the
one, however Dimi Konstantopoulos, Ben Gibson, Dani Ayala and Adam Clayton all
deserve a mention.
Back to the
current season.. Is survival the only aim or do Boro fans expect more?
Realistically survival is the
only aim. Let's get a season of stability first and then we can take it from
there.
How
confident are you that Boro can survive?
Quite confident actually, we’ve
started the season brightly, we still have a couple of days of the transfer
window left. The only thing playing on my mind is the last 6 games of the season
(Arsenal, Bournemouth, Man City,
Chelsea, Southampton, Liverpool).
How are
Boro likely to line up on Sunday?
Karanka likes to spring a
surprise or two, however this seems a likely lineup;
Guzan, Nsue, Barragan, Gibson,
Baptiste, Clayton, Forshaw, Stuani, Ramirez, Downing, Negredo
Thoughts on
the game and prediction?
I’m in two minds on this game.
Having read some comments from
West Brom fans, it sounds like you’re due a good performance. If we
play like how we did against Stoke and
Sunderland, I think it’ll be 2-1
to Boro.
|
