Michael Carrick, the manager of Middlesbrough, will be hoping for a better performance this weekend after a subpar performance against Plymouth at home last Saturday set off a chorus of jeers throughout The Riverside.
The Teesside team was closer to the relegation slots than the play-off spots after the 2-0 loss, which was a low point in the season.
Carrick acknowledged that the tactical strategy had not succeeded in reaching the goal, and he took full responsibility for that defeat, saying, “It’s on me.” The Middlesbrough head coach feels hopeful about his team’s chances this weekend against a struggling Stoke City team, even though his team is currently 11 points off of sixth place.
Good news for Middlesbrough regarding injuries
While it may sound extremely cliche to take each game as it comes, Carrick has made it a habit to say that the most important game is always the one that comes next. He might be optimistic about his team’s prospects because Emmanuel Latte Lath, the club’s number nine, is back. This season, Middlesbrough has been beset by bad luck as both of their recognized strikers have sustained injuries. Josh Coburn is still sidelined due to a groin injury, but Latte Lath appears primed to tear apart Championship defenses once more.
Carrick stated in his pre-game press conference:
“The first time he got hurt, he was looking good and sharp, scoring goals. That’s a setback, but hopefully we can get Manu back firing, sharp, and playing football and training enough to get him back to that level.”
The Ivorian’s ankle injury against Chelsea has not been treated quickly; rather, it has taken him a few weeks to return to action. In an attempt to make an impact, Latte Lath came on as a substitute for the final thirty minutes of Plymouth’s loss and might start against Stoke. With seven goals in all competitions, he continues to be the club’s leading scorer despite the loss of his dynamism and sharpness.
There were no new injury worries to report, although Josh Coburn, Isaiah Jones, and Dael Fry remain absent. Jonny Howson is anticipated to return to training next week, and Hayden Hackney is still many weeks away.
Notable alterations following Plymouth’s defeat
Even if the performance and outcome versus Plymouth last week were disappointing, the attitude and strategy were more of the reason for the lack of success. After witnessing such success with the wing-back formation in the away victory against Leicester, supporters questioned the choice to go back to a back four. That is not expected to alter, though, as Carrick will probably start in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system once more. Still, one or two of the eleven from last Saturday might have died.
Riley McGree would take up his more familiar place on the left of midfield, while Sami Silvera—who was used ineffectively as a wide left position—might give way to Emmanuel Latte Lath, the central striker. Luke Thomas, a Leicester loanee, had trouble filling the role of a deeper-lying left-back, thus Lukas Engel might return.
In another matchup versus the Potters, Matt Clarke might start at center back instead of 28-year-old Paddy McNair due to the possibility of more physicality.
Here is how we expect Middlesbrough to line up…
GK – Tom Glover
LB – Lukas Engel
RB – Luke Ayling
CB- Matt Clarke
CB – Rav van den Berg
CM – Dan Barlaser
CM – Lewis O’Brien
LW – Riley McGree
RW – Marcus Forss
CAM – Finn Azaz
ST – Emmanuel Latte Lath
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