The first cup tie of the season for the Eagles sees them matched with Championship side Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park in the EFL Cup.
Ahead of the game, TEB had a chat with BoroFullTime on their season so far, summer business in the transfer window, thoughts on the game, and much more….
TEB – How are Middlesbrough fans feeling about last season?
Obviously, the heartbreak of being knocked out in the play-offs again wasn’t a good feeling. However, the season we had was outstanding and we just couldn’t get over the line. Despite that, I’m incredibly proud of the players for fighting until the very end.
TEB – Has the summer transfer window solved any squad issues for Middlesbrough, or are there still areas which need improvement?
In my opinion, the signings we’ve made have been really good. We needed a striker and we’ve brought one in who is on top form at the minute. We’ve also signed some quality players, such as Berhalter, for very reasonable fees.
One of our main problems last season was breaking teams down after going behind, so it’ll be interesting to see how we deal with that as the season progresses.
TEB – How should Palace fans expect to see your side line up and play under manager Kim Hellberg?
I think we’ll go full strength because we’ve got nothing to lose away at a Premier League side. We’ll look to defend well, keep hold of the ball and stay calm.
From experience, whether it was away at Fulham last season or Chelsea a couple of years ago, one mistake at the back can easily lead to a goal against teams of that quality, so we’ll need to be very careful.
TEB – What are your expectations for this season?
With the money we’ve spent and the quality of players we’ve signed, we should be pushing for at least a top-four finish.
The manager has had a full pre-season to prepare and, so far, we’ve only been beaten once, which was a disappointing defeat to Blackburn. There are high expectations from the fans, the manager and the owners, so hopefully we can deliver.
TEB – The sale of Morgan Whittaker to Colorado Rapids was a surprise to neutral fans. How does the fanbase feel about it?
Morgan obviously had talent, but a lot of Boro fans found him frustrating at times. He could be slow to the ball and wasn’t always physical enough.
The problem is that he still scored goals. On paper, he looked a brilliant player, but in a lot of games he was fairly average and could look a bit sluggish. So while he had his qualities, I don’t think his departure was viewed as negatively by supporters as some people might expect.
TEB – Thoughts on Palace this season?
In my opinion, Palace have had a tough start. Going away to Everton is never easy and then facing a strong Manchester City side makes things even more difficult.
Losing talented players and a manager is always a challenge, but going away to Fulham and grinding out a result showed a lot of character. I think Palace might find this season difficult at times, but it’s still very early and there’s plenty of time left for things to improve.
TEB – Finally, what’s your prediction for the match against Palace?
I think it will be an exciting encounter. We’re a good Championship side and Palace have had a tough start to the season.
I think the game will be settled in normal time and I’m going for a 2-1 Middlesbrough win, with a late goal from Will Lankshear. UTB!
