Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Friday, March 02, 2018

Friday Footie Festival!

As the footie gods would have it, a massive storm swept through WNY last night, dumping a foot and a half of snow on us and shutting down the Fredonia campus for the first time since November 2015! That means that I'll be on hand this afternoon to follow my beloved Leeds United as they travel to nearby Middlesboro for a Friday evening bonanza. Let's start the weekend with three points, lads. #MOT!

169 Comments:

Blogger manunitedrules said...

Good afternoon, everyone. Back home from running errands and eating lunch on a beautiful day.

2:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A very good afternoon to you, mate. It's a gorgeous day here, too, albeit a bit colder than where you are. I spent a lovely two hours shoveling this morning. A very Zen moment. Now I've had lunch and done some paperwork and am settling in to watch this afternoon's festivities.

2:38 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Paul Heckingbottom has named an unchanged side from the one that beat Brentford 1-0 at the weekend. Here is the team news out of the Riverside:

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Gibson, Ayala, Friend, Besic, Leadbitter, Traore, Howson, Downing, Bamford. Subs: Dimi, Cranie, Fry, Clayton, Baker, Harrison, Assombalonga.

Leeds United: Wiedwald, Anita, Cooper (c), Jansson, Berardi, O'Kane, Phillips, Alioski, Dallas, Saiz, Lasogga. Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Pennington, De Bock, Forshaw, Vieira, Sacko, Ekuban.

2:41 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Just loaded the ESPN 3 Link from a chilly Riverside Stadium

2:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Wahay - the coverage is starting up on ESPN. Cold night on Teeside apparently. I'm just happy that the match is on.

2:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Boro start the match in 8th, while we're in 11th. It's a true playoff wannabe six-pointer.

2:43 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

It's 8th placed Boro vs 11th placed Leeds.

2:43 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The announcer stated that this match wasn't confirmed to take place until midday and only after a pitch inspection. It's already March I believe.

2:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nicely poised! MOT!

2:45 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Britain has been paralyzed by the winter storm, which I believe only dropped a few inches on them.

2:46 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

As with the match at the EM last night, a well below average attendance due to the unusually cold weather.

2:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Great to have Spitty Saiz back in the side. It was his mazy run that set up Alioski for his goal at Derby. Come on!

2:47 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

They're off from a snowy Riverside .

2:47 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm not sure that Gooner has recovered from that second battering at the hands of Citeh in a week.

2:48 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

There was some Pre Saiz hand blowing on his part just before kickoff.

2:48 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now this is a bright start from us. Great to see!

2:48 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Early corner for us now - come on, make it count!

2:48 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I'm sure you want to fare much better than the Gooner did last night

2:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Stu Dallas didn't take enough advantage of that cross ball from Saiz.

2:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Great away support for us, as usual, despite the chilly conditions.

2:50 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A through ball is just too long for Traore as Wiedwald rushes out to gather.,

2:51 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I'm sure you would love to get one over your mate, Pulis.

2:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - dangerous cross that Wiedwald completely missed, but Downing couldn't get on to it. Come on!

2:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Wouldn't I ever!

2:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

And over your former mate, Jonny Howson and how!

2:53 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sad to see Jonny Howson playing for Boro against us. If he'd gone on to a big Premiership side (not Norwich) as Fab Delph or Jamie Milner or Aaron Lennon did, then I'd be alright with it. But to be at a run of the mill Championship side? It's a shame.

2:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The Teesiders seem to be up for this one.

2:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Traore wins a corner for Boro.

2:56 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Traore wins a corner for Boro now.

2:56 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Wiedwald misses a cross from Ten Downing Street then makes a close range block from Bamford off a run and pass from Besic.

2:57 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - Wiedwald flapped at that corner as well. Not good from our #1. But then he saved well. Crazy how inconsistent he is.

2:57 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Howson probably assumed that Boro would go straight back up, which he is realizing probably won't happen this season.

2:58 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bit of a mix up now between Coop and Wiedwald. Neither was sure who was going to come for it.

2:58 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Eunan O'Kane with a flying foul on Ayala then another foul by O'Kane. Oh Dear!

2:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

O'Kane is close to buying himself a yellow card now. Pulls not happy with it all.

2:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Then Alioski superbly wins a break then gets a lucky bounce off of Besic then a less than Pre Saiz finish as it's well over with just Darren Randolph to beat./

3:00 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - a bit of good fortune allowed Sammy in there for a shot but he leaned back on it. Should have hit the target at least.

3:01 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Bamford with a header sideways instead of towards that big rectangle off a run and cross from Traore.

3:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Another cross over by Traore, but Bamford fortunately couldn't connect. Nice cut and thrust to this one, both teams well matched.

3:02 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

It's Randolph, not Mortimer in the Boro goal. Is that correct?

3:03 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice break there through Saiz but when he fed Ali, his cross totally miss Big PML.

3:04 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Saiz leads a Leeds break as he was gifted possession from Ayala. Then finds Alioski on the right , who put in a less than Pre Saiz cross.

3:04 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yeah - that's definitely Randolph in goal for the Teesiders.

3:04 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A cross from Ten Downing Street is cleared by a Mini Cooper for a Boro corner.

3:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Coop with a great clearance there when Downing's cross was threatening.

3:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson heads the corner for another.

3:06 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And another corner conceded this time by Jansson.

3:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Gibby just wide with a near post header off the next corner.

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Gibson tries to get onto the corner ahead of Jansson's attention. Wide of the mark.

3:07 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Kal Phillips has a long range effort deflected for a corner off a poor clearance from Ayala.

3:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Kal Phillips tries one from distance. Deflected out for a corner. Let's make this one count, boys!

3:09 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Ayala heads out the corner from Alioski for another.

3:09 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson heads wide from the next corner.

3:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ayala nods it out for another corner. Very tight, this match.

3:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Pontus sneaks in at the corner and then claims a pen. Nothing doing from the referee.

3:11 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Traore has a long range effort deflected for a Boro corner.

3:11 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The corner from Ten Downing Street is headed out then volleyed horribly wide from Besic.

3:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And yet another corner - not liking the way that we're giving up so many set pieces. Boro are dangerous from these.

3:13 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A cross from Ten Downing Street is deflected for a corner. Taken short and the cross from Traore is headed away to Ten DOwning Street His shot deflects to Ayala , who got it all wrong with a so called bicycle kick.

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ayala with an acrobatic overhead after the ball was fed back in by Downing.

3:13 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson clears a pass from Friend for a Boro corner. Nothing comes of it.

3:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Boro getting too much joy out on the flanks. Not happy with either Berardi or Anita tonight.

3:14 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The announcer with a pun last night. He said it's minus three and by that I mean Arsenal's deficit in the match, not the temperature. I'm guessing Gooner would not be amused by that.

3:16 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson heads out for another Boro corner as Wiedwald made no attempt to gather that cross.

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Another dangerous cross over by Shotton this time and Pontus has to clear up.

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger! In form striker Patrick Bamford turns in a Downing cross to put Boro 1-0 up.

3:18 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

GOAL !!!! BUGGER ! BORO TAKE THE LEAD . A CROSS CAME FROM TEN DOWNING STREET AS HE CUT IN AND PAT BAMFORD WITH A CLEVER BACK HEEL PLACED IN THE CORNER.

3:18 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Anita fouls Traore from behind./

3:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The commentator seems to be really biased against us. I think it's been fairly even with chances at both ends. We're still in this one. Come on!

3:19 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Grant Ledbitter booked for a foul just outside the Boro box. Not sure why he's complaining. Pulis needs to shut it too.

3:20 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Saiz earns a free kick off Grant Leadbitter who goes into the book. Good chance now.

3:21 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Some less than PreSaiz words earn the Leeds player a booking.

3:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I think he complained because Saiz unsportingly asked for the card. He's got himself booked now as well. Silly.

3:21 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Into the wall by Alioski

3:22 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

They tried some kind of training pitch routine that didn't quite come off.

3:22 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

DAMN IT!!!! BORO GO TWO UP AS BAMFORD SHOOT UNDER WIEDWALD . TRAORE DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT AS HE LED THE BREAK THEN SUPERBLY PICKED OUT BAMFORD, BUT IT WAS HORRIBLE KEEPING BY WIEDWALD.

3:24 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

This would put Boro in the last playoff spot in place of the Evil Blades.

3:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger! Another one for Bamford. Set up by Traore. Wiedwald should have done better. 2-0 Boro.

3:26 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Boro the only team in the Championship to have won every time they have taken the lead while Leeds have won the fewest points from a losing position. Bob will not like those stats.

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Big hole to dig ourselves out of now.

3:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Don't like those at all; however, the commentator does mention that recent draw against Bristol City.

3:27 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Sorry about the score, mate.
MOT! COME ON YOU WHITES!

3:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now Anita gets himself booked for a stupid challenge.

3:28 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Vernon Anita booked for a foul on Adama Traore.

3:28 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Nice break led by Saiz . Finds Kal Phillips down the left , who plays in a far from Pre Saiz cross.

3:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - great chance there but Dallas' cross was poor. Big PML hasn't had a sniff all night long.

3:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Grant Leadbitter comes off, perhaps for a knock. Adam Clayton on for him.

3:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Coop gives away a silly foul to Bamford out wide right. No need for that, skip.

3:32 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Bamford run into by a Mini Cooper near the Leeds corner flag and Boro win a corner off the free kick

3:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And another corner now. We could use the half-time whistle right about now to get re-organized.

3:32 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Into stoppage time as Gibby heads wide off the corner from Ten Downing Street. A trio of stoppage time minutes.

3:32 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

That's another former Leeds player on and Ledbitter looked a tad bitter at having to come off .

3:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Heckingbottom will need to get the players off their bottoms with a stern halftime talk.

3:34 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Boro are two up at the half. Hoping for better from Leeds in the second half.
MOT!

3:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's half-time, then. Not looking good for us right now. I think Heck has to roll the dice in the second half. I'd have O'Kane off and a forward on for him. We don't need two defensive middies when we need to score goals.

3:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Looks like Heck has ignored my advice and is putting two midfielders - Forshaw and Vieira on. Not sure who's going off yet.

3:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Phillips and Alioski off - don't like it.

3:52 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

There's those substitutions that Bob wanted . Ronny Viera and former Boro player, Adam Forshaw on with Alioski and Kal Phillips coming off. That seems like for like. Second half underway.

3:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Not what the doc ordered! Sorry, mate.

3:53 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

I wonder if some choice words were said at the half with those that were replaced responding the wrong way.

3:55 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Wiedwald just manages to beat away the curling corner. Not exactly convincing .

3:56 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I would have had a forward on. Of course, we don't have Kemar Roofe available today, so it would have been Ekuban or Sacko.

3:58 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Anita wins a corner off of Friend.

3:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Anita wins a corner for us - let's use it!

3:59 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh dear - Pontus had a free header there but put it over.

3:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson heads well wide from the corner, but a better start to the second half.

3:59 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Ekuban would have been a good choice. If Leeds can pull one back then this becomes an interesting match and your mate , Pulis , will become a tad antsy.

4:01 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Saiz wins a corner - he wanted more.

4:01 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Not a Pre Saiz effort for Leeds, but it deflects for a corner. Hand ball by Gibby.

4:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Jansson again gets his head on it but it's well past the mark. I haven't seen a single corner get close to Big PML. Not sure why.

4:02 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

And again, Jansson heads well wide from a corner.

4:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The sad figure of Elland Road legend Jonathan Woodgate on the Boro bench tonight.

4:03 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

La Soggy and Jansson would be the main targets from those corners.

4:03 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jansson heads out for a Boro corner.

4:04 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A sad figure indeed. Is he part of the Boro coaching staff? I doubt he still plays.

4:04 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Wiedwald doing his best Grobelaar impersonation and nearly gifts Bamford hat-trick. Save those for the comedy club?

4:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Yeah - he is. Part of the defensive outfit.

4:05 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Another cross goes sailing over Wiedwald's head. I don't think he's collected one of those tonight.

4:06 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Wiedwald didn't even go for that cross from Ten Downing Street. Is he saying that he wants to stay out of politics?

4:07 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A long range effort is well wide from Ten Downing Street. It must be the weather.

4:07 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Bamford is slide tackled by a Mini Cooper for a Boro corner.

4:08 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Now Jansson is down off a clash of heads with Ryan Shotton.

4:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Pontus looks okay to continue.

4:09 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Hopeless ball from Sammy toward Big PML. The big German has been starving for service tonight.

4:10 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

An impreSaiz cross is easily gathered by Darren Randolph.

4:10 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Ten Downing Street has a shot blocked by Berardi then blocked by the same player for a corner.

4:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ekuban and Sacko up warming up right now. I expect Saiz to come off shortly.

4:12 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

High and wide by La Soggy after a long free kick was headed away.

4:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

First real sight of goal for Big PML. Got it all wrong. Not really his sort of chance, really.

4:13 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

That sounds like a Pre Saiz observation, mate.

4:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger! Bamford gets his hat-trick and we're done.

4:14 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

BUGGER! THEN BORO GO DOWN AND BAMFORD COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK. TRAORE CUT IN , HIS SHOT WAS BLOCKED, AND THE BALL BROKE TO BAMFORD , WHO SHOT PAST THE STRANDED WIEDWALD. WAS HE OFFSIDE?

4:15 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The final roll of the dice from Paul Heckingbottom as Ekuban is on for O'Kane. Bob called for that over twenty minutes ago. Now too little, too late. Sorry, mate.

4:16 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

A long range effort is far from Pre Saiz.

4:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

This might be a morale sapping loss for us.

4:18 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Could have been a fourth goal there. Crikey!

4:18 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Traore goes on another run and passes to Friend , who shoots well wide.

4:19 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Liam Mini Cooper booked for a lunge on Bamford. Surely due to frustration.

4:19 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Ayala heads well wide off the free kick from Ten Downing Street.

4:20 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Jonny Howson has a long range effort deflected for a Boro corner.

4:20 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

OH!! Ayala was not too far off with that header off the corner from Traore.

4:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And again Ayala with a free header. That was the thirteen corner of the match for Boro. We cannot give away that many set pieces and expect to get anything out of a match.

4:21 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Another woeful pass from Saiz. Why hasn't he come off yet?

4:22 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed, Bob. This loss will hurt after some decent results. Leeds will have to recover for a midweek match. I think they play at ER, but not sure who the visitors are.

4:23 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Leeds made all their substitutions. None remaining. Sorry, mate,.

4:23 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That wayward pass by Forshaw sums up this match. The home crowd enjoyed that one.

4:24 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Unfortunate for the Leeds, who have braved the conditions . I'm sure you will agree with me that they deserve better than this for showing such loyalty.

4:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I do. Our away fans are brilliant. They deserve more investment from the club. If I were a season ticket holder, I'd be livid.

4:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's the last thing the Premiership needs next season - yet another Tony Pulis club.

4:28 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Great to hear Leeds fans singing MOT despite the score. Great support.

4:29 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed, mate. This will win will put them in the last playoff spot in place of the Evil Blades.

4:30 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

The Baggies will go down and possibly Stoke too. That may soften the blow in case the Teesiders go up.

4:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ekuban fluffs his lines at the first time of asking. Poor.

4:32 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Ekuban fails to connect on a long ball despite an outstretched leg.

4:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That would - those are two rubbish sides that shouldn't really be in the Premiership.

4:32 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Fred is now joining us late on.

4:33 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. There's probably about half a dozen sides that don't really belong in the Prem. Time to trim down the Prem?

4:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

What does Fred have to say about it all?

4:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Big PML took a sharp blow to the head there.

4:35 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

La Soggy now down for Leeds, but is up and seems to be okay.

4:35 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Fred just left, looking not to impressed. He wanted to be petted for a little while.

4:35 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Patrick Bamford gets a standing ovation due to the hat-trick.He's replaced by Crainie. A pair of stoppage time minutes.

4:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Glad to see the back of him.

4:37 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A consolation goal would be nice right about now, to warm the cockles of the traveling fans.

4:38 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's that. Sammy Saiz wasn't happy with that challenge at the final whistle and has to be escorted off by teammates.

4:39 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

It's over as Boro defeat Leeds 3-0 and a less than Pre Saiz reaction from the Leeds player. Sorry about the result.

4:39 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Not our night. We're stuck on 49 points, one shy of safety in the Championship. We'll surely drop down to 12th or 13th tomorrow when the other sides play. Solidly mid-table.

4:40 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cheers, mate. It was nice chatting with you, despite the scoreline.

4:40 PM  
Blogger manunitedrules said...

Agreed. Great chatting . Look forward to chatting with you tomorrow.

4:42 PM  

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