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by HitchinBoro exCalling 22/5 11:10Thu May 22 11:10:15 2025
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Phoenix
Views: 1282
Would you start Phoenix tomorrow?
We can all see he's a player. He can turn a fullback inside out! Absolute bag of tricks. *Just* what we pay to see: a bit of magic.
But his best form so far has been from the bench. He frustrates his colleagues when he doesn't show for the ball - at least in the way they're expecting. Defensive discipline is a work in progress. We have good alternatives.
I'd start him, FWIW. Can't ignore that high ceiling!
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 706
No way. I absolutely love watching him, but he's not good enough defensively for a match like this and fades out the game too much. An absolute force going fowards though, but better both on a wider pitch and off the bench as an impact sub atm.
Edited by RockyBottom at 12:05:05 on 4th October 2025
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 1162
I'm just reeling from having a strong enough squad that we have a player good enough to start that we might voluntarily bench.
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1 person
Re: Phoenix
Views: 866
Strength in depth is a new experience for us. Don't know what the injury situation is re Saxon and Jake Young, but it seems we have real quality that can't even get on the bench.
If everyone was fit picking the best starting XI would be a real headache. Phoenix would get in mine, but I'm not sure Houghton would. Riches!
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 786
Who would you have instead of Houghton?
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 676
Have probably only watched half the games but Houghton hasn’t set the world alight for me.
Perhaps one of those players you notice more when he’s not there.
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1 person
Re: Phoenix
Views: 670
Houghton is unfortunate in that the first thing any of us saw him do in a competitive match was fuck up spectacularly, and first impressions are hard to shake. We seem to have much more structure in the midfield with him there.
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1 person
Re: Phoenix
Views: 407
And he’s played 90 minutes in nearly every game since and has not made a mistake I can think of .
Hes a very important part of our team imo
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 421
Yeah thwt first few minutes at Blackpool I was fearing the worst but he is very underrated.
He organises the rest of the midfield so well. Not the quickest, but absolutely vital in our team. No wonder White is looking so much better alongside him.
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2 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 407
Yeah, best not to judge too quickly! And to steal from Fergie Sr, never believe the best or worst things anyone says about anything!
Edited by Clogger at 20:27:02 on 4th October 2025
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 608
Does the ugly stuff well enough, not in there to create from what I've seen. Gives Harvey White more freedom going forward.
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1 person
Re: Phoenix
Views: 757
If Louis and Dan P were both fit it would be a very close call.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 721
Fair enough. For me, Houghton currently edges it over Louis (which shows our levels as Louis is still one of the best players i've seen in a Boro shirt).
Dan P is a great sub option but not a starter.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 691
I think they're all decent so when we start having two games a week we will be in the fortunate position to be able to rotate players without weakening the team.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 694
Suspensions will start to bite soon. Kemp and Houghton must be on 3 if not 4 yellows already.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 701
What matches are you watching?!
They are on two each. Not even on track for a suspension.
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2 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 657
Oh.
Maybe it was Revs I was thinking of?
Is there a website that lists our yellows
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 680
Revs? He has one.
Goode has four, our only player facing an imminent suspension if booked once more in our next ten games.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 637
Revs said he was one away from a suspension to me a couple weeks ago the day Scott was out a lot. So must have had a couple? One at Wimbledon?
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 305
I would be interested to know as I only have him being booked against Wycombe!
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 271
He di get booked at Wimbledon for sure.
Not sure whether this counts to a managers total though as it was a Trophy game.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 255
Cool, thanks.
Assume a manager (unlike players) counts across all competitions, if he says he is one from a suspension. Unless he is mistaken.
I might pester Will for confirmation as he would know.
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 762
Houghton is quality. That solid midfield section spine we've needed. Allows someone like White more freedom.
Pidge, Houghton, Reid. Spine of the team, putting shifts in.
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5 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 473
Watch him closely. Houghton is so disciplined from a positional perspective, and he makes sure that his teammates keep their shape. Like Pidge, another leader on the pitch. IMO a superb signing and a big reason for our improvement. Can *guarantee* he's one of Revs' first names on the team sheet
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2 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 430
THIS. He's never out of position, ticks everything over nicely by winning the ball back and passing it to the right players.
He's one for the purists.
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2 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 961
I'm just reeling from having a strong enough squad that we have a player good enough to start that we might voluntarily bench.
I keep hearing how good this Lewis Orford is.
But he can't get a sniff at the mo.
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2 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 982
After Huddersfield I expressed my view that with Louis injured, Harvey White was the weakest point in our XI. He now has three goals and three assists in his last four games.
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3 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 924
We all know what we're talking about on here...
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1 person
Re: Phoenix
Views: 941
White is the most improved player for me this season.
I think the change in style has helped greatly. Last season I'm not really sure what his job was, and everything ran through Kemp, with White just seemingly stuck behind him not able to influence games and not the best defensive midfielder.
This season, with width and playing down the wings, rather than everything squeezed into the centre of the pitch, a new Harvey White has appeared.
Perhaps no coincidence that Kemp has not reached the levels of last season, as the change in style doesn't give him as much attention. A more balanced side and better team as a result.
His defensive game is also coming along. Still makes the odd mistake and not perfect but a lot better than last season when I would have been happy to see him leave.
Long may it continue.
Edited by Sev at 19:19:54 on 3rd October 2025
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5 people
Re: Phoenix
Views: 1094
Yeah, mind-blowing really. No more square pegs in round holes either
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Re: Phoenix
Views: 949
I'm expecting Butler to start, more attacking than Freestone. Altho' both are excellent options, Dan has a higher energy press about him.
Freestone on the bench provides cover for both CBs and Butler as required, and if we get ahead is better defensively.
I'm also expecting Roberts and Campbell to start. Luton love playing it out from the back and playing keep-ball. We need to unsettle them early but I don't expect us to have the ball much until we get them rattled.
Then Pheonix and Beryl can destroy them last 30 minutes.
And schoolboy error, we're off out to see friends for dinner at 3.30 UK time - and using my vpn to watch on the phone would be 'rude', even without an earbud... 😞
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 18:45:58 on 3rd October 2025
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