Mike Holden

My point is, the next Hellberg or Eckert could show up at any moment — at Wolves for example (who are just a point behind Boro without playing particularly well). And then that newcomer (maybe even Peixoto) finds the right chemistry and gets a decent runway as an unknown quantity, where opponents struggle to figure it out. Meanwhile, the runway for Hellberg (who always wants things a certain way) might start to run out soon. Some managers, like Phil Parkinson, are wired to break opposition systems. Other managers have to wait for a Parkinson to show them how it’s done and then incorporate the bits that fit their game model. Boro fans want to hope there wasn’t a big clue hidden in the rough challenges on Wednesday night, something that other managers and analysts hadn’t thought of before.

Karl Robinson's first game in charge of Bromley will be against Rotherham in the FA Cup tomorrow, managed by Alex Bruce — his assistant at Salford for the past two seasons. Probably has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on how the game will be approached by either side. Just a nerdy quirk that I can't physically stop myself from sharing.

Just catching up on the Championship in midweek. Scott Parker quite damning on the Nuno legacy at West Ham… “I’ve been in football a long time and I got a lot of answers in that first half tonight. We looked really slow in our build up, never a real threat and didn’t even force it. “Certain changes at half time made me realise this is probably the team we’re going to have to be. “You can’t expect to score four goals to win a game and that’s been the case a little bit. Slow starts have been the case as well, and conceding early. So for sure, that’s what we’ll be working on.”

My comments touched a nerve with many Boro fans the other day but I think this further illustrates that they need to toughen up if they want to do themselves justice this season. And I’m not just talking physically — emotionally as well.

Another sorry defeat for Charlton. Not many managers survive 11 games without a win nowadays. I'd like to go into bat for Nathan Jones, but he's too highly-strung and simply doesn't come across as the most resilient in the middle of a run like this. Hard to imagine him still in charge on Saturday. All or nothing against Sheffield United surely, if he does take one last shot.

Can’t think of a better move for Challinor to keep his “At least the play-offs” record going. Remember: it only counts in full seasons!

Quote from Kim Hellberg yesterday. Middlesbrough top of the league and favourites for the title because they’ve set the highest standard and been the best team in the Championship so far. But this is an example of why they won’t win the league. Bad framing from Hellberg. Demon emotions when things don’t go his way. Victimhood. Freaks out over anything that goes against his best plans and always someone else’s responsibility to fix what’s making him feel bad. Note: Middlesbrough scored after TWELVE MINUTES yesterday. If this was Hellberg’s experience on the touchline so early in the game, imagine where his head goes if Charlton keep it up for 75. Last season, Boro took 31 points from Hellberg’s first 14 matches. Then the pressure came and they started dropping silly points, failing to win in six straight home games against teams mostly relegation candidates. They were their own worst enemy and it starts with the accumulation of needless anxiety like this.

Michael Skubala picking pockets again. The guy who cut his teeth in Futsal knows a thing or two about substitutions. He used to make about 100 a game. Late goals at Preston, Burnley and now Bolton worth an extra 8 points to Bristol City.

"No pictures on a golf scorecard." Meaning the result is all that matters. Chris Wilder's got some of the best phrases.

Gazza was especially fired up for this game because Lake (newly promoted with City) was being talked up as his big rival in an England team that would never accommodate both players. Funny thing is, Lake outshone him on the day but Gascoigne made a decisive impact on the scoresheet and would hold down his place in the England squad thereafter. The rest is history: Gazza goes to Italia 90, after which Lake plays only five more meaningful matches, doing his cruciate twice and never making his England debut. You could argue Lake never stood a chance of ousting Gascoigne for many reasons — media buzz, playing for an unfashionable northern club (which mattered in those days) and his injury record among them. Either way, this particular game wasn’t about Gazza. It was about Paul Lake, the effortless way in which he dictated the play, and how such a promising career turned out to be a football tragedy. Combine Lake’s mind and habits with Gazza’s body and appetite for the big occasion, you’ve arguably got an all-time great 6, 8 or 10. Or centre back. Between the pair of them, they had absolutely everything.

Cambridge v Millwall tonight. Very much looking forward to a proper Cambridge performance against a proper Millwall team.

Read this for some worthwhile context on a big game this Wednesday that you probably didn't realise was such a big game. Let me tell you — passing through the void between the two is quite the experience when you're not ready for it. Just enough civilisation to lose an afternoon in your own thoughts, wondering who they all support and what they get up to.

Monday newsletter on Neil Harris showing his newly-promoted Cambridge players the exit door after an opening day win binaryfootball.substack.com/…

Can someone tell me who's in charge of Lincoln — Chris Cohen or Tom Shaw? None of that joint-manager nonsense. I need one name. It's meant to be a leadership role, not pat-a-cake.