How Many More Chances Will Boro Blow? September 30, 2009
Posted by stuart in Championship, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough.Tags: Boro, Championship, Follow The Boro Brick Road, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough, West Brom
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The proof is in the pudding – the current Middlesbrough team are incapable of taking chances when it’s laid on a plate for them. I’m not talking about chances in front of goal (that’s a rant for another day) but the chances to gain an advantage on rival teams that have the same objective as us during the Championship season.
West Brom have had a flying start to this season being top of the league for most of the early weeks, but they have recently hit a rut of two defeats following their thrashing of us at the Riverside ten days ago. The lads have had a perfect chance to get themselves back to the summit of the table in the last 180 minutes of football but our late game defensive frailties seem to be back which has cost us vital points. Where does the problem lie?
Is it the players? Is it the manager?
I will leave that question for you guys to discuss. Answers on a post card or alternatively put a few words in the comment box below.
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Same Winning Team For Southgate? August 18, 2009
Posted by stuart in Championship, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe United.Tags: Gareth Southgate, Gary O'Neil, Marvin Emnes, Middlesbrough F.C., Scunthorpe, Swansea, Tuncay Sanli
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Gareth Southgate has told the players to keep producing the same effort levels for every game this season. He was pleased with the performance against Swansea, but also spoke about keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Our boss spoke to the official site last night about our next opponents and the importance of not getting too carried away.
“We have to ensure that our attitude at Scunthorpe is spot on. I don’t think Scunthorpe will be as open as Swansea were. We were able to exploit that on Saturday. It will be a very tough game, we will have to be at our best to win it.” – Gareth Southgate
What Can We Expect Tonight?
Scunthorpe will be in confident mood after beating Derby on Saturday. They are a well organised side with some decent individual players. Southgate must be careful of not going into the game too confident. Keep it tight at the back and let Johnson, Emnes and Yeates do the damage up top. They have a small ground, but the fans are very close to the action so it should be a great atmosphere at Glanford Park. A sell-out is expected tonight!
Team News
The Boro boss has no injury worries to deal with for the trip to Scunthorpe tonight. Gary O’Neil still needs an operation on his hernia, but the midfielder has put off surgery until the end of the month. If that is not commitment I don’t know what is – O’Neil was superb on Saturday against Swansea and for him to postpone treatment until the end of August is a clear sign that he is committed to Boro’s Championship campaign despite interest from Aston Villa, Fulham and Everton.
So, will the boss go with the same team that put three past Swansea without reply? It would make perfect sense to name the same side, but I have a feeling that Lita may be rested and replaced by Tuncay. Lita is still improving his fitness and three games in seven days might be pushing it for the former Reading striker. This could be Tuncay’s last game in a Middlesbrough shirt so I expect Southgate to give the Turkish international one last bow in front of a packed away end at Glanford Park.
Have a look out for Everton, Villa and Fulham representatives at Glanford Park tonight. According to reports – Huth, Wheater, O’Neil and Tuncay are being monitored. Expect all four to have super games.
Predictions For Tonight’s Game At Scunthorpe
Stuart – ‘that’s me’ – The defence is showing no frailties at the moment so another rock steady performance is likely from the boys at the back. Williams and O’Neil should dominate the midfield and the boys out wide will cause the Scunthorpe defence problems. I’m looking forward to seeing how Marvin Emnes performs tonight after grabbing his first league goal for Middlesbrough. I’m going for a tight win. Scunthorpe 0 Boro 1
Gav – ‘The Governor’ – “Scunthorpe look like they are going to need to keep a strong home record this season to stay in the Championship a five-goal thriller shows they have spirit but they look leaky at the back and Boro look very strong. I can see a win for the Boro.” Scunny 0 Boro 2
Anyone think it will end differently tonight? Who will be Boro’s goal scorers?
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Boro v Blades: Team News and Predictions August 7, 2009
Posted by stuart in Boro, Championship, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough, Tuncay.Tags: Boro, Championship, Gareth Southgate, Marvin Emnes, Middlesbrough F.C., Sheffield United, Tuncay
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This is it then, another summer of wind and rain is nearing to a close and another new season of football is upon us. The new football season for Middlesbrough comes in the shape of Championship football, nicknamed the fizzy-pop league after its very lucrative sponsorship deal with the largest soft drink distributor in the world.
What can we expect tonight?
A full-blooded start to the season with a bit of quality added. There you go, there is my prediction for tonight. Southgate’s preparations to the season have gone smoothly albeit for the off the pitch antics of a few players, but he seems to have the team fully functioning and scoring goals – something that was desperately lacking last season.
The team should consist of first team regulars from last season with a couple of new addictions to balance the team. Danny Coyne will start between the sticks after Brad Jones was sidelined for a couple of weeks with an injury. The back four will virtually pick itself consisting of Huth, Wheater, Hoyte and Taylor. The midfield is a tricky one to predict. Johnson will start on the left with O’Neil on the right leaving Digard and Arca to pair in the middle. Up front Southgate will have to rely on the pace of Emnes and possibly bring Tuncay into the side for the last time. If the Turkish star does not feature I expect the Boro boss to give a home debut to either Leroy Lita or Mark Yeates.
Predictions
Stuart - that’s me – I am going for a close fought game to start with at the Riverside tonight with both teams looking to start their Championship campaigns strongly, but Boro will finish the stronger team on 90 minutes. Southgate will be looking for his top players to perform tonight in front of the home supporters and these players will not disappoint as they look to start the season in style. Adam Johnson and Marvin Emnes will be the danger men. Boro 3 Blades 1
Gav ‘The Guvornor’ – On holiday in the Bahamas, tells me this one will be a draw. Sitting on the fence as usual! Boro 1 Blades 1
Enjoy the game. Come on Boro!
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Juninho and Downing: Why They Both Left Boro July 17, 2009
Posted by stuart in Championship, Downing, Juninho.Tags: Boro, Championship, England, Juninho, Middlesbrough, South Africa, Stewart Downing, World Cup
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The last time Middlesbrough lost a great player at the end of a relegation season from the top flight was back in 1997. This great player was Juninho and he too had the same dilemma as Downing of either staying put in the Championship (the old Division One as it was back in the Juninho days) or continuing to play in the top flight. Both players needed to look at their options to improve as a player and to make it to the World Cup the following year.
That moment back in May of 1997 at Elland Road when ‘the little fella’ sat on the pitch in tears at the end of the last game of the season was hard to take for all Boro fans because we knew that this was probably the last time we would see the little magician. Stewart Downing, like Juninho once had, has a burning desire to play a big part in his national side’s campaign at the World Cup. Downing needs this move to Aston Villa to give him the best possible chance of booking his seat on the plane to South Africa.
Juninho thought he had the best chance of making the World Cup in France 1998 by moving to Atletico Madrid. Middlesbrough made a profit from his departure having sold the little Brazilian for £12milion, just like Stewart Downing to Aston Villa yesterday. Unfortunately Juninho had a series of bad injuries in Spain, which resulted in him missing out on a place in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup in 98, but he went on to play in the 2002 World Cup where he played a few games including the final where they beat the Germans to lift the trophy.
There seems to be some similarities between the two players. Both were loved by the fans at the Riverside (ok maybe Juninho was loved a little more), both were sold for £12million, both aged 24 when they left Middlesbrough and both of them left because they wanted to make the next World Cup the following year for their respected countries.
I do hope that Stewart gets over his injury and makes the World Cup in South Africa. I’m sure if he is fit before Christmas he will regain his form for the second half of next year’s campaign. Good luck to him. You never know when we are back in the Premier League Downing might follow in the footsteps of Juninho and return to the Riverside?!
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Onwards and Upwards for Boro May 26, 2009
Posted by stuart in Boro, Championship, Gareth Southgate, Gibson, Middlesbrough.2 comments
The disappointment of relegation has already left me being replaced by excitement ahead of next seasons Championship title challenge.
It looks like Gareth Southgate will still be in charge of the team next season as Steve Gibson continues to back our inexperienced manager.
Steve Gibson has also bankrolled the club single handed again for next season writing off 60% of the clubs debts with his own money. It appears that Gibson is not going to jump ship after all.
The Rebuild Begins
First Southgate will have to sit down with the players to determine their future at the club. Gareth will have no option other than selling his better players in the summer because they will not want to play Championship football next season. The likes of Tuncay, Alves, Huth and Pogatetz will leave to play in a higher league. It remains uncertain whether these players will remain in England though. There has already been interest from Spain and Portugal for the services of Alves and German clubs are readying offers for Huth and Pogatetz.
Once players have left the club Southgate will then concentrate on bringing in experienced Championship players. The spine of the team next season will need to be experienced for us to challenge for promotion. It will be interesting to see the average age of our first team next season compared to the season just gone.
The club will also have to re-structure the ticket prices for life in the Championship. We will struggle to attract the fans in a lower league so prices must go down for next season.
Onwards and Upwards
With the financial stability of the club being announced today it is unlikely that we will follow in the footsteps of Leeds United in recent years. Under the guidance of Steve Gibson I predict the club to flourish in the next couple of seasons so it appears we will soon see some great times on Teesside once again.
I hope the fans will continue to read my blog as we follow the Boro Brick Road. Don’t get yourself down about our relegation from the Premier League, instead get excited about our future. We will be back in the top flight soon!
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