Digard and Emnes Fighting Fit November 26, 2009
Posted by stuart in Bruno Pilatos.Tags: Andrew Taylor, Boro Brick Road, Bruno Pilatos, Chris Riggott, Didier Digard, Gordon Strachan, Grimsby Town, London Road, Marvin Emnes, Tony McMahon
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Middlesbrough battered Grimsby Town in a reserve match last night with the likes of Marvin Emnes, Didier Digard, Chris Riggott, Andrew Taylor and Tony McMahon playing together to get some much needed match fitness under their belts following injuries.
It was interesting to read that Marvin Emnes was used as a right midfielder against the the Mariners, a position that he most effective in my opinion (scored two goals last night) and not as a striker as Southgate played him on a few occasions. Strachan must be looking for stability in the team and with that comes players playing in their preferred positions. Andrew Taylor played on the other side of midfield, again he is well accustomed to playing in that position having played their as a youngster.
I get the feeling that Gordon Strachan has had a major shake-up in the way the club runs the football teams. When a new manager comes in the first thing you probably expect him to do is to change the way the team is playing and from what we have witnessed so far there has been that stability in our play, it’s not quite there though but I’m sure the end product is not too far away.
There has been quite a lot of noise coming out of the reserve set-up regarding Bruno Pilatos. The 16-year-old is making a name for himself and with yet another good performance in the reserves last night I’m sure the England U17 Captain will be putting a first-team shirt on very soon.
Gordon Strachan will have a selection headache ahead of the trip to London Road on Saturday to face Peterborough United, our boss will certainly have players eager to get back into the first-team after putting in good shifts for the reserves.
Let’s hope these players can make a difference to Strachan’s plans.
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Boro’s Strength In-Depth Will Be Crucial October 15, 2009
Posted by stuart in Emanuel Pogatetz, Gareth Southgate, Sean St Ledger.Tags: Boro, Didier Digard, Emanuel Pogatetz, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough, Premier League, Sean St Ledger
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With the imminent return of Emanuel Pogatetz and Didier Digard to the first team it seems that Gareth Southgate has a full compliment of players at his disposal which will be a key factor in our bid to gain promotion to the top flight at the first attempt.
In recent years a Middlesbrough side has had its problems in defence with injuries occurring throughout the season having a knock-on effect on the teams progress throughout a Premier League term.
It is unseen that we are now heading into the winter period with more than two central defenders available. Southgate has a selection problem on his hands because Pogatetz has declared he is fit for return to first team football for the first time this season.
Sean St Ledger might be the man in his way though because the Preston man is beginning to find his feet in a Middlesbrough shirt and what a delight it is to see a Boro central defender scoring some goals from set-pieces. Pogatetz will have to rely on a bit of luck to dislodge Wheater or St Ledger unless Southgate decides he cannot have a national captain on the bench and plays him at left-back?!
I’m glad that Poggi is now back amongst the first-team because it can only bring the best out of the two lads that are currently occupying the central spots.
Let’s see what the next game brings us at home to Watford.
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O’Neil Adds Steel To Boro’s Midfield September 14, 2009
Posted by stuart in Aliadiere, Gareth Southgate, Gary O'Neil.Tags: Didier Digard, Gareth Southgate, Gary O'Neil, Jeremie Aliadiere, Middlesbrough, Sean St Ledger
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Gary O’Neil came back from his recent hernia operation stronger than ever. The 26-year-old put in a man-of-the-match performance against Ipswich Town on Saturday only a couple of weeks after he went under the knife.
With Didier Digard injured at the moment Gary O’Neil has been given the responsibility of commanding the midfield alongside Arca and Williams and the former Pompey man is certainly doing that in recent performances this season. For me the number 16 has probably been our best performer of the season so far and if he continues to put in 100% we will certainly be brushing teams aside in the Championship this season.
Gareth Southgate has two of his first team players back from injury this week. Digard and Pogatetz are both scheduled in to play against Leeds United reserves on Wednesday night. With both players nearing match fitness it will provide the Boro boss with plenty of options and added strength for the up and coming important fixtures.
On the transfer front it seems that Southgate has had a setback in trying to complete the initial loan deal for Sean St Ledger. The Preston man apparently failed a medical on Friday due to an ongoing injury similar to the one Wheater sustained at the end of last season. The Deepdale defender is playing through the pain and even managed a star performance in Preston’s 2-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday. With Pogatetz returning soon it might be wise to hold off on a move for St Ledger at the moment.
The Football League website picked out Jeremie Aliadiere and Gary O’Neil for their Team of the Week today. Well done to the lads for making the select XI.
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Southgate Red-Faced About Cattermole August 12, 2009
Posted by stuart in Lee Cattermole, Middlesbrough.Tags: Didier Digard, Gareth Southgate, Lee Cattermole, Middlesbrough F.C., Sunderland, Wigan Athletic F.C.
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If the rumours are true, Lee Cattermole could be on his way to Sunderland in the next few days. Our former scrapper is being linked with a move to the Stadium of Light to link-up with Steve Bruce again. The move is reported to be worth £10million to Wigan Athletic. That means in the space of 14 months Wigan will have profited £6.5million after they take off the price they paid Middlesbrough just over a year ago.
Was it a gamble to let Lee Cattermole leave the Riverside or was it just plain stupidity by the Boro boss. I’m sure Southgate is now regretting letting the 21-year-old leave. I remember the reason why Southgate let him go.
“When you get into the first team as young as he has, it’s frustrating when you’re not a bit more regular in the side.” – Gareth Southgate
This has since backfired on Southgate because Cattermole thrived at Wigan last season under the guidance of Steve Bruce. As soon as Cattermole left the Riverside their were cracks appearing in the Boro midfield. George Boateng had not been replaced either so the cover was just not there. To make matters worse the Stockton-on-Tees born lad even rubbed salt into the wound when he clattered Didier Digard earlier this year, injuring the Frenchman for two months. Digard was probably the reason why Southgate let Cattermole go so no wonder the feisty youngster got his own back on Southgate.
With injuries to Didier Digard and to Matthew Bates, we are becoming increasingly lightweight in the middle of the park again. The Boro boss needs to get the chequebook out and bring in some tough tackling midfielders otherwise we will be bullied and out-muscled in matches this season.
No movement in the transfer market this week has given us a few more worries. Pull your finger out Gareth!
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Time Is Almost Up On Southgate’s Search July 27, 2009
Posted by stuart in Alves, Bates, Digard, Emnes, Middlesbrough.Tags: Boro, Didier Digard, Jeremie Aliadiere, Marvin Emnes, Matthew Bates, Middlesbrough, Mido, Mikel Beck
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The Middlesbrough boss is running out of time to fill the gaps in the ever depleting Boro squad. Downing and Turnbull have been replaced by Yeates and Coyne respectively, but with injuries to Matthew Bates and Didier Digard occurring in the last five days we are becoming more and more lightweight in the middle and up front.
Southgate has been searching for the right players to fill the gaps of weakness which resulted in us getting relegated last season. Surely with Mido and Tuncay nearing the exit we are well behind on options up front. Alves is still here yes, but for how long? and even if he does stay how interested will he be?!
That leaves us with Marvin Emnes and Jeremie Aliadiere for the opening games of the season – both of which are not out-and-out goal scorers. We need players at the club and quick otherwise we will be left behind and struggling before we know it.
Gareth needs to get some experience up top and in the centre of midfield. Even if it means bringing in an old pair of legs or two it will still benefit the first team massively. Anyone to make the numbers up because if we get any more injuries we are in deep trouble before the season has even started.
Has anyone got Mikel Beck’s number?! Or even Hamilton Ricard?! What about Uwe Fuchs!
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Is This A Sign Of Things To Come For Boro? July 23, 2009
Posted by stuart in Johnson, Middlesbrough.Tags: Adam Johnson, Boro, Championship, Didier Digard, Dumbarton, Gary O'Neil, Middlesbrough, Rhys Williams, Robert Huth
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Wow! When was the last time we played two games without conceding a single goal? How about when was the last time we scored eight goals without reply?
I know we are playing against second rate opposition in these friendlies, but it must be good for the players confidence to be able to get into a winning habit, something which the players have never experienced before. I’m thinking this is a sign of things to come for next season.
Did anyone see the goals from last night? Adam Johnson returned to the team and produced a stunning goal, which pleased the winger. How refreshing it is to know that AJ played on the left side of midfield for Middlesbrough last night. Who is Downing?!
Jeremie Aliadiere played his part in the 5-0 romp of Dumbarton last night. I had almost forgotten about the Frenchman whilst talking about our future striker signings. He scored from the penalty spot last night and from the match report he was supposedly very lively. I wonder if he will be staying on Teesside next season? The other goals came from Gary O’Neil and Rhys Williams with an added own goal from a Hoyte cross.
With no goals conceded, it seems that the Boro defence is going about their business very quietly with no problems. Robert Huth is still wearing a Boro shirt and so far, fingers crossed, he has no intentions of leaving the club this summer. If we are to bounce straight back to the Premier League at the first attempt Southgate needs to keep a strangle-hold on the likes of Huth, Pogatetz and the Redcar Rock. The Championship is much more physical than the Premier League and our defence as it is now is well suited to this league so we should have one of the best defences next season.
One worry from last night’s performance against Dumbarton was the injury to our French midfielder, Didier Digard. The 23-year-old limped off with a suspected torn hip-flexor. Sounds like a girlie injury, but it seems to be a fashionable injury these days and can play havoc on a players fitness. We hope it’s not too serious and we see him back in action soon.
Is this a sign of things to come for Boro?
We could well see a few more goals scored in our remaining pre-season friendlies which will give us a boost ahead of our opening game of the Championship season against Sheffield United. We need to hit the ground running so the strikers need to be sharp in front of goal, hopefully knowing where the goal is this season.
Southgate must be pleased with the squad so far, but he still needs to add some extra experience to the team to compete next year. Where to we need to strengthen?
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Who’s Up For It At Boro? July 7, 2009
Posted by stuart in Adidas, Middlesbrough, News.Tags: Adidas, Boro Brick Road, Brazil, Danny Coyne, Didier Digard, Jeremie Aliadiere, Mark Yeates, Mido, Robert Huth, Rockcliffe Park, Scarborough, Stephen Pears, Tony McMahon
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The pre-season training started for the Boro boys yesterday at Rockcliffe Park. The lads returned from their short breaks to Scarborough and Blackpool to find the poles and hurdles had been laid out for their first session of the summer.
It must be a painful experience for the players when they see pre-season equipment set out for shuttle runs, sprints and good old fashioned body work, known as ‘bodies’ in the footballing world. It was all too much for some of the senior players in the squad like Mido and Alves though. The Egyptian fled the scene before the gaffer had even got there – the bacon roll he consumed as he was driving to work started to churn in his stomach at the sight of the ladders and cones on the training pitch whilst Alves didn’t even bother to get out of his bed in Brazil to get on a plane to Teesside. Where is the commitment?!
Well done to all the other senior players that turned up to training yesterday. The likes of Aliadiere, Huth, Digard and Tony McMahon were all pictured enjoying’ the first session of the summer in the warm sunshine.
The lads were sporting their new look in the adidas training shirts, shorts and socks.
Southgate’s new additions looked to have settled in well on their first day at the training ground. Mark Yeates will have to prove he is worthy of a first team place by impressing in the pre-season training and also in the up-and-coming friendlies whilst Danny Coyne would have enjoyed his first session with Stephen Pears, the goalkeeping coach at Middlesbrough.
Good luck to the lads as the intensity is upped for the later part of the week. Bleep test anyone?
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