When Will This Boro Story Change For The Better? January 17, 2010
Posted by stuart in Match Report.Tags: Barry Robson, Boro, Chris Killen, Follow The Boro Brick Road, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Willo Flood
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Again, we were left to reflect on a decent first-half performance which created chances in front of goal but, like previous games, we were unable to punish the opposition.
It was clear to see that the side looked more composed on the ball and for 45 minutes we were the brighter of the two sides at Bramall Lane, but Strachan must be pulling his hair out at our inability to put the ball in the back of the net when it matters.
We are still a couple of players away from turning an average Boro side into a potential promotion pushing team. A striker with an eye for goal must be Strachan’s main target in the next two weeks.
It’s killing us in games, not punishing the opposition defences when we get chances in front of goal. Sheffield United grew in confidence once they scored, leaving us to battle the against our opponents as well as the score-line.
The new lads had good débuts in their new shirts. Robson was tenacious and provided options for the front two which is good to see because we have been lacking someone in the middle that can pick out the top two without smashing the ball high into the air for them to try and get hold of.
Flood did well considering he has not played much football recently. He seems like a clever player who doesn’t give the ball away cheaply.
Killen needs more games under his belt with his new team-mates. He looked lost up there at times but he has a decent touch so I’m sure things will get better for him.
With the rescheduled match against Swansea City taking place next Saturday, Strachan has a full week of training with his new recruits to add more structure to our play and hopefully we will be able to get the ball in the back of then net when we get chances in front of goal.
How did you think we played against Sheffield United? And how well did the the three new boys play?
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O’Neil and Yeates Sales Would Be Very Risky January 16, 2010
Posted by stuart in Transfer Rumours.Tags: Boro, Follow The Boro Brick Road, Gary O'Neil, Mark Yeates, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Sheffield United
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Gordon Strachan confirmed that he wants to bring in a further three or four new players to Middlesbrough in an attempt to strengthen the squad for a promotion push for the second half of the season.
With players coming in I suspect that the need to sell players will have to be exercised to balance the books. This is alarming considering the speculation surrounding the future of two of Boro’s best performers this season.
Mark Yeates has been fantastic this season in a Boro shirt and has made the step up from lower league an easy passage. Our opponents today are said to be in talks with the winger about a possible move south with a figure of £500,000 being touted for the 25-year-old.
Unless we bring in someone who is of equal calibre, I think this will be a mistake considering the lad is still settling into Championship football and personally I think he has done a super job for us so far.
Another player that has been in good shape this season for us and has showed his enthusiasm for the team even when things haven’t been going right is Gary O’Neil. The former Pompey man is wanted by a few Premier League clubs including Portsmouth, but with his progression as a Boro player and his contract extension now signed and sealed up, it will take a hefty fee to prize the midfielder away from the Riverside.
Strachan will have to tread carefully surrounding these two players because both are workers and have the quality which is needed to get Middlesbrough out of a bad situation. I can certainly see fans turning on Gordon very quickly if these players were to be sold without being replaced with equal measure.
Up The Boro
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Don’t Expect A Boro Win Straight Away January 15, 2010
Posted by stuart in Match Preview/Prediction, Sheffield United.Tags: Adam Johnson, Barry Robson, Boro, Follow The Boro Brick Road, Gordon Strachan, Jeremie Aliadiere, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United
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Don’t expect the Boro side to click over night after Gordon Strachan sealed the deals of three new players earlier this week.
We play one of the inform teams in the Coca Cola Championship tomorrow in their back yard so it will be a big ask for us to produce a performance without any creases.
Sheffield United are one of the most physical sides in the league and are no doubt a tough side to overcome at Bramall Lane.
Gordon Strachan seems to have added some steel to the side this week, bringing in 31-year-old Barry Robson who should be handed a starting role tomorrow against the Blades.
The midfield should look more balanced with a probable midfield four of Gary O’Neil on the right side and Osbourne and Robson in the middle leaving Adam Johnson to supply the goods from the left, if fit.
Boro’s attack must be strong against Sheffield United especially as they come up against their two big lumps at the back so I’m thinking that Strachan will throw Killen up top for his first match and play Aliadiere off him as the runner.
With the new faces turning up at the Riverside this week, players will be on their toes fighting for places so expect to see plenty of effort from the lads in light blue tomorrow.
Don’t expect us to steam-roll Kevin Blackwell’s men tomorrow because we won’t. They are hard to beat with Leicester City and Newcastle the only teams to beat them in their last ten Championship games.
I’ll go for a score draw but this one will be tight so it could go either way with the winning team winning by the odd goal.
Sheffield United 1 Middlesbrough 1
Enjoy the game!
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Boro Transfer Watch: Hulse, Kilgallon and Helguson September 1, 2009
Posted by stuart in Middlesbrough, Transfer Rumours.Tags: Derby County, Gareth Southgate, Heiðar Helguson, Matthew Kilgallon, Middlesbrough F.C., Queens Park Rangers F.C., rob hulse, Sheffield United
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According to a few newspapers this morning we are going to be busy on the last day of the summer transfer window. I will be giving regular transfer updates throughout today’s proceedings. Gareth Southgate said on Saturday evening that there is no money available, but with the imminent sale of Alves to Al Sadd Southgate now has a little cash injection to revitalise the squad.
Rob Hulse is a name that has been linked with us in recent weeks and today according to local press in Derby we have tested Derby County’s resolve over the striker’s availability. We have reportedly put a £3.5million offer in for Hulse. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears pricked for the latest developments, this could get exciting – finally we might have a player that can head a ball up top.
Another player linked with the Boro squad this morning is Matthew Kilgallon. The Sheffield United defender is a possibility for Southgate after Robert Huth was sold to Stoke City last week. This would be a great addition to the squad for the season ahead. At 25-years-old Kilgallon would bring height and that much needed Championship experience to the team.
A quick mention for Heidar Helguson this morning as well. SkySports have just mentioned that we are apparently interested in the 32-year-old striker who is currently at QPR.
I will try and keep you posted every few hours throughout the today as a one-off transfer deadline day special.
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Good Old Honesty From Southgate August 8, 2009
Posted by stuart in Match Report, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United.Tags: Adam Johnson, Gareth Southgate, Mark Yeates, Middlesbrough, rob hulse, Sheffield United
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The opening exchanges at the Riverside last night were slightly tentative, which is expected from two of the heavyweights of the Championship in the first match of the season. Southgate selected a strong backbone for the side with Wheater and Huth partnering at central defence with Didier Digard and Rhys Williams in central midfield. The base of that backbone was strong, but that’s where the physicality prowess ended. With Aliadiere and Emnes up top together did Southgate honestly think we were going to cause Morgan and Kilgallon any problems. Good old honesty from Southgate at the end of the match saying we need a target man. Maybe he will do something about it before we play our next league game against two bruisers in the opponents defence. The Boro boss told the official site about needing a target man.
“I think a striker with some physical presence and quality is important and we’d like to bring someone in. We caused United problems with our pace but a target man would give us a different dimension, there’s no doubt.” – Gareth Southgate
Testing efforts from both sides were offered with Boro’s best chances coming from new boy, Mark Yeates. Looking like a real steal at half a million pounds, the Boro number seven teased his way to a couple of openings and let fly from outside the box only to be denied by the United goalkeeper.
Adam Johnson was also in fine form with the ball at his feet, but was unable to link up with his strikers during the game hence the need for a target man. Jinky will be a weapon for us this season and with Mark Yeates on the other wing we will create lots more than we did last season, but only if we get Rob Hulse or someone similar to play up top.
The pleasing aspect of the game was the way we defended. The back four were solid with the experienced guidance of the Danny Coyne between the sticks and Rhys Williams and Didier Digard looked very comfortable playing together for the first time in a competitive match. Jon Grounds and Tony McMahon offered plenty of drive when linking up with Johnson and Yeates respectively so the signs are there that we can emerge as a force in this league once Southgate irons out the squad and gets rid of the creases.
A good crowd turned out despite the game being shown live on SkySports. Let’s hope the goalless encounter will not turn many away for our next home game. My prediction for the game fell flat on its face, but the ‘Guv’ got off to a winning start. I’m hoping for a better prediction against Swansea next week. Fingers crossed.
What did you guys think of the match? Where do we need to strengthen? What was pleasing about the performance?
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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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Boro Kick-Off New Season Against Sheffield Utd June 17, 2009
Posted by stuart in Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United.Tags: Boro, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough, Riverside Stadium, Sheffield United
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Eight weeks until the new season starts and our first fixture will be against Sheffield United at the Riverside. The fixture lists for the 2009/2010 season were released this morning, but unfortunately due to a ridiculous rights rule we are unable to give you the full listings. Fear not though because I’m sure all of you have SkySports to hand either on the telly or online.
Tough one to get us off and running
Our first match of the new season will be a tough one against the Blades. Notoriously tight, this match will be a crunch start to the promotion battlers. Southgate knows the team have to hit the ground running. Confidence is a must in this league if we are to gain promotion to the Premiership in our first attempt.
Newcastle and West Brom face each other on the opening game of the season which will be another Championship cracker to start the season off. Fingers crossed for a draw there though.
It’s time for Southgate to pull his finger out over the next eight weeks and build a strong squad for the new season.
Which fixtures are you looking forward to? Check them out here
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