Wednesday, Show Stupidity The Red Card And Shrinking Crowds
BORO passed another landmark and crucial pyschological barrier with the impressive 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday. Boro showed a steely resolve to come back after leaking an opener within two minutes - the first time they had come from behind to win in the league for over two years.
The last time that happened in the league - and we all had to dig deep to remember - was at Fulham in August 2007 when Mido scored on his debut in a 2-1 win. There was one occasion in the FA Cup at Bristol in January 2008 but in the bread and butter games it has been a massive millstone knowing that if the oppostion score first that a point was the best we could hope for.
After ticking off those boxes - clean sheets, back-to-back wins, more than two goals in a game, away victories - it is another sign that Boro are developing the mental strength needed to mount a genuine Championship challenge. Bring it on.
Some observations:
Medical miracle Gary O'Neil is nails. After climbing of his post-op bed to play just a fortnight after having 38 staples in his stomach he was at his 'felt nowt' best, straight back on after stitches to a headwound and looking natty in the traditional head bandage as worn by rock hard fans' favourites Ince, Southgate. Poggi and Queudrue.
Stats are great. When Aliadiere scored for Boro there was a flurry of googling to produce the damning fact that the one time new van Basten had taken his career tally to 13 league goals in 113 games - but high on euphoria the ra-ra element responded that on-fire Ali had actually scored three in just over an hour.
That trend is impressive. And now he's got his eye in, if that strike rate - one every 20 minutes - can be sustained over the season it would mean the deadly goal-getter would be on track to bang in a Stakhanovite four a game or a blinding 157 more this term! George Camsell eat yer heart out.
Maybe the frustrating French forager has crowbarred free a decade long goals log-jam in the great game's plumbing and will suddenly unleash a gushing torrent of
unstoppable net-busting.
Boro must keep Adam Johnson. It is now the most pressing political problem in the club. At this level he has been devastating, even away fans and managers now admit that. He is crucial to Boro's promotion hopes but more importabtly, if we go back up we will need his potent creativity.
Boro need to break the bank to keep him - but more importantly need to sustain the title challenge. Being part of a vibrant team that is winning games and at the heart of a buzzing club that has regained a sense of direction and ambition will make Boro a far more attractive proposition than being a big club bench-warmer.
Horse for courses: Sean St Ledger's debut prompted a mirthsome Viz-fest in the press pack with racing puns flying around - a thorough bred performance, won at a canter, added a stable presence at the back, hoofed it long, arrived on loan with a view for a 10,000 guineas move, made sure they didn't fall at the final fence... add your own here.
Meanwhile Preston chiefs have admitted that a cash crisis and the need to balance the books forced the sale of their star man. That that the deal could be worth up to ã4.5m... a record between Championship clubs. It seems that Boro's belt tightening and cull has worked and there is a bit of money now to play with.
***************
REFEREE'S should introduce a new card - possibly white with a picture of a dunce's cap on it - for the offence of "gross stupidity". Players really can be doyles sometimes can't they? Why do they do things they know they are going to get booked for?
Take "emotional" Emmanuel Adebayor. I'm not going to jump on the pompous finger-wagging tabloid tut-tut band wagon and condemn him for his Gooner-baiting celebrations. There's plenty of professional why-oh-whys to do that.
If anything I go along with Gareth Southgate's line that thin-skinned fans who abuse players - especially former players - for 90 minutes should expect them to react by not only busting a gut to score but then cupping their ears, kissing their new badge and flicking the Vs.
If self-winding fans inflated with contrived rage are going to turn grounds into Theatres of Hate with recreational bile on the premise that it is a "passionate" game then they shouldn't then turn into cry babies quivering with outrage when the taunting is turned back on them. Big hard red faced wannabee hooligans just look ridiculous when they are complaining to the steward about the nasty footballer putting his tongue out at them.
Plus, credit where it due, Adebayor's 90 yard sprint would give Usain Bolt a run for his money. Who knew he had such pace?
No, for me the problem is not the taunting, there he just playing his panto villain role and giving the mob excatly the vitriolic flashpoint they wanted. The problem is the stupidity he showed in doing it. It was a nailed on yellow card - and along with the sly flick at a former team mate could now lead to a possible disrepute charge and subsequent ban - and in a volitile game could easily have been doubled up to a red and led to a suspension and leaving his team a man down.
And take Leroy Lita. When he scored his debut goal for Boro against Doncaster he was perfectly entitled to milk it a bit and lead the celebrations behind the goal for a minute or so. It was his first for a new club and hey, it probably triggered a big goal bonus so there was good reason to get a bit excited. No one blames him for that. It wasn't a provocation. He wasn't leading a war dance or inciting the Boro masses to invade the pitch.
But why did he take his shirt off? He knew the yellow card was out the second he grabbed the hem and started to pull. Why? He didn't even have a vest on with a witty quip, message to sick children or praise to a deity in marker pen. Are the trendy new Adidas shirts to tight to party? It was just idiotic.
A couple of months down the line that cheap self-inflicted sanction will come back to bite us on the bum when he gets a legitimate card that triggers a ban. Stupidity. Although on the plus side it wasn't Mido doing it. Urrrgggh, that's a kit for sore eyes, put it back on!
So let's have a D card introduced for acts of inane, selfish and purile daftness. Seeing their own stupidity recorded in black and white and having team-mates pulling their leg for it may have more effect that a pocket money. Maybe if they reach a limit of five or so they can have a punishment of public humiliation, laughed at in the centre-circle before kick-off. Or made to audition for X Factor.
Teesside's rent-a-quote ref Jeff Winter has advocated an orange card for offences worse than a yellow but not quite a red so maybe there is scope for a spectrum of colour coded cautions; maybe a pink one for feigning injury and going down Alves style at the briefest contact only to land on the ground and look up sulkily and hard done by; or maybe a card with a score of 5.6 on it for transparent dives... yes Adam, that means you.
*********
PEOPLE who live outside Gazetteshire often complain that the Big Picture column from the steam driven old school paper isn't available on line. So here's this week's....
HOW LOW can gates go?
The crowd for the Ipswich game dipped blow the psychologically important 20,000 barrier for the first time in a league game at the Riverside. It should set the alarm bells ringing loud and clear.
Keith Lamb said on Radio Brownlee last week that while Sky TV money had been slashed on relegation, he expected gate income this season to be about the same. It is hard to believe looking at the sparse gathering on Saturday.
Not only has the crowd collapsed below the 20k landmark but the profile has changed too. The laudable ã5 tickets for kids and cut prices for teenagers have led to an welcome upsurge in the numbers of younger fans which is a brilliant marker for the future - but it has disguised the fact that many, many more full price veterans have quit and the average take per ticket is well down too.
Pockets of empty red seats are now visible even in the faithful fortress of the North Stand as whole layers of man and boy disaffected diehards peel off and attendances shrink back to Ayresome Park figures. The long predicted meltdown is here.
Steve Gibson's appeals for "blind faith" after relegation have clearly not been heeded.
Now, there is a complex cocktails of reasons for the alarming decline - just five seasons ago the LOWEST gate of the season was 29,603 to see Charlton! - and probably the most pressing factor of all is the recession biting Teesside.
Saturday's game showcased a Save Our Steel march and the chairman last week entered the political arena with a two footed tackle on the area's MPs as he made a string of passionate observations about the effect of looming job losses on the local economy and ultimately its impact on the gate.
Times are tight, and not just at Corus. Many Teessiders are suffering the harsh reality of redundancy and wage freezes or the fear of those to come and are cutting back on their costs - not least the expensive hobby of football.
While kids for a fiver is undeniable value and frozen season tickets and more matches at this level make a full price game as little as ã16, the cheapest on the day adult ticket on Saturday was ã23 - a big ask in uncertain times.
It will especially sting those thousands who have wrapped in season tickets over the past two years and vowed to pick and choose: when you used to pay ã17 a game to watch Manchester United and Chelsea it is hard to swallow paying six quid more for Scunthorpe and Blackpool. That is when crowds will really dip unless the club act now.
Winning back those who have walked away will not be easy.
Of course, it isn't just a financial issue and at least the matchday maths can be tweaked with cute marketing, BOGOFs and special deals.
Far deeper political and cultural problems exist that will be much harder to address.
There is a close correlation between crowds and perceived ambition and Boro have spent the summer downsizing their dreams, selling their stars and making it clear they are now operating in a low cost landscape.
The summer - renewal time - was dominated by depressing talk of a cash crisis, an enforced player exodus and a determination to stick by the under-fire management structure that had delivered the failure - hardly the best sales pitch to pacify a crowd stung by relegation, and many who wanted blood.
The season started in much the same vein. Between the home game with Doncaster which drew a crowd of 22,000 and the Ipswich match, Boro flogged ã18m worth of talent and lost two games on the bounce while deadline day passed with no additions despite talk of loans and free transfers. Is it any surprise there was no walk-up?
Most fans, if pressed, recognise the need to balance the books - ã28m of sales, just ã750,000 spent - but it is still hard to sell a team filleted of experience and stars as a Brave New World to dissuade fans who have made the decision to walk away.
It is harder still to sell the notion of a fresh start on prudent foundations when so many believe the damaging drop and resulting crisis was largely self-inflicted.
The sterile manner of the slide from the Premier League still rankles: selections were erratic, motivation and organisation ineffective, there seemed to be no Plan B and the January transfer window brought a bloody-minded refusal to change tack. The club's best hope of avoid the drop appeared to be crossing their fingers and hoping.
The bottom line is that last season was awful. Just two wins in the last 26... 13 away defeats in a row... the lowest goals scored in all British professional football... a groundhog day torture of late goals conceded and missed sitters.
The hurt and simmering anger at that dismal show was still fresh at renewal time and for many outweighed end of term platitudes from the top about change and lessons learned.
The absence of change - and one change in particular - caused more to walk away. Many wanted the boss's head after the car-wreck season that was seen as the inevitable culmination of three years of decline. That he stayed was the final straw for many.
Boro now face a big battle to win those Riverside refusniks back. Lifelong fans rarely take the decision to stop going lightly but if after all that agonising people break the season ticket habit, anecdotal evidence suggests they rarely go back.
The club can do little about the overall economic picture but they can make a compelling argument on the pitch. If they are playing well, if they are winning, if they are up there and challenging for promotion and look once again to be a club with a vision and ambition then the lost layers of loyalists will make the sacrifices to back them.
Ten Lowest League Gates At Riverside.
19,742 v Ipswich Sept 2009
22,041 v Doncaster Aug 2009
22,920 v Birmingham Sept 2007
22,963 v Wigan Jan 2008
23,273 v Reading March 2008
23,541 v Sheff Utd Aug 2009
23,638 v Wigan Dec 2006
23,900 v Aston Villa Nov 2007
24,020 v Wigan Feb 2009
24,281 v Portsmouth March 2009
BIG UP to the Teesside travelling posse. The atmosphere may be strained and crowds dipping at the Riverside but let's hear it for the away day heroes who have backed Boro in numbers and volume in every away game so far.
Over 600 made the long trip to Swansea which was a slow start but one which the local press men regraded as a good turnout. There were 2,200 noisy fans at Scunthope - a quarter of the 8,700 gate - and 1,727 at Forest to make up a similar proportion of the crowd who at one point were singing "we're here, we're there, we're every f****** where in the seats". There was another decent 1,030 at Bristol which is a far old poke.
New grounds (or old favourites for the first time in a while), lower prices and the prospect of victory have all boosted the appeal of the away day while the ability to park close to stadiums and buy tickets on the day have helped too. That and the fact that so far it has been infectious fun with a bubbling atmosphere and lot of new songs.
And here's something to get you in the mood for tonight.....
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Thanks AV. IâÂÂm one of those fans marooned out side gazette land so found the second article especially interesting.
As a keen economist(!), I am interested in the Price Elasticity of Demand. Taking football tickets as an example, how much would demand rise if prices were halved, would it double? As disappointing as SaturdayâÂÂs crowd was it was understandable, as the points you have made, plus there is another âÂÂbiggerâ game at home on Saturday to West Brom. People will probably choose that one to go to.
But back to the economics lesson. Saturdays crowd of just under 20k, with an average price of say ã18, taking into account all range of ticket prices. This would have seen the club receive ã360k.
So to get a more attractive crowd of 30k the club would have to charge on average ã12 a ticket, to make the same revenue. Who here thinks there would have been a crowd of 30,000 had prices been cut by a third? I doubt it; I think we have a core support of 15-17 thousand which is very good for this division. As unsightly as empty seats are, they are better than only having a ground that holds twenty thousand, turning fans away and charging the earth.
Here endeth the lesson. I can now take off my roll neck sweater and tweed jacket with leather elbow patches.
**AV writes: It is interesting that when the club did their 'buy an extra ticket for a tenner' offers they alwasy put 2-3,000 on the gate, even for less attractive opposition like Wigan and Bolton so there is an element of classical supply and demand theory at work.
I think what complicates it is the intangible nature of "the product." People don't just buy 90 minutes of entertainment - they buy into a collective experience that transcends what happens on the pitch, they buy into the atmosphere at the match and being involved in the wider social aspects of being 'part of it'.
The problem right now is that "it" is not something that people are receptive to. There seems to be no compelling vision, no engaging ambition or perspective of where we are and where we are going in the way there was when the 'Riverside Revolution' was fresh and dynamic. .
In fact I think part of the fall in ST is that people are consciously signalling that don't want to be part of "it" if "it" is selling talent, downsized ambition, crisis management and a growing estrangement of the club from the fans. In that sense it is a political and cultural rather than economic calculation the club must make now. It is time for a debate on exactly what "it" is.
Nice one AV will settle for that score tonight. Got any more old clips brings back the memories and definatly gets you going for tonight.
On to the main topic i think there were four games in the championship with bigger gates than us on Saturday which is worrying. With the job situation the way it is in the area its hard to see how the problem can be solved.
Its all about the quality of the day for the fan and most importantly the quality of the football that will bring them back.
We must keep winning get a new striker in and play good passing football when possable i say when because there will be games where we cant do that.2-1 to Boro tonight why change.
Regarding attendances - I think the first three months of the championship are pretty much akin to the first group stage of the old UEFA cup - not many big draw teams to get excited about and a win is not only expected but demanded.
I think if Boro are occupying the top two or three come December then there will be a momentum and belief that promotion is a likelyhood and this should be reflected in the attendances.
Afterall, imagine if the Boro slipped out of contention as the season progressed - what attendance would you expect to see then? 12,000-13,000?
Was just on Sky Sports site it seems we have won the horse race StLedger a done deal. Now for that striker we need.
**AV writes: Yes, three months loan with a view to a real deal in January. He goes straight into the squad for tonight.
What is âÂÂitâÂÂ?
Well to best answer this I find it useful to relate to MaslowâÂÂs Hierarchy of needs. A pyramid shaped model which suggest that Humans beings cannot truly be happy until they have achieved fulfilment in the basic areaâÂÂs before moving on to more deeper satisfaction.
At the base of the pyramid we have Physiological needs: This is where the all seated Riverside stadium comes in. View the match in comfort from covered and warm seat. You can also obtain refreshing beverages and pies. Also clean conveniences (which are free).
The next step up is Safety. A well organised and friendly team of stewards ensure the match day experience is a safe one. Even in these days of no police presence at games. As if Doncaster have any Hoolies!
Moving on from the basic human needs we find Love and Belonging. Those Humans who are unable to attain Love and belonging in âÂÂnormalâ human activities are drawn together where they share an interest. As a long distance Boro fan I have never experience loneliness and depressionâÂÅ much.
Esteem â As Humans we have a need to be respected by others. This can take various forms. But I have ultimate respect for those that have tattoos of the childrenâÂÂs names Bolo and Gazika emblazoned on their arms.
Self Actualization â the tip of the pyramid.
To realise oneâÂÂs own Maximum potential. This season that would be promotion. Eventually Champions league, Mr Lambs Esteem is obviously higher than mine.
Great news about St. Ledger.
A decent striker - lets Folan out - and midfielder before Saturday would be just the job.
Long time target Ferrie Bodde is fit again and about to be re-introduced to the Swansea first team. He would be good for midfield.
AV: Any news on what the fee will be in Jan?
AV, I reckon you must be right in your Gazette column tonight, because about 15,000 of us out here in Boroland (and many of the contributiors to this blog) agree.
I will, however check the rest of your internetty version above..
3-1 to the Boro tonight, I hope/believe.
I would respectfully refer the Honourable Gentleman to my earlier prediction as to the score. Forgive me whilst I make haste to my Accountant (Turf variety...).
That glass is starting to fill up and, if we sneak it against WBA at the weekend, the world will take on a much more golden hue. Repeatedly winning games away from home! How often can we remember that in the last couple of years? Don't you all love football?
I understand that we have already agreed a deal with the Hull City striker, too. Skysports.com tells Caleb Folan has agreed a loan move to Middlesbrough.
AV, do you think we can still go for a new midfielder - can we afford to do that as long as Shawky is still here?
Anyway, great to see Ali score again at Wed with Boro winning by 3 goals to one. Not a bad start for Boro and well in front point wise that we ever expected. Three games to go for GS judgement day - and we already have 16 points from 7 games!
Up the Boro!
Good article AV I after 55 years am one of the refuseniks , my reasons for not renewing are simple - SOUTHGOAT . I will never return whilst he is there.
I am not missing Boro at all , I only read this article because my sister in law told me . The club is not Teesside's , it is Steve Gibson's. I live in Stockton & to be called a mackem was the ultimate insult. Plus the way the local Paper & Radio are clearly in the clubs pocket make the whole scenario for me rotten.
I cannot wish them the best of luck , I have followed home & away for 55 years , a drug I thought could not be broken , but Southgoat has done it.
For all those blasphemers out there who think Boro are in a sorry state these days, then follow the link below and read the article written by a Sheff Wed fan after Tuesday's game:
http://www.owlsalive.com/385.html
If that doesn't get your hopes up for this season - I don't what will. CoB!!
Dormo's won the crystal ball stakes with his prediction.
Well done to Gate and the team on a professional job at Sheffield and with the added boost of the St. Ledger signing.
Any more of this and Jezza will be losing the 'Femmer Frenchie' tag for 'Gallic Goal Grabber'!
It seems we're getting Folan whatever anyone says. Ho hum.
But, to go back to my posting above, Bodde made his first team comeback for Swansea last night, getting a few minutes from the bench. Reports were encouraging. How about it, Gate?
Richie E @ 6.33am, thanks for the link.
http://www.owlsalive.com/385.html
The article by a Sheff Wed fan should be read by all. This guy is a true sports fan who gives credit where it is due.
All the people who post on here should read this in it's entirety! This will give you all a boost, having an opposition fan say this about the Boro is truly inspiring. Just hope the team don't read it and start to think they are that good and take their foot off the gas.
Come on Boro, prove this Sheffield Wednesday fan right and get back in the Premier league (although I am enjoying being in this league more at the moment).
Richie E at 6.33am - Thanks for the reference to the OWLS weblog, it was a good read from the other side's perspective, and there are plenty of funny parts that will force you to smile. It is worth a look for any Boro supporter wondering whether the glass is half full or half enpty.
How did he get it all written up so quickly, with all the photo inserts as well? And did that inebriated Boro fan ever get home, or is he still in the outskirts of Sheffield? Is anyone missing a friend?
Yet another good shout from Forever Dormo following on from his recent warnings about Nicky Maynard at Bristol City - Move over Derren Brown is all I'll say.
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the match report on the owlsalive link supplied by Richie E - though perhaps the judgement of visiting teams is relative to what you normally get to see but maybe MFC should sign him on for their pre-match marketing.
So yet another good result that sets us up nicely for the WBA game - it's not so much a 'must win' as a 'mustn't lose' game - especially now that the relegated teams have opened up a four point gap on the rest as it could well be 2 from 3.
Still at least we now finally have a 1 in 2 striker in the the shape of Ali - perhaps soon to be partnered with young Jimmy Vaughan (a good Irish sounding name) if the press is to be believed - perhaps Emnes will return to the right now that Yeates has run out of adrenalin.
The one plus point to come out of the fall in crowds is the loss of the old moaners like Brian B, which makes for a better atmosphere with just the hardcore there and more enthusiastic young 'uns. It's great to be following the Boro this season, particularly at away games with our big following and last night was no exception.
The team are a joy to watch, even if some games are like a training ground exercise, and Southgate deserves praise for this. We might be a bit jittery at the back but the club is obviously trying to addresss this with SSL coming in. This could be the best season in a very long time imo.
Great result.
On Saturday we have a score to settle. We owe West Brom a pasting from last season, they were lucky against us twice [ dodgy ref at theirs and their keeper versus pot shots from our attack at the riverside] and while we are playing well it would be a good time to address the balance .
Maybe Brom will be the toughest team we have played yet in this div? Also I seem to recognize their manager from somewhere?
Adam Johnson is the Ronaldo of this league and we have got him in our squad! But for how long?
Take away his goals and assists from this season and all of a sudden we look more average. Players who can influence games going forward cost the most and I just hope Lamby gives the lad what he deserves. After all we have payed foreign stars tons before and watch them not turn up for some games. It comes down to what Nigel said on the previous topic- September 14, 2009 2:36 PM.
But if we are about to pay Ledger the biggest fee between two championship clubs then we have got to give Johnson a good deal.
Like Sartre said - To be is to do. And also.- To do is to be.
Johnson would probably stay if he knew we would definatly get back in the prem.
And also we would probably get back in the prem if we can keep him. Decisions , decisions. The worst thing that can happen is him leaving on a free.
Great result yet again,hopefully there is a head of steam building here. Cant wait for Saturday now, this really is a great league to play in!!
One treatise from an economist and another from a philosopher, and both on the same day! A bit unusual, I admit, but an interesting change from some of the personal abuse heaped on Steve Gibson and Keith Lamb in recent weeks. Yer know warra mean mate?
**AV writes: Do we have any other Boro barmy boffins wishing to bring their own particular niche appliance of science to the club's current socio/economic position?
To patrick Steele - moaning at a match has never been a trait , not going & having to sit near people like you is a bonus
Smashing result and a top article from the Owls fan - it is now up to AV to remove the link in case the club use it.
The match confirmed what we knew already. We play good football, will do well in the Championship and will be too good for most of the teams.
The tricky bit is keeping it going for the rest of the season. Clearly O'Neil is key to driving the team forward with his energy and work rate. Johnno is the man who will provide ammunition and fire a few bullets himself. Wheater is probably the heart of the team (he is forming a formidable partnership with another heart on the sleeve player in McMahon).
A couple of injuries could see us struggle, not to be near the top but actually in automatic promotion contention. We do not want the lottery of the play offs, they do not always favour the best side.
St Ledger is a good addition but we still need another fit midfielder. We also need a striker, it looks like Folan is coming so we still need a striker.
Sky bet has WBA at 5/2, Boro at 11/4 and Toon at 3/1. The closest other team is Sheff Utd at 8/1. It has all the hallmarks of our last promotion season where the top four all had enough points to be champions in most seasons.
Without reinforcements and keeping the squad fit we may struggle for those top few places. No great surprise as it is true in any league. Liverpool without Gerrard and Torres are a shadow of the team when they are present.
It is a long season but lets enjoy it, so far so good.
I like Ian Gill's comment that with Folan coming in we still need a striker! - I have to agree, although if you had asked me last Saturday afternoon to give an opinion on Aliadieres goal scoring ability I would have said 'what ability'.
I also smiled when I read the Owls fans comment that Southgate seems to be able to bring the best out of Aliadiere!! Scoredraw have you read the link?!
The tone on this blog has changed in the last few days, not long ago plenty of posters were saying Boro would be heading south, mid table at best etc etc. Now there is a concensus that we are contenders.
Again I agree with Ian Gill this is a long hard season and it will be the club with the squad and stamina as well as ability who will succeed in being promoted. I for one intend to enjoy the ride, after so many seasons of soul destroying struggles in the lower echelons of the prem. it is great to feel the buzz as another match approaches.
As for socio/economics, my view is Boro are lucky to have a Chairman who has been prepared to commit so much cash to the club and who is cute enough to manage wisely. Other clubs may suffer far more severley in the coming years as a result of a refusal to face up to economic reality, we shall see. But for the moment forget all that, its show time!!
Ian Gill - you are dead right about a couple of injuries could see us struggle. I saw it first hand at Bristol. No O'Neil (Hernia) and Gate put Grounds next to Wheater for a laugh so he could use the phrase 'lessons learned' again.
The result was sickening after the cost of traveling all that way. Dont complain about the cost of tickets at the Riverside, at least that money goes to help the club. It was ã15 for kids at Ashton Gate! Can Hoyte play left back?
Is Southgate still stuck in Plato's cave?
Have to agree with Riche E and Simon USA, a cracking bit of wit enthused journo from Steve the Owls Fan after last night's game. Well worth the read.
Refreshing to see someone taking a realistic view through the eyes of a stand-up comic. Shame there are not more out there with such an honest prognosis of their team. Great win again, and long may it continue.
Nigel and Ignorant,
It is pertinent to recall that we were flying last November then teams found a way to play us.
I think we are in a better position this time around in part because there isnt the same quality in the division. An obvious comment but relevant. We messed it up at Bristol and nearly got a point, last season we would have been firmly put in our place.
My view has been and still is that we will challenge in this division, finishing in the play offs will be hard work, top two very difficult. The same applies to the Baggies and the Toon.
Arsenal were too good for everybody until other clubs all started playing them in the same way to deny them time and space. Didn't work every time but it pushed them from top dogs down the pecking order. There is a debate for the academically minded 'Do dogs peck? - Discuss'
There is also the issue of keeping hold of our better players in January but a winning team has a remarkable effect on the well being of us all including the players. But remember the count saying that the wage bill was on the way to be being under control, not under control.
Don't think I am getting all negative because I am chuffed to bits about how things are going.
I am looking forward to some revenge against West Brom on Saturday. Even if things don't go perfectly there was a good example from ManU last season. I think they were bottom of the mini league made up of the big four, but, barring the odd exception, what they did was beat everyone else in a canter.
Teams are going to drop points, it cannot keep on like this or we will see teams with 100+ points! We just have to keep playing our football.
One Caleb Folan, theres only one Caleb Folan, one Caleb Folan. Bugger!
PlatoâÂÂs cave = âÂÂPlato imagines a group of people who have lived chained in a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wallâÂÂ. As someone from Nottingham I have a lot of understanding of this theory.
I feel Mr. GibsonâÂÂsâ benevolent leadership draws parallels to PlatoâÂÂs Ship of State metaphor.
Discuss.
**AV writes: Some players spent a lot of last season chasing 'shadows'.
I have wrestled with writing on the tension between the perspectives of Plato and Aristotle in contemplating Boro (no, seriously.) I think a lot of the 'critics' take position of Platonic realism in that they actively deny the reality of the material world (finances, history, players abilities etc) in favour of measuring the club against some mystical/divine ideal (the club we "should" be).
I'm an Aristotle man myself. (Insert joke about signing Socrates here.....)
Good article AV.
The key to getting back the crowds long term has to be in the good deals available to the young'uns. Forget the moaners and those who have thrown in the season ticket towel. They show, at the least, a suspect passion for the Boro.
Capture the hearts and souls of the youngsters with a good season or two of entertaining and (more often than not) winning football and they will keep coming back even when they don't qualify for the discount rates.
Thanks to Ritchie E for the link to that Owls site. Excellent read and every one who posts on here (especially in the negative) needs to read it. For those who have only known the Premiership years, think on. Our glass is definitely much more than half full.
I remember posting last season that we would be looking forward to entertaining football this year in the Championship. And so it has been so far. Its great to be winning, winning with style and winning with plenty of goals.
Come on everybody, credit where it is due. Well done to the Gate and the backroom team. Never mind Sartre (Ignorant of Boroland), wasn't it Sinatra that gave us "Dooby dooby do". CoB
I've said for years cash in on Downing and get Johnson in the side, I was worried Watford were going to sign him when they had him on loan.
He's a class act and could settle in any team. He'll be a regular in the England well before Downing! He'll be the most important signing we'll make if he puts pen to paper. Gibbo and Lamb pull yer fingers out and SIGN HIM UP!!!
(Now lets do the Baggies)
Please dont overload Johnson with sole responsibilty for getting us promoted.
Teams will soon find ways to slow him down either legally or double marking (something no one has done yet). In this division he has more scope to be the hero, lets just let him develop his game without building him up only for people to kick him if his form drops a touch or he cant find the room to play.
I suggest that the recent turnaround in Boro's fortunes is that there has been a distinct change of Management style with Gareth since Smithy's arrival.
The Blake/Mouton Managerial Grid provides a clear explanation contrasting Gareth's style of last season which was "Accomodating" to the new "Sound" style which has galvanised the Teamwork and consequently levels of Commitment.
In the meantime well done to all concerned, a good solid start to the season. Credit where credit is due!
In the spirit of credit crunching economic book balancing and "Managing on a Shoestring Vol IV" I think a gamble on Simeon Jackson from Gillingham up front and Carl Baker from Stockport for the middle of the park would make sense. They would probably be more than willing to make the jump to the upper echelons of the Championship and would be useful squad members and "hungry" to boot!
Worst case scenario is that they flatter to decieve and can comfortably be offloaded to a.n.other Championship side at the end of our promotion winning season or they make the grade and achieve cult status!
Either way their personal demands are likely to be well within our current model and have a resale value. I think it makes more sense than investing in "nearly men" who haven't made it (and probably never will) and are failed Prem "cast-offs".
Totally agree with Patrick Steele, the atmosphere in the crowd is brilliant. You could feel the confidence in the massed ranks before the kick off; so much different to the nervous tension last year.
And the fist pumping from the players to the fans was brilliant. I'm getting a we're in together buzz going on. Got to get a better song for Danny Coyne though.
I can't remember the last time i "E I Oed" 3 times away from home.
People can say what they like about Jason Euell, but he did Boro a huge favour tonight: he scored the goal that sank the Mags, condemning them to a defeat that kept them below Boro on goal difference in the table! *big grin*
When was the last time we had a week as good as this? 6pts (so far), a quality new defender who is saying all the right things, two new strikers (including Ali), and Jason Euell scoring winners against Newcastle.
Bring on Saturday, and let's hope a few of the stay-aways can drag themselves along.
Perhaps we should make a move for that Blackpool striker who inflicted the first defeat on the Barcodes tonight and keeps us sitting pretty in second with a chance to go top on saturday - what's his name again? Oh yeh, it's Jason Euell - top bloke!
"Refs, Gates n Stats, couldn't give a - French Spy's ass"!
"Enjoying the moment - long may it last"!
Loans, Johno, O'Neil our key to survival in the most Darwinian way ever - adaptability!
"You are clever men SG and Lamby - questions - can you keep hold of Johno n O'Neil and how effective will your loanos be"?
Best of luck - YOUR club hangs on YOUR decisions!
Nigel - I read the 'wise owls' link. I prefer my judgement on Aliadiare which is based on 3 years of 'numbing' mediocrity.
Aliadiare will always be rubbish. He's quick but he never seems to have time on the ball. He has no composure. He's fragile. He's scored and I'm pleased for him and the team but like he's Hoyte vastly overrated. The last two games have been a 'flash in the pan'.
But at least Southgate is getting some luck.
Well done Blackpool and that striker.... know the name from somewhere.
How important is Saturday now? We can go top. We will have to watch their big lad up front - two goals from crosses and that's not our best defensive trait.
Going for 2-1 Boro. Where are you Dormo? What's the score going to be? We trust your judgement.
The start of the season has been great, just great! Especially as the Magpies didn't win and stayed below us!
Have you noticed that we have scored exactly 2 goals per game as GS hoped for (and many laughed at)? And our goal difference is + 10 which is far better than anyone has in the C'hip.
Credit to GS and the players. Next Saturday will be really interesting! Up the Boro!
tim from sa -
I think the WBA 'man up front' you refer to was their centre back, they were dangerous at set pieces but hopefully our defenders will be a little less naive and tighter. It will be a close game but its a winnable one for Boro, with the added incentive of going top if we do.
Scoredraw -
I have to admit I agree with your Aliadiere assesment, he's been a light weight so far and I think its unlikely that he's suddenly discovered the mental strength to score when th chances come, but there is always hope and I hope that at Championship level he may prove to be a potent goal scorer.
Excellent result last night, that Jason Euell is a cracking bloke!!
Anyone else bored with PS3âÂÂs and wiiâÂÂs. Get the lads together on the train for those long away trips and get a game of PhilosopherâÂÂs football or Phutball going. Check wikipedia for full details. Maybe this is what the bored assistant managers furiously point to when subs are made?
AV, how many men does the Gazette send to away games? Is luxury transport provided?
**AV writes: Luxury? Ha! Two of us go in the trusty (ie old) Gazettemobile. I think getting the footballers playing Phutball might just work if it is on DS.
Not like me to go off topic AV, but do all press get into the games for free? If so, what do you need to prove you are a member of the press? As we are playing some teams from towns we havenâÂÂt been to in a long while what is stopping some enterprising chap claiming he is from the Peterborough Herald & Post getting in for free?
Also another ruse I might use, I mean some other rascal might, do scouts from other teams get in free? I may be able to get my hands on a FC Wacker Tirol Club tie (a fetching Black and Green Zig Zag stripes no less). Can you just call up the club and get an invite to the directors box? Mention something about looking for a holding midfielder, maybe North African and disappear into the sunset with Count LambyâÂÂs direct dial?
**AV writes: Yes we get in free. And they feed us. Result. I think in the old days you just turned up with a bit of card marked 'press' stuck in your trilby and clutching a notebook and a packet of woodbines but now It is easier to get into North Korea wearing a stars and stripes t-shirt than get into some press boxes.
We have a bio-metric photo ID card issued by the evil empire FootballDataCo, the sinister group set up to police the PL/FL copyright and who prosecute fanzines for using fixtures without a licence and jealously guard the clubs' copyright. You have to apply each season and "prove" you cover football, 30 cuttings each!
Sometimes when you turn up at games the door staff have a sheet printed out with your photo on it and you have to sign that and a special book that has old school carbon in it the copies sent to FDCo head office. It is heavy duty police state stuff.
But you could try the tie and Austrian accent thing.... let us know how you get on.
AV
What about Cyberspace journalists like those from Fmttm and COB who do match reports or even our very own Powls, Pat McD and Foy. Are they or can they be accredited in the same way?
Well done Blackpool, I tried chanting Tangerine army, Tangerine army but it doesnt trip off the tongue very well. I will also take back everything I have said about Jason Euell, well, for the moment at least.
**AV writes: I think most of the fanzine types would prefer to be in the crowd anyway but some might at a push get in on a press pass as a one off at a low level game but I doubt they would get an ID card. Maybe with a very convincing covering letter, a well presented cuttings file and a fair wind. Rob Nichols from FMTTM would get one: he is on the press release e-mail list and a regular at the routine Hurworth press conferences and could easily get the cuttings together.
Aliadiere might have been rubbish in the past, but it's a new start for everyone this season.
Why not try and judge people on how they perform this season and leave our pre-conceptions, grudges and prejudices behind us?
I tend to agree about being amongst other fans. Obviously mainstream journalists need to be together, especially the nationals so that they can make sure they have 'under the low grey clouds overlooking the grey industrial wasteland' in their copy. Apparently miss it out and you can lose your NUJ card.
For the fanzine types better amongst the common herd. I took my brother last season and got 'posh seats'. It was after the Cheltenham festival and the lady next to me was fully togged and tarted up. She made sure everyone could see the Cheltenham Tattersalls enclosure tag hanging off her handbag. She didnt do any eio'ing but to be fair it was pretty rare amongst proper fans as well.
So it has been confirmed that Folan has signed on a three month loan deal with a view to making it permanent in January for a fee of around ã2m.
Given that Phil Brown has not exactly been complementary about Folan and said he never looked like scoring a goal, I wonder what our scouts have seen other than he reached the right mark on their measuring sticks.
Should Boro be serious about getting promoted, what would be the point in making the deal permanent as he's obviously not PL material? I guess we'll just have to hope he's about to reveal his hidden talent - maybe he can play at centre-back and free up Wheater to play up front...
Never mind all of this metaphysical speculation about Plato who was boring! I knew his brothers Cuppo and Saucero and they were far more entertaining...especially at teatime!!
Robin Shaftinshoeur
Anyone Phil Brown is not complimentary about is already doing well in my book.
BoroPhil:
I'm puzzled by your references to "prejudice or pre-conceptions" simply because some Boro fans think Aliadiare is mediocre .
My opinion is based on watching him for a few years and coming to the conclusion he's not as good as we thought he was, he's not as good as GS thought he was and he's not as good as he thinks he is.
What on earth are you talking about when you mention people having a grudge against him ?? I just don't think he's any good !
Your Pollyanna view - 'all is forgiven', 'what's done is done,' 'we are where we are' if applied to all players, would have us fielding Big Fat Mido.
My view on him is, I think, fair, honest and consistent. He's not good enough.
I suspect you think he's great one minute and rubbish the next because I don't think even you believe he's good all the time ?
If he keeps scoring I'll admit he's good enough for the Fizzy Pop league but he'll never be a premiership player. They won't win on Saturday if he plays.
I think the ã2M reports for Folan are well wide of the mark. Hull paid ã1M for him from Wigan and the sunbed wonder has slagged him off mercilessly prior to his departure, on that basis I'd reckon if Hull broke even they would consider it a good deal!
Personally I think the Tango'ed manager probably has a point that I agree with but I will be delighted to be proved wrong and if Caleb scores 20 goals this season with one eye on South Africa then fair play to the lad. He has a fresh chance and its up to him. Trappatoni is no mug so there must be something lurking there deep down!
On a striking theme I noted with great amusement our ex Goal machine's comments: "It was my decision to come to Qatar. My situation was difficult at Middlesbrough, Eight good players had left the team when I went. The English league is very difficult and if you don't have strong players you will go down. That's what happened last season."
Can anyone name the 8 good players?
This St.Ledger guy seems to have been a wise investment - quite cultured and skilful, apparently. Partner him with the Rock and it can hopefully bring back memories of Willie Maddren and Stuart Boam.
What to do with Poggie, though? Put him up front? Being unable to score goals doesn't seem to be a drawback to being a striker!
If Southgate is still wrestling with the decision on whether to bring in central midfielder on loan then he may wish to submit a request to Martin O'Neill for Reo-Coker.
I would like to think that Folan will do well for us, just to make that orange mackem at Hull look even more stupid.
Good start to the season, hope we can keep it going against West Brom. I missed the last 15mins of the KL interview, can anyone tell me what was said/revealed?
The Aliadiere debate is an interesting one, on the whole I tend to sing from the same hymn sheet as BoroPhil and dont always see eye to eye with Scoredraw.
But in this case I concur with Scoredraw; I dont have any preconceptions about Aliadiere or any bias, he's a Boro player and I want to see him play out of his skin every week. My view is from what I have seen of Aliadiere is that he is a player who has plenty of talent but does not have the mental strength to be a goalscorer.
All goalscorers have an in built belief/arrogance that every time they shoot they will score (ask Bernie). It seems to me that Aliadiere has the opposite and seems to panic when in front of goal. Also I think he's light weight and lacks commitment, he doesn't get stuck in enough or work hard enough, tracking back etc.
I'd be very happy to eat humble pie on this and I hope Aliadiere proves to be a top Championship goalscorer but I'm not convinced.
Redcar Red:
In the January window in which we signed Alves we sold
Andrew Davies (undisclosed, Southampton)
Jonathan Woodgate (ã8m, Tottenham)
Ben Hutchinson (undisclosed, Celtic)
In the following summer we sold/released
Mark Schwarzer (free, Fulham)
Jason Kennedy (free, Darlington)
Fabio Rochemback (released)
Gaizka Mendieta (released)
George Boateng (undisclosed, Hull)
Lee Cattermole (ã3.5m, Wigan)
Luke Young (ã6m, Aston Villa)
Who you would class as a good player from these lists is debatable but personally I would say there's only 6
Woodgate
Schwarzer
Rochemback
Boateng
Cattermole
Young
I heard a rumour Alves couldn't read or write, maybe he can't count either?
BoroPhil
Your defence of Folan and Aliadiere is admirable. But you have to look at facts. As I posted earlier Folan is nearly 27 and has scored 31 goals in just under 200 games.
He is prolific compared to our Frenchman who is 26 and has scored 14 goals in 113 games - admittedly 3 of those in the last hour and a bit.
The fact Hull didn't want Folan and we wanted to offload Aliadiere are comments in their own rights. The fact they have played so few games and are approaching their late 20's is another reflection of their impact on the game.
They are both Boro players and should be supported; booing would be wrong. But the jury is still out on their capabilities and ability to perform at a decent level.
AV - Derby have signed James Vaughan on loan till January, have you/the press asked Southgate why we've let him slip to a potential rival?
**AV writes: The pre-match presser was yesterday so it won't be asked until after the Albion game... if at all. Clearly Boro had looked at/were offered several strikers and Folan ticked more boxes than Vaughan. One main criteria now seems to be a genuine desire to play for Boro. Maybe Vaughan didn't convince on that score.
I'm not suggesting anyone is biased against Ali unjustly, any criticisms he has received for his performance in the past are generally fair.
My point is that he is scoring now, so let's enjoy it while it lasts and comments like 'he'll never be a premiership player' are, at the moment, totally irrelevant and serve no purpose whatsoever.
Folan - of course the jury is out - but let's see what he can do before we slate him.
Personally, I can't ever remember seeing a minute of him play - so I have no idea what to expect - if some of you have watched plenty of Hull, Wigan etc, in the last couple of years I bow to your greater knowledge on the subject.
kiwismog - What to do with Pogi? I would guess left back when he's fully fit and stand in centre back as necessary, with a view to not renewing his contract in the Summer and maybe even a move in January for a small fee. Signing 'The Ledge' must have sent a message loud and clear to both Pogi and Riggot.
Boro Phil
My Stoke colleague thinks of Folan as a championship striker. Phil Tallentire states he may be like Heskey.
Very few Boro fans will have seen him, there again for someone aged 27, 200 hundred games is not a lot so it would be unlikely to see him play given the fact we have been in the Premiership. Just have to wait and see. The last thing he will need is the fans on his back.
The problem I can envisage is that he may not fit in and we lose points whilst trying to adapt.
Thank you for the insight AV!
Hi AV
RE: Gaz article teaming up with Betdaq. GAMBLING! MUGS GAME!
Message to Gaz - Please do not try to exploit your mass readership who, more than likely, can ill afford such expense! I would question the article not having a warning about the "dangers of gambling" ie. you know the warning I mean I hope re: "responsible gambling" as advocated by the Government!
Please act swiftly on my posts or I will have to take this further - THE ARTICLE IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE IN IT'S CURRENT FORMAT!
**AV writes: I will have a daft quid on you getting no joy. Take a look at how many people are at the kiosks with their fixed odds coupons next time you are on the concourse. There is a mass of football fans who enjoy putting their money where their mouth is on matchday. They are not being exploited by the Gazette.