Typical Boro Set For Tyne Tease TV Treat

Speaking of football cliches, here's a Christmas Cracker from Peter Beardsley.

"If you had asked Newcastle fans in August if they would like to be at the top of the table now, 7 points clear, they would have snatched your hand off"

You don't say Peter!

two league wins in 20 years at SJP.
You can add the following too.....

Gordon Strachan's Managerial record @ SJP:

With Celtic:
2007/08 lost 1-4 (FR)
2005/06 lost 2-3 (FR)

With Southampton:
2003/04 lost 0-1
2002/03 lost 1-2
2001/02 lost 1-3

With Coventry:
2000/01 lost 1-3
1999/00 lost 0-2
1998/99 lost 1-4
1997/98 drew 0-0
1996/97 lost 0-4

(As a player, wee Gordon's trips to SJP with Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City were similarly unproductive: he made five without winning a single one).

*AV writes: *Gulp* It's nailed on then.

Smog... not Rothmans, lifted from nufc.com

The Hartlepool story...

I supported Pools from being nine years old, just missed the 3-4 Busby Babes clash. Left school become a printer. The firm I worked for, Ords in Hartlepool, printed the programme for Pools - great!! Even managed to actually print it some weeks. Never missed a match, home and away for 40 years.

Started own biz in '74 and landed my dream job... yes! Printing Pools programme ... a true labour of love! Usually had a struggle getting paid... but they always did eventually.

Chairmen come and go... Then one day a 6ft 6 giant arrives on the scene... one Garry Gibson. The new Chairman invites me to his office, spelling out his ambitions for the club etc etc. and how he wants me to continue printing the prog and other stuff. Ok says I, and life is great!

The weeks go by, the invoices are posted... more invoices plus statements... nil response. You know the rest... 12,000 quid later (15 years ago mind) ... what do I do? Mid-season, not print? Issue a court summons? Embarass the club I love. He's a big lad and I didn't fancy a face-to-face... but with £12k and mounting at stake I summoned the courage. Well he was built like a brick outhouse and it was like talking to one!

I spat the dummy vowing never to step inside the ground ever again.

I did get paid, about a year later, but I just couldn't bring myself to issue a summons ... I just couldn't. I have been back a few times since and they are still my No. 2 club.

Smog... I must get some work done!!

Should I add to my Boro gloom and go watch the match live on Foxtel on Sunday night - at my Dad-in-laws, a full-on NUFC man?

What a choice! What chance it being snowed off.

John, Aus

Interesting news coming from The Mirror this morning - apparently St Ledger has had a bust-up with Strachan and wants out. The problem seems to be that Boro can't easily get out of the deal with Preston plus SLS would fall foul of the three club rule - though he could still be set to be the first person to get pruned whilst on gardening leave.

So are we about to break all previous transfer mishaps and actually lose money on a player before he's officially signed? Personally I think many would regard St Ledger as not worth the money and not the player to partner Wheater. Also he was never GS2's signing so it's not his error and would probably prefer to spend the cash elsewhere.

On the good news front, sky sports reported that Boro are set to take up their two year extension option on O'Neil and make him the highest paid player in the Championship.

**AV writes: I don't believe he would be the best paid in the championship. They are all back of envelope figures but I reckon he would be on approx £20k now and the option may increase that by say 25% up to £25k but not much more.

When he was up before the beak and had to declare his earnings Joey Barton confirmed he earned £3m a year which is £60k a week and there may be a few more at Newcastle on well over £30k

I believe Boro's best paid player remains Mido.

AV

When the Toon match was cancelled I seem to recall part of the problem was all the snow blown off the covers into the stand.

Wasnt there a picture of Jeff Winter (appropriate name) inspecting the the pitch with a mountain of snow on the running track from the small part of the cover removed?

What the press ignored was that undersoil heating melts the snow which then drains away. It just sat on top of the cover and blew up the stands and down the concourses where it froze.

Now to the match, all logic says we will lose but it may be time for my 'points from unexpected sources'. Perfect time for another cliche, could do with a dose of Typical Boro.

**AV writes: Of the top of my head I can remember three games being called off because of the weather - Newcastle, Coventry and the first attempt at the Carling Cup semi-final with Arsenal - and every time the pitch has not been the problem. It has been snow/ice on the steep aisles of the stand and snow/ice on the approaches, especially the bottlenecks like the underpasses.

On all three occasions my understanding is that a ref has inspected the pitch and said it was Ok but the police/council safety committee have given the thumbs down. I think the club are asked for their imput but have no part in the decision.

I think we had a lot of injuries for the Newcastle game and it looked dodgy, especially when the snow melted on the day of the game but for the CC SF both clubs and Sky TV were desperate to play but the committee said no.

Makes sense - thank you for shedding light on the situation AV. It's been doing my head constantly reading about our good/bad home support. I guess this "story" can only go away (when we are away!) by winning at the Riverside!

**AV writes: Agreed. Points make prizes.

So here we are another year over, so it must be time for the Untypical Boro blog awards 2009.

What a great year it was the 35th thousand post (or was it only 20th) came and went. Boro started the year with stubborn home for but the inability to score and therefore win away from home. And in Typical boro fashion we end the year unable to score and therefore win at home but have stubborn form away from home. Late goals however are still being shipped.

So to the awards.

And the Scoredraw sponsored award for negativity goes to



.Ernie Oglesby

The award for the infrequent but well worth the wait post goes to 
..Halifax FP

The award for the most thoughtful and well researched posts goes to
..John Powls

Funniest poster this year is shared between Werdermouth and Forever Dormo and his pals down the Bloated Goat

Special mention must go to Formerly of Stockport now Croft on Tees Wiggy for is Incessant and Outstanding support of the Victory on the 21st Campaign.

Best Blog 

.. Tyranny of the season card

Any others I’ve missed?

Such as Most frequent poster. AV do you have the stats on this?

Lunatic Fringe?
Most Libellous?
Goal hanger?

**AV writes: You could be onto something to keep us ticking over during the annual feat of gluttony and excess. I think it is probably fairer to let other people make nominations before you dish out the gongs though. any thoughts?

AV you are right about the awards. By the way it was me who posted the awards list, I mistakenly left SSL name in the box, from my previous post. I'll nominate my self as worst/unfunny post of the year for that dismal effort.

And I also rescind the awards, and replace them as my nominations in stead

**AV writes: Suggestions for awards and nominations for same are now formally open.

Newcastle preview

http://www.comeonboro.com/columns/314024.php

AV, looks like we have similar youtube time wasting/research habits! Who would have thought WIlko could run that far ;-)

I know Keegan was called cavalier, but are Newcastle even playing centre backs in that clip?!

Happy Christmas to you and all readers, on a slightly optimistic note the fixture list looks to be a bit softer after Sunday. At QPR, Cardiff, and Newcastle close together was always going to be a difficult run.

AV - Bent gave a similar interview to Tees after the Cardiff game, and it was obvious to anyone prepared to listen that he wasn't having a go at the fans, just simply stating facts. In fact, trying to be helpful.

You can't argue with any of what he has said, yet some have decided to try and shoot the messenger, which begs the question, why so defensive?

Going back to JP's observation that Hughton's comments were cliched and effectively worthless, while I agree to an extent (he is hardly going to say Boro are useless, haven't got a chance of promotion and it will be an easy three points), I can't really disagree with any of what he says.

"I have no doubt that Middlesbrough will be there or thereabouts in the promotion race". TRUE (don't laugh)

"Any team can beat any other team on their day" TRUE

"If anyone thinks we've got an easy game because they're in a bad run of form, they're wrong" TRUE

"I thought they were very unfortunate to lose against Cardiff. On the balance of play they deserved more from the game than they got" TRUE

"I expect them to come at us very, very hard. They have quality in their squad"
TRUE (ish)

"and sometimes it just takes time for everything to come together under a new manager." TRUE

I'm convinced we are going to win now. Amazing what a week can do.

If there's going to be an award for negativity, there has to be one for positivity...

and, like the Beeb Sports Personality of the Year (that has to be a Brit) we need a best 'Johnny Foreigner'.

BoroPhil (who rocked my world with a recent - though thankfully short - bout of the less than positive) has to be a strong candidate for the former and, if you combined the two awards, Jarkko would walk it.

Then there could be a special 'DiasBoro' award for inventing words/phrases that pass into BoroBlogosphere common parlance.

There could also be most unwelcome interloper from another club's fandom. Now, let me see..........

**AV writes: For me the best blog neologism this year has been "Strachanovite" although I did like "cloud of nagativity".

First of all everyone has to accept that too many home performances have been very poor this season. The Blackpool game doesn’t come into that category because it was a lot worse than that. Last week we started well against Cardiff but it was no surprise when we didn’t make our first half performance count.

Despite that, supporters at most clubs tend to think that when you’re in control at home it's just a matter of time and that you’ll seal it in the second half. Unfortunately, at half time in home games like that, I'm already starting to think "here we go again" - and so is nearly everyone else.

We all know that this is not a recent phenomenon and we all begin to expect the well aimed bullet through the boot. Traditionally it’s a very late sickener - last week it was a sickener for a whole different set of reasons.

The 14 to 17 thousand (depends on your perspective) who watched last week are well versed in the way it works and maybe as their numbers dwindle into die-hard territory the transfer of their frustration to the players is being increased.

But my frustration isn’t because we’ve been relegated and it isn’t because the team is young or inexperienced. My frustration comes from the fact that we appear to be two very different teams.

Of course we occasionally do the “typical BORO” stuff away from home but before todays fixtures only Cardiff and Newcastle have won more games on their travels (which makes it promotion form). Those who only watch at home have seen three wins in 11 games, and Boro have LOST more home games than any other team in the Championship (which must be relegation form).

Is it really too much to ask that the players show the same effort, ability (and sometimes just basic commitment) in games at the Riverside - because we certainly haven’t seen it often enough.

Those who have seen all 21 Championship games must be very, very confused - with QPR followed by Blackpool being the best/worst example. If we were an honest hard working side struggling in a tough league I could understand it - but that isn’t the case. GS2 is right when he says the booing isn’t restricted to the Riverside because any supporter watching their team perform like BORO would ask exactly the same questions.

So, what do I expect from tomorrow? I honestly haven't got a clue but I'm Hoping for a performance along the lines of QPR or Sheffield Wednesday. I can handle losing the game, but not if we fail to turn up or if we hand it to them on a plate.

There could also be most unwelcome interloper from another club's fandom. Now, let me see..........

Coooo-eeeee,

Have you won a meaningful trophy yet?
LOL.

News has escaped from the Toothless Tiger via pigeon post (a mistake there, as he could have been a useful meal). The snow doesn't lie deep and crisp and even, but piled up in big mounds driven by an arctic blast, so there is no way to open the door.

Unfortunately for those who came out for an evening of alcohol-fuelled banter and debate a couple of nights ago, the beer isn't being given away free, even though pockets have now been emptied by the enforced stoppy-back.

Barclaycards and debit cards have been handed in and are being kept behind the bar whilst a running account of consumption is being kept. Nobody had brought out enough cash to pay for the ocean of beer that has been drunk so far.

One happy drinker (presently unconscious as she lays on a bench at the back of the room, but still alive because her occasional snores amusingly punctuate the chatter of the drinkers who remain awake) has placed her diamond engagement ring and a fine-looking necklace in the till as security against the debt she has already built up. And everyone knows that, when she wakes up, she will resume her one-woman assault on the top shelf.

Food has almost run out, and there is a plan to hold an auction at 5pm for the remaining three packets of peanuts ("half the proceeds to go in the charity bottle on the bar"). For those unlucky on the comestibles front, a lively debate has taken place as to the food value in a pint of Guinness.

One table of dedicated consumers has been religiously quaffing two pints each of the dark liquor at 8am, 12 noon and at 6.30pm since yesterday morning on the basis that "If Guinness is a meal within itself, it is important to maintain routines and take food at the usual intervals. After all, it wouldn't be right to drink our normal beer on an empty stomach!"

An escape committee has been formed by some of the more foresighted members of the dinking classes, whose visit to the beer cellar suggested at the current rate of consumption, the Draught Bass will run out tomorrow, the 49er will expire the day after and the Sneck Lifter will follow suit by breakfast time on Tuesday. Desperation will then set in and, since no members of the medical profession are incarcerated with the others in the pub, fears are beginning to mount that, with no thaw in sight, the whole episode will end in tears.

Another concern is that violence might erupt during the televised game because there is a table of closet Newcastle supporters (there always is, isn't there?) keeping quiet counsel at their table near the fire.

However one of them was overheard in the lavatories sniggering to his friend about how much more several players at the Barcodes received in their paypackets than the Boro could afford to pay our heroes. To give them their due, the Geordies have been holding their alcohol quite well - pints of Creme de Menthe ("no ice please") have been sliding down them with regularity.

Old Mack, at his usual stool on the corner of the bar, is still telling anyone who would be prepared to top up his glass, that things were better in Stan Anderson’s time at the helm, but he has been telling the same tale for twenty years.

Despite the record-breaking quantities of beer being taken, and the fact that coherence in the discussion has reached an all-time low (it is difficult to take seriously the "St Ledger purchase must be aborted" argument when its chief proponent has hic-coughed his way though his 10 reasons in support) nobody has yet argued that Boro will be relegated from The Championship.

And in an attempt to prove that alcohol doesn’t always dull the mind, even if taken in prodigious quantities, three noisy contributors at the left end of the bar insist that a victory will be earned at Sid James' simply because "It would be typical, wouldn't it?"

Amidst all the crisis being played out in an alcoholic haze in the pub, life and its eternal verities continue as before. Boro fans dreaming the dream in the face of adversity. Makes you proud to be British (and Jarkko would have enjoyed the banter, too).

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Blizzards all over the region. A19 at a standstill. Its as cold as a polar bear's bum.... how funny will it be if the Geordies have to call the game off after everything they said.

It will suit us to play them two montsh down the line and in the meantime we can have their lives for running scared

And for all you Boro supporters who aren't at the Newcastle match on Sunday, or watching it at your pub of choice, get onto the Boro live blog (via gazette live). Some cheery banter from the Boro diaspora from around the world, some of whom are able to follow the game via radio, SSN or internet, and some who rely solely on Vic's postings from the game every 7 minutes or so.

Lots of conjecture about Vic's half-time feast in the Press Room and the plentiful supplies of strong liquor provided to the members of the Fourth Estate, but no swearing is allowed. If you're good and keep to the rules, your posts magically appear instantly and you can carry out virtual conversations with equally gloomy folk across the world.

I will not be there tomorrow due to being stuck in the pub, and by the time the game kicks off I am not sure it would be safe to leave me in charge of a keyboard. Global warming? Not in North Yorkshire it aint!

But you can all join in the fun with Simon and others from the USA and other Boro fans in the deep south (like Sheffield). Go on! You know it makes sense and it will stop the others feeling lonely without you. You can always say that FD sent you along.

**AV writes: he's right; it's great.

"let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Blizzards all over the region. A19 at a standstill. Its as cold as a polar bear's bum.... how funny will it be if the Geordies have to call the game off after everything they said.

It will suit us to play them two montsh down the line and in the meantime we can have their lives for running scared"

Grow up, you immature fool!

Diablo

Yes, you guessed......

You take the biscuit (and that award).

How did Fulham go on yesterday? Oh, yes......

Blog in standby mode.

Maybe someone complained to the tv/radio commission to say this was scarring to many peoples minds and they pulled it. What happened Vic?

**AV writes: I don't know. It just started to repeatedly crash just before half-time. I couldn't get it to work. Not with them big thick gloves on anyway. that's the second time now. I'll have to have a chat with our geeks.

Yeah AV, I got booted off last time too.

Whats going on in Geek World? Do they just flip a switch to put it in standby, and laugh at all the frustrated Boro fans bashing their keyboards?

Must be so much fun in their office!

Result not unexpected and stll no luck!!!!

But what is it with the strande selections? It seems to me that anyone who plays well
gets dropped for spoiling a bad team. And Jones, Hoyte,Arca... there must be some one or other who plays better thn that lot