Barnsley: Bromance Is In The Air
VIC (heart) WILLO.
IDST
I was accused at half-time of wanting a 'bromance' with Leprechaun livewire Willo Flood. To be fair I have been gushing over my new favourite player in the press lounge over the past few games. Gary O'Neil is so last year. Willo runs. He tackles. He fouls. He excites. He dribbles. He chases. He snaps at heels and runs 30 yards applying a half Nelson. He plays on both flanks and in both boxes. He scores from outrageous angles. He passes. He is like the Irish Juninho. Except for that passing bit obviously.
Willo - given name Wilfred, as in heightalike Mannion - is brilliant to watch. A symphony in perpetual motion. His movement defied logic and the laws of science. At one point he was bundled over on the end of the Barnsley box and lost the ball and with him on the floor the Tykes long-balled it forward and on into the box where Hammill cut in and shaped to shoot and who arrived to tackle? Floodinho!
In another rip in fabric of space and time I swear he played a high chip down the right and when a Barnsley defender headed the ball high into the air Willo rematerialised behind him to scoop it up as it landed and whip a cross in. The only mystery was how he didn't also get on the end of it at the far post.
There was another moment of magic on the touchline as he wisped through two intended challenges that should have crushed him, skipped over another lunge and then he laughed as he nut-megged Dickinson and then cut inside to play a sublime 40 yard diagonal ball over to Franks on the far side.
How the hell did he only play a handful of games for Celtic? It is crazy that we have managed to pick up his contract for buttons. Who cares about Mark Yeates? Strachan must get him in the office today and sort out a long term real deal for Floodinho.
Memo to club... I (heart) Willo t-shirts are a Valentines Day winner. I'll buy one anyway.
BORO took another step forward towards birthday boy Gordon Strachan's Celtic revolution as he fielded something close to his first choice team for the first time and claimed a gritty 2-1 win over Barnsley.
Strachan fielded his full contingent of Old Firm January recruits and for the first time the Riverside crowd saw the style of football he has been building towards as five former Old Bhoys started. In the first half McBoro passed the ball around and probed patiently before playing some quick balls down the channels for new striker Scott McDonald and it paid off with a string of chances and a convincingly two goal interval lead.
Then after the break as Barnsley tried to "make it a cup tie" as they had at Oakwell six weeks ago Boro held firm in the face of the physical threat, even if it wasn't at time completely comfortable. In fact, let's face it, at times it was nervous, scrappy and ugly and had Rodriguez managed to put his late header on target they would have levelled. But they held on to grab three precious points and keep the run going with what was a massively impotant first home win of the year.
Here's my match report....
********
SUPERMAC Times Two.
Big "Mick" Mcmanus is a defensive rock; a pointer and shouter and excellent organiser who is strong in the tackle and good in the air. He will bring the best out of the rest - especially David Wheater - and give Boro a solid rearguard.
Scott McDonald looks like a real striker. He has excellent movement, a good touch and links up well with industrious targetman Chris Killen. He makes intelligent instinctive runs along and behind the line and darts down the channels to either offer the opportunity for a quick ball into dangerous areas or drag the opposition defenders with him leaving a gaping hole. If Gary O'Neil, Super Willo and the rest of the midfield can take advantage. If he can score too then blunt Boro suddenly have a potent looking front line.
Two more important parts of the jigsaw have been slotted into place. We now need a specialist left-sided midfielder rather than stop-gaps and a quality long term No 1 shot-stopper and we will start to look like an effective team that can win games well. Aaah. Get a good whiff of those foam finger fumes.
******
MEANWHILE the magical transformation of Adam Johnson goes on. He has been suddenly elevated to Messianic media superstar status and England's World Cup dark horse after just one week of basking in big club glory. How did that happen?
And Lee Cattermole seems to be going the other way. From early season hero to being branded "stupid" by Steve Bruce after being told to calm down then going on to pick up two yellow cards in six minutes. Way to go.
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If I get there early tonight can I write in black? Pleeease.
3 mins: GOAL BARNSLEY - Halfredsson
17 mins: GOAL BARNSLEY - Wheater OG
43 mins: GOAL BARNSLEY - Teixeira
58 mins: GOAL BORO - O'Neill
64 mins: GOAL BARNSLEY - Doyle
88 mins: GOAL BARNSLEY - Gray.
attendance 13,762
Cheers AV - hope the wi-fi is much better on home turf. I shall be lurking around for the requisite updates/commentary/laughs and such since I can't tap into Ali/Gary whilst under the thumb of big business...
Is anybody here, is this working ?
AV,
I'm afraid it doesn't seem to be working, at least on this side of the country. And no place on the Gazette site to blog this time either. But 2-0 before half time. A good start.
Forgive the ignorance chaps and chapesses but where's the bloggy stuff. I'm a live blog virgin and can see nowt. I've been watching Johno put in a MOTM first half display. I don't want to listen to Allie B's rose tinted commentry, need proper unbiased journalism, like wot AV supplies.
well done it was so good to be part of a good boro win know probs on saturday barry robson more more to come bring it on
Fantastic performance and three much~needed points tonight ~ well done, lads! That's five games unbeaten now, up to 8th place and 2 points behind 6th place Leicester although they do have 2 games in hand. We can do this!
It will be great to hear all the positive comments from Boro Fans who managed to get to the match, albeit not too soon after they get home from the pub totally smashed after celebrating one of our best games at home this season! Crowd of 17.775 ~ not bad, all things considered.
Happy Birthday to Gordon Strachan and well done to Chris Killen for getting his first goal for Boro and to Gary O'Neil and Willo Flood for putting in another great shift in the middle of the park!
In fact, well done to all the players for a great effort even though they kept us on a knife edge during a very jittery 2nd half!
Other news: Jinky played great tonight and was MOM for me with an assist for Tevez's penalty. Well done lad. Keep it up! Cattermole got sent off along with 2 other players. Tuncay scored a header to earn Stoke a draw.
Also, our starlet defender John Johnson at Northampton continues to impress with a 4-0 drubbing of Accrington Stanley to put them just outside the play off berths in League 2.
He scored a cracker at the weekend to help them on their way to a 1-0 win and tonight, he provided the assist for their 2nd goal. Keep up the great work, Johnno!
Onwards and upwards!
Up the Boro!
I know we live in a high tec. world but I have a vision of this live blog thing connected to an elastic band , the tension on which is dictated by the number of balls landing in a little pot (think mouse trap). So the system is "smart" , it knows where you live....... is it a country where the sun always shines ? .... yes ..... a ball rolls into the pot. Do the residents have a good work / life balance ..... yes .... plop , another one in the pot. Can you drive from one place to another without needing a Valium shot before the journey begins ..... yes .... plop. the questions build, the tension builds ... then SNAP.... BLACK SCREEN for the whole match for you sonny jim ......
The result was the important thing against Barnsley. It was good to see a fighting performance, with quite a lot of skill and invention in the first half, but certainly lots of endeavour and commitment. A phrase heard regularly after the match was: "We wouldn't have held onto that a month or so ago".
A lot of the team was not 100% fit, with several returning after injury or other lay-offs, and that showed in the latter stages as we ran out of energy and were under a lot of pressure. But we still won, and "the result was the important thing".
It felt good to come away from the ground with a win under our belt,and I hope we can do it again on Saturday against the league's bottom club.
Sounds like Team Spirit, hardwork and the "C" word commitment coming along .... we haven't had that for a few years! Let's hope it continues.
We beat Barnsley, NU get chopped at Derby but are 18 points ahead with a game in hand.
Southgate's last team beat Derby to bring us 1 point behind NU.
How galling is that!
John Aus
Redcar red
I saw Mcqueen many times on the plane to Amsterdam. When the BORO got relegated he also got relegated from Business class seat to economy. Maybe because he told the boro about Alves, Digard, Emness. Need I say more. 3 failures so far at the club.
Oh that BBC live text! I was foolish enough to believe that B Jones was drafted back into the side...a premature April Fools' joke surely - and quite hurtful too. Made the 3 points taste temporarily sweeter though, until reading your report AV. Still doesn't take the sheen off of what read as an effervescent display.
Sad to hear about Mosso...was it fitness? or working papers? a bit of both?
AV
Are Pino Zahavi and Kia Joorabchian involved in the Mosso deal? Looking at Pompey and West Ham maybe you should be careful in your dealings about the live blog, you might find that ownership of the posts might be hijacked.
Neil in Canada 11.19pm last night - the 17,000+ crowd isn't a figure many at the match would have recognised. Maybe more like 13,500 (ish). But, again, it was the result that counted and thankfully the result was not as very pessimistically predicted by MFC_ITK at 7.14pm yesterday (5-1 win to Barnsley, my foot!).
And finally: Mosso Cloudfiles. A player with undoubted ability to ghost into positions unseen by defenders, but sadly also by his own team. He's on a different wavelength to his team mates who find it difficult to work with him.
What is happening in the Bootroom? A great deal of technical work will be needed on the training ground to get the player fully fit, and also able to combine fruitfully with colleagues. The techies and other backroom boys will have to get out their ProZone stats, facts and figures, and work out a way of getting the show on the road.
We wouldn't want Mosso to turn out to be another Alves, Mido.....
**AV writes: The frustrating thing is that we know he can do it because some of those pre-Christmas performances were brilliant.
For of those who couldnâÂÂt make it too the Riverside last night. Unlucky. The first half was brilliant. We scored two good goals (in front of the north stand too boot!!). One from a well worked set play (whatever next) and the second a good team goal, where a spell of patient possession lead to an incisive pass for an on rushing midfield runner to spring the off side trap.
McManus look very solid and a welcome addition. McDonald looks lively around the box, eager to get a shot off and will drop short to link in with play.
For those who couldnâÂÂt make it to the Riverside last night. Lucky you. The second half performance was 10% of that of the first. It was infuriating and very, very edgy. At times we defended like schoolboys and there were a couple of mêlée/scrambles in the dying minutes.
Yes, give Barnsley credit for their tactical and improved second half performance. Yes, we probably didnâÂÂt have 11 fit players out there and fatigue played a part. But it was still the same withdrawn 2nd half performance retreating back to our own 18 yard box.
Maybe we would have lost it a couple of months back and there was a sign of some resilience, but letâÂÂs not kid our selves. If Barnsley had a striker that didnâÂÂt have 50p shaped head we would NOT have won.
7/10 Signs of improvement, can still do better
A great set of results for Boro all told yesterday, but I couldn't get onto the Gazette site at all last night. Only the Swansea win at Palace spoiled the evening. Nice one Doncaster though, perhaps Leicester are going to be vulnerable despite their games in hand.
As for the toon, "I would just love it", to recall a quote from a fabled past, if they blow it now and Nottm Forest win the league (as I predicted a few weeks ago) with WBA as runners up. Then with Sunderland having continued their freefall into the Championship, we pass them both by getting promoted at Wembley in late spring.
Its all possible and we now have hope and a lot to play for between now and the end of the season. Things can only improve for us as the team all regain fitness and get used to playing with each other. COB.
No blog so went on bbc website..shock shock shock...jones in goal...jones makes a save..jones takes a free kick..jones makes a save etc etc...my mind was blowing.. whats Wee Gordon doing? ..the crowd will be going mad..
It was not till this morning I found out... Jones was not even at the game. How bad reporting is that? Also I heard from a colleague that Sky had reported that Adam Johnson had been signed for Man City from Liverpool !
This is what we are up against folks..more reason to get behind the club .
Good to see a home game actually going to plan for a change - if we can follow this up with a home win against some Posh lads lacking class, then that will be half-a-dozen unbeaten and some momentum to take into the tougher games.
Perhaps, my season's 'best case scenario' that I speculated on several weeks ago - where Newcastle end up third and Boro make the play-offs and beat them at Wembley - might not be so crazy afterall.
In the absence of the live blog (or is that the walking dead blog?) I followed the game on the BBC live text - Like Brandon, I too was a little gobsmacked to see Jones back in goal - but this seems to have been BBC misinformation - though it sounded like he virtually had a decent game.
Also, it was good to see Johnson take MOTM in his first start for City (especially as I just gambled on him by placing him in my Fantasy League team). Perhaps he'll gain the benefit of not being double-marked with other quality players like Tevez and Barry around him.
It seems ex-Boro players are making the headlines at the moment - though Cattemole getting a red card in a struggling team sounds familiar.
The shoots are bravely fighting the February frosts. A couple more decent results will see the play offs coming in to reach.
It will be tough because we have to beat those clubs in contention around us to take advantage and still need some results go our way but a look at the table tells us that our goal difference is better than those clubs directly around us.
We still need a couple of players to come in and most certainly get more back out of the treatmment room. Good to hear that players pushed themselves forward even though not fully fit. Gary Gill made a good point in that a lot of the team had very little football and were still not match fit therefore may have run out of steam.
I do not believe the Gate team would have won that match. For Barnsley at home read Leicester, SheffU and Watford.
The no football myth seemed to take a bit of a battering as we passed the ball around. Still lots of work to do getting the players to gel and up to full match fitness, 90+ minutes will be needed before we can start getting excited but the trip to the Trent is looking less fraught than it did a month ago.
Not exactly foam ridden but at least I have out from behind the sofa.
Great win. The first half was the best I've seen at the Riverside for god knows how long, maybe even since McClaren. Brilliant. McDonald, even half-fit, was superb in the first 25 minutes, always offering himself, looking sharp.
Flood was everywhere, GON looks more mature by the match - his finish was so cool, remember when he first signed and he was hopeless at finishing? Not any more. Killen impresses with every game as well, it was great to see him score after he missed the earlier chance.
I was impressed with the second half as well. We were bound to tire after the tempo of the 1st half, especially with some players not being 100%. But did we buckle under Barnsley's onslaught? No way. McManus was an absolute rock towards the end, I lost count of the number of blocks and headers he got in. Robson as well was simply not prepared to not win.
Great to see them all punching the air at the end and saluting the crowd - we really have got a team here. The spirit seems superb.
Robson was interviewed after the match and it was suggested that the win really meant something to him. He simply replied 'I love winning'. Sums it up. Roll on Saturday.
Only thing that concerns me is that twice in 4 days Strachan has said "we have to learn" Please refrain from this Southgate said week after week and we never did. Stil a good win.
Have to agree with Foreverdormos assumption about the crowd last night. Also in that figure there was probably 500 + Barnsley supporters so a poor turn out for a game which in the 1st half was fantastic. Second half like smogonthetyne said we were disjointed, couldn't pass, defending too deep.
But what a debut from MacDonald coupled with some great play from Killen / Franks / O'Neill / Robson & AV's new love child Willo. Naughton I thought was outstanding at RB.
I think if a team shows grit, determination and resiliance then they can be forgiven most everything else. Boro have certainly lacked those qualities for a number of seasons and as a fan thats hard to take. Its good to hear that Strachan's 'McBoro' side are mentally tougher than the previous version and can play a bit of football too. There's a long way to go this season, but there are a few positive signs kicking about.
I'll be at the Peterborough game, I hope its my good fortune that the improvement in form carries on! I loved the Samba beat back in the 90's, I could grow to love the Glasgow jive just as much!
Glad to see your embracing 'Bromance' Vic, the town needs more of it.
So who is in the hunt for the play offs? I think it fair to say that one from either the Toon/The unmentionables/Baggies will take one spot.
Cardiff have to be next in line but lets not forget their slump at the end of last season which saw them miss out of the play offs on the last day of the season. Also financial uncertainty and a cup game on the weekend. A reply would suit us as it may distract them and add to fixture pile up. Currently one game in hand (will be two after Saturday) and seven points better off.
Points per game needed to reach 75 = 1.58
Boro still to travel to Cardiff.
Swansea, are also 7 points ahead of us and 1 game in hand. However a cursory look at their fixtures shows them playing a lot of teams in the top half. Also they have scored less at home than Boro and have only scored 26 goals all season. We have 28 away from home.
Points per game needed to reach 75 =1.58
Much better chance of overhauling Swansea than Cardiff.
Leicester, promoted last season, have they got a big enough squad? Drawn three home games on the bounce. Matt Fryatt broke his jaw last night, will be out for a while. Two games in hand and two points better off than Boro.
Points per game needed to reach 75 =1.77
Boro travel to Leicester last game of season.
Sheff Utd , same games one point more. When they beat us in Jan they were six points ahead of us.
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.062
Blackpool same games one point less, Small squad. Danger man C Adam. Boro travel to Blackpool next week.
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.187
Barnsley, one game less three points less. Darren Moore. Enough said.
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.117
Watford one game less three points less. Boro still to go to Vicarage road
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.176
Preston one game less three points less. Preston to visit Riverside
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.176
Bristol City one game less three points less
Points per game needed to reach 75 =2.235
Boro 75points = 2.125
Over our five game unbeaten run = 1.8 points per game. So statistically we should have been further away from the play offs but in reality we are closer.
I think 75 points might be a bit of a stretch to most teams from Leicester down. We might get a way with only needing 72. However you look at it we still need to do it for our selves.
Fantastic performance from the team last night, first game I've been able to get there in a little while and couldn't half see the difference. got pretty nervy towards the end like but was great to see players flying in as if their lives depended on it.
I want a I [heart] Willo Flood tshirt.
....and to follow on from McReevalinho above, and the earlier discussions about replacing Pigbag etc, has anyone yet suggested that the team should enter the pitch to the skirl of the bagpipes? Flower of Scotland anyone?
All that can be asked is that every player puts in 100%. Strachan seems to have got the players in that put in the effort which is definately a start.
The play offs are now looking possible and a decent signing of a midfield player will help. Boro seem to be improving match by match and you can not say that about all of the teams above us.
C'Mon Boro!
Note to top brass at Boro: next time we produce a young quality player, please add "ino" to his surname. That way we might get ã28m instead of ã8m for said player. How many times do we get ripped off? That Jonnohino looked pretty good last night.
Is that the same MFC_ITK who annoys everyone on fmttm with his stupid posts?
**AV writes: I don't know. I don't get on there often enough to know the 'characters' anymore. Is it? Is that his act then?
Good idea 'forever dormo.' I have plenty of copies plus scottish scarves, shirts, caps and jackets. And a sporran !
Wee Willo is my pick of our signing so far as well Vic. I know he gets about,I'm pretty sure I saw him selling burgers in the concourse at half time as well. Good performance last night for 60 mins and we'll get better when the injuries drop and the fitness level rises.
It sounds like the team has some spine and -- dare I say it -- some spirit.
We need to keep it going and take one game at a time. Next up...Posh on Saturday. We need to be single-minded...focus on our task and not get carried away with what the other teams have to do. The change in the supporters' attitude is palpable whether you're talking about this blog or other boards.
Also, where I live we have had close to 40 inches of snow (I know that's nothing for you, Jarkko), so I've had a lot of time to ruminate on songs etc.
How about:
Old McBoro had a team e-i e-i oh,
And on that team he had ________
e-i e-i oh
(at this point our trdaitional "e-i-o" madness would kick in and memories of the Holgate Emnd would return).
Up the Boro and vive the Strachanovite Revolution.
Ah , You re right Vic . We will reach the play offs and re igniting the Boro romance is the way forward. the fans and the team as one!
thats whats been missing, boro love!
Come on Boro.
Daily Telegraph did an article on five young English players for the future and Johnno was included in that list.
The article was looking to the 2014 world cup and beyond. Capello was quoted as saying it was good he had played in the championship because Downing kept him out of the Boro team in the premiership. It was important for him to play games and the fact he played at the next level down hasnt hindered his development.
Capello wasnt bothered about Wilshire going on loan either for the same reason, he needed to play.Whilst Capello may want his players to be in european action he also seems to have some commonsense.
Which is more than Bruce attributed a tough tackling midfielder formerly of this parish.
Whilst we all start to get excited I thought I would check out the fizzy pop table at the end of Jan 2009. Only Cardiff hadnt played 30 games at this point
Wolves 62 points
Reading 58
Brum 56
Cardiff 51
SheffU 48
Preston 48
Burnley 46
Swnasea 45
Ipswich 43
Bristol 41
Preston and Cardiff finished 6th and 7th on 74 points and a +12 goal difference, Preston prevalling by scoring two more goals. 8th had 68 points
That 6th place is ultra competitive this year, any team putting a good run together could leave the rest of the league playing for pride. Goal difference may well play its part.
No faux Jock-ism at The Riverside! What we need is 'old school' - like Big Mick's defending. So, we should go to another Big Mick - Jagger that is - and The Stones' 'Start Me Up'
Great riff and get the lyrics (could even be a love song for 'duracell bunny' Willo from AV next Sunday):-
If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
I've been running hot
You got me ticking gonna blow my top
If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
You make a grown man cry
Yup, that last line's very appropriate!
**AV writes: Shouldn't these songs be on the "other" thread
Howabout for Saturday the Boro put an offer out for a party of five. Four get in for free if one of said party turns up dressed like William Wallace complete with kilt. Might nudge the attendance figure up.
The Tax Man Cometh.
It looks increasingly likely that HMRC are looking to make an example of a football club. The adjournments granted to Southend and Cardiff may just be delaying the inevitable. Portsmouth are the biggest debtors, but I doubt that the Premier League will allow their product to be damaged in this way. The subsequent wiping out of points won\lost in Portsmouth fixtures would cause untold problems for them.
Once again we may owe a huge debt of thanks to Steve Gibson.
The signs are there - I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes....SMACK! Sorry, where was I?
Great performance, good win - Barnsley are no pushovers. But as ever it is how the win was achieved that is important. A largely reshaped team, with new players still saying 'hi' to each other and others feeling their sore bits every so often as they come back from injury - 7/10 for the 'two halves' result, but set in context I give 10/10.
Those dreamy words 'I love winning' backed by a performance that epitomised a 'we shall not lose' mentality - oh those heady days of Wor Jack might be more than just a memory. I like it. More please!!!!!!
I'm not sure if playing Flower of Scotland instead of Swinetasche would stir Irishman Flood, Aussie McDonald, New Zealander Killen or Englishman Naughton - but I guess along with the manager, Robson and Miller would recognise the tune - though we could always try Land of Hoop and Glory...
Steady on with the "Bromance" AV. You will be advocating man hugs next. I just hope we don't start that stupid huddle rubbish started by Celtic.
I love the profile of our new folk hero, AV, and couldn't agree more. What a breath of fresh air. But I've just posted on Eric P's part of the site in appreciation of Chris Killen too. Did other comrades notice how stiff and tired he looked at the start of last night's game and how he played through it and, thankfully, scored?
His link-up play has been so much better than anyone else's up front this season and, when Scott McD played last night, my only doubt about him was put to bed. That was whether he could link up with someone running forwards into advanced striking channels, as well as linking up with midfielders - usually Willo - coming to help him. He can!
Dormo -
A piper playing Amazing Grace? Or how about Abide With Me? We can test that cliche about every game being a cup final to its absurd logical conclusion..
I am unsrue whereabouts in the moral universe I am. I am feverishly monitoring the Cardiff court case with everything crossed.
Even had a sneaky google into the state of the finances at Leicster and Swansea.
Is this a bad thing?
So Pompey have been given seven days to prove they have the finances in place.
I listened to and read the words of Avram Grant. Very eloquent in support of the real victims of this - the fans. But why should Pompey be spared, Gibson took action to reduce our debt and it played a part in the relegation. I say part because the largest element was how we misused what we had.
Why should clubs who try to keep their house in order struggle whilst those who pay scant regard to reality be bailed out?
Satisfying, very satisfying, after last night's performance.We played good football in the first half,there was a balance and cohesion to the team that has not been evident all season.McDonald looks like a centre forward, pigeon toed,bandy legged and full of menace.This guy will score goals once we tune into his movements and he becomes fully fit.
Willo reminds me of McMordie, from years ago, who was of a similar build to Flood, he had a big heart, ran all day, chased lost causes.We have not had a player like Flood for years.
Strachan is right we have men in the team and that showed in the second half when we didn't wilt under pressure. A special mention for Franks who was a revelation on the left wing.
I was at Barnsley when we lost and this is a different team in physique and mentality, one that will not lie down as easily it did under Southgate.
Av, I can understand you being quiet over this âÂÂimminentâ loan signing (not wanting to tip of the toons). But I assume you know who he is? A simple Hai or Iie would be appreciated? Or alternatively you could lay an elaborate Red Herring that too would be good.
**AV writes: No, GS is very cautious and reveals absolutely nothing on transfers. Isn't it lovely when you get a surprise.
That was much better. Happy Birthday Gordon!
The first half was just about the best 45 minutes of Boro football at the Riverside I can remember since Steaua. OK, maybe an exaggeration owing much to relief, but a strong performance nevertheless.
Guts, passion some superhuman effort - Flood and O'Neil were immense, but I didn't think anyone in Boro's team was hiding at all. Young Franks had a terrific first half that had those around me asking "Adam who?". Lots of scoring chances and solid defending. Good stuff.
I take the point about Barnsley's second half cup tie approach and Boro's ability to weather it.
Much better! Definitely enough to encourage further attendance. Worth the entrance money. I'll be there Saturday.
Nostalgia is a great thing. Remember the terrible twins of Higgy and Barmby? Welcome the new variant in Willo the wisp-inho and Gary O'Neil. The work rate those to put in last night was incredible, shame about GON's stupid booking, but what the hell, 3 points are 3 points.
The team is taking shape nicely, with a much more balanced feel to it. I think some special praise should go out to Jon Grounds, because he has done a good job over the past month and not let anyone down. Wheater might have his work cut out to stay ahead in the pecking order.
Franksy looked quite good at times out on the left, however, he tired in the second half and his delivery still needs a bit of work.
Have to agree with you A.V. we have got a real gem in Floodinho, and the hierarchy should be talking to him about signing a longer contract, sooner rather than later.
I hope they can keep it going on Saturday. Two difficult away games to follow, so another three points would go a long way to getting the fans back where they belong - in the stadium.
jp
I can only commend your attitude and endeavour.
Reading in the fanzine I noted that the first three of Strachans âÂÂmenâ who he brought in at the start of the window have already found homes for themselves and their families and have settled in well.
What a nice change this makes, not reading about pampered multi millionaires living in hotel suites for eight months while they find some where live.
I think I may have misinterpreted Strachan when he first used the term âÂÂmenâÂÂ. I took it to be just a reference to some of our playerâÂÂs footballing naivety. But I can see the benefit of having well rounded men in the team. When you have other priorities in life you might end up like Ashley Cole being devastated at only being offered ã55k a week.
It looks like we are signing footballers who love the game and winning and want to be part of Teesside too.
Ian -
I agree entirely with your sentiment, but I suspect over the next couple of years there will be a serious re-adjustment of finances within the football industry. Irrespective of whether or not Pompey go into administration and loose ten points, they're down and have paid the price for spending as if they were United (insert Leeds or Manchester here).
West Ham will struggle next season again because the new owners realise they cannot carry on spending as they have in recent years. There are plenty of other teams who are living on the credit card and will suffer in due course. Hopefully Boro are ahead of the curve and in the coming seasons we will benefit from being relatively strong financially.
jp -
this is the world of a football supporter, your moral compass is working just fine - of course you want Cardiff to go into administration, it would get us one place closer to the play offs.
Anyway why should a team thrive on the pitch because of poor management off it? Mind you if Cardiff were deducted 10 points they'd only be three points behind us!!
Don't shoot the messenger! I wasn't implying in any way, shape or form that the 'official attendance' figures I quoted hadn't gone through the usual massaging mill. ;o)
What I was alluding to without necessarily implying it was that the trend in recording new low attendance figures game-on-game seems to have been arrested.
I can now see an upward trend if we keep putting in 60 plus minute shifts like that at home for the rest of the season, subject to a certain mathematical equation being reached.
UTB!
**AV writes: I think a lot of people now regard the "attendance" figure with the degree of scepticism reserved for North Korean election results. The club have admitted they count all season ticket holders whether they attend or not. The key factor in the figure now is the travelling fans.
Vic
I posted to the ill fated live blog thread a request.
Just as some background could you do 'A day in the life of Anthony Vickerowich' giving us a blow by blow view of covering a Boro game with some of the banter and thoughts of the club, journos and players.
Mind you that requires Mosso to get through the red tape and a press conference never mind a virtual medical.
**AV writes: It may make a good piece sometime but it is hard to do it warts and all without betraying confidences or causing diplomatic incidents.
I see John Powls in the Boro Banter was praising the team for scoring from a near post corner flick on.
Uncanny.
I wonder if WGS reads this blog.
With reference to Ian Gill's post at 5.12pm and your reply: I'll bet there are some japes played amongst the Fourth Estate.
Imagine the scene. "Typo" Jones, longstanding football correspondent for "The Sunday Courant", who has had his usual good "watering" before the game and with a notorious body odour problem, has got up the noses of his Press colleagues (in more than one way) over the years by failing to pay his round, and nicking the notes of others on the Press Bench.
As usual he is the greedy one at half time, sneaking out after 35 minutes and now to be found with his plate of goodies piled four storeys high, whilst some of the "junior" correspondents find only the remnants on the table - a couple of vol-au-vents that appear to have been on the table for hours and just scream "botulism", and some curled up turkey sandwiches (when no-one else in the room has seen a turkey since December).
Insisting on another drink just before the players are due to trot out for the second half, our hero stays behind in the Press Lounge whilst the others rush upstairs to take their places. They just KNOW they'll all have to stand up to let him back to his seat after 15 minutes.
What a sneaky thrill therefore to have poured some laxative in his first drink, safe in the knowledge he is already so far gone he won't taste it, and that the effects will only surface in about an hour or so - hopefully during the post match interviews.
And at the point he starts to consider staggering back upstairs to his seat, the others up there conspire to throw him a dummy. He heard the roar, of course, as he swallowed his last mouthful (the FOURTH cream doughnut!), and he knew a goal had been scored.
Looking for all the world like Sir Les Patterson (but without the culture), with cream and enough food to feed the North Stand clinging precariously to his tie and down the front of his elbow-patched jacket, our hero trips up as he fails to see the brightly coloured, giant size cola-logo'd waste bin that has stood in the same place on the concourse for the last ten seasons. The stewards know him of course and snigger as he pulls himself up and totters off up the stairs.
The scorer has long since been removed from the scoreboard. "Coyne", he is told by the lad from "The Teesside Argus": "A kick from hand at the edge of the penalty area, swirling in the wind, caught their keeper out of position and bounced over his head into the net. Eighty-five yards and a beauty!"
The others add the odd detail or two, and the game then meanders to a 1-0 win for the Boro, with the crowd happy to file out into the night. Nobody says a word as he presses the "SEND" button with no time to spare so his explanation of the one shining moment of the game can hit the sports supplement deadline after the end of the game (and just before he rushes off to the loo at a pace quicker than anything seen that evening on the pitch).
Could never happen, could it?
Who did the BBC say was playing in goal for us so recently? Jones according to one of our bloggers who almost had a coronary at the thought when, in fact, Coyne had been as large as life safely between the sticks.
Vic, have you anything to confess?
**AV writes: You don't see the old school sinecured dinosaurs at Boro much these days now we are officially unglamourous again (we are sexy Young Turks and a cavalier Brotherhood of the Laptop as a whole)- but there are still some of those crusty cartoon hacks around in the big league, talking to themselves, comparing one of the players to Ralph Coates and getting names mixed up. I think the subs back in the office would check their copy very carefully mind.
That said, there are two or three pompous "names", real big hitters from the nationals that you only see at cup finals, title deciders or when they expect the boss to get sacked who are such self important prats they would be best advised not to leave their pre-match bovril unattended. Rohypnol anyone?
Vic
I could censor it for you. We would not expect any betraying of confidences, just a flavour of what was happening. You could do it on the fans view from the blogs without causing an issue, is it not possible to do a thread where we we have no idea who said what? It doesnt have to be kiss and tell, just a flavour of what is happening.
It is up to you and I dont want to put you under pressure, We entirely understand if it is too much trouble and effort. Just like we didnt bother to take a thread up to 500 posts.
Still, as long as you are ok sitting in the press box getting free, cordon bleu cuisine, we wouldnt want to put undue pressure on an 'award winning' journalist.
Totally understandable, dont worry about it. I can always imagine as I walk through the underpasses and across the wastelands. I would hate to get priviliged parking spots.
**AV writes: "Only the names have been changed to protect the stupid...."
Great performance last night. Lots of positives especially the fight shown towards the end to keep the win safe.
The main thing I noticed was the amount of corners Franks won. It may be a consequence of not being left footed but he must have won 5 or 6 in the first half.
Everyone was taken slightly differently eventually resulting in the first goal. Just before, I think it was Robson, was left in acres of space at the back post but pulled his shot wide.
Scotty M looked very good and I agree that Flood looks total class. What a bunch of bargains we seem to have. Thanks Mogga - you've done us a massive favour.
A real positive is that if we miss the play offs this year you can see the sort of team we'll have next season and we would probably be promoted by Christmas.
Up the Boro
A game of two halves, the 1st one was excellent but the 2nd was more akin to the Boro we have come to know. That said the traditional collapse in the 91st minute didn't occur and that has to be classed as a result within a result.
There is a long way to go and a big gap to close after 3 disastrous months so I won't be sniffing any foam until at least the end of the month at the very earliest.
OK now for the platitudes! Beep Beep alongside GON ran and ran and I swear was directing traffic in Linthorpe road at half time and flipping burgers under the North Stand in-between throw ins and free kicks! A definite favourite in the making and looks to be showing the form I recall from his early time at Man City.
The two Mac's look the part and Killen looks like he can fill the Viduka hold up role and bring others in around him. To be fair there were positives all over the pitch with Franks justifying his inclusion and staking a claim and Grounds maintaining his form. As they gel and get to know each other there is the possibility that they could string a run together and reach the play offs but realistically that also means a few sides imploding as well.
Just wish we could have some realism that would stretch to the gate figures. For those confused: 1 Boro fan = 1.25 Attendees. Hopefully there will be a movement in the exchange rate by the end of the season!
**AV writes: To get the fans/attendance figure exchange rate back into the black Boro need to go back on the goal standard.
Chris from Beverley
I agree, nostalgia is a great thing, but it aint what it used to be.
Missed the Barnsley game. Really looking forward to Posh but not getting carried away. Whilst seven of our eight remaining home games are eminently winnable (and we can beat the Geordies too!) against sides below us or near the bottom of the table, four of our away games are against clubs in the top seven and also there's Blackpool just below us.
Still a lot of hard work to do, and we'll need some luck, but I'm starting to believe that with our new found spirit, we can still salvage something great from this season.
"Ra-ra", I'm certainly not and I hope I'm not setting myself up to be cast as a Jonah. The following observation is probably still based on something like 75% hope and 25% expectation, but......
It was, and remains my view that Boro's squad BEFORE the January transfer window had little chance of making the play-offs, let alone winning them.
This post-window assembly, however, has a "cup team" feel about it, as well as demonstrating, albeit in the brief exposure we've had so far, an ability to compete well enough to actually MAKE the play-offs. Strachan's squad looks like one which if it can reach the play-offs, it has the capability of possibly winning the competition.
That is a massive change of perspective.
A month ago, I had written Boro's season off. There was no way I could see that outfit clawing back into contention and if by some miracle they had, there wasn't enough experience, passion, guts, backbone or winning desire to even get close to a play-off final. The early exits from both cup competitions this season were evidence of that. They were far too "lightweight".
Now, I'm a lot less sure about that.
On brief exposure, since the close of the January window, it feels that there could be something worth shouting about going on again at the Riverside. Strachan's diagnosis of the main cause of Boro's Championship malady was, I believe, correct. I'm sure we all hope that the fairly drastic transplant treatment proves effective and restores health and fitness to the patient.
My percentages do remain fragile however, and can be subject to rapid revision, because this IS Boro, after all. However, I can feel my mind opening up again and becoming receptive to the possibility that the evidence may continue to accumulate to support Gibson's assertion of continuing ambitious intent.
Evidence is what many of "the disappeared" have been waiting for. Not all of them, but some. If the results keep coming, so will the punters.
The Boro Pride card has been activated for Saturday!
Just before bedtime (I work unusual hours) I thought I should mention that in the "Pickled Parrot" on Wednesday evening I heard one enthusiatic Boro fan ask another if "Europe was completely out of the question this year in light of last night's result?"
Words failed me (but it might have been a consequence of the hoppy yet surprisingly smooth taste and balance of the guest beer he had been drinking for a few hours).
Is Europe out of the question?
Well if the top four win the Chimps Lge, FA Cup and Rumbelows cup, which will lead to the next best 3, placed teams in the league going into Europe. And there is also one European place for the 5th team too. Then Fulham win the Europa league and therefore qualify again for the tournament.
This could lead to 8 English clubs in Euro competition. We would only need 12 other clubs to go bust and we could apply for the Intertoto cup. However I believe Chimpship teams cannot enter the Intertoto cup. So to answer the initial question, Yes, definitely out of the questionâŠâŠâŠâŠâÂÅ .unlessâŠâŠâÂÅ ..
Richard - I agree entirely with your sentiment, although project 'McBoro' is still in its infancy and anything could happen.
For certain we need a win against Peterborough, then if we win again next Tuesday I might let myself start to dream that the play offs are possible. To achieve the top six though I think we need to extend the current unbeaten run to 12/15 games and beyond. I just hope the remainder of the season is exciting!
The current 'McBoro' style ticks everyone's boxes I think, they are dtermined, committed, physical when required (ie 'Northern'), in addition they can play football, pass the ball, show creativity and excite.
In otherwords instead of being 'Arsenal lite' if we're lucky we may have become the 'Man Utd lite' of the championship, although to achieve that we'll need someone to be a prolific goalscorer between now and the end of May.
One final thought, if we finish in the top six, what a fantastic bit of business selling Jonno will have been.
Definitly feel better after that result and long may it continue.
As i said in a previous thread the are still a lot of suprises to come and Smogonthetynes breakdown of gettable points to the end the season shows how tight its getting. By all accounts there was not a bad player on the pitch for Boro last night when was the last time any of us could say that.
Nigel McReeves:
"..........what a fantastic bit of business selling Jonno will have been."
Liam, the lad sitting next to me at the Barnsley match said to me what you've just said (without the top six caveat). HIS words were, "Adam who?" Good bit of business that, we get the money AND the goals!
I hope Liam was right. Liam is 10, going on 40!
Nigel and Richard.
Getting ã7m plus future add ons for someone out of contract in the summer is a pat on the back for the club. It has enabled us to substantially strengthen the squad.
The same can be said in getting ã12m for Downing when he had a broken foot.
I was going to mention getting anything for Alves but the thought came in to my mind that the same people bought him.
What we must not do is get too far ahead of our selves. Despite the malacious rumour on the big D blog, I am not Mr Brownlee, so we need to get the other side of Forest unbeaten with a win or two as well before we can start being overly ambitious. We must also enjoy the moment and a good win against the Posh wouldnt go amiss.
Ian - You're right the trick (as ever) is to enjoy the moment, heaven knows there have been precious few moments to enjoy in recent weeks/months.
For me the current feel good factor is all the better because of the new found determination within the team, I can forgive most things if I know the players have at least given 100%, something that Alves rarely if ever did.
Big question time.
What type of goal nets do you prefer?
A. Big Box type things, now at Riverside, first shot to prominence at Italia 90
B. Massive Box type thing. First shot to prominence at Mexico 86. Some time the shots never reached the back of the net
C. Irregular and different sizes at both ends. Making the ground instantly recognisable to the TV viewer
D. The new semi circular jobbins that will star at S Africa 2010
I only ask as I think we should have a different goal net at The Riverside to help add to the character of the ground. The old ones at Ayresome will take some beating.
Great performance on Tuesday and a huge step in the right direction. This is potentially better than anything I have seen for a number of years.
One thing that must be sorted out is the atmosphere at the Riverside, it is our achilles heel. I have travelled to many away grounds and our away fans are brilliant - the home fans need to generate the same atmosphere because believe it or not it is worth a few points a season.(currently to the other side because teams know the fans get on the Boro players back)
Also the Celtic lads will be used to good home voices and not the eerie silence at times. But this is now a cultural change for the fans and I wish I had a solution to the atmosphere at the Riverside because it is pretty dire.(The Holgate still takes some beating)
Smogonthetyne at 2.06pm - now THAT'S what I call a gear change!
I prefer any nets that Boro strikers can hit with regularity. (Now let's get back to GS2 on the Brownlee phone in...he's sounding OK so far).
Boro in shock! News that a promising youngster has been tied up on an improved contract rocked Teesside.
What next? Bottom club come to the Riverside, and instead of winning they get slaughtered?
Interesting to hear Gordon Strachan state that Boro were paying nothing towards Mido's wages in his interview with Ali Brownlee tonight.
So what do you reckon about that then AV?
**AV writes: A lot of things don't add up about the Mido deal. There has never been any suggestion his current deal has been modified, scrapped or paid up by Boro. West Ham have made a public song and dance about only paying ã1,000 a week. Someone somewhere is telling porkies.
Agree AV somebody is telling porkies as a loan player cannot come short of his contract. I dont for a minute think its GS2 though as Mido has nothing to do with him so therfore he has nothing to gain.
It could be that Mido was so desperate to get away from the Riverside at the time as he was proberbly told he was going to rot in the reserves for his actions that he allowed an ajdustment to his contract.Its happened before. Or West Ham are bulldusting to keep creditors of their backs.
Any news yet on the loan scheme getting greedy now but i feel we are two players away from a very good squad left side midfield and a keeper.
Yes, definitely something not squaring up about the Mido deal - though Strachs was clear in what he said and even repeated it for emphasis.
I thought the interview revealed little else - but you wouldn't expect it on Ali B. A lot of solid common sense and straight answers from the Boro Manager but some 'economy with the truth' - again, not unexpected.
The remark about 'I'm here to answer questions, not enter into a debate' was revealing.
The only other thing I took from what he said - and didn't say - and how he said it was that his relationship with the Academy is very different from some previous Boro managers.
There is nothing complicated about the Mido thing. Zamalek got him for a nominal fee, but agreed to take on his salary. West Ham signed him with the Boro approval, now they pay his salary, lets just drop it.
Delighted to see that the club have extended Rhys Williams. More evidence of what seems to be a sensible change of approach to getting players in, moving them out or tying the ones you really want to a decent contract. This is New Boro
Nets ..... I like the ones that are deep and loose, that emphasises the embarrasment for a keeper when he has to do battle with the net to get the ball back out after a goal is scored.
I see Question Time is in Middlesbrough next week. You've been strangely quiet about your invitation onto the panel AV.
I missed WGS on the radio last night. Anything interesting to come out of it? Any mention, hints regarding loans? Does he like pigbag? And most importantly what type of goal net does he prefer? I remember him scoring a good goal against the W. Germans into the cavernous nets at Mexico 86. Also his âÂÂleg overâ celebration that followed wasnâÂÂt bad either.
Reply to P Thompson
Why don't the club write to all season ticket holders asking them if they would like to sit in a 'singing section' at the riverside? Get all of the fans who like to make a noise in the same stand. It might work.
Something else that will help would be performances for the full 90 minutes, goals and excitment at the Riverside. This will bring more fans back to the ground.
C'mon Boro!
Perhaps the deal for Mido included either West Ham, or perhaps Mido himself, paying the loan fee as a return of payment, so that even if the rules state he has to be paid his contract, the money is coming back to us anyway. It definitely sounds fishy!
One thing that is driving me crazy right now is the is he/isn't he fit. I keep reading several rumours of players being ruled out due to injury but can find nothing official.
Is McDonald going to be fit to play tomorrow or has he been injured by coming back too early?
Doesn't sound like GON is going to make tomorrow which would be a massive blow, particularly as we don't have anyone to come in for him. Move Flood inside and put Naughton/Hoyte at RW?
Even if Wheater is fit, I think I'd keep him on the bench at the moment. Grounds has looked really good since coming back into the team, and Wheater might even benefit from a bit of a longer rest.
Killen would be a big loss as well, but it gives Miller the chance to show what he can do after being pretty anonymous when he came on v Barnsley.
I know this is basically smacking fate in the face with a big stick, but when was the last time we won two home games in a week?
According to the BBC's website Boro have led 15 times at half-time this season - more than any other team in the division. What are they putting in the half time tea AV?
At last, some realism about the future of the football club and welcome honesty and directness from Strachan's radio interview last night. He may not be everybody's cup of tea and I had my own doubts, but I like his gruffness and brevity, especially when answering fascile questions from reporters.
He appears to have a good understanding of the modern footballer and what chimes with me is his belief in hard work, for players to be level headed and appreciative of the talents and skills they have but making sure these are not wasted.
I feel reassured about the future, whatever happens over the next five months, in that we have a manager who has authority and the respect of his players. Strachan was tactful to skirt over how bad it was when he saw the players in training for the first time.Something we should consider when we consider the challenge to the team in the final quarter of the season.
Listened to the Brownlee interview this morning. Quietly impressed by Strachan, I took a lot of positives out of what he said, though as I agree on many things he was saying, that is hardly surprising.
One concern is that as we are in a Sat-Tues-Sat-Tues-Sat run of matches the niggles will catch up with us not least with our duracell bunny. O'Neil has been one of our best performers this season and the thought of him missing out is a big worry.
Is it better to give him a few more days rest with Blackpool and Forest coming up next week? Or should we play him every chance we get?
A win, clean sheet and no injuries against Posh would do nicely thank you very much. I can then get tickets for both my lad and myself for the Forest game (Alex is wavering because he doesnt want to let his mates in his rugby team down next Saturday)
Where are you AV?
I'm beginning to think you have done a runner with Willodinho Floodinho.
Can you have him back by 3 .00 tomorrow please?
AV, any just any news on possible new signings? We do need midfielders and cannot have injuries...
Great to be part of the McBoro revival. Up the Boro!
I sent a post earlier AV, did you not get it?
**AV writes: No, nothing from you today.
Stop queuing up at the far post, you lot! It's steak night at the Throttled Toad and some of us won't be able to compete with all the one-upmanship, regular counts, automatic posts every two minutes etc.
How about Boro 4 The Other Boro 0?
I feel it in my waters.....the tide is turning....and that is before any drink (no more liquid metaphors please). Time to leave for a steak, a pint of whatever Guest Beer is on tonight, and a sneaky bottle of Rioja. Tee Hee!
AV can tell the powers that be to have a look at ADAM LALLANA. at southhampton
plays alot like johnson wide left can be seen on utube. might get him on lone
PETERBOROUGH: Boyd 14 mins
PETERBOROUGH: McLean 38 mins
MIDDLESBROUGH: MacDonald 53 mins
PETERBOROUGH: Flood og 79 mins
MIDDLESBROUGH: Coyne 93 mins
Att: 12,561
I am unusual in that when Cashley Cole was moaning about his wages at Arsenal I could see where he was coming from. It happens at most clubs because players come in deals which are much better than the local lads.
We object to the wealth these players have but that is the marker place. On a personal note I cannot grasp what they get each week but occasionally something puts their lifestyles into perspective.
I watched SkySports and caught a short piece of an interview. I am sure it was James Milner and I have not heard a bad word against the lad. They asked him where he would like to go on holiday and he said said Australia because his parents had been. He had never gone because he didnt have the time!
Why doesnt he try working with four weeks holiday a year on minimum wage? Where you have to fit in two weeks in peak period if you can afford it.
I try not to begrudge people their wages but sometimes it winds you up.
Will Mosso Cloudfiles be back from Dubai in time for tomorrows game AV?
**AV writes: Well I have the code and the time slot is booked on CoverItLive but I am going to give the lappy a test run in the morning and see if everything opens and runs before I stick the icon up I think. It is getting very frustrating.
No, no surely not. Comments at 97 and GHW nowhere to be seen. The aussie ducks at the far post and....... (will this be repeated at the riverside later today??)
Have you considered doing a dry run on the blog sometime? It may be worth it for a couple of hours one night.If you advertised it I'm sure you would get a few logging in.
Just checked the Euro Millions, if you don't buy a ticket, you can't win the jackpot. As Andy Gray would say, he gambled......
**AV writes: Six numbers AND the bonus. How does he do it?
I'm sure an Antipodean midfielder will have sliced the ball into the net, or a German correspondent will have been quietly sneaking around the far post, but I'm not bitter. Oh no, not me! Not after a VERY nice Aberden Angus steak, a couple of pints of a very naughty Wychwood beer, and a bottle of red!
No. On mature reflection life has a lot to be said for it. A good meal, some good British ale, a bottle of Cabernet (it was going to be Rioja but it is permissible to change one's mind) and, on returning home, the pleasant thought of a successful result at the Riverside against Peterborough.
I hate to tempt fate but many at the pub felt a good home win was likely and that things are looking up. Forgive me if I spend some time rooting in the understairs cupboard for my set of foam hands - it might take some time as I haven't seen them for years.
5-0! There, I said it!
C'mon Boro!
GHw - were you a striker at school, you old rogue?
And a dry run on this blog, as suggested at 11.51pm yesterday, would have the advantage that the many thousands (!) who would otherwise be unable to take part (because they're at the Riverside for home games) would become available to join in.
And again, 4-0.
Forever Dormo
One suspects that GHW has a big coat with large pockets on the inside to carry his lordship's finest pheasants and salmon.
As was once said about the Scottish back row - they were born offside! It is the timing that is amazing, he has that Jimmy Greaves knack of arriving in the right place at the right time.
There is also another possibility, AV could be his love child and is ensuring he always gets the prize. Far be it from me to point out the earlier post by Keenog that went missing, it is all a bit like WMD, dossiers and and 45 minutes.
I noticed that when Alistair Campbell was at the Iraq inquiry there was no sign of Vic. Mmmmmm.
May well be missing O'Neill and Killen, still look stretched for personnel.
The two games a week doesnt help nor does the fact that some players have had little playing time. There is always the danger of players not recovering properly but that is an occupational hazard.
GS seems to let the senior players tell him if they can play, they probably know best.
"Smogonthetyne now in Nunthorpe said:
I missed WGS on the radio last night. Anything interesting to come out of it? [...]"
Smogonthetyne: you can hear for yourself. It's available on the Beeb's iPlayer until next Thursday. Hope this link works:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00694pw/p00694q7/Ali_Brownlee_11_02_2010/
;)
Just had a look on the Gazette page for a link to the live blog. It would appear that Mosso is still in Dubai, trying to explain to Senora Cloudfiles his unexplained activities on match days.
Was he playing away?
I expect Boro to put Posh under the cosh today. If we are to stamp our play off credentials, then a convincing display against the leagues bottom team is needed.
4-0
Big Mac to go large.
Earth to AV?
Earth to AV?
Any word on the live blog !
Boro need some "fatherly" figures in the dressing room according to Gordon Strachan down the pub last night.
WGS will be rectifying this matter by signing Papa Bouba Diop from Portsmouth and Papa Waigo N'Diaye from Southampton.
Half time score doesn't bode well for my 4-0 prediction.
C'mom Boro!
Attendance 18,417 (561 Peterborough)
It seems I was right. There is a slightly upward trend in attendance figures unless the club are massaging the figures even more than usual.
Listening to the Brownlee phone in , I have come to the conclusion that fellow Boro fans really need to stop thinking that we are European Champions after beating a bottom of the League team and we also need to stop thinking that we are the worst team ever and certs for relegation everytime we fail to win.
I see we're still living on the edge? Sheesh, we don't make things easy on ourselves!
But that's 6 games unbeaten now and 2nd in the form table I believe?
Typical Boro would have seen us draw or worse still, lose against the basement team. And we weren't too far off of that with a second half performance that had us all biting our nails down to bare flesh and Wheater's goal line clearance at the death.
This result teaches us to keep our feet ever so firmly planted on the ground and not to get so carried away. This is a team which is still going through transition but we continue to slowly but surely head in the right direction.
Slowly is alright except we need faster if we are to leapfrog Leicester and Sheffield United for that 6th spot.
Well, it wasn't 4-0 but it was a clean sheet and 3 points!
And did the live Boro Blog get lift-off today when I was at the Riverside? I'm really looking forward to seeing this Mosso Cloudfiles bloke - apparently a real talent but there are times when he drifts in and out of games.