Spirit Of Steaua: Another Chance To See
BLOODY repeats.... its five years to the day since Boro's Spirit of Steaua famous fabulous fairytale fight back at the Riverside and Ali Brownlee invited us all round to his house for a parmo. Here's another chance to read the adrenaline splashed blog I rattled out live on the night. Brilliant, evocative, emotional stuff that has my heart-pumping even now. Those were the days. Enjoy.
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Anthony Vickers
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I was somewhere in the Indian Ocean on deployment with the Royal Navy that night. What I would give to have been at the Riverside to experience it? Especially as the only UEFA game I made it to that season was the miserable 1-0 defeat to Stuttgart.
It all seems like a dream now doesn't it? How much has changed in as little as five years. I remember saying to some random ex-pat before watching the final in Dubai, that this was the apex of Boro's achievement. Still to this day, I hope I was wrong.
Fantastic night. Marvelous memories. Superb winner from Massimo. Terrific Brilliant achievement. Unbeliveable emotions. Great blog AV.
Those were the days............
But I can see more exciting nights on their way in the next couple of seasons, not in the UEFA maybe, but Championship football can be exciting, we know that now.
Can't believe there was only 9 comments Vic...and one of them was 2 years late!
One of the greatest Boro nights ever .. Riverside or Ayresome. Warm, happy memories, sadly of a by-gone age.
However, if Mogga achieves promotion next season, surely that will rank as just as remarkable, even if the excitement would be more of a marathon rather than one big hit. But to achieve promotion in today's harsh financial environment, now that really will be something... come on Boro fans, concentrate on the now and not the past, though it is nice to be reminded of our glory days every now and then!
'everyone round to my house for a parmo' brilliant quote from brownlee!
I was on a course in Dorset or Cornwall or some such, walked out of camp and found the nearest pub, bl**dy miles away it was. Half an hour in I was the same as every other Boro fan, "can't believe that they have done it again". Last twenty minutes the locals must have thought i had wandered out of the nearest nut house.
What days, will they return?. Come on the Boro, next season give us a season to enjoy, and stay interested in.
I watched the game in a bar in New York City with 15 Boro fans and a couple of hundred Romanians. A little intimidating but when it was over they finished their drinks and walked out en masse. In the meantime we had to watch an American commentator supported by Ray 'Rocky' Hudson, ex-Geordie, who was masquerading as a Teessider for the night - but not with that accent! US TV then repeated it and all the Boro stood there and watched it again. Oh happy days!
I have copied and pasted my post from the AV blog. I posted under just Ian in those days, it didnt matter then because as someone mentioned there very few of us.
''Like mickymac posted, massimo's header wasnt scruffy, it was a howitzer of a header. Mind you, in the skysports article it described Downings cross as a hopeful ball into the box.
From my TV seat he checked then went past his man and put a wicked ball across the box perfect for strikers to attack and for defenders impossible to cover. There again I may be biased.
Even Eriksson lasted the full match which is more than be said for my supplies of beer. I was working so had to watch the match at home. The family were very good bringing in fresh supplies of alcohol and food and smiling indulgently as strange noises came out of the room.
My daughter had a superior smile this morning when she looked at my rather 'lived in' face and suggested the blue tie didnt go with bloodshot eyes and the strange shade of magnolia that had appeared overnight, hope she gets loads of homework.''
I had been in Tunisia with my wife and daughter for the Basle getting updates from my son. At half time it was a little dark cloud over the only Boro fan in the hotel as we watched some entertainment. Disbelief at the comeback. But to do it twice.
Forgot to mention, does anyone recall that the morning after the match it was the talk of national radio? Even Radio 1 had a dicussion of the merits of Ali's commentary on Century compared to Paul Addison's on local radio. Even the girls in the office were talking about the match.
The finest night in Boros history for me.
It had it all.
I was sat at home in Surrey watching on Telly. Me and the missus went beserk when Macaronne got the winner.
AV a superb peice of writing, brought goosebumps and a tear to my eye.
Certainly the height of our peak - now we have hopefully passed the depth of our trough!
I hope it brings back memories of the feeling of gratitude we had towards Gibson, feelings which should not be forgotten when times are tough!
AV -
Lost a post when my computer crashed part way through, you may have got part of one.
Anyway thanks for helping with Addisons first name.
I was going to comment about the lack of posts and wondered if everyone was preparing for the street parties for the Royal Wedding.
Talking of which are we doing a live blog on the wedding. Just think of the topics we could cover.
What formation will the Royals be on the balcony? Will the Queen be in the away kit? Will the Duke harrass the officials? Will Simon from USA discuss taking Kate from behind? When will William score?
Vic would be in his element describing sundry enemies of the people.
Possibilities are endless.
**AV writes: "Black block, black block, give us a wave!"
Two things:
1. Good fun to relive old memories. I'm not sure I was old enough then (*cough, cough*) to particpate in this Blog. Was there for ALL the home games in the Euro fest, but I noted in the early rounds there weren't that many of us present.
Basel and Steaua were special, but not as good as Roma away. They HATED us. It was difficult not to compare the police and paramilitaries there to those who kept Il Duce in power 60 years earlier. Hooligans against liberal western democracy, some of it educated and unable to get a glass of wine to accompany a meal in the centre of Rome. We held on, and went through. Great.
2. Don't expect any movement on this Blog for a while. The Vickers household will be in front of the widescreen TV, nibbles and a drinkie or two on hand, from 8am this morning, watching intently as the marriage hour approaches. What will the dress be like? What about the bridesmaids? How many celebrities wil be invited?
I have it on good authority that, although not invited to the wedding ceremony itself, an invitation might have been extended for the "evening bash" at The Palace. A conflict therefore between republican Teesside sentiment, and the undoubted atractions of a new hat and dress, and the chance to groove to sweet sounds whilst a very upmarket buffet and some decent wines await the guests.
No! The next you hear from the Blog Meister will be posts of denial sent via Blackberry as if to hide the fact that he has sold out to the spirit of the day. "I'm not in London. I'm not suited and booted. I'm here, in jeans and T-shirt watching old videos of Boro in the 1970's". The 21st century version of bread and circuses to keep the masses quiet. I'm shocked.
**AV writes: I can't see a thing. Back pew. Stuck behind Elton John,s hat.(via my blackberry)
Talk of a 15 point deduction for QPR, cant see it personally following the precedence set by the West Ham case but who knows with the disciplinary procedures we have in place.
It would certainly wind up SheffU and Neil Warnock.
Is anyone doing some research on the rest of the division in our quest for a play off place?
Boro have had some legendary CB pairs in the past: Boam & Maddren and Mowbray & Pallister just name a few. As Manager Mowbray is now looking for a settled back for I was wondering which is our best CB pair next season. Please give your opinion here!
Personally I'd like to see Bates and Rhys W to get the vote but I don't know how they complement each other. Have we testwed this pair yet?
Up the Boro!
Jarkko -
I personally think Rhys W is too good a footballer to be wasted at CB. S. Hines (given time) and M. Bates for me. If Hines doesn't step up to the mark then A. Newman is required.
...and any minute now, there'll be a tweet from AV as he queues up with the other notables to leave the Nave at Westminster Abbey.
**AV writes: Just on way to night do. Sharing taxi with Posh and Becks.
I think the area around M'brough should be called the Kingdom of Teesside. You know who must be the king. See www.mfc.co.uk/page/news/latest/0,,1~2349444,00.html
Up the Boro!
I'm with you Jarkko - Bates and R Williams for centre-half.
It could be argued that neither are bruisers but they make up for it by both reading the game well and being good on the ball.
Most of all though, I just think that they are our best centre-backs.
I am sure I saw AV in the pictures from the Abbey, he was at the back and had a lappie but when I went on to live events it wasnt there.
Must have been my imagination.
Jarkko -
I dont know if if Glass Knees and Iplayanywhere.com would work as a partnership. Even the good teams have a hard man and a footballer paired together, the very best have hard men who can play football.
Just back from 1/2 term hols and catching up on work (well that's what the misses thinks.) Wow 5 years since the Steaua game and what a night. It was only the 3rd Boro game ever for my 9 year old daughter and what a game. When the final whistle went she was picked up by several " well watered and loud" fans behind us,who passed and chucked her about so much I thought she might sustain a serious injury.
Anyway on the two hour drive home she pernounced that she'd enjoyed the game so much that she wanted to go every week. I did have to explain that I'd been watching the BORO on and off for 35+ years and had never experienced a night like it. Still it's good to see another BORO shirt in West Yorkshire. (although she's been keeping a low profile this season)
Forever -
Didnt see AV in the state coaches or posh cars. I think he was in the minibuses.
Watching some of it I wondered what the red uniforms would look like with a white band emblazoned with Ramsdens.
**AV writes: Right, now we've got that gushing pantomime out of the way, back down to business...
Cardiff Monday... who will be in the team? Time for the kids or do we stick with the shop-window select?
Mogga admits the numbers don't stack up with Arca and Tayls and unless they really want to stay and are ready to take a big cut in wages, he can't afford to keep them. How far can we push the boat out? How easy to replace?
Player of the season time. It looks like David Wheater - remember him - will win the Gazette starathon. Has anyone had a consistent season?
I think we'll see Robson and McManus in the shop window at Cardiff again. We cannot afford to do anything else. Besides they are good pros. So a mix of youth and experience.
I will go for a 2-2 draw there.
Player of the year? Tricky - it was Wheats in the first half and Rhys during the latter part. But whole season - only Arca or Bailey have performed well enough for the merit. I say Arca (just).
Bennett the young player of the year for me.
If Arca is on £20K a week, and the average Championship players is on about £4K a week, and we are short of money....
He is 30 years old (?). He can split a Championship defence with a good pass and we've seen in the last fortnight he can pass the ball into the net, given an opening.
But he is also slow and gets caught in possession which isn't always serious if we are near the other team's box, but is potentially desperate if it's near our box. I would be surprised if he was able to play in a Premier League team at his age in light of his lack of pace, and therefore of he was looking to move I assume it would have to be to one of the wealthier Championship teams who might "need" a player like him to complete their promotion push next season.
But at 30, I can't see him getting a long contract anywhere and, if he were to stay at the Boro (and in view of some of his performances this season I can see the attractions) it could only be if he was willing to take a cut to, say £7K or maybe £8K a week at best. Even that would stretch the Boro.
So - a big pay cut if he stays. Or a move elsewhere and out of the North East if he goes. But if you don't have the money in these recessionary times, you can't spend it because the banks are very cautious about lending to businesses that can't balance the books.
Imagine only earning £8K a week. How could you manage? On the other hand, if you'd had almost a full career on Premier League wages, I don't suppose the pension fund would be too slim and if you'd had a good legal and financial advice you'd probably have business and other investments that meant you would never have to work again - whatever the terms of your "last" contract.
Player of the Season..
Nicky Bailey, coming from League 1 and being tainted with the Strachan brush he was on a hiding to nothing.
I'm afraid I can't be convinced about Taylor and Arca. Better value is available elsewhere.
AV -
Cardiff is in Wales which reminds me what did you think of Camilla's outfit? Did you get to meet her.
Anyway, on to more important matters. it is difficult to to pick a team when half the squad are injured. You also have to balance up giving players a run out when there are responsibilities to other clubs at either end of the table.
There are loads of good kids at Boro but they have to be blended into a structured team. My guess is that it will be along the lines of:
Smith
Hoyte, Bates, Williams/McManus, Bennett or Taylor
Robbo, Smallwood or Williams, Thommo, Arca or Taylor
Emnes, Lita
So much depends on who is injured and not fit. The kids can get a run out as subs and most certainly in the last game against Donnie when they will be safe.
And as for Tayls...he has scored a couple of goals recently but, if he is anything, he is a full back not a midfielder.
He should be well capable of playing full back against most of the Championship opposition we are likely to meet. But there is the rub - if he is to be a Championship full back into the "adult" part of his career (rather than a junior who we might expect rapidly to improve as he gains games and exerience) we would be looking to pay him typical Championship wages. Much less than he is on currently.
I guess he wouldn't be first choice left back. Joe Bennett has that spot when fit. So he will no doubt get the sort of offer we'd normally consider appropriate for a SQUAD player full back.
Who have we got coming up in the academy and can Mogga find someone as good elsewhere, but rather cheaper? That will be the name of the game from now on, for all but a few players he intends to build his team around.
That description might fit Rhys Williams and Matty Bates (if Mogga is satisfied they can cope with or produce a full injury-free season) and POSSIBLY a McDonald or Zemamma and a few others, but NOT a reserve/squad member full back.
Wilson Kneeshaw - "Youth footballer for middlesbrough fc, ambition to play for middlesbrough first team and on to a top premier league club."
http://twitter.com/#!/wilsonkneeshaw
Even if you think this you surely shouldn't write it!!?
Forever -
I agree with all that about Arca and Taylor.
Arca is great when he plays it simple and keeps away from our box. When he listens to those little devils saying 'dragback, twirl, nutmeg, it doesnt matter its near your own box' then he gets us and himself into problems.
Taylor was at his best before his injuries as a full back as a full back with Downing in front of him. I wonder if he has lost a bit of pace. He is comfortable as a championship player.
Hopefully Boyd will join the team by the Trent - six starts, three sub appearances, six goals from probably six whole matches on the pitch. I will try to get some Forest, sorry, fans views on him. They seem to be dominating possession so maybe can get the best out of him, or rather do what he is capable of.
Dormo -
I wasn't so impressed with Tayls as a full back. He certainly isn't always good enough to defend. Especilly he isn't always challeging his man for high balls. He doesn't like to head the ball or make a challege!
So I desgree here. He is better in left midfield. I quite like how he supports Bennett when the full back surges forward. So to me it's Taylor on the left midfield - and on reduced terms. I trust Mogga here to make the final decision.
Up the Boro!
Looking at the table for reasons to deuct points.
The team by the Trent desrve a 15 point deduction for the metal scars inflicted on Smog.
Leeds deserve it for their thuggery on the pitch in the past.
Milwall desreve it for thuggery fullstop.
Then I start struggling, dont really dislike Burnley but I can invoke the fact they are Lancastrians.
Hull? Home of two Jags Precott.
Leicester for the Carling Cup defeat and Yakubu.
*AV writes: Portsmouth - finding the funds to pay six Prem League loanees while local creditors go unpaid after admin.... Cardiff - Bellamy... Leeds - refusal to reveal their ownership structure...
Any more?
AV -
Pressed wrong button in my reasons for points deductions for clubs above us.
Ipswich for having had Roy Keane as manager.
Watford for having Danny Graham and a hole of a ground.
Bristol for being one of the ports involved in slavery.
Portsmouth for that fan in the stupid clothes, a rubbish ground and being southerners.
That means we need four points and for the team by the Trent to draw or lose at Palace.
Sorted!
AV -
15 points is the maximum so I had to draw the line at the team by the Trent.
I suppose Cardiff deserve to lose 15 points for having Bellamy plus another 10 for him coming from an otherwise fine city.
On another matter, do the Gazette get a vote in the Football Writers player of the year or is it only the Fleet Street mafia.
**AV writes: I've never bother joining the FWA. It always seemed a bit cliquey. Eric left 20 years ago because he felt the regional set-up was very much Tyneside based and Boro never got a look-in. We get accused of being parochial.
Wilson Kneeshaw (referred to by Gutted!! at 10.09pm yesterday) - he's only 17 years old later this month, so I guess we can forgive his lack of tact.
Maybe he should get his Mum to read his tweets before setting them out into the world?
Why would Boro want to retain a big girl's blouse?
Battle to keep Andrew Taylor and Julia Arca
by Eric Paylor, Evening Gazette
Apr 29 2011
Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2011/04/29/battle-to-keep-andrew-taylor-and-julia-arca-84229-28605274/#ixzz1L6a8LKeb
Forever Dormo - it's not a tweet that's his profile. He says something very similar on his website too "My ambition is to progress on to the Middlesbrough first team and then on to a top premier league club."
http://www.wilsonkneeshaw.com/about/
It winds me up... Changing the subject David Wheater got absolutely tortured yesterday playing right back, he was all over the place on the MOTD highlights.
Wilson Kneeshaw should stick it out with the Boro, along with those other fine examples Downing, Johnson and Wheater.
Good luck to the lad, the idea is to make as much money as possible, whilst he can.
Young Kneeshaw has hardly commited a crime. He may be a bit naive but so what.
He wants to play for Boro. He wants to play at the best level possible. Good on him, we must not inflict limits on his ambition.
It is up to Boro to give him, and the other local lads, a premier team to play in.
Read John's Boro Banter piece and sundry comments about number of different back fours, team changes and number of players used.
Having become bored with watching re runs of the Royal Wedding to try and find definitive footage of Vic I turned my attention to team appearances. Just looked at ourselves plus a few teams in play off positions.
Only Mcdonald, Steele and Bates have made over 30 appearances with 33, 33, 31 respectively
Cardiff
Whittingahm 43
McNaughton 42
Hudson 38
Bothroyd 35
Olofinjana 36
Bellamy 32
Team by the Trent
Camp 45
Morgan 45
Chambers 42
Cohen 40
Gunter 39
McGuigan 33
McKenna 30
Norwich
Martin 44
Ruddy 43
Crofts 42
Holt 42
Ward 37
Hoolahan 34
The disparity is not just about team selection, it is about availability.
Of course, I understand this anecdotal tittle tattle of hard facts in no way compares to the declarations of other journos that they have injuries.
Cardiff have two players injured, we have 10. Having a settled team clearly plays a part in having a succesful season.
The newspaper rumours have us and Hull linked with Brown from Pompey who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Whether it's him or not, we need someone with his sort of experience and style to do the 'muck and bullets' stuff in the midfield. All the successful Championship sides have one - we'll be facing one this evening in McPhail.
Another option - because he's almost certain to be cast aside in the re-casting of QPR for the Prem - is Sean Derry.
2-2 today at Cardiff, or am I being altogether too optimistic against a decent Cardiff team, at home and striving for automatic promotion?
And it's off to the "Baited Bear" for a couple of Stickle Pikes, and hopefully a good game.
And how about Mosso Cloudfiles for player of the year? Admittedly he's gone walkabout a few times, but he's performed well at many games since Wheats left us for pastures new.
And even if things haven't been going swimmingly on the field, Mosso has often provided a bit of humour, well-directed banter, to lighten the mood of supporters all over the world in a difficult season.
**AV writes: He's done OK in flashes but gone missing in games and who knows if he will even be here next year?
Boom! Boom! Boom! ...
Who saw that coming? not me that's for sure.
Well done lads...
A massive pat on the back for Tony Mowbray.
If only he had been persuaded to take over after Eindhoven.
For a team missing Smith, Arca, Bates, Zemmama, McDonald, Bennett and big signing Boyd on paper away to Cardiff live on TV had "drubbing" written all over it.
It turned out to be a game of two halves. I witnessed Barcelona in Boro shirts for the first 45 mins and then like Big Jack's 70's best, defend with aplomb in the 2nd half.
Three points away from home, the Cardiff curse laid to rest, home fans walking out after 20 minutes and Boro pride restored in front of the nation.
Most importantly the Teesside doubters, the "stay aways" shellshocked at witnessing first hand what the devoted have been proclaiming for the last few months right before their very eyes and in high definition. Best bit of Marketing the Club have done in years.
Take a bow Mogga!
Clealry I was FAR too pessimistic. A 3-0 away win anywhere would be excellent, but to win 3-0 at third-top Cardiff, eager to win to put them into an automatic promotion spot, was really too much to dream. What were the odds on that?
I was in a pub. It was noisy from about three minutes into the game. I couldn't hear anything said by the "pundits" after the game. Was there any interview with Mogga? If so, it must have taken place while I took a walk to the little boys' room.
And I don't remember seeing the part of the league table with Boro in it, although we did see the top section of the table about 20 times before I left at half time in the Norwich game.
Who cares? What a great result! Season ticket renewal by 14th May? No problem!!
After a minutes play the Skysports commentator said that Boro were going to sit back in their own half for 20 minutes and see what happens.
All we need is Sue Barker to ask Tuffers 'What happened next?'
My wife was in the other room listening to the yelps from Alex and myself.
A top performance with some outstanding contributions. The central midfield were a strong unit, the star was probably Robbo - playing central midfield! Mmmmmm, fancy that!
What was great was that they hunted as a pack breaking up the Cardiff midfield. When one broke forward the others covered.
The 3-5-2 sort of worked but Williams had an iffy game. Went to ground too often for comfort. The star of the back three was McManus who marshalled the defence well.
Lita was his usual mix of hissy fits but scored one and laid on one. They were terrified of Emnes.
Steele had little to do but the sight of Bellamy getting more and more irate was nearly as good as the three points. Even better that they had two good penalty shouts turned down, sort of made it even sweeter.
I suspect anyone in a Boro shirt out in Norwich tonight wont need to put their hands in their pockets.
Before todays game my lad said he hoped Boro could make it to zero goal difference by the end of the season. I laughed, saying no chance of scoring three against Cardiff!
But not only three scored but zero conceeded, even though Rhys had a bit of a mare. A great first half to watch, second half Boro were well organised and determined.
Just as well my Manure supporting mate has Sky!
Cant say it would be a disaster if Taylor and Arca move on, we've more important players we need to keep and just as importantly we need to shift Digard and Boyd off the wage bill.
A great result at Cardiff yesterday. I hope this live TV show will trigger more season card sales in Teesside.
I know there will be changes to reduce the wages in the summer but I hope we keep as many of the current squad as possible. I will put my "traditional" two players per position list below and the for-sale list, too:
FW: McDonald (Franks), Mr X (Emnes)
MF: Taylor (Arca), Smallwood (Zemmama), Thomson (Bailey), Mr Y (and another)
DF: Bennett (A Reach), Bates (Hines), R Williams (Haas), McMahon (another).
Above we can replace Arca with Park and use Halliday on the right wing. Gibson and Luke Williams are also there or there about. We need a striker and a right winger most.
For sale:
Boyd (a must)
Tavares
Flood
Davis
Hoyte
Lita
Robson
McManus
Both McManus and Robson are there only for wage reasons. I would rather keep them.
Up the Boro!
Great result and performance, almost lays to rest the debacle of the FA cup embarrassment. (Almost).
Just as satisfying was the performance of Craig Bellemy, interesting to note that he has not lost any of his noted charm, what a lovely fella.
NB. Think by his showing last night, Rhys Williams is no centre back.
It's now conceivable we will finish the season with four wins on the bounce. That would be the best possible advertisement for season cards.
Nice to inflict some pain on an expectant capacity crowd at Cardiff. We owed them that.
Ian -
"Young Kneeshaw has hardly commited a crime. He may be a bit naive but so what."
Totally agree, I'd be worried if they didn't have ambitions to reach the very top. We have to be honest, even when we were an established Premier League team we still faced the prospect of losing our best players (eg Downing).
Yesterday was simply amazing. To see a Boro team gettting midfielders into the box and being clinical with chances was tremendous to see.
Richie Smallwood has been an absolute revelation. I'd known he was a prospect for a few years and I'd wondered why we hadn't seen him sooner. Let's get him tied down to a long-term contract please.
Percypieblocks -
Tend to agree about Williams though he could grow in to the role. As I mentioned above it looks like he tends to go to ground too soon - the goal against Coventry was due to that.
That is how you give away free kicks and pens - or miss the ball altogether.
Jarkko -
I suspect Robson and McManus will be on less than Taylor or Arca. On yesterday's(and last season's) evidence I think they are worth keeping.
That midfield looked athletic and puposeful. Not full of pace but able to drive forward, harry and shield the defence.
The problem is we are likely to get offers for Bennett and Rhys Williams. On the latter, as I replied above he didnt do himself any favours yesterday.
John and I did some texting during and afetr the match and he looked ill suited to his role in a back three but it was only one match after all. I still think he could work in the centre of a four but not with Bates and not against more physical attacks.
Borophil -
I saw Richie Smallwood at Forest last October and he looked a neat and tidy player then who would develop into a good central midfielder. A sort of Cattermole with more discipline.
Stricken seemed happy to introduce him to the squad and give him some game time, Mogga is continuing to develop him. He must benefit from playing with the likes of Thommo, Robbo and Arca.
Lets just hope he doesnt go the way of so many of our kids, they break through then break down.
It is a terrible shame to see them getting in to the squad, get some time on the pitch then disappear in to the treatment room.
The list over the years includes Taylor, Hines, Grounds, Williams R and L, Franks, Downing, Bates, McMahon, Morrison.
In this case I am not getting in to the debate about are we different to other clubs, it is just a comment that it is a shame these players had their development slowed down.
The problem with Rhys Williams yesterday was not to do with how well he is suited to centre-back - which is very well - but the fact that, whatever the alleged set out (3-5-2 or 5-3-2), he ended up playing at de facto left back in a back four.
That's the first role that we've discovered him to be less than comfortable in. He seemed to have the wrong studs in too, so often was he on his backside.
I realise that the idea was to nullify Bothroyd who generally cuts in from that wing but it didn't work for Rhys and - as it turned out - Bothroyd didn't take any nullifying.
I was somewhat surprised that, when Dave Jones switched Bothroyd to the other side after the break, Mogga didn't re-organise and make Williams and the whole defence more comfortable.
If he's in the middle two of a back four - or in a back three - the Aussie needs to be on the right, where we know from experience he's assured and stylish.
It didn't matter yesterday, and the rest of the defenders played well - especially Big Mick who was good himself but also organised the rest in a way he hasn't often done.
I wonder why Jason Steele was back in goal? I would have thought the Donny game would have been the obvious choice. Equally, wonder what that means for Paul Smith.
I missed an obvious pair from my earlier for-sale list:
Miller (12 games/1 goal at relegated Scunny)
Degard (on loan at Nice but still 12 months to run of his contract).
So an awful lot for sale (and it depends on sales who we can keep). Up the Boro!
So Julio is back in Argentina for a knee operation so that he will be fit for the end of June wherever he is playing. I suspect it wont be for us.
If he does go we will need some added guile, with the three who played yesterday plus Bailey we would be well placed for a combative midfield with no little skill but need that something extra.
Arca with pace would do nicely with orders to keep away from our box!
Watching the Cardiff faithfull clearing the ground after twenty minutes or so on Monday reminded me of the two guys sat in front of me that night against Steaua. As soon as their second goal went in, they were up and cursing and out of the ground.
I wondered how they felt on hearing the roars coming out of the Riverside that night. What a time that was to be there.