Shaking Off The Shackles Of History
BORO'S History Boys ended one of football's longest running hoodoos with a scrappy win over Nottingham Forest.
About bloody time too! After decades of near misses, spitefully scripted heart-breaking late levellers and countless one sided batterings, Boro have finally beaten them.
This tetchy triumph over the Tricky Trees was the first on Teesside since a narrow 1-0 in December 1973. Hands up who remembers that. Hands up who was even born!
That last victory - Stuart Boam headed a first half winner over a ten man Forest side that included teenage midfielder Martin O'Neill - came on the day Slade released 'Merry Christmas Everybody' for the first time and snow covered Britain shivered in a cold snap.
You couldn't read about it because the Evening Gazette was on strike. So were the railways. The miners weren't but an overtime ban in preparation for the next round of industrial action meant black and white Britain was battling with the three day week. The game actually kicked off at 2pm because unless Ted Heath was willing to put ten bob in the leccy meter there was no guarantee we could get the floodlights on.
A low pre-Christmas crowd of 16,764 (many with long hair and side -burns and wearing loons, star jumpers, bovver boots or ICI donkey jackets) watched Charlton's Champions stretch their lead at the top of division two and extend an impressive unbeaten home record that went back to the opening week.
Since then Forest have risen to become a major footballing power and twice won the European Cup under Grove Hill's finest Brian Clough before suffering vertigo, spluttering and fading back into obscurity.
In that span of almost 40 years Boro have been up and down, been liquidated, moved home, been Wembley regulars, won a first ever national trophy, bought some of the biggest players in the world, marched proudly across Europe to a final and slinked sheepishly back into the second tier. But still never beaten Forest.
Since Boro last slain their Nemesis at home there have been wars in the Falklands and the Middle East, punk rock and Margaret Thatcher have been and gone along with much of Teesside's industrial base, Germany has been united and the Soviet Union dismantled, the internet and mobile phones have seized control of global consciousness and football has been transformed by the Premier League and pots of cash.
None of Boro's team had been born. The whole world and the entire game have been totally reshaped since that last triumph. And Newcastle still haven't won anything.
So all hail our heroes for smashing the shackles of history! Hurray!
But it must be said, for all the satisfaction that comes with wiping away that stain, they made very hard work of it.
Boro struggled to beat a woeful side of time-wasting spoilers playing archetypal Steve Cotterill anti- football and with "relegation bound" written all over them.
Tony Mowbray's side laboured through a turgid first half hour as they struggled to impose any shape or tempo on the game and twice Forest broke clear and carved out chances.
Then, after the penny dropped that Forest were rubbish, Boro suddenly sparked into life with a flurry of activity just before the break. After a good spell of fruitless pressure they finally took the lead in stoppage time as Marvin Emnes picked up a neat ball from Kevin Thomson and rifled across the face of the goal with an angled effort that seemed to take a deflection.
Seemed to. Replays from several angles proved inconclusive. We are still searching for a definitive view that will show there was a second marksman on the grassy knoll.
Then 58 seconds into the second half Lukas Jutkiewicz held off a challenge to lash home a sweet low strike for a second, an action replay of his goal against Sunderland.
That should have been that. Forest are a poor and demoralised side. They haven't won in 13 games and have only taken one point in the past five. They were pretty much the poorest side we have seen all season. There should have been no way back.
But somehow a self-conscious Boro contrived to open the door and nervously usher them back into the game. That's how the weight of history works.
As against Coventry and Portsmouth and Blackpool Boro were well on top but failed to kill the opposition off and slowly shrunk away as a potent threat, got dragged back into Forest's scrappy, shapeless tussle and then suddenly wobbled dangerously.
Joe Bennett (who had already been lucky to escape one booking with a flailing arm) conceded a cheap free-kick with a rash dive and grab at Gunter - and got a yellow to boot - that allowed trundling serial nuisance Andy Reid to prise them open.
The player with 'a low centre of gravity' (or 'his own post code' if you want to be cruel) but a deadly left peg sent in a trademark dead-ball delivery to Boro's habitual weak spot at the near post and it was glanced on and then headed home at the far post.
That signalled a familiar sickening lurch towards chaos on the pitch and outright panic in the stands as Boro retreated into their own box to invite pressure and a series of heart-stopping scrambles and a rattled cross-bar were heart-stopping moments.
Jittery Boro were rocking and a surprised Forest looked to have the edge.
Then referee Paul Tierney - already getting a roasting from home supporters - intervened to change the game decisively. Don't boo. He got us off the hook.
Firstly he sent off Kevin Thomson. A daft little trip as he recovered from losing the ball in midfield earned a first yellow then soon after a second hefty blocking challenge on Guedioura down by the corner flag sparked a melee as tempers boiled over and after the dust settled brought the second yellow and then a red.
It is the second time this season - after Coventry away - that Thomson has stomped off quibbling over the injustice of the second yellow when the real problem was the stupidity and cheapness of the avoidable first.
Tony Mowbray said afterwards he thought the second was harsh and that if that was a yellow the game was 'going to wrack and ruin' but in truth it was hard to argue.
Thomson, just getting up to speed and on course for the Gazette three stars, will now be sidelined again just when he had a chance to prove a point to his detractors and show he was capable of getting six games in a row under his belt.
At that point the referee was getting a lot of stick from the home crowd. And rightly so. He had let a clattering challenge on mid-air Jason Steele go unpunished then a series of niggly fouls were ignored and a couple of opportunities to play good advantages were called back while Forest players were going down and staying down at the slightest contact. The Riverside fans - moved to ironic cheers on the rare occasions Forest were penalised - were getting restless and the game was starting to bubble over.
With ten men and under the cosh, it seemed inevitable that Boro would succumb to the forces of football history and let Forest grab the leveller. Or worst.
In fact the sending off and the angry immediate aftermath led to a tetchy, free-kick littered spell that worked in Boro's favour.
Firstly it fired up a team that had been visibly wilting and creaking and suddenly there was renewed zeal and a bit of spite about Boro as they fought for every ball with a tinge of righteous anger.
And secondly, the frequent whistling and the rash of free-kicks - and the time eaten up to actually take them - broke up the flow of the game, made it jerky and relieved what had been a relentless if shapeless pressure on the Boro box.
It was still a nervous finish. Twice in the closing stages brave Steele had to make good saves and Forest had one ruled out for a foul on the keeper. But Boro held on.
It wasn't a classic. God no. It was a poor display. Scrappy and shapeless and nervous.
But Boro got through it. Just. They clocked up their first win since Boxing Day - a stat the very mention of which was starting to annoy Mogga - and they stopped the rot. After a couple of dismal draws they have started to inch back up the table. Boro are now back within touching distance of the leaders, three points off third with a game in hand. It'll do.
And, just as importantly, several generations of supporters can at last claim to have wiped away an ancient stain of ignominy. They have been witnesses to history as mighty Boro finally beat bogey side Forest. Rejoice.
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Long hair? Tick. Loons and Boots? Tick. Star Jumper? Certainly not. Remember most of that damnable history. BUT, "None of Boro's team had been born."
What king of sentence is that to be greeted with in the morning! I grow old, I grow old
I shall dye the bottom of my(silver)side burns gold.
Poor game, big three points. You were talking about Thomson needing 10 games on the bounce to get up to speed. Good luck with that.
I was at that Forest game and the 5-1 mauling we got at their place. Duncan McKenzie destroyed us at their place, Good Player.
"Six foot two, eyes of blue, big Stewy Boam is after you" The Holgate sang after Stewie scored last time we won. As I remember Big Stewy and Willie Maddren used to get double figues every season. Big Jack set them both targets, I remember.
Why do we never seem to get goals from our centre-backs anymore?
So AV what happened to the flying winger and the big guy we were getting on loan?
**AV writes: You know of such players? Mogga is looking at possible loanees now. After Friday anyone who comes in will be available for the play-offs. Before then we'll have to send them home after the last regular game.
Top goal from the Jukebox. A much needed three points for us but we should have swept Forest aside really . Every game is going to be tight with our depleted squad.
I wonder what the loan market will bring?
Good write up AV, all I can add really is - it's about time!
I try to keep my powder dry with officaldom, but that referee and his "I want to take charge" assistant running the line, both took me to the edge. All I can add really is that if an assessor was there last night I think there will be more x's than ticks on his report sheet. Very poor.
UTB
Poor scrappy game with desperate and disparate defending at times. Very confusing in terms of tactics: "will the man who was playing right back please stand up"?
I'm not sure that the Richie for Haroun substitution gave the right message and at that point Halliday to stretch it wide would have been my preference but what do I know because I thought Hines was right back.
What should have been probably 3 or 4 up ended nearly another draw snatched from the Jaws of Victory thanks to Tommo's recklessness. The lad looks to be finally getting his fitness and mind up to the speed of the game but he needs to seriously question his temperament and decision making in terms of "Old Firm" tackle mentality. He doesn't have 50,000 Huns yelling and swearing at the officials in his defence in the Championship.
Whilst I don't like it Boro perhaps need to improve on the art of skillful acting in the face of the referee. If we have to be on the receiving end we need to dish some of it back out in equal measure. Nice boys win nowt!
On a final note I thought Mains was awesome when he came on and really "went at them" and made a huge impression. I would be astonished if Mogga sent him on loan now as he looks to add something very different to our current striking options and I reckon is an able and cost effective replacement for Scotty.
Flying winger on loan?
What about Liam Lawrence at Pompey who are bust (again). Always rated him - great crosser of the ball and a big lad with a turn of speed - and they must want to shift some wages off the books.
**AV writes: He'd be great. He always plays well against us. Reading between the lines he was talking about a couple of relatively experienced players from teams in the upper half of the Premier League. money permitting.
So long ago that it was nearly as far back as when the Toon and Mackems last won a trophy.
For a big football area like the North East to only have one trophy in all those years is amazing. If we liken it to the East Midlands successes it beggars belief.
That photo of the Boam 'card' takes me back, I can remember collecting them, they came with a piece of chewing gum I think? I can't be certain but I may have been at the Forest game bacj in '73, my Dad worked for the Gazette, so if he was on strike we may well have gone!
It doesn't matter how we played, we desperatley needed that win, now we need to develop some momentum and get established back in the top six.
The most beautiful article I have ever read. Thank you
Paul Tierney was the classically bad referee.
He was consistently awful because he failed to penalise Forest for some dreadful fouls; a little man in all senses, he did not seem to know how to withstand the intimidation of their big oafs, nor how to protect our lads against their brutality, especially their elbows; in consequence, as, obviously, the game was all about him, he felt he should penalise us for any show of the irritation his incompetence or bias caused (obviously an affront to his amour propre - and hated as virulently as conceited people do hate home truths). When he did decide to see fouls against us, he seemed to ignore ideas of our possible advantage completely.
I have never seen so clearly demonstrated how important the advantage rule is.
So, Joe Bennett is free and running at speed at their disorganised defence: let's stop everything for two or three minutes; let Forest reorganise and get their puff back. Is all Boro momentum killed off? Defenders have a good enough view? Defenders rested enough? Fine, go on then, Boro! Get past the reassembled brick something house if you can!
This Tierney turned at least three cynical fouls against us into clear advantage to Forest. In this was some consistency, at least!
The worst piece of decision-making in the whole fiasco, though, was Little Twinkletoed Man, who gave Joe Bennett off side when he was at least twenty yards on. Twinkletoes judged, I can only guess, that Arca (who MAY have been in an offside position when the ball was played - dubious but possible) was interfering with play when he so very flagrantly signalled to the whole stadium that he was not going to chase that one!
Perhaps showing by your body language that you are not interfering with play can be read as bluffing, i.e. interfering with play!! Nice sprinting, though, from this joke of an official; you had to admire his sprinting up and down, especially as he was doing it blindfolded!
It should be comic, shouldn't it? But, before this Tierney, this small-minded, self-obsessed person gets another refereeing job, someone must show him this game's video, forcibly pointing out to him that Forest were not particularly clever in disguising their brutality or their cheating; he should be made to accept that he should have been able a) to see and b) to control such thuggery; he must then be forced to learn about the idea behind the advantage rule; and he should have it clearly explained to him that referees like him actually cause problems and spoil games, and that his real role is to allow the players to play the game safely and fairly, or, if they do not, to control them, not provoke them.
GREAT article! Well, I was alive, but missed tnat game in '73, as my first Boro game EVER was in the April of '74, the same season, a boring 0.0 with Bolton I think.
I remember wondering as a small boy (10 years old, going with my mates, wouldn't be allowed now I guess!) what all the fuss was about! I think it was 25P in the boys end ... anyone confirm this?
I was there in '73 & last night - can I have a Blue Peter badge, please?
Our first was definitely an o.g. - it was right in front of me and was going across the goal until hitting the defender.
AV - the last match I saw at Riverside ( well it is a bit hard to get there often from WA.) was v. Charlton in Feb 2005. We just snatched a 2-2 draw when the ball hit Danny Graham without him realising and deflected in. About the only thing he did all afternoon.
I didn't follow what happened to his Boro career afterwards, but look at him now in the EPL as he confidently looks the part for Sansea of a traditional centre-forwards, scoring some excellent goals. How did we let that one slip away.
John Aus
AV - I have a question for you. Did you write the bulk of that post in advance in anticipation of the victory? And if so, how many times have you had to put it back in the file over the last few years?
I would have been there last time round, I had a season ticket that year and didn't miss a match.
Last win over Forest? I qualify on both counts, I was there ergo I must have been born.
Such a lot happened since, both on the field as you chronicle and for me personally off the field. Since then two ex wives and one new one (for keeps). Moved 8000 miles away from the Boro (out of ex wife's reach!). Changed my name, changed my religion (REM circa 1991). Became a millionaire (in rupiah).
Two things have remained constant - Newcastle have not won a bloody thing, but more importantly my love for the Boro has never failed and is now carried on by my twelve year old son.
Thanks for a great article AV
My Dad told me last evening that he'd heard something to the effect that Robbo had decided that he was going to Vancouver Whitecaps in the summer to see out his career in Canada.
Wild rumour or have you heard something too, AV or Blogginistas?
**AV writes: There was one line in one paper to the effect that Vancouver 'may be interested in taking' Robson. His current deal runs out in the summer but Boro have an option to extend it by 12 months.
I haven't heard any noises on that one way or the other and I don't think a decision will be made until they know what division they are in. He has been arguably our best player this season but he will be a year older and is on big money for this division. If we don't go up the gaffer may decide it is best to free up that cash as part of the big summer reshuffle.
Kev B -
I was a student in Leeds so missed a few home matches including the 1-0 against Forest. I did see 0-0 against Bolton and it was dreary, if I remember correctly it was a very foggy night around Easter time and we were trying to win all our matches until the end of the season.
halifaxp -
The commentary made the ref sound like a candidate for Forest fan of the year. We were victims of a odd display by the officials in the match at City Ground during the Merson inspired promotion season when we lost 4-0.
It was 0-0 at half time but the writing was on the wall as the ref gave every 50:50 decision Forest's way. You would be hard pressed to say any one decision was bad but he gave us absolutely nothing.
Striker and centre half go up for a ball, you can picture the type of challenge but the free kick always went to Forest. Weird, ended up being peppered by Van Hoojdonk free kicks.
When Stone ran in to the box you knew he was going to go to ground as soon as he was challenged and that the ref would give a pen.
Awful day as we were sat amongst Forest fans because we couldnt get tickets in the away section.
Dear Mr Gill writes: 'we were trying to win all our matches until the end of the season' - I don't mean to appear as a wide-eyed fantasist, but all teams try to do that every season? Except possibly those managed by Stheve Mac obviously. Who's team tried never to lose. And Gate, and CS2..
I thought our defending against Forest (I've only seen the brief highlights on BBC) for Miller's header was awful, especially for the through ball before the cross. The Juke's goal was very well taken, especially the way he rolled the first defender. Lovely.
Thompson. Not making any new friends on Teesside any time soon.
John Gibson -
Graham couldn't get his game ahead of Viduka, Jimmmy Flloyd, Maccarone and as AV has pointed out on here before, no-one was overly fussed to see him go
Halifaxp - :
Excellent post! So it wasn't just me that thought the linesman was an over-enthusiastic little jobsworth, as well as the referee being incompetent or biased - or both?
The 12 year old lad adjacent to me was going frantic at the referee for calling plays back and playing into the hands (and elbows) of the Forest defence. He was laughing like hell at the linesman's antics, sprinting like Usain Bolt (sorry, Richard Branson) towards the half-way line after making sure that Jason Steele didn't seek to gain two centimetres "advantage" when placing his goal kicks.
Yet the same idiot failed to ensure placement of Forest corner kicks fully in the corner segment, while standing next to the player. The officials - well, at least two of them - went beyond comical on Wednesday. It was THEY who interfered with play, NOT Julio Arca!
That said, two major decisions they DID get right were:
1) the disallowed Forest "goal" and, sorry to say
2) Bennett's yellow card and the free-kick that led to Forest's goal. That lad has some serious growing up to do. When he does, he could be really good.
One of the poorest match official performances I've witnessed at the Riverside. AV does make the ironic point that it may have been the extent of their incompetence that actually secured the three points for Boro by galvanising the crowd and through them, the 10 men!
Do people see this as another example of how things balance themselves out in football? Sorry, but I can't subscribe to that. Sport shouldn't be a lottery. It should be a contest that is decided on performance merit of the teams - NOT the whims of the officials notionally in charge.
Nice article AV but very dating. I'm afraid to say I'm closer to a zimmer frame than I was to my first match at the Boro.
I do recall though my first day at Longlands College, riding on 268(?) out of 'Redkerr' as a trainee production op for ICI. As we passed the Dormo gates and opposite the British Steel entrance, all I could see were pickets massed around fires in barrels. I don't quite know what happened but along with being a lifelong Boro devotee, I also became a lifelong supporter of the unions.
How the clock turns- I hope the Boro and the unions make a positive comeback (hope that's not too political, AV). Finally, can we say slew instead of slain :)
UTB.
Wotcha AV, you must ave been a mere lad back in 73.....
This was a must win game and regardless of how jittery we were its a much needed 3 points. Not sure if we have what it takes to stay in the promotion hunt, however lets hang on for what is going to be a roller coaster rough ride
It was a great relief to get the win against Forest. Regardless of any historical hoodoo we really needed the three points against a struggling side.
I was pleased to read Mowbray's comments regarding loan signings. He said: “Why wouldn’t I rather play Cameron Park, Curtis Main or Luke Williams than some young boy from Liverpool or Manchester United?”
That contradicts the loan signing of Alex Nimely but it shows either that Curtis Main has significantly progessed in the past few months or that TM has learned what could be a useful lesson on loaning the "big clubs" kids.
I'm all for blooding our own. They seem comparable with their big-club counterparts in terms of quality and giving them games now will help both them and the club as a whole in the future. Even more so if we fail to gain promotion.
Noticed Bolton have released players to go on loan among them Sean Davis(who I think we were interested in once) and Boro lad Robbie Blake who has been around a bit and banged a few in. Any good do you think?
I enjoyed watching the champions league match on telly last night, that Milan side are a cracking team.
Any truth in the rumour coming out of the Nunthorpe paper shop that we're getting Torres on loan? lol.
AV
I see my Dad's rumour mill is up to snuff, then! Robbo to Vancouver it is!
Wow factor, indeed. So long as it's not another Nimely.
MFC are reporting that Barry Robson has agreed to join MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in the summer.
It'll be a shame to lose one of our most influential players and I can't understand why he has made this decision now. Perhaps he has been told that his contract was not going to be extended.
**AV writes: He is a victim of circumstance and bad timing. If Boro don't go up this season then they will not be able to afford to trigger their option on another year on his deal at, let's say, £12-15k per week. In this league that money gets three busy midfiielders. Yet if they go up, would a 34 year old Robbo really be a regular part of a reshaped Premier League side?
It's official - Robbo's off to Vancouver in July. Got an MFC Newsletter to that effect this afternoon. The PR Machine's in overdrive! Gone from the sublime to the ridiculous - the public are getting to know before the Gazette can get it out there!
**AV writes: If only we could print a special 2pm edition. Those were the days. To be fair, I did tweet it being official before lunchtime - well ahead of other domestic rivals - and we had it on-line before the club went public. We can't really do a lot about the print schedule.
CroydonBoro -
Let me rephrase that. We were in the midst of long run of wins and were trying to keep it going but the match was a huge let down after recovering from the Forest and QPR games.
Sad to see that Robbo is leaving at the end of the season, wish we had bought him years ago but at 33 both he and the club have to do whats best.
So Robbo is off to Canada then. Let's hope his last season with Boro ends in promotion!
AV, as a total aside, have you got a penalty league for the Championship season so far please? I believe West Ham are up to about 7, judging by brief highlights on Sky the other day, but can't recall a Boro one so far?? Is that because we don't get players running at defenders as often as we should or just that we are plain unlucky and unpopular!?
**AV writes: Try the football365 stats page. They have all kinds of wierd and wonderful tables (against teams in top/bottom half, scored/conceded first etc). They are bound to have a penalties tally.
That is it!!!! Its over!! The Hoodoo is broken!! The Boro have made it. One of the most glorious nights in the History of football. We go back to 1979, the infant Smog. Mined out of the Bramcote Hills, raised on the mean streets of Nottingham. All those snide comments, the hammerings, the last minute equalisers, who’s laughing now??
Party, Party, Party. Everyone round mine for a Parmo!!!!
If you are anyone else apart from Ali Brownlee, that was all my own work!
For those who haven’t seen it, bask in the magnificence of the Lumberjacks winning strike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1KzWf805R4
Shame about Baz Robson going to Vancouver (not for him, it's a wonderful city) in the summer. More than that I find the timing of the announcement curious. I'm not subscribing to a conspiracy theory, but what do the Club gain by releasing the info with a third of the season to play? He's not the type to slacken off but any perceived reduction in his work-rate or on field commitment may not play favourably with the paying public.
**AV writes: No conspiracy. The MLS season doesn't run over the calendar as Europe. Clubs there are in their close season (hence Henry, Donovan etc on loan here) and are just recruiting for the new season. Their league have strict rules on the domestic/import balance and need to get the peices of the jigsaw in place early so it was going to be made public very soon over there anyway.
I have no worries whatsoever about Robbo levels of commitment, focus and drive. You can't say that about every Boro player over the years in similar circumstances.
Just watched a bit of Valencia at Stoke and thought there was something wrong with my picture but on closer inspection there was a shadow pitch marked out within the pitch.
They obviously have to mark it out to UEFA rules and the shrunken one for Delaps long throws etc is clearly visible three or so yards inside the fresh markings plus of course the dead stretch which the linno normally runs up and down.
Gutted to see Robson is off. Drive, determination, leadership, cracking shot, a big part of the team. Does free up wages at the end of the season but with Bates also able to leave there's got to be some quality players coming in.
I remember 1973 - through the murky mists of Time. What dreams played on the breeze!
Going off to University, finding out how to punt properly, to watch (but not to take part in) the Bumps races, maybe a lecture or even on a bad day two lectures in the morning before an afternoon of sport - no lectures after lunch and at least four weekday afternoons free for recreation. And what facilities, what choice!
University rugby ground 50 yards from my college room, college grounds maybe 880 yards away and several cricket, rugby, football and hockey pitches invitingly laid out there. Home games just up the road, and away games maybe as far as a mile and a half away (if you were unlucky). On the days there were no college games, you could watch first class cricket, or rugby, wander around the town and marvel in the history and architecture. Occasionally open a textbook?
When I was a child, someone living as far away as bourgeois Guisborough was considered exotic. Suddenly there were people around me who came from Eton, Harrow, Charterhouse, Winchester ...but also from Cowbridge Comprehensive. Postgraduates from Harvard and Yale, but also from Bangor (N Wales). There were students from all parts of the world and nearly all of them were exceedingly bright.
I remember 1973. Student grant that was very adequate and topped-up by a handy little school "leaving" scholarship. Same room in college, with mates all around, for three years...rent fairly cheap, no need to do any cooking as breakfast, lunch and dinner were all fairly good and cheap and served 100 yards from my room. Lectures were a 10 minute walk away. College bar selling beer at 9p a pint!!! I actually ran the college bar in my second year. Had to find something to do to avoid studying.
When I compare that to now: I had more money then (comparative to necessary expenditure), probably drank more then than now but am nowhere near as slim or fit (knew that sport had some good side-effects!) and I hardly did any work then. The world was obviously planning to give me a living. Photos prove I had a head of hair.
Mind you: no mobile phones (hmmm! - at that time not even a BT landline at my parents' home, and no car either), no debt crisis looming in the background, and a clear expectation that pensions might be paid on retirement. At ICI people retired on a mountain of shares at about 55 or even younger, to enjoy an index-linked, pension-financed, golfing lifestyle. Redcar had some swimming baths, unlike now.
It's nice to know that in both 1973 and 2012 Boro triumphed over Nottingham Forest. And Forest were in 1973 looking up - being relegated from the First (ie top) Division in 1972, they were shortly to have a certain Brian Clough appointed as their manager and the rest, as they say, is European Cup winning history. But Boro were also looking upwards in 1973...as we are now.
I didn't actively watch football in 1973. Maybe watched the FA Cup Final on TV but that was it. Too busy actually PLAYING sport then - not especially well, but with plenty of enthusiasm and enjoyment. (Actually, considerably more enjoyment than I was getting out of the Nottingham Forest game for the first 44 minutes).
I suppose, since we can't turn the clock back, we'd better make the most of the present. At least then we might have a chance of improving the future.
It's going to be a quiet few days on here AV.
How about a Boro memories thread? (good and bad)
**AV writes: Great blank weekends we have known? Who has been Boro's second best loan signing (obviously Uwe is the tops)? Which Boro players went to finish their career in US football (Hickton? Foggan? Stan Cummins? Jaime Moreno?)
Did you know that when Minnesota Kicks went head to head with Pele's New York Cosmos in the NASL play-offs Alan Willey scored five goals over two legs to take the MVP award ahead of Escape To Victory's finest? There's a feature in that.
I've also been musing on a possible Latin motto to encapsulate the season if Boro manage to rise above the mediocrity to go up through the play-offs. I'm thinking: "Pessimum minime proxima" - the least worst of the next best. Very Teesside.
Anyone with an axe to grind, feel free to take centre-stage.
Forever Dormo -
For my sins I did an engineering degree at Leeds; lectures and lab work basically 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We joked that if there was an Oriental Studies block next door we would have had to a module in that.
In my first year we even had a Saturday 9am lecture, that was tough going and because it was in another dept they had a chap thrown out from the Gestapo for being too cruel take a register.
We did have a wednesday afternoon off for sport.
As a Boro fan from an early age Uni meant little info about the reds, no internet in 1970. The youth of today probably can't comprehend the idea of using Fortran and punch cards for programming. Each line hand processed, the programme run then returned for errors to be corrected. There were more advanced computer facilities but not for 1st yr Chem Eng undergraduates.
When not playing sport on a Saturday, on to the train to watch the Boro often changing at York as well as Darlo. The train services were far better in 1970, no stupid ideas like a train every hour direct to Manchester from Middlesbrough, just shows how things have gone downhill. There again JP remembers when Third Class didnt have a roof.
In 1973 I went to this game....
http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-matches/08-10-1973-middlesbrough.html
My mate had a Morris Minor and on the slip road to the A19, the passenger side front wheel fell off (apparently a common problem). We decided to try hitching a lift and were picked up by a bloke in a Car Transporter, he took us to his depot in Leeds and then gave us a lift in his private car to the outskirts of Manchester (top bloke).
From there we got a taxi to Old Trafford, as it was close to kick off we dashed into the nearest turnstile which happened to be the Scoreboard End. After three minutes Malcolm Smith scored and we spent the rest of the game praying for the final whistle.
Outside at the end of the match we cadged a lift back to the Boro on a mini bus of Boro fans. What a great day out!
**AV writes: Respect. Old school. We broke down on the way to Boro's FA Cup game at Everton in a battered old Fiesta but a guardian mechanic pulled over, did some magic tinkering and got us going again. We got to Goodison just before half-time and the gates were open so we didn't have to pay. Result. Then we broke down again on the way back - luckily just as we were getting to Wetherby roundabout (the ancient travellers gateway to the North) - and dumped the car (it was a goner and had to be scrapped) and hitched the rest of the way back with a transit full of the Boro 'BBC'. Those were the days.
AV -
I take your point about Barry Robson being "a victim or timing and circumstance" but I can't quite make my mind up as to whether it is the right move for us.
On one hand, I want the club to be realistic with the wages it offers it's players. Robson's estimated wage is not in keeping with a sensible Championship wage structure, and at his age that is even more questionable. In the past we have confused our cost cutting with panic buys such as that of Mido and Alves and we don't want that again. Robson on £15k per week is probably the Championship equivalent of Mido's £35k/40k, although you get an awful lot more from Robbo.
However, we are being told (and with the signing of Jutkiewisz, shown) that the wage bill is now under control. If we go up his wage is not a problem. If we don't, well, if it's under control now it will be even better next year with at least Bates and Hoyte gone (or on smaller deals).
Robson is one of our best players and a huge influence on his teammates. We're going to struggle without him and replacing him with three lesser quality midfielders won't make us a better team. His age is irrelevant when we're talking about a one year contract extension.
So, in the end, I think I applaud the club for sticking to it's financial guns, but equally I wonder if just we've used those guns to shoot ourselves in the foot.
**AV writes: But he would be 34 next season too remember. At this level if we are investing that money on wages it should be on a long term team fixture and one with a resale value who can be part of Mogga's overall building startegy and fit into a sustainable financial model.
Av said: "But he would be 34 next season too remember. At this level if we are investing that money on wages it should be on a long term team fixture and one with a resale value who can be part of Mogga's overall building startegy and fit into a sustainable financial model."
Theoretically, I entirely agree with that. In practice however, we're losing one of our best players for the sake of soothing a wage bill that we are told is already under control.
Should we fail to gain promotion, the unavoidable loss of Bates will clear enough cash to bring in the two or three Championship grafters that the saving on Robson might bring. Are we now saying we want five or six players in the summer?
If the wage bill is not an issue now, then surely the only way we can gain from losing Robson is if the money is reinvested in a better player on smaller wages, or two or three comparable players. I doubt that that will happen, but maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.
**AV writes: The wages bill is "under control" in the sense that it is no longer a pressing and urgent financial problem. But there is still very little leeway. Hence McManus having to go out on loan before Mogga can bring someone decent in on loan. That will change in the summer when the likes of Robson, Hoyte, Bate and McMahon are out of contract, giving Mogga the wage budget and freedom to tinker properly for the first time.
The problem with Robbo is that Boro have an option to renew for a year on at least the existing terms - which however you slice it are far too generous for a Championship side. Some others, Mcmahon say, may be offered a new deal on a lot less money (as Arca was) but Robbo's wages are pre-set.
On the other point, yes, I think we do need five or six players in the summer. Possibly more. And given the chance I'm sure Mogga feels the same. Up to now he has worked with Strachan's flawe dside and with one hand tied behind his back. He will be relishing the chance to bring in his own players with the range of qualities and tactical flexibility he wants.
**AV writes: But he would be 34 next season too remember. At this level if we are investing that money on wages it should be on a long term team fixture and one with a resale value who can be part of Mogga's overall building startegy and fit into a sustainable financial model."
I agree with Andy R's view but also understand the reason to let him go. we just dont know who is going to come in and if the replacements will cut it. Will it be worth losing one of our better players even if he is 34? But then if he gets injured, we dont go up, do go up...there are loads of combo's to think about.
It's a worry when you know what you lose but cant see what you gain.
In Mogga we trust! (nervously!)
Has Robbo gone to be with his old mate Kris Boyd who is now with Portland Timbers ( just other side of the USA/Canada border ) or is it just a small world after all?
Great Article Vic but the picture shows what a spotty youth you obviously were some time after I was. What have the Sex Pistols got to do with 1973? They weren't even formed until 1975 and were little heard of until '77. Get back down the photo archive and dig out a photo of Emerson, Lake & Palmer!
**AV writes: The Pistols are one of the things listed that have happened since the last win over Forest and any excuse to use them must be taken. The chances of a picture ever being used of Emerson are quite high. Lake and Palmer? Not so.
Not even Carlton Palmer? - I'm sure I've a memory of an image with his (Sheffield Wednesday) hands around John Hendries throat. But hey, it's late on Friday, the pubs are closed and I'm blog rambling with no thoughts at all about a 'Lake' Boro connection
Jan 2010 and Barry Robson joins Boro. A Celtic supporting fan said he was a great buy.
Feb 2012 and the news is released that Robbo is off to Vancouver Whitecaps with Boro fans thinking he will be a loss.
Manager on both occasions? Is Mogga off to Vancouver in the not too distant future?
Shows what a weekend it is, apart from the weather it could be summer with no Boro match and England playing cricket.
So one record broken again. I did not know it went back so long time. I am so happy for all Boro fans and Smogon in particular. I was born then but started to follow Boro only around the mid '70's. So a first time for me, too.
Smogon -
please be free to enjoy yourself. I look forward to you hitting the ton now on this lead.
Up the Boro!
With Robson now confirmed as leaving for pastures new, it appears that the major changes that are going to take place in the summer have started too early for my liking.
Whilst I agree entirely that we have to get to a realistic wage base, I also agree with Andy R that Robson could be a big loss, even at 34. What worries me is how do we replace him, not just as a midfielder, but also for the number of goals scored. You are talking striker money here.
Along with Bates who will leave on a free, and possibly McMahon, Hoyte, who Mr Mowbray likes, and some of the fringe players, we are going to need a big number of new players. However, as much as you talk about wages AV, to obtain as good or better replacements for next seasons push ( I believe promotion through the play offs will be a call too far ) where are we going to get the transfer money from??
Obviously we can sacrifice Williams, or Emnes or McDonald. But how much will we get for them, for the latter two not alot, considering their wages.
You seem more confident than I do AV, so how do you think it will all unravel?
Pedro -
My son mirrors your views abour Robson leaving, I too have real concerns. My sons view is why both parties didnt wait until the summer.
From what AV says it looks like the club were not going to offer him a contract and at 33/34 you cannot blame him for looking elsewhere.
My view is that I think he could do a job for us whether in the Championship or in the top tier should we do the unlikely and go up. That is now all speculation and we will have a tense end to the season to occupy us.
Millwall away tomorrow.
Lions shackled in their Den?
Well at least Robson leaving has given us something to talk about over the weekend.
Don't get me wrong, I do understand why he is going and thanks to the responses of AV and others I now understand why it's happened at this time.
I don't think it's a cut and dried argument either way to be honest. My thinking is only that with the wage bill issues largely sorted, and with Bates, McMahon and Hoyte all set to either leave or be retained on smaller contracts (with McManus and Martin both doubtful as well I would have thought - Kink has already gone) to provide significant extra leeway for new signings, we could afford to offer Robson his extention. And with him being one of our best, regardless of his age, it might have been better to give him one more year.
I do, however, understand the reasons not to, and I would not call the decision to allow him to leave a shocker.
I meant to memtion this last week but forgot, The Forest kit, was that the worst you've ever seen?
I've seen some bad ones (some of them ours) but never anything as bad as that.
**AV writes: Yes, it was very poor.
Echo leading with Williams will sign an extension shortly. If this happens it is great news. Amazing player to be under contract (till he decides he wants to leave). Guessing some of Robson's wages saving have just been spent!
Hope it happens and he signs. Good bit of contract news to come out of the boardroom for a change. Must all be down to the Count leaving! (panto boo in the background)
**AV writes: Yes, the news leaked via his agent to Sky over the weekend. Should be signed very soon. Mogga quotes in Gazette today.
Good to hear the Williams may sign a new contract. However I am sure he will have an escape clause.
Going back to the player changes in the summer, if Williams does stay, for another year in the Championship say??? Come on AV let us know your thoughts on where the transfer money will come from.
Pedro -
I would have thought that transfer fees and wages all come out of the same pot.
A club has it's income and expenditure, and if there is a surplus of income then that can be used for a new players wages and his transfer fee if applicable.
Looking to the summer, I would guess that Robson, Bates, Hoyte and McMahon will all be on 12k-15k per week - at least £2.5m per annum in total. McManus may be off too and I would guess that he is on the same. Any offer for McDonald would probably be accepted.
I would expect McMahon to sign a new, smaller contract (between one third and a half of his current wage), and I would also expect Hoyte to be offered a similar, smaller, deal.
**AV writes: These are issues I will be covering in my Big Picture column tomorrow.
Brilliant news about Rhys Williams' contract extension by the way.
He's one of three or four key players for us and to have him until 2016 (or at worst get big money for him) is a big plus.
They club must have worked hard to persuade him - Williams surely would have known that he had a great a chance of moving to a Premier League club in summer 2013.
Well done Boro.
Andy R -
Rolls Rhys is the best of both worlds. He gets a new improved deal and we get a player under a long term conytact.
Both parties get the best of both worlds because worse comes to worse we can drive a harder bargain should people come knocking at the door.
Rhys Williams signing a deal until 2016 suggests he is a man of honour. Lets face it he could as most players would have done, waited until the summer. At which point he's either in the Prem with Boro and so on a new improved contact or he's in a position to move on to a prem club with Boro getting a decent fee.
Now if we dont get promoted and he wants to move the fee presumably will be significantly higher, thus impacting negatively) on his salary.
For certain he didn't need to sign a deal now, the fact that he has suggests he appreciates he 'owes' something to Boro for standing by him when he was struggling with his pelvic problem.
I wonder what Matthew Bates is thinking now, because in my mind he owes us to.
I have been waiting for a couple of 'wow' loan signings this week. But I never expected to hear any permanent signings like the Rhys extending his contract. Fabulous! More and more good news from Riverside- we'll get spoiled (ask Smogon/Nottm Forest).
Great. I love #mogganaut. Up the Boro!
On the great Forest kit debate (see I just mentioned Forest and haven't come out in hives) I was asked by the three year old what colour would they be wearing? I didn't know, so he guessed green, and the wife with even less knowledge of football went with black.
I had to laugh at kick off when I saw their kit. And I'm still laughing now.
Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest. FT
Marvin Super strike 45. Lynch 66
The Lumberjack 46
Reading the article in the gazette re Rhys signing a new contract, there is a strong implication that he'll be with us whether we are in the Prem or not next season.
But the one line which inspired me the most was him stating Mogga had told him we'd 'be stronger next season. He clearly has a plan again irrespective of which league we're in. Mogga's certainty of mind, clear vision and leadership are priceless.