Time To Deliver

Simon Mitchell wrote...

Southgate said: “We’ve known from the start what Tuncay’s best position is, but we’ve not been able to play him there. We feel that he is a forward player, but he is not an orthodox striker".

So does southgate think we should not try him as an orthodox striker. I could understand this if we had a couple of players scoring goals week in, week out!!!

I think now is the time to give him a few games in that position. He can't score goals sitting on the bench.

Come on Boro, show some steel against Reading and put a smile on our faces. Not had one for three months.

Posted by: Simon Mitchell  | December 1, 2007 1:00 PM

eskvalleyred wrote...

A 3 month horror story...Time to win ugly

c'mon BORO

Posted by: eskvalleyred  | December 1, 2007 1:16 PM

jc wrote...

I'm feeling a small glimmer of hope for this match. But I have a feeling that it will take Arca a couple of games to get back to some kind of form, so I'm not pinning all my hopes on his glorious return.

I've read a quote from Mido: "When you have a bone injury, it is very difficult to put a timescale on it." Ah, so he's damaged his groin bone. Nasty.

As for Schwarzer being very good on crosses; yeah, like Jesus!

Oh, uh, that's my teddy bear Jesus, just in case anyone thought I was being disrespectful or anything.

Posted by: jc  | December 1, 2007 1:16 PM

Simon Mitchell wrote...

Just gone down 1-0 against Reading.

Can't believe GS thinks Dong Goal Less is better up front than Tuncay. Looks like the Championship due to an inept manager.

Posted by: Simon Mitchell  | December 1, 2007 4:21 PM

Redcar Red wrote...

The Team selection for todays game speaks volumes!

Never mind the Championship League One here we come. Just hope that something bizarre happens today to rescue our season.

Posted by: Redcar Red  | December 1, 2007 4:25 PM

Pauline Johnson wrote...

Well done on clawing back the point, today at Reading. A little more adventure and you might have had all three points.

I listened to the game and was encouraged that Turnbull was fairly solid. OK he conceded the goal, but he's young and will do daft things from time to time until he learns. At least he's playing from the heart.

Congratulations to Tuncay Sanli on opening his account - forward from here! I agree with previous posts in that Sanli should be playing with Aliadiere.

Good luck for the next game - it's only arsenal. I'll be watching and cheering. Go Boro!

Posted by: Pauline Johnson  | December 1, 2007 8:31 PM

gt wrote...

was Roy Keane born with an horseshoe in his gob or what? My money is on them to win the FA Cup or something thats how lucky this guy is

Posted by: gt  | December 1, 2007 8:38 PM

Jeremy Starsmore wrote...

How on earth can Southgate play Donkey Lee, when he has said the Dongster has no future at the Boro?

He never attempted to head that ball at Reading..."yeh I get you back you son of a gun for putting me on transfer market!!" How low can our season get when southgate can do that.

Well done Ross Turnbull, good game played.
Tuncay, let the floodgates open if the gaffer lets it happen.

Posted by: Jeremy Starsmore  | December 2, 2007 12:13 AM

Phil ex Warrenby wrote...

I have to agree - Dong Gook in front of Tuncay???Never in a million years.

But I do think that is the end of our bad luck. Johnston nearly put us in front but the ball came off the keepers leg, and could have gone in, or over for a corner, but no... off the post and into a very grateful Goalies arms. I'm sure if that had gone in we would have won quite convincingly.

We showed guts to keep going and were rewarded with a draw which was more than deserved.

That said I still shudder when george is in possesion anywhere in our own half,though he tries his heart out he is just not sharp enough for the Premiership.

Woodgate needs a spell out for a while now that Huth is back, and I think Downing can cause a bit of trouble lurking in the middle up front as he can controll the ball and has a shot in both feet.

Twice this season Sunderland have won one nil in the last kick of the game thats six points in front of us with pure luck, but as I say,I think our luck has just about changed for the better

Posted by: Phil ex Warrenby  | December 2, 2007 1:26 AM

Ian Oliver wrote...

Ironically Tuncay's goal has probably condemned us to relegation, by saving the inept management at the club at the very time changes should be made to prepare for the transfer window and mould what we have/may acquire, for Premiership survival.

Robson, McClaren (and now Southgate) have squandered the resources available. The chances to appoint staff experienced and capable of dealing with the realities of the Premiership have been missed time and time again, bringing into serious question the judgement of Gibson/Lamb. The Premiership is no place for over-hyped youth players, kindergarten managers and Nero-fiddling Chairmen.

The fans can see it. The press can see it. The commentators and pundits can see it. If Southgate doesn't resign, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE Gibson and act like a premiership Chairman.

There are some excellent Managers out there that other clubs won't dither to appoint. If you can't make the moves that are required and obvious to so many, MOVE OUT!

Posted by: Ian Oliver  | December 2, 2007 2:06 AM

Mohd Alan wrote...

AV

Any chance it stretching to six months. Every chance!!!

Just carry on with Steve Gibson's master plan (for master plan read asset stripping). I never thought he would become another Charlie Amer but here we go again.

For Southgate read Murdoch or Maddren, great players with no clue as managers and therefore convenient fall guys as the assets were stripped all around them.

"Our future is with the youngsters" We've heard it all before Maddren, Mills, Johnstone, Rippers, Pollock, Morrison etc etc. Sold off as soon as a good offer came in

"No money to spend, the club is losing money" Yeah yeah we've heard it all before. 11m for Yakubu conveniently not mentioned

Bring in over the hill, over age players way past their sell by date or unproved nobodies easily injured, Nobby Stiles, Alen Boksic, Mendieta, Mido.Huth Alliadere

"Looking after the club for the future for the people of Teesside" Watch out liquidation here we come as soon as Gibbo pulls the plug. I never thought though AV you would become an apologist for it all.

Well what to do, the Boro will rise again, they always have done, this phase will pass and once SG/Lamb have retired to their villas in the sun the supporters will pick up the pieces as they have done before.

Before I sign off, I doubt whether SG or Lamb read this blog, but Mr Gibson my proudest moment ever in supporting the Boro was when the crown sang "there's only one Stevie Gibson" as the Gate picked up the Cup.

Thank you at least for that, now carry on with your asset stripping --- Just a crazy thought, you could prove me wrong,get an experienced manager, buy some decent players, do a Portsmoutn --- but you won't will you?Too many assets to be stripped.

Posted by: Mohd Alan  | December 2, 2007 3:43 AM

eskvalleyred wrote...

A much better performance, and a more balanced team. Created enough chances to take all 3 points.

Jinky and Downing on the wings were always a threat, but also covering and a good outlet. Turnbull looked solid and had a presence, pity about the goal but not all his fault.
That's 2 route-one goals in as many matches and suggests that Woody is too slow just now; maybe he should be rested as Huth looked immense when he came on.

Great cross by Young, please do it more often, lets get some crosses in from behind the defence.

Poggi - not always top class, but always committed and pushed the defence up the field....enough for me.

Ali up front was magnificent, what a pity we have no-one to tap home all the chances he creates (oh where is a Bernie S when you need one).

But as we all know its all about Goalscorers. It should have been 3 points yesterday but as I well remember Warnock saying (in his aftrermatch interview last season at the Riverside) the only difference between the 2 sides was having the funds to service 2 quality goalscorers. (Now we don't it appears)

So a much better AWAY display (where will Gary O fit in when he gets over his virus) but ultimately it will be our HOME results which will save us.

Everyone must now rally round and give every ounce of support to the team...it's not their fault that we let all the goalscorers leave the club!!

C'mon, let's raise the roof on the Riverside for the rest of the season and hope we get the breaks.

C'mon BORO

Posted by: eskvalleyred  | December 2, 2007 4:34 AM

Neil (Baku) wrote...

Well it was an improvement I guess. We played Reading off the park for most of it, they scored against the run of play, but we should have been 2 up by then, so let's not be hard on Turnbull who I thought played very well.

It looked very much like a repeat of the West Ham game, playing all the football but not getting anything at the end.

We will never be able to score enough goals to keep us up in my opinion, so not playing Tuncay from the start left me bemused and astonished.

Was the little pre-match article in the Gazette Southgate's attempt to explain away his decision not to play him before it even happened, because he knew there would be a reaction from the fans??

Instead he plays a "striker" who has been told (allegedly) that he can find a club in January, why??

A player who sadly can't trap a bag of cement, can't tackle, can't contest ball, and then given a glaring opportunity in the 1st half to put us in front, his head disappears into his neck!!! Admittedly he had a couple of good touches, he played in Johnson who hit a post, but he has absolutely no presence on the field.

Thank god for Tuncay's first PL goal late in the 2nd half, I'm really pleased for the lad and for us, you could see what it meant to him in the emotion of his celebration.

But in the end I felt robbed, because as soon as we get back on level terms Southgate throws on Cattermole signalling "a point will do", when at the time Reading were in disarray and we looked the more likely to deservedly take the 3 points.

In fact Cattermole's first attempt in defence almost led to a goal for them when he failed to cut out a cross from Hunt, now that would have been typical Boro.

It was also good to see Huth back, he looked the part, where as Woody…mmmm, not the same player as last season, something is not right there. You could see by his body language when he was hawked off that he was not a happy bunny and completely blanked Southgate. He didn't look injured.

A point is a point many will say, but we are now adrift in the bottom 3 with the Xmas slump and Arsenal looming, and after watching them dismantle Villa in the 1st half last night, we can't expect anything from that game.

Mind you Villa pushed up on them 2nd half and almost clawed their way back. But the Gunners look awesome at the moment.

I eagerly await JP's and Ian's match reports.

Posted by: Neil (Baku)  | December 2, 2007 7:14 AM

Ken wrote...

I was only half serious when I said that Young should be made into a right midfielder, but the fact is that he has a more accurate shot and/or cross than most of the midfielders on the team. Put him on the right side of midfield, and then let the hard-working O'Neil play right back (or Boateng, or Huth or Wheater).

Tuncay and Aliadiere seem to be the only ones who are able to move around in a unpredictable fashion. The rest are simply easy to mark...

Posted by: Ken  | December 2, 2007 8:36 AM

Ian Gill wrote...

Reading were there for the taking and we missed a trick. Would have settled for a point at 2.00pm.

A question for Gate. We are told Lee does not have a future at the Boro and I cant disagree. Tuncay therefore has a future. Why start with Dong Goal Less, he was truly appalling apart from form a knock back fro Jinky's chance.

We have to play Tuncay alongside Aliadiere, from the clips of his goals he can score goals from different positions including crosses. We do know he wont score sat on his bum. Let him have a run with Aliadiere and leave Lee out.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 2, 2007 9:00 AM

Tony King wrote...

Can't believe that Lee could be picked before Tuncay.

Posted by: Tony King  | December 2, 2007 10:32 AM

Ian Gill wrote...

A quick note on Turnbull.

A couple fans behind me were saying he kept us in the game and it would have been 2-0 but for him.

He had a reasonable game and made a couple of saves, the block from Kitson was just that. Kitson should have buried the chance, a yard either side would have been 1-0. Luckily it was straight at him and if he hadnt parried it he would have been smacked in the kipper.

The other point the fans missed was that it was 1-0 because of him, if hadnt come rushing out it would have given the target for Kitson to lob. Esay to say with hindsight but he would have been better just narrowing the angle. It was what I call a Brad Jones moment. Woodie didnt help him much.

With experience he looks to have the makings of a good keeper. Wouldnt worry me to see him in goal next week.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 2, 2007 11:19 AM

Joke wrote...

I was just shell-shocked when I saw the starting line-up...

Just 10 minutes and Tuncay scored and earned us a point.

Southgate says Tuncay needs time to adapt...but how can it happen when he's on the bench....

Putting on a heartless Donkey won't save us the season...hope Southgate learned his lessons today and wish if Huth & Arca are back fully fit...and a fit Tuncay...I'll place my bets on survival

Posted by: Joke  | December 2, 2007 1:15 PM

Pedro de Espana wrote...

Did not get to see the match, once again, ( does anybody have a better web site to recommend than mine ) and had to make do with watching that other small town in Europe beat Newcastle. An excellent 2nd half.

Kept switching to the text on the BBC, and also could not believe that GS had picked Goaless, maybe a shop window ploy, if he had scored!!!!!!!!

However Aliadiere should take some ear bashing, according to the text he had about 8 shots, you should score at least one out of that many chances. Tuncay scored with alot less.

Posted by: Pedro de Espana  | December 2, 2007 3:30 PM

Redcar Red wrote...

Well I hoped for something bizarre to happen yesterday to rescue the game and Tuncay bless him pops up and scores his first goal. Lets hope his confidence is on a high now and the floodgates open.

Cannot believe that DGL made the Team Bus let alone got a start. Then to compound things we play with two wingers in Stew and Jinky but nobody up front with any height or presence to meet their crosses.

We are about as desperate as we can get and I think we need to try one of our CB's up front. Think about it logically, if you were an opposition defender who would you rather mark, DGL, Wheater, Huth or Riggot?

Bit sad really when everyone reading this puts DGL as the one they would rather mark with Huth or Wheater the one they would least like to mark.

At least Huth, Wheater and Riggot can head a ball. Huth takes a mean free kick, Wheater would head a Fridge (according to Tony MacMahon) and Riggot has actually scored for us in the past, Wheater even does acrobatic bicycle kicks and DGL well he, he, he.... well I'm sure I'll think of something eventually that doesn't involve the rear end of a pantomime horse!

At least with one of our surplus CB's up front the opposition defence will have an aerial battle on their hands not to mention a physical one.

With perm one from: Aliadiere/Tuncay/Jinky/Stewy/ Arca/O'Neil hovering around to pick up knock downs surely that means even Arsenal will be less keen to have their back four push up.

A good clearance from Turnbull would immediately put us on the offensive if we can win headers in the middle of the park and with the above mentioned midfielders/strikers running around loose then we have players with both pace and/or ability to do something threatening.

Its obvious that Mido won't be appearing until February and even if we land a striker in January (a 38 year old who hasn't scored in 3 seasons with a dodgy injury record and a bad attitude) it will be at midnight on the last day. By then we could be 6 points adrift and out of the FA Cup.

Desperate times need desperate measures and I would think Riggot, Huth, Wheater (or if Tayls is fit how about Mad Dog!!!!!) would rather play up front than not play at all.

Just imagine the message it would give to the fans at the Riverside to see a big man up front ready to fight, scrap and battle. Just imagine the transformation in Stewy when he knows the crosses he can fizz in have a chance of actually being met by an attacking Boro head.

Just imagine Boro midfield players knowing that they might collect a knock down on the edge of the box. God I'm almost dreaming !

Meanwhile Steve Gibson had apparently asked Keith Lamb to nip out with a tenner and get some Ribena for the lads. Comunication being what it is at the Riverside at the minute Keith duly went out and offered £10 million for Ronaldinho (alledgedly) ...doh!

Posted by: Redcar Red  | December 2, 2007 6:51 PM

John Powls wrote...

Early last week I took the radical step of stopping posting until MFC did something positive to change our circumstances. My final, frustrated posting summed it up thus.

“There’s no point in us endlessly repeating ourselves on here. We’re preaching to the converted but down at St. Gibbo’s they’re not listening. Their congregation are la-laa-ing along to the Chairman’s tune with their fingers in their ears.”

Driven by total incredulity at Gate’s decision making for the Reading game – which we got a draw from but could so easily have had that elusive win with things managed differently. I am wiping the flecks spittle from the screen as I type

In the next week he must be asked, directly, by a journalist AV, what it is that he sees in Simba that no-one else does? Why he picked him for the Reading game and kept others on the bench? And why, even when he was playing so poorly and clearly wanted to be off himself and we were one down, why it took him until seventy minutes to replace him?.

At that point, a goal down in a game we could and should have been winning, none of us there could understand why Gate wasn’t trying to effect the game by making subs.

By then even Simba had taken to throwing himself to the ground every two minutes, getting gingerly to his feet and rubbing his leg, so desperate was he to get off the pitch.

His first half display had proved again how poor he is. He has no touch, no pace, no tricks or skills at this level. He can’t win headers, doesn’t make a decent run and can’t pass. He offers no threat wiith headers or shots and, more often than not he loses the ball when it’s played up to him. He has no presence, physical or otherwise. As a result of all of this he has no confidence. Aside from that he’s OK!

We all knew this before the game. So why did Gate pick him for a match that might have decided his future as manager? None of us could answer with anything that made sense but I did venture that picking Simba was the sort of decision that perhaps should have cost Gate his job on the basis of that alone. It certainly must if he does it again.

We all wondered what Tuncay – and even Hutchinson – sitting on the bench must have been thinking if they can’t get a game ahead of that.

We all hoped that Simba was subbed at half time but no; we started the second half unchanged. Simba – if anything – had actually managed to get worse and started to fall about as though he was taking knocks. Then he bottled a challenge with Hahnemann when he could have got a header in with a little more courage.

Eventually, on seventy minutes Simba resorted to directly signalling to the bench to take him off after yet another ‘knock’. I wondered whether Gate would have actually made the change without that. There were a few desultory claps but mainly boos as Simba departed – it must be for the final time.

Tuncay replaced him to a great reception from the Away End.

Given the way that Gibbo has supported Gate he could be staying even if we don’t improve. Then Gibbo’s continued inaction masked as a ‘vote of confidence’ would be a vote to condemn us to The Championship.

I sometimes wonder if that’s what Gibbo and MFC actually are prepared to accept. That’s what their behaviours say to me. It seems that the vision of the promised land down at St. Gibbo’s is ‘a local team for local people’ and that comes first, rather than the ‘milk and honey’ of the Prem.

I will now resume radio silence.

Posted by: John Powls  | December 2, 2007 7:23 PM

Phil ex Warrenby wrote...

Yep Turnbull for me!Keep himin long term now,best keeper we've had all season

Posted by: Phil ex Warrenby  | December 2, 2007 8:48 PM

john sully wrote...

i hope tuncays goal isn't used to paint over cracks. we still need a 20 goal a season man. in all fairness lee isn't fit to lace tuncays boots and he still starts. explain gareth once again.

Posted by: john sully  | December 2, 2007 9:47 PM

Clive Hurren wrote...

Ringing endorsement of Gate from Mido on Sky Goals this morning. He said the lads are all playing for Gate and he has total control of the dressing-room. There's no need to replace the manager, said Mido.

Yet Woody, we hear, blanked him when called off at Reading. And I'm pretty sure Tuncay wasn't best pleased to be warming the bench with LDG preferred to him. What an absolutely crass decision that was.

I just wish I shared Mido's confidence.

Posted by: Clive Hurren  | December 2, 2007 11:11 PM

Big mets..Boro 4 ever!! wrote...

Just a quick one, for all of us who are looking forward to getting a "Top centre forward" in the Jan sales from what I have read in papers don't get 2 excited yet.

Players linked so far- Samaras, Beatie, Nugent, Barcodes Shola Ameobi and some UAE forward i don't know how 2 spell.....combined Premiership goals tally for the last 3 years?? about 15ish (and half of Beaties are Pens).

On a plus side i went 2 Reading on Saturday and i agree we played well, although i felt that Reading were 3 points waiting 2 happen....v Poor side!

Up next old favourites Arsenal, Time 2 get out the Helmet, Pads and Box as i feel a cricket score coming ha. Ok maybe a little defeatist but even a point from this match would be a magnificent achievement.

Next up Derby and West Ham these are MUST win games ..no excuses!! (think we said that about Spurs, Bolton, Villa,Reading though?)

Posted by: Big mets..Boro 4 ever!!  | December 3, 2007 8:34 AM

tonyblack wrote...

You know, I get rightly heckled in here for being negative all the time, and I do admit that I'm not the most positive of fans.

But do I really have anything to be positive about ?

A few simple questions spring to mind if we forget everything else and just concentrate on GS and Coops as football people.

1. Ian Gill. Is this man a football coach ? Has Ian bloody Gill (read on Ian mate, no offence meant !! ) ever played football professionally ?

If the answers to these questions are no, then how the hell can somebody who's not a football coach and has never played football professionally know EXACTLY what to do and bloody GS and Coops don't ?

" We are told Lee does not have a future at the Boro and I cant disagree. Tuncay therefore has a future. Why start with Dong Goal Less, he was truly appalling apart from form a knock back from Jinky's chance.

We have to play Tuncay alongside Aliadiere, from the clips of his goals he can score goals from different positions including crosses. We do know he wont score sat on his bum. Let him have a run with Aliadiere and leave Lee out. "

I really can't put this any better and am totally at a loss to understand how and why we aren't doing this.

2. Is there really any point even considering giving Ding Dong a chance to prove himself when he pulls out of a poxy header that would have probably been a goal ?

People afraid of damaging their good looks shouldn't be in football at any level, they should go play snooker or darts.

3. Neil ( Baku ). How many football coach's and ex professional footballers do we have on this board ?

Yet another one who's so spot on that it's so, so sad. I'd rather have Neil and Ian as the management team any day of the week, as at least they can spot the blindingly obvious.

" But in the end I felt robbed, because as soon as we get back on level terms Southgate throws on Cattermole signalling "a point will do", when at the time Reading were in disarray and we looked the more likely to deservedly take the 3 points. "

My God. Just how bad is going to get ?

TB

Posted by: tonyblack  | December 3, 2007 9:25 AM

Andy wrote...

'If any team needed a centre forward its this one' was the consensus from the 'corporates' sat around me on Saturday.

First thoughts were how lightweight we looked and why does Gate see DGL as a better option than Tuncay?

However, we weaved lots of pretty patterns and tried to play, at times breaking with pace and decent movement but the end result was always a bit powder puff.

Jonno (falls over too easily!), Stewy and Ali looked good, with Boat immense in midfield. Rocky worked hard, Pogi never stopped encouraging and cajoling but struggles with pace and isn't a full back.Turnbull didn't have much to do but did well.

Another poor goal though. Wheats was outjumped by a much smaller man and Woody never went with his runner (like last week!) until it was too late leaving Turnbull committed and hey presto, we're one down.

I thought we would collapse at that point but Reading sat back, we kept playing and the rest is history. In summary; Reading were poor but dogged; we played some attractive stuff; lightweight up front; Jonno and Stewy were effective; Woody went to sleep again and cost us; Huth looked good; we must persevere with Tuncay; Turnbullis capable; oh how we need a strong centre-forward.

Posted by: Andy  | December 3, 2007 9:30 AM

andy wrote...

Oh and by the way, a good decision from Gate to take off old 'Charlie big nuts'. Maybe he'll cut down on the fags and start peforming again.

Posted by: andy  | December 3, 2007 9:34 AM

Ian Gill wrote...

Phil ex Warrenby

Turnbull looked fine to me and I am happy with him in goal.

I would however make the following point. If Swarzer had needlessly charged out of goal as Turnbull did for the Reading goal, the blog would have been swamped by postings demanding anything from deportation to chemical castration.

Turnbull did well otherwise and made the saves he should have done as would Bridget and Scissorhands. The young lad will get better with experience and looks a good prospect.

I am no Swarzer apologist, he is reaching the end of his career, I wouldnt be upset if he left or stayed in the window. I do however believe in being fair and no keeper should be hounded for one mistake and make no mistake if Scissorhands had done it he would have been pilloried.

TB

What bothers me is the operation that managers and coaches have before receiving their pro licence. It appears that they have major brain surgery to nullify any areas that lead to commensense.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 3, 2007 10:01 AM

Nigel wrote...

Those blaming Turnbull for the Reading goal are missing a crucial point: it was Woodgate's mistake which put Kitson through on goal.

When the ball came through to Kitson, Woodie was ball watching and lost a yard on Kitson giving him the opportunity. That was why Southgate subsituted Woodie.

He has made two mistakes against Villa and Reading which have cost goals. He needs to sharpen up on his concentration. Southgate taking him off sent him a loud message which I'm sure he will heed. I expect to see Woodie and Huth playing against Arsenal.

I only saw the highlights on SKY but thought Turnbull had a sound game, he appears to have physical presence and confidence which is so important for a keeper, its his opportunity to seize the moment.

Overall it was a decent game for Boro but I feel we should have won, we are still suffering from an inability to score.

Like others have posted, playing DGL ahead of Tuncay defies belief. GS says Tuncay isn't an orthodox striker, but he scored an orthodox centre forwards goal, a header from a cross, can't get more orthodox than that. He needs to be in the team from the start next week.

As AV says we need a win now, Arsenal are up next we need to get stuck into them and get a win. They haven't lost in the league yet so they are 'due' a set back. Lets hope three 'unexpected' points come our way.

On another matter BBC Radio 5 are reporting this morning that Boro have bid £10m for Ronaldinho! I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

**AV writes: I'm gone for the 'laugh' option.

Posted by: Nigel  | December 3, 2007 10:20 AM

Never Happy wrote...

GS has the man management skills of Saddam Hussain.

Earlier this week we are told that DGL has no future at the club, he is then played in front of Tuncay.

What must Tuncay think?

Woodgate when playing for a contract last season was awesome, now he has that contarct he is playing like he does not give a toss.

In January try and swop him for Harper

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper wants to quit the club to raise his profile, believing it will help him force his way into the England team.

Reading were there for the taking and GS yet again showed he does not have a clue.

Championship here we come if he stays in charge, sadly this seems Mr Gibsons plan

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 3, 2007 10:41 AM

Score Draw wrote...

The newspapers are reporting that Southgate is criticising the Boro scouting network. I have never admired McClaren in any way, but isn't Southgate getting desperate in his attempt to divert attention from his own failings ?

I'd like to ask Gareth why he can't identify the weaknesses in his own team who train and play in front of him every day ?

This moan about the scouting network is pathetic.

He should be able to identify players himself it's 'easy' e.g.
Warnock - Blackburn
Valencia - Wigan
Gardner - Bolton
Gianoapolis -Bolton
Diouf - Bolton
Anelka- (well he signed for Bolton !!!!)
Hoyte - Arsenal
Bentdner - Arsenal
Hamman - Man City
Elano - Man City
Nzogbia- Newcastle
Milner - Newcastle
Given - Newcastle
Harper - Newcastle
Green - West Ham
Jasskilaainen - Bolton
Taylor - Pompey
Hutton - Rangers
MacDonald - Celtic
Anyone - Porto (good team)
Nobody- Sunderland (Jones ??)
Nobody- Derby
Nobody - Birmingham
Nobody - Reading (maybe Lita)
Just carry on examining each team in La Liga, Bundeslegue, Serie A, and so on ... ... .......

Southgate should be asking himself the following questions

1. How did he miss out on Scott Brown (Celtic) who will become a great player ?

2. Why did he spend an eternity on trying to sign Gera of WBA and Sammaras ?

3. The world is your oyster and you select LDG and Mido when other teams get McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Benjani, Dempsey , Borinin, ..... ... .. ...

4. Why persevere with Rochemback he doesnt want to be here ?(GS probably recommended him as a target)

5. Maccarone is not worth a try but LDG is ?

It's taken a lucky injury on one of our own players to force Southgates hand and change the defence. He thinks we have forgotten how poorly George Boatang is playing.

Southgates recent selection policy and man management techniques would baffle a pyschiatrist.

LDG's day's, we are told, are numbered. Tuncay apparantly needs more time to adapt. So Gareth selects LDG and leaves Tuncay on the bench !!!

The feeble attempt to try and blame McClaren is very immature and is exactly what he shouldn't be doing.
If I was Gibson I would ban him talking to the media.

Every time he opens his mouth he says the wrong thing "Schwarzer is very good at crosses .. Tuncay needs time to adapt ...... McClaren is to blame .... "
Feeble and very worrying.

Posted by: Score Draw  | December 3, 2007 10:59 AM

Never Happy wrote...

I have just read on the Boro website that GS thought that LDG did well in the first half.

If GS is serious then God help us all.

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 3, 2007 11:34 AM

Score Draw wrote...

Turnbull played well. The defence did not look nervous. No more analysis needed.

Ian Gill - You are right Schwarzer would not have "charged out" - he's too frightened of getting clattered. He prefers to move forward meekly then lay down in a submissive manner to have the ball slipped painlessly by him.

Turnbull for Boro and England !!!!!!

Posted by: Score Draw  | December 3, 2007 12:04 PM

Never Happy wrote...

AV - how much money will Boro receive from Sky at the end of the season?

If SG wants to stay in the PL and he trusts GS why doesn't he spend the money in advance?

If Boro are serious about buying players, clubs will sell them on the 1st of January if the price is right. GS saying he has to wait till the end of January to make signings is bull.

He is saying this so that when he buys someone from the bargain bucket, he can complain about having no money to spend and also say that no players were available.

Signings that could save our season (if we are not already doomed)- Harper, Bentdner, Taylor (Pompey), Lita.

However I fear that some unknown from Europe or Asia will be signed. Then he will need time to adapt.

GS does not seem to be learning from his mistakes.

Team to play Arsenal

Turnbull
Young
Huth
Wheater
Pogatetz
Downing
O'Neill
Arca
Johnson
Tuncay
Aliadiere

3 - 5 - 2

As we don't have a fit LB I think this might be the right way to go

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 3, 2007 12:26 PM

tonyblack wrote...

Score Draw...

" 5. Maccarone is not worth a try but LDG is ? "

Not wanting to open up old debates, but whoever we have, this is one thing that shows utterly bad management.
McClaren did it all the time and Southgate has picked up his mantle.

If you have a player and you want to give him a go, then you have to give him a PROPER go. Be that 6, 8, 10 games, or whatever you deem is the right amount of time that a player needs in to demonstrate his worth.

Is Lee any good ? Is he up to the job ? If you think he might be then you have to give him a real go, if not, then just leave him on the bench as a super sub and as cover, and then put your main choices up front all the damn time so that they can develop a working partnership.

In the bad old days we had Maccarone, Nemeth, Job, and all the rest being endlessly rotated, and when they were on the bench they often came on out of position.

All this does is to really peeve people off, as I suspect Tuncay is getting, so that when they do come on they are either demotivated or just trying too damn hard to impress and just end up making school boy errors.

There is no need for any of this. It undermines moral in the strikers and it shows the management dilly dallying and being totally inept at making up their minds based on what works.

Why did we buy Tuncay and Ali ?

LET'S FORGET ABOUT SYSTEMS AND JUST PLAY.

Let's play a four, four, two with these two guys up front and developing a partnership for the foreseeable future until it either works or doesn't, with Lee doing a Maccarone and chipping in with the odd goal.

It isn't hard.

England did well with the 4-4-2, then for the final game Mr Magnificent plays his old chestnut, the lone lanky 6 footer up front system, with a 5 man difensive minded midfield that doesn't support him, and then doesn't play Beckham who's main threat is delivering a wicked cross.

Bad, bad management and England deserved to go out as a result and become a laughing stock in the meantime.

This is our destiny with Southgate and Coops at the helm.

Before he blamed the fact that it was McClarens team, and now he blames it all on our lack of scouts.

Next he'll blame it on the boogie ( sorry, couldn't resist!)

If this was happening to the bar codes I'd be loving it, the fact that it's happening to us is just so depressing.

Dear Santa,

here's my xmas wish list.

SACK SOUTHGATE
SACK COOPS
SACK THE BACKROOM TEAM
SACK THE COUNT
SACK GOD

All ASAP - Thanks a lot.

TB

Posted by: tonyblack  | December 3, 2007 12:45 PM

Richard G wrote...

Who is this idiot accusing Steve Gibson of asset stripping? Does he have any idea of what rubbish he is talking. Steve Gibson has only even given to MFC and the town - he the antipathy of an asset stripper.

Posted by: Richard G  | December 3, 2007 12:47 PM

Neil wrote...

TB,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I wouldn't want a PL coaches job for love nor money. Besides if Ian's right, they'd drag us both in for the customary lobotomy.

Seriously though, there is lot of good points brought about on this blog from a lot of people, yes we all rant and rave sometimes, but more from frustration than anything else.

Southgate is his own man I'm sure he would say, but like his predecessor he makes some tactical changes and team selections that completely bamboozle me.

The only positive things he did on Saturday during the game was hawk Woody off, who to me just doesn't seem bothered, and eventually bringing Tuncay on for the hapless Gook Lee.

I personally wouldn't have played either of them based on their performances this season.

Posted by: Neil  | December 3, 2007 12:58 PM

Phil ex Warrenby wrote...

Ian Gill: yeah, Schwarzer would have been castigated if he had been lobbed but he's been there for ten years and still can't command the box.

He has been good for the club but as we all can see his best days are behind him.How Gate can say he is good on croses is beyond me.

Young Turnbull gave me the impression that he was in charge of the penalty area and he handled crosses well,even when he punched the ball it was with AUTHORITY not flapping at it.I just hope they keep him in and not drop him when the other two are fit

Posted by: Phil ex Warrenby  | December 3, 2007 1:34 PM

Ian Gill wrote...

Dont know how long John can resist posting once he has read Gate's latest comments on the Gazette. I was thinking of starting a sweep for the bloggers at £1 a go, answer to the nearest hour, proceeds to the charity of AV's choice.

I have posted often enough that we wont get anyone for a couple of months so that isnt a surprise in his article but the part about Dong Goal Less beggars belief. Who writes this stuff? Even Uncle Eric wouldnt make such comments.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 3, 2007 1:39 PM

deka wrote...

So we wont be bringing anyone in till the end of january according to gareth. Well my son, that may just be a little too late to save our already pathetic season.

If we have to go with what weve got, I think we need someone in charge who has a modicum of football knowhow. It seems to me that since southgates been working towards his UEFA BADGES his managerial ability has taken a rapid downturn.

What do they teach on these courses? Saturday's team selection summed it all up dong gook is not a footballer but Tuncay is...i know lets play dong gook says gareth.

Fve games before the half way point in the season,if we want to give ourselves a chance of survival we need to have at least 18-20 points by then, thats from 2 home and 3 away games,so we must win at least 3

Draws are no good,we could go unbeaten till the end of the year with 5 draws but that would be of no use,we need to get a win from somewhere quick. I think our priority is a new manager

Posted by: deka  | December 3, 2007 1:39 PM

Si wrote...

First of all:

Score draw, I don't believe you're right about Rocky at all. When his girlfriend moved over, and he started playing with Arca in the centre, he suddenly began to play far better. Julio's return on Saturday could do wonders, even against the unstoppable Arsenal.

Family does have a lot to do with it, actually. DGL's family is still overseas, so that's not doing the lad's confidence any good, is it? (To this day, what I saw him do on Youtube boggles me.) Nevertheless, he's been given enough chances. This should be the end of the line for him.

Secondly - I don't think we've realised the true significance of Tuncay's goal yet. Remember how long Tevez took to settle at West Ham? Well, you know what happened next, and to me those two are pretty similar players...

Posted by: Si  | December 3, 2007 1:51 PM

Orange Dave wrote...

Theres been that "something's wrong in the background" feeling with us for most of the season, which is all the more disappointing after quite a promising start.

Coaching changes seem to have rubbed players up the wrong way as soon as they saw it was not working on the pitch, and without faith that we have people up front to put the ball in the net, the team plays with confidence only until we go a goal down, then heads drop as both players and fans don't see a way back.

This could be seen before the Yak left. Everyone could see he didn't want to play for us and as soon a Mido was in we perked right up, now confidence has gone now he's injured.

Tensions seem to high within the squad. You could easily believe that Downing wants to leave, Woody is not playing for his manager, Tuncay and Sothgate have had a falling out if Downing and then DGL picked before him... Downing may have been played as striker as Southgate didnt want to drop him but Tuncay must have been livid!

Experienced coaches leaving as they didn't agree with Southgates philosophy can't have helped player s confidence either.

Solutions? well that's anyones guess, but as with everyone else, I think we've got a decent midfield when fit, our defence would be good if Woody would get his head straight, Wheater is brave but inexperienced, and is still making mistakes that cost us a goal every match or two, but we now have quality fit cover for both.

Just get us a good striker in the transfer window, sign him now and get him playing New Years Day! although Southgates comments today suggest this won't happen.

And Gareth, we realise you're 'managing expectations' by coming out with these negative daily comments, but they do nothing to boost the belief in the club going somewhere, and are the main culprit for this insane view starting to be heard that Boro may be "better off in the championship."

The only way is down with this attitude, and it only exists because the fans would rather see us winning games and have something to cheer about.

It's almost like Gareths having an argument with us that we didn't start.

Lets build some positive momentum, get a great striker, some experienced backroom staff, play our best players in their best positions, not pick the team because of squabbles / favourites / scared of upsetting people, cut out the negative "cut our cloth" comments - our club should always be aiming for europe, even if we don't get there that often. Stop telling us how poor / second rate we are! if you cant say anything good, don't say anything at all.

And coming out after the match with "DGL played well" is as poor as Mclarens "Marvelous" comments, and makes people question your decision making ability as manager.

Win a few games with our new striker banging some in, build confidence in the team, win back the fans, which will up attendances, cut out the dead wood, and move forward together.

Posted by: Orange Dave  | December 3, 2007 2:09 PM

craggylad wrote...

Why the panic! Apparently we are bidding for ronaldinho (probably just like we were after aaron lennon!). Has anyone ever heard such a ridiculous attempt to try and show fans the club is looking for 'world class' players! Wot a PR masterstroke, pure genius!

Since we are having trouble with the midfield how about the glaringly obvious. Lets bid for Messi aswell and use DGL as the deal clincher. Oh well, im off to throw some seed out for the flying pigs we obviously have on teesside!

Posted by: craggylad  | December 3, 2007 3:09 PM

Ian Gill wrote...

Orange Dave

Read my previous post, it has been a theme for weeks that we were unlikely to get anyone before the end of Jan and settled in before mid Feb.

The only true striker was Mido and we were going to lose him due to going off to Ghana, now he is lost until Feb anyway. That means 26 matches played.

We have what we have and if they don't get us out of the brown stuff then we will have a dozen games left.

It may happen that we can beg or borrow someone useful but it seems unlikely, oh to be proven wrong and that would make me extremely happy.

Sadly Gate is right but he is stating the bleeding obvious which is more than can be said for his comments about Dong Goal Less.

Sorry to sound like a stuck recording.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 3, 2007 3:16 PM

Never Happy wrote...

Turnbull wants to be careful, admitting that he could have done better when Kitson scored. Never make it in the professional game if he is honest about his performances.

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 3, 2007 4:24 PM

andy wrote...

I personally take Gareths comments with a pinch of salt. His decision to play DGL was baffling (maybe his contribution to Children in Need instead of the customary 'head shave' or 'back wax'?) but is he really going to say "he was crap and frankly couldn't kick a fat bum based on what we saw today".

With regard to the transfer window I'm hoping for a bit of reverse psychology or 'back covering' in case he is unable to do the early business that, lets face it, he above all others knows is needed.

Posted by: andy  | December 3, 2007 4:40 PM

Pete wrote...

Personally I'm just glad their PR masterstroke was to put out word they were in for Ronaldinho. I would have thought given our desire to sign knackered strikers who score we'd have been putting bids in for Ronaldo and his belly!

As for Schwarzer commanding his box, he isn't even aware of his box. The only box he's interested in is the one that appears through a photographers lens.

Posted by: Pete  | December 3, 2007 6:20 PM

bradinho wrote...

Just watched LDG's highlights on youtube and can see what qualities he may have but he needs to prove this and show that he can do it at this higher level.

Guus Hiddink Alledgedely attributed as saying this about Lee Dong Gook "He is lazy genius" when left out of 98 World Cup Squad. I hope this is not the case here

Posted by: bradinho  | December 3, 2007 7:47 PM

bradinho wrote...

Sorry that should read 02 World Cup

Posted by: bradinho  | December 3, 2007 7:54 PM

Score Draw wrote...

Si
So poor little DGL and Rochemback haven't got their families with them. Did they think we were going to play our games in Korea and Brazil? Rochemback's girlfriend is not here - oh dear I bet that's causing him no end of problems.

Do you really think that is an acceptable argument / excuse on Teesside where many people have to work away from home.

I can't honestly say whether DGL is any good because the management daren't play him. Rochemback can play football and I've seen him have some good games but he'd sooner be in Spain or Portugal. The problem is that no other team will pay them the wages they are on at the Boro.

That being the case the old 'homesick gag' makes me laugh. What obstacles are preventing them from bringing their families/girlfriend over to the worlds finest town ?

I suspect neither DGL or Rochemback would dare offer the old 'missing my girlfriend/wife' excuse. Didn't they miss them at their last club. Someone's taking the Pissaro here !

Posted by: Score Draw  | December 3, 2007 8:22 PM

mark j wrote...

I loved Tuncay's celebration against Reading ! He seemed so annoyed , maybe because he was played after Dong Gook or meybe he is being treated like Maccarone ?

I think Maccarone and Tuncay up front would have worked , but I only have a simple view unequal to Southgate's thinking.
Nevermind , bring on the gooners!

Posted by: mark j  | December 4, 2007 1:01 AM

Pat Mc, Dubai wrote...

I was lucky enough to watch the Boro game on Saturday. I thought we played quite well, and like the Bolton game, the points were there for the taking, if only we had a striker.

Their centre back Sonko had a poor game and yet we couldn't capitalise.

What in this world possessed Gareth to select Dong Gook ahead of Tuncay? He was simply out of his depth, and looked like he was hating every minute of the ‘ordeal’.

And when he pulled out of that header, after admiring the Yank keeper, instead of looking at the ball, it was quite clear that he is scared of the physical side of the Premiership game. Each time the ball comes to him, he is looking like he dreads getting clattered, and he does so more often than not because he is far too tense.

Tuncay looked a far bigger threat. There must be something going on between him and the manager. I bet EVERY single Boro fan, after seeing the line up thought "Dong Gook playing,? Tuncay on the bench? You're kidding aren't yer.."

Aliadiere showed some glimpses of what he may be capable of, with two or three Henry like runs into the box. He was a bit selfish on a couple of occasions when he could have put people in, but you can't complain if a striker wants to go it alone sometimes.

So, what to do for a striker, given that Mido is out for so long? Why not take a gamble and play Huth up front, until we can recruit a true striker in January?

Despite an encouraging effort from Tuncay on Saturday, every team needs a physical presence in the box, and Huth certainly is one. Play Aliadiere ‘off’ Huth, it can’t be worse than the options we have at the moment. Also it may raise Downing’s game if he has someone to aim for.

Chelsea used to stick Huth up front when they were chasing the game so it's not totally alien to him. And, let’s face it, we are chasing the game from the very first whistle. Desperate measure maybe, but these are desperate times.

Posted by: Pat Mc, Dubai  | December 4, 2007 4:13 AM

Bob Goodwill wrote...

Hot off the press this morning....Barca confirm ours is the only firm offer they have received for Ronaldhino. Even if it happened it might be great for a few games (White feather being a prime example)and then the old saying would be seen to be true "It's hard to soar like an Eagle when you hang out with Turkeys".

Realistically, let's hope we get somebody capable of sticking them in the Onion bag in January not a play maker. It's no use being good in two thirds of the field if we don't have somebody to put them away. Great to see Tuncay against Reading; surely staking his right to a start for an extended period.
Boro in Abu Dhabi.

**AV writes: My understanding is that they said the only 'inquiry' had come from 'a representative of Boro' which could be anything from Keith Lamb to a chancer claiming to be an agent... quite a wide spectrum of possibilities. It was probably Rob Mitton.

Posted by: Bob Goodwill  | December 4, 2007 4:14 AM

robin mitton wrote...

Dear 'Ignorant' of BOROLAND,

You have chosen the right moniker...maybe prunes are your favourite pudding?

The job of marketing is to help create/boost further sales...ooerr don't know what's happened there? Maybe you can educate us with respects to THAT issue should you deign to ingratiate us with your luminary and no doubt piercing intellectual presence.

At the centre of BORO right now is an annhilating centre of self-interest imbued with a bastion like disregard for the real talent that could have come to the club...it is an all enveloping darkness.

The castle that Gibson built is crumbling and off stage can be heard a cachophany of cowardly slithering leeches who dare not tell the Emperor that not only are his trousers hanging raggedly round his ankles, but also that the tool that he needs to valiantly stave off relegation and maximum depression (his 'sword' of truth I suppose) is so puny as to be worth...well let's just say very little.

Ignorant you are and ignorant you will remain as you travel the lonely road of disposession.

As the failure of your seemingly loss of integrity of intelligence begins to lap around you like a non swimming off duty lifeguard may pause to consider he should have taken lessons, perhaps a lonely thought may pervade your lonely soul = "Hang on there's something not right about this club"...then the eureka moment will hit you and I am confident you will radicalize yourself enough to mount a demonstration outside the Riverside...it's what I would do if I still lived 'up there'. But do you care enough Ignorant?

A holocaust against talent has been mounted at this club.
This is the main reason why we have degenerated as a club and the gene pool needs expanding now. The closed cabal which is the club maybe deserves to die in this most unforgiving of leagues, but I should not really say so as I am a genuine and loyal fan of the town and the club.

I was at the Reading match and if ever there was a game we needed to win and should have then that was it. Maybe you Ignorant can shed some light onto GS's tactical nous then please let me have it for it is all a terrible riddle to me...can you make out patterns in shifting sand?

If the adventure goes terribly wrong I suppose we could always install David Shayler as Chief Exec...at least we'd have God on our side and we could gently 'place' Keith in some splendid Yorkshire meadow where he could live out his days with other benign bovines.

Must go now Ignorant as I'm invading France looking for some business, culture and socialist solidarity!

Robin Mitton

Posted by: robin mitton  | December 4, 2007 5:39 AM

Nigel wrote...

GS has implied recently that he doesn't see Tuncay as a centre forward. Hence presumably the reason he picked DGL. Well does he see Stewie as a centre forward?

So far this season we have seen DGL, Stewie and Hutchinson play ahead of Tuncay.

GS also states Tuncay is taking time to adjust to the prem. How does he know? He never plays him.

My team for Sunday:
Schwarzer,Young,Huth,Woodgate,Pogi/Taylor, O'Neill,Rocky, Arca,Downing,Aliadiere,Tuncay.

Robin Mitton - when it comes to self interest you have the monopoly, in fact I assume you have a phd in it from one of your four universities.

Posted by: Nigel  | December 4, 2007 10:35 AM

Ian Gill wrote...

Andy

Understand the point about taking Gates comments with a grain of salt but we have to be careful.

In any statement you look for evidence to back up some of the comments to give veracity to the rest. That is the problem, what we actually saw.

Gates actions in playing Dong Goal Less ahead of Tuncay support his stated intention. The fact is he wasnt brought off when he was truly appalling. He was played to give physical support for Aliadiere - that certainly didnt happen.

He took a battering? Most of the time he just ran into people and fell over. The only time he didnt was when he saw the keeper coming off the line and chickened out. He was begging to come off for a good part of the second half.

The worrying part is that on evidence we can see, part of Gates statement is correct as he saw it. That could be said to lend credence to the rest of the statement.

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 4, 2007 10:58 AM

Never Happy wrote...

Just about every time Southgate opens his gob he sounds more and more out of his depth. He does not know his best team and has no idea about tactics.

Why he perserveres with DGL is a mystery know only to him. Possibly he picks him in the hope he actually plays football and Boro might be able to offload him in January.

If this is the case it has backfired.

His message yesterday of not signing any players until the end of January (with the little money available) hardly inspires me, especially when you read that the other clubs at the bottom all plan to spend in January.

AV or Gazzette journo - please ask GS what he see's in the goaless one and SG what his plans are for the club?

Hopefully asking these questions will not get you banned from the Riverside.

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 4, 2007 11:48 AM

andy wrote...

Ian, in an ideal world I agree with you, but in an age of 'spin', and seeing the world through the eyes of the football manager (Wenger=temporary blindness, Fergie=fouls that didn't happen)his comments don't surprise.

Disappoint; perhaps, and like many I would like to hear straight from his mouth the logic for the DGL selection.

By his standards, it was a battering. He did get involved in a few 50/50's (thats what he's paid for) and took a few knocks. To ask to come off was nothing short of shameful and surely there can be no more chances.

Enough is enough and the option of Hutchinson/Huth/ Wheater needs using before DGL. We can read into the comments whatever we want to; none of actually know he truth but we all have an opinion based on evidence 'as we see it' or 'axes to grind'.

Gates will 'big his players up'; thats his job. I personally can tolerate that but I suspect like the majority, cannot forgive repeated failures in his actions like I can excuse his spin.

Posted by: andy  | December 4, 2007 11:58 AM

Billy wrote...

Mr Mitton, I quote from your last post; "...then the eureka moment will hit you and I am confident you will radicalize yourself enough to mount a demonstration outside the Riverside...it's what I would do if I still lived 'up there'. But do you care enough Ignorant?"

When I worked in europe I used to fly home every other weekend for home games and nowadays I travel up from Berks for the same reason.

If you 'care so much' then why don't you fly back and stage your one-man protest on any given home-game weekend? It would be something that I and many others would certainly enjoy watching.

You don't need to live 'up there' (your words, not mine) to carry out your demonstration. Do we need to wait for your 'eureka moment'?

Posted by: Billy  | December 4, 2007 12:56 PM

Ian Gill wrote...

Andy

If you look at AV's next thread you will see him explaining Gates viewpoint about new players.

I agree totally about your commens regarding spin, my worry is Gate actually believes and means it!

Posted by: Ian Gill  | December 4, 2007 1:10 PM

Never Happy wrote...

Ian - how do you know what the next thread will be? Is there some dodgy handshakes going on between you and AV?

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 4, 2007 3:44 PM

Never Happy wrote...

Nice to see GS putting a positive spin on 3 draws from the last four games.

So thats 3 points from a possible 12, playing against poor / average sides. 4 points from a possible 30 from our last 10 games.

Yes Gareth better times might be on the way, after all there can hardly get any worse (unless you continue to play LDG)

Posted by: Never Happy  | December 4, 2007 4:23 PM

andy wrote...

Ian, "AV's next thread"? Have to agree with Never Happy there! As for your 'worry' we'll never know mate, but I am attempting to keep my glass half full!

Posted by: andy  | December 4, 2007 5:29 PM

dave wrote...

I just don't get why DGL is ahead of tuncay when Southgate said recently the club will be looking to sell DGL.

At least Tuncay has some history of scoring at the top level.He is probably the only player we have left who has scored a hat trick in his career. That was against manutd too. He has a history of scoring goals more than anyone else at the club so why stick him on the bench when we are strugglign for goals?

Apparently his best position is on the left but southgate won't want him standing on Downings toes.

**AV writes: Yet against Villa Downing was moved up front?

Posted by: dave  | December 5, 2007 12:45 AM

Pat Mc, Dubai wrote...

AV,

Your last blog “New Model…credit crunch” has a bearing on this current blog. In that blog you went on about the big four. Why? After quoting their turnover figures you say “The harsh reality is that Boro can not compete”

Let’s get something straight - We are not trying to compete against the big four. We are competing against the likes of Blackburn and Portsmouth. These are not big clubs, have smaller attendances than Boro, and because they are well managed, they are in the upper regions of the Premiership.

All we want is for Boro to compete with those teams OUTSIDE of the top four. Compete with heart, with pride and with respect for the fans.

It is indeed, Time to Deliver.

Posted by: Pat Mc, Dubai  | December 5, 2007 7:50 AM

Very Happy wrote...

Hi AV

Every team in the Premiership is there for the taking and the Boro would have no doubt taken a few scalps with Mido!

However, we have still made many a tap in and I don’t mean inside the six yard box!

I mean placing the ball precisely inside the box, instead of looking towards Linthorpe Road.

Keep it simple is the game and look for the gaps, because they are everywhere in every team as we find out each week

Newcastle had Arsenal on the ropes in the end, because they simply battered their tactics down and in the end, the Gunners lost their flow.

O’Neil could score many a goal, because he gets in the right positions through his driving mentality, then blasts the ball into KINGDOM COME.

However, we also need to learn to shoot from distance more consistently and precise.

If Downing played down the right flank, it would offer more scoring chances because he could then keep on cutting inside and train his left foot to be precise, because it is been wasted.

All in all, I have never seen such poorness at the basement of the Premiership, which is why the season is still so wide open for a team with a calibre of names.

They owe Gareth a lot and it is about time they dug deeper instead of looking so grim when they concede a goal.

Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Very Happy  | December 6, 2007 3:14 PM

Very Happy wrote...

I think it would be better off making Mark Schwarzer wear either a set of boxing gloves or a pair of those massive novelty ones we often see in comedies. The latter would be the better choice, because they are three feet in length.

He is going back over rapidly as his reflexes have proven many times. If a goal keeper is prepared to concede without screaming out loud then defenders will always share the same enthusiasm.

However, we will get through this period and HUTH could be a huge ploy up front. He will certainly give then gunners some bother at the back if he plays.

Do you think he may well use him as such AV?

**AV writes: For the last 10 minutes chasing the game meybe. He won't start with him when he has quality specialist strikers like the Lion King.

Posted by: Very Happy  | December 7, 2007 12:03 PM

Very Happy wrote...

AV

Those who believe can defeat anything in life, even when all your wickets look doomed.

You take that from someone who knows and stick with positive Gareth.

Of course Derby will be another massive battle, which is great news. I wonder if we can sell them Kid Curry for a Tenner and risk getting robbed?

I'm away again now for a while, because my sailing ship must find AGENTS ISLAND.

Posted by: Very Happy  | December 10, 2007 3:06 PM