Angst and Elation On The Menu... Again
FULL STEAM ahead for another blistering nine month blur of net-busting action at either end, nail-biting angst and recriminations punctuated with sporadic bursts of elation and frustrating glimpses of glory. There will be moments of defiant pride in our Infant Hercules when it all clicks and we look to be poised to finally claim our place in the spotlight - and moments when the icy hand of fear grips our hearts. I can't wait.
I am duty bound at this point to make some kind of prediction and I am not usually reticent in making myself hostage to fortune. It's an occupational hazard. But swear down, I really can't call this season.
It could be the dawning of a new era as Gareth's Grand Design of cavalier football is finally realised. Or it could fizzle out leaving us wallowing water waist deep in mediocrity. It could be a defining year, a watershed not just for the boss but for the entire current strategy of the club and for many in the crowd.
Many of the ingredients are there for a Great Leap Forward. Boro look potentially very sharp going forward and that excites me. There is pace and fluid movement right across the front line, a tendency to get the ball down and pass it, an enterprising mentality and in Alves we have the natural striker we have been crying out for for years. We saw flashes of a style that could reap the rewards at the tail end of last term when the rapid breaks from midfield and the confident inter-passing was a delight to watch and cause for optimism.
But the team also look potentially fragile at the back.There is a worrying lack of experience (only Pogatetz of the likely starting four has played more than 50 Premiership games) and there has been so much chopping and changing that it is hard to come up with a quartet combination that has played even in double figures together. We don't know who is the first choice keeper (the biggest potential pitfall position of them all and the ticking time bomb that could yet blow the season apart) , we don't really know who is the first choice central pairing, at the time of writing we have no established right back and the left-back slot may be determined as much by the need to politically accommodate the skipper as by ability, aptitude and form.
We must hope that Hoyte comes in and makes an immediate impact, that he makes the position his own and that his Arsenal class shows through so brightly that the hasty exit of Luke Young is neutralised as an issue. We should also hope that he is so good that next year his value has doubled too - but that this time we keep him as part of a long term project to see this fledgling team blossom.
There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic: it is an 11th successive season in the top flight, a run adding undeniable substance to claims that, for all the problems, we are still in the midst of a Golden Age. There are home grown heroes at the heart of a team of hungry young players, plus, the likes of Alves, Tuncay and Aliadiere having bedded in and should show exactly what they are made of this time out and in Downing a powerful creative force that is just getting better.
There are signs too of a refreshing new attitude both on the pitch with a public commitment to entertaining football, the beginnings of a sustainable new model for the club that can help isolate them from the the credit crunch and help them compete in the future. There are encouraging signs too that the club are ready to listen to what the fans want and act on the little things: the return of the traditional design and colours is a symbolic but significant step and the slashing of prices for the kids could be a cultural transfusion that galvanises a flagging crowd and halts the slow drift towards crusty Meldrewisation.
The influx of fresh blood in the crowd is to be welcomed too with a new generation of junior reds taking advantage of cut-price tickets and stemming the slow bleeding away of old school season ticket holders. They are several thousand not-yet-too-cynical blank canvasses to be either energised in the way that the Juninho generation were, bring a new zest and new songs, albeit pitched several octaves higher .... or turned into moaning broken shells before their time and driven away forever.
But against the reasons to be cheerful there is the weight of history, the tendency to take out the pearl handed revolver and take aim at our own size nines and the rigid financial straitjacket that has Boro and similar sized hopefuls firmly trussed up in the lower half of the table. That will take some escaping. Ultimately is ANY significant progress even possible beyond an audacious peek into the top ten? We will see.
As I said in the 'Gazette's Talking Boro' pundits panel this week, I see Boro as competing for top spot in the Premiership's division three, the teams ranked between 11th and 16th - us, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham, Blackburn and Wigan. My personal perspective has been swinging like a metronome with every snippet of injury and transfer news this week and I suspect it will a season of similar syncopation. Get Hoyte, an experienced keeper and a good midfielder in then I think at a push and with a good wind behind us we CAN finish tenth with a buoyant crowd behind the team but without the strengthening in those key positions then a wobble, a butter-fingered self-inflicted wound or an injury crisis could see us slip back to the bottom of that pile - or worse - and push the crowd to another round of internecine bitching and blood-letting.
Oh, go on then .... I'll have a burst of (relative) optimism and say we will finish 12th, but with plenty to be optimistic for the future about rather than just a meagre one place improvement... or (groan) finish 14th and with the growing fear of being locked into a permanent Groundhog Day season of transition. Whatever, there won't be much in it and it is rush to be an exhilarating ride. Bring it on. Come On Boro!
**Apologies for anyone who has had problems reading or posting this week (I know I have). There have been some teething problems with the new group wide blogging software but that is almost resolved. Thanks for sticking with me through a frustrating few weeks.
There are some exciting developments on gazettelive planned for new season including a clutch of new Boro Banter fan bloggers lined up to add lively imput and interactivity. Some regulars on here are among the first but there will be room for more too when we are up and running. Watch this space.
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Anthony Vickers
As a kid growing up I can remember dreaming of Boro maybe one day getting through to the latter stages of a Cup to play a really big team from the then 1st division (it happened as well v. Man City) and then to be able to read about the Boro in the national papers and just occasionally, just maybe the telly!
11 succesive years in the Premiership, European nights (even a Final), FA cup finals, League cup and actually winning it! (oh and stuffing one of those "big" teams 8-1 with whom we are now on a level footing) Now all we do is moan about finishing in the lower half of probably the best league in the world. I guess having tasted the real thing we are very reluctant (and frightened) of losing it.
We have a team with talent, skill and a bright future. A club which is perhaps on the threshold of its greatest ever moment. I feel that we could be witnessing the dawning of a great new era, one where energy, zest and youthful exhuberance will make up for any lack of experience.
My only gripe is that one key position. If ever belief was instilled and entrusted to someone more than Gareth has put his hopes, dreams, reputation and ambitions in the hands of two individuals I cannot recall it. Lets hope his wisdom in formulating the rest of the team is equally competent in Goal. If it is there will be huge portions of humble pie served liberally around Teesside (and don't we all hope for a "Wheateresque" fairy tale between the sticks). Just hope I can have my portion with custard!
For me Bullard would be the perfect final compliment to the squad now that Hoyte is almost on board but at the risk of repeating myself ad nauseum, Tuncay I'm convinced is that dynamic bundle of energy, drive, passion, tackling, creativity and goals we need from the middle of the park. Just pair Ali or Mido up front with Alves and top 6 never mind top 8 could beckon.
I'm nailing my colours to the mast - like the views expressed by RedcarRed I grew up in the mediocre 60's, the old 2nd and 3rd Divisions - Teleprinter at 5pm, Dr Who at 5.25. As got older and could stay up late enough to watch MOTD I dreamed of ever seeing Boro up there. But I had to make do with 'A quality goal from a quality player' [Tony Currie, Sheffield United] and dream.
Now - 11 years in 'the best league in the world' - yes I am very happy with that. Actually. I am. Get real, we aren't Man U, Arsenal, we don't even have the financial clout of Newcastle - but........we're only a small town in Europe, but we are Boro!
I enter this season with my eyes open, but with a very optimistic outlook. Its not perfect, but its not bad either. No defensive bore-draws for us this season, no grinding out results from dead games.
Gareth seems sound to me, things are on the right footing - lets give it a whirl - Come On Boro!!!
AV, you say we look sharp going forward, and will get the ball down and be dangerous on the break. I feel the same way. Whereas at the start of last season we would create chances galore but fail to finish, I think (or hope) that we've sorted that problem out now that Alves and Tuncay are bedded in. I also suspect we will score more from midfield with the two new signings.
However, how we do will ultimately rest on another issue. It's the same issue that haunted us last season, as anyone who watched the Cardiff game will be well aware. It is that mental collapse that sees us taking too long to make a pass, eventually passing the ball sideways and backwards, until it ends up at the feet of the keeper or Pogi at left back, and gets hoofed straight to the opposition.
It happens when we are denied the ability to play our natural counter-attacking football; when the opposition is well organised, closes quickly, doesn't leave a large space behind the defense. And we find it very difficult to break down those teams, and we succumb to the dark side of ugly, lumpen football.
The key to avoiding that will be, to my mind, down to the attitude and ability of the central midfield and the full backs. The new players, and the uncertainty over which 'old' players will fill the other spots, leaves me thinking the same as you - hopeful, excited, but pretty much clueless in predicting what will happen.
I know what you mean AV. After the City game I was buzzing. We got a few good young uns in early and then in pre-season we have been banging in the goals and a fortnight ago I was convinced we were going to shock a few people and sneak into Europe with Afonso scoring 25 goals.
But since then I think about it, losing Young so soon to the start and not having someone straight in, the money the rest have thrown around, a few injuries leaving us looking very thin in midfield and the keeper situation (which is a risk I can't believe Gibbo is letting GS take TBH) and I have persuaded myself I must have been daft to ever be so optimstic.
I think a lot will depend on the first few matches and how 'Brad Smith' does in goal. A couple of cleam sheets and we can all relax a bit and get on with scoring goals but a few dropped blobs and we will all be panicking.
On balance I think we will do better than last year. We have to much up front to be in any danger but we need Huth and Co to stay fit and the keeper to "do a Wheater" if we want to be up there.
I'll say 10th.
Those who've read my season preview (on our site) will know that I'm remaining optimistic whatever happens. Yes, there are tons of questions to ask before the season begins, but aren't there always? And look at this way - it'll take just one of the two domestic cups to change our fortunes drastically if 2004 is anything to go by.
That, and I think we can expect one or two more signings before the end of August. Like, say, Hoyte?
Come On Boro.
To be fair Anth it is the same every year. In fact it is the same every week. No one evr has a clue how Boro will do from game to game, half to half. Same old, same old.
Grief, what a way to start a season.
I can cope with rookie goalkeepers, concerns at right back, injuries, inexperience but to have Lawro tipping us to win against one of the luvvies favourites is a step too far.
But how will we really do? I think we will see goals at both ends but hope we see more from our strikers.
What may have the biggest positive impact? The advent of seven substitutes may help remove the 'how will we avoid the traffic syndrome' of the squad. Is it better to leave at half time or should we turn up late? By having lots of pace on the bench as well as the pitch we will have the option to take off Alliadiere and Tuncay when the have run their socks off. It will help us to maintain a high tempo and good passing rather than go to the Pogo hoof.
Sadly being Boro there is also the dark side of the force. That is where the defence comes in. If we had Petr Cech, Gary Neville, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Evra our coaching set up would prevent set piece defending. With rookie goalies and defence we may get found out. I repeat my mantra that how can you get 11 players in the six yard box and still leave someone in yards of space?
On balance I think the current alphabetical table will be about right as far as we are concerned, just below mid table. May just push into the top half.
And to quote Wenger when the press were calling for Fergies head, we are neither as good or bad as the press say we are.
Roll on Spurs.
Ahh... disaster has struck... Lawro has predicted us to win 1-0 at the weekend. I guess this can only mean one thing...
There are indeed many very real and welcome reasons why we should be excited. The club is indeed in its own Golden Age, and the home grown element is an absolutely fantastic boost not only to the club but to the entire area too.
As you say too AV, the club has been making some good noises and has indeed taken many positive steps which should be welcomed and embraced as a club that knows it got things wrong in the past but really does want to put things right and re engage itself with the fans to which it owes a very great deal.
On the downside to all of this is that we seem to be not looking at the longer term footballing strategy with the players that we have let go and the keeper situation ( unless we've signed someone whilst I've been away! ) is a constant worry.
However, I have always said from day one that Southgate and Coops are not for me and I have no intention of changing my opinion now. Two rookies learning as they go wasn't the way I personally would have done things and I have yet to see anything that leads me to believe that these guys have learned a great deal on this journey.
For me these two people are the weak links in the chain and are the flaw in the plan.
Obviously, I could well be wrong and Gareth may well rightly have the last and biggest laugh of all if he delivers on his promise that this was the year that he was building towards.
I sincerely wish him and his team well because I have absolutely no problem in admitting when I'm wrong and should this be the case then what the hell, the Boro will be doing well which is after all what it's all about and I can quite easily take all the flak on my chin that will rightly come my way in here.
BUT...,
What happens if I'm right ? What does that say of the judgement of the people that put him in the hot seat in the first place? Will they be as quick to admit that they got it wrong?
I think not.
My prediction is yet another year perched on the edge of the toilet seat as we try to avoid the drop.
TB
AV
I agree with pretty well all you've said.
For me, the defining elements of where in that band between say eighth (foam hand) and sixteenth (chicken run) we'll finish are if and when we'll have:-
A settled defence with a new right back and a new Prem quality goalkeeper in place.
And
A complete set of midfielders with back up in place - and for me that includes a right sided creative midfielder who can play centre midfield but also wider right if needed.
We're clearly not going to be there for the start of the season. We may not be there for the end of August. We would pretty well have to be there for the end of January to stand any chance of aspiring to the top end of the 8 - 16 band and should have been there by now to be absolutely at the top.
So, I'm going to agree with you and say tenth.
I think we have reason to hope for the quality of footy and entertainment along the way and for continued improvements in the engagement between MFC and Boro supporters - maybe to the point where the distinction between Boro and MFC in minds and hearts starts to fade away.
Now, just can't wait to get started.
The only 'iceberg' on the horizon - as I said in a previous post - is the fact that Lawro is writing our season up. The cold fingers of dread caught at me again this morning when he tipped us to win tomorrow!
C'mon Boro!
My 2 posts last week on the previous thread both vanished into thin air but here goes try try again....
More than ever this season for Boro is impossible to predict. This time last year we all felt that losing Viduka and pinning everything on Yakubu was going to lead to tears. We were right. This time around we all fear the keeper situation and Young's departure and wonder how many we will have to score just to get a point.
By the end of that first day against Blackburn Boro's season ahead was plain for all to see. That day we bombarded and overran Blackburn for a good hour but could only manage a single goal. They then took advantage of an injury break to disrupt Boro's concentration - have two efforts on goal in the game and end up strolling to a comfortable victory. That was two efforts on target and two goals in the game against Schwarzer so however else we may feel about our two rookie keepers they actually aren't following in the footsteps of anyone special.
What worries me more than even the keeper though is the strategy of those running the club. Faced with a rookie keeper who unites the fans in having kittens whenever the ball enters our half of the pitch then what no intelligent person would do is sell one of your first choice defenders without anyone even remotely close to being there as a replacement. Good luck to McMahon - i rated him highly when he
first appeared a couple of years back - well he certainly needs to step up now and hopefully keep the inept Hoyte out of the team for good (how much I hope he refuses personal terms today and the deal is off he isnt good enough for Darlo even).
Our strikers will have to do something they conspiculously failed to do last season - put away their chances. We created bags of chances most games last season but failed miserably to put them away and frankly i dont think Aliadiere and co will become super sniffer goal poachers overnight.
Alves still does not look it to me yet every one seems to think two good games against opposition with one eye on the cup Final and another on the beach at the back end of last season means he is some sort of world beater all of a sudden. He has to do that week in week out otherwise where else can we expect a goal from.
I hope not to see Mido too often as his presence always seems to mean a return to big hoof forward football but then again tomorrow against his old club might just be the one game we might expect something special from him.
Come 5 o clock tomorrow I think we will have a very good idea where we are heading this season just like we did last after Blackburn. Spurs are equally perplexing with them trying desperately to dispose of their best players for no apparent reason but they are getting impressive results preseason but against what kind of opposition?
Even Boro have had two resounding victories in the past week. I fear however that it will be same old story tomorrow. Boro carve out chance after chance but fail to stick them away and then the keeper drops a corner kick at the foot of an opponent and its bye-bye all 3 points.
To be honest i am more than a tad worried right now.
I always wear my special boro rose tinted bi-focal ultra optimistic glasses when I gaze into the future season, putting the glasses on is no mean feat in itself when you're wearing foam hands!
What I see gazing into the season ahead is a champions league spot for Boro no question! However if that were not to come to pass I would be satisfied with an 11th/12th finish with a season where we are at the top of the bottom third 'pack' and avoiding the angst of looking over our shoulder at third bottom, that in itself would be a step forward.
That said I suspect there are teams in the prem. who finished above us last year who may struggle to live up to that form this season, I'm thinking of Blackburn, West Ham, Everton, maybe even Citeh, so we have a realistic chance of ninth or tenth if we play consistently well.
It would be good to see a season where we consistently dominate at home and play exciting football too.
Oh and finally my glasses clearly show us winning the FA cup, King Kev imploding and Fergie and Big Phil having a punch up should be a fun season!
PS - Have a listen to the Steve McClaren interview with Dutch TV, I think you can find it on the BBC website, its hilarious - shades of 'Allo Allo!'
I think people are leaning a little too far on the side of pessimism this season. OK everything is not perfect but the plus points easily outweigh the negatives.
In my mind a top 8 finish is easily possible this season - when people are predicting lower mid-table I'm not exactly sure which teams they are thinking are better than Boro?
After the top 4 I can only see Villa and Pompey who are shaping up a decent squad, Spurs are losing as many good players as they get in and will neeed time to gel. Though all of these teams are in the UEFA cup and this will have an effect mid-season.
Of the other contenders, Man City look like they are going to have a difficult season and Everton have injuries and have lost Johnson - plus they will have Yak 2nd season syndrome to contend with. Blackburn, having lost their manager along with Friedel and Bentley will also struggle this season.
That leaves the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland, West Ham, Bolton, Wigan and Fulham plus the promoted teams - none of whom look likely to hit the ground running or look like being better than the Boro.
So with or without the help of a foam hand it looks like a top 8 finish to me!
AV-I dont think anybody knows what to expect but it might be a suitable point to compare the squad from the end of last year.
In: Emnes Digard and back from long term injury Mido Huth.
Out- Mendi dong gook[irrelevant] Boateng, Rocky, Young, Schwarz, Catt and Arca is injured.
Analysis- Boat and Catt are replaced by Digard, Shawky and Walker.There is the goalie conundrum.We obviously need a right back, but on the positive side we have more forward options than ever.
It strikes me that the issue that has been overlooked is where is Rocky's replacement? Ideally we need somebody with his technical skill but a better athlete that can score a few from midfield.This kind of player will not come cheap. If we can dig out a diamond from somewhere I think we'd do well but at the moment put me down for 12th again.
"we're only a small town in Europe"
Am I missing something or is your small town, small club, small time charlie mentality showing its feeble head again.
Reasons to be cheerful, Part 12.(yrs in Prem;)
Plenty of goals in the side.
Pace throughout the team, when have we ever been able to say that?
A youthful energetic side.
A manager who knows what he's doing and where he wants to go(IMO).
Still the best chairman in the league and the season starts tomorrow. What more could we ask for?
(Please don't mention the goalkeeping situation!)
Interesting reading the latest talking boro article.
Oddly standing still is progress because as all the teams around you strengthen their squads you have to go forward to stay in the same place. Whilst a lot of players left the club some were at the end of their time here and losing them wouldnt harm the squad -Mendi, DGL. Cat needed to go to progress, Rocky never fulfilled his potential, Boat whilst a loss needed to be replaced.
The real blow is Luke Young because he was steady, a model pro, still young enough to have good years in front of him and experienced. He is a genuinely good player and O'Neill will be thanking his lucky stars he found the smucks Randy lerner was talking about.
Swarz may turn out to be another huge blow if one of our goalies doesnt come good.
Will Hoyte come good? He is young and athletic and may be one for the future, if he comes he may find himself having a steep learning curve. At Blunderland he could have a mare and look like a world beater because of the dross around him. He is behind Sagne (?), Toure and Eboue at the Gunners.
Keeping out of harms way and a couple of cup runs would be progress. Not the version of last season where spending a good part of the season less than 3 points above the drop and confirming safety in the penultimate match was not being in a relegation battle. Still baffled by that one.
I think steady mid table is a good result, anything better is a reason for celebration.
I agree with Stockton Red that Rocky has not been replaced.
He did not play constantly - but we do need a midfielder like him (when at his best). Please re-watch the Man City match at mfc.co.uk/Boro World. He was magic.
So a Souness or Rocky to our midfield and were are there. I trust that one of the goalies will do the business.
My guess: Boro 2 Spurs 2 and we'll finish the season at 9th (hope so)
I'm optimistic going into Saturday's game but then i always am for the start of the season so it means nothing!
As for the rest of the season i can see a 10-14th place finish, as Gareth continues to rebuild the squad. Genuine concerns over squad depth and the lack of an experienced goalkeeper though. If we go through a rough patch of injuries we may struggle.
I believe Gareth is on the right track and lets look forward to many more years in the Premier League.
Im gonna stick my neck out and say I fancy us to finish 9th. I think teams like West Ham, Blackburn, Everton, may struggle this year and we could be one of the teams to jump above them.
It all depends on the start that we have. I dont expect us to get anything from Anfield so 3 points vs Spurs is a must for me. We need to be in and around 10th by the turn of the year and hopefully can strengthen in January.
We have got some very exciting talent coming through and this is surely the season they must prove they are good enough to take this club forward. No more excuses for me, no more needing to learn and put things right, its make or break for SG this season. I think he has been very good in the past 2 years but its a results business so he and the team need to produce.
COME ON BORO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait. I expect us to finish in the top half this season, anything less would be a disappointment. Southgate needs to deliver a bit more this season and I'm sure he's aware of that. It's his team now and there are no excuses.
As for tomorrow, a win would be nice, but a score draw looks most likely I'd imagine.
As I have posted recently I believe there is little to choose between squads outside of the top four.
The team that we can field from the squad available does not have the capability to sit back and absorb pressure. Playing this way it is unlikely we will win. Draw maybe. More likely we will lose.
The management team have to be bold in their tactical approach. We have to go into each game, home or away, with that ‘win’ attitude, of taking the game to the opposition, including those games against the top four, for the whole 90+ minutes.
We have enough quality in midfield and attack to be able to copy the successful model of the top four teams. Quick, incisive football pushing back the opposition. OK we don’t have the quality in defence compared to those top teams, which means we may lose quite a few games when things don’t go to plan up front, but that is a far better option than sitting deep and inviting less qualified teams to steal unlikely victories. How many times did we see that last season? That has got to be the most frustrating thing for a football fan. “How did we lose to that lot?�. Answer, because we showed them too much respect.
Our destination this season lies in the strength of our coaching and tactics. If we impose ourselves as a team, we can finish top ten. If not…
I remember Brian Clough explaining how critically important a goalkeeper was to a team, and how Peter Shilton had won them so many points...
Neither of the current candidates were able to oust Schwarzer, however assuming the new first choice is better than the second choice, our opening two games should give us a very good idea as to how the season is likely to pan out - all I hope is that Keith Lamb is poised with pen, cheque book and flight reservation and an available target already identified should our worst fears come to pass...we really don't have time to give second choice a few games if the new number one bombs
"FA cup finals"
There go you Smoggies exaggerating again.
What facts will you saddos twist to suit your own means next?
F Maxwell........... to us Smoggies FA Cups include our Youth Teams FA Cup win! If you want to be pedantic at least try and understand your target audience before jumping in. Should we now start debating whether its called the Worthington Cup, League Cup or Carling Cup to satisfy your fickle personality?
How about contributing a full paragraph of something really incisive, intellectual, challenging or even witty instead of stunted, futile, immature and pointless outburts.
F Maxwell........... to us Smoggies FA Cups include our Youth Teams FA Cup win!
Give over. Good performance today. Lots of pace in the team now. We can play crap and still be dangerous on the break. I like it !
Greatings fellow Boro fans and F MAXWELL,
I have just got back off my hols and todays victory has put a stop to what was going to be a rant about Luke young and rant about the goaly situation. You have heard it all before anyway.
Well done the Boro you have shut me up .
Keep up the good work!
Hoyte could end up being pretty decent too.
A great game to start the season - the Spurs were really second class to Boro today.
Very pleased about the performance of Jones at goals and Tuncay and Afonso Alves were superb. Wheater and Downing were as good as last season.
Now we've got a new right back, too. Just an extra midfielder is needed - and there is still around two weeks left.
Thanks a lot boys - a superb performance.
Up the Boro!!!
Here we go again...my tips for the season...
boro - 11th, and I'll be happy with that. Unfortunately I don't think we'll have much of a run in either of the cups though.
top 4 - Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Villa (yes, you read that correct, there will be a change in the top 4 this year)
bottom 3 - Stoke, Bolton, Sunderland (yes, you read that correct too, I'm picking Hull to surprise everyone and stay up this year)
1st manager to go - Gary Megson. Another notable departure this year will be Rafa Benitez.
Too late to tip first game of the season - but I would have got it wrong anyway as I had us down for a 2-3 loss. No doubt the rest of my tipping will be just as accurate, but good fun anyway.