August Joy

What a start to the season it’s been for Boro, a packed August with games coming thick and fast with 7 games in the first 22 days of the campaign. 11 points out of 15 is a great start yet it could easily have been more, dropping points at home v Portsmouth and Coventry. Although if somebody had told me at start of the season that we would take 11 points out 15 be unbeaten and win 2 cup games on our travels. I would have snapped their hands off! 

It has been an encouraging start with Boro playing some great entertaining football in most of the games this month. Against Pompey the conditions were difficult yet we still managed to play some super football. It was certainly one of the best opening day performances of late. The front two linked up well, McDonald with a great assist for the clinical Emnes.

Walsall was a good cup away day with Emnes getting his first hatrick in English football. It gave us the chance to give some of our fringe players’ valuable game time and test out other formations. It was good to see Martin & Smallwood play the full 90 and especially Hines after returning from his facial injuries picked up at Ipswich game towards the end of last season.

You can see that a lot of pre season work has gone into passing; I would be interested to know what the pass success rate on the games this season is compared to last season. It has improved dramatically and along with a quicker tempo, we are aiming to be the new Swansea of the championship with our passing game.

Leeds from what I heard was another great display with Boro largely in control throughout. Even sweeter that Boro nicked the all important goal with Marvin Emnes on target again.

Barnsley away; some of the football Boro played especially first half was breath taking to watch. The stand out players included Robson bursting forward from his central midfield role had his best game in a Boro shirt, Bailey spraying passes mixing it up with short and long range, the creative Julio Arca and Emnes scoring his 6^th goal in 4 games, what a start from our new no9. It was good to see Boro come back from a losing position for the first time this season.

The Home game v Birmingham was a game we came back into after the ref had awarded the away side a penalty which was very harsh as Burke dived. It didn’t matter however as Boro stormed back in the 2^nd half. Equalising straight after the break with a Robson free kick followed by two players coming off the bench and having a real impact, Haroum scoring and Martin made sure of win with a cracking shot which must be up there for goal of month. Great impact subs by Mogga and it looks like we have great competition for places in the team with two new players who look more than capable of being useful players this season. Oh and signed on free transfers too! Top work from Mogga!

Another good display on the road at Peterborough in the cup was described as good as the first half at Barnsley. Boro scared the life out of Peterborough with our quick counter attacks. Taking a comfortable 2-0 lead at ht we defended well and held on to our lead and made it into the next round of the cup.

Home v Coventry was disappointing after the football we have seen this season plus I don’t rate Coventry, I think they are a poor team. Its encouraging that the standard we have set with our performances so far this season mean that we are disappointed, however it was quite clear we struggled with only one forward fit in Emnes who had a great start to the season. Once we got in front we seemed to try and stroll to victory. You can’t do that in this league and maybe with all games packed in this month tiredness was a factor as the players looked jaded. It was a lesson and a bit of a wake up call.

The international break comes at a good time for us to get McDonald back fit. He has looked really sharp this season, him and Emnes look a good partnership. We do need another option upfront in case our front two get injured or if an alternative is needed to change things in a game from the bench.

I’m hoping that come Thursday 1^st September our star players are still at the club. I’m sure Emnes’s cracking start to the season with 7 goals won’t have gone unnoticed. He has done great since coming back from his loan spell at Swansea and now we are seeing a more productive side to his game in front of goal. Our new No9 has got a huge part to play this season and seems to be enjoying his time on Teesside thanks to Tony Mowbray.

Let’s not forget the start to the season, I enjoyed watching Boro enormously this month it’s been exciting watching quick, fast tempo, attacking football. We certainly have been entertained at start of the season playing some of best football I have seen in years. It’s nice to go to games under Mogga and look forward to them knowing we have a chance when we cross that white line. I’m looking forward to seeing The Boro in September once the players have recharged their batteries and hopefully continue our great form. There seems to be a real determination in the camp not to waste the season and put a real mark on the league in our first full season under Mowbray.

Get on board the Mogganaught! UTB!

Barnsley Away

The trip to South Yorkshire to play Barnsley was a great opportunity for the Boro to build on a decent start to the season. Having arrived at Oakwell another new ground for me to tick off, me and my mate enjoyed a drink in the concourse before going to pick where to sit for the game. With the ticket stating unreserved seating which I think is a great idea for friends and groups to sit together, we choose to sit in upper right behind the goal.

10-15 Minutes before kick off the atmosphere was building and you could sense this was going to be a noisy travelling army. We clapped the players off after the warm up, now it was time for the big kickoff. 

The players entered the pitch from the tunnel which was just to the right of us. The game got under way with not the start we wanted with McManus slicing the ball into his own net. It was an awful goal right in front of us and opening Barnsley’s account for season. I had my hands over my face I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. So for the first time this season could we come back from a losing position?

A goal down Tony Mowbray changed the formation to 3-5-2 with Rhys Williams joining Stephen McManus and Matthew Bates at the back. It wasn’t long before we were level through a Barry Robson corner Scott McDonald scoring his first goal of season. Great to see the forward get of the mark! Great response by Boro and it was only to get better with Boro going in front two minutes later. Rhys played the ball over the top for McDonald who used his pace down the left and crossed the ball into the box for Robson who burst into the box to tap home his first goal of season.

What a come back from Boro and plenty of EIOing from the travelling red army. Robson was bursting forward playing a more central midfield role. Arca started his first game since rejoining the club. Plenty of creativity and Bailey was spraying the passes short and long. The passing & movement was superb, playing quick tempo, forward passing football. Great to watch Boro be the entertainers.  

Robson met a cross from Justin Hoyte who was having more Joy down the flanks but headed just over the bar. So close! It wasn’t long before we increased our lead further with all the Boro players behind the ball McDonald gained possession and accelerated with his pace, Emnes made a run into the box and McDonald slipped a nice through ball for Emnes to latch on to, he took a touch and hit a shot under Barnsley keeper Steele to make it 3-1 to Boro. What a first half the away end was bouncing. What a turnaround from that early disaster.

The Ref blew his whistle for the end of the half time & the players came off the pitch to a great ovation, first half job done! Time for the 2^nd half Barnsley started the brighter forcing us all back in our own half of the pitch but it was Boro who had the real big chance to increase our lead. Robson played a through ball for Bates who made a run forward and he only had keeper to beat but he didnt put any power in the shot otherwise it was a certain goal. Time for some subs with Mowbray taking Hoyte off who had a late fitness test to play been replaced by Hines. Smallwood came on for the influential Julio Arca who played great in the middle of the park, it was like he had never been away. Chants of Julio, Julio Julio rang out by the away following.

Smallwood did well, making a run just outside box he was brought down. Robson took the freekick which was hit straight at the wall. Then came the final whistle with a huge ovation for all the players as they came off the pitch. Tony Mowbray was given a loud reception as he headed down the tunnel, us fans chanting ‘There’s only one Tony Mowbray’ as he came off the pitch. It was great to see young Connor Ripley just behind me following the first team which shows that the young players really do care about the team.

The away end was superb all night, great support throughout on a purely great away game I didn’t want to end, 3 points in the bag, a comfortable win on the road so roll on Sunday! Plenty of character in this team, when we need to defend all 11 work hard to be behind ball and break forward in numbers. Tony Mowbray has got us playing some great football this season, it’s an encouraging start to the season and we must build on this back at the Riverside on Sunday against Birmingham. UTB!

Carling Cup Round 1 - Walsall Away

A trip down to West Midlands it was for the first round of the Carling Cup, against league 1 side Walsall and it had to be settled on the night. I entered The Banks’s Stadium, the away fans were situated in the side stand. The Boro players were training just in front of us with the ground being close to the pitch. The sun was blazing down on our stand while I watched the team train a guy from Walsall came round with a team sheet.

Tony McMahon was going to be captain for the evening, which was a nice honour for the passionate heart of a lion player. To wear the captain’s armband and to lead the team out meant one of his ambitions was going to be fulfilled. Hines was making his first start since the awful facial injuries he received at Ipswich. Martin was making his first start for Boro. Coyne was making his 500^th career appearance. Time for kick off, as the game got under way it was discovered we were playing a 3-5-2 formation. Not only was Tony McMahon captain he was playing a different position, centre back along side McManus and Hines. Joe Bennett and Justin Hoyte were used as wing backs getting forward down the flanks. Bailey, Smallwood and Martin in the middle of park with Zemmama and Emnes up front.

Walsall had a freekick early on which came to nothing. Zemmama was first to have a shot from around 20 yards which was deflected. The Saddlers didn’t help their chances early on when their No7 Chambers lunged in with a two footed tackle on Smallwood. Luckily Richie jumped out of the challenge. Chambers stayed rolling on the ground, he must have known that the red card was coming. The referee had got it right, he got his marching orders and Walsall were down to 10 men. It was stupid as Smallwood wasn’t going anywhere, it happened in the middle of the pitch and right down in front of us Boro fans.

The Boro used the wing backs to great effect, Hoyte and Bennett bombing down the flanks showing they pace. Hoyte crossed it in to the box Martin didn’t connect properly and it scuffed to Emnes to drill in to the bottom right hand corner; 1-0 to Boro. Shortly after we had opened the scoring we had to take off Zemmama who was struggling and time for Lee Miller to get a good 70 minutes on the pitch.

Joe Bennett used his trickery, taking players on and hit a shot which was inches away. Bailey was spraying the passes out wide, Smallwood making runs forward and Martin looked very comfortable on the ball. Boro were keeping possession well and it wasn’t long before we increased our lead. Hoyte flew down the right hand side and fired in a fine cross. What a finish though from Emnes, he connected with the ball and acrobatically volleyed low into the net from 10 yards out. 2-0 up at break.

Out came the Boro team for the second half attacking the goal which was nearest to us. Smallwood played a one two with Miller which saw him burst in to the box only to be clipped by one of the Walsall players for a pen. Time for Boro to make it 3-0 and wrap up the game. No question who was taking it, man of the moment, Marvin Emnes had the chance to get his hatrick and there was no doubt about the result as he drilled it in to the bottom right hand corner. The new No.9 has made a great start to the seaso, four goals in two games, long may it continue.

Being 3-0 up and with that extra man advantage, enabled us to make changes, resting our Dutch star Marvin Emnes for the big clash with Leeds at the weekend and also Nicky Bailey. Luke Williams and Cameron Park came on for their first action in the first team this season. The game was comfortable for us; we were keeping possession well and causing a few more threats for Walsall. Park had a good chance but was just unable to curl the ball in to the net. Coyne had little to do on his 500^th career appearance. His handling was immaculate and showed real bravery near the end when gathering the ball and getting kicked off one of the Walsall players.

All in all it was a good cup win with valuable minutes on the pitch for Martin, Smallwood, Hines, Miller, L Williams and Park. You could clearly see some of the work in training paying off on the pitch in our first two games. It was great to see this. On to Leeds now and it will be good to see our new No9 Marvin Emnes get on the score sheet again, his confidence must be sky high. What a week, getting one on Saturday and his first hatrick in English football. So to sum up, it was a professional team display with plenty of entertainment and Boro go into the next round. Now back to League football..

Wet Opening Game v Portsmouth

The day I been waiting for finally arrived, the opening game of the new campaign, even if it meant the earliest start yet to a football season. Rhys Williams had the possibility of playing against his younger brother Ryan Williams, the 17 year old plays for Portsmouth and had mentioned on his twitter account he was in the squad.

The weather wasn’t what you would expect for an opening game of the season, rain jackets and umbrellas were much needed with heavy rain approaching the ground. As I arrived at the stadium quite soaked and found my new seat in the North stand upper, right bang in the middle, a great seat and view.

Impressed with my seat, with only a few minutes to kick off, I watched the players come on to pitch which looked immaculate. We lined up with on loan keeper Carl Ikeme in goal, a defence of Tony McMahon, Matthew Bates, Stephen McManus and Justin Hoyte. In midfield was Nicky Bailey, Rhys Williams with Barry Robson and Joe Bennett playing on the flanks. It was a new position for Joe, I wasn’t quite sure before KO if Hoyte would play in midfield but once the game was under way it became clear Joe was playing in a more attacking role.

With such bad conditions throughout the game, grey clouds and heavy rain hammering down, the floodlights were on early. We started a bit shaky with Portsmouth using the flanks to better affect early on. Boro’s first chance came from a Barry Robson shot struck from around 30 yards out but flying well over. Carl Ikeme made a great save one on one, making himself big to deny Dave Kitson. Boro started to get their passing going. There was great work from McDonald on the left edge of the box, he took 2 players on entering inside the penalty area Scott passed to Emnes who turned and hit the ball low in to the bottom right corner, a great move and finish. Great link up by the front two and encouraging signs that this partnership can really work.

Boro were playing some good football, Emnes had a shot just wide from the edge of box before McDonald hit a shot from the left hand side from similar range. It was so close, just inches away from doubling our lead. It was half time the players ran off to get a break from the wet conditions replacing their soaked strip before coming back out for the second half.

The second half kicked off with Portsmouth replying straight away. David Norris got the ball just out side the box and hit a sweet shot low to the right hand corner. Portsmouth were back in the game, Boro had been stretched.

We soon bounced back in to the lead with some fine football. Bailey found Rhys Williams making a run and played a ball through for Rhys who collected it in the box and coolly tucked in into the net after going one on one with the keeper. Rhys ran over to the corner flag to celebrate and we all went mad celebrating ourselves in the North Stand. At long last the rain had just about stopped it only now became a problem with puddles of water in wide positions and corner flags.

Portsmouth made a double substitution with just under 30 minutes left to play with Kanu coming on and Rhys’s brother Ryan Williams making his debut In the first team. A Special moment for the Williams family. Boro continued to break forward and creating chances, Emnes powerful shot was parred over the bar and Scott McDonald was denied by a great save at the near post.

Portsmouth enjoyed  a good spell which drove us deeper then we wanted. There was a real determination and a togetherness to keep them out. I did think maybe it was time for Smallwood to come on though on the other hand the game was flowing really well with good passing movement, so why alter it? The fourth official announced 5 minutes of injury time, I’m not sure why there was 5 minutes maybe it was all the referees little words with players throughout the game.

One of the Portsmouth subs, Christian Daily hit a ball into the box which deflected off McManus and Bates and in to the path of Varney to slot home from close range. Jammy Portsmouth! It was really cruel on Boro who had deserved the 3 points after plenty possession and chances. I can only remember Portsmouth coming close with a freekick in the 2^nd half. It was heart breaking stuff but at the same time a very encouraging opening day of the season display, certainly one of the best in recent times. Bright, quick movement and a real determination and togetherness, the signs are promising for the season ahead. UTB!

You can check my Championship Preview on The Boro at this link below. It’s an Indian site with plenty of football articles worth a look.    

http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/npower-championship-preview-part-3-svens-leicester-feisty-millwall-leeds-middlesborough-and-ipswich/