Bad January Strikes Again!

Let’s face it, the game against Leicester should never have gone ahead. The only reason it did, was the power of sky and the TV Money it brings. Forget about the fans safety hey! After four pitch inspections the game was on, one of the most bizarre, crazy build ups to a football match. Fans, BBC Tees radio team, match reporters, Boro team coach you name it, all struggled to make it to The King Power Stadium. Roads in Leicester were grid locked with 6 inches of snow falling, taking the Boro team coach 2 hrs to do a 4 mile trip from the hotel. Everyone made it eventually and kick off was only delayed 15 minutes so that the Boro players could have a warm up before kick off.

On to the game, I thought we rode our luck at times and had Steele and the Woodwork to thank. We played well in large spells, with some great link up play only for our final pass to let us down. Haroun had a good chance one on one but a heavy first touch took the ball away from him and Kasper Schmeichel claimed the ball. Ledesma had a good chance similar to the one against Watford at home and should really have scored. You can’t afford to miss chances like that. That’s been the difference in the last few games, we need to take our chances and we will win football matches again. A pen in the last min should secured a well deserved draw against a team up there with us. Emnes our pen taker took it and I thought it was a good pen that was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel. I know Emnes has had a poor start to this season after playing well last season but he been in and out of the team and I know if on his game he is a real handful for opposition and key player for us. We need him to be on form in the 2nd half of the season.

January has been a bad month for us in league, just like last season with 3 league defeats. Yes we have slipped up a few times and not helped our chances of automatic promotion and it’s a frustrating time with teams playing this weekend and our next league game in 2 weeks time away to Ipswich. That’s a long time for everyone connected to the club to mull over the recent form. No need to panic though there’s still plenty of games to go, 18 in fact. A few bad results doesn’t mean that its season over! We didn’t give up on Friday night, we kept going trying get back in the game. We’re not far off. Players are coming back and we have a stronger team than last season. The break from the league programme could be good for us. Play the first teamers against Aldershot in the cup to get some confidence in the team and some goals. Then the league games come thick and fast in February. I still believe we will turn this mini blip of results around. We all need to stick together and give this a good go. There is still so much still to play for and a lot of points. Believe!

UTB!

Boro Aiming High

 

 

Ledesma

Emmanuel Ledesma started against Sheff Wed at home, arguably his best game in a Boro shirt. He was lively, his range of passing was superb, playing some delightful through balls, one set up Justin Hoyte to score a beauty! Another set up Scott McDonald who tucked a low shot under Kirkland, Miller was taking no chances and pounced to make sure it went over the line to claim the goal. Two assists for Ledesma and his all round play was brilliant going forward and racing back into tackles to win possession back. The midfielder hasn’t started or featured much since the opening day v Barnsley, where he was frustrating to watch giving the ball away cheaply. Since then I think there has been great management by Tony Mowbray making Ledesma watch from the sidelines and learn the way we are playing. Since his recall his all round game has been very impressive, more of these performances and he will be a fans favourite.

Top Crowd

What a great Friday night it was at Riverside against Sheffield Wednesday the build up to game was so much better with a big crowd, a packed train to Middlesbrough I could hardly hear the BBC Tees commentary! You sensed the buzz in the town, even more so when got in the ground a big attendance makes such a difference, it looks amazing and the noise generated makes the match day experience a million times better. The club reacted after we hit our lowest league attendance at Riverside against Derby 13,377. Well done to the club for putting the deal on which was half price tickets starting from £12 + £7. To get 28,229 for a game that was Live on SKY surprised me to be honest, fair play to the local public the Riverside was bouncing like them big nights in Europe. In the game we won to go top of the league great for everyone involved with club. Let’s hope this is the start of something special. I was a proud season ticket holder on Friday night. We can achieve so much more as a club together!

Ticket Deals

After Friday’s ticket sales success v Sheff Wed, the club announced a 2nd deal – 2 for 1! This means if you buy a ticket for the Bristol City game you get the Huddersfield game free. Another great deal by the club, at a time when there is not a lot of money on Teesside and with Christmas round the corner. I always said it is hard for walk up fans to afford 2 home games in a week and so they are more likely to pick one. I’m expecting another bumper crowd at the Riverside for these 2 games hopefully some fans that were at the Sheff Wed game come back. We are in great form at moment and the more fans the better to help drive the team on. If we build on Sheffield Wed game keep spreading the word on the Boro, this could be a special season to follow Tony Mowbray Red and White Army!

Unbeaten Run comes to an end

The run had to end sometime but to end how it did on Saturday away at Cardiff was gutting. Cardiff took the lead from their first corner of the game, an unmarked Matthew Connolly heading in from the back post. A frustrating goal to give away yet the reaction and performance from going behind deserved something from the game. We battered them 2nd half with plenty of really good chances to get back in the game, it was one of them days our finishing let us down. On another day we would have won comfortably. The performance was very encouraging and one we can take heart from for the rest of the season. It has been a fantastic run which has seen Tony Mowbray deservedly win the Manager of Month award for October with 1 draw v Derby, 4 wins against Watford, Brighton, Hull, Bolton and not forgetting our fantastic cup win at Sunderland in the league cup! After the cup win at Sunderland we went to Charlton and won comfortably 4-1 our highest score so far this season. Following that a trip to the City Ground where we don’t have a good record getting a point after not playing brilliant it was a gritty, determined display which limited Forest to a few chances. A pleasing point on our travels and one we may look back as having been valuable at the end season. Now we have 2 games at home to start another unbeaten run. Come on Boro!

The Return of Matthew Bates

Matthew Bates will be returning to the Riverside this Saturday after joining Bristol City late last week. Matthew played his first game for Bristol City at weekend v Blackpool his first competitive game since doing his 5th Knee cruciate ligament injury last March away at Ipswich. To come back from 1 or 2 serious knee injuries shows great determination/character but to come back from 5 major setbacks fair play to the lad like Mogga says he made of the real stuff! I hope Matthew gets a good reception from the Boro fans he was key player for us last season and always give 100%. Since he got injured a lot of things have changed at theclub we have brought in Bikey and Woodgate. From being our captain last season Matthew was always going to be well down the pecking order and in order to be guaranteed first team football I think he made the right decision. I wish him well with Bristol City after Saturday of course!

 

Season Preview

As the new football league season approaches this is our 4th campaign in the Championship. After coming so close to a playoff place last season. I really fancy us get back to the premier league, I feel this is strongest team and squad depth we had for some time. The Championship is a very competitive league and one I see wide open. Any out of 12 teams could be in with chance of promotion. The team I fancy to get promoted is Bolton with mix of these in top 6: Boro, Birmingham, Wolves, Cardiff and Blackburn.

It’s a demanding league the games come quick and fast with 3 games in a week, we start new season on Saturday against Barnsley, Then our first home game v Burnley on Tuesday Night and another home game against Crystal Palace following Saturday. It not a bad start we have avoided the teams that have got promoted from league 1 who normally start the new campaign well.

A new season brings extra expectation and a renewed optimism which as fan I can’t wait for us to get started. I believe this could be our year my prediction is 2nd/3rd, maybe that is my heart and my head prediction! The squad we already had plus the additions Mogga brought in, I think we will cope with the demands of this league better this season and learn the lessons that costed us last season.

The squad has never had so much cover in each position, Joe Bennett now has some competition for left back spot which he didn’t have last season. We have added much needed creativity to the squad in Ledesma and Winger Carayol. The return to 7 subs is great news for us and the youth talent to make a breakthrough in the first team. The likes of Luke Williams and Adam Reach have been ones that have impressed in pre season friendlies. Then we have Park, Smallwood and Main who I think will see feature a lot this season.

With all the new faces it takes time for squad to gel that’s why good for players to get a game in league cup under they belt before the big league kick off this weekend. It was all about getting into the next round, though some of the play was great at times. Leadbitter had at least 3 good chances I can see him getting a good 8-10 goals from midfield this season. Carayol a winger we have been crying out for, is what we need a player who gets the ball and goes for it taking players on and crossing ball at byline. Great to watch! Ledesma showed great link up play at times and got his first goal for Boro following in Bailey shot that was pared by Bury Keeper.

Our new captain Rhys Williams Was announced last week, he been with the club 8 years now I’m really pleased he has been given the armband. Rhys knows club inside out, what means to the fans, he fan too supporting the Boro at Derby while out injured at back last season. He well respected by his team mates, I hope this responsibility drives Rhys and all team on and gets up back to Premier League. That where our new captain deserves to be he’s top player who signed a new deal not long ago stating his ambition to play at top level with Middlesbrough.

Kevin Thomson has spoke well in pre season stating he will win the Boro fans over, I really hope it works out for him. It’s a big if, after his Boro career has been disrupted by injuries meaning he not had rapport with the fans like has done at previous clubs Hibs and Rangers. If can play first 10 games this season I think we will see best of Kevin Thomson in Boro shirt, he can help dictate the midfield and slip decent balls through to forwards.

There seems a good mix of experience and youth in squad this season, all top teams spread goals in team that’s what we need to do and not rely on Emnes all time to get the goals. I think with squad we have we will see goals chipped in from defence and midfield this season, looks like Bailey will get more forward role this season, Defenders chip in with few from set pieces. I do think see more goals from midfield this season with likes, Bailey, Leadbitter, Carayol, Ledesma, Reach and Park.

It first time since been back in championship that we have started league campaign with an away game, the performance of last season game against Barnsley will take some beating it was great watch Boro play great football one best displays of season. Passing was sublime! I be happy for us to just get the points on board tomorrow! I cant wait for season to start tomorrow at Oakwell, over 3,000 Boro fans travelling to game going be a great atmosphere lets hope winning start! COME ON BORO!

CLUB FOOTBALL IS BACK!

This summer has been a busy one jam packed with sport, Euro 2012 followed by Wimbledon then the London Olympics. The new football season seems to have crept up fast with the Boro playing their first competitive game of season tomorrow v Bury in league cup.

What’s impressed me this summer is the way Tony Mowbray got his signings in early. Helps new signings get full pre season with their new club, get to know new team mates and settle in the area. Boro stepped up pre season training with a trip to Portugal, it sounded like a successful trip, a hard work out for the players doing 3 sessions a day. Good for players to go away helps the team bond and get that understanding, as going into the new football season the games come quick and fast in this league.

Boro new signings

Grant Leadbitter was first to sign for the club on a free transfer after his contract at Ipswich had expired signing a 3 year deal, meaning a return to North East for the former Sunderland academy player. A midfielder good on ball, breaking up play who will chip in with goals. If you told me a few seasons ago we would have Grant Leadbitter at Boro and Sunderland would have Lee Cattermole I would laughed. That’s the Football world always full of surprises. This brings me on to the next signing …..

Jonathan Woodgate well this signing came as a big surprise the news broke out quite late on a Thursday evening with Anthony Vickers breaking story on twitter. I remember replying ‘really? Big player if can stay fit, Prob best debut I seen had Henry in his pocket’ He rejoined the club on a free transfer after his Stoke contract expired signing a 3 year deal. Jonathan come back to his home town determined to help get us back to premiership, at 32 plenty of experience and if he can play 25-30 games for us I’ll be happy. We know his background from in past. I’m sure he’s more sensible off pitch now and will turn out great signing for us one that young players can learn from and look up too.

Emmanuel Ledesma another free transfer who was released from Walsall signed on 3 year deal. A creative midfielder/forward who can play in a number of positions will be a useful addition to the squad. We have been crying out for creativity especially in our games at home where we struggled to break the opposition down last season.

Christian Burgess is a promising centre back who signed on a 2 year deal after been spotted in university football. The 6ft 4ins defender will start football for club in development squad.

Stuart Parnaby rejoined the club signing a 2 year deal with a further one year option. The right back had season out game having talks with numerous clubs coming to nothing. Be good having Stuart back at the Boro he is a versatile player who can play in midfield if needed and another experienced player.

George Friend signed from Doncaster on a three year deal, the 24 year old defender can play centre back and left back. The former Doncaster captain was voted fans and players player of year last season. This signing gives the squad good competition for places especially at left back, since Andrew Taylor left been no real competition for left back spot for Joe Bennett.

Mustapha Carayol signed from Bristol Rovers on a three year deal, the 23 year old is lightening fast winger after watching little clips of him on YouTube. Looking forward to watching him in a Boro shirt Mustapha wasted no time in discovering our own Teesside dish a Parmo after asking fans on twitter where best place to go try one in the Boro! Central Park was place he tried first parmo and said he be recommending them to his friend! Already a Boro legend!

Justin Hoyte rejoined the club signing a new two year deal. Last season he had his best season at club, I put that down to Mogga. He took pay cut and sees Boro as 2nd home now after settling in area. Tipping him to shut the boo boys up and have another good season.

Overall I think Mogga done great job in the transfer market with little money signed some good players. A much stronger squad than last season cover in all outfield areas which should help us cope with injuries to the team. Signed some creative players in Ledesma and Carayol a winger that been crying out for which should excite the fans. The signings of Leadbitter, Parnaby and Woodgate give us experience you need that in this league.

Players left Club

Barry Robson and Tony McMahon are main two who have left the club that played regularly in first team. We knew about Barry Robson leaving after he agreed contract with Vancouver Whitecaps before end of last season. Tony McMahon was offered a deal and for whatever reason a contract couldn’t be agreed by club and player. With a new wage structure in place it has to be right for the club. Only the player can say if it was the money or not been guaranteed first team football. Either way I wish both players well you could never question their commitment always giving 100%. They are also players that used to take the set pieces often arguing who would take them, so new set piece takers for new season with Ledesma and Leadbitter I reckon.

I wish all players that have left the club well. A lot of former Boro players are in League one you can always go and watch when there is an international break.

The summer ins and outs

Ins

Mustapha Carayol, Emmanuel Ledesma, Stuart Parnaby, Jonathan Woodgate, Grant Leadbitter, George Friend, Justin Hoyte, Christian Burgess

Outs

Barry Robson (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tony McMahon (Sheff Utd), Danny Coyne (Released), Jonathan Franks (Hartlepool), Jonathan Grounds (Oldham), Malaury Martin (Released), Bart Ogbeche (Released)