Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Coventry 1 Boro 1
Having struggled away at non-league Nuneaton in the last round of the FA Cup this fourth round tie against Championship midfielders Coventry looked less like a banana-skin and more like a serious concern for any kind of result. Sure enough it was pretty 50 / 50 in the first half with either team having chances to score but not converting. Certainly they did not look overwhelmed by a supposed gap in class, in fact they seemed to relish the thought of taking an easy premiership scalp from a club way out of form.After the break Boro managed to capitalise on their lack of concentration coming back on to nab a swift opener thanks to Jimmy Floyd, whose current form is amongst the best at the club. It looked like a perfect platform to go on and finish the tie, but rather than take control it was the reds who started to look tired legged and dispirited towards the last 20 minutes. A superb strike from Coventry past a returning Mark Schwarzer - a man with a lot to prove to this club! - leveled the game and from there in it was the midland outfit who looked like the winners as they proceeded to take us apart in the closing minutes of the game. We needed to hang on and hang on we did: just! At least we have the chance to bring them back to the Riverside, with the impending reward of a fifth round tie against more non premiership opposition (Preston or Crystal Palace), albeit away from home once again.
With Sunderland coming up - the biggest must win game of the season so far for me - the last thing we need is the prospect of more replays, but at least we are still in the draw and that's the main thing. Not much to cheer about still, but at least we didn't continue our losing run.
My MOTM: Jimmy Floyd continues in fighting form and gets the vote.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Boro 2 Wigan 3
This match was most notable for the return of one Stewart Downing - and God has he been missed! From the first whistle he was amongst it all, rampaging down the left, bringing back good memories of last season and a far superior home record than we have boasted without him. It was evident that a little match fitness is still lacking, but the crosses came flying in regardless, giving hope of a good result for most of the afternoon.But it was Wigan that took the initiative, doing well to find the all too obvious holes in our midfield and defense and build up a 2-0 lead at half time that could have been a lot more. Honestly they were ripping us apart. Then on came Jimmy in the second half, looking mighty hungry, some would say pi**ed off bigtime! Before they had time to settle he had fired us back in the contest, giving a resurgence in confidence that was much needed. Then came a Downing corner seen, beautifully flighted and seen home by The Yak to bring us level. With 25 minutes to go we looked like the most likely winners, a great boost considering we looked leagues below Wigan at the break!
Of course, with our current luck it was not to be. The dreaded 89th minute came and they once again found the gap and exploited it in style for an enviable winner... So we remain rooted and have no one else to blame. We were unlucky in the sense we had two returns from lengthy injury (Downing and Parlour, who did just OK) who were forced to play 90 minutes, stretching every ounce of fitness, as others hobbled off with fresh knocks. But really we just don't have the strength of character in depth that Hasselbaink demonstrated in the second 45, and the record books will only show another defeat. Hard times.
My MOTM: Hasselbaink got us back in it, but a terrific return from Downing takes the honours
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Boro 5 Nuneaton 2
Following Highbury the fans turned out in numbers for this one, creating one of the best home atmospheres of the season. Of course they were calling for seven to regain a little balance in the footballing universe, and, as the boss merrily quipped, they got seven. Unfortunately it is no laughing matter to concede two goals to players who don't even consider football their first job! Hats off to Nuneaton they were terrific ambassadors for the game and left the Riverside with deserved pride, especially Gez Murphy who scored all 3 goals for them over the 2 ties. They were surely the moral winners on the day.At 5-0 it looked good again for Boro, with Mendieta, Yakubu and Viduka all looking a class above, and the young defense holding their own with confidence. Albeit against inexperienced non-leaguers there were some lovely goals in the 5, with the Yak especially looking hungry to prove the point. To me this proves that there is nothing wrong with our attack, all our problems lie in midfield and defense, probably the former more than the latter. Doriva has done well this season for the most part but his age and stature prevent him being a truly commanding midfielder and the return of Ray Parlour is most welcome although not a breathtaking solution. And as for the major disappointment of Fabio Rochemback - at the moment he just isn't demonstrating the form of a premiership player.
It is a crucial time of the season. A win on Saturday against Wigan is absolutely vital - without it we may stay in the bottom five for the remainder of the season, with it we at least have a chance to drag ourselves back into mid-table respectability. There is a lot of housekeeping to be done and it is time to get to work.
My MOTM: Mendita was involved in every positive move and gets the vote.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Arsenal 7 Boro 0
Wonderful! Those denying a crisis at the club needed only to look at the scoreboard at 5pm on Saturday, Boro's last ever trip to Highbury. Any thoughts of doing the double over them crumbled pre-match, realistically, with several "youngsters" again brought in to fill the ranks of the lame and the missing - however, a goalless draw seemed within our powers at least, that is until Thierry Henry stepped up! With Brad Jones again in goal instead of transfer listed Mark Schwarzer we were always going to be vulnerable to strong attacks, and the Arse being no mugs they took advantage of that from the first whistle, never looking like anything but easy winners.Andrew Taylor came in at left back and Chris Riggott was made a reluctant captain in a threadbare defense that must rank amongst the youngest ever seen in the premiership. However, as Boro capitulated to a 4-0 half time deficit it was the experienced veterans who came under fire - sloppy passing, lack of spirit and a total inability to cope at the level led to goal after goal and no silver lining. No excuses either, we got exactly what we deserved - and Arsenal got their biggest ever premiership win.
How the boss isn't getting more flack for this decline I just don't know. Injuries are one thing, but the squad is strong enough to battle to mid-table if properly motivated and I'm becoming increasingly concerned that they aren't. This isn't a blip anymore, it is a relegation struggle and we better get used to it. Things are not healthy - no win since November and no confidence at all. Big hills to climb...
My MOTM: Lee Catermole came on and at least threw a few tackles in, the rest were poor
Monday, January 09, 2006
Nuneaton 1 Boro 1
Oh dear, oh dear! What next? The third round of the FA Cup is filled with romance, everyone knows that - it is the only time that non-league sides can compete with top flight opponents and potentially upset them. Burton held Man Utd and Tamworth are still in the hat too, so no disgrace in failing to overcome a team almost 100 places below us in the pecking order... Yes there bloody is!!! I mean come on, even at half pace this should have been 5-0 to the Boro, I wouldn't have been too happy with anything less. But no, it's yet more embarrassment for players earning 20 times more money than our lowly opponents who, let's face it, outplayed us for most of the game.Typically, things looked OK early on when Mendieta curled in a delicious free kick to put us one up after 14 minutes, but after that we used the game as an excuse for a bit of a rest and turned on the auto-pilot. Always fatal in this competition, and so it proved as the underdogs fought and fought until their hard work finally paid off in the 89th minute with a deserved penalty following a Gareth Southgate hand ball. Hats off to them, naturally, everyone loves to see the little man have his day in the sun and now they will have the thrill of a run out at the Riverside. And if they play like they did on Saturday they just might win...
Surely things cannot get any worse? Let's hope that this is the low point and everything will start to look up from here. The winner of this tie will face beatable Coventry away from home and in-form we should coast past them. Unfortunate to say that in-form we are anything but.
My MOTM: Gaizka Mendieta for the only touch of class in a shabby display.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3 pieces of significant news hit the headlines in the first week of the new year: one good, one bad and one... well, ugly is a bit strong, but it is a shock!To concentrate on the positive first (and boy do we need to do that) wonderboy Stewart Downing is back in full training and due to start in the reserves this weekend. The knee ligament damage that has kept him out of the squad since the England trip to America in the Summer has been operated on and has recovered well. Now our best player of last season can concentrate on his general fitness in a bid to regain form before the final world cup selection in a several months time. It will be a massive boost to the first team if he can come back in with anything like his best form and here's best wishes and fingers crossed on that one.
All the more important to have Stew back when you consider the bad news: Franck Queudrue is out for up to 2 months following the Man City game and a knee injury of a slightly different nature. The left side will now be very stretched without Downing, and even though Franck has been responsible for some real howlers in recent months his spirit has never been in question, giving the impression anything can still happen with him on the pitch. He will be much missed and wishes of a speedy recovery go out to him.
And finally: WTF? Mark Schwarzer wants away...! OK we knew there was interest in him before the season and it was a stroke of luck to get him to sign on the dotted line for another year. We saw that he was slightly distracted by the run of his national team's efforts. And we have certainly seen his form dip in recent games, with more than a few schoolboy errors creeping in. But where did he come up with the idea of getting out mid-season? He has been a loyal servant for 8 years since signing from Bradford City in '97 and has seen the ups and downs out with great resilience. So why now? Surely his current form is not the best advert for potential buyers, but even if he is forced to stay it now becomes impossible to play him knowing his heart is no longer with the team! More on this as it becomes apparent what the reasons are behind the decision. Enough to say for now that it is a massive shock and a real burden the team does not need as it teeters on the brink of crisis.
Newcastle 2 Boro 2
Derby days always throw up a decent story and this was no exception... With George Boateng out injured once more and the combination of Doriva and Rochemback not the most attractive in the world Mac decided to give another Boro youngster a surprise start: Lee Cattermole, who came on as sub earlier in the season for the cup was given the unenviable task of stepping into George's boots and doing the job for us. And that he did, with great credit, adding to our never ending list of formidable young breakthroughs.The game swung to and fro in the early stages with chances for both teams, but it was the home side who ominously opened the scoring thanks to a well placed Nobby Solano free kick from outside the box (although what pint sized Doriva was doing in the wall remains a mystery). Without Owen, however the Toon couldn't press their advantage and Boro popped up with some great play from Morrison and a confident finish from the Yak to make his 11th in the premiership this season. A slight hip niggle led to the main man being subbed for Jimmy Floyd midway through the second half - a move that looked to have paid off big time when the Dutchman was put clean through with a well timed run, opening up the opposition for a cross goal shot and goal number two! The confidence that has gone AWOL recently came surging back in the last 20 minutes and the result looked safe... But this is Boro and with virtually the last kick of the game Gareth Southgate sliced a clearance for a corner. The deadball sailed into the box, was met by yet another limp punch from Mark Schwarzer, fell to the feet of a player in black and white who belted it speculatively past half a dozen Boro defenders who simply watched it sail into the back of the net - final whistle, two points dropped!
I found this result even harder to take than last season when Norwich came back from 4-1 down to grab a draw, just because we have been there and still can't learn the lesson! Now we are firmly rooted in the bottom section of the table, with even poor old Everton catching us up. Things have gone from optimistic to panic stricken in the course of yet another terrible Christmas period. And I've run out of ideas of how things can get better.
My MOTM: James Morrison with another imperious display just nicked it from debut boy Cattermole.
Boro 0 Man City 0
Two managers desperate to reverse bad runs of form, yet contrasting in that one strains every sinew to urge his team on and one simply looks bored... I have to admit that due to seasonal festivities I missed any kind of commentary or highlights of this one - looks like I picked the right game.The boss had issued orders (surprise, surprise) to primarily stop the rot and defend a clean sheet at all costs. From all accounts that plan worked, to the detriment of any attacking threat whatsoever! City outscored us in every statistic bar the actual scoreline and probably deserved something better for their efforts from a neutral point of view. Southgate, Riggott and Schwarzer all did well in fending off some vicious attacks from Cole, Vassel and the in-form Joey Barton and deserved some praise in light of recent results, but anywhere forward of the half-way line it looked like only a fluke would give us all 3 points that we so urgently needed. But 90 minutes went by in stalemate, giving us a home point that is not nearly enough, as teams around us did better to push us ever closer to the relegation fight.
That the season has come to this, that we don't even risk an equal fight on the day, says to me that everyone has given up already on any kind of Euro surge and is concentrating on mid-table respectability rather than glory. Not my idea of how Boro should be playing, but I'm not in charge am I? Magnificent? Not quite...
My MOTM: Any of the back line deserve mention, but perhaps Franck Queudrue above all.
