Middlebrough won their first trophy, in quite some time, by defeating Bolton in the Carling Cup. Now the Cup may not be the most prestigious of trophies but it may signify the rise of this team and club. Management at Boro has made a number of good decisions and these decisions may spell a move into the top 5 or 6 in the league and a competitive match this weekend.
The first good decision was that of making Steve McClaren the manager. Rumors are now circulating that he is tipped to be the new England boss when Sven “I did not sleep with that woman Ms. Lewinsky” Erikkson leaves his post. He was trained by one of the best in Sir Alex (OK maybe he’s obnoxious but he has a fabulous football mind.). He has managed to point this team in the right direction.
Michael Reizinger now joins an already stiff back line with Ehiogu and Southgate. The Dutch right back was a free transfer from Barca and his experience will help make Boro stronger. Boro does lose Southgate to injury, though, and that may offset Rezienger’s presence.
You may disagree with the decision to bring in Juninho when it comes to personnel decisions by management. Two disappointing seasons result in him probably off to Celtic. Incredibly talented and influential, he was injured more than Francis Jeffers. This opened to the decision of Zenden being made permanent and Mendieta’s move to the squad. Paired together they are formidable scorers and able to hold the midfield. Now enter Ray Parlour and you get a gritty, no nonsense presence in the same middle. In his first match he racked up a yellow in the first 11 minutes, gotta love him. Boateng completes the middle and it should give the Gunners some work.
The best decisions, though, was to bring in JFH and Viduka. This, in fact, offsets the poor decisions in Maccarone, Nemeth and Job. JFH proved valuable in the preseason and now was instumental in this weekend’s comeback draw to Newcastle. An assist on one goal and the tieing goal for himself, he can score from nearly anywhere. Now I know Viduka was picked up by Boro but where did he go? He was not on the bench and I can’t find an injury report for him. Hopefully he won’t play as he can be a thorn in the Gunners side.
I was once accused of acting as if Boro were the “AC Milan of the 90’s”. Is that what you said, Rick? By no means get that feeling. Boro have many strengths in coaching and personnel and I believe they are going to be very competitive. Competitive is the key word!
ArseAm Predicts: If the Arsenal are to match the record of Nottingham Forest, they are going to have to earn it. Arsenal win 2-1 when Henry puts in a free kick after being fouled just outside the box by the Pele of Romford.
8 Responses to “Boro Preview”
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August 21st, 2004 at 12:19 am
Good Post KY… I enjoy your previews.
I too wondered where Viduka was last week?!
If we are on our game… it simply won’t matter who the opponent is 99% of the time!!
Let’s hope we come out firing on all cylinders and that Freddie and Reyes are scaring the hell out of the defenders like they did v. Everton.
Henry is waaaaaaaaaaaay overdue for a goal!!!
and… if Dennis can continue his magic… I don’t forsee a problem. We don’t have to worry about other teams too much, they have to worry about us. Opening day at Highbury… with the history books a few matches away. Can’t possibly see us dropping this one, but thats why you play the games!!!!!!!!!
3-1 to the Arsenal. Henry / Kolo / Pires
August 21st, 2004 at 9:47 am
Viduka is suspended and Reiziger apparently has a shoulder injury that rule them both out and Southgate, Ehiogu and Razor are all facing fitness tests. That probably means that 4 of the 5 will play but you never know!
On our side apparently Gilberto is out (in addition to Edu who is not fit yet, Sol & Paddy who are still out from Euro injuries).
August 21st, 2004 at 10:03 am
i got one question… if Parlour scores, would we cheer for him?!
August 21st, 2004 at 3:38 pm
I’m a plastic Boro fan this year, but I’m impressed by what they are doing as a “small market club” (to borrow a phrase from baseball).
August 21st, 2004 at 9:31 pm
Good thing Viduka is still suspended for the game against Arsenal. I am quite nervous as to how Cygan will cope with JFH and I think Boro will exploit that if they saw how Cygan almost gave away a penalty against Campbell in the Everton game. Also I read in another forum that Gilberto is not 100% and his jet lag may compound the problem. I don’t think Flamini is ready to start for Arsenal yet. If Gilberto does not play, we will have a problem in the middle of the park. One possible scenario is to have Sendoros partner Cygan in middle of defence and move Toure up to partner Fabregas.
August 22nd, 2004 at 12:44 am
yup yup, bring in senderos to partner cygan is good, senderos and cesc are 2 players I most dyingly wanted to see in the first team this season. I belong to those group who can’t quite trust cygan for premiership matches week in week out. But with cesc and kolo as a midfiled shield for them against Boro, I think we should be alrite. However, I do feel that Gilberto will show up instead to partner Cesc like last week.
August 22nd, 2004 at 8:35 am
You are qutie right on your preview. Here is hoping that the Arsenal class & quality prevails. Turn on the style Gunners!!!
August 22nd, 2004 at 10:38 am
The game is starting in 25 minutes as I write this, so I’m getting pretty excited. We need this for the record, so that we can all spend another 40 bucks on a new record T-shirt.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t loves the Ray. I say…
…cheer ONLY if it means they’re still 2 goals down. Or 1 goal in stoppage.
C’mon boys.