r00fie1
Well-known member
A Happy New Year to One And All!
It's that time again>>>>>
It's that time again>>>>>
Middlesbrough v Coventry City. The Riverside Stadium. New Years Day: 1st January 2024. KO 15:00 hrs.
A Review of The Year, plus Today's Game.
Thursday 29th December 2022:
Boro returned triumphant from Ewood Park, with three points in the bag. Having been one-nil down at the end of the first half, Marcus Forss smashed home the equalizer on 46 minutes and Soceroo, Riley McGree sealed the win almost on the hour mark. We had a full allocation of fans, more vocal than the locals. That win placed us just inside the play-off places, a point below Watford and above Luton on goal difference. [25 games / 36 points].
A Review of The Year, plus Today's Game.
Thursday 29th December 2022:
Boro returned triumphant from Ewood Park, with three points in the bag. Having been one-nil down at the end of the first half, Marcus Forss smashed home the equalizer on 46 minutes and Soceroo, Riley McGree sealed the win almost on the hour mark. We had a full allocation of fans, more vocal than the locals. That win placed us just inside the play-off places, a point below Watford and above Luton on goal difference. [25 games / 36 points].
Michael Carrick had taken over just two months earlier, enduring a late goal defeat at Preston as his introduction to our faltering side. We were 21st in the table [17 points / 17 games], above Coventry City on goals scored and three points above West Brom who were anchored to the bottom on 14 points. Carrick was turning the tanker around: 19 points from a possible 24 was no mean feat – with virtually the same players, who were heading down a black hole, and looking doomed to a relegation dog fight.
January 2023:
We were on the up: come the 2nd January another convoy of Compass Coaches headed south, down the A19, to St Andrews. Matt Crooks was being used in a more forward role, alongside our Chuba. Crooksy scored two in two minutes in the second half and then provided that pinpoint cross from the right, over to Chuba, who theatrically waggled around the keeper, slotting it nicely into the net. 3-1.
That`l do nicely.
Boro into 5th place.
January 2023:
We were on the up: come the 2nd January another convoy of Compass Coaches headed south, down the A19, to St Andrews. Matt Crooks was being used in a more forward role, alongside our Chuba. Crooksy scored two in two minutes in the second half and then provided that pinpoint cross from the right, over to Chuba, who theatrically waggled around the keeper, slotting it nicely into the net. 3-1.
That`l do nicely.
Boro into 5th place.
[We know the story which followed. Along came Archer and Ramsey. We won three out of four league games in January, losing to a resurgent Brighton, in the cup, and gifted a win to the Deckchairs at their place [and we still ended the season above them].
Oh, What Fun We Had:
We had fun on the road and at home, before that rather flat and disappointing end to our season in May. Perhaps the highlight from last season, had been that wonderful stuffing of the Blades at “Bramley Lane” [c/o George on the Boro Breakdown Podcast]. Chuba`s goal was sublime. Cut through their defence like a knife through butter. Archer was on fire and made their “defence” look like traffic cones.
[Boro ripped Sheffield United apart. They couldn't cope with our pace and flare. Even their ex-gaffa "Rattlebottom" was sent to the stands.
He was happy with that - because there were plenty of empty seats deserted by the Greasy Chip-butty faithful]
Sticking five past Norwich and thrashing Preston also stand out as tremendous victories and great football towards the latter end of the season.
Oh, What Fun We Had:
We had fun on the road and at home, before that rather flat and disappointing end to our season in May. Perhaps the highlight from last season, had been that wonderful stuffing of the Blades at “Bramley Lane” [c/o George on the Boro Breakdown Podcast]. Chuba`s goal was sublime. Cut through their defence like a knife through butter. Archer was on fire and made their “defence” look like traffic cones.
[Boro ripped Sheffield United apart. They couldn't cope with our pace and flare. Even their ex-gaffa "Rattlebottom" was sent to the stands.
He was happy with that - because there were plenty of empty seats deserted by the Greasy Chip-butty faithful]
Sticking five past Norwich and thrashing Preston also stand out as tremendous victories and great football towards the latter end of the season.
[We gave Norwich a lesson in how to play, and they were just happy when the final whistle went].
August 2023:
We don’t need a reminder of how we started this season: it was poor in comparison, and probably a pointer as to how the club needed to conduct its business, now and in the future. But we began with almost a brand-new team. Perhaps if we had achieved our dreams, we might have held on to our valuable loanees and attracted others. Be we didn’t get to the promised land and the loanees flew back to from whence they came.
It took us a few league games [seven, to be precise], to get our season going. Other than the victory at Bolton in the Cup, we didn’t start the way we anticipated. Perhaps that stinker at Sheffield Wednesday, a 1-1 draw against the worst team in the Championship, was the platform for “lift off”. Since then, we have harboured more points than we have gained injured players, and look to be going in the right direction.
[In a fast-paced game, we overcame Watford, 3-2 on their own ground. McGree bagged two and Coburn finished the job on the 63rd Minute].
September through to Christmas, 2023:
That mini-run began in September, against Southampton [2-1], followed by Bradford [2-0 Cup], Watford [3-2], Cardiff [2-0], Sunderland [4-0!!!!], Birmingham [1-0], Norwich [2-1]. We've lost a few where we deserved to win and played badly but won. Like Carrick says, good performances are not always rewarded with good results. We are one of only three teams to beat run-away leaders Leicester City, which was no mean feat. They danced around like ballerinas, but we were technically too much for their tippy-tappy football. In front of a packed house - what a match that was!
Not forgetting our successful run to join the last four league teams to reach the Semi-Final of the Carabao [Football League] Cup. There are 88 league clubs who would love to be in our position. Regardless of who we played to get here, they have been away from home and there were plenty of potential banana skins along the way. We are under-dogs, but so what? We have a mediocre Chelsea side in the League Cup and a probably more formidable Aston Villa in the FA Cup. But who knows? Either way, it will put some more money into the Club's coffers, and that cant be a bad thing.
Carrick recently replied to a reporter who asked if he would rather be focusing on the League than being involved in the two cup competitions? Carrick's face was a picture, and his response was to dismiss that old chestnut, saying that playing and winning games is what football is all about. He loves the game and has faced this type of pressure all his football career. He hasn't lost faith in the squad and believes we go out to win, not to play the underdog.
[ We were in 16th place on 14 points after we thrashed the Mackems. We were climbing the table after that dreadful start and breaking into our stride. That victory showed all the good things that Boro are all about. It was a real team performance, and we could quite easily have scored more. In spite of their sending off, it wouldn't have made the slightest difference if they had 13 outfield players. Jones, Crooks, Greenwood, made them look very amateur. Ultimately, it was one of the last few games for Boro legend Tony Mowbray, who must have been relieved he didn't have to wear that ugly Sunderland scarf any more].
[What a brilliant finish to last year: Captain Jonny Howson missed a penna, then bounced that winning ball into the net. His reaction was sublime. Hand aloft, pointing to the gods, the team were elated that good fortune had at last broken the cycle! He sprinted even quicker to celebrate with the team on the touchline, with the boys, coaching staff and subs, all looking relieved and delighted at the same time].
Huddersfield on Friday was a case in point: we didn’t play well, but we tried and tried. We missed an open goal. The Captain missed a penalty. It was a wet, chilly night with a sell-out travelling RED ARMY in attendance. Then up popped the oldest player in the squad to rifle home the ball into the Terriers net, with not too many minutes left to go. Terrieriffic! That moment was almost Ledbitteresque – where he missed a penalty at QPR, then converted a corner just seconds later. Howson`s run past the sparse Huddersfield “crowd”, hand cupped to one ear and arm pointing up in the air – was a delight to see. That's Howson its done!
August 2023:
We don’t need a reminder of how we started this season: it was poor in comparison, and probably a pointer as to how the club needed to conduct its business, now and in the future. But we began with almost a brand-new team. Perhaps if we had achieved our dreams, we might have held on to our valuable loanees and attracted others. Be we didn’t get to the promised land and the loanees flew back to from whence they came.
It took us a few league games [seven, to be precise], to get our season going. Other than the victory at Bolton in the Cup, we didn’t start the way we anticipated. Perhaps that stinker at Sheffield Wednesday, a 1-1 draw against the worst team in the Championship, was the platform for “lift off”. Since then, we have harboured more points than we have gained injured players, and look to be going in the right direction.
[In a fast-paced game, we overcame Watford, 3-2 on their own ground. McGree bagged two and Coburn finished the job on the 63rd Minute].
September through to Christmas, 2023:
That mini-run began in September, against Southampton [2-1], followed by Bradford [2-0 Cup], Watford [3-2], Cardiff [2-0], Sunderland [4-0!!!!
], Birmingham [1-0], Norwich [2-1]. We've lost a few where we deserved to win and played badly but won. Like Carrick says, good performances are not always rewarded with good results. We are one of only three teams to beat run-away leaders Leicester City, which was no mean feat. They danced around like ballerinas, but we were technically too much for their tippy-tappy football. In front of a packed house - what a match that was!Not forgetting our successful run to join the last four league teams to reach the Semi-Final of the Carabao [Football League] Cup. There are 88 league clubs who would love to be in our position. Regardless of who we played to get here, they have been away from home and there were plenty of potential banana skins along the way. We are under-dogs, but so what? We have a mediocre Chelsea side in the League Cup and a probably more formidable Aston Villa in the FA Cup. But who knows? Either way, it will put some more money into the Club's coffers, and that cant be a bad thing.
Carrick recently replied to a reporter who asked if he would rather be focusing on the League than being involved in the two cup competitions? Carrick's face was a picture, and his response was to dismiss that old chestnut, saying that playing and winning games is what football is all about. He loves the game and has faced this type of pressure all his football career. He hasn't lost faith in the squad and believes we go out to win, not to play the underdog.
[ We were in 16th place on 14 points after we thrashed the Mackems. We were climbing the table after that dreadful start and breaking into our stride. That victory showed all the good things that Boro are all about. It was a real team performance, and we could quite easily have scored more. In spite of their sending off, it wouldn't have made the slightest difference if they had 13 outfield players. Jones, Crooks, Greenwood, made them look very amateur. Ultimately, it was one of the last few games for Boro legend Tony Mowbray, who must have been relieved he didn't have to wear that ugly Sunderland scarf any more].
[What a brilliant finish to last year: Captain Jonny Howson missed a penna, then bounced that winning ball into the net. His reaction was sublime. Hand aloft, pointing to the gods, the team were elated that good fortune had at last broken the cycle! He sprinted even quicker to celebrate with the team on the touchline, with the boys, coaching staff and subs, all looking relieved and delighted at the same time].
Huddersfield on Friday was a case in point: we didn’t play well, but we tried and tried. We missed an open goal. The Captain missed a penalty. It was a wet, chilly night with a sell-out travelling RED ARMY in attendance. Then up popped the oldest player in the squad to rifle home the ball into the Terriers net, with not too many minutes left to go. Terrieriffic! That moment was almost Ledbitteresque – where he missed a penalty at QPR, then converted a corner just seconds later. Howson`s run past the sparse Huddersfield “crowd”, hand cupped to one ear and arm pointing up in the air – was a delight to see. That's Howson its done!
[ What relief and sheer delight. It was one of those games where we didn't play at our best. But the three valuable points were ours as the lads and the fans came home happy, back to Teesside.]
We are now up to 9th with 36 points from 25 games, 3 points of Hull in 6th ].
Today's visitors, Coventry City, are three places and two points behind us. Last time out, they conceded two points at Swansea as the host snatched a late equalizer.
Their season has been a little like ours. They have won eight games, drawn ten and lost seven. We've won eleven, lost eleven and only drawn three. A record we must put right as soon as possible. Coventry, like us, have found goals from all over the pitch, with leading scorers, Haji Wright, Matt Godden, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Callum O`Hare and Ellis Simms. They have drawn three and won two in their last five [9 points] compared to Boro`s won three lost two [nine points].
It's always good to start the New Year on the back of a victory. Let's keep it going. Never mind injuries – there's nothing we can do to bring players back if they aren't fit. We carry on and hope for good news, now that the January “Transfer Window” has arrived. We've stood and backed the team with a tremendous home and away following. We have a Premiership Manager who wants to get us there, and a squad with a team spirit – epitomized by that pile-on, after Super Jonny Howson`s winner on Friday.
We can do this.
Come on Boro!
r00fie1 31/12/2023
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