* The Unofficial "Official" Boro V Stoke Matchday Thread*

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Now then folks!
Its that time again.
We need to kick on today and take the three points off Stoke at their place.
Chris Wilder will be hopeful some of the lads look likely to be off the "injured" list.
Its games like this where we have to grind out results.
Come on Boro!



Welcome, ongi etorra, স্বাগত , 歡迎 , Velkommen, καλως ΗΡΘΑΤΕ, स्वागत हे, velkominn, Selamat datang, fáilte, benvenuto, ようこそ, ស្វាគមន៍, Sveiki, selamat datang, nau mai haere mai, тавтай морил, Witamy, Добро пожаловать, soo dhawoow, Bienvenido, karibu, Hoşgeldiniz, ласкаво просимо, croeso, le puissant Boro

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Middlesbrough v Stoke City 1987-88​

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MATCH PREVIEW [Courtesy Sportsmole: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footba...ough-prediction-team-news-lineups_472350.html​

Preview: Stoke City vs. Middlesbrough - prediction, team news, lineups​

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 1d

Stoke City head into Saturday's Championship fixture with Middlesbrough looking for the victory which will keep them in the playoff places.
However, Boro, who are back in the top 10 after successive wins, travel to the bet365 Stadium sitting just five points adrift of their hosts.

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Match preview​

© Reuters
Michael O'Neill will remain perplexed with Stoke's inconsistency throughout this season, the Potters mixing up promising spells of form with losing streaks.

Nevertheless, they still sit in sixth position after 21 games, a scenario which would have been regarded as acceptable at the beginning of August.

After successive 1-0 defeats against Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers, Stoke responded with a brilliant 2-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

Not only did Stoke halt QPR's run of scoring in 31 Championship fixtures in a row, Tyrese Campbell netted his second strike since returning from a serious knee injury.

Although O'Neill will not be getting carried away, the Northern Irishman knows that a favourable schedule awaits his team, and they have an opportunity to make progress towards the faltering top two.

© Reuters

Middlesbrough were accused of faltering either side of Neil Warnock being sacked and Chris Wilder being named as his replacement at the Riverside Stadium.

However, back-to-back triumphs over Huddersfield Town and Swansea City have catapulted Boro back into contention for the top six ahead of making the trip to one of their rivals for that standing.

Middlesbrough are without a goal in the second half for seven outings, keeping things tight at the back has ensured that there remains reason for optimism among their fanbase.

While they visit Staffordshire having prevailed in just three of their 10 away games this season, seven points have being collected from their latest quartet of fixtures on the road.

Stoke City Championship form:

• W
• W
• W
• L
• L
• W

Middlesbrough Championship form:

• L
• D
• D
• L
• W
• W

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Team News​

© Reuters
Stoke are expected to be without Romaine Sawyers after the midfielder sustained a quad injury during the win at QPR.

Sam Clucas is the natural replacement in the centre of the pitch, and that could prove to be the only change from the team which started at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Steven Fletcher and Campbell should retain their spots in attack, keeping Jacob Brown on the substitutes' bench.

Wilder has been boosted by the return of several players from injury, giving him more food for thought ahead of this contest.

However, the first XI should remain the same with the likes of Dael Fry and Martin Payero only being selected among the replacements.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Davies; Wilmot, Batth, Fox; Smith, Sawyers, Allen, Vrancic, Tymon; Fletcher, Campbell

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Daniels; Djiksteel, Bamba, McNair; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Bola; Watmore, Sporar

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We say: Stoke City 2-1 Middlesbrough​

While Stoke will be wary of letting Middlesbrough back into the promotion race, there is also an opportunity to establish further distance between themselves and the chasing pack. With that in mind, we are backing the Potters to show an extra cutting edge in the final third to claim a hard-fought victory.

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Boro v Stoke Recent Record:

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Weekend Championship Fixtures:






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The Championship Table as at 20:00 hrs BST:



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A BELATED "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TO MARK BOLA!!!!!!
24 years of old! Many Happy Returns





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Marc Bola:
*[A previous Manager declared that Marc Bola had "an attitude problem" and it was thought he was going to leave the Boro. That Manager is no longer with us, but we still have Marc!]*

How trial game rejection turned into a big breakthrough for Bola

The 21-year-old made his Boro debut on Sunday just hours after joining the club from Blackpool

www.gazettelive.co.uk

By Dominic Shaw.
Published July 2019.

Marc Bola & how trial game rejection turned into a big breakthrough for Middlesbrough's new defender:​

The 21-year-old made his Boro debut on Sunday just hours after joining the club from Blackpool
For Middlesbrough's new signing Marc Bola, trial game rejection last summer resulted in his big breakthrough.

After his release from Arsenal a little over 12 months ago, Bola faced an uncertain future but he was handed a trial and a chance to impress at Wigan Athletic.

By the time he played in a behind closed doors friendly at the end of that trial, the Latics had made their mind up on the defender - they weren't going to offer him a new deal.

But little did the left-back know that his final outing for Wigan would end up providing him with the opportunity to make a big breakthrough, as Blackpool Gazette reporter Matt Scrafton explains.

"Shortly before the start of the season, Blackpool played a behind closed doors friendly at Wigan and Bola was playing for Wigan on trial," Scrafton says.

"At the end of the game, Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer spoke to Wigan about Bola and they said they weren't going to offer him anything, they had no plans for him.

"So Bowyer managed to get a number for Bola and as he was leaving Wigan's training ground he called him and asked him if he'd come to Blackpool's training ground because they wanted to sign him.

"At that stage Bola was probably facing starting the new season without a club.

"But it wasn't like Blackpool had scouted him extensively. I'm sure they were aware of him because he'd been on loan at Bristol Rovers but Bowyer obviously just liked what he saw in that game and trusted his judgement to make a call there and then."

Blackpool's Marc Bola (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
And he turned out to be a very shrewd signing....

"In his first season at Blackpool, Bola was the Player of the Year but he was also named Players' Player of the Year, so he got the vote from the fans and from his teammates. That tells you how impressive he was in his first season at the club.

"There were three or four consistently impressive players last season and Bola was one of them.

"Blackpool had signed Joe Bunney early in the summer and he was earmarked to be the first choice left-back. He's actually since returned to Northampton but as I say, this time last year the plan was for him to be the first choice in that position.

"Bunney started the season at left-back but got a knock early doors. Bola came in and never looked back, he kept his place."

What can Boro expect from Bola?

"He's an attacking full-back. I know it's cliché but he's a modern full-back.

"I have seen Jonathan Woodgate saying he can play further forward on the wing as well, which is exactly what Simon Grayson said after James Husband signed last week. Had Bola stayed, he would have still been the first choice left-back, but it would also have been an option for Grayson to play Husband at left-back and Bola further forward.

"Defensively, Bola has got a bit of improving to do but it's by no means a weak point.

Marc Bola made his debut against Saint Etienne as a second half sub
"The only real negative last season was a very odd red card at Plymouth.

"It was the 90th minute and Blackpool were 1-0 up and clearing a corner. One of Bola's teammates, Donervon Daniels, was angry with him for missing a header and ran up to him and pushed him - and both players ended up getting sent off. So Blackpool were down to nine men for the last minute or two, but thankfully managed to hold on to the win.

"That was the only real negative and even then Bola didn't really do anything wrong, he was just on the wrong end of a teammate's fury."

Can he make the step-up to the Championship?

"I think he's capable of making the jump to the Championship.

"If you look at last season, Blackpool were in the hunt for the play-off place and Bola was a key player at the top end of League One. I think he'll do well."

Marc Bola goal - Fulham vs Middlesbrough 1-1 [43 seconds]​

8 Aug 2021

 

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The Man behind the mask......

Isaiah Jones' pride after first Boro goal in Swans win

Isaiah Jones' first Middlesbrough goal was enough to seal his side's win over Swansea

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Isaiah Jones reveals his pride after scoring his first goal for Middlesbrough in Swans win​

Isaiah Jones' first Middlesbrough goal was enough to seal his side's win over Swansea

[Courtesy Craig Johns. Published 6th December 2021]

[EDIT]

Isaiah Jones said he was 'lost for words' as he scored his first Middlesbrough goal to seal victory over Swansea City on Saturday.

Jones showed excellent composure as he ran through onto Sol Bamba's excellent through ball and, ignoring his queueing team-mates at the back post waiting for a tap in, produced a cool finish to give Boro a first half lead.

And after a hard-fought second half, Jones' first senior goal proved enough to earn Boro the three points and move them to within four points of the play-off places.......


............
"I had a long time to think about it. I was running with the ball and kept on driving and the keeper wasn't coming off his line.

"So I was stuck in two minds and I just thought I'd go for it and picked my spot to the side and him and luckily it went in.

"I think if I didn't score they [his team-mates waiting on the back post] would have killed me!

"But I'm just grateful to get my first goal because I know my family are watching so it's a proud moment for me and them."

Despite the individual accolade of scoring his first goal - something he'd said a fortnight ago he was desperate to do after signing a new contract - Jones was also mindful that his goal had sealed an important win for his side.

"The most important thing was to get the three points," Jones continued.

"We had to dig deep in the second half because we weren't very good on the ball, but we showed a different side to us today.

"We had to dig deep and we got the three points.

"We've seen their clips and we knew they were a good side, but today was a day where we had to work hard off the ball a lot more and dig deep.

"I thought we did that perfectly today and deserved the three points.

"Now we get into the Christmas period we just want to get points on the board, anyway that is possible.

"Playing well and getting nothing from it is no good to us. We have to dig deep and come away with three points."

 

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[Courtesy of: https://www.1sports1.com/greatest-stoke-city-players-ever/ ]
Ten of The Greatest Stoke City Players:​

10. Ryan Shawcross​

Ryan Shawcross came through the youth ranks at Manchester United, but didn’t feature for them before moving to Stoke on loan in 2007, joining permanently a year later and going on to make more than 400 appearances for the club.

Shawcross was handed the captaincy by manager Tony Pulis ahead of the 2010–11 season. With Faye drifting out of the team, Robert Huth became Shawcross’s defensive partner and the team reached the 2011 FA Cup Final, finishing runners-up to Manchester City.

The run to the final also meant that Stoke entered the UEFA Europa League in 2011–12, and they reached the round of 32 losing to Spanish team Valencia. Shawcross continued to be a regular under Pulis in 2012–13 and then under Mark Hughes in 2013–14 which saw him win the player of the year award.​

9. Frank Bowyer​

Frank Bowyer was one of the finest footballers of his generation never to win an England cap. Standing between the unassuming local boy and international recognition was the proliferation of exceptionally talented inside-forward.

At club level, though, Bowyer was a star in his own right, a craftsman who could create and score goals with equal facility. He was renowned for devastatingly accurate long-distance distribution, a savagely powerful shot and a certain grace of movement which delighted the eye.

A one-club man throughout his League playing career, he served the Potters for more than two decades, making 436 senior appearances and netting 149 goals, three short of Freddie Steele’s Stoke record. He is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest Stoke City players ever.​

8. John Ritchie​

Ritchie was a typical English centre forward of his time, six foot tall, 12 stone (75kg) in weight, strong on the ground, powerful in the air. He was signed by manager Tony Waddington from non-league Kettering Town in 1963 for £2,500.

He was surprisingly sold by Tony Waddington to Sheffield Wednesday in November 1966 for £80,000. After he scored 45 goals for Wednesday in three seasons Waddington decided that selling Ritchie was a mistake and re-signed him for £28,000. He continued to be a prolific goalscorer for Stoke City and helped them win their first major trophy, the 1972 Football League Cup and reach two FA Cup semi finals.

In September 1974 at Ipswich Town, in a collision with Kevin Beattie, Ritchie severely fractured his leg, virtually ending his career, though he did play briefly for non-League Stafford Rangers.

He scored 171 competitive goals for The Potters, the most ever by a Stoke City player. And he achieved that historic feat in only 332 competitive starts – a ratio better than one goal in every two games, and all scored as a top flight player.​

7. Eric Skeels​

The 1960s and 1970s were undoubtedly one of, if not the, most successful period in Stoke City’s history. Tony Waddington was appointed as first-team manager in 1960 and masterminded almost two decades of continuous success the Victoria Ground which included winning the Second Division title in the 1962/1963 season, reaching two consecutive FA Cup finals in the early 1970s and winning the League Cup in 1972 – the club’s only major trophy to date.

However, within every successful team, there is always an unsung hero – an individual who may not receive the same amount of recognition and plaudits as some of their attacking counterparts, but who are equally as important on the pitch. For Waddington’s Stoke team of the 1960s and 1970s, this role was filled by Eric Thomas Skeels, who would go on to become the club’s all-time record appearance holder, playing 597 competitive matches across an 18-year career at the Victoria Ground.

Although he began his career as an inside-forward Skeels became something of a utility player and was used in every outfield position during his career with The Potters. However, it would be as a defender, half-back and defensive midfielder that he would make his name in the professional game.​

6. Alan Hudson​

After a fallout with the Chelsea manager Dave Sexton, Alan Hudson left the club to join Tony Waddington’s Stoke City in 1974. Without him, Chelsea struggled, while with him Stoke City flourished. In his entire career Tony Waddington was perhaps the one man who most appreciated the skills and talents of Alan Hudson and so it is no coincidence that Hudson played some fantastic football during his two-year spell at Stoke’s old Victoria Ground.

The 1974-75 season saw perhaps Stoke’s best ever side come to within four points of taking the league title before finally having to settle for a fifth-place finish. Once again, instrumental in this push for silverware was Alan Hudson.

Then came one of the weirdest transfers of all time. In the winter of 1976, an almighty storm hit Stoke City’s ground and the main grandstand was badly damaged. For reasons lost in the mists of time, the insurance cover the club arranged had either lapsed or was not sufficient to pay for the repairs.

This meant money had to be raised in another way. The decision was thus taken to cash in on the transfer value of Alan Hudson to the tune of £200,000 and so he was sold to Arsenal. It won’t be wrong to say that he is one of the greatest Stoke City players ever.

He re-joined Stoke City for £22,500 in January 1984 after Bill Asprey had consulted Waddington on how to help Stoke avoid relegation in 1983–84. Stoke picked up 33 points in 17 games and clinched survival with a 4–0 won over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the season. But in 1984–85 Stoke were relegated with a record low points tally. Hudson was named captain by Mick Mills for the 1985–86 season but a knee injury forced him to retire in September 1985.​

5. Jimmy Greenhoff​

Jimmy Greenhoff was in many ways the sheer epitome of the archetypal old fashioned centre forward who would always be at the exact right place at the exact right time. In a highly rewarding goal plundering career, Greenhoff played for a number of clubs, including Leeds United, Birmingham City, Stoke City, and Manchester United, before he decided to hang up his boots for good in 1984.

He was brought to Stoke City by their manager Tony Waddington in August 1969. While at Victoria Ground, the frontman became an important part of the legendary Stoke team which won the Football League Cup Final after overcoming Chelsea by a narrow 2-1 score at Wembley Stadium on the 4th of March 1972.

Several decent seasons would follow, but Waddington´s Victoria Ground side always seemed to lack the consistency required to bring home the First Division Championship title to Staffordshire.

In November 1976, Jimmy Greenhoff would make an unexpectedly £120,000 transfer move to Manchester United after hitting 76 goals in 274 First Division matches for Stoke City during a seven-year stay at Victoria Ground.​

4. Neil Franklin​

Neil Franklin was arguably the finest centre-half the England football team ever had. After losing his early prime to the Second World War, he became an automatic choice for his club and country.

”Neil Franklin was globally regarded as being one of the finest defenders to play the game.”

The former centre-half received such acclaim from a number of greats including Sir Tom Finney, Billy Wright and Stoke City icon, Sir Stanley Matthews.

A king-pin in defence for City and England, he set a then record of 27 consecutive caps for the Three Lions and had the footballing world at his feet.

However, Franklin sent shockwaves through the British game when he left Britain for Bogota in 1950, just months before England were set to make their World Cup debut in Brazil.

Whilst the national team proceeded to be humiliated by the United States in South America, trying out ten inferior centre-halves over the next four years and suffering two devastating defeats at the hands of the Hungarians, Franklin also failed to make an impact in Colombia.

In less than two months he was back home in the Potteries, chastened, largely ostracised and destined for virtual oblivion for the rest of his time as a player. It was a move that affected what should have been a more distinguished career for Franklin.​

3. Freddie Steele​

Freddie Steele is Stoke City’s second highest scorer of all-time, and has one of the most prolific goals-to-game ratios in the history of the English national team, yet the reality is, Steele would have achieved so much more had his career not been plagued by serious injuries, depression and the Second World War.

Sir Stanley Matthews described him as “Stoke City’s greatest centre-forward,” and his record of 140 goals in 224 games for the Potters would certainly back that up. Steele isn’t just one of the greatest Stoke City players ever, he is also considered a legend by Port Vale supporters.

Signing with Stoke City in 1931 at the age of fifteen, he set a club record when he scored 33 league goals in the 1936–37 season. During the season his 214-day-long international career also made for impressive reading, as he hit eight goals in six games for England.​

2. Denis Smith​

Denis Smith has hero status among Stoke City supporters who stood on the Victoria Ground terraces during the sixities and seventies. He spent 17 years playing for his hometown club, and was a vital part of the Potters team which won the League Cup – the first major trophy in the club’s history – in 1972.

A hard-tackling defender, he soon established himself in the first team, playing in a centre-back partnership with Alan Bloor for much of his career. Stoke enjoyed one of the most successful periods of their history during his time at the club.

Denis played alongside such Potters greats as Gordon Banks, Alan Hudson, George Eastham and Jimmy Greenhoff. With him in the team, Stoke reached successive FA Cup semi-finals in 1971 and 1972. He also helped the club to successive fifth-place finishes in the First Division in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

He will always be remebered by their fans as one of the one of the greatest Stoke City players ever.​

1. Stanley Matthews​

Stanley Matthews’ first professional club was Stoke City FC. He played for Stoke City from 1932 to 1947. His career, as was inevitable, was hampered by the Second World War. Still he managed to score 51 goals in 259 appearances.

A teetotaller and vegetarian, Matthews kept himself fit enough to still be playing at the top level at the age of 50, and finally retired in 1965.

A mark of Matthews’ greatness was that his testimonial was played against a World XI boasting true greats like Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Lev Yashin, and Josef Masopust.

At the end of the game, which Stoke won 6-4, Matthews was carried off the field on the shoulders of Yashin and Puskas. He played nearly 700 league games, was never booked, and after retiring was the first footballer to be knighted.

At the age of 32 Stan left the Potteries, signing for Blackpool for £11,500 and a bottle of whisky, but not before he helped Great Britain beat a Rest of Europe side 6-1 before a crowd of 134,000 in Glasgow. A Belgian defender in one game said marking him was like ‘trying to mark a ghost’

Probably the most famous stint was that at the FA Cup final against Bolton Wanderers. Blackpool was lagging 3-1 when in 30 minutes, Stan’s speed and dribbling saw Blackpool make an amazing turnaround. Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick for Blackpool but the match was rightly termed as the Matthews Final. The final score was 4-3.

This is the engraved quote below his statue outside Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium:

“His name is symbolic of the beauty of the game, his fame timeless and international, his sportsmanship and modesty universally acclaimed. A magical player, of the people, for the people.”​

 

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Scrapbook
[Spot a few familiar faces!]

 

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Red and White Shorts:

Middlesbrough v Notts County 1986-87​

[26 seconds]

 

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Beyond Our Wilderest Dreams.

Stoke City v Middlesbrough: Lots of work to be done says Chris Wilder​

Stoke City v Middlesbrough: Aiming to catch up with Potters

SIMILAR-sized working-class clubs, with those comparisons extending to their footballing histories, Middlesbrough and Stoke City have a fair bit in common.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

AS Middlesbrough go in search of a third successive win in the Championship, they’ll come up against there toughest assignment to date in Stoke City, according to manager Chris Wilder.

Recent wins against Huddersfield Town and Swansea City have seen Boro climb back into the top half of the table as the club reap the benefits of recent work on the training pitch with the new boss.

Boro sit five points behind the Potters in the table who occupy the final play-off spot in the table. Victory at the Bet 365 would go a long way to throwing themselves back into the play-off picture heading into the festive period.

But Stoke have had a strong start to the campaign under the stewardship of former Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neil and Wilder is well aware of the task at hand for his side.

He said: “We just want to keep moving forward and get another result. It’s going to be a tough ask.

“Possibly the toughest one we’ve had so far since we’ve been here. He’s a talented manager with some really good Championship players and some players that have produced the goods in the big league as well. A club that is desperate to get back into the Premier League as we are.

“It’s taken them time to get them to where Michael has wanted them to be but I should imagine he is comfortable with where they are at. He’s got some good talented young players as well and it’s a well balanced and very competitive squad.

“I’ve got to say it’s our toughest challenge so far and we’ve got to be at our very best to get a result.

“The players can feel confident. I believe they’ve got that inner belief that they back themselves and go and get a result but we’re going to have to do a lot of things right on Saturday. If we can do that, then hopefully we will get that result that we are after.”

O’Neil was in charge of the Northern Ireland team for nine years before taking the Potters managerial job full-time in 2019. He will be well aware of Boro talisman Paddy McNair who has played the majority of his 51 caps for NI under him.

Wilder is making final preparations to his side as they go in search of a third successive win. However, he’s got plenty of admiration for his opposite number.

The 54-year-old added: “I’ve got an enormous amount of respect for Michael O’Neill. I know him well and he managed his national side very well on limited resources.

“If we look at his job at Stoke, it’s similar to the job I’ve got on here in terms of putting his stamp on it over a couple of windows.

“I’m not getting carried away. We want success and we want to win the next game. We want this season to be a success, but I’m not getting carried away because there’s an awful lot of work to be done.

“That’s not just from me. That’s the same view from the director of football, from the chief exec and from the owner. They understand that there is a lot of work to be done.

“It’s a bit different at Stoke in that he came in having only recently dropped out of the Premier League and so a lot of players were still Premier League players.

“It’s taken him time and I would imagine he’s had a rollercoaster with the squad restructure as well as I will have.

“I suppose it’s something I have to get used to because you’re looking for that consistency straight away and I’m not so sure it’s going to be there until we work on the training ground, with the conditioning department and, most importantly, the recruitment.

“The two big things that I can affect is with Kieran [Scott] the recruitment and then obviously on the training ground with Alan [Knill] and the other coaches.

“Michael has it where he wants it to be if you look at their squad. That’s the importance of three or four good windows.

“They now have more consistent performances and results and I’m sure second half of the season they will be very strong and I’d tip them to definitely be in the play-offs come the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Boro will be hopeful that Martin Payero wins his race to be fit for the game at the Bet 365 Stadium after he was forced to come off in the club’s Under 23’s win over Huddersfield in midweek. He scored twice before having to be withdrawn.





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Stoke Sentinel.



Report Michael O`Neil on The Boro:
[https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/spo...ke-newcastle-transfer-tyrese-campbell-6334021]



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Stoke City are hoping to build on three points at QPR and get back to winning ways at home as they take on Middlesbrough. Here is Michael O'Neill ’s pre-match press conference.

Do you put Stoke’s 90-minute performance at QPR down to having a full week of training?

Michael O’Neill: More than anything it’s a reaction to having been disappointed with the performance the previous week as well.

It was important we got a good reaction. We were also playing against a team we were close to in the league. There was a necessity not to allow them to get a little gap in points above us.

I think training was good that week leading into the game and also this week as well. It does help, no doubt about that, when you have a four-day training week leading into the game as opposed to a two-day week when one is a recovery day.

Mainly we played well in the game. The game suited us because QPR are a team that like to play, the game was open. We had to defend at times in the early part of the game but we showed our quality, particularly when the ball was turned over.

We knew that when the ball was turned over that QPR would be quite open – that’s how they play – and that we’d get chances. We capitalised on that. The first goal is a brilliant example of that.

In the second half I thought we played very well and I’m delighted with the three points.

Middlesbrough are now trying to dominate games under Chris Wilder? This might be a tight game?

Chris has come in and obviously had great success in the Championship before with Sheffield United to win the title and get promoted.

I think what we’ve seen is clear evidence that a lot of what he did at Sheffield United he is trying to implement at Middlesbrough.

They were playing three at the back under Neil Warnock as well so that has probably made the transition to Chris a little bit easier.

He knows that system very well. We know what to expect.

It’s still early days. It takes a long time to get exactly what you want into your team and how you want them to play but it’ll be a tough game.

They will think they can come to Stoke and win and see an opportunity to close the gap between themselves and us. Our obligation is to try to make sure that doesn’t happen.

I think any team gets a little jump after a manager arrives and then you get tested in games five, six when teams start to realise a little bit clearer what you’re trying to do.

Games between ourselves and Middlesbrough have been tight, there’s been very little in them, and we’re prepared for that.

Are Tyrese Campbell and Josh Tymon ok after hard work outs last week?

Yeah, they’re fine. Josh plays in a very demanding position and he has played a lot of football this season, the most minutes he’ll have played continuously in his career and his body is adapting to that – but he has to be that kind of player.

That’s the type of player Josh needs to be and I think he’s done that brilliantly this season. He has to continue to push on.

Tye put a lot into the game. We knew we weren’t going to get 90 minutes from him so it was important we got quality for the 65 or 70 that he was on and he gave us that.

Do you have an idea of how you might arrange your attack for the run of games over the next few weeks? One of Sima, Campbell or Brown with Fletcher or Surridge, for example?

It will depend on the opposition and who is in form as well. I think Steven Fletcher ’s playing very well at the minute.

The important thing for us is that the strikers who start have an impact on the game but perhaps even more important is that when you make changes that they come on and give you what you need.

It’s very difficult for the two front players to play 90 minutes in the current situation. If it’s Sam and Browny coming on or vice versa Fletch and Campbell or Sima in the mix, they have to have an impact.

It’s nice that we have all five available at this minute in time and touch wood that’s how it remains for the rest of the season.

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It should be a good atmosphere this weekend with Middlesbrough bringing 1,600 fans?

Yeah, definitely. It always helps when you have a good away support as well.

We have to get on the front foot. We have to give our fans something to be positive about and give them an exciting performance.

That’s been the message we’ve hammered home all season. As I’ve said previously, our home form has been good. We’re disappointed in our last home game with our performance and a narrow defeat.

We’ve got a chance to put that right against Middlesbrough.

​

 

[r00fie1]

Red and Whites Shorts:

[24 seconds]

Always great to see us beat the Black Cats

 

[r00fie1]

Get your Programmes!

 

[DrummerMan]

3 - 1 to BORO

 

[r00fie1]

Under The Floodlights
A tribute to one of Britains Greatest Ever Footballers



GEORGE BEST
Courtesy: https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/george-best/
[Additional photographs and editing - r00fie]

Arguably the world’s first true football superstar, Northern Ireland’s George Best had the looks and personality to ensure his popularity went beyond football and into the world of mainstream entertainment.

Popstar looks, a dedication to fashion and a reputation as a playboy meant Best was a figure of fascination for the public from his emergence with Manchester United in the swinging sixties until his sadly early death in 2005.

However the fame was earned thanks to a prodigious talent on the pitch. In an era of muddy fields and tough tackles, Best seemed to glide through opponents and do things with a ball that no-one else could. Able to play on either wing, up front or behind a central striker, at the peak of his abilities Best was almost unstoppable. The Belfast Boy was even described by Pelé as “the greatest player in the world.”.

Spotted by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop in Belfast at the age of 15, he made his first team debut in September 1963, aged 17. United manager Sir Matt Busby put his trust in Best, making him a first team regular by the following season, with the team going on to claim the First Division title.

"I think I've found you a genius..." Scouting report by Bob Bishop​

He was still a teenager when a star performance against Benfica in the European Cup saw the Portuguese press dub Best "the fifth Beatle", a nickname that would remain in the public's perception throughout his life.

Best was the youngest member of a United attacking line that became known as 'the holy trinity'. England international Bobby Charlton was ten years Best's senior, and Scotland striker Denis Law was an established international who had signed for a British transfer record fee £115,000 in 1962. However the three forwards complemented each other brilliantly on the pitch, helping United to conquer Europe in 1968, with Best scoring the vital second goal in a 4-1 European Cup Final win at Wembley, again against a Benfica side featuring the great Eusebio.

In the same season, United's rivals Manchester City pipped them to the domestic title by just 2 points. Best was to become great friends with City midfielder Mike Summerbee and, with the city's footballers enjoying great success on the pitch, a celebratory lifestyle off the pitch was becoming George's trademark, as much as his sublimely skilful dribbling. Best and Summerbee opened a chain of fashion boutiques, and George also went into the bar and nightclub business, as well as earning extra money from a string of sponsorships and endorsements.

That European win was arguably the highlight of Best's career. The following season United were off the pace in the league and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. Best was sent off in the 2nd leg of an Intercontinental Cup game against Argentinian side Estudiantes; having been targeted for rough treatment throughout, he threw a retaliatory punch after being spat at by an opponent. Sir Matt Busby, the manager who had nurtured Best's talent, retired at the end of the season.

As an individual talent Best continued to shine; in 1970 he scored six goals in an 8-2 FA Cup win against Northampton Town, and even when playing mostly on the wing he was to be the club's top scorer for six consecutive seasons.

However United's decline in the early 70s was to spell the end of Best's golden years too. Problems with alcohol led to increasingly erratic form and behaviour. Best's final appearance was on 1 January 1974. New manager Tommy Docherty dropped Best after the game, a 3-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers in which one reporter described him as "lacking the burst of speed that used to take him away from danger...Seldom can he have been caught in possession so often...". He had played 474 games for the club, scoring 179 goals. He was still just 27. United were relegated at the end of the season.

Even after his departure from United, which saw Best play for teams in the USA, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Hong Kong and Australia, he was still an automatic choice for his country. He won 37 caps for Northern Ireland, but was never given the chance to play at a major championship finals: the 1982 World Cup finals came too late for a player whose once-great fitness had deserted him. His final retirement (something he'd threatened many times) came in 1983, after 4 games for Brisbane Lions, at the age of 37. In the decade since United he'd played for 10 more teams.

Best died in 2005 at the age of 59, having struggled with alcoholism for much of his adult life. However the enduring memory for football fans is of an outrageously talented footballer, playing with an exuberance and confidence that belied his youthful looks and frame. While he made Manchester United kings of Europe, it looked like George Best could conquer the world.

Principal English Clubs: Manchester United, Stockport County, Fulham, Bournemouth
Honours: 1 European Cup, 2 Division One Championships
Caps: 37 (Northern Ireland), 9 goals
Inducted: 2002

 

[r00fie1]

The Corner Flag:
A selective glance at what`s been happening in football over the last week....

​

Preston North End have appointed their new manager - Ryan Lowe.
North End sit 18th in The Championship, with three defeats, one draw and one victory out the last five games.
Today sees them taking on Barnsley, who are second bottom.

​

​

Danny Cowley and brother Nicky managed Lincoln City`s promotion from the National League in 2017.
After signing for Huddersfield Manager in September 2019 he found himself sacked in July 2020!
Now in charge of south coast "Giants" Portsmouth - he has a long term deal with the aim of finally getting Pompey out of the third tier of English football.​

​

Forest Green Rovers are arguably the most forward - looking club in British Football.
In 2015 they became the worlds first Vegan Football Club. The United Nations recognised Forest Green Rovers as the world’s first carbon-neutral club and it was described by FIFA as the “greenest team in the world”:

Forest Green Rovers named 'greenest football club in world’

Forest Green Rovers' ground is powered by renewable energy and serves vegan food.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sitting 6 points clear of second at the top of League Two, they have drawn one and won four of their last five games. A whopping 38 goals scored and only 15 conceded after just 19 games - even at this stage they look on for promotion.​

​

Darlington tickets on sale tomorrow: how to buy - Spennymoor Town FC

Darlington tickets go on sale tomorrow. Here's how you can access them for the home end at the Boxing Day fixture.

spennymoortownfc.co.uk

Spennymoor v Darlington is going to be special: The Quakers are currently one point and one place below Spennymoor in the Vanarama National League North. Spennymoor are currently without a Manager [As I write].

​

Sunderland forward Ross Stewart is currently joint third top scorer in the EFL League One!
The 25 year old began his career at Ardeer Thistle, who currently play in the West of Scotland League Conference B [Honest!]
The Mackems are two points below Wigan in the second automatic promotion spot. Wigan have a game in-hand.

​

 

[r00fie1]

* Following the tragic death of young Arthur - football fans across the country paid tribute at last week`s matches with a minutes applause. The little lad was a Blues fan and Birmingham City have created a special place at St Andrews dedicated to him.
R.I.P

Birmingham City unveil poignant tribute to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes

Birmingham City have renamed the family zone at St Andrew’s 'Arthur’s Area' and there are also plans to create a memorial garden at the stadium

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Published Friday December 10th.
By Chris Watson.

Birmingham City unveil poignant tribute to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes​

Birmingham City have renamed the family zone at St Andrew’s 'Arthur’s Area' and there are also plans to create a memorial garden at the stadium


Birmingham City have unveiled a poignant tribute to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

Blues will pay their respects to Arthur during their Sky Bet Championship fixture against Cardiff City on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

And on Friday, the club announced they had renamed the family zone at St Andrew’s to "Arthur’s Area".

There are also plans to create a memorial garden at the stadium dedicated to Arthur, where supporters can take a quiet moment to remember their loved ones.

After six-year-old Arthur's tragic murder, the lasting image of him shared across the media showed him smiling and wearing a Blues shirt.

Birmingham City said in a statement: "Following our update last week regarding memorial plans for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, we would like to provide further information on how we intend to honour his memory.

'Arthur's Area' at St Andrew's (Image: Birmingham City FC)

"In addition to the previously announced plans of installing a giant flag and memorial bricks at the front of St. Andrew’s, the club, along with the support of our brand partner Fridays, has renamed the Fridays Family Zone to Arthur’s Area. This will be a fun-filled space for young supporters to enjoy prior to kick-off. Planned activities will be arranged on a match-by-match basis with information points installed by local children’s charities to help tackle child abuse.

"The club has also been contacted by local stencil artist Disney, who recently sprayed a touching tribute to Arthur in the city, and he has kindly offered to donate his talent to the area, creating designs in the new Arthur’s Area to ensure his memory lives on.

"Furthermore, plans are in place to create a memorial garden in Arthur’s name at St. Andrew’s where supporters can take a quiet moment to remember him, and all their loved ones who have passed away. The club will share the designs with supporters when they have been finalised. The programme for Saturday’s fixture with Cardiff City will also honour Arthur on the front cover, and £1 from every sale will be donated to children’s charities in Birmingham.

A tribute to Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at St Andrew's (Image: Birmingham City FC)

"Further plans to honour Arthur permanently are being put in place and will be communicated in due course. The club will also be reaching out to Arthur’s family, and work with them to decide which charities the family would like us to support.

"The lasting image of Arthur, shared across social media and used by a number of news outlets in recent weeks, depicts a smiling, happy boy wearing a Blues shirt, and we as a club will strive to keep that memory alive in people’s hearts and minds forever.

"Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, you are loved."

 

[r00fie1]

Middlesbrough FC - Middlesbrough FC

Welcome to the official website of Middlesbrough Football Club. Visit for Boro's latest news, videos and highlights, plus tickets and match information.

www.mfc.co.uk

Boro's Emirates FA Cup third round tie with Mansfield Town has been confirmed as a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday 8 January. ​

The match at the One Call Stadium has been selected for live broadcast overseas.
Ticket information will be confirmed in due course.

​

​ Result: Mansfield 0 - 2 Middlesbrough 26th January 2008​ Published: BBC Sport - FootballUpdated Jan 26th 2008. 14:22hrs GMT​ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7197714.stm​

​ Dong-Gook Lee claimed only his second goal of the season Middlesbrough edged into the fifth round of the FA Cup after being pushed hard by a valiant Mansfield side. Dong-Gook Lee steered into the bottom corner on 15 minutes after the Stags failed to clear Adam Johnson's corner. Mansfield battled throughout with Michael Boulding smashing the bar from 25 yards and Mark Schwarzer saving well a minute later from his looped header. But three minutes from the end, skipper Jake Buxton diverted George Boateng's clipped cross into his own net. The lowest-ranked league club still in the FA Cup deserved at least a replay from this tie and will rue their inability to create more chances for Boulding.​ Boro themselves failed to fashion many clear-cut opportunities, but after a scrappy opening 15 minutes, they went ahead after a mix-up in the Stags defence.​ Mansfield failed to deal with Johnson's corner, and while David Wheeter's shot was blocked, they could not keep out Lee's effort that was comfortably dispatched into the bottom corner. The blustery conditions meant an aerial bombardment was out of the equation, but early on at least, the hosts were more than adept along the ground, displaying an encouraging spell of passing. But with little service to lone striker Boulding, Mansfield's chances were heavily restricted. Boulding - who has scored more goals this season than the entire Boro starting line-up - took it upon himself to find an equaliser and the striker created two excellent chances inside a minute. First, he rattled the bar from 25 yards after a foraging run from midfield, and from the resulting corner, he leaped to force Schwarzer into a fine full-stretch save. Lee missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond Mansfield shortly before the break when he somehow headed Jeremie Aliadiere's cross well wide when it looked easier to score. Mansfield ruffled the visitors throughout much of the second half with Robert Huth - lucky to be on the field after crunching into Boulding - forced into mistakes by the same lively striker. Boro threw on first-teamers Boateng, Mido and Stewart Downing as boss Gareth Southgate saw his lacklustre team come under heavy pressure. The hosts grew in confidence and, inspired by Matthew Hamshaw's running and delivery, their endeavour deserved an equaliser. But the elusive clear chance failed to materialise and Buxton's own goal on 87 minutes ended Mansfield's hopes. Boateng's clipped cross would have fallen to Downing, but the Stags captain got ahead of him, only to divert the ball into his own net. Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate: "We knew it would be a difficult test because it is tough at these grounds. "I am pleased with the way we approached it and getting our first goal settled us down. "Although it was very windy our goalkeeper and central defenders coped with it very well. "We could have played better but we the main thing is that we got through. "Credit to Mansfield because they were never going to give up and they did not." Mansfield boss Billy Dearden: ​ "I am proud of the lads although I am disappointed at the two goals we conceded. "In the second half we pinned them in a bit and did okay. "We have given a good account of ourselves and hopefully we can take this forward into our league games. "We must learn from our mistakes especially when defending from set-pieces." Mansfield: Muggleton, Martin, Jelleyman, Buxton, Mullins, Brown (McAliskey 73), Dawson, D'Laryea, Bell (Arnold 73), Hamshaw, Michael Boulding. Subs Not Used: White, Holmes, Wood. Booked: Martin. Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Pogatetz (Boateng 46), Huth, Wheater, Young, Cattermole, Arca, Rochemback, Johnson (Downing 65), Aliadiere, Lee (Mido 71). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Riggott. Booked: Huth, Cattermole. Goals: Lee 17, Buxton 87 og. Att: 6,258 Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

​

​

Wilder's verdict on Boro's FA Cup draw with Mansfield Town away

Middlesbrough learned their FA Cup third round opponents earlier in the week

www.gazettelive.co.uk

​

Chris Wilder's verdict on Middlesbrough's FA Cup draw away to Mansfield Town​

[Craig Johns]

Chris Wilder insists that he will take the FA Cup seriously at Middlesbrough.

The oldest cup competition was once one of the most coveted prizes in English football but has become somewhat digested in recent years owing to the money incentives of league progression.

As a result, many don't often prioritise the FA Cup, with Boro failing to get beyond the fourth round in any of the last four seasons.

This year, the third round brings forth a trip to League Two side Mansfield Town for the Boro - with Nigel Clough's side upsetting Sunderland and Doncaster to reach this stage.

But Wilder will be out to avoid any such upsets next month, insisting that, whichever team he puts out, he expects a win as part of the consistently high standards he is setting on Teesside.

He said: “We want to win every game. With everything that we do, we want the attitude right throughout the club.

“Whether it’s 23s, 18s, there has to be that attitude. Especially at the senior level though because that then filters down to the academy boys.

“Of course, they’re developing footballers and have to develop their skills and the way they play, but without that competitive attitude, whatever the game, you won’t have success.

“I won’t accept anything less. Of course, at times you might want to take different things from games, but above all else, I want to win and I want people to want to win and want to improve.

“I know Nigel [Clough] well and he will be eyeing a cup upset.

“But we’ll have 2-3,00 going down there and I don’t want us to be one of the upsets of the round. I want to progress in that competition, build momentum and win games of football.

“That momentum is key. Let’s be real about it, it’s been inconsistent here for a long time.

“We have to try and build that consistency and that only comes through our own attitude.

“We want big games at the Riverside and for that to happen we’ve got to take care of Mansfield and that attitude will be there from the off.

“As long as it is, we’ll have a great chance of winning.”

 

[r00fie1]

What Went Wrong for:

GARETH SOUTHGATE?

This article published 21 st October 2009. By Dave Middleton:

Middlesbrough sack Gareth Southgate

The Boro chairman, Steve Gibson, said the 'time is right for a change' as Southgate is shown the door a couple of hours after a league victory

www.theguardian.com

Middlesbrough sack Gareth Southgate​

Manager is shown door two hours after home win

'Time is right for a change' with Boro a point from the top [?!]

Gareth Southgate patrols the sidelines as Boro recorded a 2-0 victory against Derby County, his last game in charge of the club he captained between 2002-06.

Middlesbrough last night sacked Gareth Southgate in a shock move that the club chairman, Steve Gibson, admitted was "the hardest decision I've had to make in football". It came straight after Southgate oversaw Boro's 2-0 home victory against Derby County that left them fourth in the Coca-Cola Championship, a point behind the leaders.

The timing of Middlesbrough's move was especially curious given that Gibson had stood by Southgate as Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League last season. The club hit another low point in September when they lost 5-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion.

But Gibson added: "The time is right for change and that change has had to be made."

"Gareth has given Middlesbrough Football Club magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager," said Gibson. "I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him. He deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."

The former Boro captain, who led the team to a Carling Cup victory in 2004, played his last game in the 2006 Uefa Cup final and was appointed manager shortly afterwards, replacing Steve McClaren.

The former Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith, described as a "football consultant" and who had only been hired in July, has also been sacked.

There had been speculation that Southgate's time at the Riverside could be up after the drubbing by West Brom was followed by home defeats to Leicester and Watford.

Boro ended that sequence last night when Adam Johnson's double secured a 2-0 victory over Derby County which had appeared to have given the manager breathing space.

Asked after the game about the consequences of another home defeat, Southgate said: "There would obviously been more speculation and we would have been probably four or five places lower, which would have made life very difficult, I am sure, for all of us.

"I have had lots of games like that since I have been manager here where you wonder about the consequences of defeat, but we were very positive in the way we approached everything.

"We thought about how we could win the game. We didn't really consider the possibility of defeat, but you know all the while a fourth home defeat on the bounce would have been very difficult for people to accept.

"None of us wanted to go through that and we didn't want to put our supporters through that more than anything. We want them to see us winning at home and as the season goes on, we have got to make sure we do it regularly if we want to go up."

The victory was played out in front of just 17,459 spectators, less than half of the Riverside's official capacity and reportedly the lowest-ever attendance for a league game at the stadium.

Gibson sprang a major surprise when he appointed his then club captain as manager in the wake of McClaren's departure for the England job during the summer of 2006.

Having fought for special dispensation from the Premier League to give Southgate the job without him holding the required Uefa Pro Licence, the chairman handed him a five-year contract and charged him with the task of revitalising the squad in challenging financial conditions on Teesside.

The new manager guided his side to a 12th-place finish in his first season at the helm and 13th a year later. But last season proved far more challenging and ultimately unsuccessful as Boro slipped out of the top flight having won just seven of their 38 league games and scored just 28 goals.


Coca Cola League Championship:
End 2009 / 2010 Season.
Following Southgate`s Sacking in October 2009
​

 

[boroboy6872]

Thanks @r00fie1

Brilliant as ever, Birmingham article broke me

 

[Caretaker1]

Thanks roofie , much appreciated .

 

[Zoophonic]

cheers again!!

“It’s that time again” has become your catchphrase Roofie. Like “shut that door” and “nice to see you, to see you nice”

Southgate outside the Riverside - looks like he is going to a Tommy Cooper convention.

 

[r00fie1]

Yet another "Happy Birthday" to another Boro player:

LEE PELTIER



35 today

Started his career as a youth at Liverpool in 1997


Still plying his trade at the Boro in 2021.

 

[Otto42]

Excellent as usual Roofie