Boro take on Liverpool on Saturday and here is the following injuries: Malcolm Christie (Operation on his leg, return in a month or so) Chris Riggott (Still recovering after knee surgery over the surgery, out for a few weeks) Stuart Parnaby (Knee injury and out of Saturdays game) Tony McMahon (Dislocated Shoulder) Danny Graham (Stress Fracture in shin) Players who might be fit and carrying slight knocks: Ugo Ehiogu Joseph Job In light of all the injuries i expect to see: .................Schwarzer Reiziger Ehiogu Southgate Queudrue Mendieta Doriva Boateng Downing ...............JFH Yakubu Subs: Viduka Maccarone Morrison Jones Bates
Off to the game as well. With me phone on text updates for the PSG match. Up the Boro and Allez Paris! Yeah....
Boro 0-0 Liverpool Poor game from Boro's view although we battled hard we never looked like we had the attacking prescence. Ehiogu's sending off just shows how poor he really is.
^^^^^ Disappointing game. I guess it was nice to pull out the tie being 1 man down, and maybe we've got the feeling that we should have lost given the chances Stevie G had, but we were lacking much creativity. I like Ray Parlour, and I think he still play, but he's no playmaker, and neither is Boateng. So, with Ehiogu out next week, and Riggot still out, who lines up at CB next week?
Tottenham away next Saturday, id like to see the following: ..............Schwarzer Reiziger Bates Southgate Queudrue Morrison Parlour Boateng Downing ...........Viduka Yakubu Subs: Hasselbaink Nemeth Doriva Cooper Jones
Agreed...on all points. Bit poor, lack of creative influence in the centre, lack of ammuntion to the front two, etc etc... Zenden got royally booed - which turned surprisingly bitter. Ugo was crap, and his professional rugby tackle to get himself sent off was exemplary for any young professionals wanting to find out how to get sent off in the professional manner. When he fell over the ball, in the 1st half, he showed his lack of movment and his hesitancy at the back. He should have cleared in the stands. Grrr. Liverpool dominated, Stevie G ran the show as per usual and should have had a hat-trick. Missed some golden chances... Bates at the back against Spurs? Hmmm. looked okay when he came on yesterday I guess. Coops is experience though, wouldn't be shocked if he got the nod ahead of Bates somehow... I think we'll lose to Spurs 2-0, they are red-hot at the minute... Also, I see they put new plasma screens in the stadium. Tres chic. It said in the prgramme they are going to put a score-board up; About time really...
Bates has looked impressive in pre season whilst Cooper hasnt played as much, Cooper will only be used in a real emergency since he has a coaching role at the club now.
Tis true, I have liked the look of him and he looked solid against Liverpool. Another good young player at our disposal. Still, I wish Riggott was back...
Szilard Nemeth is out for 3 weeks with a damaged ankle, with that news and Job in talks with West Ham it looks like Maccarone will be on the bench at Tottenham
Pogatetz is no longer banned and he's playing for Austria tonight so that gives him match fitness, i expect him to start at centre back (where he can play) against Tottenham.
............Schwarzer Reiziger Pogatetz Southgate Queudrue Mendieta Parlour Boateng Downing ......Viduka Yakubu Subs: Hasselbaink Maccarone Doriva Bates Jones
Interesting..... Oh well, Manu is set to make his debut for us at WHL. And my tickets are coming in the post.... Yipee! Should be interesting to see if the Viduka / Yakubu has nay long-term future...
Although Pogatetz isnt banned, he wont recieve international clearance in time so its going to be Bates at the back. Colin Cooper is the only other option but he isnt expected to feature in the league this season unless a real emergency. Tony McMahon is to have an operation to correct his dislocated shoulder so he's out for a few months. James Morrison has an ankle injury whilst Malcolm Christie has started light training again following his recent operation on his leg.
Just got back. Thought Spurs controlled the first half and we had it in spells, but we wasted far too many chances are were undone by a world-class strike from Defoe and then a regular Mark Schwarzer tits-up. We can’t afford to waste that many chances at this level, especially if we want to finish top 6 - and given the past few performances, that is highly dubious. And still we lack that creative force in midfield and some clinicalness up front. Hopefully the latter will come sooner rather than later. I didn’t really expect us to get anything out of this game, and I think the real acid test will be against Birmingham, where our record over there is nothing short of appalling. If we can’t beat them, then I am really casting some doubts over this team… Also, met some Plymouth fans on the way back - nice lads. They seemed in high spirits despite their team losing 1-0 to Palace.
Birmingham away tomorrow. Middlesbrough from: Schwarzer, Jones, Reiziger, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Southgate, Bates, Wheater, Boateng, Parlour, Downing, Doriva, Mendieta, Morrison, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone Id like to see Mendieta dropped.
Nice avatar of Evangeline Lilly btw. I wouldn't mind getting marooned with her Okay, enough of the sex pestery.... I also spoilt some of the current series by watching some later episodes in America on ABC. D'oh!
I watched this game and i have to say, well done McClaren you got it spot on. 3 points and a great game all round. a 3-0 win at Birmingham when we havent won there since 1978. Great stuff
That second goal with the keepie uppie in a crowd and then a turn from difficult angle and firing straight into poor Maik Taylor's net! Superb goal Viduka. Thanks Francky Queudrue for a fine fantasy week 15 points (CS, G & A)!!! 4 points from opening 3 games (HAA) not too bad!
Boro get Xanthi in the UEFA Cup. Good draw me thinks. The teams we could have gotten were fairly easy in that pot anyways. But I'm ahppy. I would have liked Halmstads, because of the short travelling distance. Oh well. First leg will be at the Riverside on the 15th (I think) with the 2nd leg in Greece 2 weeks later. Oh, and it looks like Emerson plays for them. Wow, talk about washed up.