Boro team - Portsmouth. 4-4-2 Schwarzer, Reiziger, Queudrue, Cooper, Southgate, Morrison, Downing, Zenden, Parlour, Christie, Hasselbaink Subs: Graham, Doriva, McMahon, Nash, Job Malcolm Christie's first start since 2003.
Portsmouth 2-1 Middlesbrough. Very poor game, i guess the only plus point is Christie scored the goal.
So what's going on lately? I don't follow Boro too closely, but they were off to a good start, what happened?
Schwarzer has now signed his new 3 year contract. In other news JFH has the flu and is a doubt for tomorrow!
With the amount of injuries we have, and if we havent recalled Andrew Davies from QPR i can see the team tomorrow being: Schwarzer, McMahon, Queudrue, Southgate, Reiziger, Morrison, Downing, Parlour, Zenden, Christie, Job Subs: Graham, Nash, Bates, Doriva, Parnaby
McMahon is doubtful Parnaby will no doubt step in and i think its likely to be Andrew Taylor on the bench.
1-0 over Blackburn with depleted squad, hopefully sparks a winning run! Frank Querdrue knocking on the door to join my EPL fantasyteam, scoring much goals! And Stewie Downing is continuing to deliver my boys fantasy points, bargain but at 6 now up to 8.1!
That's the key to having a good season, grinding out results when things don't look good. Maybe Boro will end up in europe again next year?
Ray Parlour's sending off today means he misses next week at Bolton, with Zenden also missing...our central midfield is going to be spread thin with Doriva our only senior central midfielder available. McMahon, JFH should be both fit. Nemeth and Cooper possibly could be fit. If this happens i see the team being: Schwarzer, Reiziger, Queudrue, Southgate, Cooper, Nemeth, Downing, Doriva, Morrison, Christie, JFH
Graz AK away on Thursday night in the Uefa Cup 1st leg. Tough tie, hopefully JFH will have recovered from Flu
Christ, Boro needed that....... After the shambles of the past few games. Next league match up is Bolton away. Oh christ. Time for spitting, diving, time-wasting, arseing about, complaing about descions, scoring without the ball crossing the line, getting hammered for 90 minutes but win, rubbing it when scoring, Kevin Davies trying to be skilful *ugh*, long balls, direct balls, short balls.......in the air, pre match moans, post match bitching, undeserved three points, undeserved no points, 6th place tits up, lets forget about europe, still time left, geordies closing in, hell freezes over, Russia go to war with Georgia and [large intake of breath] still wonder how we gave a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes to go. Can't wait....... Its like a time warp when we play them. Squint and I can just make out Plough Lane on a rainy day...... But before that fun in the sun............dried marshes of Bolton quagmire, we take on current Austrain champs AK Graz. They gave Liverpool a real scare in the CL qualies. I just hope we can get an away goal, to to take back to the Riverside.
Certainly agree. How's Ray been playing over the past month? I had certainly hoped he'd be more of a positive influence. Geez, he's now got one of those great records, but more importantly, he's missing at a critical point in your season.
Damn right he is, fantasy teams with this guy on it, just imagine if BORO kept some more clean sheets, he'd be the poor man's John Terry!
ouch. Still much better than the freezing your bollocks off at 2am in Middlesbrough town centre. As for flying Francky, I think its important when he gets forward, as he can cover for Downing and vice-versa. When he is missing, Stewie always looks a little flustered. Hence I think the Cole - Downing partnership can become very solid. As Francky is very similar to Ashley Cole. Honeslty, I would say not as good as before Xmas. But I just hope this is a blip - after his 1 match suspension - he'll back on form. Hopefully. EDIT: Latest Graz forecast reads 8C - showers - for next week.
Chris Riggott and JFH are fit again and will play on sunday. Viduka and Boateng have both suffered set backs, Boateng's broken toe has not set correctly so it will have to be broken again and re-set. Viduka has injured his hamstring more i believe. Team for sunday: 4-4-2: Schwarzer, Reiziger, Queudrue, Riggott, Southgate, Morrison, Downing, Doriva, Parnaby, JFH, Christie Subs: Job, McMahon, Nash, Graham, Bates