Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

How's it going!

This is a make or break weekend for Middlesbrough FC and, in particular, our oh so friendly manager, Gareth Southgate.

The team could be rock bottom of the Premier League table and without a manager on Monday morning. Tomorrow's game at the Riverside is massive, it is huge, it is big. 

The fans will be there in their numbers to support the team, but I can see them turning on the men in charge quickly if Blackburn get their noses in front.

Nothing less than a win will only do for our passionate fans. We do not care how we win tomorrow just as long as we win. Ugly the better I say.

We are boosted by the news that Southgate will not park the team bus on the edge of our own box tomorrow. He says we need to be more attacking.

"We must have more of an attacking threat and we need to show it against Blackburn. Obviously we have to combine that with a positive overall performance."

Marlon King will, almost certainly, start against Blackburn tomorrow. This leaves a slight confusion as to where Tuncay will play because King's partner will be Alves.

Will we finally see Tuncay in the middle of the park? I'm hoping so. Our Turkish international played there in the EUROS last summer and was excellent in that position. If I hear all three names in the starting line-up tomorrow I will be very pleased.

Bold selection for tomorrow's game:

Turnbull

Hoyte    Wheater   Huth    Pogatetz

   Shawky           

  Johnson         Tuncay       Downing  

  King      Alves 

 

Southgate's safe selection for tomorrow's game: 

 Turnbull

McMahon   Wheater   Riggott   Pogatetz

Tuncay    Arca   Shawky    Downing

King       Alves

 

I know which one I would like to see, but Southgate has a habit of bottling the team selection for important games.

Good luck to the lads tomorrow and let's see goals and, more importantly, three points.

Up The Boro!!

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Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone is fine and well? It sure was a cold one last night here in England. My early morning workout today consisted of scraping the ice off the car. Never mind using de-icer, give your arms a mini workout, I say.

I'm going to follow on from yesterdays blog about Arsenal's players ending up on Teesside. Ok, we only have two former Gooner's on board, but that could soon change with the arrival of Traore. A figure of around £4million has been slapped on the left back if we're serious about taking him.

Is this a fair amount for a 19-year-old French U21 international? I think so. Boro may not have the funds to throw about at any player, but if Southgate thinks he needs him, then I'm sure the money will appear from somewhere. Whether the money will come from the chairman or from selling on a couple of players remains uncertain yet.

One thing is sure though, we've been talking about Arsenal's youngsters and the amount of good teenagers they have got that are not playing in the first team. After their league cup exit last night, a fair few of those youngsters will probably only get a couple of substitute appearances from the remainder of the season's games.

Here is my point, Arsene Wenger may have to keep some of those players sweet by letting them go out to fellow Premiership teams on loan. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of these North London youngsters being scattered across the country so they are able to play football.

Gareth Southgate obviously has a good relationship with Arsene Wenger because of the Aliadiere and Hoyte signings, plus he had very good words to say about our Gareth at the end of last season. 'An up and coming manager with lots of potential to lead a young team to glory' were the words that Wenger told one journalist. I would say that Arsene will be getting a Christmas card from the Boro manager this year.

It would be no shock to see an Arsenal youngster at the Riverside in the new year. I'm just wondering which one of their talents would suit a move to the cold of the north east for a few months.

A creative midfield player would be nice to fill that missing gap in the side. If Southgate was to be successful in landing an Arsenal player on loan it will also give the Boro boss more time to find the funds for a summer signing.

More news tomorrow. Keep warm people!

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Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

We're only two days into the festive season and the rumour mill is already bursting with transfer gossip.

I read last night that Axel Witsel is staying put at Standard Liege according to the club's vice-president. A bid of £17million had been rejected earlier this week for the 20-year-old midfielder, which confirms that Boro's interest in the young starlet is now officially over because we do not have that kind of money laying about.

Boro fans are still waiting for good news regarding a creative midfield player. We are desperate for an attacking midfielder to strengthen the team.

Steven Defour's name is still on everybody's lips concerning transfer rumours, but I must admit if Arsenal are interested in the Belgian maestro, then we may have to concede that possibility now before we get our hopes up.

A team of Arsenal cast-off's

Southgate might have a little plan when dealing with Arsene Wenger in January. The Boro boss is apparently interested in strengthening his left back situation. Taylor needs competition and cover so a move for Armand Traore looks likely. The Arsenal left back is currently on loan at Portsmouth and Wenger might be tempted to letting the 19-year-old Frenchman go if a cash offer plus Southgate's interest in Defour dies down.

If Southgate is successful in landing the Arsenal player, it would be another Gunner joining us. We already have Aliadiere and Justin Hoyte. To be honest I wouldn't mind having a team of Arsenal cast-off's, at least they are all good players that have been nurtured by arguably the best coach on the planet.

I can see what Gareth Southgate is doing with the team/squad. He wants to make the team a formidable force in the coming years so that's why he is purchasing players that are aged between 19 and 23-years-old. He is still building a team and is showing us that by bringing in players like Digard, Emnes and Hoyte. These players are not overnight stars, they are players for the future.

Boro fans are not fickle like many other Premier league club fans. We don't demand overnight success so when Southgate makes moves like this, we are right behind him. Just get it right soon yeah! Two more seasons for him to get his five-year plan spot on.

More gossip on its way when the rumour mill churns it out.

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Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the big game on Saturday! I've been rooting through my old Red Roar magazines looking for old match reports for Boro v Newcastle games. I came across a game from the 1995/96 season when the 'little fella' was playing.

The game was back in February 1996 on a mild and dry day. Boro lost the game 2-1, but I'm not too bothered about the result from yesteryear. I wanted to compare the team that played then to the team that are currently playing today.

                                   Boro Team - 1996           Boro Team - 2008

                                          Walsh (7)                         Turnbull (7)

                                            Cox (8)                            Hoyte (7)

                                           Morris (6)                         Taylor (7)

                                          Vickers (7)                       Wheater (8)

                                         Pearson (8)                      Pogatetz (8)

                                         Whelan (6)                       Downing (9)

                                          Stamp (7)                         Digard (7)

                                        Juninho (10)                      Tuncay (9)

                                         Pollock (7)                          O'Neil (8)

                                         Barmby (9)                       Aliadiere (8)

                                       Wilkinson (7)                        Alves (8)

                                            SUBS                                 SUBS

                                         Hignett (8)                            Mido (8)

                                         Fjortoft (8)                          Johnson (8) 

                                          Liddle (6)                              Arca (7)

I've given each player a mark out of ten so you can compare the players from the old team to the current team. The team of 1996 faced Newcastle at home in February of that year and lost 2-1. The team of 2008 opposite will probably start against Newcastle this Saturday.

I think the team has improved over the years. Look at how many youngsters are in the current side, it's amazing. I would definitely say that we have come a long way since the days of the Robson era. It was a great platform to build on 12 years ago and now Southgate has taken the team to the next level.

What do you make of the comparisons? Do you agree with the marks out of ten for each player?

If I had the chance to select a fantasy team out of both sides I think I would put Barmby, Juninho and Hignett in the current team and take out Aliadiere, O'Neil and Digard.

Would you agree?

Answers on a post card or alternatively post a comment below in the aptly named box.

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Hi Peeps and Boro fans,

It's definitely Friday today so I'm in a good mood. The weekend is almost here and that means one thing, football!

Lots of big games this weekend. The Arsenal v Manchester United game should be cracker at lunch time tomorrow, whilst the Villa v Boro match on Sunday will also see some fireworks. I know it is late but at least they will be cheap - the fireworks that is.

I've been surfing the net this morning looking for team news ahead of the game on Sunday and have come across some absolute belters. The Daily Mail thinks Wheater will be put on the bench on Sunday. Now that is hilarious! Why would Southgate put one of his best defenders on the bench?!

Another well-known newspaper thinks that Mido, Tuncay and Alves will all start together against Villa. That does sound mouth-watering, but I'm pretty sure that one of the three will be left on the bench.

The midfield will see a change this Sunday. I think South of the Gate will play Julio Arca in there and possibly drop the impressive Digard. Personally he should drop O'Neil. Digard has far more class about him than O'Neil. I'm slowly getting to grips with how Southgate works, he has his favourites and, after O'Neil's goal against Manchester City 9 days ago, the Boro boss will keep his favourite in the side. It's not the best way to conduct thing, but at least we're not booing anyone... yet.

Another player that is doing my head in recently is Stewart Downing. The England international wannabe is going through a bad patch of form and is constantly grinding out mediocre performances.

It is time for Southgate to get the lad on the bench for a few games and teach him that the club does not revolve around him. If Downing is selected for the Villa game, I do hope he proves me and his critics wrong by showing us what he is capable of, but if he is selected and shows us another bad side of his abilities I'm afraid he will be victimised again from the 'boo boys' in the away end.

The game on Sunday should be end to end as both teams love to get forward. I predict a score draw at Villa Park. In fact, I'm going for a Boro win. But just. 3-2.

Enjoy the game guys and girls!

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