Hi Peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone is preparing themselves for a frantic weekend of football! Middlesbrough are playing Wigan Athletic at home on Saturday which is being tipped as potentially Southgate's last game in charge of Middlesbrough.

With a winless run as long as Pinocchio's nose, after he's been saying he's not made of wood, Southgate will be in deep trouble if we lose. To make matters worse, we could actually be propping up the table on Sunday evening if other results go against us.

We're looking brighter

I've noticed we are looking much more brighter in the last couple of games. We have seen the team go out and attack teams rather than sit back in previous outings. After the dreadful home draw against Blackburn a few weeks back I thought it couldn't get any worse. Luckily it didn't, since then we have been in much better form. Although we lost against Manchester City, we still showed more promise going forward and we were playing some decent football at times.

Some impressive displays from Digard and Johnson have given the team a massive lift in terms of confidence and energy.

The West Ham game last Saturday was much better from the boys. We went at the Hammers from the off and should have been in front by a larger margin at half time. Although we conceded late on to another set-piece it was encouraging to see a more settled and balanced side produce some free-flowing football.

5 days to save our season

We play Wigan on Saturday and then play West Ham the following Wednesday in the F.A. Cup fifth round replay at home. Southgate has 5 days to save our season from being a disaster.

I see it as the most important week of our season because if we lose on Saturday and, then lose on Wednesday night we will buckle and I fear we won't be able to recover.

The players will have to take the confidence from the West Ham game into Saturday and hope that they can produce as many chances and maybe convert a few of them.

The pressure is on. Can we do it?

Team news to follow in tomorrows post

Follow the Boro brick road..

Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

It has been a few days since my last post. I have been lost in the wilderness for a while, but have now found home again.

Boro have been battling away in the relegation zone recently without making any progress. You can't call a point at home to Blackburn progress. Can we?

Where do we go from here? 

The Manchester City match on Saturday was much better in terms of end product, but the result was inevitable becaue of our confidence in front of goal.

When I say end product, I mean getting forward and into dangerous areas to cause the opposition trouble resulting in shots on goal.

Southgate managed 180 minutes of football without a goal threat prior to the City game, but within 20 minutes on Saturday, either side of half time, we went close on three separate occasions. Alves

had all three chances to score but was thwarted by Shay Given. That was always going to the biggest problem on Saturday against Manchester City, their new goalkeeper.

Boro have a habit of playing against opposition goalkeepers that are in the best form of their careers. Given made two world class saves to deny Afonso and received man of the match for his heroics.

I must say Brad Jones was also excellent in the opposite goal. He produced many good saves to deny City in the first half. I must admit, if we do go down, we will have two very good goalkeepers to help us back up.

It does look bleak in terms of results, but at least the performance was encouraging from Saturday. We actually looked like scoring. Shock!

My manager notes

Clueless again on Saturday. Bates in midfield and O'Neil on the bench. What is he playing at? Digard was back, but was taken off with half an hour to go with no sign of fatigue or injury. Has Southgate lost the plot?

Another moan must go to Southgate for leaving Tuncay on the bench and persisting with Marlon King up front. The gut has offered nothing since his switch from Wigan/Hull.

If Southgate keeps up the crazy decisions he will soon be following Tony Adams to the managerial scrapheap. 

A trip to West Ham on Saturday will ease the pressure on Southgate, but a heavy defeat to the hands of the Hammers will mean curtains for GS.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

Hello Peeps and Boro fans,

I'm afraid todays post has no frilly bits or nice action photos. Pure rant material so let's get going.

The trip to West Brom on Saturday was a total disaster for us. How did we get beat 3-0 by a team of their quality?

It actually takes some doing to get thrashed by a poor side, but that surely means we are a poor side ourselves. Looking back on the season so far, we have gone to places like Anfield and Villa Park and outplayed these teams. Ok, so the result at Liverpool was not the right result, but I'm talking about the performance.

Why have we been playing so badly of late? Are the players not motivated enough? Did the players over perform at the beginning of the season? Or, is our manager not good enough to 'manage' a talented set of players?

These questions will need to be asked and answered by the Middlesbrough board this week and decisions will have to be made on how we are to move forward because at the moment we are moving backwards at high speed.

I was thinking long and hard yesterday about who would be feeling the most pressure at Middlesbrough? Southgate, Gibson or the players?

It's a tough one because they are all paid very high amounts of money to do their jobs. Of course, Steve Gibson pays himself so we can exclude him, but he will still be feeling the pressure regarding the town's backing and support. If Gibson does not make the right decision in the next couple of weeks, the fans could turn on our chairman meaning Boro's number one fan could begin to feel the pressure.

The players and the management should be feeling the pressure as they are the ones that can influence a result the most on a Saturday afternoon.

Team selection

Gareth Southgate has a lot to answer for in my opinion. He is the manager of Middlesbrough FC. This means he has to manage a set of very talented individuals to play as a team on a Saturday afternoon. The Boro boss should be worried sick about his job at this present time, but also concentrating on where he needs to improve the team's performance.

It all starts with the team selection. Who Southgate selects on a Saturday afternoon will untimely determine the outcome of the game. Let me give you an example of how Southgate is selecting the team at the moment.

I'll take the West Brom game. Southgate had injuries to Pogatetz, Arca and Aliadiere so he needed to replace them. He did so by selecting Taylor, O'Neil and Shawky.

The problem is the formation and the positions players are playing in. Why is Tuncay playing on the left of midfield? Why is Downing playing behind Alves and why did Southgate opt for just one man up front?

There are a lot of questions in today's post, but I'm sure you're all with me on this one. The game of football is simple if you make the right decisions. Southgate is making it so hard for himself by swapping the team around.

The team should have been this one and a lot of Boro fans, that I have spoken to recently, would agree.

                                                             Turnbull

                              Bates             Wheater            Huth          Taylor

                             Johnson           O'Neil           Digard           Downing 

                                                      Mido         Alves

It's not hard to notice that Tuncay has been quiet for the last six games so he needs a rest for a couple of games so, Mido should have started against West Brom to partner Afonso up front. Southgate's decision to play Tuncay on the left was because he didn't want to drop the Turkish striker. That might be because he doesn't want to cause any rifts between the players during the transfer window which is a lack of man managment skills on Southgate's behalf. If he wants to be successful he needs to be strong and bold with decisions.

Back to the team selection from Saturday's game. O'Neil is not a wide man and to expect him to run all day out wide after recovering from an illness was another remarkable decision by Southgate. Even if he was fit enough he should have been put in the middle of the park to partner Digard. Shawky is notgood enough, simple.

For me, on recent performances, Bates is a better defender than McMahon. Bates played very well against United at Old Trafford last month and should have cemented that right back position ever since. Another slip up that Southgate made on Saturday was playing Riggott instead of Huth. The German is fully fit now so he should be playing. I would put Huth ahead of Riggott in the pecking order any day of the week.

The Downing in the 'whole' position needs to be forgotten about quickly. Downing is a left winger/midfielder and not an attacking midfielder. Ok, so he linked up well with Alves last Saturday against Sunderland, but that is one game. The question you have to ask is, would Capello pick Downing to play in that position for England? No.

The most disappointing decision that Southgate keeps making is leaving Adam Johnson on the bench. If he was managed by a good manager the young winger would be playing week in week out and improving in every game. He is wasted on the bench.

So, there you have it, rant over. I look at possible starting line-ups every other day thinking, what would be the best line up?! It is so simple when you look at players and where their best positions are and play them there. It seems that Southgate gets influenced by too many people on his team selection. Gareth has been in football for nearly three seasons now, surely he must have the knowledge to select a side from a talented squad of players?

If not, then I'm afraid he needs to give someone else a go at it.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

Hi Peeps and Boro fans,

Happy Friday!

What's been happening this week at the Riverside?

Not a lot really, we are gearing up for tomorrow's big game at the Hawthorns which is a must win game if we are to start climbing up the table.

It seems to have gone very quiet regarding the Stewart Downing transfer saga. Spurs have given up on him and more importantly our man has given up on the idea of joining a team in the bottom three.

Mr Downing should receive some good news tomorrow before the game. Following his excellent performances in 2009 the Boro winger, now a 'in the whole' player, is expected to be given the captaincy.

Poggi, the club captain, is very doubtful for the West Brom game and is very likely to miss out on the bottom of the table clash. Downing will step in and lead the players out.

Off the pitch, Boro officials and scouts have been out and about across the British Isles looking at potential targets during the winter transfer window. So far, they have come across Chris Eagles of Burnley. The right-winger has been in terrific form for his current club and Southgate is interested because Aliadiere might be out for some time.

Burnley will be looking for a profit on the youngster and we might have to part with as much as £4million if we are to land the Eagle. Money which Boro do not have.

Other rumours that have surfaced in the past week are - Barry Ferguson, Steven Fletcher and James McCarthy. All Scottish meaning we must have been saving some tokens which gives our scouts a good deal at highland hotels.

One of the mentioned above is certainly a realistic target, but the other two may have been thrown in there to make up the numbers as we are desperate to make progress in the transfer market.

Fletcher is a definite possibility. A young striker that has been lighting up the SPL in the last 18 months. Again, though, we may find it difficult to prize him away from his current club. We don't have the funds to throw around anymore.

Team news for tomorrow

As I've said, Mad Dog is a major doubt for tomorrow's game meaning Andrew Taylor is likely to fill in at left back.

Digard is available after going off last Saturday against Sunderland with concussion. The Frenchman has been immense for us in recent weeks and looks as if he can handle anything that he comes up against.

There is uncertainty over whom will partner Digard in the middle of the park tomorrow. Southgate may go for Arca in there for a bit of creativity or he might go for O'Neil for bite, who is back in the squad following an illness.

The strike force will have to change for the West Brom game. We can't expect to get much if we just play Alves up front on his own. I'm tipping Mido to get a start tomorrow. The Egyptian stated he wants to saty at Boro and help fight the relegation battle. We need his experience and strength up top. He also is very powerful in the air which is a must aginst a team like West Brom.

Prediction: West Brom 1 Boro 2

Star Man: Ross Turnbull

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

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Good afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

The result on Saturday was not the end of the world for Middlesbrough FC. Although we should have won the game with the chances we had we are not in the bottom three and we can build on an unbeaten run.

There were plenty of positives to come from the game at the Riverside last Saturday. Afonso Alves grabbed a Premiership goal, at last. The Brazilian is now on a three goal run in 2009. With important games coming up, like Saturdays game at West Brom, it is crucial that our top striker is on form in front of goal.

Stewart Downing highlighted, against Sunderland, why he is so important to the team for the remainder of the season and we have the Middlesbrough manager to thank for that. Southgate has stood firm over the transfer speculation surrounding our left winger and has been very strong minded about the whole situation.

Southgate may not have all the right attributes to steer a team from the touch line, but he does have excellent player management skills off the pitch. Within seven days, Southgate has managed to turn around Downing's career ambitions and the player's stance at his home town club.

We have to thank Gareth Southgate for this. If Middlesbrough were managed by anyone else we could have said goodbye to Downing already with offers of £15million being too much to reject by other managers in our situation.

Didier Digard is key to Boro's survival

The Frenchman is, by far, our most industrious player and has been in great form for the past couple of months. 

He has adapted very well to the Premiership since swapping France for England. Boro fans thought they would have to wait a while to see Digard because Southgate insisted he would have to settle before playing on a regular basis. 

Injuries to Arca and O'Neil meant that Digard was given an early birth into the Boro team. Since his debut the French centre midfielder has shown he is more than capable of manning the engine room on the pitch.

His performances have been the only positive in recent games when, as a team, we have played badly. Consistency is key to a player becoming a great player and Digard certainly has that attribute to his game. Let's hope he can keep it going.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

Good afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

So another big game for Middlesbrough tomorrow afternoon at the Riverside.

We can expect a little tension amongst the Boro fans tomorrow as Stewart Downing is expected to start against Sunderland. Surely this will be a good thing for the team though against our rivals. It can go two ways. Downing starts the game well and the fans quieten down or Downing starts sloppy and the fans get on his back. The game should be interesting, one thing is sure.

Team news ahead of the game

Gareth Southgate is only missing a couple of players for tomorrows clash at the Riverside. Justin Hoyte is still out with an injury and Gary O'Neil is still unavailable because of a hamstring injury, although that might be wide of the mark considering he is the subject of a possible move back to Portsmouth.

Julio Arca is back from injury and Mo Shawky has recovered well from an illness. I'm not sure whether either will feature in the game as their fitness levels will not quite be up to level.

I'll do Southgate's job for him now and pick the side. My Middlesbrough XI to face Sunderland:

Turnbull

Bates     Wheater    Huth    Pogatetz

    Digard   

 Johnson                Emnes

Downing

Tuncay              Alves

 

My team selection may look a bit lightweight in midfield, but Southgate has not got any options other than to attack tomorrow. We need three points. Time to be bold and rely on your youngsters for a change.

Just think about the prospect of all that pace when we go forward. We have already seen what Emnes can do with the ball at his feet and also he doesn't shy from big challenges and can certainly give a few out himself.

Afonso Alves will be champing at the bit to play tomorrow after netting a brace last week in the cup. I really do hope he can increase his goal tally.

Turnbull will return to the team following his rest week and will be looking to continue his excellent form between the sticks. Hopefully the four lads in front of him will cover the big lad in goal for the whole game.

Prediction time

It's hard predicting on the outcome of Boro games these days. Will they or won't they turn up? It's a lottery.

If they can defend well and sneak a couple of goals preferably from Alves, but I don't mind as long as we win, we can beat this lot from up the road.

Work rate and taking our chances = Middlesbrough 2 Sunderland 0

Star Man - Didier Digard

Enjoy the game and up the Boro!

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet yeah, makes you wanna move your dancing feet now.

Sorry about that, just been listening to some Bob Marley this morning to get me in the mood for our trip to London tomorrow.

Fulham is an odd fixture in our season. It is one of those games that is very unpredictable. I'm not one for being bold with predictions, but this one could really be a win, loss or a draw.

So what are the factors that will determine the result tomorrow? The biggest factor tomorrow, by far, will be how Mark "Skippy" Schwarzer performs. Our old ball stopper will probably have the game of his life against us, it always seems to happen when a former player lines up against us.

Another factor that will determine the outcome of the game will be how we cope in front of goal. I know this is an obvious one, but if Southgate plays the same team that played Arsenal I think we will have to take every chance we get.

Defending will be Gareth's main objective tomorrow and then he will rely on his forward thinkers to get the result in the final third of the pitch. Our big players tomorrow will be Tuncay, Downing and Aliadiere. These three will hold the key to opening the Fulham defence.

Team news for the Cottage trip

Didier Digard is a major doubt ahead of the game. The Frenchman has a thigh injury. This is a big blow for us considering how well he has been playing recently.

David Wheater is back in the squad following his suspension. Andrew Taylor is back from a knee injury, which will give Gareth Southgate a much needed headache ahead of the game. 

Mighty Mido is back in the squad after going AWOL for a couple of weeks. Alves might get the chance to shine once again if GS reverts back to a 4-4-2 formation.

Prediction

Fulham 1 Boro 2 - Fun packed match with plenty to talk about after. Ross will have an awesome game in goal. Downing and Tuncay will be on the score sheet and Mido will get a good reception when he comes on as sub late on.

Let me know what you guys think. Win, loss or a draw?

Enjoy the game girls and boys. 

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

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Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

Sorry about the lack of posting yesterday.. festivity commitments! Back to the world of Middlesbrough FC today. Ooh my head hurts.

I was thinking about the games we have over the Christmas period and thought - who will be our 'key players' in those games.

We play Fulham away on Saturday and then play Everton at home on boxing day. The Manchester United game is on the following Monday evening so there are three very tough games, but all winnable.

I have come up with five main players to look out for over those three games. If all five players play well in the games I'm sure we will come away from the games with at least five points. My heart is saying seven points, but my head says five.

Our Merry Men At Christmas

1. Ross Turnbull - The lad has performed heroics so far this season and the festive period will be his biggest challenge so far in his first season as Boro's number one. A good solid goalkeeper will keep us in the hunt for points over Christmas.

2. David Wheater - Our Redcar born defender is having another superb season in a Boro shirt. With injuries to the defence, Wheater will be asked to play in either a right back or a central defence role over the next three games. He will be a key player for us if we are to keep clean sheets in December.

3. Didier Digard - He is playing very well at the moment and I think there is much more to come from our French midfielder. Important battles lie ahead for him in the next three games, but I think he will relish the challenge. By the way, he was my man of the match against Arsenal last Saturday. An awesome display in the middle.

4. Stewart Downing - DJ Downing is having an incosistent season so far. I'm backing him to shine over the festive period. His penetrating crosses and passes will be key for us against Everton at home and United away. My bet is he will notch a couple over Christmas.

5. Afonso Alves - Is he the unluckiest striker in the Premier league or is he just plain rubbish. I believe he is an awesome striker who is lacking the luck at the minute. Southgate will play him over Christmas and I think he will get back on the scoring trail.

I've missed a couple of players which you guys will probably be thinking are going to be winners over the next few game. Your right, I've left out the likes of Aliadiere, Tuncay and Adam Johnso purely because I think they will continue their good form.

Let's hope the team can start with a win at Fulham on Saturday.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

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Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

What a week of football news we've had. Off the pitch that is. It all started with the Mido incident at the beginning of the week and now, at the end of the week, all the news has been about Roy Keane leaving the Stadium of Light.

It seems that Boro are currently the most stable club in the North East. Gareth Southgate must be quietly smug about the situation of his two local rivals. First Kevin Keegan left his post at Newcastle earlier this season and now Keano has left Sunderland.

I was very surprised to hear the news that Roy had left Sunderland yesterday. He is a very astute character and is not one for giving in, so it confused me slightly when the Sunderland chairman, Nial Quinn said that Roy had left because he had taken the club as far as possible.

Keane is a winner through and through. My opinion is that he knew he wasn't going to get any help in the January transfer window to help strengthen his squad and decided to call it a day now rather than prolong the job with insufficient resources.

If Keane thought the team was going to be in a relegation battle I think he would have had a couple of ideas on who to bring in to help the team survive, but something has gone on behind the scenes that we've not heard about yet. I'm looking forward to reading part II of Keane's book when it comes out.

With both rival clubs in dire straits it seems that Gareth Southgate will be holding his head up slightly higher. I make him king of the North East now.

Our boss will feel more confident about his future now knowing that he has the best team in the North East. 

Hull City vs Middlesbrough

Gareth Southgate takes his band of merry men to the KC stadium tomorrow to face a couple of old team buddies. George Boateng, Nick Barmby and Dean Windass all play for the Tigers. Out of the three, George is the only player likely to face Boro on the pitch. It will be interesting to see Digard battle against our old boy.

Good news on the injury front ahead of the game. Robert Huth is back in the squad and Gary O'Neil has also made the game after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Bolton.

Probable line-up: Turnbull, Hoyte, Taylor, Pogatetz, Wheater, Aliadiere, Downing, O'Neil, Digard, Alves, Tuncay.

The bench will look something like this: Jones, Huth, Bates, Arca, Emnes, Mido, McMahon

Prediction: Hull's style of play should help Boro tomorrow because they play very attacking football. This will allow Boro to also have the freedom to attack. I'm predicting goals, goals and goals.

Hull City 2 Middlesbrough 4

What do the fans think? Will Boro get an away win?

Enjoy the game, see you there!

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

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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.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

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