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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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

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Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone is in good spirit this morning! The sleet and snow is tumbling down outside whilst I'm writing this. The sled has been cleaned is ready for take-off once the snow has settled.

Yesterday Mido pointed the finger at the F.A. after the Egyptian received racial abuse from the Newcastle United fans at the Tees-Tyne derby last Saturday.

This was not the first time Mido has heard Islamaphobic chants directed at him by the Newcastle fans. The same fixture last year also had similar chanting.

Understandably Mido is very upset and has pointed the blame at the F.A. for not acting upon the abuse in last seasons Tees-Tyne derby.

"They (Newcastle fans) kept chanting disgusting words, racist words, about Islam and unfortunately this is the second time from the same fans."

Mido is insistent that the F.A. will not do anything the second time around, but still think they have the power to stop the racial abuse. Strong words from our Egyptian striker towards the F.A.

"It happened since the first time the English FA did nothing. I considered this an invitation from the English FA to repeat such shameful acts from the Newcastle supporters, I am asking the English FA to take serious action to stop such things."

Mido is totally right on this one. How has it come to this that the victim in this thoughtless situation has to speak out to get things moving in the right direction. The F.A. should be taking this very seriously and should have identified the culprits by now and be taking action against them, after all, they are criminals. Racial abuse is a crime in this country. It's not acceptable on the street so why should it be 'swept under the carpet' if it occurs at football matches?

What do the fans think about the F.A.'s involvement, or lack of, with the Mido abuse? 

Hull City this Saturday

Back to the football now. It looks like we will have our big German stopper for the Hull game. Robert Huth returned to training this week and has been put in the squad to face the tigers on Saturday. 

Gareth Southgate will be very happy with the strength of his squad at the moment because the injury list is very short at this present moment. Chris Riggott is nearing full fitness as well after he suffered a hamstring injury against Everton last month.

Boro fans will also be very pleased to hear that Matthew Bates is nearing full match fitness. The 21-year-old had spent a lengthy time on the sidelines, but is now ready to fight for a place in the starting line-up. Southgate is hoping he can kick-start his career again after a lengthy lay-off.

"Having been through his previous injuries, he knew what he had to do to get himself fit again. I hope it works out for him."

The only injury worry ahead of the Hull game this Saturday is the fitness of Pogatetz. The Austrian picked up a bad shoulder injury against Newcastle. He is racing to be fit and doesn't want to miss the trip and play against his former team-mate George Boateng.

More pre-match news tomorrow.

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