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...

Good morning peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone had a good new year! I am fully refreshed from my break away in the sun. It's a hard life.

The biggest news concerning Middlesbrough over the last couple of weeks has been the Stewart Downing transfer saga, which is hitting new levels every day.

First there was interest form Spurs for our left winger and there was a string of no-go comments from Boro officials. It took Boro's three top dogs at the club to publicly say no to Spurs, but they cracked on regardless and put their first pitiful offer in of £6million.

Most Boro fans laughed at such an offer, but the Boro board were not happy. Spurs started playing games then after. With Boro standing firm over Downing's departure it eventually took a rejected offer of £14.5million for Spurs to get the message. You could just see Daniel Levy and his board officials smiling and joking as the offer was sent through to Middlesbrough. Who is laughing now.

So, after that £14.5million offer, we have not heard anything from the North London club. Bentley had another shocker in a Spurs shirt against Burnley on Tuesday night so it seems clear they want Downing desperately. Desperation has a price though and it looks like Gibson and co are winning this game of chess.

On the pitch we have struggled to get points since my last post. Successive defeats to Everton and Manchester United have put us one place above the relegation zone in the league.

The performance against Everton was unforgivable. No bite, fight or passion from the Middlesbrough players made it easy work for the Everton players.

Pogatetz rallied the troops and they went to Old Trafford and gave a good account of themselves suggesting that they are very capable of producing good football and beating the best.

The biggest game of the season in my opinion was last Saturdays F.A. Cup clash at the Riverside against Barrow. It was imperative that we won the game. If we had lost the game we would have been a lost team with no confidence for the rest of the season.

We won the game 2-1, which flattered the opposition. The result was very important, but I witnessed Afonso Alves grabbing two goals which will do the world of good regarding his confidence in front of goal.

The next game for Boro is a kick-about against local rivals Sunderland. A must win for Middlesbrough. More news to follow about this game tomorrow.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

Good morning Peeps and Boro fans,

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the Arsenal game this weekend. It will be a tall order for our boys to repeat last seasons win against the Gunners, but I'm sure they will be up for the lunch time kick off on Saturday.

Off the pitch and there has been a number of players linked to Middlesbrough this week. It is unsure whether Southgate will have any funds to wheel and deal in the transfer market in January. Yesterday's 'Follow the Boro Brick Road' suggested that Downing was off to Spurs, but after talking to a few Boro fans and reading the latest reaction news from that story, it seems that Downing wants to stay put.

If Stewie does stay at the Riverside in January it will mean that Southgate may look to sell off another big name in the squad to raise funds. My money is on Mido. The Egyptian is unsure about his future at the Riverside and after he was left out of the squad last Saturday I would not be surprised if he is already looking for a new club.

Steve Bruce is a big fan of Mido and could offer him a regular slot at the JJB if he decides to go there in January. A figure of £7million would fit the bill if Southgate wants to sell. Wigan reportedly offered £6million in the summer transfer window, but Southgate rejected it straight away.

So, if we do get the money for Mido, Southgate will look to strengthen the team with that money.

Players that have been linked to the Riverside this week are: Marko Pantelic, Stephen Hunt and Anthony Vanden Borre.

Pantelic is a recognised goal scorer who currently applies his trade in Germany with Hertha Berlin. The Serbian international has a decent goal record. I think Southgate would be tempted by a player of his calibre because he is experienced at 30-years-old. The Boro boss faces competition from Everton, Wigan and West Brom for his signature. Possibility rating: 2/5

Stephen Hunt was linked to us last summer along with James Harper, but both decided to stay at Reading to help them get back in the Premiership. Hunt would be an ideal player for Boro. He is very passionate and loves to run all day long. He would be very similar to Tuncay's work-rate and has a good delivery. Possibility rating: 2/5

The most likely out of the three players reported this week is the signing of Anthony Vanden Borre. Southgate likes signing versatile players and Vanden Borre fits the criteria very well. He is predominantly a right back, but can play in midfield. The Belgian starlet wants to play in England and Boro could be the likely destination for the 21-year-old. Negotiations have apparently already started. Possibility rating: 3/5

What do the fans think of these possibilities? Do we need another striker? Who would you like to see in a Boro shirt in the new year?

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

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

 *missed the last blog post? Click here to read it*

Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,

Another disappointing weekend has come and gone. The Tigers fought back from a Tuncay flick to inflict another terrible late show.

How the Hull did it happen?

I was watching in disbelief as Marlon King strokes a sloppy penalty past Ross Turnbull in the final stages of the game to make it 2-1 to Hull.

After Tuncay had struck to give us the lead, I thought we would be ok and that we would be climbing up the league tonight. How wrong I was. An unthinkable moment of comedy errors occurred at the most important period in the game, the last ten minutes.

I do have some sympathy for Ross in our goal because he has been very strong for us in recent months. It was a shame that his run of good games came to an end at Hull on Saturday.

The goals were individual mistakes, however you look at it. The main contenders were: Turnbull (first goal), Wheater (penalty), the referee (penalty) and the assistant (Geovanni being offside leading to the penalty).

Naive is a word that has been used a lot this season describing our team. We are a young side that lacks the discipline and leadership skills to close a game out without producing mistakes. Gareth Southgate will have to address this problem if we're to move up the league.

With all the late goals that we've conceded in games this season, I make it 10 points lost. We cannot afford to lose many more games or points because of naivety within our team. Those 10 points would have put us in the top five and within touching distance of the top three.

The Arsenal game on Saturday will be a massive game for us because our confidence will hinge on the performance against the North London side. A win will see us gather momentum going into the Christmas period whilst a loss will see us in all sorts of problems.

Downing to Tottenham in January

Will he? Won't he? That is the question all Boro and Spurs fans are asking. I think January could see a new era starting at the Riverside. The golden boy of Teesside has had better seasons in a Boro shirt and with some fans questioning his abilities he might just take the gamble of going to another team in the Premiership to seek better fortunes for himself.

Gareth Southgate needs funds to improve the team in January so the sale of Downing could well and truly be on. A figure of £12million will probably be accepted for our left winger, which would mean a couple of new players for Southgate to look at to strengthen the midfield and defence.

Personally I would like to see Stewart go to a team like Liverpool, where he would flourish in the Champions League. We know he can play at the highest level, but if he played more high profile games I think he can be world class in the coming years. We'll have to wait and see what happens in January 2009.

I'll bring you guys all the transfer gossip tomorrow, including rumours about another Belgian starlet and a Serbian.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

 *missed the last blog post? Click here to read it*

Morning Peeps and Boro fans,

I am well-prepared for this stage of the season. The first thing I read this morning when woke up was that Tottenham Hotspur are planning on bidding for Stewart Downing in January.

Sounds like a broken record, the people that make this rubbish up should change their tune and annoy someone else.

The suggested bid of £11million is so laughable that it doesn't even stand a chance of reaching our fax machine because Steve Gibson has had the old fax machine tweaked so that stupid bids like this will not filter through. Call it a safeguard against pirates.

Harry The Pirate

Living on the south coast of England in massive mansion of a house must have been pure boredom for Harry Redknapp because it seems that the Spurs manager has turned into a pirate. He thinks he can wave orders around and take things that are not his for very little bounty.

If he wants our prized possession, then you will have to cough up a more considerable amount. These home-grown players don't grow on trees and we don't pluck them from thin air.

Another option would be to fight us for it. Harry the pirate could sail his ship up the North Sea and down the River Tees where he will meet a strong army of noble men. This army will be lead by Captain South 'Hook-nose' Gate. He is related to one of Middlesbrough's greatest sea traveller and explorer, Captain Cook and has inherited the fighting spirit.

So, if Harry the pirate is serious about taking Stewart Downing to White Hart Lane, then I suggest he ups the bounty. Downing is going nowhere for that small sum of money.

Follow the Boro Brick Road...

 *missed the last blog post? Click here to read it*