Middlesbrough doomed?

Wednesday, 11 February 09, 11:20 AM · Comments(1)

By Michael Sinnerton
With just five points seperating the bottom six and thirteen rounds of Premiership action left it might be too early to condemn Boro to the drop. A closer look at the league table and the team itself suggests otherwise.

All the teams in the bottom half from Sunderland to West Brom could concievably go down but Tottenham seem to have too much quality, Bolton too much fight and Allardyce should keep Blackburn up. With goalscorers vital in keeping teams in the Premier League Jones and Cisse should see Sunderland safe between them.

That leaves the three promoted clus, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. With Adams in charge the only way was down for Pompey but a new manager should give them sufficicent lift to put up a fight. Whilst Hull are in freefall, they have a six point lead over Blackburn (18th) and although they will undoubtedly finish lower than 12th may well have done enough in the first half of the season to keep them up. With 40 points usually the target, Hull need just 11 from 13 games.

That leaves West Brom, Stoke, Newcastle and Middlesbroough.West Brom seem doomed to me, despite a plesaing style, a slight lack of substance at both ends of the pitch, as well as one player with real steel in their midfield makes them too easy to turn over for the top teams. Stoke will battle all the way to the end, and despite them picking up many memorable results, beating Arsenal and holding Liverpool twice, I think they will eventually fall short.

A shootout between Newcastle and Middlesbrough despite the fragile confidence of the former will only have one outcome. Newcastle should be able to call upon Martins, Owen, Ameobi and maybe even Viduka on the run in. Middlesbrough can call on Alves (4goals), Tuncay (4goals) Aliadiere (2goals) and Stewart Downing (shockingly 0 league goals this season).

With Steve Gibson likely to stick with Gareth Southgate as long as he can, I fear it may be too late if Southgate is replaced with maybe 6 games left. I await a Middlesbrough victory at the weekend to prove me wrong immediately.

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Tags: Premier League 08/09, The FA, Middlesbrough

Topics: Premier League 08/09, The FA, Middlesbrough

Posted by studentsofthegame | Comments (1)

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studentsofthegame Wrote: | 18.24GMT | Feb 11, 2009

if you click on "middlesbrough doomed" at the top you will get the blog in full as opposed to cut off on the right. something which i'm working on at the moment. thanks

Middlesbrough doomed?

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