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UP FOR THE CUP(S) 6-12-05
This week, a big thank you to Szilard Nemeth, who undid all my good work from last week by unleashing an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net at home to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup. This came just one day after I described him as a Jigsaw that fell to pieces in the box. Made me look like a real idiot, didn't you Szil?
Seriously though, I'm glad he did. The Carling Cup, as everybody knows, is a very important competition that we as a club must take seriously. The draw for the quarter finals was very good to us, as we avoided Manchester United and Arsenal, who are both away from home, and landed a home tie ourselves with Blackburn.
Bolton are also away from home and facing a trip to play the same Wigan Under 12's side that knocked out Newcastle in the previous round. What's the difference between Newcastle and a cup of tea? The tea stays in the cup longer.
As Steve McClaren said this week, Blackburn at home is "not an easy draw". But the fact that we are playing at home gives us an advantage before a ball has even been kicked. Hopefully we will be able to progress.
The FA Cup third round draw also saw some very interesting ties. My dad once said that the weekend of the FA Cup third round draw was one of the most exciting weekends of the season. I didn't fully understand why that was until this season. The draw has produced some cracking ties.
Not one Premier League side has been draw against another, with some very eye-catching ties, for example Chelsea v Huddersfield and Burton Albion or Burscough v Manchester United, while Tamworth's reward for knocking out Hartlepool is a trip to Stoke.
Newcastle play host to Mansfield and there is real potential for an upset here. But Mansfield should avoid said upset and make it to the next round if they play to the best of their ability...
Mick McCarthy is said to be astonished that Sunderland have made it as far as the third round, and may have used the home tie with either Woking or Northwich Victoria to rest some of his big name stars, had he actually got any. So far it's been a long season for the Mackems, and it is looking increasingly likely that they will be down before the Christmas decorations.
And of course, we face a trip to either Nuneaton or Histon, a potential banana skin if ever I saw one. We should be OK, although every year there is a shock and it would come as a nasty surprise if it was our turn this year. Again, let's hope for progress.
The cup competitions provide us with a chance to add to the silverware already won and get back into Europe. They can also help to save a disappointing season, like the Carling Cup did in 2004. We finished 11th that season behind teams like Charlton, Bolton, Fulham, Birmingham and Newcastle, yet that season is always remembered with great fondness. How different things would have been had we not won the Cup...
The club is in danger of losing the momentum acquired when Gareth lifted the Cup in Cardiff. Last season we maintained that momentum by qualifying for Europe once more, but this season's patchy league form could cost us a place in the top six. It may well be a cup that sees us back in Europe next September.
Saturday's defeat at Chelsea was expected, although the performance was one worthy of merit. If the same level of commitment can be shown at Anfield on Saturday then a positive result is not out of the question. I can see the headlines now.
"Boro steal win"
"Rafa's Reds Robbed"
"Boro pinch point"
I'm not saying Liverpool is bad for crime or anything but do you see where I'm going with this.
Having been at Anfield last season when that man Szilard popped up with yet another goal, I know that their fans can be extremely loud and intimidating.
However, Nemeth's fourth minute goal last season showed that they can be just as easily silenced. Only a wonder strike from Steven Gerrard earned them a draw last season and we go travel to Liverpool with a decent chance.
Thankfully, Peter Crouch scored his first goal for Liverpool on Saturday, as seemingly every team or player off form breaks their duck against us. Before Saturday Crouch hadn't scored for 24 hours, which means that quite literally, he couldn't score if he played all day.
Rafa "the Gaffa" Benitez recently described Crouch as his wonder player. When asked why, Benitez replied, "Because every time he plays I wonder why I bought him".
This was after an atomic bomb was dropped on Liverpool, causing a total of £17 worth of damage.
One final thing, I would just like to welcome Graham Frankland to ComeOnBoro.com and I'm sure his refereeing wisdom will be an asset to the site. It waits to be seen whether his time on ComeOnBoro will be as controversial as some of his refereeing decisions!
Same Time Next Week. UP THE BORO!
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