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THE BORO YOUTH COLUMN 16-2-05
Written by Laurence I'Anson
Well. The Boro usually bugger up December. But this season we buggered up January. Must be the European fixtures having their effect.
I suppose it all started after the crap performance against Villa. But it was alright because we got the three points and that's what mattered. Then we went to Birmingham with "high" hopes on Boxing Day. Personally I stayed on Teesside. The pub was the best place to be that day.
It looked a cold, wet and dismal day in the Midlands. Mind you, we didn't have the luck on our side with that Hasselbaink goal ruled offside. Would have been a different game if that was allowed. Our good luck had to turn at one point during the season...
Then relegation threatened Norwich came to the Riverside and this time I expected a 4-0 whitewash to the Reds. But again we played crap as Norwich gave us a difficult time. They had more injuries off the pitch but more scoring opportunities on it. Joe Job though scored the goals that give us the final win of 2004 in front of a record attendance in the Riverside. Against Norwich? (With respect) what's all that about?
With that disappointing performance, I went to the Man United home game with less hope than I would have liked to have. And with a slight New Years hangover! But yet again Boro didn't really get out of the blocks as United steam-rollered through our team and goals in each half gave them three points.
Up next were Chelsea and us young ones decided to keep our money for the FA Cup and listen to Century FM instead. No point in going down there to see us lose. Sorry for the lack of optimism, but we have only taken 6 points at The Bridge in the last 30 years. Couldn't see it changing that night, could you?
Then our FA Cup away day was due. Notts County would be a breeze. Well that's what we all thought, as nearly 4000 Boro crammed into the stand behind the goal. The team was quality as well. Riggott and Ehiogu returned to the side and Morrison was on the right as opposed to Nemeth, who is a striker. McClaren take note. The atmosphere was deafening and it was a pleasure to see so many Boro fans in one stand. But it didn't all go to plan as Notts County took the lead. Didn't affect the 4000 of us who where there as this was to be the start of the rest of the season. Doriva then Job scored the goals and soon enough we were on our way home with our ticket to the 4th round secured.
Since the Notts County game, injuries have got worse and worse. Add the suspensions and our team has been left with the bare minimum. Considering this, we have coped pretty well although results should be better. Especially at Norwich where my brilliant day with Yarm Reds was spoiled by conceding three goals in ten minutes. Only Boro could do that. I won't linger on this fact because it will only get us down. I nearly cried that day coming put of Carrow Road.
A windy day at Carrow Road
Then, was it just me or did McClaren pick the totally wrong tactics for the 4th round at Man United? One striker at Old Trafford does not score you goals. But I heard it was a good day out for the Boro fans even though the stewards were as bad as ours, chucking fans out when they felt like it. Portsmouth finished off the month of January and it was quality to see Malcolm Christie back in a decimated team. His goal set us on the way but yet again our defence failed to match as Pompey came back.
January had finished and we still didn't have a win in 2005. Blackburn gave us the opportunity. Queudrue's third goal in three days gave us a vital win that would set up the rest of the season. Then last Sunday we travelled to the Reebok Stadium to play an in-form Bolton side. I thought a draw was on the cards before the game. And so it turned out to be a good performance from the lads in a different formation. McClaren got it perfectly right, even with Reiziger in the left wingback role and Queudrue at centre back. Eh?! It worked so I'm not complaining. Too much.
So after a month and a bit of 2005, I think it hasn't gone too bad. Despite some shit results and some poor performances, we are still would you believe it, 6th in the league and occupying that final European spot. From now on in, it's not the performances but the results that matter.
Now that I've bored you with my opinion on the results, it's time to get to the interesting talk. During January we had a squad cut down to the bare bones with injuries and suspensions. Also, during January we had the chance to bring in new players with the transfer window being open. So why didn't we bring someone in. I thought we could do with a new striker, midfielder and defender, and still do.
Why did we not bring anyone in? Fair enough we attempted to buy Geremi and Balde but they both knocked us back. Geremi went back on his statement saying he would like to return, while Balde signed a new contract for Celtic the week after. No commitment there. But both of these deals were taking place just hours before the deadline so why not go for someone else a lot earlier? We were left behind a load of teams in the market who brought in players to give themselves the best chance possible of a higher league position
I reckon that a striker and a midfielder would have been perfect to push for that Champions League place. They would have got us more than a point from the Pompey and Bolton games. Walter Pandiani from Birmingham would've been perfect. He's been scoring freely since coming and he doesn't even want to be there. Not surprised really.
At the end of the season I would go for Andy Johnson to bolster the squad and compete with Viduka and Jimmy, if he's still here, for the forwards places.
Mind you, we have scored 41 goals so far this season so we must be doing something right, even though Nemeth has the control of a penguin, Job finishes like Boateng, Viduka and Christie are always on the physio's list and Hasselbaink runs only when he can be arsed.
Like Andy Johnson, our Stewey was given his England debut last week at Villa Park. But what a bore it was. What was Sven thinking about? A 4-3-3 formation with Johnson on the right?! Stewey was in his usual position and he didn't do too badly considering the performances of his new teammates.
If I was England manager, we would have been starting in the usual 4-4-2 formation with Wright-Phillips on the right and Johnson up front. But instead we have a rich, Swedish bastard who earns £450,000 a year selecting an England team now and then.
Despite this, there was good support at Villa Park and a good atmosphere looked to have been enjoyed by all. I am looking forward to my debut following England up at St James's next month vs. Azerbaijan in the World Cup qualifier.
Meanwhile, I have heard disappointments from a number of Boro fans complaining (we always seem to be complaining) about the atmosphere at home games. I agree that it is not the best but it depends a lot on where you sit. The majority of the noise you can hear at the Riverside is from the west side of the North stand and the North-West corner. It is created by a few of the lads in these areas and that means every song doesn't get round the stadium.
I propose that wherever you sit in the stadium and you fancy a song to support the football team you love, then sing your heart out. That way we will create an atmosphere that we will be proud of and which is worthy of a champion's League place.
A song for you all to try out;
Build a parmo, build a parmo
Put the cheese upon the top
Put the chicken in the middle
And eat the *bloody lot (*children in the audience!!)
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