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THE BORO YOUTH COLUMN OCTOBER 2005
Written by Laurence I'Anson
Last time we met it was post Arsenal game when most were in a slight
shock that we had outgunned the Gooners.
To follow this we had two easy games against European supremos Xanthi and Jewellinho's
Wigan Athletic. What a joke those Wigan fans made. Yes they actually had the initiative and audacity to make that up and
then sing it.
So I joined three and a half thousand Boro fans in a trip across the
Pennines
for a piss-up, a good sing-song
and three simple points.
Meanwhile, about fourteen thousand Boro found some
motivation to go to the Riverside on the Thursday night
to witness the start of our latest UEFA Cup adventure.
A 'professional' display was shown and an energetic George and a
deflected Viduka shot brought a deserved 2-0 lead against
an Emerson-inspired Xanthi.
He still has the skills I tell you.
Brilliance.
I can't say much more because i didn't go to the
game. Simple as that.
Sunday came and I'm sure it wasn't just me that got up with a headache
that morning ready for the next drinking session
in Wigan.
The 'Boro Youth' were in full voice and got behind the team
110%.
If only it had been reflected in the players performance.
But it was so far so good when the Yak put away his chance from a
flicked on
free-kick. Fate though would play it's part as
an unlucky injury to Morrison, now in the centre of midfield, would
prove expensive.
Doriva was brought on in an attempt to dispell
the threat of the tough-tackling ever-present Kavanagh. He still has
the
skills as well.
Half-time brought entertaiment in a number of ways, including us
witnessing the prat who was heckled by the Boro as
he attempted to escape a police escort 'off the premises'. He got his
foot stuck in the seats around his young chavesque family.
Second half started and we were in good voice until it was noticeable
that
the team were out of sorts. The inevitable Wigan
goal came and suddenly Boro were heavily on the backfoot.
Smac brought
on
Maccarone and now everybody seemed up for it. But nothing materialised as the Latcis held out for a 1-1 draw.
It was a good
job
our college party gave us an opportunity to
drown our sorrows but not before a change of clothing in the services near
Bradford with twenty or so Asians practising their religion
in the toilets. Just imagine the scene...
What was just as funny was the thought of a Boro defeat against the Mackems.
Come on, no win in the Premiership since december
2002 meant I just had to spend at the bookies in putting on 2-0, 3-0,
4-0,
and 5-0. A bit of banter on the
bus coming to game created the best pre-match mood i'd felt in ages.
Who in the right mind could predict what was coming next.
I'd only just walked up the 38 rows to my seat after splashing out
on
numerous Boro wins and goalscorers to witness Tommy fucking Miller
ricocheting in a low cross which all our defenders missed.
Oh no, sorry,
there
were defenders. From my previous upbeat and bouncing
mood, I had slumped to feeling like shit with my head in my hands in a
space
of 48 seconds. Just like the other 27000 Boro fans.
Yeah just 27000. What about the rest of you?
We piled on the pressure for the rest of the half but to be honest I
couldn't see us scoring. James 'I can't finish' Morrison
had a clear opportunity to score when one-on-one but it was the
Sunderland
keeper who so very suprisingly came out on top.
Then a blessing in disguise as a Ugo injury brought on Maccarone to
bolster
the attack. But things didn't change as again
Morrison failed to reward the creativeness of Rochemback.
After the
break
McCarthy had won the tactical side as he stuck ten
behind the ball at most times to defend their ever precious lead.
Obviously
pressure got to the players as the game went on and time
ran out and this ultimately led to the foul from Southgate on the edge
of
the box ready for Julio Arca to finish in the top
corner of Brad Jones' goal.
This he did in style to send the wankers
into
raptures in the south stand.
And with that we had lost at home against Sunderland for the second time in
fourty-three
years.
Fourty-three years. They're havin' a laugh! The boos rang out at the end of the game and I could sense the Teesside
aggro in the air.
Maybe it was the fact that the
Sunderland VIP people sitting in the North West Upper near myself cheered
upon
a goal going in.
Despite the fact they are told
not to as it is obviously not safe for them to do so. Pure abuse was
hurled at
them from all angles sprouting a speedy return
into the concourse.
On walking to the buses in a pissed off mood, I turned the corner of
the
West stand ready to go via the Sunderland fans and
could see it all about to kick-off at once.
Sunderland fans were coming
out
singing whatever songs they could muster. "We hate Bura,
we hate Bura, we hate Bura" and the like.
In response Boro fans were
popping up
from all over trying to get at any of them.
All I saw were police coming from all directions to stop these
'mini-riots'.
Then all of a sudden massive shout of "Sunderland . . . Sunderland,
Sunderland, Sunderland . . ." hailed from the direction of where a
bunch of
Mackems had gathered
before they boarded the free buses they could afford.
With this Boro
fans
were once again advancing on any Sunderland fan,
especially this particular bunch who were making a racket. The youths
of
Boro loved all this and tracksuit-clad teens
responded in classical style with a "yer fuckan dicks".
Consequently,
the
Cleveland Police used their usual method and charged
their horses into all supporters around. The Macks scampered into their
coach park whilst Boro rushed in all directions.
To
be honest it was the most entertaining part of the day. Not
suprisingly, I
got onto the bus home in the same mood as i
got the bus there. The only thing was we didn't take away any points at all,
never
mind all three.
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