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THE STEVE GOLDBY COLUMN 13-7-04
I'm a little later with the column this week because I've just been away to a place in the North of England called Middlesbrough. Well, I must say, it was very, very nice to see it again, catch up with some old mates, meet some new ones and get a renewed feel for the area.
Middlesbrough seems to be a very happening place at the moment and I feel sure that anyone who has been away as long as I have will noticed the same buzz, anticipation and expectation in the air. It's a lot to do with the independant feel that we have always had, I'm sure of that. You can't categorise Teesside and in fact, they can't even find a county to put us in. But I'm not here to talk politics or sociology. I only ever do that after at least four pints. I am here to talk about Middlesbrough Football Club, pride of the North East and now surely, experiencing the dawn of a Golden Age.
Let's start with Michael Reiziger. Great signing. A class defender to replace Leeds United thug Danny Mills. Well actually, Mills is now a Manchester City player but any chance to get a dig in at Leeds is worth taking. I liked Mills in the first half of last season but he went off the boil. That may have been something to do with his future not being secure but on the other hand, he was hardly ever going to have to worry about paying his electricity bill now, was he. Reiziger is a much better bet and a much classier player as well and despite his age of 32, I think that he is a player who will be at the top for much longer than Mills.
We all know what has been said about Mark Viduka. Temperamental, will upset dressing room harmony, fat, lazy - I could go on and on and I am sure that you have all heard it as well. Well, I say that this guy could be the best signing that we have made for years and years. Yes, it's true that he didn't really do the business last season but who would be happy playing for that shower from down the A1? The man wants to win things because he's a professional and he's chosen a club who he can realise that ambition with. I strongly believe that the management of MFC have learnt heavily from the Ravanelli and Emerson fiascos and are now more than capable of handling a personality like Viduka's. Mark should not be slagged off any more. We should get right behind him and support him to the hilt. Then watch the goals flow.
And Jimmy, oh Jimmy. How wonderful to have you here. Jimmy was top scorer last season for a team who attained their highest league positon since the early fifties and got to the semi final of The Champions League as well. But Jimmy also wants to win things and he is in the right place to do just that. The signings of Michael Reiziger and Mark Viduka were well publicised beforehand but when Jimmy arrived, many people were taken by surprise. It transpired that it had been a few weeks since this deal was first suggested, so the cover up operation went well on the Jimmy signing. It does makes me wonder if the proposed interest in Portsmouth's Yakubu was no more than a smokescreen? Whatever, we now have a fantastic strikeforce who should, barring mishap or misadventure, deliver 30 Premier goals between them next season. And hopefully, help to fire us to another cup success along the way.
And how ironic that Mark Viduka was the man who replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when the latter left Leeds for Spain. I also find it quite shocking that Leeds are now chasing two other players who are ex-Boro, namely Craig Hignett and Brian Deane. After the signing of Michael Ricketts a week or so ago, it really does make me wonder if Leeds are trying their best to self destruct? And what part do we play in all of this? We get their best player for around half of what he is really worth, they get our worst player and also go in for two more who were approaching their sell by date when they played for us over half a decade ago. I wonder if Gazza will be showing up at Elland Road in the near future? With Emerson, who seems to be looking for one last blast in England. If these things do come to pass, then it will be another entertaining season for us, as a lot of our games are now on Sundays, due to UEFA Cup commitments on Thursday's and extra TV interest. That means that we can follow the Leeds games on Saturdays! Mind you, the way they are going, they will be playing regularly on Sundays themselves. That is if the West Yorkshire Sunday Pub league still operates!
But never mind about them. What about us? Would you settle for 6th next season, with a good UEFA Cup run? Are Mark and Jimmy's ambition of a Champions League place realistic? Or will our golden age turn out to be nothing more than just another false dawn and come next season, our failed Euro adventure noted down in history as a one off whilst we drift back into mediocrity? I don't think so! I think that we are at the beginning of a journey that will see Middlesbrough Football Club establish itself among Britain's elite and that a team is being formed that will challenge the superpowers of European football. I am also convinced that collective belief from us, the supporters, will go a long way towards turning these dreams into a reality.
Until next week.
Steve
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