|
|
THE SCOTT STONEHOUSE COLUMN 31-8-05
Hey, sorry about last week everybody, I went to Birmingham away and the celebrations went on for a bit too long. Let's get down to business shall we...
Transfer Targets - "You Mean We Have Some?"
So Douala looks likely to stay with Sporting, as does Fabio Rochemback. Peter Lovenkrands is not a regular feature in the Rangers team but is settled now. Sean Davis is injured and we are now set to go into the season, or at least until January with a very small and very much un-extended squad.
Zenden left and he hasn't been replaced. The only thing I can think of is that McClaren let Bolo go and thought he would replace him easily. Oh how wrong he was. Downing is now injured, so we could see Pogatetz and Queudrue on the left hand side for Boro. Not ideal but I suppose it will have to do.
Parlour and Doriva look to have bigger parts and more important roles than the fans would have hoped they would do, and I take everything back about Yakubu. He is Michael Ricketts in disguise. Surely Sunderland need a new striker. Please make me eat my words Yak.
Empty Seats - Never a good sign
Twenty-six thousand something or other, that's how many people turned up to see the Charlton game. I know it now seems like the right choice but we had just won 3-0 at Birmingham going into the game and were full of confidence. The strike partnership most people were asking for started, Viduka and Yakubu, and it was a mouth watering prospect.
The people who staryed at home made the right decision, and how many of the twenty-six thousand saw the final whistle? I know I did but I wasn't with very many people who were witnesses to the worst display from a Boro team in McClaren's four years, and the seventeen years I've been alive.
Maccarone looked like he learnt a lot from his time on loan. Arsenal will probably demolish us so why not give Maccarone a chance. See how he does. He can't play much worse than Yakubu did against the Addicks.
Owen Signs For Newcastle - No, Really He Signed For Newcastle!!
I want to say I can't believe it but actually I can. Liverpool were the only other club interested. They were his chosen club, he wanted a move back to Merseyside but Benitez didn't seem to be interested. Owen probably wouldn't fit in to their new style of play and they wouldn't change their style for him.
Newcastle offered the same wages we have been told and the chance of first team football and that is what swayed his decison. But what I find interesting is that there are very strong rumours, yet un-confirmed, that Owen has asked for a minimum fee release clause of £12m. That would only come into play at the end of the current season so if anybody made a bid of £12m, Newcastle would be forced to accept and Owen could talk to the club.
Given these rumours, the fact that he wanted to join Liverpool and that he said he only ever wanted a year long loan deal at Newcastle, it looks as if Owen is just using the Geordies for the year. To keep fit, play some matches, score a few goals and be ready for the World Cup. And then he will leave, to Liverpool if Benitez changes his mind, or Chelsea, or Arsenal. Or Boro, if we raise some cash, and ship out Job and Nemeth.
Xanthi - "Magic Time, Carnival, Emerson Does The Samba"
When the five clubs we could possibly face were announced, it was almost fate that former hero Emerson would find his way back to the club. The Brazillian, famous for his wonder goals, samba style dance goal celebrations, and then going AWOL and deciding to leave Boro of his own accord will be back on Teesside turf and I'm just praying George snaps him and halts any chance of an Emerson wonder goal stopping the Boro UEFA Cup dream, take 2.
We would have preferred to be away first, get an away goal or five and then wrap the job up at home with a few teenagers in the side, but i think a strong home performance with a few goals will do nicely and then we can wrap it up over there. I've looked at their side and they are nothing much. Greek Cup Winners, but then again, Banik Ostrava were the Czech League Winners and we brushed them aside, despite a nail-biting away second leg. Let's just hope that the nails stay firmly attached to our fingers and we can beat Emerson and his Greek compadres with ease.
Man City/Charlton - The Boro Of This Season
I've been looking at Man City and Charlton. Charlton's 3-0 advantage over the lacklustre Boro made me think whether Boro have changed places with one of those two clubs. Both have bought in new players and both have had a good start, City especially. In Stuart Pearce they have a strong, determined manager and the players work hard for him. If any club is going to stop us qualifying for Europe it will be City.
The two league encounters with them this season will be key. We took four points from them last season and will need to get two victories in my opinion, and beat Charlton away. All three clubs will be pushing for 5th and 6th spot. And with one club obviously going to miss out, I'm sad to say that if the squad isn't added to before midnight then the January transfer window could be too late.
There could be a North East trio getting relegated this season... Too soon to worry? I think not...
BACK TO SCOTT STONEHOUSE INDEX
|
|
|
|
