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THE ROCKLIFFE FILES - GOOD RESULTS 22-8-06
Toby Higgins
Before this weeks discussion of all things Boro begins, it's probably only fair to recognise those who, like this writer, discovered their academic fate last Thursday, the much dreaded A-level results day. For those who greeted their results with a smile, congratulations. For those who shed a tear, or who were mighty close to doing so, commisserations.
Having gone through the whole results day experience though, it's safe to hazard a guess at what the next sniping remark made about the education system of the country will be. Out of a group of eight close friends, only two (myself included) got the results that their university of choice had specified, and yet, all eight of us have ended up at the university we wanted to be at, though admittedly, some have had to alter their course slightly.
Exams are not getting easier. Teaching methods improve, the introduction of coursework helps, but the papers are still extremely hard. Universities, however, are the weak link in the system, because, as last Thursday shows, they now need to fill up courses in order to receive more money, so whether you get the grades required or not, students are encouraged down paths they wouldn't have been able to follow once upon a time. Anyway, I made it, and my place at University awaits, which means.
.I won't be going to every home match religiously as in previous years. True, it's a really sad thought that having only missed home matches in extreme circumstances, I won't be able to call myself a regular for much longer. That said, maybe I'm getting out at the right time.
I love Boro, me. I always will. It's where I'm from, and I'm proud of it. But this season is not going to be a particularly enjoyable one, and, while I hope I'm proved wrong, maybe being away from the Riverside for the majority of next season won't be such a bad thing.
The next ten months could be ten of the longest we've experienced for a very long time. It's scary that looking down the fixture list I cannot see us picking up a point, let along winning a game until the end of September.
Chelsea at home tomorrow night hardly looks like bringing much joy, Portsmouth, a side who we never seem to be able to beat home or away visit us the Monday after, and then trips to Arsenal, who strolled to seven last season against us, and Bolton, who are very hard to beat away could leave us rock bottom of the league after five games.
Maybe it's because deep down I'm selfish about Boro. Maybe it's because I can't be there at the games, I don't want them to have too much success, because I don't want to miss it. Match of the Day isn't enough for me. I need to see it for myself. But it can't be that, I'd give (almost) anything to see us succeed.
Reading away last Saturday confirmed my fears. After twenty-one minutes, we were top of the league, two nil up and coasting. But a side of Premiership quality and ability is good enough to defend a two goal lead away from home, especially at a side just promoted and surely reeling in shock at being two behind.
Obviously, it's always a bad time to let a goal in, but just before half time is particularly bad, because it changes the complexion of the game completely, moments before the manager speaks to the side and addresses a plan of action for the second half. But what happened on Saturday is beyond a joke.
After conceding the first goal, why did the experienced players on the pitch, such as the new captain George Boateng, Mark Schwarzer in goal, or even Mark Viduka on the half way line, not simply get hold of the ball and delay the kick off slightly - thus taking the sting out of the crowd and opposition? Why didn't Boateng get a message to every player in red that we keep the ball for three minutes until half time? Surely we are a good enough side to keep possession from the kick off for at least a few minutes? Aren't we?
Maybe not, as things turned out. Having somehow managed to give Reading the ball back from the kick off, they drew level, and from then on, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Regular readers will remember that last week, I suggested Julio Arca should wear the number 45 shirt, unaware that it was a figure signalling the number of minutes he would spend on the pitch. A broken foot will rule him out for a minimum of three weeks, but having heard how he performed on Saturday, maybe it'll prove to be a blessing in disguise.
What conerns me the most is the apparent frailties within the side. Still, a huge - in the words of James Bassett, "Southgate sized hole" remains in the centre of our back four, which will only grow wider as confidence falls and goals are leaked, which they inevitably will be. Hell, they were last season, even when Gareth was there.
I try to avoid pessimism as a rule, but after last weekend, it's hard to feel anything but. The positives are too few and far between. Yakubu getting off the mark is probably the highlight of a disappointing opening fixture.
Gareth, if your reading, here's the plan for the Chelsea clash. Drop Viduka and get Cattermole in, fitness pending. We need fight and passion, and it will give the fans a huge lift. Go to a 4-5-1 formation, the same one that beat them last season, and leave the Yak to play on his own, the role he appears to thrive off, and we'll kick start this season, making tomorrow Boro's day for a good result.
And my final suggestion for Wednesday is regarding Julio Arca's replacement. Please, please, let me Mark Page read a starting eleven including the name Gareth Southgate.
Here's hoping.
Same time next week.
Up the Boro
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