|
|
BRING ON THE GOONERS 1-2-07
Karl Watson and Tom Warnock
Watson says:
So 2007 has started very well for us Boro fans but surely we have to keep our feet on the ground and just remember how things in football can suddenly change. Yes we are unbeaten in all competitions since the turn of the year, but a few defeats in forthcoming games would see us in no cup competitions and fans would begin to discuss that dreaded 'R' word again.
Pessimism has always been our downfall as supporters but it is very easy to get carried away after a few good results. Yes, we should always praise the players as results and performances get better but I am just hoping that this run is a sign of good things ahead and we can maintain the current level of performance and continue to pick up many points.
This season has in many ways been similar to last years. The club at one stage seemed destined for relegation yet good cup runs proved vital and the confidence that the players picked up from these victories led us to greater performances and results in the league. The same thing appears to be happening this season under Southgate. The F.A cup seems to have given the player's added confidence and hopefully we can go all the way this year.
Many supporters do seem to be getting carried away after the Bolton win and some have even suggested that this is Middlesbrough's year for the FA Cup and we will once again qualify for Europe via the league. However, can we realistically look at qualifying for Europe? Yes we are in touching distance but the remaining away fixtures are very difficult but if we are to take more points than we lose against those teams then we would more than definitely deserve to play in next year's UEFA Cup.
Can we honestly forget about relegation this year? As every game goes by I would say yes as we seem to have far much more quality than those teams at the bottom and after every game we play we are slowly but surely stretching a distance between ourselves and eighteenth place.
Would mediocracy and a good cup run not represent a successful first season under Gareth Southgate? Steve McClaren is regarded as Middlesbrough's 'best ever' manager however in the league we were only ever regarded as a mediocre club and if it hadn't have been for the success in other cup competitions then McClaren may not have got as much credit as he did.
Would Gareth Southgate not be happy with this? Because I believe Gareth is not taking enough credit for the team's performances and results. Perhaps the FA Cup will change people's opinion about Middlesbrough and the great job Gareth Southgate is doing.
The result at Bristol City wasn't a bad one however it never really should have got to that stage. We had plenty of opportunities in the opening phase and should have had the game sewn up by half time but it wasn't to be. A replay doesn't really suit us however I do not see any problems and we should progress easily.
One worrying aspect must be the amount of replays we need to kill off lower league opposition. If we are to go far in the FA Cup we have to make sure in games we are in control of, we take the victory at the first attempt. The draw has been very fortunate for us but if we defeat West Bromwich Albion, there will be no easy tie home or away.
The FA Cup has always been a good competition for Boro in recent years and there is no reason why we cannot go far in this year's competition. Although it is terribly clichéd, if we are to win the cup we need to take every game at a time and in order to be the best we have to beat the best.
Tuesdays night's goalless draw at Fratton Park was a very good result. Portsmouth have had a very bright season under Harry Redknapp and they have realistic ambitions of UEFA cup qualification. Although we never set the game alight on Tuesday we fully matched Pompey and we showed that we are just as good as those teams in the top eight. How things have changed so quickly because a month ago, that was a game we would have lost easily.
However although things have changed quickly they can always do the opposite. We do boast a good home record and in theory we shouldn't lose another game at home from now till the end of the season. We all know this will probably not be the case. We all need to remember that the rough comes with the smooth. Currently we are experiencing the smooth but soon may come the rough.
We do have some very difficult fixtures away from home and if results do not go our way we will find ourselves back in the bottom half and the players' confidence may be affected and it could result in poor performances and results at home.
What was frustrating was the 4-5-1 formation at Portsmouth. Although the initial tactics would have been to take something away from the game, would we have set up with a 4-5-1 formation if Mark Viduka had have been fit? Is our strength and depth upfront really good enough? Or every time one of our formidable front two is unavailable will be adopt a defensive formation?
I think the Arsenal game will show just how far we have come and how we compare to one of the top four teams. It will show whether or not we should all believe the hype that currently surrounds the club.
It will be by no means an easy game. When Arsenal hit top gear I believe they are the best team in the country and should be competing for the title. Their stars do not like being 'kicked' around but with Cattermole currently occupying the right hand side of midfield, will Julio and George be able to stop Fabregas and Gilberto? Once again it will be our big three that will determine what the outcome is. If Downing, Viduka, and Yakubu find their best I believe we can come away with all three points.
We currently find ourselves going through a very good run however every team does inevitably go through difficult times. As much as I hope we avoid this I am bracing myself for it. Have we not seen this all before? A good run in the FA cup and good results in the league sparks talk of silverware and UEFA cup qualification via the league.
it has all come crashing down in previous seasons and something has to be done to make sure our season doesn't disintegrate like those from the past. Whatever is being done correctly must be continued in order to make this season a success.
Will this be a season to savour, or are we destined for another one of mediocrity?
Warnock Says:
It's February, and we're still unbeaten in all competitions. Someone pinch me. As if that's not enough for you, we're even flirting with the top half of the table. But sadly, at the time of writing we've signed no more players apart from the largely unknown Lee Dong Gook.
But firstly, let's get the matter of our FA Cup tie out of the way. I, like many, was satisfied with our first half lead, and even after they got one back I was still relaxed and confident that we would win. And then they equalised. One of Schwarzer's trademark punches left the goal exposed and all Murray had to do was avoid the mass of bodies and find the empty net. Not as hard as it sounds; just ask Lee Clark.
The final whistle came and we'd failed to advance at the first attempt yet again, although if we dispatch them at home we may be able to make good progress in this year's competition, after we avoided Premiership opposition in the draw. Not wanting to look too far ahead, but West Brom is a winnable game, and that would put us in the last eight, with this being our only chance of silverware perhaps we should shift some focus from the league to the cup.
Drawing at Bristol means we've still only won once away this season, yet it doesn't detract from how good a point it was at Portsmouth on Tuesday. It was a surprise to see Gareth playing just Yakubu up front. I doubt we would have left Viduka on the bench had he been fit, so why did he decide to play just one up front? Whether it was tactical or not, Malcolm Christie must have been wondering what he needs to do in order to get a run in the side.
There was a sad day this week for Boro fans, because with the departure of Massimo Maccarone comes a sympathetic and supportive farewell. He gave us the opportunity to play our first ever European final, and he played his heart out for our club in an effort to repay his price tag, and endear himself to Boro fans nationwide.
Endear himself he did, and we'll never forget those UEFA Cup nights, and the look of sheer ecstasy, surprise and delight when he sent the Riverside into raptures. I think I say it collectively when I say 'thank you Massimo'. Who knows he may even line up against us if we cross paths in Europe in the future.
The most pleasing thing about the Portsmouth point was keeping a clean sheet. It was just last week I was harping on about how the defence must get better if we're to continue our advances. Without doubt, Woodgate was the standout figure in our defence, and it's him and not Sol Campbell who deserves recognition.
Yakubu played well considering he was alone up front. He was always a danger when the ball came to him, but I still think he has another gear to move into. He's one of the most underrated strikers in the Premiership, so I wouldn't be surprised if there's a hat-trick lurking just round the corner for the big man.
I'm looking forward to the visit of Arsenal; there's a result in it for us. Its one of the big boys, it's an evening kick-off and it's on Sky. So the scene is set for us to beat yet another top four team as we have a habit of doing.
We're in the best form of our season so far and granted, that doesn't say much but Arsenal will be wary of our firepower and rugged defending and the gaffer will have everyone believing we can win this game. Bring on the Gooners!
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO WATSON AND WARNOCK INDEX
|
|
|
|
