|
|
IT'S FORTRESS RIVERSIDE AGAIN 27-2-07
Karl Watson
The Teesside faithful were given another display of attacking football against Reading. Is this a taste of things to come under Southgate? And will it bring the fans back in their rafters?
The attendance was disappointing against Steve Coppell's side and both sides deserved better. For the past few weeks the set up at home has been to predominantly attack, and the goals have followed. Yet the fans still choose to turn their backs. Southgate, along with many managers and fans alike have voiced their opinions over a decrease in ticket prices but it remains to be seen whether or not Middlesbrough will continue in the trend set by the likes of Bolton and Chelsea?
What disappoints me with the attendances is the fact that our home form is significantly greater this campaign. We have only tasted three defeats at home all season, and these came before the Christmas period. However, last year we endured seven defeats and only seven victories, whilst this year we have already won eight. The average attendance for last year's season is higher than this year's. It makes little sense.
As football fans we do have the right to dip into our pockets and spend our hard earned money if we wish to choose, however more decline. As fans we also have the right to criticise and praise the players and staff for performances and the success of the club. As Boro fans we have in the past - and no doubt we will in the future - had much to complain about. However, whenever the team is doing well, many do not praise the players and staff accordingly and we are seeing this with the attendance figures.
If Middlesbrough are lucky enough to make it to Wembley this year then there will be an outcry for tickets by every Boro fan alive, but where are you all now? Games against the likes of Reading and Bolton are more important than those against the top four, yet people seem more likely to go to these games even though the chance of actually winning is surely greater when against lesser opposition?
I believe we have turned the Riverside into a fortress this season, just like McClaren did during his second year as Boro manager and I think as fans we owe it to the players to turn up in our droves and urge the team on to success.
I would like to see more of the same in the forthcoming months in terms of the football. The team are playing better and more attacking football and this can only be a good thing. The Reading game was quite open and although we dominated with possession, Reading did have many chances and in truth the game could have swung either way.
Of course we all love to see Middlesbrough win football games, but the result did little to help our cause for European football, and a defeat wouldn't have sent us plummeting down the table. It was a good result against a good side but surely the fact that we were last on Match of the Day for the umpteenth occasion highlighted the games insignificance.
Tonight is a crunch game for Middlesbrough's season against championship leaders West Bromwich Albion. The game will be very very tricky, however I believe it is in our hands. During the first match we failed to get our front three significantly involved for the majority of the game. Mark Viduka is proving to us all why we paid a tidy sum of money for him and he will be the difference tonight.
West Brom will of course love to win the tie to set up a home tie either against the mighty Manchester United or Reading, but surely their priorities lie with the Championship and securing that automatic place which they currently occupy?
They will obviously go into the game with ambitions to win, but we are going to create chances and if we can get Viduka, Yakubu, and Downing into the game for long spells then I don't see how we will fail to pick up the victory. However there is always a doubt in my mind because if we do fail to get our big three involved then it could be a long trip back home.
Saturday is a big game for Middlesbrough and once again our away allocation has been sold out and we will be able to out-sing the Geordies for yet another season. The last time Middlesbrough completed the double over Newcastle in the league was during the 1991/92 season in the old Division One. We have yet to accomplish the task since the Premierships formation but doesn't Saturday represent a great chance of doing so?
Last year's trip to St. James' Park should have resulted in three points and Newcastle's squad was very weak due to a number of injuries. This year, not much has changed for Newcastle - they are still a mediocre club doing absolutely nothing and their chance of actually winning anything remains as likely as Steve McClaren winning the World Darts Championship.
They do not have as many injuries as last year but their squad does contain a number of inexperienced youngsters who are liable to making errors. We have to get Downing on the ball as much as possible just to see how well clumsy Steven Taylor is as a right back. They have an inexperienced American in their defence and he surely will not be able to contain the Yak or Big Vid? Onyewu was at one stage a Boro target but we realised he wasn't good enough and secured the talents of Jonathan Woodgate instead.
Newcastle consider themselves 'Top Dogs' of the North-East but I just do not understand why? They have won absolutely nothing in thirty-five years and are now simply a mediocre club that relies on referees to dig them out of trouble, and they can only attract the likes of Sibierski to their club. Yes they do have Michael Owen, but he only went to the club because he wanted games before the World Cup. He would have gone to Watford if they offered him stupid wages.
We do have a good chance of getting something out of the game but our midfield will be crucial to the game's result. If George can find his surroundings and Julio can feed the front two with good service through the middle of the park, we can shut them out and as a result create chances for ourselves. I am hoping Gareth plays two up front and we have a go at them and give them a beating they will never forget.
In terms of the rest of the season, a win at Newcastle could be vital if we do have realistic chances of qualifying for the UEFA cup via the league. Our away form is not great and another win on the road to hopefully compliment the one at West Brom tonight and will stand us in good stead away from home till the end of the season.
We shouldn't be beaten at home however it is what we do on the road that will determine our fate. I think I can safely say that Middlesbrough will not get relegated this season. Saying that in February, considering during December we were in turmoil, gives me great satisfaction. But what would be greater would be to finish in seventh and get back into Europe, especially at the expense of Newcastle.
If we are to finish in seventh place then we will have to go on a magnificent run to get there, so why not start with a win at Newcastle on Saturday. Europe does just seem a little too far away at the moment and with ten games left we would have to win around six and lose only a few. It is a big ask and perhaps a win on Saturday will be the platform for what could be a fantastic finish to the season.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO WATSON AND WARNOCK INDEX
|
|
|
|
