|
|
NEW HOME, SAME OLD STORY 20-10-06
Rob Dixon
I started a new, exciting chapter of my life three weeks ago.
I moved from humble beginnings in Darlington to start a job as a TV Listings Producer at the Press Association in East Yorkshire. I rent my own house in Howden, the small market town where my nine to five is based and I'm settling in quite well. One of things that has dampened by new start however, is my beloved Boro.
The Manchester City game was on the evening of my first day at work and I sat down to watch it with a fan of that club who I met through mutual friends from university. I hoped he would see first hand the passion and the poise of a Boro side spurred on by two sturdy, if uninspiring, home wins against Everton and Newcastle. Instead, I sat head in hands, ashamed.
No passion, no skill, no interest. What did Gareth do with them in the week between slaying the Geordies and that disgrace? I never thought I could be so embarrassed by a performance, especially by a side packed with the same players who drove the club to a UEFA Cup final this season. To make matters worse, a Norwich fan at work laughed at me. And that was the weekend they got hammered 5-0 by Stoke. I had no reply. I could never be that miserable again. Surely?
The following Saturday I sat down to watch Match of the Day knowing they wouldn't possibly start the run-through of the day's results with the Watford game. But having being first on MOTD for the games against Sheffield United and Reading, I should've known better. I was outraged by what I saw.
Poor Yakubu toiling away, James Morrison missing a sitter and the sight of Lee Cattermole blazing a volley half a mile over the bar. 'Don't bring Super Lee into this' I pleaded with MOTD, 'at least he's trying'.
I also felt for Fabio Rochemback. I know he leaves us all continually confused as to whether we'll see a domineering midfield performance one week or a slow, disconnected showing the next, but I like him. True, he is probably the worst persistent fouler in the history of the world, but I certainly have more time for him than Jason Euell. It seemed at first that all that lad needed was a goal to win us all over, now he needs a miracle.
When George Boateng's contract wrangle went on, I remember saying to friends that we don't need him anymore because we've got Cattermole. Only part of me believed my blasé comment, but now it rings scarily true. I personally thought he was a dodgy choice for captain too. Chris Riggott seemed to have honed his mini-Gareth skills to perfection so I presumed he would follow in his shoes (boots). What has happened to that dynamo we had last season? As many have said on these very pages, the Boat is very definitely sinking.
All of the sides inadequacies were put on show on MOTD that day, so I had an idea of what to expect when West Ham visited the Riverside last week. All of your money on a loss, it had to be! The resurgent Hammers with their fist-pumping Wenger-baiting coach couldn't possibly lose at the Boro, could they?
Well surprise surprise. Three home wins on the trot and the dizzy heights of 12th in the league (it became 13th after Reading's surprise win against Spurs). Couple this with Newcastle's fantastically rubbish league position and some semblance of confidence is restored.
Also, the man we all knew had to figure in this current side got his moment. After heartbreakingly hitting the post twice against City and an anonymous start against Watford, Massimo finally did what we all knew he could - and what we all wanted him to do. Lovely finish as well.
So where to now? I write this on the morning before the Liverpool encounter not knowing which Boro I'll see when I go to the pub later. Like the next person, I love a bit of mystery and surprise in my life, but Boro's current inconsistencies seem to defy belief. New home, same old story.
Will I see another gritty, hard-fought win or will I see another disappointing, drab encounter? It has to be said, with Liverpool's poor away record and our excellent home form, there's a chance this evening.
Who knows. All I know is that, like Tommo said earlier this week, no one expects anything from us. To be fair, we barely expect anything from us - the ultimate underdog.
But we believe and love the team. We know we can stick it to the big boys, we all know the pride we felt when we got to the cup final last year. Has any feeling ever been better? That team is still in there somewhere. Whatever the result tonight, we know what they're capable of, which is why we hold them so dear.
Up the Boro.
NOW HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE NEW HOLGATE FORUM
|
|
|
|
