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Deep in my heart...
Middlesbrough vs Manchester United, 28th October 2005, Riverside Stadium
James Keen
Life is stressful enough without football. But here we are, and another one of those Boro vs United battle royale's. Ordinarily a game against a team of United's magnitude wouldn't cause Boro any stress, because we normally assume defeat.
But something happens on Teesside whenever this fixture comes about. People suddenly find a sense of belief in the boys that was previously non-apparent.
We always believe we can do it against Man United, harking back to Bernie Slaven's goal in the Rumbelows Cup Semi-Final of 1992, and Boro's majestic surge into a 3-0 lead at Old Trafford in 2001, causing our man Bernie to bare his backside in Binns window... ahhh, those were the days!
But Boro still carry that belief with them against United. Last season Boro were unlucky not to win at Old Trafford, coming away with a 1-1 draw.
But it was at the Riverside where I must draw reference. United outclassed the Boro. They out passd, out moved, out fought, and out scored us of course. But they did it without ever getting out of second gear.
And that is what Boro have to be cautious of. Too many times in recent months Boro have turned in indifferent and often flat performances. Against United we cannot afford to do that.
When Boro have got results against United it has been because we have played as well as it is humanly possible for us to play. When United beat us, they are simply going through the motions.
It seems a very pessimistic point to start upon, but it is true. And something we are all aware of.
But Boro this season have confused not just us the fans, but also the press, the media, the pundits. "Which Boro will turn up today I wonder?" is a phrase that every pundit across the land has uttered, as if unable to actually put a finger on where Boro's problems lay.
The reason Boro have started slowly is that - and I'm being brave by saying this categorically - we are adopting a rotation system for the first time in our history. We are playing each league game with a different team to our midweek games. We are swopping strikers, full backs, centre halfs, wide midfielders. And our players are just getting their heads around it.
Its not so much that they cannot play a rotation system. A lot of our players cam here to play regular first team football, and now that they are getting swung in and out of the team they are finding it increasingly difficult to find a stride, and find a passion.
Too many players now don't feel that they are an integral part of the team, something which drove them on last year. But they will find form, they will find the love again, I'm sure.
Boro will have to approach the game in a positive manner, but I fear a 4-5-1 may be on the cards. I however would play with two men up and push for the win. We've dropped too many games in the bankers, so we have to make up for that against the no hopers.
I'd guess that Hasselbaink may get a chance - if we play with two up - against United after scoring two in his last two starts. And expect Queudrue to get the nod over Pogatetz, after Pogatetz got the start against West Ham.
I don't really need to point out United's danger men, because every player they have is a danger. We just need to be strong man to man.
My head is telling me to expect the worse, 0-2, but my heart is praying for a 2-1 to Boro.
Probable Teams;
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Queudrue, Riggott, Bates, Boateng, Doriva, Mendieta, Rochemback, Yakubu, Hasselbaink
Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Bardsley, O'Shea, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Smith, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy
Form:
Middlesbrough dWDWLW
Manchester United WWWdDW
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