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2004 MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD PART ONE
Written by James Bassett
Welcome to the inaugural ComeOnBoro.com Man Of The Year awards.
This ceremony pays tribute to the men who played the greatest part
in Boro's year. It's just not possible to pay tribute to a single
individual, so the ten men who played huge roles in helping Boro
towards their most rewarding year ever will be mentioned. Each man
can be very proud of his achievements, but there can be only one
ComeOnBoro.com Man Of The Year; he will be unveiled on Thursday
23rd December.
I think a quick word about the criteria for inclusion in this list
of Boro luminaries is necessary. Before anybody asks, Steve McClaren
and Steve Gibson are both ineligible. Gibson would win the award
every year and McClaren wouldn't be too far behind. Besides, both
of those two God-like figures should always have the best interests
of Boro at heart. And yes, I know the players should too, but we
know that's not always the case. However, where other members of
the hierarchy have gone above and beyond the call of duty, they
may be eligible, because frankly, those guys don't get enough credit.
Although it's the ComeOnBoro.com Man Of The Year award, women are
also eligible. But let's face it; there probably won't be any.
So enjoy the countdown from ten to six. Tune in next Thursday for
the final five.
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10
- Mike Riley
Boro’s Carling Cup Final saviour.
We all remember February 29th 2004. Boro had raced into
a 2-0 lead through a Joseph Desire Job tap-in and a Bolo
Zenden penalty before
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being
pegged back as Kevin Davies embarrassed Mark Schwarzer at
his near post.
Meanwhile, those watching at home were being force-fed footage
by ITV that appeared to suggest that Zenden had struck the
penalty twice as he slipped.
Of course, it would’ve taken an eagle-eyed official
to spot the infringement, but we have to be grateful to
Riley for missing it like the rest of us. However, Riley’s
work on that magical Sunday was not yet done.
While they had been the better side, Boro were clinging
on in the final stages as Bolton searched an undeserved
equalizer. In the 88th minute, following a set piece, the
ball dropped to Stelios Giannakopoulos who smashed it against
Ugo Ehiogu's outstretched arm. If a Boro fan tells you it
wasn't a penalty, they're lying. Everybody knew it and there
was a collective gasp around the stadium as we anticipated
Riley's whistle. It never went. For that, Mike Riley, we
are very, very grateful.
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9
- Juninho
Former Boro legend, now Glaswegian benchwarmer.
The fact that several Boro fans were prepared to wave goodbye
to our most successful manager because of Juninho's departure
speaks volumes about the regard that the little fella is
held at The Riverside. The
words, "great" and "legend" are used too often in football,
but Juninho is both.
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It was unquestionably a sad day when he left The Riverside
for the last time, and it still sticks in the craw that
he didn't get a proper send-off, but the club's form has
proved that McClaren made the right decision.
Even the most devout supporters of TLF would have to admit
that we didn't get the best out of him this time round.
Serious injuries had taken their toll, and while he still
had vision, his feet weren't always quick enough to act
upon it.
Nonetheless, we were blessed with more moments of Brazilian
brilliance during 2004. His goal against Arsenal in the
Carling Cup Semi-Final at Highbury stands out, as does his
opener against Southampton in April, but surely the most
inconceivable brace of the year came at Old Trafford when
Juninho twice scored with his head to secure Boro their
most impressive three points of the year.
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8
- Joseph Desire Job
Loves his hairband. Hates dancing.
He might seem more interested in his hairband than goal
scoring, but Job was there for us last season in the pre-Viduka
and Jimmy days. Not
only has he frustrated -
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couldn't
he have tucked that chance away against Arsenal in the Carling
Cup to settle it finally? - and delighted, for example Old
Trafford, 10th February, 2-2, Job picks up the ball on the
edge of the 18-yard box and nutmegs Silvestre before striking
it past Howard, in equal measure, but he scored Boro's first
goal of 2004.
But his moment of the year came (like most of our players
did) on 29th February 2004.
Having already scored a second minute tap-in and won a penalty
for us but five minutes later, Job left the field a jubilant
figure. As Boro were presented with the trophy, George Boateng,
like a demented cheerleader, had choreographed a daffy dance
routine. Dutch pal Zenden was happy to join in and Job was
asked to follow suit. Job simply gazed at them in a way
that suggested, "you've got to be fucking kidding me," and
the two dropped their offer.
In fact, watching Job completely demur at the idea of joining
the Dutchmen in their crazy jig was my favourite footballing
moment of the year.
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7
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
He sulks, he scores.
Everybody expected the Mark Viduka signing. The story had,
after all, rumbled on for seven months before we finally
signed the Aussie hitman. However, when Boro announced a
3pm press conference a day later, people were bemused. Who
was going to join the giant Antipodean? Aiyegbeni
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Yakubu seemed like the most likely candidate as Boro had
been heavily linked with a move for the Portsmouth striker.
But conspiracy theories ran rife. Had Boro signed Michael
Ballack in an audacious coup? Or had Steve McClaren’s
England connections been enough to tempt Owen Hargreaves
to join the Riverside revolution? Was Geremi making a return
after a muted season at Stamford Bridge? Nobody was sure.
However, at 3pm on the 10th July, none other than Jimmy
Floyd Hasselbaink emerged alongside Keith Lamb.
Boro had signed a player who had won the golden boot in
England and Spain previously; finally we had the goal scorer
we’d lacked since Ravanelli left. Inspired by jealousy,
the critics came, “he’s too old,” “he
sulks too much,” “him and Viduka won’t get
on,” came the cries. Then as Boro found themselves
2-1 down at home to the Toon on the first day of the season
with seconds remaining, Jimmy knelt at the far post and
whether it was his head or his shoulder matters not. A hero
was born.
Hasselbaink followed this with a screamer against Arsenal
and an assist for Viduka against Fulham. His goals have
come thick and fast since. He scored Boro’s first ever
European goal against Banik Ostrava, the first Boro league
hat-trick for six years against Blackburn and has finally
given Boro a set-piece specialist who hits the target more
often than not. Two stunning free kicks, one against Palace
and one against Man City have put Zenden, Mendieta, Downing
and Queudrue well back in the queue.
As the for the prediction that he and Viduka won’t
get along, well an inordinate amount of goals are coming
from interplay between the two of them. In fact, I’m
hard pressed to think of a better strike partnership in
the Premiership. He might be the wrong side of 30, he might
sulk when things don’t go his way, but you know what?
I don’t care, and I dare say Steve McClaren doesn’t
either. He scores goals, and that’s all that matters.
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6
- Gareth Southgate
He came to Boro to win things.
How the Villa fans scoffed as Boro failed to achieve much
improvement in Southgate’s first three seasons. However,
when McClaren’s team
lifted the Carling Cup in 2004, no
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player deserved it more than Southgate, who allegedly had
warded off advances from Manchester United the previous
January.
In previous seasons, when paired with his long-time friend
Ugo Ehiogu, he has looked impenetrable. In 2004, he's been
denied a regular defensive partner, and has wasted no time
in taking Chris Riggott and Andrew Davies under his wing.
In fact, Riggott is one of the most improved players in
the Premiership this season, something Southgate must take
no small amount of credit for. Whether he has played alongside
Ehiogu, Riggott, Colin Cooper or Andrew Davies, he never
looks anything less than completely assured.
While Boro play with a more attacking bent these days, Southgate
continues to play at the top of his game. In fact, just
this week he delivered an absolutely flawless performance
against Partizan Belgrade. When he comes to retire, he'll
take some replacing.
2004 MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD PART TWO
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