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DEEP IN MY HEART
Manchester City v Middlesbrough, 7th October 2007, Eastlands, Premier League
James Keen
I naturally have a very positive personality, especially when it comes to my first true love, Boro. But, I am sorry to say, that I'm getting less and less hopeful with each passing week.
Having a public forum such as this is a blessing; it's great to let people know my views about our club, but at the same time it also makes you think far too much about the team, the results and the opposition.
At the moment I think about these things and think "bugger".
We've got problems. We all know we have. And we can look back to pre-season draws with Burnley, and defeats at Hibs and say that the warning signs were there.
Our strikers aren't scoring, and the longer the season goes on, the quicker time goes by and the sooner a couple of games without a goal turns into a drought.
We have injuries. Pogatetz, Arca, Huth, Mido, Aliadiere, Tuncay. All key players to our first sixteen.
And then the players on the cusp, Dong-Gook, Cattermole, Hines, Wheater, Riggott, Craddock, are all either out of practice, out of confidence or far too young to be thrown into such a pressured situation.
It has been rightly pointed out that we haven't had the toughest of starts to the season, and yet we still languish low amongst the strugglers. And more worrying, level on points with Sunderland.
Jonathan Woodgate this week stated that we need to 'stop feeling sorry for ourselves', and it's completely right. These boys are getting paid at least my annual wage every single week to play football, to score goals, to win games of football and to entertain. None of which is currently happening.
Lee Dong-Gook, a man with no confidence, our only fit 'senior' striker replaced at the end of the Everton game whilst we searched for an equaliser. Let's pray that Southgate has decided that Lee is not going to cut it, because the rest of us know that we have absolutely slated players twice as good as him and gotten rid of them for nothing.
I'll give you a choice. Who would you rather see take the field this weekend. Lee Dong-Gook or Szilard Nemeth? Joseph Desire-Job? Massimo Maccarone? Malcolm Christie? Danny Graham? Bernie Slaven? Michael Ricketts?
Sorry, got carried away there!
But, I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from. And to be honest, I don't think Malcolm Christie has found a club yet. Sign him up? Too late to forgive and forget? Probably.
I feel harsh, I really do. Because I do not believe for one second that any player, apart from Yakubu maybe, would go out onto a football pitch and intentionally play badly. And I also believe that nobody should be criticised when they are doing their absolute best.
Sadly, some players' best isn't quite good enough.
Our opponents this week have been flying. They spent big and brought in a new, high profile, manager and, by jingo, it's worked for them!
City has strengthened around the park whilst also maintaining their 'Britishness' with key players like Hart, Richards, Dunne, Johnson and Ireland. Sven understands that without his homegrown talent his side would never cope with the Premiership.
He has also shown great faith in Didi Hamann, a player brushed aside for much of last season. With the discipline and quality of Hamann allowing Johnson to develop, learn and tear sides apart.
Corluka and Garrido have given them balance and quality at full-back and with Elano and Petrov attacking from midfield, they have a side packed with threat and industry.
I will now hold my hands up and admit that I was very wrong in my initial judgment of City. I said that these players would not gel in time and City would struggle. Sven though, all credit to him, has done an excellent job and has built a team capable of challenging the top four.
City will finish in the top eight, no question, and are therefore the best side that we have played this season. But Boro, prior to last season, had a bit of a hoodoo on City, and even beat them at Eastlands 1-0 in spite of not having a shot on target.
So, I admit, I am pinning my hopes onto faith and downright magic this weekend, praying that we resurrect our dominance over City and come away with victory.
Southgate needs to pick a midfield heavy side if he is to overcome City. Chances are that one of Tuncay and Mido will be fit; if that is the case then they should be thrown straight into the side with a five man midfield behind them.
That midfield should consist of O'Neill, Downing, Boateng, Cattermole and Rochemback. Pace, skill and tenacity; the perfect mix. It also means we don't need to field the weakest member of our senior squad, Dong-Gook.
This game will also be tinged with slight sadness for me. A very good friend of mine, and a huge Boro fan, Stephen Donovan, passed away in early 2006 very suddenly. The last time I had a day out with Donovan was to watch Oasis at Eastlands in July 2005, a day I'll always remember. This will be my first trip back.
Ste was buried the day Boro overturned a 3-0 deficit in the UEFA Cup quarter final against Basle, and we all felt that there was a hint of magic in the air. I think that magic could be in the air again on a day I'll be drinking to my mate's memory.
The Outcome: My heart tells me we can do it. 2-1. But my head says we will come unstuck 2-0. But if Donovan has his say it'll be a 5-0 mauling with 'three footed' tackles all over the shop!
Last Season: Manchester City 1-0 Middlesbrough, 30/10/06, Premier League
Boro Form (most recent result first): LLDLWW
Man City Form: WWDWLL
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Taylor, Woodgate, Wheater, Boateng, Rochemback, O'Neil, Downing, Cattermole, Tuncay.
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Garrido, Richards, Dunne, Johnson, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Petrov, M'penza.
Man to Watch: Elano
This column is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Donovan who passed away suddenly on the 25th March 2006 at the age of 23.
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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