|
 |
THE AWAY END - THEATRE OF DREAMS OR HOUSE OF HORRORS? 29-10-07
John Powls
On yesterday's Beeb site Lawro said, "I really worry about Middlesbrough. If I didn't think there were three teams worse than them, I would say they would be relegated this season."
You'd previously want to rail against being patronised and to revel in the fact he's backed us to lose 3-0. But since he's said what we've been all saying ourselves this week, that's difficult.
Even some messageboard posters who are well known as 'ra-ras' or 'foam-handers' have started to recognise and openly worry about the performances we've been seeing from Boro. Even the uber-foam-handers have been reduced to silence.
Most seem to accept that the next four games are vital. This ManUre game for humiliation avoidance, the next two - Spurs at home and Bolton away - because we must get something from them.
Then the foreboding spectre of Villa at The Riverside. An abject defeat in the same fixture last year. The season before that, the season-ticket launching nadir of The Ex's reign.
Will history repeat itself when the Villains visit? It will if we don't change what we've been doing. Still, despite the departure of two of the three managers of the sides below us, Gate says he's feeling no pressure. So that's alright then.
One interesting take on the next three games came from a posting from my mate Ian:-
"I don't know about you but I think back to the message boards when we, and like minded posters, were treated as pariahs and prophets of doom when we warned against complacency. Looking out of my window the sky is black with our winged friends coming home to roost, all the perches in the chicken run are occupied."
When we were in Europe we complained about the workload of playing twice a week and travelling. We always seemed to start slowly and were leggy against teams who had a full week to prepare.
We now have three matches against teams in Europe before we play Villa.
ManUre have come back from a long trip to eastern Europe with injuries, although it looks like they've got others back.
Spurs played in the UEFA last Thursday and had a Premiership game at the weekend. On Wednesday they play in the Carling Cup, then against us on Saturday.
Against that they have the Ramos factor. With him they are likely be on the upstroke against us.
Bolton play UEFA, Premiership, Carling Cup, Premiership, UEFA and then us. They seem to have jumped out of Little Sam's Frying Pan into Megson's fire that's never set any league alight.
Will we be fast out of blocks in those three matches?
Against ManUre a good, up and at them performance would have worked wonders for confidence, whatever the result.
Then with Spurs and Bolton we have a chance to impose ourselves against tired players in two massive six pointers.
Or will we do our normal trick and give fellow strugglers a chance to kick start their seasons?
Whatever the debate about squad depth, injuries, formations and coaching credentials this is a test of attitude. Our expectations aren't unrealistic and our love of Boro means that when Saturdays come we will forgive many faults - but never a lack of spine to give it a go.
If we come out meekly in these three matches then we have to seriously doubt the football side of the club as well as we already doubt MFC.
It is line in the sand time."
Well said, Ian.
In the Champions League last Tuesday, ManUre looked like they've looked in the Premiership in the last few games - scarily good in attacking midfield and up front but not quite so good at the back and in defensive midfield. Their opposition in Kiev played eerily like Boro have been - with the result all too predictable.
Assuming the current likelihood of fitness (and doesn't the recent news on Mido further expose our 'fitness regime' for the sick - pun intended - joke that it is) - and because I think Wheats has more to offer in attacking set pieces - I would have started 4-4-2 against United and used O'Neil in the central, box to box role with Tuncay wide right:
Schwarz; Young, Woody, Wheats, Tayls; Tuncay, O'Neil, Catts, Stewie; Aliadiere, Craddock
Subs: Turnbull, Riggs, Rocky, Boateng, Hutchinson
This Away End - a new phenomenon - is supposed to be the live commentary on Radio Five Live. I wonder why that is? Anyhow, I listened from behind the metaphorical sofa. Having furniture drawn from imagery as well as DFS is an advantage of being a poet!
In the event, Radio Five Live decided to focus on Chelski so I followed the game on several, multimedia sources at once - eerie when the time lag in various satellite, aerial and broadband line signal delays give you several versions of the same thing a few seconds apart.
At one point there's a debate on the Sky panel about Gate's comment earlier in the week that Boro need strengthening in all areas in January but in the meantime we're stuck with what we've got. They conclude that it's a tacit acceptance by Gate that he got it wrong in the summer in terms of the players he brought in and that he didn't bring in enough.
But they also conclude that if all Gate is going to do is wring his hands and wait for January, writing off the next ten games, then we'll already be stuck in the bottom three and find it difficult to attract the right players anyway. You can't help but agree with that.
I'm not going to attempt a blow by blow account of this game - despite the echoes of an impending Halloween. I think the story is too hackneyed (ManUre thrash another hapless opponent and Boro lose) and harrowing to go through again. I'm going to try to draw some impressions and conclusions.
Firstly, and most importantly, it wasn't an abject surrender - we had a go, especially in the first half. Most reports praised the effort we put in - not always a feature of our play this season, including last week. It wasn't meek and, by all accounts, we outran them. But we still - to quote one Sunday newspaper - 'Got murdered'.
The Away End, as usual, was sold out and, until mid-second half had something to shout about.
Results against Chelski and ManUre are not going to decide our survival and we weren't humiliated yesterday in a way that could damage us going forward. It's the next few games that now matter enormously.
There were strongish showings from Wheats and Catts, who was universally praised yesterday and today in the media for his work rate and shot, if not for the blood curdling tackle that got him booked again. They did enough to keep their places.
I thought that there was enough from Tuncay wide right and O'Neil more central to consider that for the future shape whenever we are at strength again.
There's Aliadiere's goal, of course. And many congratulations to him for notching his first for us from a wicked ball from Tuncay. It was a deft header considering that this is not supposed to be his forte and he had to be in the right place at the right time.
There were other near misses too, notably the header from Stewie from another Tuncay special, and the Catts shot that Van de Saar tipped over.
I applaud Gate for dropping The Boat - the time has come and all of us know it. He must now stick to his guns unless injuries demand otherwise. I also applaud him for using Huchinson rather than Simba to replace Aliadiere.
But, aside from that, the gulf between the top group in the Premiership and the bottom group that we are now firmly in was ruthlessly exposed. It's even wider than last season - as our last two results have shown. You could say we're not in the same league as them and be figuratively right now. You may be actually right next season.
The Nani goal after only three minutes was another case of deja-vu. Not just that it was another early goal - the fifth in a row - but also because it was one of those 'wonder goals' that Luke Young was bemoaning the other day.
I'm less worried about the shot than that when Nani got the ball we had three players within touching distance and he succeeded in wriggling free from all of them. That's unforgivably poor. The nearest that anyone got to a block was Catts who had to come from twenty yards away.
What was Stewie doing back there for their second and why was the boot not applied? At that stage we were just clinging on and that goal pretty well ended it for us.
Whilst it was good to see him score, was Aliadiere rushed back too early to compensate for the absent Mido (in a game we were always going to lose)? Was he kept on the pitch too long after he pulled up sharply because our bench was so thin (in a game that was, by then, beyond us)? Are we now looking at another five week absence?
Maybe it's just me but I don't see the benefit of persisting with Rocky, even in Arca's absence. I also think that Woody isn't cutting it as defensive organiser and new captain. Until Pogo is right, at least, we're stuck with him in defence but if he doesn't extract the digit I would make O'Neil captain as he is the best on field example.
The thin-ness of our squad - the other Achilles heel that makes such a painful pair with our cack-handed way with injuries - was shown by the bench.
Simba - why? I'd rather have seen Craddock and Hutchinson on the bench. Why no Riggs in the sixteen? No criticism of Seb Hines but he's untried. Why did we let Johnno go to Watford and, given our injuries, why is he still there?
All told, it was hardly a bench to even cover adequately for injury let alone change a game. It also won't cause the opposition - even if they were down at the bottom of the league with us - quaking at the site of the fourth official's board going up.
And where is Shawky? No news of him being injured but even with a bench that thin he can't get on it. Have we made a (another) mistake or did we just buy someone to keep Mido company?
I know it's difficult but Gate just looks increasingly lost in post match interviews.
And, will someone please get rid of that away kit! It looks awful, makes us look wet and is even worse in terms of its design quality - and that's saying something - than our cheapo home kit and badge.
By the end of Sunday afternoon the results from the rest of the weekend's games have been relatively benign and we have avoided the bottom three.
All in all, we just have to put this behind us, sort out who we can get fit and focus on the next three games.
Spurs will be difficult but it is 'must win'. If we lose then I think that Gibbo has to take action, either on replacing Gate and the coaches or having a Venables-style 'mentor' come in to help recover the situation. If he does not then you have to question what his plans are for the club and whether they necessarily involve staying in the Premiership.
Let's hope this doesn't happen because we turn the corner next Saturday but, for the first time that I have seen, this morning's People is saying that Gate is running out of games to save his job and speculating that Jewell is being lined up to replace him.
Particularly from that well known 'organ' of veracity the name in the frame may be no more than 'flying a kite' of one of the recent ex-Premiership managers who is available and English (which seems to be a Gibbo fetish). I think we could and should do better but that would mean going abroad.
We'll know soon enough.
'Yerjokin'aren'ya' Quote of the Week
"I remember when we played Chelsea a couple of years ago I said before the game if they can put a man on the moon, we can beat Chelsea. So if you believe they put a man on the moon, a thing like that is possible!" Gareth Southgate
In response Anthony Vickers said, "It is certainly true that Southgate has questioned the veracity of the moon landing in press conferences before. In fact, I've got him down as a full on conspiracy theorist now with an extensive collection of JFK and 9/11 videos.
One thing's for sure, if Lee Dong Gook was the mystery gunman on the grassy knoll then Kennedy would have escaped unharmed. There is no magic bullet at Boro." Nice one, AV!
The Away End will return after the Bolton game on 10 November.
************
John Powls is a published poet with five books of his work in print. He is a regular performer of his work at major literary festivals and exhibitions in the UK and America, often working with musicians, painters with photographer Carol Ballenger.
Check out Red Shoes 250 for more of John Powls, right here.
RETURN TO AWAY END INDEX HERE
A GUARANTEED PROFIT OF AT LEAST £41.20 ON PORTSMOUTH v FULHAM
Did you know that it is possible to win money on Sunday afternoon's Premiership clash between Portsmouth v Fulham, whatever the result?
The game kicks off at 3.00pm and we can guarantee you a profit of at least £41.20, whatever the result of the match. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions below and then sit back and enjoy the game. At full-time, you will be at least £41.20 better off, whatever the result of the match.
We must point out that if you want to take this bet, you should do it now because if the odds change, then the figures here will be invalidated. If they have changed, let us know and we will rework the bet for you.
You can still do this if you have a Betfair account but your overall profit will be reduced by £25.00 as you won't receive the £25.00 cashback as an existing account holder.
If you are unsure about this bet, you are most welcome to call us on 01642 223229 and we will help you as much as we can.
We're going to lay out a total of £71.00 on the Portsmouth v Fulham match and we will collect £115.00 if Portsmouth win, £112.20 if Fulham win and £114.13 if it's a draw. That's a minimum profit of 58%, a much higher interest rate than you will get in any high street bank.
Here's how it's done. Just follow these simple instructions.
1. Open an account with Coral. It is really important that you enter the bonus code of CORALTD when prompted. This is to ensure that you receive your bonus.
Open an account with Betfair. It is really important that you enter the promotional code of BFB425 when prompted. This is to ensure that you receive your bonus.
Open an account with Extrabet
 .
This shouldn't take you any longer than a few minutes.
2. Make the following deposits into your new accounts.
Deposit £20.00 into your new Coral account.
Deposit £26.00 into your new Betfair account.
Deposit £25.00 into your Extrabet
account.
3. Now make the following bets.
Place £20.00 on Portsmouth at 3.00 (2/1) with Coral.
Coral will now add a £10.00 bonus to your account. Place this on Portsmouth as well. You will now have £30.00 riding on Portsmouth.
Back the draw with £25.00 at 3.7 (11/4) (or higher if available) with Betfair.
Place £26.00 on Fulham at 2.2 (6/5) with Extrabet .
Extrabet match your first bet up to £25 so you will now have £51.00 riding on Fulham.
The £25.00 matched bet will not show in your account but you can read all about how it works on the Extrabet site. It's the purple box that says '£25 FREE BET FOR NEW CUSTOMERS' on the top right hand side. Click here to visit the Extrabet site.
If you are unsure about placing these bets, please feel free to mail us or call us on 01642 223229 and we will talk you through it, no problem at all. There is no such thing as a stupid question.
You have temporarily laid out a total of £71.00 on the Portsmouth v Fulham match. I stress, temporarily... Now sit back, crack a beer open and enjoy the match.
4. Here's what happens at the end of the game.
If Portsmouth win, you collect £115.00. That's £90.00 from Coral plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
If it's a draw, you collect £114.13. That's £89.13 from Betfair plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
If Fulham win you collect £112.20. That's £87.20 from Extrabet plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
5. This means that the worst case scenario on the Portsmouth v Fulham match is Fulham win and you make £41.20 profit. However, if it is a draw you make £43.13 and if Portsmouth win you make £44.00. That's a minimum profit of 58%, a much better rate of interest that you would get at any high street bank or building society.
6. It is absolutely vital that you click on the links on this page to open the accounts with the two bookies and enter the correct bonus codes or you may not qualify for the bonuses.
Also, before you place your bets, you should check that the odds haven't changed. If they have, let us know by mail or phone us on 01642 223229 and we will rework the bet for you.
Please feel free to contact us or phone us on 01642 223229 if you have any questions at all about this bet and we will help you as much as we can.
Please note that the bonuses are valid for new customers only so if you already have an account with one or more of the bookies we are using, you won't be able to do this. If that is the case, mail us or phone us on 01642 223229 and we'll create an alternative bet for you using different bookies.
This method of betting was used very successfully during the 2006 World Cup and you can read all about how it was done right here.
We guarantee this bet
It's understandable that some people will not believe that it is possible to do this. "What's the catch?" I hear you asking. My answer to that question is that we have been publishing arbitrage bets for four seasons now and literally hundreds of people have profited from following the advice on these pages.
Only twice has our refund guarantee been triggered and that was when we did all the figures wrong and sent refunds out to those who had followed our advice and made a small loss.
Our refund guarantee works like this. If this bet doesn't work like we say it will and you end up out of pocket, we will refund your losses. Simple as that.
That means that you simply cannot lose on this, whatever happens and even if we messed up the numbers.
The only stipulation here is that you must click on the links on this page to be eligible for the refund guarantee, not that you'll be needing to claim anyway. Just enjoy the profit and stay posted for many more of these throughout the season.
|
|
|
|
