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DEEP IN MY HEART
MIDDLESBROUGH v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
James Keen, 20 Nov 2009
After a week off I have found it incredibly difficult to pick myself up and write this, the deflation felt after no wins in three may be contributing, but still I don't think it's as bad as it was before Southgate left.
The international break gives us a chance to rest from our duties as Boro fans - something that we all appreciate every now and then. It will also have given Gordon Strachan a good chance to get better acquainted with his squad, and of course, add another face to the team.
It is difficult for a new manager to come in and make huge changes mid-season, especially considering the void in confidence and forwards in our squad.
Column Continues Below...
Marvin Emnes must be wondering when his next shot at first team football is going to come, now he is behind Leroy Lita, Dave Kitson, Marcus Bent, the injured duo of Aliadiere and Folan and Jonathan Franks in the pecking order.
Three million euros wasted? Probably.
But I am very glad that Strachan has acted quickly in this instance, and it does beg the question, what was Southgate doing?
Having brought players like Emnes and Aliadiere to the club, Southgate probably didn't want to replace them. He is too nice a guy to admit he signed a duffer and replace them, and so he never acted.
Strachan doesn't have to worry about admitting a three million pound investment is a write off, because it wasn't his investment. Kitson and Bent add enough experience and power to make a difference and hopefully they won't need long to settle in.
Our next opponents are Nottingham Forest, and the chance to avenge our early season Carling Cup exit is welcomed, by me at least. This is particularly true as a win would push us back above them in the table.
One point in three games has disappointingly seen us slip to a mid-table position, outside of the play-offs, and it is going to take an astonishing push over the next few months if we are to challenge for the title.
Until January we now seem stuck with our existing side.
This means, therefore, that they have to perform and they have to perform well. It is a motivational challenge for Strachan, but now the players have had a chance to get over their sulking at Gareth's exit. They have also had time to get used to 'working hard' in training, so perhaps we'll see a response.
I do expect it this week.
Forest are a decent side, they are slowly rebuilding, and at some point they will challenge once again for promotion. But I don't think it will be this season.
If we play like we know we can then we will sweep Forest aside. The fact that they now sit ahead of us in the table means that we can probably expect them to be a little more open than other sides who have visited the Riverside this season!
Sean St. Ledger has proven to be a good addition. Southgate's final legacy looks to be a good one, but sadly, owing to his exploits in France he may be a tad jaded this weekend. Chris Riggott may just get a call-up!
Once we get a fully fit squad, have chance to offload a few of the wastes of space, and bring in some new faces, I think we'll be alright. We have enough strength, just not enough experience.
Strachan's biggest decision this weekend is which players to play up front. The choice of Bent, Lita and Kitson is hardly Viduka, Hasselbaink and Yakubu, but it's far better than Aliadiere, Emnes and Franks.
Slightly off topic, but I was intrigued to see a poll of mfc.co.uk this week in which fans have been asked to vote 'Who was the greatest forward in the most successful decade of the club's history?'
It was no surprise to see Juninho, Hasselbaink, Viduka and Yakubu leading the way. It wasn't even a surprise to see Maccarone, Boksic, Ricard and Tuncay sharing similar billing. But why oh why did the club feel the need to include Marvin Emnes, Jeremie Aliadiere and Leroy Lita in the vote?
And more to the point, who are these 3% of people who have collectively voted for them? I hope to God its not any of our readers as I'm sure its an excommunicable offence.
We have had some bad, average, poor strikers in our time, but none more so than in the last three years. Lita I will let off a little because in time he may come good. But Aliadiere and Emnes have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are not forwards. They are both wingers at best.
And so, with our new forward line in place, we are ideally placed to take on Forest in a game we cannot afford to lose.
We've slipped well off the pace recently, and we must start clawing back towards Newcastle and West Brom before we're cut adrift with the rest of the Championship riffraff.
Forest have gone eight games unbeaten and will be looking to increase that run further. However, all good things must come to an end.
Let's hope its this weekend!
C'mon Boro!
The Verdict:It will be tough, but a 2-0 victory should be ours, says my heart, my head thinks it may be a 1-1 draw though...
Probable Team:Jones, Hoyte, Grounds, Wheater, St. Ledger, O'Neil, Williams, Arca, Johnson, Lita, Bent
Man to Watch: Robbie Earnshaw
Look on the bright side:We all love Brian Clough!
Ask Gordon:"We all know that the problem is that we need to score goals and we need to be a rounded team, If one person doesn't score all our goals then my answer is we can all chip in and score, but that seems to be our only problem at the moment. It doesn't matter if it's Dave or whoever gets a goal. Anyone would do fine."
Boro's Form: WLWDLL
League Placingg
8th Nottingham Forest 25 points
10th Middlesbrough 24 points
Head to Head - Last 6
25/8/09 Notts Forest 2-1 Middlesbrough, League Cup
20/3/99 Notts Forest 1-2 Middlesbrough, Premier League
1/11/98 Middlesbrough 1-1 Notts Forest, Premier League
1/3/98 Notts Forest 4-0 Middlesbrough, 1st Division
26/11/97 Middlesbrough 0-0 Notts Forest, 1st Division
24/3/97 Middlesbrough 1-1 Notts Forest, Premier League
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Comments On This Article
Nick Thompson, November 20, 2009 at 9:57 pm
There is a lot of what you say that I don\'t agree with James,particularly Aliadiere who I accept is not the greatest finisher but is nevertheless a very skilful player. Unfortunately and no doubt to your delight he will never again be seen in a Boro shirt because WGS seems to dislike the French as seen by his disgraceful treatment of Digard who when he is fit must be worth his place.Could not believe he was an unused sub against Plymouth and not even on the bench at Palace. I am also horrified to see your probable team containing Hoyte(surely the worst full back in the championship)Grounds who must be our 4th best left back,and Arca who is long past it. Kitson,Digard & Pogatetz(if fit otherwise Taylor)must start with Williams switching to right back. If WGS fields your probable team he has obviously learned nothing in his time with us and will be the disaster I fear he will be.
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