STEW'S PREVIEWS
MIDDLESBROUGH v SHEFFIELD UNITED
Stewart Flaherty; 7 Aug 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
A massive game and a real tone-setter.
Middlesbrough are under real
pressure from their own fan base to start well and everybody at the club will know it.
Public opinion is divided and the team must light a fuse on the field in order to win
back any feel good vibe.
Many fans will attend game one to decide whether
they will be investing more time and money in the rest of the season.
Any cliches about
good performance are mute, the RESULT is vital to Boro in this game. If they
lose, a few thousand could be cut from the next gate and the result could
last a while in the minds of Boro fans.
A win would be a good boost, as three points may be the
difference between these two well matched sides at the end of the season.
BLADES EYE VIEW
There is far less pressure on Sheffield United. This will be seen as a tough away
game against a fellow promotion contender and I am sure they would not be
too disappointed to open their campaign with a point.
I do not think they
will fear Boro, a stronger Boro side struggled to put them out of the FA Cup
over two games not too long ago and Paddy Kenny is not around to throw in the
winner this time!
Column Continues Below...
OVERVIEW
A very evenly matched game between two teams who will be in
the promotion race all season. The winner will receive a huge confidence
boost with the good start to the season.
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Both sides will field keepers who are new to the club.
Coyne has received
positive pre-season reviews but they will quickly be forgotten so it is a huge debut
for him.
Sheffield United look to choose between Ian Bennett and loanee
Mark Bunn to replace stalwart Paddy Kenny. It is hard to analyse but I think that
psychologically, Kenny's loss will not help United.
Edge: Boro. Kenny's loss must be a worry for the Blades.
Boro Defence v United Attack
Boro have a very solid back four at this level, as well as strength in depth. Huth,
Wheater or Pogatetz at centre back. Hoyte or Williams at right, and
Pogatetz or Taylor at left.
They will be tested in this game by a lively Billy Sharp, who posseses pace and
movement in abundance.
Ched Evans from Manchester City could also do damage at
this level.
United will also pose a huge threat from set pieces with
Matthew Kilgallon and Chris Morgan joining the attack.
Edge: Even. A truly tough start for a good Boro backline. It will tell us a
lot about where we stand in this division if we can deal with the Blades.
Midfield
Boro concern me in this area. The loss of Didier Digard and Matthew Bates is
certainly not a good thing.
Julio Arca will likely start with Josh Walker. Put together, that would be quite a player, but Arca's athleticism and Walker's inexperience will not be matched up well against a team that is well
versed in this division.
Stephen Quinn is a quality passer of the ball and
Brian Howard (of Anfield FA Cup winning goal fame) a goal threat.
Out wide, David Cotterill is lively and dangerous but Boro can counter with Adam
Johnson, who quite simply will be the best player in the division in
terms of wide attacking.
Edge: Blades, advantage Boro out wide. But the central engine room will
be won by the Blades I feel.
Boro Attack v United Defence
Like the Boro, Sheffield United have a quality backline with centre backs
Kilgallon and Morgan.
How Boro manage to go at them will dictate how much
success we have.
Chris Morgan is becoming a psychological issue for Boro
fans as they are lauding his 'physical' mastery and making him out to be more
frightening than he really is.
If we live off direct long balls and crosses,
he will be great. However, if this man has to turn and chase through balls against
Jeremie Aliadiaire and Marvin Emnes, he will struggle.
The late good news of a possible
Tuncay appearance is wonderful and his movement gives Boro an X-factor
that could win the game.
Edge: Boro. Pace to burn and hopefully the intelligence to attack with
incisive through balls or hit the Blades on the break.
Fans
A sizeable crowd and a Friday night atmosphere under lights will be a great
experience.
The side must start strongly and get the crowd into the game.
A disciplined Blades team who shut us down or nick a goal could turn the
atmosphere sour in a hurry, making the crowd a double edged sword in this
one (see Cardiff FA Cup).
Edge: Even. It will depend on how things go in the first half.
Prediction
DRAW: The heart says Boro but the head believes this is a very tough start
against a team that will be a contender and promotion rival all year.
