STEW'S PREVIEWS
MIDDLESBROUGH v WEST BROM
Stewart Flaherty, 18 Sep 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
If this was the Premier League, you can bet Sky would be hyping this match up like
Don King on ephedrine!
It is first v second, it is two teams showing themselves to be a
class above most of the division, and it is what my old University manager liked to
call a "trophy game".
No trophy will be handed out, but points gained and dropped
and psychological boosts from winning, or wounds from losing, will play a part in
separating these two teams when May rolls around.
Indeed, last time we met West Brom
at home, it was in the Premier League and I am sure no one needs reminding that we lost.
It would therefore be a small sign of tangible progress if we beat this team.
St. Ledger is a great addition and a ready-made partner for Wheater. He has proven
class in this division.
On a slightly different note, I do remember a Peterborough
United documentary in which he came across as a bit of a moaner. However, his success on the field suggests there is a strong chance he has matured
since then.
Boro will see this as a crunch game, after which comes a run of games where
winning will be the aim now that we have established ourselves as definite promotion
contenders.
Gareth said it quite well, "'You can have a run of fixtures in the
Premier League when you look at the next four or five games and you are scratching
your head wondering where your next point is coming from.
"It is a different type of
challenge [in the Championship] but the pressure is the same because I am looking at
games this week and thinking we have to win them because we could drop off the
pace."
Column Continues Below...
BAGGIES EYE VIEW
"Top of the league" - everyone wants to say it but only West Brom fans have that right at this moment in time. And they will be coming here fighting to keep it that way.
Like the Boro, they will see themselves as Premiership class. They will feel that they have the ability to roll over many
teams in this division. But they will also know that this game is a tough one.
They have class
going forward and know they have the ability to score.
I imagine a draw would not
be too bad here as it would keep them above the Boro and in the promotion spots.
Early signs suggest a potential three way fight for those spots so games like this one
will go a long way to deciding which of the three relegated sides will be automatically promoted this season.
The Baggies will also have the confidence of knowing they
earned a win here last year.
OVERVIEW
A crunch match and the winners may well be installed as promotion favorites after
Newcastle fell at Blackpool.
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Coyne goes on with no major news, which, as far as I am concerned, is a positive thing
and a big reason why I was such a fan of Schwarzer. Years went by where the keeper was
no cause for concern or debate.
West Brom, however, bring a keeper who is just a
little bit better. Scott Carson is an England international and a player I rate very
highly.
Edge: West Brom. Carson may be the best keeper outside the Premier League.
Boro Defence v West Brom Attack
West Brom bring with them a number of goal scoring threats, both in their forwards
and amongst their midfielders.
Boro fans will not have very fond memories of Luke
Moore after his Premier League hat-trick at the Riverside for Aston Villa a few
years back.
Roman Bednar is a major threat also, having been capped by the Czech
Republic. He has bagged two goals in three games so far this season. New Zealander Chris
Wood came off the bench and scored a wonder goal in mid-week also.
Boro may give a full league debut to Sean St. Ledger and what a wonderful and telling
debut to have.
If he fails, all is not lost, but if he and Wheater hold strong and
impress against West Brom, it bodes well for the rest of the season.
Boro's
full backs have been quietly consistent but the issue of central defence is what
will win us the league.
Edge: West Brom. I like St. Ledger, but I simply need to see him and Wheater work
well for a few games before I can show total faith. West Brom have the firepower to
really threaten us and we will do very well to keep them off the score sheet.
Midfield
Gary O'Neil is becoming a dominant force and it is something that is a joy to see.
Dominant central midfielder's are crucial to success and this guy is a class apart
from most of the players he is going head to head with.
He has a solid deputy in
Rhys Williams too.
Anyone who reads this may become tired of my praise of Adam
Johnson, who is simply magnificent. For this reason, I will use the words of Gareth
Southgate this week.
This is how he summarized the Sheff Wed game:
"Adam Johnson is a special talent. He was outstanding tonight. There were some
moments when he relieved so much pressure by just picking the ball up and beating
people. You win on team performance and it had to be gritty and resilient but a
couple of moments of class won us the game."
West Brom counter with an aggressive, pacy and attacking unit that should produce a
game that is very easy on the eye.
Robert Koren is captain of Slovenia and was a
major influence when West Brom quite frankly destroyed us at the Hawthorns last
season, something I am sure Boro have noted in their preparations.
Northern Ireland
international Chris Brunt has proven quality. He spent last season in the Premier
League as a right winger, became the club's leading scorer with eight goals and bag(gie)d
the official player of the year award.
Dorrans is another
threat who has a few assists to his name.
Edge: Boro. This a close and fascinating match up. I give Boro a slight edge due to
the fact that they are at home and Johnson is on fire.
Boro Attack v West Brom Defence
Boro are banging in goals and Caleb Folan will only add to our threat.
We have pace
and confidence in abundance right now and we now have a physical presence that we
can use as an added weapon, whether that be starting or off the bench.
I have never
heard much of Folan in truth, but Giovanni Trappatoni rates him, and he knows a
sight more than I do!
West Brom like to throw bodies forward and do possess talented defenders.
Jonas Olsson is a Swedish under-21 international and at 6'4" is a big old unit! He puts that frame to good use by attacking set pieces, having bagged two goals
already this season.
Marek Cech has Champions League experience with Porto and is
playing a role in Slovakia's World Cup qualifying campaign, having scored twice in a
win over San Marino.
Many judges have England Under 21 international Joe Mattock
tabbed as a star of the future.
Edge: Boro. There is pace and the threat of Folan from crosses from the dangerous Johnson.
It is a high possibility that a strong and aerial forward could see an upturn in
production from Yeates.
Fans
Whatever crowd shows up is likely to be a high water mark for the season with the
exception of the Geordies coming to town.
I feel a big crowd will be up for it and
Boro now have the confidence to fuel that fire and get into the opposition's faces. I
wouldn't miss this one!
Edge: Boro. Howay the lads!
Verdict
WIN. As previous predictions show, I can be on the cautious side but I really have a
good feeling right now and being at home may swing proceedings for a massive three points. Top
of the league? We just may be so!
Parksey, September 18, 2009 at 3:10 pm I read your article with intrest (Baggies fan here). I disagree with the statement of our forward line, who have struggled to find goals between them (only 5 in the league) but our midfield is one of the best outside the prem. Either way it should be a good game on saturday. Stewart, September 18, 2009 at 3:19 pm Thanks Parksey
I hope you are right. Our back line struggled with Nicky Maynard though and I figured your lot were better than him. If not I will be thrilled to be proved wrong! Will be a good game though. BoroFanNYC, September 18, 2009 at 11:51 pm 1st against 2nd, not 3rd. Last time we played them at home we could have scored 20 if we had someone who could put the ball away, they scored on their solitary chance of the game.
No mistakes this time, especially with Jinky on fire and I\'ll still be singing in Nevada\'s.
Awaay The Lads!! Andy Morgan - Editor, September 19, 2009 at 8:38 am BoroFanNYC: Good point, monentary lapse of concentration. How could I forget Newcastle\'s inspirational defeat on Wednesday night? JP, September 19, 2009 at 1:31 pm Good piece Disco Stu....not long til kickoff now!
I\'d love to hear, \"Johnson wins it in the dying moments with a sidewinder!\" parksey, September 19, 2009 at 8:14 pm I have not come back on your site to rub you noses in it, but i told you that our midfield is the best outside the prem. 4 goals today from midfield, if we had a better strike force then i think we would walk this league. Mick, September 20, 2009 at 7:58 pm Looks like your prediction was slightly off the mark dude. Albion gonna romp this league. U shouldn\'t have sold Tuncay. We\'ve been there and done it (many times). Boro and Newcastle not used to the championship. We know what it takes to win this league. And to think we still got Neil Clement, Ishmael Miller and JAmes Morrison to come back from injury! Going up the Di Matteo Way!! Stewart, September 21, 2009 at 6:45 pm PARKSEY: Glad you came back pal well done. I think you are wrong though, that front line do a lot of work off the ball and a bit harsh to not give them any credit in a 5 goal beating.
MICK: You are right pal, well off the mark and you lot did well. No-one will romp this league though, and as for Tuncay, players preparing for World Cup campaigns and as good as him do not stay when relegated, it is how football works pal and he was always going to leave. You laid a marker down, but it is a long old season my man.
