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STEW'S PREVIEWS
MIDDLESBROUGH v WATFORD
Stewart Flaherty, 17 Oct 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
A solid performance against Reading turned the international break into a rather quiet fortnight on the Boro front.
I am sure the staff and players were grateful and got down to some good preparation for this game, with the exception, of course, of Sean St Ledger who deserves a pat on the back for his goal against Italy, which helped the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup Play-offs.
Third place with back-to-back home games is a nice position to be in right now. However, as usual with Boro, nothing is simple and this is a chance to get some positive home performances in the bank.
Boro's away form has been much better so far this season (seven points from five games at home, 13 points from six games away).
Column Continues Below...
There are two common beliefs regarding this:
1) Teams are coming to the Riverside and sitting back, getting numbers behind the ball. They are also sitting relatively deep.
Although the West Brom game was certainly not due to this, Leicester arguably carried out an away smash and grab to perfection, and Boro found it very difficult to get in behind Sheffield United.
For what it's worth, I believe a fit Didier Digard will greatly enhance our ability to unlock packed defences.
Our superior away form could be due to teams pushing forward and allowing us to hit them on the break.
It is common knowledge that our team has pace, with the likes of Johnson, Emnes and Aliadiere being able to do damage when they find space in behind.
2) The atmosphere at the Riverside is edgy and an anti-Southgate section is quick to get on the team's backs, decreasing confidence.
While a lot of fans will instantly lash out and call this ridiculous, it seems to have some legs.
Consider the following comments from Gareth Southgate in a recent interview from the Guardian website (when we were fourth in the League):
"We're fourth and my team are thinking 'what's going on?'" said Southgate, who attracted criticism as Boro were relegated last season. "At the moment, my players are saying, 'Great, we're away this weekend [at Reading], we're not at home,'" he added. "The relationship between players and fans has clearly changed."
Mark Yeates also addressed the home atmosphere in an interview with our own Elle Brunton by stating "I do think the fans have gone a bit overboard."
If this is true, this brings up the usual views that they should just get on with it, they are paid handsomely, etc, etc.
The fact is that the fans want a performance. But booing them and jeering at the games is like arguing with your husband or wife. You feel better temporarily, but no one wins in the end!
Regardless of anyone's thoughts, only results will soothe the atmosphere and the Untypical Boro blog hit the nail on the head with the following:
"There is a long way to go yet. Boro's best chance of promotion is sticking together when things get sticky, as from time to time they will. But there is no point in appealing for unity on some abstract point of principle when the crowd is divided. The only way the fractured alliance can be kept together is by Boro continuing to win. Especially at home. Over to you lads..."
WATFORD EYE VIEW
Like us, Watford have a superior record away from Vicarage Road than they do at home (six points from six games at home, eight points from five games away).
Further inspiration will be there for Boro old boy Danny Graham. Many have criticised Boro's Academy for not producing goal scorers but after netting six league goals already, he will be out to remind the club that maybe they let one go.
Personally, I always liked Danny Graham and I remember the bravery he showed in scoring a Premier League goal against Charlton. He was pretty much knocked out by the keeper after getting his head to it and according to the mfc website he "does not remember much about the incident." Such bravery truly does put the likes of Afonso Alves to shame.
Watford are mid-table and will see a draw as a positive result at the Riverside. They have not won in four games and I imagine that they hope, rather than expect, to change that on Saturday.
Regarding the lack of strikers coming through the Academy, I often wonder whether this is a Middlesbrough thing, or an English cultural thing.
Liverpool are a massive club with a good Academy but in the last 10 years, the best striker they have brought through is probably Neil Mellor. Is he any better than Danny Graham?
It is a coaching culture in England to take care of possession. Points such as "play the way you face," and praise about "putting a shift in" and "showing discipline" certainly have their merits, but do we consistently encourage the flair and risk-taking that is necessary to bring through top level goal scorers?
During one of my coaching badges, an interesting point was brought up. When England played Portugal in Euro 2004, statisticians measured the number of times an attacking player received the ball with his back to goal, and turned 180 degrees to dribble at and attack the defender.
Portugal did this more in this one game than England did in the entire tournament.
I therefore sense this is a cultural thing rather than a purely Boro one.
OVERVIEW
Boro have pacified the mood with an impressive win at Reading, but winning streaks rather than one-off games are what is required to get out of this division.
Hopefully this Hornets game will be another step in the right direction as any dropped points would be a disappointment here.
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
It appears that Brad Jones has won his place back. Gareth probably sees quality there but I and most fans still see a keeper who can struggle on crosses, despite having great athleticism and shot stopping ability.
Still, a clean sheet at Reading is a start and let's see what he can do going forward.
Watford bring promising England Under-21 international Scott Loach to the table.
Edge: Even. Neither keeper is spectacular.
Boro Defence v Watford Attack
St Ledger must be high on confidence coming back from the Italy game so let's hope that his partnership with Wheater gets stronger. I certainly think Gareth is right to give these two a significant run of games to form a bond together.
Young Joe Bennett has shown promise and may have broken into the team at full-back. This is not too shabby an achievement when up against Grounds, McMahon and Hoyte, amongst others.
Danny Graham needs no further introduction to Boro fans. His pace could be a real thorn in the side of our centre-backs who, as a unit, remain a work in progress.
Heidar Helguson partners Danny up front and is in his second spell with the Hornets. He netted 64 goals for the club in his first spell before gaining significant Premier League experience with Fulham and Bolton.
Former Wigan man Nathan 'The Duke' Ellington is on the bench.
Edge: Watford. A fired up Graham and a savvy Helguson will be a handful for the duration of the game.
Midfield
O'Neil remains excellent and I would love to see him partnered with Digard, who appears to be approaching full fitness.
Rhys Williams was originally a full-back but can he play right midfield?
O'Neil certainly seems the more dominant option in the middle of the park and he is most able to impose his will on the opposition.
By his standards, Adam Johnson has had a quiet few games but this may mean that he is due an explosion, especially against a team he has previously played for and had success with.
Gareth has taken a bit of a kicking from the fans for playing him on the right wing and I think this is over the top.
Adam Johnson is capable of both going to the by-line and crossing from the left, or cutting in and causing problems down the right.
While primarily he should be played on the left, the idea of switching him to alter opposition preparation and strategy is valid.
Of course, for either of these methods to be truly effective, Johnson must be able to cross the ball and we need to have a quality aerial striker in the box to deal with it.
When Johnson cuts in from the right, it could narrow the team width but not if we have an overlapping full-back. I would not be surprised if Hoyte was signed with this exact strategy in mind, although I imagine they pictured him making more of an impact than he has done so far.
Manchester United simply do not carry bad players so the fact that Tom Cleverley is on loan from there earmarks him for success. The fact that he has already scored four goals from midfield this year firmly cements him as a danger man.
Former club Young Player of the Year, Ross Jenkins, has played 10 games so far in centre mid and Scottish midfielder Don Cowie is also a regular.
Outrageously talented Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury is on loan and may be set to break into the team.
Edge: Boro. Simply more experience and more quality in this department.
Boro Attack v Watford Defence
Leroy Lita appears to be getting fitter and scored what was quite frankly an outstanding individual goal at his old club, Reading.
Aliadiere and Emnes offer pace alongside him and Folan appears to be done before even having a chance to make an impression! Will he ever end up playing a game for us?
The biggest name in the Watford backline is USA international Jay DeMerit, who received rave reviews during Watford's last Premier League season. However, he has played only five games this season. Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea man Jon Harley is on the bench.
Adrian Mariappa and Lloyd Doyley are regulars in a backline that, while athletic and talented, should be caused many a problem by the Boro.
Edge: Boro. First Aliadiere shows a glimpse of quality and now Lita. Can they both do it at the same time and consistently? They should have too much quality for the Hornets.
Fans
As mentioned at the top, the crowd is a double edged sword right now at the Riverside. They are not the intimidating force that unites, drives on our team and scares the opposition.
One Boro blog had this to say:
"Firstly, the manager's tenure is dividing the fans - both the refuseniks and those who turn up on match day. That tension was evident in the stands, with fans angrily arguing with each other. It's unhealthy and creating long term divisions."
Wins will unite the fans and silence the critics, but can we create an atmosphere that helps us more?
My view is that Yeates and Southgate openly addressing the negative crowd reaction is a time bomb that will blow up with a couple more home defeats to poor opposition.
Prediction
WIN. Boro should be confident and may feel a sense of urgency to put in a good home performance. Back-to-back home games are a chance to enter the automatic promotion places and I believe step one will be achieved here.
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