STEW'S PREVIEWS
SHEFFIELD UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart Flaherty, 14 Dec 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
Boro were granted some extra rest and preparation time by the big freeze
cancellation of the Swansea game. Gordon Strachan was also given some extra time to
wheel and deal in the transfer market. Gordon has indeed gone back to his old
contacts in order to bring steel, quality, and leadership to the Boro squad;
When Boro faced Sheffield United on opening day, it was billed as a clash between two
play-off and promotion contenders. It remains so, but the reality has now set in
as to how difficult that will be.
Boro will need to dig in for the trip to Brammall lane, where a more talented and experienced team played to a 0-0 stalemate in 2008, here are the highlights of another 0-0 with the Blades, the opening day of the current season at the Riverside;
When Boro faced Sheffield United on opening day, it was billed as a clash between two
play-off and promotion contenders. It remains so, but the reality has now set in
as to how difficult that will be.
Boro will need to dig in for the trip to Brammall lane, where a more talented and experienced team played to a 0-0 stalemate in 2008, here are the highlights of another 0-0 with the Blades, the opening day of the current season at the Riverside;
Like Boro, the Blades had their weekend fixture postponed due to the weather. In
recent games the Blades beat Preston 1-0 through an 86th minute Jamie Ward winner,
and tied QPR 1-1 with a goal from Richard Cresswell in the FA Cup. The Blades are
currently above Boro at 8th place in the table, but a loss would see them
leap frogged on goal difference.
Like Boro, the Blades are in the thick of the play-off chase, and every win is a step
toward the coveted top six positions.
United have had a positive start to the transfer window so far, with Richard Cresswell singing after a successful loan spell from Stoke City, and sought after centre back Matthew Kilgallon confirming his intention to stay at Bramall Lane;
Boro - Wales international Danny Coyne looks set to continue his run in the team
after a spell on the bench. Coyne performed well in his first Boro game, also
against the Blades and will look for another clean sheet here.
Blades - Since the drug suspension on long time keeper Paddy Kenny, Mark Bunn has
played in 19 games and played well in a play-off contending Sheffield United team.
Bunn is on loan from Premiership side Blackburn Rovers.
Edge - Even. Coyne is more experienced in the Football League but Bunn is a Premier
League prospect.
Boro Defence v Blades Attack
Boro - Boro have not yet added to the back-line, as Gary Caldwell chose the Ben
Watson approach of snubbing Boro for Premier League Wigan Athletic. Emanuel
Pogatetz could return from injury and Gordon Strachan made no secret of his
admiration for Pogatetz when rejecting a bid from Panithinaikos, saying "He is one
of the men we have here and we don't have too many. As a leader as well as a
footballer, he is invaluable". Chris Riggott has played well of late and looks set
to continue at centre back.
Blades - Darius Henderson has experience of being promoted to the Premier League,
scoring in Watford's play-off final victory over Leeds United. Henderson has scored
10 goals so far this season. Henderson will be joined up front by Jamie Ward, Welsh
international and £3 million signing Ched Evans, and Stoke loanee Richard
Cresswell - who scored the winning goal in the Blades midweek FA Cup win over QPR - or
Henri Camara, who has scored more goals and played more games for Senegal than
anyone in their history.
Edge - Blades. The size of Henderson is dangerous when paired with the pace and
movement of the other strikers in the squad. The Blades striking department has
some genuine depth.
Midfield
Boro - Adam Johnson, who was outstanding before limping off against City is working
to return at Brammall Lane. Barry Robson will be a very welcome addition to the
Boro midfield, as will the pace and trickery of Willo Flood.
Robson has seven Scotland caps, and produced the outstanding return of 22 goals from midfield in 50 games while playing for Dundee United. While playing for Strachan at Celtic, Robson also scored past Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League;
Gary O'Neill continues to impress, and it will be interesting to see how the
introduction of Flood and Robson impacts the midfield line-up.
Blades - The creative force of the Blades midfield is Republic of Ireland
international Stephen Quinn. Quinn is a technically excellent footballer with
fantastic passing range. Quinn is complemented in central midfield by the work rate
and ball winning ability of Nick Montgomery, a Scottish Under-21 international who
has notched over 300 appearances for the club.
One time Boro target James Harper is on loan from Reading, and has produced three goals from 17 appearances this season to date. The Blades have switched from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 this season, at times deploying strikers in the wide role.
Edge - Blades. Long term things are looking up for Boro, but the Blades have a more
settled unit and should be a tough nut to crack on the day.
Boro Attack v Blades Defence
Boro - The addition of Chris Killen is a very welcome boost to a sparse Boro front
line. Chris has been playing in the English and Scottish leagues since 1999, with
his best spell being 16 goals in 25 games for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier
League.
Chris also has 10 goals in 29 games for his native New Zealand, including a
brace in a recent 4-3 defeat to World Champions Italy;
Apologies for the commentary on that clip which is reminiscent of Julio Geordio, fe
fe fe, Chris Waddle!
Killen is likely to be joined up front by Marcus Bent, but it would not be
surprising for more strikers to come in during the January window.
Blades - The Blades have a solid and long running central defensive partnership
between Chris Morgan and Matthew Kilgallon.
Terrace hero Morgan is a tough customer, and Kilgallon is the better athlete with more technical ability. Jordan Stewart and Andy Taylor will likely man the full-back spots.
Edge - Blades. Boro have more physical presence up front, but the Blades centre
backs do not shirk aerial challenges and have a lot of experience playing together.
Fans
Boro - It is a short trip to Yorkshire and a small but loud following will likely be
cheering the boys on.
Blades - Blades fans are more accustomed to life in this division and tend to get
big and loud crowds, they also have one of the better terrace anthems in English
football;
Edge - Blades. A loud crowd will look to make homefield advantage count.
Prediction
Blades win. Not too much to choose between the sides talent wise, but United have a
more settled unit who have played together for a long time in the key areas of
central defence and central midfield.
