Ins and Outs

A Round Up of Boro's ins and outs with less than half an hour to go till the transfer deadline

Ins
So far, Boro have only completed two signings since that of Mido just over a week ago and that is that they've signed fellow Egyptian international Mohammed Shawky on a 3-year deal, from African club champions Al Ahly for just £650,000.

Shawky, like captain George Boateng, is a defensive midfield player and has earned over 40 caps for Egypt and, by all accounts, has really impressed Boro officials, including Gareth Southgate, during his trial period at Rockliffe park.

Another confirmed 'in' for Boro is 24-year-old midfielder Garry O'Neil from Portsmouth. The two clubs agreed on a £5 million fee for the player, who will fix Boro's ongoing right sided midfield problem, earlier today and had been undergoing a medical.
However the deal looked to be scrapped as O'Neil, suffering from a long-standing ankle problem, failed his medical and Boro looked to re-negotiate terms.
It is now believed that the fee will be based on O'Neil's appearances as boss, Gareth Southgate attempts to avoid the mistake he made when signing Robert Huth for £6 million from Chelsea, after he failed a medical with a similar problem.

One potential 'in' for Boro is Manchester City's Georgias Samaras, who has been left out of Sven's squad for the weekend and has reported showed keen interest to stay in England, after being told he could leave. Boro's interest was made public earlier in the week, though no deal has been thrashed out and it looks likely that the deadline will come before a deal is completed.

Just a quick word on the 'outs' for Boro. The club, today, confirmed that Jason Euell, who failed to make it big at Boro, has joined Southampton on a free transfer and will fit straight into their squad for this weekends game.

Also Boro have confirmed that they have allowed local lad, David Knight (goalkeeper) join Swansea on a one-year deal to cover Dorus De Vries.

Carling Cup Win

...and thanks to a first Boro goal for Dong Gook Lee

Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Northampton Town

Boro have recorded a home win in their Carling cup 2nd round clash against Northampton Town thanks to a 66th minute goal from South Korean striker Dong Gook Lee and a superb 35-yard free-kick from Fabio Rochemback.

Boro, who lined up with 6 changes to the side that drew to Newcastle on Sunday, began the game, as expected, on top of their opposition and Tuncay came close to a chance in the opening 10 seconds, but was thwarted by a last ditch tackle.

Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson started well and brought plenty of pace along both wings with captain for the evening Luke Young overlapping on the right. Fabio Rochemback also continued his good start to the season, in the centre of midfield, alongside youngster Lee Cattermole who was handed a chance to stake his claim as a first choice centre midfielder.

Dong Gook Lee, Boro's South Korean 'yet to score' striker, was also handed a start alongside new boy Tuncay. Lee and Tuncay got along well together and were provided with some excellent service from the wings. Lee came close with a left foot volley after a great cross from the right by Adam Johnson, before Stewart Downing saw a left foot strike sail just over the bar.

However Northampton proved to be good on the break and nearly gave Boro an early upset as Brad Johnson saw his long range effort parried by Boro keeper, Brad Jones, and Ian Henderson's follow-up diving header ricocheted off the post.

Worryingly, Boro received a further defensive blow as Andrew Davies had to leave the field and went straight down into the dressing room to receive treatment for a blow to the head that grounded the local lad for several minutes. Davies returned to a round of applause after having had 4 stitches applied to his head wound. But the tough defender was still looking a bit shaky and, after just 2 minutes back on the pitch, captain Luke Young indicated to the Boro bench that Davies needed to come off. After just 36 minutes played, fellow youngster Seb Hines stepped into the fold and slotted straight into Davies centre-back spot.

After his earlier fumble, Boro keeper Brad Jones was looking a little uncomfortable in goal and seemed reluctant to command his box, frustrating David Wheater who had to clear the ball for a corner when Jones failed to come for the ball.

Boro created further chances, at the other end, as first Dong Gook Lee glanced his header just wide from an Adam Johnson cross, then Johnson likewise narrowly missed the target with his effort as Downing crossed to the near post.

The teams went, frustratingly, into the break at 0 - 0 after both sides had created good chances to score.

Just 8 minutes into the second period Boro won a free kick, but from 35 yards out and with Fabio Rochemback hovering over the ball, the fans mustn't have been feeling optimistic. But Rochemback showed that every now and then he can pull something special out of the hat, with a superb 35-yard drive into the bottom left corner of the goal and Boro were 1-0 up.

There were more chances to come, but with both teams looking unlikely to score, even with the game being billed as a 3, 4 or 5 nil Boro win. On the stroke of 66 minutes, however, Stewart Downing cut in from the right and played the ball infield before it fell to Dong Gook Lee, who turned past one defender then turned onto his right foot to slam a 20-yard shot into the back of the net to score his first ever Boro goal.

5 minutes after the goal Stewart Downing made way for new fan favourite Mido, who received a standing ovation as he came onto the pitch. Boro switched Tuncay to the right and Johnson onto the left, whilst Mido and Lee held the front line before temporary captain was swapped for full time captain as George Boateng replaced Luke Young, who had put in another strong performance with a clearance off the line from an Ian Henderson effort.

Adam Johnson capped his great performance with another superb, right-footed cross, this time to Mido who agonisingly struck the bar with his headed attempt.

Mido continued creating chances into the final minutes and could have had a hat-trick of goals, but saw his angled shot from outside the box saved and a second effort curl just wide. Tuncay was also presented with a late chance but the opportunity seemed too good to be true and, in the end, he took to long over the weak shot that was easily saved by Bunn.

Attendance: 11,686
Boro Blog Man of the Match: Fabio Rochemback


"See 'Yak' Later!"

Boro said "See Ya' Later" to Yakubu, today, as the Nigerian goalscorer was handed a work permit following a successful appeal from Everton, after original applications were denied due to Yakubu opting out of Nigeria's 2006 World Cup campaign to focus on his training for Boro. Meaning that the player did not meet the required number of internationals to automatically qualify for a work permit.

Yakubu joins Everton in a club record fee of £11.25 million after joining Boro just 2 years ago for only £7.5 million. Good news for Boro though as they make a near £4 million profit on Yak and reports suggest that Gareth Southgate will be looking to add some of the money towards bringing in 'big Sam'. No, don't worry Sam Allerdyce isn't making a playing comeback, not at his age and weight, he'll be staying as the Toon Boss for the time being. I am talking about Manchester City's tall, Greek striker Georgios Samaras, who looks set to leave City as Sven has told the player he wont feature in the club plans and that he can look for a new club. Samaras' agent has announced that a number of European clubs have expressed interest in the player, but he wishes to stay in England opening the door for Boro who, as yet, are the only premiership club reported to be interested.

"We are still in negotiations to try and sort something out.

"There is interest from all over Europe in Georgios, but he wants to stay in England."

"Middlesbrough is a big club and we will wait and see what happens."

Racist Geordie Scum!

"Mido, Mido, he's got a bomb you know!"

I didn't mention anything yesterday in my match report of the Tyne - Tees derby, but today I thought 'What the hell', its my blog and something has to be said about the Newcastle fans who seem to have gone unpunished for their sickening racist slurs on Boro striker Mido.
Action was swiftly taken on the international stage when black English under-21 players were subjected to racist abuse from fans and players and there has been similar action involving teams been punished for fan behavior, in Europe. However, as yet, there appears to have been no action taken against Newcastle as all 3000 traveling fans joined in racist chants directed at Boro's new Egyptian striker, Mido.
"Mido, Mido, he's got a bomb you know!" The Newcastle fans shouted throughout the game, but this only fired up the big front man, who abruptly told them to "Shut it!" as he bagged Boro's equaliser right in front of them and then ran over to the fans to further make his point. (below)


Mido was subsequently booked for his celebration, quite an injustice Gareth Southgate thought; that a crowd of people can get away with racism, something that was supposed to have been kicked out of football; the Geordies obviously missed that one, whereas one player can get punished for telling them to shut up and another point worth mentioning is that Charles N'Zogbia also went unpunished as he ran over to and taunted Boro fans in the North Stand after scoring his opener. I struggle to understand how telling people to "shut it" after they subject you to racist chants can be worse than overtly taunting people after you just scored past them.
"It's OK for 3,000 to abuse one person. But when the boot is on the other foot, he gets punished."

Derby Draw

Middlesbrough 2 - 2 Newcastle United

Boro earned a well deserved 2 - 2 draw with local rivals Newcastle today after twice coming back from a goal down.


Boro started the game quick and sharp, immediately creating early chances, as new boys Jeremie Aliadiere and Mido linked in together superbly.

Just 5 minutes into the game and Newcastle's Steven Carr had to be substituted after he fell victim to what appeared to be a pulled hamstring, he was replaced by Peter Ramage.
Newcastle then turned the game and started creating some chances, though proving fruitless as Obafemi Martins skewed horribly wide and Alan Smith was denied by a superb last minute challenge from in form captain George Boateng.

However, somewhat against the run of play, Newcastle took the lead on 22 minutes as Charles N'Zogbia checked in from the left and launched a superb right foot strike into the top corner, giving Mark Schwarzer no chance.

Just minutes later, Fabio Rochemback picked out home debutant Mido, in the box, who passed Rozehnal and Taylor like they weren't there before rounding stand-in goalie Steve Harper and slotting the ball into the net just in front of the traveling supporters, who he then taunted (below).


Mido's goal injected excitement back into the home crowd who got behind the Boro to spark a late attack in the first half.

Rochemback saw his low drive palmed just wide by Harper, whilst his midfield partner Arca had a shot parried from through a crowded penalty box.

Adding to big Sam Allerdyce's injury concerns, Peter Ramage who replaced injured Steve Carr was stretchered off with a bad knee injury, after a lengthy pause in play.
It was always going to happen and on the stroke of 77 minutes it did, former Boro favourite Mark Viduka fired Newcastle back into the lead, right in front of the away fans. Perhaps respectfully, Viduka did not celebrate the goal as his fellow team mated crowded round to congratulate him.

Boro had a scare late on as Jeremie Aliadiere was knocked unconscious and was out for several minutes, with Boro physio Chris Moseley rushing on to tend to the Frenchman. As with Peter Ramage, earlier, Aliadiere had to be stretchered off to a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Mark Schwazer was having, by far, an uneasy afternoon and kept the home fans on edge as he half-heartedly punched clear a series of crosses and failed to leave his goal line to challenge for the ball and his kicks were equally, if not more so, atrocious; struggling to pick out a red shirt on more than one occasion.

But Boro, once again, equalised within minutes when a series of missed chances and a misplaced cross which found Tuncay, who attempted to deliver the ball back into the box. The ball fell to Arca who drilled a left foot volley past a static Steve Harper, sending the Boro fans wild.

After all of the stoppages from injuries, 5 minutes was added at the end of the game giving both teams a chance to grab the 3 points, but Boro defended strongly and mounted positive counter attacks to secure a well deserved draw.

Attendance: 28,875
Boro Blog Man of the Match: George Boateng
Gareth Southgate's view

Mendi is Delusional

"We have been doing all we can to help Gaizka find another club and will continue to do so, but there is NO chance of him gaining a place in the Middlesbrough squad."

Gaizka Mendieta told earlier this week of how he had not been told to leave Boro and would therefore stay and fight for a place in Gareth Southgate's starting 11, despite not being issued a squad number.
Boro's chief executive, Keith Lamb, confirmed that he has held talks with all of the player's representatives about moving away from Boro as he has no future in Southgate's team.
"We were amazed to read Gaizka's comments, as the club have held numerous talks with Gaizka, his agents and lawyers over an exit strategy for him,"

A Forgotten Star

Mendieta - "I will fight"

A forgotten Boro star has, today, told of how he will fight to regain a spot in at least Southgate's first 16.
Gaizka Mendieta has been with Boro since 2003 and has made over 80 appearances for the club. Restricted by a series of bad injuries, including a cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out of most of Boro's 2004/2005 season and a badly broken foot that kept him out of the game for much of 2005/2006.

Mendieta, who became an instant star with the Boro, produced his best performance in the unforgettable 4-1 home win over Man United in October 2005, where Gaizka scored Boro's first and second goals as he commanded the midfield from his favoured attacking midfield role after so long playing, largely unsuccessfully, on the right wing.

With George Boateng, Lee Cattermole, Fabio Rochemback, Julio Arca and new trialist Mohamed Shawky all in contention for Boro, it was expected that Gaizka would be looking for a new club in the summer, something which was all but confirmed as the club did not issue him with a squad number for this season.

However, after reports of 'Mendi' possibly making a move to MLS or home to Spain failed to turn true, the player will stay on at the Boro and he has insisted that he hopes to be staying and fighting for his place, come September 1st.
"I am working with the dream of doing good for Boro, I work to the same intensity each day and then it is up to the coach to decide who plays at the weekend.

"It is a real pain that the Boro fans have yet to see the real Mendieta

"I am hopeful of getting more chances this season."

Yakubu & Euell Head For The Exit

The ongoing speculation over Yakubu Aiyegbeni's future has come to an end this afternoon as Boro officially confirmed that they have accepted a £12 million offer from Everton, for the Nigerian striker and the club have given Yakubu, who went AWOL from training earlier this week, permission to talk to the Merseysiders in an attempt to offload the out of form striker.
Yakubu cost Boro £7.5 million from Portsmouth just 2 years ago and has since found the net 35 times in over 100 games, helping Boro to the UEFA cup final in only their second year in the competition.

In a double headliner, today, it has emerged that Gareth Southgate has turned two-faced as he told 30-year-old Jamaican striker Jason Euell that he can start looking for a new club as he does not fit into the team plans, despite telling Euell just last month that he would see more action in the striker role this season after a productive pre-season run. Euell, who only arrived on Teesside 12 months ago and has settled well here, told of how he has been shocked by the turnaround from the boss, "Three weeks into pre-season and everything was going well and Gareth told me I would not be in the reckoning for midfield, so I would be classed as a striker. Then a few weeks later I am told I am not part of his plans - which is a strange turnaround."

New Brazilian Interests

Sky Sports have reported that Boro are keen to bring in yet another striker, this time to replace Yakubu who's imminent move to Everton could be completed next week.
Afonso Alves netted 34 times in 31 games last season for Herenveen.
Click this post title to link to the full article

Catt's The Man...

...But not without the help of Schwarzer.

Fulham 1 - 2 BORO

Boro clinched their first 3 points of the season today away at Fulham in an action packed game of injuries, disallowed goals and ridiculous amounts of added time.

The home side started the game quick and immediately mounted pressure against a Yakubu-less Boro team, but Boro weathered the early storm and started creating some chances of their own with new signing Mido making an impressive debut start.

Something you don't see every week was that the match referee Lee Mason had to be substituted early on, making way for 4th official Andy D'Urso.

Mido and Tuncay started today's game in the attacking positions and Mido immediately showed that he is going to be a major player at the Boro. He went about the pre-match warm up with incredible maturity and positivity, leading the players and encouraging the team throughout and he carried his attitude onto the field.

Unfortunately for Boro fans, Fulham took the lead after 16 minutes when captain Brian McBride capitalised on some sloppy defending. However he sustained an injury in scoring the goal and had to be stretchered off to a round of applause from the home crowd.

Boro mounted a surge just before the break with Mido and Tuncay rousing the rest of the team to a positive end to the first half, which was extended by an incredible 6 minutes following the injuries to the referee and to McBride.

Tuncay was removed at half time and replaced with fellow new boy Jeremie Aliadiere who made an instant impact with Mido in helping Boro to be the better team of the second half.


Ten minutes into the second period Mido made Fulham keeper, Tony Warner, pay for a dreadful mistake by bagging his first Boro goal and giving his new team the equaliser.
Fulham constantly made chances to retake the lead but the Boro defence remained strong with Andrew Davies leading the back line and keeper Mark Schwarzer putting in a good display.

However Davies nearly gave Gareth Southgate a further defensive nightmare as Clint Dempsey lead into Davies face with an elbow, flooring the right back for several minutes. But Davies recovered and jumped back into action as Fulham looked to take 3 points.

Jeremie Aliadiere was presented a fantastic chance for his first Boro goal after Julio Arca showed great vision to play the ball through to Aliadiere, who was on side. But the Frenchman's pace got the better of him as he took a heavy touch around keeper, Warner, before fouling the defender attempting to take advantage of the chance.

A worry for Boro came when Mido, Boro's clear man of the match, seemed to twist his ankle and had to be replaced by Dong Gook Lee, though Mido later played down the injury live on BBC Radio Tees, saying "No, I'll be alright. It will be alright". Dong Gook Lee himself only lasted 20 minutes before he was substituted for Seb Hines as Southgate looked to defend the draw.

Warner made up for his earlier blunder when Boro defender David Wheater pulled off an outstanding control and bicycle kick which the keeper had to dive to push around the post.
Clint Dempsey was then presented with the best chance of the game when he some how managed to steer wide his shot from less than 5 yards, as goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was beaten.

Then, 2 minutes before the end of normal time, Aliadiere mirrored the early pass to him from Arca by laying up the ball for young midfielder Lee Cattermole who took the shot first time and slotted the ball past Tony Warner, much to the delight of the Boro bench and the fans.

- Schwarzer
Fulham should have taken a point from the game as a late effort from David Healey, deep into the 5 minutes of injury time, was ruled by the referee not to have crossed the line as Mark Schwarzer scrambled the ball away. The linesman confirmed the referee's decision, but replays show that Boro were lucky as the ball had clearly crossed the line and would, undoubtedly, have been given had Schwarzer not reacted as quickly as he did to scramble the ball away from the goal.

Boro Going Egyptian

I reported here on Boro Blog, last month, that Boro were looking to offer 2 of Egypt's top players a trial run at the club and today the MFC official website have released an article confirming that boss, Gareth Southgate, is handing trials to Emad Moteab and Mohammed Shawky.
Moteab is a 24-year-old striker who has found the net 12 times in 27 appearances for Egypt and has a good record with his club Al Ahly.
Fellow countryman and club colleague Mohammed Shawky is a 26-year-old midfielder with an incredible 42 caps under his belt and will join Moteab on trial at Boro next week as Gareth Southgate looks to strengthen his attacking options with ongoing speculation over Yakubu's future.
The Egyptian duo will meet up with international team mate Mido who signed a 4 year contract with Boro following his £6 million move from Spurs and the granting of his work permit on Wednesday.

The Worst Possible Start

Boro have got their new season off to the worst possible start with 2 defeats in 5 days.
The away defeat to Wigan, last night, marked Boro's second defeat of the season so far, after just 2 games played. Both teams started the game slowly and created very few chances. Wigan edged the first half, though it was 0-0 at half time, with new boys Antoine Sibierski and Jason Koumas putting on a good display.
Tuncay was, once again, Boro's best player of the first half and played well along the right wing, exposing Kevin Kilbane's inability to block a series of pin-point cross-field balls directed at the Turkish international. Tuncay and Aliadiere looked hot and were definitely on the same page with a series of clever one-twos and some good link up play.
The two teams went into the break at 0-0 and Boro Boss Gareth Southgate would have certainly been happy to take a draw into half time after they failed to create many chances. A slight scare for Boro came just before half time when Stewart Downing turned awkwardly and appeared to twist his knee. Downing looked uncomfortable as he limped around, reluctant to receive possession, in the remaining few minutes of the half.
Wigan started the second half stronger than the first and were mounting a series of attacks against Boro before, 9 minutes into the second half, a deflected drive from Antonio Valencia could only be parried by Boro keeper, Schwarzer, into the path of Antoine Sibierski who bundled the ball over the goal line.
The goal gave Wigan more confidence and they began to dominate the game, with Koumas ruling the midfield.
Boro did create a few chances, one from Stewart Downing who shrugged off his earlier injury to blast a low drive from the right which just needed a tough from anyone to direct it into Chris Kirkland's goal. Downing created another chance a few minutes later where his powerful drive from the right smashed off the Wigan goal post.
Wigan Continued their charge and were unlucky not to take more goals out of the second half and Boro began to look tired and their quality really dropped, misplaced passes and aimless long balls began to frustrate the fans who have been promised a more attacking and pacey style of football by Gareth Southgate.
Boro' problems were worsened when Southgate decided to substitute Boro's best player of the game, Tuncay. The decision was not taken well by the fans who booed as Tuncay was subbed by Adam Johnson.
Then Boro were given more cause for concern as Jeremie Aliadiere picked up a knock and looked uneasy forcing Gareth Southgate to make the decision to substitute him for Lee Cattermole. Lanky defender, David Wheater, was dispatched up front to accompany Dong Gook Lee who had earlier replaced Yakubu, as Cattermole made up a 5 man midfield.


Mido, was in the stands with chief executive Kieth Lamb to watch the game and, if all goes to plan, Southgate will be hoping to have the big Egyptian available for selection on Saturday against Fulham after his transfer from Spurs was finalised before yesterday's game.

"It's important to keep strengthening the squad because we're short of experienced players.

"I've been wanting a centre-forward who can hold up the ball. He has got a physical presence and can be a leader on the field.

"Ultimately he has to score goals as well and I think Mido has all those attributes." Boro boss Gareth Southgate said after the game.

Fee Agreed for Mido

Boro today revealed that they have had a fee agreed by Tottenham for their Egyptian striker Mido.
Mido has fallen out of favour at Spurs after the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov, last season, and Darren Bent, this summer, along with Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe already at the club and Tottenham have allowed him to spend today in Teesside to tour the Boro training complex and to undergo a medical.
Boss, Gareth Southgate, was hit by a startling eye-opener on Saturday after Boro crashed to a 2-1 defeat at home to Blackburn despite taking a 1-0 lead into the break and despite also fielding new boys Tuncay and Aliadiere along with last season's top scorer, Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Having sold James Morrison to West Brom, for 1.5 million, Southgate has been left with absolutely no one to cover the right wing except new striker Tuncay who can also play in that position leaving just Yakubu as a proven Boro goalscorer up front with Lee Dong Gook and Jeremie Aliadiere still to score for the Boro, the former of whom has not scored since signing for Boro last January.
It has been suggested that a fee of around £6 million has been agreed for the Egyptian forward who was a hit with Spurs fans upon his arrival on loan from Roma 2 seasons ago, scoring on his debut, but has since withered away leading to a less than outstanding record. Gareth Southgate is hopeful that everything will go off without a hitch and that he can secure his 5th signing of the summer within the next 36 hours "We've agreed a fee with Tottenham and that's enabled us to have Mido up to see us and he's currently in the process of having a medical, all the talks have been very positive and I don't see the medical being too much of a problem for him."

Some Concern

Boro have something of a defensive concern for the start of the new season.

Emanuel Pogatetz is the latest victim of the Boro injury curse, he is today undergoing an operation to correct a knee injury that will probably see him miss several games at the start of next season. Whilst Gareth Southgate is remaining hopeful of only losing England

international defender, Jonathan Woodgate, for the first 2 weeks of the season after he sustained an injury picked up during the summer. Meanwhile Chris Riggott is also set to miss the start of the new season with a badly bruised foot, long suffering German defender Robert Huth is still recovering from an ankle problem that has hampered his Boro career since joining from Chelsea last season and injury-prone youngster, Matthew Bates, will again be out of action for several months after a cruciate injury picked up during the pre-season win over Darlington. All these injuries mean that Southgate's back four will pick itself with only Andrew Davies and David Wheater fit to play in the centre-back position, the latter of whom has had a positive pre-season and has looked sharp and ready to challenge for his 1st team place, at least whilst 1st choice Pogatetz and Woodgate are out.