Just Keeps Getting Worse

Manchester United 4 - 1 BORO

We might have hoped to get a result against Manchester United because we had some key players back, including Jeremie Aliadiere and we have had a formidable record against United in recent years, even at Old Trafford.
But we couldn't really have gotten off to a worse start as Nani embarrassed us all with his amazing drive that hit the top corner of the net from around 25 yards out, yet another contender for goal of the month scored past BORO.
But Aliadiere gave United a shock as, just 2 minutes later, he headed home a Tuncay cross after some clever foot work by the Turkish International.

Tuncay looked good and BORO were starting to match United with some good passing and positive chances. But then Downing slipped in his own penalty area before executing a wonderful pass for Wayne Rooney to rocket a shot past Mark Schwarzer, giving United the 2-1 lead at the break.

BORO's luck appeared set to change though as Ronaldo was presented with an abundance of chances, all of which he hopelessly fluffed. But Carlos Tevez, linking up sublimely with Rooney netted United's 3 and surely put the game beyond BORO just 10 minutes into the second half.

Efforts from Downing came close but he saw an earlier header spin jut wide of the goal and likewise a curling free-kick, whilst Lee Cattermole had his looping shot superbly saved by Van Der Sar.

5 minutes left of normal time and Tevez decided to bag another goal, once again linking in well with Rooney before striking from a tight angle only to be thwarted by Andrew Taylor thinking he was the goalkeeper. Diving in front of Schwarzer to stop the shot and almost certainly giving away a penalty for hand ball, had the ball not deflected over the disorientated Schwarzer and dropped just over the goal line and into the net.

"We had a very young side and sometimes mistakes will happen. But our young players were outstanding today and they are a shining light." - BORO boss, Gareth Southgate.

Coming Soon

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A Flat Display

BORO 0 - 2 Chelsea

BORO put in yet another disappointing display on Saturday as they were defeated 2-0 by an out of form Chelsea team, who have had to contend with the recent loss of their greatest ever manager Jose Mourinho.

Fresh back from injury, Didier Drogba opened the scoring for Chelsea after just 8 minutes when Frank Lampard fed the ball through for Drogba to calmly slot the ball across Mark Schwarzer into the corner of the net.

BORO could have equalised when Mido headed a Gary O'Neil cross into the arms of Petr Cech. As Chelsea sat back and seemed content with their 1 goal lead, BORO enjoyed a healthy share of possession but created little in the way of chances, despite a less than impressive display from Chelsea.

Drogba then came close to bagging a second as he curled a free kick just wide of the goal.

Gareth Southgate must have stuck a rocket up the backside of his players in the second half as they returned from half time looking threatening and ready to take the game to Chelsea, but with just over 10 minutes of the second half played Chelsea put the game beyond BORO as Alex drilled a superb free kick, from at least 30 yards, into the top corner beyond the stretching Mark Schwarzer.

Mido was the closest to scoring for BORO as he saw a series of headed chances stopped by Petr Cech and Gary O'Neil sliced a shot over the bar from close range as the game neared a close and BORO looked resigned to yet another league defeat, leaving the club hovering just above the drop zone.


I don't like to be negative about the BORO too much. But one has to ask, with all of these defeats and with us lying too close to the relegation zone for comfort, if we were one of the top 4 or 6 teams would Gareth Southgate have most certainly been shown the door by now?
I know that it's never a good idea to sack a manager because there is a chance that it can have an adverse effect on the team and Gareth Southgate did, indeed, start the season alright and certainly improved on Steve McClaren's premiership finish in his first season. But with a string of poor results and having conceded 18 goals in 10 games we must start to look at where we go from here. I am almost certain that the stubborn Steve Gibson will stick by Southgate no matter what, and so it is from here that Southgate must do something to combat the fact that BORO are conceding too many goals. His quest for a more attacking BORO team has led to forfeiting his quality deffence.

BORO after Great Dane?

Reports this week suggest that BORO, along with Chelsea and Real Madrid are holding interest in Danish superstar youngster Simon Kjaer.

The Under-19 Danish international centre-half has attracted attention from across Europe and remains highly regarded in his home land as one of the rising young stars of Danish football.

The interest from BORO can be linked back to the fact that the player's agent is former BORO striker and winner, with BORO, of Sky One's Premier League All stars Mikkel Beck.

International Call Up

BORO star, Luke Young, today received the news that he has been waiting on for 2 years as former BORO boss Steve McClaren has given him a call up to the England side.

Young last appeared in an England shirt during an international friendly against Argentina back in 2005. But, after an impressive start to the season with new club BORO, Young has earned himself a call up to the squad as Ashley Cole was ruled out with an ankle injury picked up in the 3-0 win over Estonia.

Luke has made 7 appearances for England, helping the team to victory in 6 of those games and his call up marks the 3rd BORO player to feature in the England side this year, with Jonathan Woodgate and Stewart Downing having already made appearances.

If Young can help England to win their next Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, then they will automatically qualify for the finals of the competition in Austria and Switzerland next year.


Meanwhile, BORO defender Andrew Taylor was in action for the England under-21s against Montenegro, on Friday night at The Walker's Stadium. England edged to a 1-0 victory when Blackburn's Matt Derbyshire finished off from a superb through ball by Newcastle's James Milner.

In other BORO news, striker Jeremie Aliadiere has suffered a further setback in his return to fitness after a recurrence of the injury that has ruled him out for a number of weeks, during a training session.
Aliadiere had this to say to The Northern Echo, "I had been running and sprinting and going well but I have been feeling some discomfort in training this week so I will have to take it easy."

A Boost For 'Mad Dog'

BORO boss Gareth Southgate was given a further boost today ahead of the international break as he awaits the return of key players from injury.

Influential Austrian defender Emanuel Pogatetz has announced that he is aiming to back for first team selection within two weeks, just in time for the big clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Pogatetz has been out of action since pre-season after suffering a severe knee injury, which required surgery. A major setback for one of last season's best players in a BORO shirt, who had come to form a formidable partnership with Jonathan Woodgate.

However, Pogatetz's return to the first team wont be as easy as he would have hoped with youngster David Wheater in such good form so far this season and with Chris Riggot back fit and fighting for his place.


Also this week, BORO defender and local lad Andrew Davies has joined Championship side Southampton on a 3 month loan deal in hope of securing a permanent move in January.

Davva has been a good player for BORO in recent seasons, always reliable and prepared to give his all for the BORO in any defensive position and I'm sure that he'll be well missed by many BORO fans. But BORO Blog would like to wish him good luck with The Saints and hope that he is able to secure a permanent move in January so that he can start to play regular first team football.

Davies made 27 first team appearances for BORO last season and managed to net 3 goals during a successful loan period with Derby County in the 2005-2006 season.

Yet Another Defeat

Manchester City 3 - 1 BORO

Boro fell to yet another defeat today as they were well and truly mashed by Manchester City at The City of Manchester Stadium.

Yes. BORO were once again run ragged as City went 3-0 up with an Elano double, before youngster Ben Hutchinson grabbed a late consolation in his first ever first team appearance for BORO.

With an injury ravaged squad, manager Gareth Southgate had to start with a 4-5-1 formation; forced to remove Dong Gook Lee from the squad through injury and giving 20-year-old Tom Craddock his first Premiership start. With Mido and Aliadiere out injured and Tuncay, though on the bench, not at full fitness it was hard to see how BORO even hoped to snatch a goal against an on fire Manchester City side.

Once again, BORO conceded an early goal as Martin Petrov's corner was agonisingly steered past Mark Schwarzer by BORO defender Chris Riggot after just 8 minutes and so BORO were, once again, on the back foot trying to get themselves back into the game.

BORO did try to mount a comeback, but with just one striker and their typical reluctantness to push forward they never really looked as threatening as City with only a Lee Cattermole header, saved by Joe Hart, to take note of.

The 35th minute brought a speedy counter attack as City exposed BORO's frailty pushing forward and it was Elano, with a superb drive into the bottom corner that gave his team the 2-0 lead that would surely sink BORO.

Tom Craddock came out for the second half fired up and determined to launch BORO back into the game and he was presented with a great chance to bag his first Premiership goal, but was thwarted by Joe Hart who dived at Craddock's feet to stop the shot. Tuncay made his speedy return from injury as he replaced George Boateng for the second half, perhaps Southgate's attempts to bolster BORO's fire power.

But, just a quarter of an hour into the second half, Craddock made way for fellow youngster 19-year-old Ben Hutchinson to make his BORO first team debut and what better time to make his debut than when BORO were 2-0 down away from home?

But less than 5 minutes later BORO conceded a free-kick and so Gareth Southgate saw his team's day get even worse as Elano stepped up and struck a superb shot into the top corner of the net to give City a 3-0 lead and to end BORO's hopes of a revival.

Elano then received the standing ovation that he deserved as boss Sven-Goran Eriksson subbed him with just over 10 minutes left to play.

But City hadn't finished just yet, Mark Schwarzer was kept on his toes till the end as first Ireland, then Petrov lashed in attempts to make it 4-0 but Schwarzer produced a series of world class saves to spare total embarrassment, before BORO youngster Ben Hutchinson pounced on Tuncay's spilled shot, at the other end, to bag his first senior goal in his first Premiership appearance.

A mere consolation at best, though, for BORO as they slumped to yet another defeat and with just their 3rd goal in 5 games.

"We planned to keep things tight. But we were on the back foot after an early set-piece.

"We had as much possession as them and created chances. But we are giving away sloppy goals and that costs you games." - BORO Boss, Gareth Southgate.

Jezza Boost

Boro pace-man, Jeremie Aliadiere, has set his sights on a return to action and has announced that he is wishing to be fit for the big home clash with Chelsea in just under 3 weeks.

Aliadiere limped out of the 3-0 defeat to West Ham with a hamstring injury and was expected to be out for a while and, whilst the news will come as somewhat of a boost for Gareth Southgate, he will still be without 3 strikers and Julio Arca for some time after Mido was ruled out for 3 weeks with an injury that he aggravated in the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Southgate will have to go with Dong Gook Lee and youngster Tom Craddock in the few games before the return of Aliadiere and Mido, unless he decides just to put a complete stop to our goalscoring chances and play Lee, yet to score in the league, up front alone.

Glory and Disappointment

Boro took a share of glory and disappointment, yesterday, as they cruised to the winners spot in this years hottest competition but were agonisingly crushed 2-0 away at Goodison Park in the 4 o'clock Sky Sports Live game.

Yes! Boro walked away as winners of one of the hottest, most unique footballing competitions in years.
All of last week, Sky One, presented the unique concept that is Premier League All Stars; legends, celebrities and fans all join forces to represent their Premier league teams in a week long tournament raising loads of money for charity.
Each team had a representation of 4 former professionals, 3 celebrities and 3 die hard fans; all playing for victory, their chosen charity and, of course, pride.

Boro lined up with former legends Jim Platt (goalie), Graig Hignett (Forward), Mikkel Beck (Forward) and Bernie Slaven (Forward) with celebrities Alistair Griffin (Singer and Boro Fan), Mark Stobbart (Actor & Boro Fan) and Gary Havelock (Speedway legend & Boro Fan) and finally, the fans, Steven Aithwaite (Sports Lecturer, Thornaby) Tony Rovardi (Ice-cream Cone Manufacturer, Acklam) and Julian McGuire (IT Consultant, Ealing).

Boro opened with a classic local derby against Newcastle. A cagey battle that ended in a 3-3 draw. The teams went to penalties and it was Boro who walked out victorious, Mikkel Beck scoring the winning penalty in sudden death.

Through other results in Boro's group, they made it to the quarter finals where they beat Birmingham City 2-0 thanks to Bernie Slaven and an unbelievable strike from IT Consultant Julian McGuire.

The Semi-finals threw up another derby clash, this time against Sunderland and, with another 2-0 win, Boro booked their place in the Premier League All Stars final against West Ham, who knocked out Manchester United in the semis.

Boro dominated the early exchanges of the final but, unfortunately went 1 down before the break and were thankful for some Jim Platt heroics in goal. Despite having had a longer preparation for the final, Boro looked the more tired and sluggish in the second half and it was only through a series of squandered chances and a lucky clearance off the line from Hignett, which ricocheted off the post, that Boro didn't concede more.

Craig Hignett was then the hero at the other end after his rebounded shot squirmed under Hammers goalkeeper Allen McKnight. So Boro were level and Mikkel Beck was looking the best he'd been all tournament; jinking round the Hammers players and providing chances for the other Boro stars.

With 1 minute remaining it seemed that the game was going to go to penalties. But the unique nature of All Stars is that the final minute is 'Power Play', where goals count double and so both teams were pushing to grab that vital goal when, Mikkel Beck received possession in the middle of the park, before beating 2 Hammers players and playing the ball through to Alistair Griffin in the 6-yard area who calmly slotted the ball under the goal keeper to give Boro a 3-1 advantage with just 20 seconds remaining.

The Hammers quickly rallied and forced to grab a last gasp goal, but the Final whistle came and Boro had won the 2007 Sky One Premier League All Stars and £100,000 for the Butterwick Children's Hospice and Teesside Hospice.

Sadly the 'real' Boro were defeated 2-0 away to Everton, despite creating any number of chances. But failing to take the chances they had Gareth Southgate's men had to sit back and watch Everton take the lead by 1, then 2 goals.
I don't really want to dwell too much on the bad Boro news for 2 reasons. Firstly it's better to look at the good news from yesterday and, secondly, this post is already really long.