Onwards and upwards to the Riverside and an appointment with Blackburn on Wednesday.
Apologies for the brevity of this one - we’re having a few days in Reeth whilst our neighbour fits a wood burner for us, but I’ll be back to see the game on TV on Wednesday.
Whilst I researching for this opener, I learnt that Rovers’ current manager, John Eustace, used to play for us, as per this quote from Wikipedia:
“John Eustace started the 2002–03 season well and attracted interest from Premier League club Middlesbrough, to whom he was loaned out for one month in January 2003. He only made one substitute appearance, away to Liverpool, where he appeared for only the final two minutes of the game, but earned himself a yellow card.” No wonder I wasn’t aware that he’d turned out for the Boro!
There are several players, though, who have played for both Boro and Blackburn and I’ve listed a few of them here. Some will be more familiar than others, I guess - how many of them have you seen play for Middlesbrough? Out of the 27, I think I’ve seen about 17, but I’m sure some of you more mature (ahem!) Diasboro denizens will have seen more.
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Daniel Ayala Yakubu Aiyegbeni Alex Baptiste Danny Batth Marcus Bent Harry Chapman Andy Crawford Arthur Cunliffe Stewart Downing Marvin Emnes Terry Garbett Rudy Gestede Ryan Giles Shay Given |
Danny Graham Craig Hignett Fred Kennedy Matt Kilgallon Darragh Lenihan Jayson Leutwiler Jock McKay Alan Miller Bert Mitchell Eddie Murphy Aynsley Pears Fred Pentland Jordan Rhodes |
There are a few in there that might walk into our current first team, although after the Oxford result , maybe not too many, but plenty who definitely wouldn’t! Talking of which, I was staggered to find out that Rudy Gestede was made Blackburn’s Head of Football Operations in June of this year. I can only assume no one else would take the job.
On to Wednesday - Rovers have always had relatively small crowds - the North West has so many other clubs to choose from in the geographical area, hence the rivalries with Preston, Blackpool and, most notably, Burnley, so it’ll be interesting to see how many away fans make the trek over the A59 towards Teesside for a midweek game. However many, I’m sure they’ll be out sung by the Boro faithful.
With Rovers’ game postponed on Saturday, they’ll be fresh coming into this one at the Riverside, although with our remarkable win at Oxford, Blackburn are now 5 points and 4 places behind us in 9th. Hopefully they’ll be ring rusty after a long break, but however they turn up, I’m sure there’ll be a wave of optimism around the ground from the home supporters and I’m anticipating a 3-1 win.
Over to you for your predictions and fingers crossed for another 3 points.
Nice one Martin and no need to apologise for the length of the article.
Like many others on here, we are just grateful that you and others are prepared to take the time and hard work to post informative and enjoyable articles, many thanks.
I counted 18 that I have definitely watched and one or two others I wasn’t sure about.
As for Wednesday, injuries apart, I expect the same team as Saturday and am not particularly concerned about the score, as long as we win. CoB 😎
Thanks for the intro Martin. Looking at your list of players two will probably play- Pears and Batth. Reading who scored .com Blackburns weakness is defending against skilful players but one of their strengths is holding onto a lead. They are described as aggressive 37 yellow and 2 red, they have 3 players on 4 yellows and one who has already had a suspension for 5 cards. Up until they beat Cardiff before the break they only picked up 1 point out of 15 and didn't score a goal.
In who scored's team of the week we had 3 players, Azaz, LL and surprisingly Sol Brynn, will he play?
@mw-in-darwin I think I’d have Stewart Downing in his prime in today’s team too.
Thanks Martin for the Blackburn preview and glad you found time to squeeze it into your busy schedule before heading to Reeth - I suspect many are anticipating another goalfest on Wednesday but surely we can't expect another so soon and everyone will no doubt be happy with another three points as Boro try to close down the top 3.
One of the names that stood out for me in your list was Jordan Rhodes - btw I made the list into two columns to be able to scan all the names together.
Jordan Rhodes was a £10m January deadline-day present from Steve Gibson to Karanka and joined up with his uncle, Steve Agnew, the then assistant manager. His arrival saw Kike Garcia depart but the problem was it seems Karanka didn't want Rhodes and hardly played him. Not like Aitor to be stubborn 😉
Incidentally, Simon wrote one of his Talking Point articles about the whole Jordan Rhodes episode, which reminds me I must get round to adding navigation to all the Diasboro archive at some point. Anyway, here's a link to it...
https://diasboro.club/2017/02/08/talking-point-jordan-rhodes/
Although Brynn made a fantastic debut I thought he was at fault for their second goal.
NIT PICKING!
OFB
Martin
Many thanks for the preview it’s appreciated.
So the internet held out whilst you are away.
No news from the Boro camp yet about injuries can Howson play three games in a week ???
I must mention Barlaser, another player that I have castigated on his poor performances and lazy pass backs to the keeper!
On Saturday he had his best game for us and his post match interview was positive. Carrick has said he is a lovely guy and a pleasure to work with.
What we are seeing I think, is the coaching tactics of Carrick starting to bear fruit with the senior players who are taking things on board and the results are outstanding.
So can anyone guess what score I’m going to predict on Wednesday?
????
ok
BORO3
Blackburn 1
OFB
Thanks Martin for your very interesting opener. As someone who is (ahem) mature to the point of decrepitude I can recall 21 of those players on your list.
I thought Birdcage had his best game for Boro on Saturday also.
OFB
Martin,
Well done with the header, there are a few spuds in there! Now, being a 'typical Boro' supporter I'll remind everyone that 'Typical Boro' could re-appear at any time, sorry to remind you all.
As long as we win I don't mind although the 'Marton Oracle' has predicted his usual!
Best wishes to everyone.
UTB,
John
I thought Birdcage had his best game for Boro on Saturday also.
OFB
Sounds like you tweeted that post...
Although to be fair, the defender (was it Clarke?) was closing down and went right across the keeper's line of site with a mis-timed attempt to block and with the shot going between the defender's legs. On another day perhaps the keeper might have been able to react in time, but to put the keeper at fault for that goal is a little harsh in my judgement.Although Brynn made a fantastic debut I thought he was at fault for their second goal.
NIT PICKING!
OFB
Reports of West Ham sniffing around , looking at Van, and Latte,
I'm not sure maybe it's Carrick and what he as done to this squad.
Who would you prefer to lose a player or the coach?
Thanks for the memory teasing opener @martin-bellamy. I get to 16 that I can remember seeing in a Boro shirt, but there are quite a few names in that list I don't even recall the name.
You do have to hope we are on a roll and will score again and again on Wednesday, but at some point we will find it a struggle to hit the net in a game. Blackburn have certainly been the perennial party poopers against Boro this century. Of the 20 league and cup games played at The Riverside since the turn of the century, Boro has only won 4 times, with Rovers taking all three points on 8 occasions, and honours even in the other 8 games. So if any team is going to leave us all a little upset on Wednesday evening, don't be surprised if it will be Blackburn.
OFB's Boro3© would be nice, but to be honest, a hard fought 1-0 will be just as pleasing and even if we are held to a draw, I think we will have done well.
On other observations,thought johnny struggled a little v Oxford and I think we might be looking to sign a CB in January,Carrick obviously doesn't rate Fry and I think Clarke is going backwards hence no contract offer .
Other than that , keep it going,like the way we are going less side to side
Thanks Martin for your very interesting opener. As someone who is (ahem) mature to the point of decrepitude I can recall 21 of those players on your list.
I was banking on you to raise the bar!
@werdermouth Thanks for tidying things up for me - what would we do without you?
At least the defence seem to have cut out all this fancy playing the ball around in the penalty area - to you - to me - to you rubbish which is alright if you’re a skilful player but we are not premiership standard (yet!)
OFB
Just paper talk no one is going anywhere !
End if season if we don’t get promoted then players will go but not the manager he’s trying to build something here.
OFB
Michael Carrick will be left making late calls on a number of Middlesbrough players ahead of Blackburn Rovers' visit on Wednesday evening, with an illness sweeping through the squad.
On top of illness in the group, which recently forced Neto Borges and Seny Dieng to miss games and is now afflicting a few more in the group, Boro also have a couple of injury doubts in Hayden Hackney and Ben Doak. With Blackburn visiting on Wednesday, Boro will leave it as late as possible to make decisions on who is fit to start and who isn't, with an early kick-off on Saturday against Hull City to factor in also.
😫
OFB
It's a game against Blackburn isn't it? We could always fax the authorities to cancel the game because we have too many sick players to raise a team. I mean. What's the worst thing that might happen 🤔
Bob, Happy to do the lead for the Plymouth game if it's any help
Thanks, Martin, for the Starter piece. I'm sure that Werder and OFB are even more grateful, now that they don't have to take turns to do the match previews for each thread on here. What was it like in Reeth? We go there every year, camping at Grinton literally just below Reeth, but generally NOT in November!
If Blackburn had won the game called off at the weekend (effectively now their "game in hand") they'd only be 2 points below Boro, so clearly this game could be considered one between closely matched teams. Having said which, Boro's recent form (W3, D1, L1 in the last 5 games) clearly outshines Blackburn's (W1, D1, L3). So perhaps it's better that Boro should be playing Blackburn now than earlier in the season.
If Boro were to continue the recent dominant form, it's difficult to see any team in this league being able to hold Boro. Whether that form will continue is, of course, the vital question. If we all knew the answer to it, local bookies would soon be bankrupt. I will wait until tomorrow before hazarding a prediction.
In the meantime I did hear a whisper that Villa might be interested in Barlaser. If that comes to fruition, who'd have guessed 6 months ago? I think £12.5M. Maybe Villa believes it had such a good bargain with Morgan R that it might be worth going to the well one more time?
@forever-dormo I can smell the foam hands again. How I have missed that smell since OFB buried them last season.
I think a fan should always be optimistic. And support the players on the field - no matter what.
I hope an untypical Boro will show up on Thursday. But with the bug going around in the team, we do not know who will play tomorrow. So a draw is a possible. How about a 2-2 draw, then? Up the Boro!
And the FA will surely recommend us to do just that, again. Up the Boro!It's a game against Blackburn isn't it? We could always fax the authorities to cancel the game because we have too many sick players to raise a team. I mean. What's the worst thing that might happen 🤔
Thanks for the opener, Martin. Your starters are always great, whatever the length ! (Ditto, everybody else’s, btw! )
One notable absentee from your list is the great Stuart Ripley. Adding him to the list gives me 18 seen in a Boro shirt, I think, but I’m not sure about one or two of those - the bit-part players such as Leutweiler for instance.
No predictions from me. My record on that score (pun intended) is abysmal. I’d like to see us notch up 7, to keep the sequence going, but I’ll be happy with any home win.
@forever-dormo “What was it like in Reeth? We go there every year, camping at Grinton literally just below Reeth, but generally NOT in November!”
Saturday was interesting - closed roads and lots of snow. The cottage is tiny but ideal for a few days. Back home tomorrow and our neighbour has finished fitting the wood burner, so all is good. Let’s hope our boys set the world alight at the Riverside.
@clive-hurren I can’t understand how I left SR out, but there’s more on him when I do the starter for the return fixture at Ewood Park.