borodiary

Woody injury rumours

2006-10-08T18:11:00.000+01:00

Following on from earlier newspaper reports several football devoted websites are reporting that Jonathan Woodgate could be set for three weeks out after straining his groin in training.

This would be a blow to boro who had hoped Woodgate’s injury woes were behind him. Woody has been the shining light in what has been a disastrously inconsistent start to the season. With a call up to the national side looking likely and the jawdee derby coming up on the 22nd Woodgate will be gutted. Let’s just hope the injury isn’t related to his longstanding thigh injuries.

So far the club have refused to comment but it would seem from past experience that there’s no smoke without fire.

Reserve Judgement

2006-09-28T12:35:00.000+01:00

So desperate has my search become to see boro win at the Riverside that last night I resorted to watching the reserves. It was an open game and boro enjoyed a lot of possession, treating the crowd to some fast free flowing attacking football. For this reason and that there was no pressure, it was a much more enjoyable experience than watching recent premiership encounters.

Seeing how Huth performed in his second ‘competitive’ game since arriving was also a big draw card. The result was not disappointing; we came back from a goal down to beat United 2:1; however despite his obvious fitness issues (he’s had no pre-season) there are still question marks over Huth’s ability and price tag.

Now don’t get me wrong I was, and still am overjoyed that we got Robert in the transfer window. The problem is that during last night’s game and also against Notts County the skyscraper got caught out of position on several occasions.

His fitness can excuse many things but positional sense is an instinctive skill that you don’t loose, just look at Jonathan Woodgate. Huth, like many defenders may rely on his powers of recovery but worryingly many reports, mostly from Chelsea fans, state that he is awkward and clumsy. Unfortunately so far he has done nothing to dispel these myths. If the big German’s worth 6m then Woodgate must be double that then some.

Surprise, surprise Malcolm Cripple Christie had to be substituted after suffering a knock to the ankle, the same ankle which caused his recent spell on the sidelines.

Ironically Christie’s replacement Danny Graham was the catalyst behind boro’s comeback. His lively probing runs were rewarded in the 77th minute as he finished from eight yards out.

Then with ten minutes left boro were awarded a penalty which Craddock converted expertly sending the keeper the wrong way.

Reserve team coach Colin Cooper told the Evening Gazette: "It's disappointing for Malcolm because he can see light at the end of the tunnel.

"He had an excellent game against Wigan and scored a hat-trick but he missed the next game because he picked up the ankle injury in training.

"He needs to be playing at first team level and he has worked very hard."We'll get the injury checked out and hope it's nothing more than a short-term problem."

Bung-gate Update

2006-09-27T13:17:00.000+01:00

The fall out from Panorama continues as the BBC plans a dvd release entitled Undercover: Football’s Dirty Secrets: The Directors Cut. Tagline: Too damning for TV, the program the lawyers didn’t want you to see! The new material attempts to fill in the blanks and answer the questions left over from original BBC documentary.

Shocking new undercover footage includes Vernon kay talking to Premiership footballers on his radio1 Saturday morning show before travelling to the Reebok Stadium to ‘watch’ Bolton. Further damning evidence is provided by Vernon’s younger brother, tv funny man, Peter Kay who is seen in a pub telling friends how he rates Thierry Henry and would love to see him at Bolton.

On a more serious note, I was very much looking forward to hearing Peter Harris worm his way out of the allegations put forward on Panorama-You Bottled It Mate! That was the message I received as he failed to turn up on Century radio's Legends, Monday. I imagine the thought of being grilled by a lardy Mackem, stuttering plastic wino jawdie and a teetotal jock who thinks he’s a paddy scared him off, eat your heart out Mr Paxman. Alright, so maybe his lawyers had something to do with it.

If Gareth Southgate had his way then agents like Harris wouldn’t be able to get anywhere near boro’s young players. He said: “My ideal scenario would be that nobody under the age of 21 has an agent and clubs looked after them in the right way. I used an agent once when I was 28, 29 and I didn’t really see any particular benefit.”

With the media hype surrounding what in reality is a storm in tea-cup Southgate’s only interest is in protecting starlet Nathan Porritt. “I’ve spoken to Nathan just to let him know that he is very much an innocent part in what has gone on. We are delighted to have him here and if he needs any help from us then we are here for him. It’s a great shame he has been put under that sort of spotlight really through no fault of his own.”

Boro beaten by Notts County reserves

2006-09-20T23:30:00.000+01:00

An under strength Notts County team managed to beat a boro team containing a six million pound German International, the Australian Skipper, a player who probably makes more a week than the entire Notts County squad plus backroom staff, and a multitude of England youth players.

With eight changes to the team which drew at the Reebok stadium on Saturday Boro played like eleven strangers for 80 minutes and it wasn't until the last five minutes that they looked anything like a cohesive attacking force.

Let's not take anything away from The Magpies though, this was a classic cup upset performance. The Coca-Cola League Two outfit thoroughly deserved the win, they worked hard, closed down, gave boro no time on the ball and defended valiantly, particularly Hunt in the last ten minutes.

N'Toya-Zoa scored the winner and his first goal this season in the 26th minute, capitalising on an error by Tony McMahon inside the Boro penalty area following Lee Cattermole's lofted pass. The Congolese-born striker worked his socks off, frightening boro's defence with his strength and pace, and was well worth his goal.

There were some poor individual performances on the night particularly from Maccarone and McMahon but it was as a whole that boro were most disappointing. Viduka provided some edge to our toothless attack but we never played to his strengths, continuing to hoof the ball to him in the air which suited the Notts County full backs. Johnson was our best attacking outlet particularly in the first half when he came close after cutting inside.

I can understand why Southgate fielded a weakened side. It gives some of the first team a rest and the squad players a chance to impress whilst getting match fitness. On the other hand it could have been an ideal opportunity to instill a winning mentality into the first team and return the Yak to goal scoring form.

It wasn't until Southgate brought Morrison on for McMahon (61) and Euell on for Cattermole that boro galvanised and went for jugular. Huth was pushed up as an extra forward and in the 77th minute had a header hacked of the line. With four minutes remaining Hunt got in a superb challenge to deny Euell. Parnaby then squandered a glorious opportunity to take the game into extra time by thundering his shot over with only goal keeper Deeney to beat. Three minutes into injury time and the Magpie keeper pulled off a great save from Huth at point blank range to guarantee an unlikely win.

Unfortunately it wasn't just the chance of domestic cup glory which boro gave up tonight, they also surrendered their best chance of a return to European football. With the big boys fiercely competing for the FA Cup, and premiership places, boro will most likely have to rely on the mathematically unlikely 7th Uefa cup place.

Credit to the 11,148 fans who turned up. The atmosphere was definitely improved by The Twe12th Man created 'singing section' and to be honest I expected there to be under 10 thousand.

We'll build 'em, you nick 'em (allegedly)

2006-09-20T00:51:00.000+01:00

For boro fans the main interest of last nights panorama had to be the alleged corrupt and underhanded actions of Peter Harrison, Chelsea and Liverpool in relation to boro starlet Nathan Porritt.

By the end of the program it might as well have been called Undercover: Bolton's Dirty Secrets. But as far as our disdain for auld'fat'ed goes, particularly after the Carling Cup Final, it must not detract from the fact that boro could have lost one of the most highly rated teenagers in the country.

According to a national newspaper in December 2005, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs and Liverpool were all keeping tabs on the Middlesbrough lad, who had been described as the new Ryan Giggs.

The sprightly winger was offered a two-year scholarship but hesitated to sign. Harrison admitted that having both Downing and Johnson in front of him was something Porritt had to consider.

Harrison told Sky Sports: "Nathan is a Boro lad and supporter, but he has to look at the opportunities for himself. No talks are planned at the moment over Nathan - the offer is there and as I said it has not been signed."

From what I saw last night it was Harrison who was looking for "the opportunities for himself".

In December 2005 Dave Parnaby, Boro's Academy director said of Nathan Porritt: "We have nurtured and developed him into a promising young player and he has gained England recognition. We hope and believe that Nathan and his family recognise that Boro is the right place for him to remain and ensure he continues his development in order that he can recognise his obvious potential."

It is an absolute disgrace that Dave Parnaby and boro after investing time, money and experience into developing young players can have agents like Harris attempt to flog them to big clubs for a pittance, with the excess going in their pocket.

What is worse, Chelsea and Liverpool were both willing to negotiate despite being told that Middlesbrough knew nothing of the transfer. Frank Arnesen, Chelsea's director of youth development and scouting apparently said he was willing to offer Porritt, then 15, £150,000 over three years to move to Stamford Bridge. Arnesen said: "One-fifty thousand spread in three years and we can do it like a royalty bonus and this and this. Salary we can talk about that."

It is very unlikely that either Chelsea nor Liverpool will suffer any repercussions from the investigation, at least not in the near future. Chelsea still have a years suspended three-point deduction for "tapping up" Cole and if they were found guilty of another offence the penalty would be applied. Under Premier league rules governing players' contracts the Cole offence contravened Rule K and they would have to be found guilty of another Rule K breach to be hit with a points deduction. However an illegal approach for Porritt would fall under Rule N, governing youth development.

With the names of 18 managers who have allegedly received illegal payments the integrity of football lies in the balance. It is not until the findings of both the Lord Stevens inquiry and the FA's own investigation are published that we will know the true extent of the corruption.

Now then, now then, now then

2006-09-16T10:27:00.000+01:00

With cigar in mouth and straw mane flowing Gareth Southgate will today 'jim'll fix it' for Jonathan Woodgate by handing him the captains armband.

First choice skipper George Boateng is suspended and injured for the trip to Bolton after stupidly careering into Fredrik Ljungberg.

Southgate's other options included Mark Schwarzer who is celebrating his tenth year at boro and teenage dynamo Lee Cattermole both of whom have captained Boro in the last 12 months.

Woodgate's composure at Arsenal last weekend helped sure up a defence which had shipped eight in three Premiership outings.

"When I told him his eyes lit up," said Southgate. "It's obviously a boyhood dream come true and I was glad to be able to 'Jim'll Fix It' for him. He went straight off to phone his dad and tell him, so you could see how much it meant to him.

"It was a difficult decision in that there were a couple of other people that I considered for the role. It was an easy task though to find the attributes I was looking for. Jonathan showed at Arsenal last week the calmness and strength of character he possesses.

"Not just in his own performance but the affect he had on the players around him was massive. To play like that against a player like Thierry Henry was an eye-opener, even for myself.

"It was his first competitive game of the season. The composure he showed in that match proved he would be able to cope with the added responsibility."