[Archived] Rovers 3 Middlesbrough 2

[rog of the rovers]

Well after a scrappy 2-0 victory earlier this evening, attentions turn to next Saturday's clash with in form Middlesbrough at Ewood. Rovers as said go into the game on the back a 2-0 victory against Villa, as conversly Middlesbrough face 3 tough away matches in under a week, starting with Charlton at the Valley on Sunday, then to the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Wednesday, before returning to Ewood on Saturday.

I will be honest, I intially agreed to do the preview so I could "interview" a rather good looking girl from university called Amanda who I had spoke to briefly and who had said she was from Middlesbrough, so I saw this preview as a perfect oppertunity to meet up at a bar and maybe ask her a few questions about Middlesbrough and the Rovers, after plucking up the courage to go and speak to her earlier this week she told me that she wasn't a Middlesbrough fan, but followed her Dad's team Sunderland!

Ah well!

This week's Questions and Answer's come from two completely different sources, firstly "Fly Me To The Moon" (Middlesbrough's fanzine) editor Rob Nicholls, with the second coming from arguably Middlesbrough's most famous fan, Roy "Chubby" Brown.

Rob Nicholls Q and A

1. How long have you been a Middlesbrough fan?

Since school - got my first season ticket with my dad and brother in the old

Bob End of Ayresome Park in 1974/75 to see Jack Charlton's newly promoted

Champions play in the top flight. Been hooked since.

2. This season, Jekyll and Hyde, true reflection?

Yes definitely - but it's even weirder than that. In that we hit rock bottom

with 7-0 pounding at Arsenal and then an worse 0-4 humiliation by fellow

strugglers Aston Villa at the Riverside. The manager was finished then -

I've never ever heard so many people call for a boss's head. A fan flung his

season ticket at him, people were marching out of the ground en masse. Young

player Lee Cattermole was in tears. It was an evil atmosphere. The

turnaround in the month after this has been quite incredible. Hammering

Chelsea, grinding out results v WBA and Brum. Getting through to the Quarter

finals of the FA Cup without a single home draw. Beating Stuttgart in Europe

and then winning at home against the unbeatable Roma. That is an awesome few

weeks.

3. Future Middlesbrough stars? Downing? Morrison? Riggot? Parnaby? How good

are these

talents? Who is the best?

Downing's already made the England team hasn't he? He just needs fitness and

the chance to get all his confidence back. Morrison could potentially make

it just as far if not even further. He can play anywhere at all across the

front line. Chrissy Riggott has been knocking on the door at England for a

year or two and been ignored. He will eventually take over from Southgate as

the rock in our defence. Stuart Parnaby has to sort out his injury problems

but all credit to the fullback for making scoring contributions as an

emergency right midfielder.

The young player we are most excited about at present is Super Lee

Cattermole - at 17 years of age he has fantastic ability and tremendous

bottle. He gets stuck in but can also pick a great pass. Even at 17 he has

the potential to be a future England player.

4. McClaren the next England boss?

Wins against Chelsea, Stuttgart and Roma have suddenly promoted him from no

hoper to a real possibility. He has big time European experience at Man U,

Boro and of course England. Few of the other candidates can match this not

even Martin O'Neil. His tactical ability in European competition could well

mark him out above anyone else from the British contenders.

5. Who should Blackburn be wary of?

Our strikers Yak and Jimmy. You know all about Hasselbaink from last

season's hat trick. But he's right back to that form again. Yakubu is an all

round centre forward. Strong, fast and with a great eye for goal. They form

a frightening combination at the moment and then there's always Viduka...

6. Who should Boro be wary of?

You really rocked us with those two wins over the un-festive season. Kuqi

ripped us to sheds at ties in those games. He was so strong and awkward to

contain while Dickov just never gives up a constant irritant. You hesitate

for just one moment in the 90 the minute and he takes the game away from

you. Being an ex Geordie Craig Bellamy is not a popular man on Teesside, he

has incredible pace as well. Morten Gamst Pedersen is annoying too seeing as

he had a trial with Boro and returned back to Scandinavia unsigned. But you

have some really good players, real attacking threats.

7. Fly me to the moon? Where did the name come from?

Back to our inception in 1988. Manager Bruce Rioch had taken a bunch of

young local lads from the closed gates of liquidation to the top flight in 2

amazing seasons. We were barred from making any signings so hadn't even got

even resources for a proper reserve team we had to get a local non league

team to help us out.

Anyway Rioch was the man in charge and Tony Mogga Mowbray was his

inspirational leader on the pitch. Rioch said of his captain's heroics if he

had to fly to the moon he would want Mowbray by his side.

As yet the Moon Mission has not been launched but the revolution at our club

since being an hour away from going out of business in 1986 has been nothing

short of astronomical.

8. Any tips for people wanting to start a fanzine?

Get as many contributions as possible. Get as many good writers cartoonists

and the like. Be open minded. Don't just be anti be positive as well. Keep

it fresh but build up a rapport with the fans. Be by the fans and for the

fans. And never drift away from that central tenet.

9. Favourite Ground? (Apart from the Riverside) Why?

Millennium Stadium Cardiff - field of dreams after 128 years of trying we

finally won our first silver ware. That is an awful long time.

10. Prediction for the game?

Should be an interesting game. We will be desperate to make amends for the

League and Cup defeats at the Riverside. I'm predicting a narrow Boro win

2-1. Jimmy and Yak scoring the goals.

Roy "Chubby" Brown Q and A

1. How long have you been a Middlesbrough fan?

All my life.

2. This season, Jekyll and Hyde, true reflection?

True.

3. Future Middlesbrough stars? Downing? Morrison? How good are these

talents?

I believe one of them will make the England squad.

4. McLaren the next England boss?

No.

5. Who should Blackburn be wary of?

Hasslebanks left foot.

6. Who should Boro be wary of?

Dickov.

7. How long have you been performing Stand Up Comedy?

37 years.

8. Any tips for young Comedians?

Carry a baseball bat.

9. Favourite Gig? Why?

London palladium because of its nostalgia.

10. Prediction for the game?

1-1.

Memorable Matches vs. Boro (at Ewood)

1903- Rovers 0-4 Middlesbrough (First Ever League Meeting at Ewood)

1910- Rovers 5-1 Middlesbrough (Christmas Eve 1910)

1945- Rovers 3-3 Middlesbrough (Month before the end of the War)

1954- Rovers 9-0 Middlesbrough (Quigley and Mooney hat-tricks for Rovers)

1991- Rovers 2-1 Middlesbrough (Rovers went up via playoffs, Boro as runners up)

1992- Rovers 1-1 Middlesbrough (First Premiership game)

1996- Rovers P-P Middlesbrough (The game that never was, Robson blamed flu, Boro had 3pts deducted, which ultimately cost them)

2004- Rovers 0-4 Middlesbrough (Last Premiership meeting)

Foot in Both Camps (Direct Rovers to Boro or vice versa Transfers)

Jock MacKay

Eddie Murphy

Stuart Ripley

Jock Sorley

Charlie Watts

Star Man (In My Opinion)

YAKUBU

Gifted Nigeria striker who has proved to be one of the hottest properties in the Barclays Premiership. Joined Middlesbrough from Portsmouth for £7.5million after scoring 29 goals in 67 top-flight appearances at Fratton Park. Blessed with power, pace and a fearsome shot, Yakubu has the talent to make Boro a force at home and abroad

Record (In Premiership):

Played - 2053 mins

Goals - 13

Assists - 5

Yellows - 0

Reds - 0

Young Star (In My Opininon)

STEWART DOWNING

One of Boro's brightest prospects, England Under-18 international Downing was handed his Premiership debut against Ipswich in April 2002. The left-sided midfielder made his home bow against Chelsea three days later. Opened his Boro goalscoring account last season in a League Cup clash at Brentford. Made his England debut in a friendly against Holland in February 2005.

Record (In Premiership):

Played - 706

Goals - 1

Assists - 4

Yellows - 0

Reds - 0

Match Prediciton

I'll leave that to you

Edited March 12, 2006 by rog of the rovers

[Jim J]

Surely we're due a 0-0 soon

[1864roverite]

2-0 Rovers to consolidate 5th place

boro will be down after defeats in London and Rome

Bellamy double

[philipl]

Lovely preview Rog.

Tell the girl you got the Sunderland preview as well! I'm sure Den will allow two previews for that game if you post her pic

Back to Boro- they will be hurting from that double smash and grab up on Teesside so this is a tricky fixture especially as Boro are so good at picking up their game against footballing sides.

Thankfully they have that visit to Roma which is going to be 90 minutes (at least) of extreme physical exertion and mental concentration. Whether they take the three hour flight back very late Wednesday/Thursday or on Thursday they are going to be at a distinct disadvantage irrespective of the result. Go through and it will be an after the Lord Mayor's Show performance, lose and they'll be gutted. The only result I fear is Boro being blatantly cheated in Rome and coming to Ewood like a bear with a sore head.

Irrespective, Rovers are going to have to be really up for this. Will Hughes put Kuqi on alongside Bellamy?

Rovers to nick it 2-1 or 3-2.

Edited March 12, 2006 by philipl

[ihtd]

I think that with two big games for Boro in a week, then having to come to Ewood may be too much for them. But it all depends how they do it Rome, if Roma spank them like they can, Boro may just be easy pickings, they'll have sweet fa to play for then, there pretty much safe, IMO its 3 of 4 who are going down now. The best thing for us would be if Roma take them to extra time and penalties, it would be gutting for Boro if they were to go out that way.

Anyway to the actual Boro' match;

Rovers 1

Boro 0

[Blueboy Downunder]

i think we can win this game, and playing good football would be a bonus. with that said i just hope we win regardless of the kind of footy we end up playing.

[frosty]

Good preview.

Anyway,

Rovers 2-0 Boro

Pedersen 41

Bellamy 82

19,292

[RoyRover]

Depending on which Boro side turns up, we could either steamroller them or have a very difficult afternoon at the office. We have been strong at home all season and should look to keep this going against a side who are languishing at the wrong end of the table. We can only improve from yesterday and I'm sure Hughes will have them hard at it this week in training.

3-1 to Rovers

Bellamy double, Pongolle

Yakubu for Boro.

[1864roverite]

just realised as well they play Charlton again straight after us so thats 4 difficult games on top of each other. surely the old brigade that is boro cannot handle such a fixture congestion.

heads up anyhow, they may just not bother turning up claiming flu like symptons

[Rover4ever]

6. Who should Boro be wary of?

You really rocked us with those two wins over the un-festive season. Kuqi

ripped us to sheds at ties in those games. He was so strong and awkward to

contain

Being an ex Geordie Craig Bellamy is not a popular man on Teesside, he

has incredible pace as well. Morten Gamst Pedersen is annoying too seeing as

he had a trial with Boro and returned back to Scandinavia unsigned.

389988[/snapback]

Maybe Kuqi should start

Also didnt know MGP had a trial with Boro

[philipl]

Didn't Downing have a trial with us?

[Gareth]

Boro 1-0.

Spuds, Arsenal & Boton all win.

[bringdunnback]

cant see us winning, boro will go through in the uefa cup and they will be on a high, a big high

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Rovers 2 Boro 0 bellamy Dickov.

Att : 18,500...............no cheap tickets.

[den]

Great preview Rog. How did you get the interview with Chubby?

That's two celebrity interviews in the last few weeks, following Colins' interview with Adrian Chiles. Well done and thanks.

[tcj_jones]

Realistically, Rovers should win, but i can really see boro getting atleast a point at the moment.

I'm gonna go 2-1 boro.

[herbergeehh]

I never enjoy the matches against Boro, they have a few over-the-top players who tend to find their magic against us. Hasselbaink, Viduka, is Steve Vickers still playing?

Here's to Boro beating Charlton, before Roma take them to extra time and pens in midweek. Our defending needs to be sorted out, or else Hasselbaink and certainly Yakubu will have a field day from their set pieces.

[Oakland]

           Kuqi       Bellamy

Pedersen    Savage     Tugay     Reid
                             

     Gray     Todd      Nelsen    Neill

                      Friedel 

2-1

Kuqi & Bellamy

...just hope that Tugs is available.

[gazsimm]

this is a big game for us

hopefully luck is with us again like it was against Villa and we sneak a boring 1-0

Bellamy to score againg this man is amazing he is going to be a crowd favourite like shearer was if he keeps going and injury free lol

[Presty On Tour]

this is a big game for us

hopefully luck is with us again like it was against Villa and we sneak a boring 1-0

Bellamy to score againg this man is amazing he is going to be a crowd favourite like shearer was if he keeps going and injury free lol

390370[/snapback]

gazsimm on almost every post you write, you always end the paragraph or the quote with LOL!!!!!!!

could you please stop it because its really starting to ###### me off

i don't need to laugh out loud and if you must put something on the end of your posts, those smilies on the left of the screen which have been provided to use on the mb will do.

thankyou.

[gazsimm]

gazsimm on almost every post you write, you always end the paragraph or the quote with LOL!!!!!!!

could you please stop it because its really starting to ###### me off

i don't need to laugh out loud and if you must put something on the end of your posts,  those smilies on the left of the screen which have been provided to use on the mb will do.

thankyou.

390378[/snapback]

sorry have i hit a nerve

i don't ask you to read my post do i, why don't u just concertrate on your post in the future

[S15]

Surely JansenPresty isn't critising somebody for annoying terminology used repeatedly in posts?

1-0 Boro.

[bellamy11]

Surely JansenPresty isn't critising somebody for annoying terminology used repeatedly in posts?

1-0 Boro.

390440[/snapback]

That'd be well weird.

[Hughesy]

Boro have a tough defensive job on wednesday against Roma.

I think that will affect there energy in this game.

3-1 Rovers - Bellamy, Pedersen & Dickov with the goals

[pg]

But there real question that needs to be answered is how did Rog go with Amanda?!?!