[Archived] Middlesbrough (H) Boxing Day (26/12/15) Kick Off @15.00

[K-Hod]

After a disappointing result against Reading in our last match we host current league leaders and heavy favourites for promotion Middlesbrough in our next match. With Middlesbrough having been given a 7k allocation and being expected to shift it, hopefully we can expect a good atmosphere on what is always a good day for football after the excesses of Christmas Day!

I seem to recall our opposition's very public pursuit of Jordan Rhodes in the summer, which also led to some Middlesbrough fans signing up to the site and proving that pride really does come before a fall! In any case, that link went away, Rhodes remained here and the world kept on turning.....

Much has been made of the recent suspension of David Nugent (The former Burnley man misses the game as part of a 3 game suspension) on the forum. But, when you consider ‘Boro went to then leaders Brighton at the weekend and won 3-0, it’s fair to say they’ve got plenty of firepower, even with their main striker missing.

Life under our new manager has seen Paul Lambert achieve as many wins as his predecessor had all season, and whilst there is a long way to go with performances of individuals and collectively, he appears to have prioritised building from the back. In any event, it’s so early in his reign I feel it is pointless to be too critical of his actions thus far.

Plus, in January we are embargo free finally, so he gets an even better chance then to imprint his own stamp on the team and recruit players which he believes will fit into his system. Whilst the man himself has advised he will be looking at loans only, I wouldn’t rule out him pulling a rabbit from the hat and purchasing a couple of players on permanent deals!

Anyway, on to the match.

A bit about the opposition

The club was founded in 1876, turning professional permanently in 1899. After a few years of playing at different venues, the club moved to Ayresome Park in 1903 and this would be their home for the next 92 years, when the club moved to its current home The Riverside Stadium. (Initially the Cellnet Riverside Stadium).

The club are nicknamed ‘smoggies’, which was initially a negative term used by Sunderland fans due to the pollution once generated by local petrochemical industries. (Though i'm happy to be corrected if this isn't 100% factual!!) This has since been taken back by Middlesbrough fans themselves (a la Gooners/Yids with Arsenal and Spurs) in a self-deprecating manner.

Throughout their history, ‘Boro have jumped between the top two divisions like ourselves for the most part, with just two seasons in the third tier since the club’s inception.

Like many clubs in football’s recent past, ‘Boro have been through a financial crisis, indeed, the club was 10 minutes away from folding completely! This all came to a head in 1986, when it was discovered that debts were actually a lot worse than initially believed.

In April 1986, the club had to borrow £30,000 from the PFA in order to pay their players. Then manager Bruce Rioch had upset several senior players with his strict training methods, so the club had been reliant on youth players. There had been rising tension all season between Rioch and Chairman Alf Duffield and in the final four weeks of the season apparently following a huge row over dinner, Duffield resigned as chairman. It was only after this point, that the depth of the financial issues became known. Duffield himself had lent the club money himself and also arranged bank loans secured on the club. However, instead of giving the club financial security, the club had gotten further and further into debt.

On the 21^st of May that year, the club had debts totalling £2 Million and called in the provisional liquidator. In July of that year, the Inland Revenue took the club to court over an unpaid tax bill of £115,156 and the judge issued a winding-up order. On August 2^nd, Rioch and 29 other non-playing staff were sacked and the gates to Ayresome Park padlocked. Some players chose to remain and train under Rioch and assistant Colin Todd, whereas others including Middlesbrough-born Peter Beagrie (since nicknamed Judas due to this event) chose to leave.

Current chairman and then director Steve Gibson (who grew up and went to games at Middlesbrough with Sky Pundit Chris Kamara) had a rapidly expanding haulage company, but was considered too inexperienced to form a takeover on his own. He approached the local council, who approached ICI, he also placed an advert in The Times, which businessman Henry Moszkowitz responded to. Gibson asked the board for total executive powers, and after an initial struggle, he got his wish.

Gibson reached an agreement with Duffield (who was still owed £500,000) that he would wind up the company. There was a widely held viewpoint on Teesside that clubs in less serious situations than Middlesbrough had used liquidation to get out of their problems, but when Middlesbrough’s turn came, the Football League showed a lack of support.

Gibson himself even proclaimed ‘they wanted to crucify a football club, and this small club in the North East was the one they picked on’.

A problem arose further down the line when the council was unable to fulfil its £200,000 share, meaning Gibson and Moszkowitz had to raise their stakes. Three days before the start of the season, the league introduced a ruling whereby clubs had to have £350,000 working capital and show it could pay all creditors 100p in the £. Tyne Tees television then announced the death of the club.

There was then a meeting with the Football League on 22^nd of August. Notes were passed from room to room between the league’s representatives and the consortium. A deal was reached between the club and ICI for a bond, meaning ICI would pick up a major part of any subsequent debt. The club was saved and the deal announced at the town hall.

Connections/Players Who have played for both (There may well be lots I’ve forgotten/missed!!)

Alex Baptiste (Rovers loanee last season/current ‘Boro loanee who suffered serious injury on his ‘Boro debut)

Craig Hignett (played for both)

Jason Steele (played for both)

Shay Given (played for both)

Stuart Ripley (played for both/whose son is on the books)

Paul Ince (as Souness)

Graeme Souness (ex ‘Boro player/Rovers manager)

Steve Agnew (Current Assistant at ‘Boro/Uncle of Jordan Rhodes & ex-Rover)

Current Form/Head to Head

Middlesbrough have won their last two games and have 1 defeat in their last 10 games. Their basis for this is a sound defence. Indeed, I read a stat the other day about ‘Boro keeping clean sheets in 50 of Karanka’s 108 games in charge! (Though given the guy is an ex-Real Madrid defender it stands to reason he might be keen on having a resolute defence). Rovers on the other hand suffered their first defeat of the Lambert era last time out, this is also our only defeat of our last 10 games (but we had a couple of more draws than ‘Boro in there).

Over the years the head to heads are tilted in Rovers favour.

At Ewood there have been 60 games, 30 wins for Rovers, 12 for ‘Boro and 18 draws.

At ‘Boro, there have been 61 games, 25 wins for ‘Boro, 22 for Rovers and 14 draws.

So, in total Rovers have 52 wins to ‘Boro’s 37. Last time out at this time of year (co-incidentally in a reverse of last Christmas’s fixtures), the two teams played out a 0-0 draw.

In the 1954/55 season Rovers did inflict Middlesbrough’s record defeat on them, running out eventual 9-0 winners at Ewood. Though, before we start crowing too much, they hammered us 7-1 on our own patch in the 47/48 season!!

In any event, it’s probably fair to say given their lofty position in the league and current form, Middlesbrough are favourites for this game. We can just hope our players turn up and get stuck in early on. If we allow Middlesbrough to play, it won’t end well for The Rovers!

Unfortunately, I predict Rovers 0-1 Middlesbrough (and a sore head for me from over-indulgence the previous day).

Though I’d obviously be very pleased if we were to prove me wrong!! (I'm confident I won't prove myself wrong though and I will still have a sore head)

In all seriousness though, I hope everyone on the forum and their families has a grand festive period. Here’s to an even better 2016, (especially for Rovers )

Health and happiness.

[oldjamfan1]

Great preview K-Hod, thanks. Very few connections between the two clubs there really. Also worth mentioning the time Boro failed to fulfil a fixture at Ewood Park in the 90s as they had a depleted squad through injuries and illness. They were docked points for that and ended up being relegated. Had they simply turned up and lost the game they would have survived by a point!!

[K-Hod]

Blast, I'd been meaning to include that!

[LewisF]

Send the boro army home in tears and a defensively resolute 1-0 to Rovers, with Rhodes showing them what they Missed out on

[frosty]

Great preview! Is Eric Black really coaching Boro under 15s? Last I heard he was caretaker at Rotherham after Evans left.

0-0 or 1-1, a win would be great though and set us up nicely for a winnable game at Bolton.

[K-Hod]

Great preview! Is Eric Black really coaching Boro under 15s? Last I heard he was caretaker at Rotherham after Evans left.

0-0 or 1-1, a win would be great though and set us up nicely for a winnable game at Bolton.

Not sure where I've got that from, but I think it was a different Eric Black!

[LewisF]

Last seasons match at Ewood was great I remember. Close and really tense

[AllRoverAsia]

Very good preview and I enjoyed the read. Thanks.

[G Somerset Rover]

Predicting a defeat again here. Boro and Derby are a class above the rest of the division and if we're struggling to break down teams like Rotherham and a patched up Reading then I can't see us getting much change out of a watertight Boro back line:

Rovers 0 Boro 2

[philipl]

Great preview.

The Darwen End will make this feel like a home game for Boro and they will be coming looking for a big win to send a message to the rest of the league.

Couldn't be a bigger challenge to the Rovers fans, Lambert and the players.

If they score early, we could be on for an absolute hammering and we most certainly would have been under previous management.

But football, and especially this division is a great leveller. Probably the two best managers are going head-to-head so we need our players to be completely on-song and Boro's to have been at the figgy pudding... I fancy Rhodes to enjoy himself, improbable as that might seem after the last few weeks.

Happy Christmas and keep safe.

PS An infallible forecast is mayhem traffic and parking as East Lancs discovers it has forgotten how to get to Ewood....

[Mercer]

Very good preview K-Hod.

Couldn't face a stiffer task.

Don't think we will lose.

Let's hope Santa has delivered new boots for Koita and footballing viagra for Rhodes and we see an improbable win.

[JHRover]

Middlesbrough sold 'just short' of 5500 of their allocation of 6900, so considerably less than what they brought last year, despite being top of the league. Reinforces my belief that last year was a one off novelty event for them. Whilst 5500 is a strong following nonetheless, it's closer to normal service than the 7000 plus they had last year.

Hopefully this will see an end to the relentless lauding of their away support. No more impressive than our 5500 sell out at Preston. Longer journey but Boxing Day, top of the league and one of their closest away trips help make up for the distance difference.

[1864roverite]

Another tough one, but one we can win.

Happy Chrimbo everyone

1-0 takes it in Rovers favour Rhodes to score

[Tom]

Not going to this one, a draw would be a great result but I can't see past a defeat here sadly.

[Rover_Shaun]

I have a bad feeling about this. Flying Boro + 24hrs of lashing rain = 0-3

[Bucksrover]

The Reading match has made the prospect of a long drive for this a bit daunting.

But there is always hope, and what else is there to do on Boxing day.

COYB

[JAL]

Very good preview K-Hod.

Couldn't face a stiffer task.

Don't think we will lose.

Let's hope Santa has delivered new boots for Koita and footballing viagra for Rhodes and we see an improbable win.

Isn't Kiota along with Browny playing a couple of levels above their respective abilities to begin to even think about a win and then there's young Adam Henley to scare the life out of you.

Can Shane Duffy produce an attacking header that actually hits the back of the net ?

[47er]

I hope that the Reading game was a a temporary derailment of our new momentum since PL was appointed.

However its as tough a game as it gets.

Christmas miracle required!

[Amo]

After Mercer's tentative prediction, I'm feeling good about this one!

[davulsukur]

Quality preview KHod.

Hopefully we can get all 3 points but its a tough ask.

[tomphil]

Middlesbrough sold 'just short' of 5500 of their allocation of 6900, so considerably less than what they brought last year, despite being top of the league. Reinforces my belief that last year was a one off novelty event for them. Whilst 5500 is a strong following nonetheless, it's closer to normal service than the 7000 plus they had last year.

Hopefully this will see an end to the relentless lauding of their away support. No more impressive than our 5500 sell out at Preston. Longer journey but Boxing Day, top of the league and one of their closest away trips help make up for the distance difference.

A bit harsh lol it's still a hell of a following but I get what you mean about last years being a one off, their followings went through the roof last season. Just shows what real optimism and some consistent good football can do though.

As for the game they don't come much tougher and I hope the extras of our fans who turn out understand this however we are surely due a good performance. Despite our recent tight defence and non scoring I think there might be goals in this. Hard to bet against Boro after that text book away win at a good side like Brighton but we are usually hard to beat at home. Head rules heart on this one though.

Rovers 2 Boro 3

19,873

[chaddyrovers]

Great Preview by K-hod so thanks for that.

Very tough game as Boro are the strongest side in this league. Leadbitter is probably the best midfielder in this league.

But I do feel that we can get a good result.

My team for this game is:-

Steele; Henley, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson; Lawrence, Guthrie, Akpan, Conway; Koita, Rhodes

Subs:- Eastwood, Kilgallon, Spurr, Lenihan, Marshall, Taylor, Brown

[oldjamfan1]

My team would be Steele, Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Lawrence, Evans (if fit, Guthrie if not) Akpan, Conway, Koita and Rhodes.

Despite his limited ability I was tempted to stick Williamson in the middle of the park instead of Evans/Guthrie, based on his performances against Liverpool in the cup last season, as I think it will take a similar resolute, backs to the wall display against Boro.

Sadly I think we wil lose, and by a couple of goals too.

[chaddyrovers]

My team would be Steele, Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Lawrence, Evans (if fit, Guthrie if not) Akpan, Koita and Rhodes.

Despite his limited ability I was tempted to stick Williamson in the middle of the park instead of Evans/Guthrie, based on his performances against Liverpool in the cup last season, as I think it will take a similar resolute, backs to the wall display against Boro.

Sadly I think we wil lose, and by a couple of goals too.

You only playing with 10 men? I guess you forget to put Conway in.

[LewisF]

You only playing with 10 men? I guess you forget to put Conway in.

That would be my ideal team as We'l, Marshall at RB because he's been bad on the wing and he offers more going forward. Certainly would be a bold statement to make, an attacking one