retired_adsi10

South Coast rivals battle it out
‘Them or Us’ admits Redknapp
When asked how important his side’s upcoming match against Portsmouth was, Southampton manager Harry Redknapp admitted that it was going to be a pivotal moment in both teams’ season.

Redknapp said that it is a case of ‘them or us and I intend it to be them’ when asked which team he thought would end up in the English Championship next season.


Southampton are going down
After being asked to reply to Harry Redknapp’s comments about their relegation clash, Portsmouth boss Velimir Zajec issued a quick rebuff.

In advance of their Premier Division match at Fratton Park on Sunday, Velimir Zajec said he saw not even a glimmer of hope that Southampton will remain in the English Premier Division.

He told Harry Redknapp to prepare his team for Championship Football next season.

retired_adsi10

Cheers US ARSENAL, at least someone is reading it

retired_adsi10

Date: 16-9-04
Competition: UEFA Cup 1st Round Leg 1
Result: Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Panionios
Man of the Match: Freddy Guarin for Boro




Team
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg
RB: Stuart Parnaby
LB: Franck Queudrue
CB: Chris Riggott
CB: Ugo Ehiohu
MR: Andrea Gasbaronni
ML: Stewart Downing
MC: Juan Pablo Rodruguez
MC: Freddy Guarin
SC: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
SC: Derek Riordan

Subs:
Mark Schwarzer
Mark Viduka
Szilard Nemeth
James Morrison
Gaizka Mendieta
George Boateng
Ugo Ehiogu


Match Incidents
Freddy Guarin scored for Boro (42)


First Half
Well our first outing into Europe was going to be a tough one but I wanted to be a little adventurous to let teams know we weren’t going to be a pushover in our first taste of Europe. Unfortunately Panionios got the first chance from a free kick but Stekelenburg managed to tip the ball over the bar. From there on it wall all Boro as we bombarded the Greek goal with everything we could find. Freddy Gaurin finally through the kitchen sink at them when we got a free kick on the edge of the area. Up he stepped to curl the ball into the bottom of the net. A great goal for the teenager. We went into half time on a high.


Second Half
I wanted more of the same in this half and also to try and grab a few goals to make the return leg a little easier on us. We kept trying for goals but Panionios weren’t going to lie down and die. We hung on for the 1-0 and im sure our fans were very happy with out first European game.

retired_adsi10

Carling Cup Third Round Draw
Well we were certainly going to have a tough time to be defending our cup as we got drawn away to Arsenal in the Third Round. I was hoping for a lesser team but I guess it will be good to try and knock one of the big guns out early on.

The draw certainly favoured the smaller teams as Nearly all the Premier Division teams got drawn against each other. Only 7 Premier Division teams were top lay lower league clubs.

retired_adsi10

Date: 26-9-04
Competition: English Premier Division
Result: Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Man City
Man of the Match: Stewart Downing for Boro




Team
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg
RB: Stuart Parnaby
LB: Franck Quedrue
CB: Chris Riggott
CB: Ugo Ehiohu
MR: Andrea Dasbaronni
ML: Stewart Downing
MC: Zvonimir Vukic
MC: George Boateng
SC: Derek Riordan
SC: Mark Viduka

Subs:
Mark Schwarzer
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Juan Pablo Rodriguez
George Boateng
Ugo Ehiogu


Match Incidents
Sinclair injured (7)
James injured (21)
Fowler injured (26)
Downing scored for Boro (33)
Viduka for Boro (50)
Distin sent off for Man City (90)


First Half
A bad start for Man City as they had to use their 3 subs in the space of 26 minutes after a bad run of injuries got them. Downing heaped more misery on Man City on 33 minutes as he dribbled through the City defence to plant a ball in the far corner of the goal. Great play by Downing. Man City posed little threat for the rest of the half so we just cruised into half time 1-0 up.


Second Half
Well with Man city having used all their subs they would have had to be a little cautious so they didn’t get any more injuries. This allowed us to be more dominant and we got our breakthrough again just 5 minutes after the restart. Gasbaronni seemed to have switched sides with Downing and dribbled down the left wing where he floated a cross into the boss and Viduka got his head on it to power it home. A great goal by Viduka and great paly by Gasbaronni. We carried on dominating the match and this must of got to the City players as Sylvain Distin got sent off in injury time for his second bookable offence. Not a good day for Man City.

retired_adsi10

Date: 30-9-04
Competition: UEFA Cup 1st Round Leg 2
Result: Panionios 0 0 - 2 3 Middlesbrough
Man of the Match: Hasselbaink for Boro



Team
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg
RB: Stuart Parnaby
LB: Mirko Pieri
CB: Chris Riggott
CB: Ugo Ehiohu
MR: Gaizka Mendieta
ML: Leandre Griffit
MC: Juan Pablo Rodruguez
MC: George Boateng
SC: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
SC: Mark Viduka

Subs:
Mark Schwarzer
Derek Riordan
Malcolm Christie
Stewart Downing
Andrea Gasbaronni
Franck Queudrue
Gareth Southgate



Match Incidents
Hasselbaink scored for Boro (8)
Boateng scored for Boro (50)
Hasselbaink missed penalty (53)


First Half
Our first venture to mainland Europe was hopefully going to be a good one. I wanted us to get an early away goal to knock the game into touch and take the pressure off us a little. My players did just that as Hasselbaink scored a cracker from 20 yards out on 8 minutes as he bent a great shot past the Greek keeper. The vital away goal was all we needed and Panionios just fell apart after that. We kept it tight till the half time break and went into half time with a 1-0 lead. 2-0 on aggregate


Second Half
Another great first half I hoped we could carry on this great form in the last 45 minutes. It only took us 5 minutes to grab our 2nd and the killer punch in the tie as Mendieta got down the right wing and played a great ball to Boateng who just tapped the ball into the net and a great time to get his first ever goal for us. No coming back for Panionios now. Hasselbaink could of put the game beyond dount from the spot when Rodriguez was tripped in the area but the keeper did well to save the penalty and Griffit hit the bar on the rebound.
We kept it tight till the final whistle as we ran out comfortable winners. Now its time for the group stage.


UEFA Cup Group Stage groups drawn
Well the draw for the first ever group stage in the UEFA cup was made today. We waited nervously to see who we would be playing against. We were drawn in group A along with Udinese, Schalke 04, Ferencvaros and Stabaek. All tough teams so we shall not be taking any of them lightly. We also got £450k in prize money for reaching this stage.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Group A| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Udinese | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Schalke 04 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Middlesbrough | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Ferencváros | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Stabæk | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

The rest of the groups

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Group B| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Villarreal | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Wisla | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Servette FC | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Dnipro | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Banik Ostrava | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group C| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Feyenoord | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Besiktas | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Partizan | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Braga | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Young Boys | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group D| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Rangers | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Zaragoza | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Wolfsburg | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Trabzonspor | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Austria Vienna | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group E| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | VfB Stuttgart | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Dinamo | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Shakhtar | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Nacional da Madeira | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Omonoia | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group F| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Newcastle | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Sevilla | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | FC Utrecht | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Bochum | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Primorje | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group G| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Auxerre | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Basel | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Red Star | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Heerenveen | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Bodø/Glimt | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Group H| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Lazio | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | G. Birligi | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Hearts | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Rapid Vienna | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Beveren | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_kate1184

Great start Cheese. Best of luck with the story. I hope you're more successful than I've been with the Boro!

retired_adsi10

Date: 03-10-04
Competition: English Premier Division
Result: Birmingham 1 - 3 Middlesbrough
Man of the Match: Freddy Guarin for Boro



Team
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg
RB: Stuart Parnaby
LB: Franck Queudrue
CB: Chris Riggott
CB: Ugo Ehiohu
MR: Andrea Gasbaronni
ML: Stewart Downing
MC: Zvonimir Vukic
MC: Freddy Guarin
SC: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
SC: Mark Viduka

Subs:
Mark Schwarzer
Derek Riordan
Malcolm Christie
Mirko Pieri
Gaizka Mendieta



Match Incidents
Viduka scored for Boro (22)
Hasselbaink scored for Boro (43)
Blake scored for Birmingham (46)
Guarin scored for Boro (86)


First Half
After our European win I needed another good win. A few changes to that squad were made to strengthen my side. 22 minutes into the fixture and Mark Viduka grabbed our first goal. He got through the defence and put the ball past the near post. We doubled our lead just before the half time whistle as hasselbaink got free and blasted the ball past their keeper.
A good first half put us in pole position for the 3 points.


Second Half
Well after our great first half I wanted us to carry it on. Unfortunately our heads were in the clouds and just seconds after the restart Birmingham grabbed a goal back From Robbie Blake. I wanted us to last a bit longer but obviously Birmingham wanted to salvage something from the match. The ball was going from end to end through out the second half and I just hoped we could hold them off. I made a few changes on 65 minutes as Hasselbaink and Gasbaronni came off and Riordan and Mendieta came on to replace them. Freddy Guarin sealed the match on 86 minutes as Riordan played him through as he smashed the ball in from 25 yards out. A super goal and he also got MOM.

A great win again as we kept up pace with the early leaders. Surely it wasn’t going to last long this great run of form but I was hoping we could keep playing like this.

retired_mully

Kutgw, intresting story, for once it's not one of these long explanation ones, where because someone flew to kuwalalumpa they suddenly end up manager of some south american club. Easy to read, will follow it as you update. :thup:

retired_adsi10

cheers, ive done sotries like that before where its like you are some sad little man in a shop and then some unknown person offers you a job tried a different view this way