retired_teresa assis

Inconsistent Boro

Still yet to draw a game in the league, and that tells the story. Win one lose one at the moment, although performances have been good.

8 games to catch up on:

Villa 3-0 Boro

Well what can I say, Mark Smallwodd wont have a victory gifted to him like this one again in a long time. Absolutely nothing went right for Boro. 12 minutes in Mellberg picked the ball up and, obviously wanting to impress on his return to Villa Park, started sprinting out of defence. His run didn't get far, Robert intercepting and playing Angel into 20 yards of space, who calmly finished. Straight from Boro's kick off it was 2, as the ball was played bac to keeper Luzi, who passed perfectly to the feet of Vassell, who was never going to miss. 2 minutes later Mendieta thumped a shot against the bar, and then on 25 minutes Butt was sent off for a 2nd bookable defence by the over-zealous and incompetent D'Urso. 5 minutes before half time Vassell made it 3, totally unmarked from a corner. Total rubbish.

League Cup round 3: Boro 3-0 Hartlepool

A comfortable win for the 2nd string, goals by Doriva (7, 26) and Yakin (24)

Boro 2-0 Man City

Before the game confusion reigned, as opposition manager Leo Hardy was nowhere to be seen. The game was delayed but, as he couldn't be present, it kicked off without him in control of his team, and boy did they miss him. This was the best Boro performance of the season, as they dominated from start to finish, racking up an impressive 35 attempts at goal versus City's 8. Disappointingly only 2 goals were scored, both by Nicky Butt (13, 51), as the impressive David James kept the scoreline respectable.

UEFA Cup group stage: Parma 0-3 Boro

A highly impressive and surprisingly comfortable win at the Ennio Tardini. Things started badly with Nicky Butt being stretchered off injured after only 5 minutes, but a brace from Viduka (19, 24) put Boro in control at the break. I'd expected at half time to see Parma come out all guns blazing for the 2nd half, but a Hasselbaink goal a minute into the half put payed to those plans.

Boro 2-0 Norwich

Like the previous home game against City, the visitors were outplayed and dispatched with ease. 2 goals from Hasselbaink (35, 72), the first being an absolute belter, put payed to the Canaries.

League Cup round 4: Newcastle 2-1 Boro

Well Jay Da Costa got revenge for the league defeat in an entertaining clash. Boro again put out a 2nd string team, and it wasn't good enough to match the might of the Newcastle 1st team. The 1st half was even and goal-less, but Da Costa made an inspirational change in bringing on Kluivert, who immediately scored (47). Newcastle were well on top and Crespo doubled the lead (79) after a fine counter attack. But Boro wouldn't lie down, Nemeth (83) setting up a tense finish, youngster Kennedy wasting a glorious chance to force extra time.

Bolton 2-1 Boro

Another away game, yet more disasterous goalkeeping, this time Mark Schwarzer in the role of the clown. Boro had the kick off, and after a few passes the ball was returned to the Abo between the sticks, who played the ball straight to Gardner, who in turn set up old boy Zenden to score after only 29 seconds! Soon after, a weak goal kick was headed forward and Gay Gay Okocha (17) made it 2-0. Boro, though, continued to have all the play, and Hasselbaink (40) pulled one back.
The 2nd half sore Jasskalainen pull off a number of fine saves, meaning Boro went down to an undeserved defeat against Pagi's thugs. Bruno N'Gotty had earlier broken Hasselbaink's cheekbone, putting him out for a month, an act that ref Mark Battenburg only saw fit to award a yellow card for. What a pudding.

UEFA Cup Group Stage: Boro 2-0 Dunfirmline

Another comfortable home win, and another clean sheet, 4 games without conceeding in the competition. A Boro side missing both Viduka and Hasselbaink for a further 3 weeks with injury created many chances, but the only goals came from the reserve strike force Christie (24) and Downing (78)



The league is still very close, there's a huge mid-pack scrap going on. The home form at the moment is very impressive, the away from not so, although performances have been generally sound, except in the goalkeeping department. Both Schwarzer and Luzi have a habit of arsing thing up, 18 year old Avitabile has impressed in his 2 league cup starts and may be in line for a league debut. Next up are Rob's Saints at home

retired_teresa assis

Apologies for the typo's, it is 3am, where's the edit button gone?

Also, where's the website gone Niall?

retired_hollieo

Mr Smallwood is the "culprit" on the website. No idea what he is up to but he assures me that a working, and more importantly updatable website will be available today.

Good old Mr Blind. :thup:

BLiND

It works now :p

retired_hollieo

Yeah great stuff Mark, well done amigo.

The embarrassing (for some) league table is up and a surprisingly few number of big transfers added in, plus the early trophies.

If you've any ideas for adding something, let us know.

Yes, that's Murphy and Nilsen near the bottom!!

retired_hollieo

Apols to Mozilla users for the site, that part needs recoded. A huge oversight since I use Mozilla now myself.

Best for IE consumption atm.

retired_teresa assis

6 more games gone, and there's a general pattern emerging with league fixtures.

Boro 2-1 Southampton

The game had been going on for almost half an hour, neither keeper had had a save to make. Southampton had had a few shots, but all off target. Then, Nemeth's right wing cross was bravely headed home by the flying Nicky Butt, 1-0 Boro.
The second half was following the same pattern, wayward shots being fired in, before Kevin Phillips equalised after a goal-mouth scramble (64). With 10 minutes remaining, a clever tactical change by Liggins saw Downing go up front, and immediately he latched onto a Yakin through ball and slotted pat the helpless Niemi. Southampton pushed forward for the equaliser, Folly hitting the post, but they couldn't get a goal. At the end of the game, the unlucky and very annoyed Saints boss Rob Steel stormed down the tunnel and out of the stadium proclaiming he was quitting football, only to change his mind minutes later when he was reminded how much money he was earning.

UEFA Cup Group Stages: GAK 1-1 Boro

Before the game Boro knew a draw was enough to put them through to the knock-out stages, and a draw the duly got. Hakan Yakin (6) put the visitors ahead with a cool finish, and the win looked more than likely once Weber was sent off for kicking out at Downing (51). But GAK, knowing they needed something to be in with a chance of qualifying, got an equaliser through Wartinger (57)

Arsenal 5-1 Boro

Boro set out at Highbury with a very attacking formation, and to start with everything was working fine. After only 3 minutes Downing was left in acres of space to rush through and round Lehmann. 2 minutes later it was almost 2-0, Nemeth's cross headed onto the bar by Mendieta, who then struck the post with a freekick just a minute later. Nicky Butt then hit the side netting after a swift counter attack. Seeing this gave Liggins the foolish thought that this would be a stroll in the park. 17 minutes and 4 goals later [Henry (12, 16) Bellamy (21) & Reyes (23)] Liggins was wishing he'd switched to his defensive formation when he had the chance. Arsenal were on a roll, and only the brilliance of young Avitabile, making his Premiership debut, kept the score down. Henry completed his hatrick in the 2nd half (88). A disappointing end to a day that started so well.

Boro 2-1 Fulham

A good recovery from the set back at the Library. Fulham were being talked up for a win in the media by the likes of Murphy, although judging by this performance that was just a tactic by the not-so-wiley Irishman to deflect critisicm away from his underperforming Everton side, who had recently been humbled at Craven Cottage.
Boro finally had some fit strikers for the game, Viduka back in the starting line-up, Hasselbaink on the bench. But it was the stand in Nemeth who opened the scoring after being played through by Mendieta (14). Radzinski (49) capitalised on yet another poor clearance by Schwarzer, and as chances rained in on Van Der Sar's goal, it looked like being another frustraiting afternoon for Boro. But with just 6 minutes left, Mendieta's corner found Boateng with far too much room, and he turned and fired home the winner. "Are you watching Niall Murphy" came the chants from the Riverside faithful.

UEFA Cup Group Stage: Boro 5-0 Stuttgart

Both teams had already qualified, but Stuttgart needed a point to win the group, Boro needed all 3. Both teams played full strength sides, and a brilliant game of football followed. Hasselbaink marked his return from injury with a blistering hatrick (18, 26, 27) to put the game out of reach by half time. Christie (67) and Nemeth (69) added insult to injury to the Germans in the second half. A thoroughly convincing performance that sent shockwaves across Europe.....possibly.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Boro

Palace had only 3 points to their name from 17 games, after beating Goat's struggling Pompey at home, so this should've been a comfortable victory. But, unfortunately Boro don't win two league games in a row. Boro bossed the game throughout, but went behind to a Nicola Ventola header (50), after yet another gaffe by Schwarzer; his poor kickout resulted in a Johnson cross, which he came for and got absolutely nowhere near. But parity was restored soon enough, Butt finishing off Hasselbaink's freekick (62). Despite more Boro pressure, no further goals were added.



P18 W8 D1 L9 is the record in the league, the Palace game being the first draw of the season. 10th place in the league and only 2 points off 7th, but just 5 points ahead of 15th, with the bottom 5 seemingly adrift If only we could win 2 games in a row in the league then we might be higher up: some of the performances have certainly warranted more. 2 home games next before a tough Christmas period, Liverpool at home before a trip to Old Trafford. It's been said before and will be said again, but this really is the most important part of the season.

The UEFA Cup form has been pleasing, 6 wins and 1 draw, only conceeding once. We face Hearts in the 1st knockout stage, then either Besiktas or Rosenborg in the next, should we make it past the Jambo's, which would be very difficult. To be honest, I was relieved to get through the group stages, and if we progress any further it'll be a bonus. Hopefully the board will allow a bit more money to be spent in the transfer window, as a couple more players really could see this season finish a successful one.

The FA Cup 3rd round draw gave Boro a favourable home tie to Coventry.

retired_hollieo

League form remains erratic as Everton move closer to the Carling Cup Final.

Four league games in the last session. Two at home and two on the road and on this occasion two very tough ties. Murphy’s first Merseyside Derby at Anfield, then a trip to Old Trafford to face title challengers Manchester United.

Everton 3 – 0 Crystal Palace

The session began with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace with Calaio again amongst the goals. Before the game, Portsmouth manager Andy Nilsen took time out from sunning his bake on his usual jaunt to South America to “player search” and had been talking up Palace - in particular their Italian striker Nicola Ventola.

However, Murphy shrugged off Nilsen’s assertion that because Ventola had managed to bury Nilsen’s Portsmouth in a previous league game to record their only win of the season, that the same would necessarily happen to Everton.

From an Everton perspective, we felt we had proved our mettle with the 2-1 win at Fratton Park just a few weeks earlier, which should have removed any doubt from Nilsen’s mind as to the potential in the Everton side. :p

As expected, we won convincingly although Liggins’ Middlesbrough did manage to hold Palace to a credible draw a couple of weeks later. :p Perhaps all is not lost for the Eagles and my fellow Irishman Ian Dowie just yet.


Liverpool 2 – 1 Everton

Rafael Benitez has a lot to answer for. After causing a major rumpus before the game and increasing the prospect of crowd trouble, by casting doubt upon Everton’s chances of playing Premiership football again next season, just before the game.

Obviously the Spaniard has settled into EPL Challenge life quite quickly but Murphy wasn’t slow to remind him that Everton were in a false position due to the intervention of the FA earlier in the season.

The game settled quickly into the usual blood and thunder derby with no love lost between the sides. However, Liverpool were exposing deficiencies in the Everton defence quite regularly and raced into a 2-0 lead through Garcia and a Teddy Lucic own goal.

Throwing caution to the wind, Everton attacked and on 74 minutes, Calaio confirmed to Murphy that he has to find a way to include the Italian striker in his away formation, by slotting home to set up a tense last 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, the equaliser didn’t materialise, but Murphy was happy that Everton had made Benitez look like he had an itchy arse on the bench – showing the ludicrousness of his earlier statements.

Everton 3 – 0 Birmingham

Another very good home performance, showing the inconsistency between home and away.


Manchester United 1 – 0 Everton

Although United dominated the game with Giggs a constant thorn in the side, I felt we were unlucky not to take a point when we pushed on in the last 20 minutes, hitting the bar and forcing Howard into some very good saves, one from Hysen being particularly good.


Carling Cup Quarter Final

Southampton 0 – 2 (aet) Everton

Rob Steel had been going through a “difficult” time prior to the match, as his Southampton side failed to maintain their impressive early season form.

After, what the press had euphemistically titled the “Rage at the Riverside”, Murphy didn’t waste the opportunity to further inflame the situation by commenting that he’d be hoping to provoke another fit by the Saints manager, by dumping his side out of the cup.

Indeed what transpired will go down in Everton legend. After a very even first half, where both sides sparred without ever looking like landing the knockout blow, Southampton manager Steel had obviously laid into his players at half time, as they came out flying.

Berger and Ambrose began to expose the space on our flanks and for 15-20 minutes Southampton had us on the ropes. A few good saves from Wright and a goal-line clearance keeping us in the cup tie.

After this Murphy had had enough of this nonsense and re-organised his defence, setting Hibbert out to man mark Ambrose and sticking Naysmith right in Patrick Berger’s face. As a result, the threat from Southampton subsided and Everton began to play a bit more in the opposition half. However, at full time the scoreline was 0-0.

Into extra time and as Zurawski tired, Murphy nodded to Calaio to warm up. However, while Murphy was looking at a fit bird in the stand, the referee’s assistant held up the wrong number, and onto the pitch trotted Aaron Hughes to play up front :eek: – as Calaio and Murphy looked on aghast at the mix up.

With all three subs used, there was nothing for it but to cross my fingers and hope. And did Hughes deliver? Did he just. As a cross came in from the Everton right, Hughes jumped highest in the box and planted a firm header past Niemi to give Everton the lead. As David Coleman used to say - one-nil! The Toffee’s bench jumped for joy.

Saints attacked, committing themselves to one man at the back. Suicide – as Hughes added a second – unmarked again in the box, to wrap up the win and set up a two legged semi final against Charlton.

retired_hollieo

Looks like my suit search has been cancelled for another week. Session as per usual tonight, 7pm.

retired_cycleman8

Saved from doing the housework!! woohoo