[Powlay]

get onto MSN phil, or i will have to....start liking Rocky or something.

[BoroPhil]

hang on will do my best

[Powlay]

hang on! HANG ON! wha have i been doing for the last...like 2 days?

[BoroPhil]

i dont have internet access at home atm

[Powlay]

so.....where are you?

[Powlay]

and WHY no interweb at home?

[Powlay]

Gareth Southgate has played down a link to Mido as the Middlesbrough manager waits to learn of Alan Smith's availability.

Boro are hoping to sign another striker, with the club already having bid for Manchester United front man Smith this summer.

The England international is tipped to leave Old Trafford in the coming weeks and Southgate is waiting for the champions to return from their pre-season trip to Asia.

"He's a player that if he's available we would be interested in," Southgate told the club's official website.

"We've been in touch with Manchester United, who've been away in Asia, and he has wanted to stay and fight for his place which is completely understandable.

"But any player who can improve the team is on our radar."

Tottenham forward Mido, whose move to Birmingham has stalled due to several issues, has also been linked with Boro, although Southgate did not confirm an interest in the Egyptian.

He added: "I think the fact is we're going to be linked to pretty much everybody, as are any number of clubs.

"We're looking to strengthen and if we feel there are deals to be done that will make us better at a price that's sensible we will go for them. But there's been no movement."

MIDO /o\ worse then smith

[Powlay]

Gareth Southgate concedes Jonathan Woodgate could miss Middlesbrough's opening game of the season.

Woodgate is currently working his way back to fitness after undergoing a knee operation at the end of last term.

The defender has yet to feature in Boro's pre-season programme and is rated doubtful for the first match against Blackburn Rovers on 11th August.

Boro boss Southgate admits the centre-half could be absent from his plans for the opener, but is confident he has enough cover at his disposal.

"Woody is obviously a doubt for the start of the season," Southgate told the Sunday Sun.

"He's not into full training yet and with him we've got to be a bit patient.

"The recovery from the operation that he had could be 12 weeks, could be 14.

"That couple of weeks takes us into the start of the season, but we knew that was a possibility and fortunately it's a position we've got a fair amount of cover in."

[Paul_Roddam]

I didn't realise you were Christopher L, Powlay. You've been online a bit recently, I thought you'd retired from MSN. Anyway, I was on the bench for a friendly and he was only going to put me on for about 15 minutes so I said don't bother. :angry:

[Powlay]

15 minutes.....maccarone would get 2 in that time, pompus git get what minutes you can!