[retired_gitfresh]

How may you lot likely to bring on Weds ?

Night games affb :cool:

[retired_heidigoebel]

prolly a fair few id have thought, will know more tomorrow.

Busy week for me work wise so no go for moi!

[retired_devecser]

I'd be surprised if we took 2000.

[retired_christineguhl]

Originally posted by batch:
How may you lot likely to bring on Weds ?

Night games affb :cool:

Not as many as last time. Doesn't help that it's a midweek game. I can't make it and no of the lads that went last season are going due to work so that's 15 people down. Shame cos Wigan is always a good away day.

As for Saturday, was gutted. We dominated the first half and looked comfortable in the second until the injury. Didn't deserve to lose but at this level you can't afford to lose concentration like we did. At least we have plenty of positives to take out of the game and we will win more then lose games if we play like that.

Also, David Wheater really has impressed me recently. Looked far and away a better player then riggott. He also offers us something at set pieces and was unlucky not to score at the end.

[retired_frogchickie]

yeah, wheater had a good game. Him and Woody could be a good partnership if Woody gets fit quickly. Looks likw Mido is joining, apparently like Young he 'hasn't had much of a pre-season', so will probably be on the bench on Sat.

As for Wigan, I wouldn't have minded going as its just about the only northern team ive never been to, but why a Wednesday night!!!!!

[retired_heidigoebel]

Benfica move for Middlesbrough's Rochemback
tribalfooball.com - August 15, 2007

Benfica are moving for Middlesbrough midfielder Fabio Rochemback.
The Brazilian is wanted by Benfica as a replacement for Manuel Fernandes, who is set to sign for Everton.

Rochemback will have to take a pay-cut to move to Benfica.

Available Mendieta training at Middlesbrough
tribalfooball.com - August 14, 2007

Gaizka Mendieta is continuing to train with Middlesbrough - though he has not been allocated a squad number.

"Mendi didn't really figure last year, he's in talks with other clubs and I feel it's unlikely to be involved with the first team this season so I didn't see any point in him having a squad number," Boro boss Gareth Southgate told the club's website.

"But while he's here we'll treat him the right way, he's an excellent professional.

"He's got a little bit of an injury at the moment so he's not training with the rest of the team but when he's fit he does."

Former £30m man Mendieta, 33, who is in the last year of his Boro contract, has previously been linked with moves to the USA and a return to his homeland.

"Hopefully from his career point of view he can get something resolved," added Southgate.

Yobo urges Yakubu to join him at Everton
tribalfooball.com - August 14, 2007

Joseph Yobo has told Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni to join him at Everton.

The Nigeria captain told The Sun: "I want Yakubu to join us here, definitely.

"You are always looking for world-class players to join your team and make things better. Yakubu is one such player and I'll be glad if he and players of his stature join us.

"I'm a defender and I'm looking for good midfielders and attackers who can take the pressure off me. If the move doesn't happen there are already players here who can keep us in the fight.

"Could we ever win the Premier League? It's absolutely possible if we build on our recent successes.

"If we build on our European experience this season plus investments in players, we can challenge the top four for the title."

Middlesbrough's Downing warns Mido
tribalfooball.com - August 14, 2007

Stewart Downing is delighted with the imminent arrival at Middlesbrough of Tottenham striker Mido.

The England winger said: "Mido is a good player and it would be nice to have four strikers competing.

"But of the lads who played on Saturday, Jeremie Aliadiere looked really good, Yak put himself about and did well and Dong-Gook Lee came on and made a contribution.

"So if Mido does come here he has got a fight on his hands to win a place. But he would be a great addition to the squad."

Gareth Southgate has demanded more away goals from his Middlesbrough team starting at Wigan on Wednesday.


Southgate is determined to see his side improve on their record on the road last year which produced just 13 goals and two wins.

Now he is banking on the injection of pace from new signings Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere making Boro more formidable opponents.

Southgate said: "There's no doubt about it. We need to score more goals away from home this season.

"The statistics from last season tell the story. We weren't good enough away from home and that's one area where we are looking for the biggest improvement.


Performances

"Our goals-scored tally was very low and we know we can do much better. It should help that we have brought more pace into the side and this might bring more goals, but overall performances away from home have to be better this season."

Ironically, one of Boro's two away wins in 2006-07 came at Wigan in their final game on the road.

Southgate added: "We prepare to win every game we play, and this is no different.

"But we know that Wigan have brought in some new faces and they will be keen to impress the fans in their first home game.

"Wigan are very direct and they have a lot of power in their forward line, with the likes of Emile Heskey, so it will be a test.

"But we are not thinking about what Wigan might do. We have to go there to play our football and concentrate on our own game."

[retired_heidigoebel]

Portsmouth to include O'Neil in Yakubu bid
tribalfooball.com - August 15, 2007

Portsmouth are going for Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

The Sun says Fratton Park boss Harry Redknapp plans two more raids before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

He has targeted Middlesbrough striker Yakubu and Real Mallorca winger Jonas Gutierrez.

Midfielder Gary O'Neil, a fans' favourite, could be used as bait to sign former Portsmouth ace Yakubu.

Pompey chief Peter Storrie said: "Players will come and go and some supporters may not like that, but that is what a football club is all about.

"It is Harry's choice - if he wants to change things around to improve the team by 10 to 15 per cent he will."

Sunderland fail with bid for Middlesbrough's Arca
tribalfooball.com - August 15, 2007

Sunderland have failed with a £2million bid to re-sign former fans' favourite Julio Arca from Middlesbrough.
The Argentinian midfielder, 26, joined Boro from their north east rivals for £1.6m last summer but, after a difficult injury-hit start, Arca has become a regular under Gareth Southgate at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough boss Southgate reveals Mido deal
tribalfooball.com - August 15, 2007

After defeat to Wigan, Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate revealed some good news last night with Tottenham striker Mido set to sign.

The Egyptian was in the stands at Wigan on Wednesday night and Southgate is hoping he can provide the spark which his side are so badly lacking after opening with two Premier League defeats.

Southgate said: "Mido has had his medical, he's agreed everything and was here tonight.

"We've just got to tie up things now and it's important to keep trying to strengthen the squad. We've got to perform as a team but we didn't do that tonight.

"We weren't positive until after they scored and we've got to pick ourselves up now for Saturday."

[retired_heidigoebel]

Taylor, wheats and jinky all called up to the under 21's for tuesdays game.

[retired_heidigoebel]

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Germany international defender Robert Huth has suffered a fresh injury setback.



Huth is currently sidelined following surgery on his ankle over the summer, but he was expected to return in October.


However, that is now in doubt after Southgate confirmed that Huth has suffered a fresh problem.



New concern


"Robert has suffered a setback," Southgate confirmed.


"He felt something in training and he was going to have it checked out.


"I don't know any more until we get the results."


Should Huth be ruled out for a further spell, it will be a huge blow to Boro considering Emanuel Pogatetz is already sidelined until December.



Transfer trail


Southgate has also stressed that he is not yet finished in the transfer market, despite concluding his fifth signing of the summer in the shape of Mido.


"It's important to try to strengthen the squad as much as we can," he added.


"At the moment we are short of experienced players and we need any one of them back as soon as possible to give everybody a lift.


"Obviously bringing Mido in can make a difference and hopefully we can get him ready as soon as possible. Everything is agreed and we don't see the work-permit being an issue.


"But Mido hasn't played much football and we have to get him right before we can ease him in."

/o\ im fitter than the lad!

[retired_hbjohns]

Have you improved your status as a big club any further, by talking to any other big name players like Smith?