[retired_heidigoebel]

Alright, new season, new threads are appearing.
So here is ours!

so whats new?

Toon join race for Jimmy
By Alex Dunn - Created on 23 Jun 2006
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Newcastle United appear to have joined the race to sign Middlesbrough striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as they begin their urgent search for a new striker.

Michael Owen's serious knee injury, when coupled with Alan Shearer's retirement, means Glenn Roeder faces a busy pre-season of rebuilding as he looks for adequate replacements.

Holland striker Dirk Kuyt is believed to be a name firmly in the frame but it is compatriot Hasselbaink that is also emerging as a realistic target.

The 34-year-old hit-man has a proven Premiership pedigree and the fact that he is a free agent at the end of the month is sure to attract Newcastle, who now need to bring at least two new forwards to St James' Park.

Under Steve McClaren's Riverside tenure it had looked as though Hasselbaink would be on his way but new incumbent Gareth Southgate is believed to be eager to keep the popular Dutchman at the club for a further season.

Hasselbaink desires a two-year deal, which Boro are reticent to offer, leaving the door open for the likes of Newcastle and Celtic to put forward their own offers.

While loath to reveal the names of those clubs pursuing his client, Hasselbaink's agent Humphry Nijman has hinted that Newcastle are one such interested party.

''It's true that several clubs are interested. All I can say is that Newcastle might be one of them,'' he told The Daily Mirror.

''Jimmy wants to stay in England but it's early days and he is keeping his options open.''

So Celtic and the Skunks are chasing Jimmy, i have to admit he played brilliant at the latter part of the season, id have offered him a new deal because Yak and Dooks need to be pushed for places and Maccarone, Christie and Graham are not good enough.

Olympiakos Friendly Cancelled
BORO have today announced that the planned pre-season friendly with Olympiakos will not now go ahead due to the Greek champions double-booking.

Olympiakos had agreed to play Boro on Saturday August 12 but have now admitted that they had already agreed to visit West Ham on the same day.

Boro hope to announce details of a pre-season home game to replace the Olympiakos fixture in the near future.

Boro's pre-season fixtures so far:

Saturday July 22 3pm Rangers (a)
Saturday July 22* 3pm Darlington (a)
Tuesday July 25* 7.30pm Barnsley (a)
Friday July 28* 7.45pm Doncaster (a)
Saturday July 29 3pm Sheffield Wednesday (a)
Thursday August 3 8pm** Athletic Bilbao (in Cologne)
Thursday August 3 9pm** Cologne (a)
Sunday August 6 2.30pm** Feyenoord (a)
Tuesday August 8 7.30pm** Heerenveen (a)

*Boro representative sides.
**Local time.

Robbie Joins Rovers
FORMER Boro defender Robbie Stockdale has joined Tranmere Rovers on a free transfer from Hull City.

The five times capped Scottish international struggled to hold down a regular first team place after leaving Rotherham for the Tigers, although he has racked up 173 career appearances in total.

The 26-year-old, who had a loan spell at Darlington last season, links up again with Rovers boss Ronnie Moore, who also signed him for Rotherham, from Boro in 2004.

"I'm someone who always gives 100 per cent," Redcar-born Stockdale promised the Rovers faithful. "I haven't played a lot of football over the last year and that has made me more hungry to play."

He has signed a two-year contract at Prenton Park.

Best thing about Stockdale was he got capped by Scotland HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[retired_heidigoebel]

So whats everyones hopes for the forth-coming season?

Last year for me was a hell of a ride, quarter finals of the League cup, Semi finals of the FA and final of the UEFA.
Beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd, drew with Spurts and Liverpool all at home. Looks like a great season, but really and truthfully things didnt go THAT well last season..

JFH out of contract.
Vidbazooka, Riggott, Queudrue, Parnaby, Maccarone, Flapper et al all have a year left on there deals.
With the exceptions of Flapper, Macca and Parnaby all need to be nailed down.

Our league form last year was poor, yes we didnt get relegated but it was poor enough for many fans to worry.

The club is clearly at a cross-roads and could either go forward and get back into the top 10, or go downwards getting knocked out of the cups and struggling.

Personally i think top 10 is attainable should the club strengthen in the right area's.

Huth looks set to sign from Chelski for what looks like between £4m and £5.5m
USA defender known as 'Gooch' who's name i cant spell looks promising if they can sign him for the expected £2m.
Signing these 2 DC should compensate for the loss of the new manager SOuthgate and the sale of Ugo, who offers nothing and only stayed last season because of injuries.
Wheater, Bates, Taylor and McMahon all look like they will get first team oppertunities next season so the loss of Ugo wouldnt be massive in my opinion.
Pogo will be back from injury also.

Of the current squad id like to see a dead wood clearout but i cant see it happening much. Ugo, Doriva, Parlour, Maccarone, Christie, Graham are among those i dont rate highly enough to be wearing the club strip. If they all left though too much pressure would be placed on youth so others would have to be brought in.

Jarosik of Chelsea would have been ideal replacment for Doriva and Parlour, but he went for peanuts to Celtic.
Boateng will be working extra hard but when (not if) he goes down injured the form of the team drops dramatically.

All that aside, i think Southgate is the 2nd best man for the job (mowbray was my number 1) and hopefully he can pull the side around and we see great things.

[retired_adsi10]

have to get into europe again this season. Top 10 at least.

Silly money for Huth. Hasnt proven anything at chelsea. A huge gamble. that oneywu looked abit dodgy also but that might just be because USA were **** at the WC...

We need midfielders once again. No doubt we prob wont get any

Mon Boro

[retired_heidigoebel]

The club is crying out for back up on the right of midfield but it will never arrive.

[retired_wendyhiestand]

I just want us to get back into Europe so I can go to my Euro away days to places I never thought about going on Holiday to.

[retired_frogchickie]

\o/

[Raptor]

Sorry lads, but it's all downhill from here. You can quote me on that. Boro lucky to finish in the top half the coming season, and Europe's out of the question for the rest of the decade (discounting Intertoto bullsh*t)

[retired_frogchickie]

Southgate might not last long then. Gibson has said Europe is a must.

With the exceptions of Flapper, Macca and Parnaby all need to be nailed down.

Parnaby has improved immensely in the last year Powlay, I'd give him another contract. Interesting to see if McMahon can force his way back into the team.

[retired_heidigoebel]

he has come on a awful lot, but he still isnt good enough in my eyes, i mean the club signed Reiziger and Sheephead and they seemed to go into the side ahead of him, and id say they were BOTH better than him, he isnt great positionally and has a touch...well...worse than a rapist!
I just feel that with McMahon (should he return to the form he had 2 seasons back when he started great) we have a better option, Parnaby wouldnt want to be reserve thats for sure so let him go!
Bates should he stay could always back up McMahon, but its all dependant really if the lad can stay fit.

[retired_heidigoebel]

Southgate finalises staff
By Peter ORourke - Created on 24 Jun 2006
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Middlesbrough
New Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has finalised his backroom staff at The Riverside.

Former reserve team boss Malcolm Crosby has been promoted to assistant manager with Steve Round moving to head coach

Steve Harrison will assist Round and Colin Cooper will take charge of the reserve team in place of Crosby.

Southgate is excited at the prospect of working with his new-look team.

"I would never have taken this job if there hadn't been such high quality management staff available to support me," said Southgate.

"I've tried to structure my staff to ensure we have quality in all areas and that their strengths are utilised in the best way possible.

"It will be important to me to have someone with Malcolm's experience alongside me to help with the day-to-day challenges.

"He has so much experience at all levels at several different clubs.

"Steve Round and Steve Harrison have great experience of what is needed.

"I want to ensure they have plenty of time to concentrate on coaching without having to worry about administrative duties.

"We will all spend some time coaching, but it is particularly important that Roundy and Harry are able to spend as much time as possible on the training field."