World Cup qualification is officially done and dusted, but the stream of anti-Gallic invective is still strong. Whether our frail Frenchman Didier Digard becomes collateral damage in the maelstrom is irrelevant – club football returns, and Boro are back at the Riverside to host a frighteningly in-form Nottingham Forest side that have passed us in the table, after dispatching us from the league cup in late August.
Reinforcements have been brought in – namely the 6′3″ of ginger tincture that is Dave Kitson, on loan from Stoke City through the end of the year. Middlesbrough’s new, albeit temporary, mastadon is tasked with getting on the end of all those crosses that are to start coming into the opposing penalty area as the club look to break their duck under the new gaffer. Emanuel Pogatetz expects to contend for a starting berth as well after an express recovery from the fractured cheekbone suffered v Plymouth. We’d machinate more of a squad plan if it weren’t for the lingering getting-to-know-you phase miring the club since the new managerial appointment. Plus, we’ve a proper piss-up later this evening and can’t be fussed.
We do know that Forest are historically regal against us – Boro haven’t won in the last 12 head-to-head contests, and Forest have 5 consecutive away wins on Teesside. Despite the two weeks off, our extra hour of slumber will be relished, and we’ll be there shotgun w/ AV and his live matchcast.
The good, the bag, and the ugly shall follow sometime later in the weekend – result pending of course…
November 20th, 2009 @ BA
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