One less distraction now – focus and energy can remain channeled on the searing start to the Championship campaign. Nottingham Forest thankfully dumped us from the Carling Cup w/ a 2-1 (aet) win at the City Ground. Adam Johnson continued his fine goal scoring form w/ a composed finish – the first goal in the new [...]

Boro boss Gareth Southgate surely has pondered if cup runs are worth it this season. With so much wagered on gaining promotion, would the disruption of the inter-league competitions overburden an already underweight side? Even if Tuncay and Alves, and possibly any combo of David Wheater, Robert Huth and Gary O’Neil, do depart it’s painfully [...]

For one glorious night Boro went top of the table, but it was another Cardiff tonking, not administered to us, that ended the stay. It does little to dull the luster from another win – 3 on the bounce – a semi-comfortable win over a daring Doncaster side that proved the Arsenal-light approach is in [...]

This ebullient Boro is starting to breed confidence: 2 comprehensive away victories on the bounce, an unchanged starting XI morphing into a cohesive unit, more terrorism from the flanks, a steely spine anchored by the central defense and a fully-functioning engine room, and continued excellence from Danny Coyne. These are the beginning elements of a [...]

Away day glory for the first time since last November – Gazza beamed in the post game presser: ‘It feels sweet to win away but the manner of the win was pleasing’. Indeed, Boro produced an attractive and clinical display versus a Swansea side whose injury troubles were exacerbated notably by an assiduous Adam Johnson. [...]

So it looks like we will not have the squad proper sorted until September. Boro seem content exercising the balance of the transfer window to raise more funds, facilitating the badly needed amendments to a core first team already compromised by injury: Didier Digard is out for up to a month; Gary O’Neil is sooo [...]

Boro’s baptism into the Championship produced a result all too familiar: a tepid 0-0 home draw to fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United. Considering the aforementioned stead of the Blades, it’s not a dire outcome – had it been Donny or Blackpool we’d be indubitably gutted, demanding Gazza’s head on a stick Cromwell-style, along w/ a [...]

The advent of meaningful matches has ushered in a convivial spirit. Goodwill towards fellow supporter and club has been restored at the end of this long and winding road… Optimism abounds as we’re inside 48 hours of the start of a new beginning – the Blades beckon on Friday – is it genuine, or merely masked [...]

Side: West Bromwich Albion F.C. Nickname(s): Albion, The Baggies, The Throstles, West Brom Ground: The Hawthorns From Boro: 180 miles slightly southwest Kit: still trailblazing the sans sponsor look…classic Supporters: anchored by the official West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club, Baggies are renowned for their passion, nous, and intelligence The Yo-Yo Men: constantly suspended between the top two divisions it seems…too good [...]

Side: Watford F.C. Nickname(s): The Hornets, Yellow Army, The Horns Ground: Vicarage Road From Boro: not quite London calling as Watford sits in the north-eastern reaches of Hertfordshire – 4 hours by car Kit: some evolution! The 2006-07 kit was streets ahead of that thing It’s Not A Moose: the large game emblazoned on the crest is actually a hart, [...]