Some Boro conjecture overheard during post-Christmas lunch: So what about Aliadiere? Is he fit? Nah, plus Strachan thinks he’s rubbish – didn’t even play him during that loan spell w/ Celtic… So it went that Jeremie Aliadiere not only furtively recuperated enough to not only make the squad for Scunthorpe, but actually start up front w/ [...]

It was a mercy killing really, not just a ‘rubbish laptop’. The plug was pulled under circumspect conditions, but we still followed it until the end – another dreadful display under the bright – or more appropriately snow swept – gaze of a nation. A single text to our Newcastle supporting mate read: ‘That was [...]

We’ve struggled for days in search of a fresh introduction. Do we wade into the flashpoint socio-political debate gripping the region off the pitch? We’ve not got the bob or temerity of one Steve Gibson to even try emulating. How about ruminations regarding the immediate future of Adam Johnson? Does he limp away, clutching his [...]

Call it the residual impact of the previous regime. Another shriveling display late on allowed Preston to claw back for a 2-2 draw yesterday at Deepdale – not as damning as the Coventry capitulation, largely due to the Lilywhites continuing consolidation in the upper tier of the league. Gordon Strachan has a few tasks to [...]