It wasn’t difficult to agree w/ Roberto Mancini. Boro did play very well – for large spells anyway. Immaterial really, since the quality of the final product remains abject. Gordon Strachan employed a five-man midfield to harry their elite opposition, even overcoming a devastating injury to Adam Johnson – which is becoming so redolent of [...]

So who was the mystery party on the other end of Gordon Strachan’s mobile long after the final whistle yesterday? Stood serenely in middle of the barren, darkened Oakwell pitch whilst AV and his media cohort awaited to fulfill their post-match responsibilities, the speculation is rampant. Fortunately our dire league trajectory and continued result ambivalency [...]

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 [...]

‘I have no doubt that Middlesbrough will be there or thereabouts in the promotion race. I still regard them as promotion rivals for us…’ At a time when promotion pessimism pervades Teesside, there is at least one outsider still confident that Gordon Strachan can correct the current ills and rehabilitate prospects for this campaign. Never [...]

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 [...]

09 March 2008. It will forever be imprinted on our minds as the date of a spectacular cock-up. Chelsea and Manchester United had been eliminated from the FA Cup a day earlier, and despite another struggling league campaign Boro had relatively clear passage to Wembley. Sidestep visiting Cardiff at first asking and most likely make [...]

‘So…what do you expect from your lads vs. Blackpool?‘ It was innocuous enough – our Arsenal supporting mate was keen to wring a prediction for the Tangerines visit. We rarely commit to a score, largely due to their disastrous repercussions, but had this to say: replication of the form from the weekend will do nicely… should be [...]

The eloquent and erudite Dave Kitson said it during the week: some club was due to get a ‘right spanking’. His prescience was augmented by the immediacy of it – QPR the victims in a 5-1 mauling Saturday at Loftus Road. The chances lamentably missed over the last 5 plus matches were bagged with class. [...]

Like an incredulous Mark Renton asks upon learning of the dodgy smack deal aspired by Begbie, Sick Boy and Spud, ‘what the fuck are you boys on?’ Boro unveiled a stupefying seasonal ticket scheme that defies all marketing convention – if the club win 4 on the bounce after Christmas, all reduced-price tickets purchased under [...]