Boro – ‘an ambitious football club’…it feels terrific saying and hearing that…a proper half-cocked look ahead to the new campaign should be available later this week

Millwall – a bit of an unknown – I reckon you get beat up pretty quickly if you stray too far from the New Den, but as for the footie, there’s Steve Morison and Neil Harris banging in goals, and the omnipotent on-field leadership of club captain Paul Robinson…Kenny Jackett has plenty of options in his arsenal…a comfortable mid-table finish wouldn’t be a gross overachievement considering…

Norwich – tremendous turnaround in the last 12 months: get thrashed 7-1 by Colchester, at home, upon their League One return, sack manager Bryan Gunn , hire Paul Lambert – the man responsible for the beatdown that prompted outrage across Norfolk – then go and win the fecking league and get promoted back to the Championship…Old Farm derbies versus Ipswich Town return…Wes Hoolahan is a natural talent on the attacking left, and Grant Holt absolutely murdered goals last season…Simeon Jackson was brought in from Gillingham to add depth, and maybe even some competition for club top scorer, wresting it from the captain number nine…

Nottingham Forest – Billy Davies nervously laughs off the perceived incompetence of his advisory board…he wants players, can’t get no money for them, then casually bends the ear of anyone willing to listen about the whole injustice of it all…a hearty favourite for first-to-get-the-sack if things go pear-shaped early at the City Ground…his accomplishments at this level are well-respected, it’s just he doesn’t tend to stay around very long…

Portsmouth – in a world of fucking hurt…their North American death trip was bad beyond belief, and their rumoured to be hit with a 20 point deduction – possibly even liquidation…those near and dear to the club are bracing for another precipitous drop…but hey, at least Kanu will still be around…

Preston - Alan Irvine was harshly dismissed during a sour patch, and boy wonder Darren Ferguson swooped in amid some controversy: tapping up his former players…some of their wags too if the virtually gossip was to be believed…Ferg Jr couldn’t spin any immediate magic, even with the rich loan resources afforded thanks to purple papa…up until now his time in charge has focused on spouting post-match nonsense and eliminating those ill suited for his style of play

QPR – old Neil Warnock took the challenge – expertly disguised as a satchel full of bundles of crisp notes – across town and went poaching his old Crystal Palace and Sheffield United players…Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Paddy Kenny, players he’s comfortable with…sounds like a transfer policy Boro fans are learning to embrace…and it’s fun listening to him talk…affable, controversial, frank…

Reading – prime contender for automatic promotion – a fantastic array of skilled and admired players including Gylfi Sigurosson, Jobi McAnuff, Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe, Adam Federici…the change in fortune from when Brian McDermott took over is a sweet confection Reading fans will not want to relinquish…they’re expected to hit the ground running and challenge all season for the title

Scunthorpe – is their magic act coming to a conclusion? Gary Hooper was finally flogged, and Paul Hayes went to Preston…Nigel Adkins will have to buckle the belt a tad tighter this term – staying up will be another small miracle in North Lincolnshire

Sheffield United - they certainly do embrace the style that typically embodies this league: gritty, robust, and brawny…ostensible skills: none really come to mind, other than kicking lumps out of the opposition and boring the pants off of spectators…Daniel Bogdanovic is in from Barnsley for goals, and the man Kevin Blackwell heralded as his January transfer target, Mark Yeates, remains in the fold…

Swansea – the dashing, jet-setting, champagne-drinking Iberian playboy that casually hits on all the wives and girlfriends has gone, off to pillage the birds of Leicester…from what we hear of new gaffer Brendan Rodgers the latent narcissism will still pervade – a Guardian poster recently quipped that the failed Reading boss would marry himself if it were legal…the slick and caressing passing game first introduced by ESPN heartthrob Roberto Martinez shall remain, it’s now the embraced ideology decrees chairman Huw Jenkins, with or without predatory full back Angel Rangel, target of future Championship opponents Blackpool…

Watford – the key for Malky Mackay is the loan market – if big four starlets like Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury, or any other of their contemporaries, continue their on-the-job training at Vicarage Road, then perhaps the Hornets can battle for a near-mid table finish…otherwise, the slog could be long and rough…ludicrous prediction: Gareth Southgate will manage this club before the end of the season…

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/ Leroy Lita…and earn the penalty leading to the first goal…and prod home a fluky finish right after half time to effectively secure all 3 points in a 3-0 Boxing Day triumph. Gordon Strachan breaks his home duck, staying measured during the post-match interview; when asked initial impressions by Mark Drury, the words were ‘disappointed’ and ‘disbelief’. Disappointed for Emanuel Pogatetz – who hobbled off the pitch during the last quarter of the match w/ an apparent hamstring injury. Disbelief over the actions of Leroy Lita – especially cantankerous at times during the match, notably after Rhys Williams failed to pick him out in prime scoring position shortly after the break. It culminated in the 88^th minute when he was inexplicably sent off for what was initially reported as ‘foul and abusive language’ – Gary O’Neil elucidated in his MOM interview…he threw punch at a Scunthorpe player – Andrew Wright – for a charge of violent conduct. Terrific timing for an extended suspension considering the loan deals for Bent/Kitson are expiring, and there’s real possibility that Aliadiere could be sold – an immediate financial return on a timely brave and attacking display?

The live blog was operational – barely – for a full 30 mins or so before taking an early siesta. We relied on the rhythm and flow of Ali GG – booyakasha!!

• Bright introduction and welcome for Danny Coyne – back in the side after being yanked following the West Brom thrashing – Brad Jones not even in the squad
• No Gary Hooper for Scunny – scores big goals for them – 7 so far this term
• Boro really should be 2-0 after three minutes – Leroy Lita beat the keeper and the goal with a wayward shot – Isaiah Osbourne comes right back and whacks the post
• The penalty? It was definitely a foul – the sending off was harsh though -  Johnno dispatches expertly
• 1^st goal scored on Boxing Day since 2003???
• Santa delivered some confidence for the squad and atmosphere for the ground
• Danny Coyne receives another ovation for commanding a ball resultant a poor Scunthorpe corner – how can Brad Jones ever play for this club again?
• Incredulity in officiating – linesman and referee not linking up – major communication gaps
• Major assault launched in the last 10 minutes of the half – Lita and Johnno smack the post and crossbar respectively – Macca chips the frame with an audacious left footed blast – Rhys Williams finishes the incursion – sweeping finish at the near post at the very edge of stoppage time
• Gary Gill says ‘gamble…believe!!’
• Strachan reportedly bemoaning the lack of concentration from his central midfield pair
• Right after the break Boro maintain their attacking edge – LL dummies an incisive ball down the middle for JA to run onto…his touch is decent enough, and the ball spins towards the far post, off it, and across the line…3-0
• More encouragement from GG: maintain the focus, enjoy your football, restore some confidence, win supporters back
• Scunthorpe left back Marcus Williams – impressive – it’s not his zone of the pitch being exploited by Boro
• Pogi comes up lame – hamstring? Ref orders him off – the subsequent substitution for Chris Riggott took some time – Riggott back after 9 months off – knee injured @ Man City in February 2009
• Closing in on another Boxing Day landmark: 1^st win on it since 2002 – beat Manchester United 3-1…Alen Boksic w/ the winner…
• Lita loses it – sees a straight red – BBC labels it for ‘foul and abusive language’
• GG MOM – GON
• Final words from Mark Drury, with Gary O’Neil – disappointed they didn’t convert more golden chances – must punish sides – LL threw a punch ostensibly…

There is no time to breathe – Barnsley Monday, 3p @ Oakwell – a strong away crowd is expected as Boro have exhausted their original allocation of tix…one more Christmas treat?