Fucking Newcastle keep winning – their perpetual off-season turmoil may have actually helped galvanise the squad. The personnel embargo limited the movement of potential assets like Kevin Nolan, Steve Harper, Jonas Gutierrez, and Andy Carroll. Throw in the extra grit of Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Danny Guthrie, the wise permanent appointment of caretaker Chris Hughton, and it’s not exactly shocking that the Toon have organised effectively and made short work of their new league thus far. The Geordies have been largely injury-free – it needs to stay that way if they wish to continue their rapid ascent back to the top flight.

Peterborough are convinced Mark Cooper is their man to mount next seasons Championship promotion push. The managing prodigy leaves his post at Conference side Kettering Town to fill the vacancy caused by the divorce between silver-spooned Darren Ferguson and Darragh MacAnthony’s plaything, who for a rich bloke has a shit Wikipedia page… The real estate magnate’s puppets are convinced SAF junior has another gig lined up, in no way influenced by his familial connections, possibly to change the bigarade hue that has ensconced greater Hull for the past 3 years.

Paolo Sousa is devilishly handsome. And he backed Boro for promotion after receiving a 3-0 thrashing from the Teessiders in round 2. We naturally love him, if only because he adequately fills the Mourinho-shaped void in English football. The Jacks own the stingiest defence in the division, and are now unbeaten in 10 straight, elevating to 9^th in the table.

And hasn’t Ian Holloway heard that junk shop clothes will get you nowhere? He was convicted by the Blackpool kangaroo court for either not being punctual, or misplacing his kit, or both? He trudged off to the charity shop for a £12.99 suit to wear for the 4-1 thrashing of schizophrenic Scunthorpe. Speaking of misplacing, seems Robbie Savage has some explaining to do…why show up for an international flight w/ the passport of your missus? Is it a devious murder for hire subplot on the lurid level of Nip/Tuck, or just an honest cock-up expected of a gypsy oaf? He won’t get back on the        flight deck w/ that behaviour…

The league is on hiatus until next Friday – Swansea v Derby to kick off round 17 – we’ll return next week to summarise Boro/Forest, and the rest of the notable and entertaining…

More misery at The Riverside…a nightmarish start coupled with dull and uninspiring finishing resigned Boro to another humiliating failure. The same shit as before; home losses in the last 6 months to inferior Reading, West Brom, and Bolton (effing twice!) sides. This appalling home form marred our most realistic opportunity at a redux of Cup glory. Minus some late match heroics v Stoke by Tuncay, and a late equaliser from Mido against the Hammers, we’d be mired in complete misfortune.

Once again, Gaz was remorseful…so was captain Emanuel Pogatetz, for it was his cynical challenge early on that paved a Bolton advantage. Another quick goal, courtesy of Matt Taylor, doubled the visitors lead and buried Boro further. There were occasional chances, mostly negated by questionable finishing, poor timing, and smart Bolton defending from the likes of Kevin Nolan, who cleared one of two goalbound efforts from Gary O’Neil off the lines at the latest of moments. Jeremie Aliadiere returned to the starting XI with David Wheater, but there was nothing to conjure from the recent run to reject Bolton’s advances.

Stewart Downing made like he was shit for England v Germany…Afonso Alves added to more bust conjecture; is he too high maintenance for a mid-table club like ours? This rash of home inadequacy must end…fucking now…there is a chance to achieve something special and respectable…top half of the table and an outside push for Europe beckon…grab it by the balls, squeeze, and exert your will.

a good place to run and hide from the abject desolation

Valladolid victorious again in the gauntlet, and the 0-0 hurrays spread to Spain as well