[jjamez]

Wednesday sees the first of two home games against Yorkshire* sides, the first of which sees struggling Middlesbrough come to the John Smith's Stadium, before another struggling side in the form of managerless Barnsley come to town.

Middlesbrough come into tomorrows game on the back of a 1-0 home defeat to leaders West Brom and sit a solitary place above town by one point. There was quite high expectations at the Riverside, but as of yet there has been a failure of ignition to the season.

Since we last met, they have had a few managers but have settled on former Real Madrid and Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate, with former Wolves and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane as his assistant, for now at least, as some fans are beginning to feel that he was a sentimental appointment having had two spells at the club as well as being part of the backroom staff their over the last few seasons. Ultimately he hasnt quite had the effect on the club that supremo Steve Gibson would have hoped for in what is his first job in first team management.



So what has the season produced for boro so far?

Well the answer is not a lot, they began the season on the telebox away at newly promoted Luton Town, and whilst they did better than us, they did only manage a draw, conceeding in the 85th minute. Their first home game saw them lose 1-0 to Brentford, Ollie Watkins scoring midway through the 2nd half, however, boro did see two first half goals ruled out by the linesman. The rest of August saw them knocked out on penalties at home by Crewe, a second league defeat in a row, this time away at Blackburn, whilst the last 3 games of the month saw them chalk up 5 points, including a 1-0 win at home over Wigan.

September wasn't much better up on the Riverside, although it started off well with a 1-0 victory over Reading. The other two games saw them lose away at Cardiff 1-0 and get thrashed 4-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday, with the Owls scoring all 4 inside the first half, including 2 inside the first 10 minutes.

October has continued in similar fashion which has seen boro edge further down the league, picking up just the solitary point so far, that coming thanks to a 1-1 draw at home to Preston, since then they have lost to Birmingham and the aforementioned West Brom.




So what new faces arrived at the Riverside?

Well truth be told they had a relatively quiet summer in terms of arrivals. Other Woodgate and his coaching staff, their was a familiar face returning in the form of Tomas Mejias on a free transfer from Omonia Nikosia, whilst full backs Anfernee Dijksteel and Marc Bola joined from Charlton and Blackpool respectively, Dijksteel costing the club just under £2million of our Great British Pounds. Also joining the club was Marcus Browne a young attacking midfielder from West Ham.

In terms of departures, long time servant Dimi Konstantopolis left the club along with fellow keeper Andy Lonergan, whilst John Obi Mikel and Stewart Downing both sought pastures new in the forms of Trabonzspor and Blackburn. Spot the difference eh?

The club received hefty sums in the summer for underwhelming premier league signing Martin Braithwaite who seemed to cause a few issues (danes eh?) and giant defender Aiden Flint who both ventured abroad to Leganes and Cardiff.



What has been said?

Danny Cowley

“We are in a pretty good place. We are hoping that everyone is available come tomorrow.

“When you have three games in short succession the opportunity to use your squad is a good thing.”

“The response from the goal we conceded at Blackburn disappointed me. We showed some fragility.

“Once we regrouped at half-time, massive credit to the players for how they came out.”

“The overriding positive from that game was the response to the disappointment.

“I would like it quicker, but it was there.

“If you want to be a successful team, you have to get points from different ways like a losing position.”

“For the way we want to play, we have to be brave and make options for players on the ball.

“They are human beings and will make mistakes. The important thing is learning from it and not make the same mistake twice.”

“I think we’ve got a group that are working really hard, committed to the cause and they way we want to play.

“It’s all about how the players commit to the game plan that makes it successful or unsuccessful.”

“Juninho has been excellent. His contribution has been obvious.

“He’s scores three goals in 70 odd minutes.

“He’s a kid that could be anything he wants to be.

“We are trying to manage him and set him up to be the player he’s capable of being.”

“We will play against a team that’s transitioning between two different styles.

“They’ve played a lot in a 4-3-3.

“If you look at recent games, they’ve changed their system a lot and personnel.

“They’re a good team with good players.”

“They’ve got three very big, physical front foot centre halves and a top goalkeeper.

“There’s no doubt in the quality in their squad.

“The challenge for us is to be five unbeaten and then six.”

“I’ve always liked midweek games.

“They’re always special and create a good atmosphere.

“We are looking forward to the atmosphere being cranked up.

“We are hoping it’ll be packed out and the supporters will be right behind the team.”

“Juninho is a lovely kid, really family orientated.

“He’s full of personality and we’ve spoke a lot about getting the most out of him.

“We’ve been managing his talent and our role is teaching him how to manage his own talent.”

“We are pleased that we are four unbeaten, but there’s still a lot to do.

“We are still developing as a team day by day.

“We can definitely improve.”

“We are trying to play in a certain way, which we think is the best way of playing with these players.

“We are finding the way of setting them up for success.”

“Kachunga is a team player and is willing to put the team before him.

“He does an awful lot of work for the team. He did well for Juninho’s goal.

“As a manager you love team players.”

“Chalobah has incredible athletic quality and a really good range of passing.

“We all have to remember he’s still young.

“He can play as a defender, a six, he’s learning the eight role every day.

“He will be a top player and he always wants to learn.”

“Jaden is getting better and better by the game.

“O'Brien has been like two players for us.

“You can see there’s a pathway here for young players.”

“There’s some really exciting young players in the academy.

“Leigh Bromby does a great job. We like the model of the Academy.”

“We are making some small steps and can see the light.

“We are fighting to see more of that light.”

“Jaden is excellent in the one vs one moments.

“There’s elements of his game we are trying to add to.

“He’s thriving under the challenge and we are working hard with him on the training pitch.

“He’s getting better and better.”




Who are their key men?

Assombalonga- Formerly of Peterborough and Nottingham Forest. A top quality striker when fit, has pace and strength and could give towns two centre halves a tough time. Has scored 4 goals this term so far and is currently their top scorer in the league.



Randolph- As key as a good striker is at the top of the pitch, a good goalkeeper is equally key at the other end and in Darren Randolph boro have one there. Now 32 the former West Ham and Charlton man has settled down at the Riverside joining after they got relegated from the premier league.





Team news

Town are hopeful to have a near fully fit squad available, with Kongolo, Bockhorn and Quaner all apparently available if needed. Pritchard will once again be in the squad after making an appearance on the town bench last Saturday but remained unused. Huddersfield striker Karlan Grant has been involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in his last eight league appearances at the John Smith's Stadium. Following their 3-0 win over Hull City prior to the international break, Huddersfield are looking to win consecutive home league matches for the first time since Autumn 2017, when they beat Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion in the top flight.

Middlesbrough will be will remain without skipper George Friend (knee surgery) and striker Rudy Gestede (hamstring), and there are doubts over Hayden Coulson (knee) as they look to break their away duck this season having amassed just two points on the road. Huddersfield  have lost 11 of their last 14 matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions. Boro are on a run of four straight wins against the Terriers, in which they have scored nine goals and conceded just one. Middlesbrough have not failed to win any of their first six away league matches of a season since 2010-11, under Gordon Strachan, when they did not on the road until November - and ended up finishing 12th under Tony Mowbray.

Britt Assombalonga has been involved in half of Middlesbrough's six away goals in the Championship this season (two strikes, one assist).


Guess who?

I am a midfielder coming towards the back end of my career, famously had a big beard and a punch up with a team mate at training

I am also a midfielder with a beard and felt i was better than what I was, I'm still in the Championship but have been out on loan to league one in the last few seasons

I am a winger, but you may as well call me marmite, you either love me or hate me, the manager at Boro when I was there didnt really play me much

Prolific striker at one time, now I struggle to find my way onto the pitch, let alone a goal. Signed for Boro when they were in the premier league but never quite made my mark

Reliable defender, fans were a bit underwhelmed when I joined town, but some wanted me back this summer. Won promotion from the championship twice in the last few years, didn't spend too long at Boro

I joined a David Wagner Huddersfield Town on loan to replace a now international full back. Spent most of my Middlesbrough career out on loan elsewhere. Currently I am plying my trade on the west coast of England on loan. Again.

Had a short loan at Town when I was young, didn't amount to much and I am probably more famous for throwing my Shirt at then manager than anything else. haven't had that bad a career since though.

Answers will be in the next edition of Yorksha Week

*debatable as to whether Middlesbrough counts as being in Yorkshire

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one jjamez.

Guess who.
First one's Clayton.
Second one, Jakey Buttercup.
Third one now red starring in the chumpions league, VLP.
4th, Jocky McRhodes.
5th, Crainie.
6th, can't remember his name.
7th, Lucas Jokevitch.

[Lord Snooty]

Just been watching an old Boro game on YouTube. We won 2-1. Alan Lee and Danny Ward scored.
It wasn't very good. Not many highlights though the clip lasted about five minutes. I reckon we're much better now than we were then.

[jjamez]

Is that the one where it was so foggy that you couldn't see Alan Lee scoring a flying scorpion kick?

[Lord Snooty]

Is that the one where it was so foggy that you couldn't see Alan Lee scoring a flying scorpion kick?

Aye that's the one.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Grabara is ill so young Ryan gets a start.

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Town’s team vs Middlesbrough
31. Ryan Schofield
4. Tommy Elphick
6. Jonathan Hogg
8. Trevoh Chalobah
9. Elias Kachunga
11. Adama Diakhaby
16. Karlan Grant
17. Danny Simpson
26. Christopher Schindler
28. Jaden Brown
39. Lewis O’Brien

Substitutes
Joel Coleman; Juninho Bacuna, Isaac Mbenza, Fraizer Campbell, Steve Mounié, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Florent Hadergjonaj

[theo_luddite]

Nice one jjamez but there is no doubt that Middlesbrough is in Yorksha.

A've said it afore an' a'll say it agin. Just because that gerrymandering bitch Thatcher started messing around with borders, town/city councils, county councils and other regional governments to suit her own ends, Middlesbrough was once one of the homes of Yorkshire County Cricket, as was Bramall Lane in Sheffield before they built a stand on the cricket square. If it's good enough for Yorkshire to play cricket in, then it's good enough to be in Yorksha an' it al'uss will be. The Smoggies might not sound much like us Wezzies but they'll do fer me.

Here it is according to Wiki - so it must be true (right?)

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PS - we're due another win against this lot so three points tonight please sir, Mr. Headmaster and Head of School Sports.

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PPS - can't remember the fullback's name either but he put the big-headed/mouthed (take your pick) Aussie International fullback's nose further out of joint that the then young Mr. Chilwell had already put severely out of joint, to the point he left to play for someone instantly forgettable in Germany, I think. Don't think he played too many more games for Aussie either.

[Lord Snooty]

Both teams have debutant goalkeepers. Grabara is ill. Don't know what's up with theirs.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Picked up an injury according to Woodgate.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Chalobah off, Bacuna on.

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There was one more sub. Diahkaby came off and Campbell on.

It was a boring 0-0 but a clean sheet.