Boro blow

Friday, 20/08/2010

by Boro blogger Fenton Moore, exclusively for Shoot.

It’s never straight forward being a football fan. But the rollercoaster that is being a Middlesbrough fan seems to be on a very steep, downward plunge of late.

Just two weeks in to the season and the usual anxieties have been brought back to the forefront of peoples minds. 

Why can’t our midfielders score goals? Why can’t we have a full team of players playing in their preferred position and, most importantly, why have we not managed a win in either of our opening league games?

Of course this is by no means a disaster, indeed it was a particularly tough opening two games but it’s no surprise that the optimism is already slowly dwindling at the Riverside. A heavy defeat at home to Ipswich and a draw away at Leicester City were sandwiched by a 2-1 victory in the Carling Cup which was the only cause for optimism in the opening three games.

Despite being dubbed ‘Mcboro’ by many sections of the press the club have once again started to blood the next generation of hopeful superstars in to the team. 

Luke Williams, an exciting winger, made his debut aged just 16 last season and looks impressive but Jason Steele, 20 this week, is the man whose caught the eye and got people talking already this season. Having started and impressed in the last two games he certainly seems a reason for the fans to get excited. Especially as, for once, the young lads seem to be able to come in without the usual pressure due to people’s insistence on concentrating on the Scottish contingent.

Behind the disappointment therefore there is still, if somewhat hidden, a feeling of hope. Brad Jones has moved to Liverpool in a deal that has shocked fans. Jones certainly has the ability but his confidence in himself is non-existent- Not a good attribute for a goalkeeper! This has delivered some extra funds to Strachan who is likely to look to pump them in to the team as quickly as possible. 

Mathew Kilagallon joined yesterday on a season-long loan deal to provide some very intense competition at the back. The big defender can play centre back or left back. Gordon Strachan has hinted that it may well be the latter that he occupies but this may well bring more criticism of the ‘round holes, square pegs’ variety. 

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