Middlesbrough Vs Newcastle United |
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Date:
Wednesday 27th April 2005
Kick Off: 7.45pm BST
Venue: St. James' Park
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
By
Ally
The inevitable defeat to Man Utd happened on Sunday, but at least
we lost with a fight and for the first time in a few weeks some positives
came out of the game. The performances of Ambrose and N'Zogbia especially
showed that it isn't all doom and gloom and we've got some good youngsters
in the squad. We're still heavily depleted as we head into one of
our games in hand against the Boro.
Graeme Souness dropped the players he felt did not have the hunger
for a fight (namely Robert & Kluivert) and replaced them with
hungry teenagers eager to impress. It was certainly a strange team
that played at Old Trafford with Steven Carr in a holding role behind
Ambrose and N'Zogbia in central midfield. Although we did well against
the Old Trafford side it's not a team that will succeed at present
and we need to see the return of some of our injured first-teamers
in the remaining matches.
Bowyer is still suspended, whilst Bramble, Babayaro, Butt, Hughes
and Jenas remain injured. Taylor, Faye and Dyer return to the squad
but its unsure what role they will play. Faye is the biggest doubt
but Souness' quotes in the media regarding Dyer suggests that he'll
play in an advanced role alongside Shearer. Very interestingly he
says that he'll be signing players in the summer to fit round a system
with Kieron Dyer in it...
The defence picks itself at the moment I think. Ramage is likely to
continue at right back if Faye misses out, with Carr having to play
the holding role again which he isn't suited to but can do a decent
job there as he showed against Man Utd. Boumsong and O'Brien will
continue in the centre with Elliott at left back. Its not first choice
but they did well at Old Trafford and looked solid until THAT Rooney
goal. Boro have injuries themselves and whilst they have attacking
threats in Downing, Hasselbaink and Zenden, I'm confident we can keep
them out.
Midfield is an interesting selection. Souness made a rather bizarre
decision to play Ameobi on the right wing rather than up front against
the Reds, and the striker was wholly ineffective. I'm assuming that
Faye isn't going to make this game as there is talk of him being a
'major doubt' rather than just a doubt. Personally, I'd play Carr
in the holding role again with Ambrose alongside him, then Milner
and N'Zogbia on the wings. That is an inexperienced midfield but we
really don't have any other options unless Dyer plays there or Robert
suddenly returns to Souness' good books. I, like Souness, would rather
have young N'Zogbia on the wing trying hard, than Robert sauntering
around.
Dyer and Shearer have worked well up front in the past and will need
to do so again tonight. Dyer's mobility and pace makes Shearer a better
player and hopefully it will trouble Southgate and Ehiogu who are
far from quick defenders these days.
It'll be a tough game with Boro fighting to get the UEFA Cup spot
and United in such poor form. We need to get out of this rot as soon
as we can, and 6 points out of these two home games this week will
be perfect. The performance comes secondary at the moment, we know
we're not great, but a few wins before the end of the season is the
least the fans deserve.
Given |
Ramage |
Boumsong |
O'Brien |
Elliott |
Milner |
Carr |
Ambrose |
N'Zogbia |
| |
Shearer |
Dyer |
|
Shearer vs Southgate - I'm a big admirer of Gareth
Southgate. He's experienced, intelligent and an all round good defender.
His lack of pace is his only weakness but against Shearer that won't
be a problem for him. The runs of Dyer will worry him though and we
need to get behind the defence with pacy runs from both Dyer and the
midfield.
Carr vs Boateng - Boateng, for me, is one of the
most underrated players in the league. He's an excellent defensive
midfielder and Boro are a much better team when he plays. Carr, whilst
being tough in the tackle will find it hard against the tenacity of
Boateng and I can't see him coming out on top here.
Boumsong vs Hasselbaink - Boumsong impresses me a
lot, but he seems to be holding the defence together on his own at
the moment. Recent matches have seen him constantly having to make
last gasp clearances and tackles and we've seen that when he slips
up occasionally a goal tends to be scored. Hasselbaink, like JAB,
is strong and fast and it will be a good battle. I'm confident the
Frenchman will come out on top however.
Graeme Souness on the match:
 "Middlesbrough
is my former club, but there is no sentimentality attached to this
game for me.
"We have had a bad run, and we need to get back to winning ways.
"We have been unlucky in the last two away games at Norwich and Manchester
United, on another day we could have taken something from both of
those games.
"Ten days or so ago everyone around here was smiling. Then we lost
two big cup games and have lost some games in the league.
"I've said before though there are still points to play for, and it
would be nice to beat Middlesbrough and give the supporters something
to smile about again.
"We are still down to the bare bones, so it's not a case of me experimenting
with the team, I am playing the team which is available to me.
"There were a lot of positives to come out of the game at Old Trafford,
and the team I field on Wednesday won't be too far away from the side
that played against Manchester United."
United (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Elliott, Taylor,
Boumsong, O'Brien, Ramage, Dyer, Faye, Ambrose, N'Zogbia, Robert,
Milner, Shearer, Ameobi, Kluivert.
Kieron Dyer could make a return to the starting eleven having recovered
from his hamstring injury while Amdy Faye and Steven Taylor are in
the squad, although the pair are doubts for the match. Lee Bowyer
(suspended), Jermaine Jenas (injured), Titus Bramble (injured), Celestine
Babayaro (injured), Aaron Hughes (injured) and Nicky Butt (???) all
miss out.
Boro manager Steve McClaren on the game:
"This is a game of local pride and we need to give our fans something
to smile about.
"Four years ago, to finish above Sunderland and Newcastle was the
aim and to make us the number one in the North East and I think it's
a measure of our progress that we are where we are now.
"Slowly but surely we've caught up, our aim now is not to finish above
Newcastle, but to qualify for Europe and if Newcastle are one of those
teams below us, then so be it.
"Derby games are special, it's about time we won one at St James',
I thought we were unlucky last year.
"Newcastle were inches away from a very good season. They had
a bad half hour against Sporting Lisbon which affected following results,
but they were affected by injuries at the wrong time, just as we have
been.
"They played well against Manchester United on Sunday and cannot be
underestimated, I have seen them on many, many occasions and they
can be a very good side."
Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Knight, Queudrue, Taylor,
Riggott, Southgate, Ehiogu, Wheater, Davies, Boateng, Parlour, Zenden,
Downing, Doriva, Kennedy, Johnson, Hasselbaink, Nemeth, Graham.
| |
Newcastle United wins |
Draws |
Middlesbrough wins |
| League |
42 |
29 |
34 |
| FA Cup |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| League Cup |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Total |
44 |
30 |
38 |
This is a game I always look forward to due to being from Teeside,
its not the true derby for Newcastle fans so it won't be the typical
scrappy Tyne-Wear derby. I imagine an open game with plenty of chances
at both ends. Prediction? A 2-1 win for the Toon,
lets get back to winning ways. |
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