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DEEP IN MY HEART
Middlesbrough vs. Fulham, 9th February 2008, The Riverside Stadium, Premier League
James Keen
In scenes that can only be compared to the arrival of Juninho on Teesside, Afonso Alves was introduced to the Boro faithful this week with a declaration that he will succeed in the Premier League.
And although I am glad that he is here, and excited by the prospect of watching him spearhead our front line, I did note the hint of caution in his words to his new fans.
He tended towards promising to deliver, but not necessarily straight away.
It is probable that we will stay up this season, and so our newest saviour will hopefully have time to adapt, meaning next season he can deliver on his promises.
But is he the instant answer to our striking options? Only time will tell but I'm happy to give him a few games at least before I start to judge him.
Alves will probably get his first start against Fulham this weekend with injuries to Tuncay and Mido forcing Boro's hand. That may not be a bad thing.
Having Alves to play as a foil for Aliadiere will, if anything, give us a bit of balance. We now have a focal point for attacks and a man who is used to scoring and so won't be too scared to be greedy in the box.
Last week's draw with Kevin Keegan's lot was a hugely promising one. In what was a very tricky tie, Boro dominated much of the proceedings, had most of the efforts on goal and looked the most likely winners in a ding-dong final twenty minutes, even when we were a goal behind.
Fulham will be a different proposition following their win against high-flying Aston Villa last weekend. They will be hoping to claim their first away win for around two seasons.
Since the departure of Chris Colman from The Cottage, Fulham have never found balance and purpose. The appointment of Lawrie Sanchez just didn't work and Roy Hodgson seems to be a bit of a stop gap.
The biggest problem with Fulham is a lack of quality, spark and invention.
Although decent squad fillers and mid/lower table Premiership stars - players like Simon Davies, Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey - Fulham just don't cut it when they come up against real quality.
Boro's victory at Craven Cottage earlier in the campaign was a little unjust and a tad lucky, but it is games like that that tell you that you're in for a tough year.
And that's exactly how it's proven for them.
Currently one of the bottom three, without any hope of getting out of there this weekend, this should be a game Boro go into with confidence, a little arrogance and a firm belief that we will win the game.
Southgate will know, as Aliadiere pointed out earlier this week, that with a win against Fulham we can really take the pressure off for the rest of the season. He can do this by clocking up our twenty-ninth point and this will keep us comfortably mid-table.
Even with a bad run, we should then be able to keep our heads above water.
The key to beating Fulham is pure and simply to play well. The strength of our back line has been the key to our recent improvements, and going into the game on the back of a six game unbeaten run should fill our forward six with confidence.
Alves will be the final piece of the jigsaw, if he can settle quickly into our system, because we know that he can put a ball into a net.
In recent weeks, Boro have come in for praise from unlikely places, with many of the early season doom and gloom merchants now recoiling and claiming that they always knew Boro wouldn't go down.
Anyone hear that bandwagon rolling?
Boro could still, potentially, finish in the top ten, and an end of season surge would put us in a good position to strengthen for next season.
And if we, dare I say it, reach the Cup final and qualify for Europe again, then we will be in an excellent position to attract the type of players that the "New Boro" need to allow them to compete with the top seven.
All of this must start this weekend with the visit of London's most quaint and posh club.
Let's make sure steel triumphs over the champagne and caviar brigade and sing our boys to victory.
It's one we should win, and one we need to win. I think we'll do it.
Up the Boro!
The Outcome: My heart is telling me a dream debut ends in a brace for Alves and a 3-0 win, the head is being a bit more conservative and telling me to be glad of a 1-0 victory.
Last season: Middlesbrough 3-1 Fulham (Viduka 34, 47, Wheater 45), 13/5/07
Boro Form (most recent result first): DWWDDW
Fulham Form: WDDLLD
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, O'Neil, Arca, Rochemback, Downing, Alves, Aliadiere
Fulham: Niemi, Baird, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Murphy, Andreasson, Davies, Bullard, Nevland, Dempsey
Man to Watch: Jimmy Bullard
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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