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ALASTAIR BROWNLEE'S BORO v MANCHESTER CITY MATCH PREVIEW 9-5-08
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After last week's comfortable victory over Portsmouth guaranteed Boro's Premier League safety, the final game of the season on Sunday will hopefully see the team round off the campaign in style with a victory over Manchester City.
It seems, however, that Gareth Southgate will not spend too much time relaxing during the close season as the manager is determined to do all he can to ensure that the club moves forward in season 2008-09.
The manager has spoken this week about his determination to repay the chairman’s faith in him and certainly there have been times this season when Gareth must have been grateful that he was working for Steve Gibson.
A run of ten Premier League games without a win and the FA Cup horror show against Cardiff when the road to Wembley seemed wide open have been low points. Yet Gibson has never wavered in his belief that Southgate is the right man for the job.
Positives can be taken from the way in which Tuncay looks to have adapted fully to the demands of the Premier League. This is a point underlined by back-to-back goals against Sunderland and Portsmouth.
Tuncays partnership up front with Afonso Alves also seems rich in promise and should considerably boost the goals for column.
The find of the season has to be David Wheater, who has gone in a twelve-month spell from being on loan at Darlington to a call up to the England squad.
The Supporters' Club Young Player of the Year Award was a fully deserved recognition of the consistent form shown by a local lad who clearly has pride in pulling on the Boro shirt.
Wheater remains not just a player but a fan. This was underlined when he missed the Sheffield United FA Cup replay due to a suspension but instead of taking up the offer of a seat in the director's box, the centre half sat with his friends behind the goal.
This was similar to former striker David Hodgson, who was also suspended for an FA Cup tie back in 1981 against West Bromwich Albion. “Hodgy” caused a stir by giving up a seat at Ayresome Park to stand in the Holgate End and cheer on the team.
The Supporter's Club Player of the Year Award went to Stewart Downing and providing that the winger starts against Manchester City, then Downing will have started every Premier League game for Boro this season.
At twenty-three he has already played over 160 games for the Boro and this season has added goals to his game, being the joint top scorer with eight.
Stewart’s signature on a new contract was another of the major plusses this season and in so many ways (particularly for his consistency), he reminds me of another great Boro winger of the Seventies: David Armstrong.
City arrive at the Riverside on the back of two defeats - to Fulham and Liverpool. They have clearly made progress this season and on fifty-five points, they have thirteen more than the team finished with last time around.
City have also completed the double over neighbours Manchester United and for that alone the manager should be secure in his job. However, owner Thaksin Shinawatra does not have the patience of Steve Gibson and it looks as if the match on Sunday will be the final game in charge for Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Eriksson has been talked about as the new manager for Benfica but a danger to Boro might be if the City players want to give their boss a good send off should the match at the Riverside be his last.
Memories of great clashes with Manchester City inevitably, for me, come down to the final match of season 2004-05 when Boro travelled to City looking for a point to qualify once more for the UEFA Cup.
With the match all square at 1-1 and moving into stoppage time, Rob Styles awarded City a penalty. It was the ultimate football shoot-out as Robbie Fowler had the chance to score from the spot and put City, not Boro, into Europe.
Thankfully, Mark Schwarzer made a great save and a certain commentator made him “the greatest Australian hero since Ned Kelly!”. This was a comment that even made the sports pages “down under”.
There is the possibility that Sunday might be the final time we see Schwarzer in goal for Boro.
Personally, I hope he stays and is still our number one in August. If he does move on however, I hope that the fans will recognise that to stay eleven years plus at one club in these modern times is a remarkable achievement.
It is the final Simply Red of the season on Century Radio on Sunday and Bernie and I will preview the Manchester City game and look back over the season.v
Up for grabs, as always, is Sunday lunch for two at the Bluebell Hotel, Acklam Road, Middlesbrough and guests will include Gordon Jones and Craig Hignett.
So why not join in the fun from 11am by giving us a call on 08450021100 or send a text to 85102.
This is my final column for the season and I hope that you have enjoyed reading my previews during the past year.
I wish all Boro fans a great summer and let's come back in August ready to cheer on the team to hopefully a terrific season.
Enjoy your break and Up the Boro!
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