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2007/08 SEASON PREVIEW 01-08-07
Karl Watson
So here we go again. It's that time of the year again where fans make their season long bets, they pull on their new jerseys, and they check that their season long seat is ready for the beating it may receive as a result of a ninetieth minute equaliser. Yes, the football season is back, and for Middlesbrough we all hope we will be going out with a huge bang.
The new season is upon us, but what can we expect from the 2007/08 season? Yet another season of consolidation? A season where we realise we cannot compete in this division? Or a season where we will be graced with entertaining football and a welcome return to European football? My thoughts suggest the latter and this could be a season to remember, for the right or the wrong reasons.
There is no doubt that Gareth Southgate is taking a massive risk this season, and it will either end with success or it could all go up in flames. No matter how much we can convince them, pundits and neutral fans alike have Middlesbrough as strong candidates for relegation, seemingly due to the loss of a name I would rather not mention and the possible departure of Yakubu.
The signings Gareth has made have raised many question marks, however I believe some of the unknown names could prove to be brilliant signings, and here is my opinion about all the current signings:
Jonathan Woodgate:
There is no doubt that Woodgate is world class and should be partnering John Terry regularly for England. For only seven million pounds I believe we have a bargain, especially when unproven talents such as David Nugent are being bought for just under this figure. Woodgate will be at the forefront of our firm foundations for this season. I feel Southgate, being a defender himself, will start from the back and look to build a team that will be solid, and Woodgate fits that bill perfectly. Personally, I feel he should be club captain, but it appears Boateng will get another chance to impress with the captains armband.
Luke Young:
A brilliant signing. And again at only £2.5million we have a struck a great deal. Young, who has some experience with England, has everything going for him. And learning from Woodgate can only be a good thing. Although he may not be the quickest there is no doubt he is talented and will give us something different on that right hand side. Our right backs in recent years have significantly failed to get past the half way line but watching him for Charlton he will get forward as much as possible and can execute quality deliveries into the danger area. What does concern me with Luke, is that he may have only have moved to Middlesbrough to catch the eye of former Boro manager Steve McClaren. I do question whether he wants to play for the club, or he has more than one eye at securing his place in the England squad.
Tuncay Sanli:
Undoubtedly, one of the promised two spectacular signings. Although I have seen little of him in the colours of Fenerbache or Turkey, there is no doubt this lad has got what it takes to be a real star in England. What does concern me is his body build. He doesn't appear to be very strong, but then again Southgate is looking at pace rather than power. The infamous 'You tube' video has been viewed many times by myself and if he can turn on his training antics on match day then perhaps we will be mimicking a 'worship' reaction after he bangs in another goal, the same mimic used when Juninho graced the hallowed pitch of the riverside. This boy could be a real star, but then again that's what we said of Maccarone. I hope the expectation doesn't hinder Tuncay's performances, however the expectation at Fenerbache must have been very intimidating and he dealt with that very very well. We cannot expect too much too soon from Tuncay but I do believe his name will be on a lot of people's lips this season.
Jeremie Aliadiere:
The signing that probably most excites me, although scares many. I honestly believe Jeremie can be a real star for Boro this season. Yes, his goal scoring record is not particularly great but he has never been given regular first team football consistently in his short career. Southgate has been interested in the Frenchman for some time now and he must have something that Gareth just can't resist. His pace is lightening and this means he will be able to get behind defences on many an occasion next season, creating many goal scoring chances. What fears many, is why Arsenal have let him go. Arsene Wenger does have an amazing eye for young talent and there is obviously something which excited him about Aliadiere. So why did he let him go I hear you ask? Let's take a look at what he had to beat. Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Emmanuel Adebayor, Sylvain Wiltord, Juan Antonio Reyes. Some top notch names, and I just don't think Aliadiere fitted into Wenger's plans, simply because Wenger used Henry for pace and got another striker to play with Henry that would compliment Henry but would not play similar to him. Aliadiere is very similar to Henry and he has learnt from him. He has a significant point to prove and everyone, including himself and this is his big chance. My only fear is he will be used on the right hand side of midfield, as I would prefer to see him week in week out as a partner for Yakubu.
Last season the squad seemed to pick itself on many occasions and this could be the case again this season.
However this is how I would like to see Boro turn out:
GK - Schwarzer
RB - Young
CB - Woodgate
CB - Huth
LB - Taylor
RM - Tuncay
CM - Boateng
CM - Arca
LM - Downing
ST - Yakubu
ST - Aliadiere
Although Emmanuel Pogatetz had a superb season last year, I still believe Huth is better and could form a formidable partnership with Jonathan Woodgate. Southgate did pay six million for the German international and I feel he has to get some games out of him and we all need to see why this sum was paid.
Although I have selected Tuncay on the right hand side, and he can play there, I would prefer to see a further addition to that right hand side. A player who has genuine pace and can deliver good quality into the box. Preston's Simon Whaley has been mentioned - a player that excites me and I would welcome the move, however I believe Southgate will play either Tuncay or Aliadiere on the right side. A name I believe we should go in for is Kieron Dyer; however he seems hell bent on a move to London so even an enquiry would appear pointless.
As I highlighted earlier we were promised two spectacular signings and I only believe one has been signed. All of the fingers currently point to Alan Smith and I would be delighted to see him in the red of Middlesbrough. From what I have read, he will be offered a mammoth wage, and this really worries me. I do not want to see players playing for money, we have seen this too many times in the past and it has simply not paid off. Smith is the type of player that will attract many teams due to his pedigree and if he is to sign for Boro, I will seriously question his desire to play for us. Aliadiere, and Tuncay have points to prove and I don't believe Smith does. If he had such a desire to play for the club then surely he would have welcomed talks sooner than now. It reminds me of a certain name I would not rather mention. However on saying this, he would score plenty of goals and the prospect of seeing Yakubu playing with Alan Smith next year is truly mouth watering. With Tuncay and Aliadiere being used as possible back up we would be so much stronger than last season.
I do believe this can be a season to remember. Our fans, for years now have cried out for attacking football by players who have great pace and flair and I feel Gareth is starting to give answers to the public of Teesside.
For years now, Middlesbrough have struggled to deal with teams that have pace in abundance and It's now very difficult to count all our players with pace, just using one hand. Our record at home was very good last year and another season of this, along with a greater away record could see a welcome return to the top half of the premiership. I feel we can shock many people this year and get Middlesbrough Football Club's name on people's lips.
I feel we can comfortably finish ahead of Sunderland this season and why can't we give Newcastle a run for their money? Our defence is outstanding, and baring the top five the rest of the league would snap our hands off if offered our back four. Our midfield, although relatively unchanged suggests balance and pace and this could be an important season for Stewart Downing and I can see Julio Arca putting in some unsung sterling performances. There is no doubt the goal scorers will steal the limelight but this will be a team effort this season, and I believe if Southgate can get the team to gel quick we can be placed in a good position after a couple of months. We have been given some good fixtures and if we can get off to a good start it will raise the confidence of the players and the Riverside will once again be packed to the droves.
I just hope I am not proved wrong. Having feared the start of this season and the end of last, our summer spending has left me very optimistic, and left me counting down the days until Blackburn Rovers travel to Middlesbrough on the 11th August.
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