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DEEP IN MY HEART
Portsmouth vs. Middlesbrough, 29th December 2007, Fratton Park, Premier League
James Keen
Football's fickle finger is once again being pointed towards the Riverside this week, following two lacklustre results against sides we should have beaten.
It's a funny old game we all know and love, and those of us who chose to follow our local side have the burden of unwitting love for a side that we cannot cut our ties with.
Middlesbrough is a place where the man on the street has pride in his team, has pride in the town and has pride in his heritage. And the club represents the values we stand for. But in current climates the townspeople are feeling a little let down.
In years gone by the team was represented by hard-working local lads who wanted to play football first and foremost, and if they could make a living out of it then it was a bonus.
This even goes back to days as recent as 1986, when the boys that stuck with us fought all the way to the top-flight from the verge of the abyss of insolvency.
That is the type of team that Boro fans have always grown to love, respect and cherish. And the type of team that Steve Gibson is trying to build at the club now.
Downing, Cattermole, Wheater, Johnson, Turnbull, Taylor should be players that embody the town. But, in the modern footballing climate a player needs to be able to run before he can walk and so Boro are being left wanting at times. And giving such youngsters so much money is already looking to be the downfall of a couple of them.
So, when you combine youngsters trying to live up to the expectations of their peers, their fellow townsfolk and their fellow professionals with a group of foreign footballers without an ounce of knowledge of the town, what it means and what the people want from them, then you're asking for trouble.
If things go badly wrong then the player can leave; there's always another club willing to take a Premiership player.
So where's the pressure?
Unlike the players of yesteryear, the players these days get paid handsomely from the day their first teeth come through, and that is without ever proving your worth in the game you're paid to play.
They will never experience what a hard days graft is so how do players ever understand the value of the pound?
This was shown in the demoralising 3-0 defeat to lowly Birmingham; a team without quality, without class, yet with enough of both to beat our side.
It was a game I wish I hadn't witnessed, because it made all of the positivity and encouragement I gained from Arsenal absolutely redundant.
Robert Huth and Tuncay apart I thought the team was devoid of ideas, of inspiration or leadership. Where was our Captain? Where was our Manager?
Huth and Tuncay tried to lead by example, but many players decided to disappear into the night without a thought for the poor fans who'd travelled to the midlands on Boxing Day to watch a group of players give-up when they could have been making merry with family.
They say suicide rates go up at Christmas and New Year and my guess is that another performance like the one at St. Andrews and those figures will fly through the roof on Teesside.
Melodramatic? Yes, but let's be fair, it's like our side commits suicide every Saturday so we're only following suit!
I expect Boro to switch to a negative five man backline against Portsmouth, possibly even going 5-4-1 in an attempt to shore up and hope for a draw.
Sadly, owing to the likely absence of Aliadiere and O'Neil, and the suspension of Boateng we are probably going to see Dong-Gook in our first eleven.
It may work to play with Wheater, Woodgate and Huth at Centre back, Young and Pogatetz as full backs and then give Downing and Rochemback the wide births with Tuncay playing in front of Arca in the middle.
A system like this would be risky, but may help us counter the threat of Benjani, Kanu, Krancjar and co.
Porstmouth are a decent side, but have had a little slide in form in recent weeks, not winning in four since comfortably beating Villa 3-1 at Villa Park.
Their biggest problem recently has been scoring goals at home. Ever since the barnstorming 7-4 win over Reading goals have dried up at Fratton Park. Yet still, it remains a terribly intimidating venue and a fortress for the south coast side.
I expect to see plenty of Southgate baiting between now and the end of the season, but hopefully something can be done to halt this mini slide and prevent Boro being dragged back into the mire.
For a long time this club has been a source of pride for its town, but at the moment the players are heaping shame onto its memory and its history by simply not performing.
We will all continue to support our club, and hope that our better players continue to play for our club whilst reinforcements are sought.
Because, unlike Middlesbrough players, Middlesbrough fans do not get a choice of club.
The Outcome: My heart says it will be a poor 0-0, but my head is telling me not to look forward to it too much and we'll lose 2-0.
Last season: Portsmouth 0-0 Middlesbrough, 23/1/07, Premier League
Boro Form (most recent result first): LLWWDL
Portsmouth Form: DLLWDW
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Woodgate, Wheater, Huth, Arca, Rochemback, Downing, Tuncay, Lee
Portsmouth: James, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Diop, Hughes, Krancjar, Muntari, Kanu, Benjani
Man to Watch: Benjani
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