Middlesbrough Championship thread 2009-10

[Tom]

misterhamster said:

tro1 said:

That is true, thought you may bring it up! Can't say I agreed with his view last season, even if Europe would have caused more problems, (think we'd be certainties for relegation had we played in Europe this season) but i've always admired his honesty. He's one of the most refreshing managers in the Premiership, and although when we were on the losing run not a lot of what he said was that interesting (he actually sounded rather lost) he's back on form now. It was fascinating to read the transcript of his pre match press conference last Friday.

I like Coppell and have a lot of time for him and I can see his point but I thought his comments about not wanting to play in Europe were disrespectful to the fans. It's obviously important to be in the Premier League but (and I've said this before) the fans won't have the same enthusiasm 10 years down the line after a string of mid-table finishes and no trophies or European football. If you're not going to aim higher, what's the point?

I know what you mean. Some fans have said similar things to you, that whilst mid-table finishes and staying up are fine now they would hope that the club would strive for higher in the future. The club has talked of aiming to become a Top 10 club, the proposed stadium expansion is a part of those plans. But I can't ever see that happening again, and without Coppell and Madejski, neither of whom will be around for much longer, I do worry about the future of the club. Personally, I'd be perfectly happy with mid-table and achieving what Charlton did every season before they got relegated last year. We can't attract players because of our wage structure and more than anything else there's less drama. But I know of at least 4 fans who won't be renewing their season tickets whatever happens this season, and I daresay there'll be others too.

[wonderwall]

Quote-I know of at least 4 fans who won't be renewing their season tickets whatever happens this season, and I daresay there'll be others too. I dont see how a Reading fan could be disapointed if at the end of the season there still a premiership side. The second season is always difficult they would have done well to stay up in my view.

[Tom]

wonderwall said:

I dont see how a Reading fan could be disapointed if at the end of the season there still a premiership side. The second season is always difficult they would have done well to stay up in my view.

Its got nothing to do with results, well it has recently, but I think all but 1 of those 4 people had decided not to renew before Christmas. Its mainly because of season ticket prices (£545 is steep imo) and the enjoyment of the matchday experience, which for most home games this season has been sh*t. My dad and I seriously considered getting season tickets this season after we were unable to get them last season (we hadn't bought half season tickets in the 2nd half of our promotion winning season, something that I at least regret). In the end we couldn't justify it because we couldn't get to every game, but as things have panned out i'm thankful we didn't.

Its not a novelty thing either, all of these 4 people have been supporting the club longer than me (we've been attending games for about 5 and a half years) and these fans were there through the dark days of the late 90s.

[o]

I think it was harsh to send Mido off today, it was a very high foot, but there was no intent at all, his eye was on the ball, and the ref only sent him off when he saw the cut on Clichy, surely that's not allowed?
Good point for you though. And me and Sam will be at your game with Derby next week, hope you score a hatful, and I hope Mido wont take up too many seats in the stands

[Panda]

andy said:

I think it was harsh to send Mido off today, it was a very high foot, but there was no intent at all, his eye was on the ball, and the ref only sent him off when he saw the cut on Clichy, surely that's not allowed?
Good point for you though. And me and Sam will be at your game with Derby next week, hope you score a hatful, and I hope Mido wont take up too many seats in the stands

Just saw it on Sky News and thought exactly the same thing...

I've only seen the goals once but I felt Schwarzer may have been obstructed for the equaliser though apparently Arsenal had one disallowed for offside early on.

Hope you enjoy the Derby game. What stand will you be in?

[wonderwall]

boro always have a habit of playing well v the big boys but lose to the lower teams

[o]

East or West mrh, will know when I get the tickets

[Razzle Dazzle]

andy said:

East or West mrh, will know when I get the tickets

good luck getting out the car park before 8

[o]

dazthehammer said:

andy said:

East or West mrh, will know when I get the tickets

good luck getting out the car park before 8

Mrh has told us to park in a cinema car park and then walk to the ground? Also, as Mel is driving, she may be able to pick us up from somewhere, and so not have to park? I do hate these grounds that are chock a block after kick off though, Barnsley was awful, and we only got out of Darlo quick, cos we whizzed out at final whistle.

[Tom]

andy said:

dazthehammer said:

good luck getting out the car park before 8

Mrh has told us to park in a cinema car park and then walk to the ground? Also, as Mel is driving, she may be able to pick us up from somewhere, and so not have to park? I do hate these grounds that are chock a block after kick off though, Barnsley was awful, and we only got out of Darlo quick, cos we whizzed out at final whistle.

You'd hate the Mad Stad car park then as they block you from leaving until all the buses/coaches and people have gone. You can only park there if you have a car park season ticket, but on the one occasion we did park there, as we had reserved parking with our VIP ticket a couple of seasons ago, it took us until well after 5.30 i think to get out. We don't have that problem parking in the main car park near the stadium as we've gone down the stairs and are waiting in the tunnel area by the time the game has finished. We also get to the car park early, always before 1, which all means we save 5-10 mins in getting away, making for an easier run to the motorway junction.

Would you and Sam ever consider going to a Reading away game up north? Though you may have more trouble getting tickets, the Riverside is obviously rarely ever full, you'd certainly struggle to get tickets for a Reading home game as you really need a member card nowadays. They only go on general sale a day or two before the game, and they've often sold out completely by then. Its the same outside the Premiership, some neutral fans have complained that they haven't been able to just randomly buy a ticket at Watford, i think it was, in the days leading up to a game (think this may have been true at Fulham as well for their cup game against Bristol Rovers). Its becoming harder and harder to go to a match as a neutral.

[o]

Other prem teams we may go and see are newcastle, blackburn and sunderland, all fairly near, they will have to wait til next season though, as it's one prem game a year for us

[Razzle Dazzle]

sunderland has decent access and reasonable prices i have found

[o]

Hope they stay in the Prem then

[o]

Wow, what weather you have snow and hail in the 2nd half, and that wind could cut you in 2!
Good game, but you seemed like you wanted to let Derby score in the 2nd half. Good goal by Tuncay, aliadiere went down injured after every tackle, prima donna, and why pay all that money for alves just to run up and down the side of the pitch? Saying that, when he cane on, he looked as clumsy as a clown with the ball at his feet Ground is great, fab directions mrh Couldn't get in til after 2pm though as the derby coach was late arriving, and it was right outside our turnstile! Meant we got to see loads of players driving up in their huge cars though
I'm sure we will return, when it's warmer, I can just about feel my toes now

[Maximo Mark]

How much were tickets, if you don't mind me asking? ;d

My dad and brother are going to see Bolton - Arsenal next sunday, £44! Which is excellent considering you can pay over 20 to watch Forest!

[o]

£27 for mine and £9 for Sam, plus a £2 credit card over the phone charge. I'm off to watch Bury on monday and think that is only £15 for me and Sam, brilliant and Macclesfield is only £14, cant believe the Stags charge £17-18

[Panda]

Glad you found your way OK and enjoyed it, Andy. Were you in the east or the west?

I listened to the game on the radio. It sounded like we were in control in the first half but seemed to lose our momentum when the blizzard came and just wanted the game to end.

As I've said before with Alves, anything we get from him this season will be a bonus. We didn't buy him to keep us up, we bought him to help move to another level next season. He hadn't played for months when we got him so we've yet to see him fully fit and it'll take time for him to adjust to English football. As much as we've paid for Alves, the combination of Tuncay and Aliadiere seems to be the most effective at the moment.

[o]

The west stand, the one not in the sun I thought Tuncay was ok, but aliadiere was a bit lame, he had one good chance and the goalie saved it. Oh, we were sat just up from where Tuncay came and celebrated his goal with the subs. Missed it on MOTD, did we make it on tv?

[Razzle Dazzle]

theres sun in boro?

[o]

twas quite a nice place what we saw of it Mel thought she saw Kayla at one point, I said I thought she was in Leeds, and you live further up near Newcastle dont you daz?