View from the opposition – Middlesbrough 29 September 2012
A bit about you:
Name: Paul Gibson
Current home town: Sheffield
Birthplace: Middlesbrough
How long have you supported your team? I have been a massive Boro fan for as long as I can remember, the first games I went to as a child were with my brother and my dad, I’m guessing I was around the age of 5 or 6…………..used to love going to Ayresome Park with the big crowds and the buzz around the ground before the games.
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground: The ground is relatively new so it’s got pretty good facilities. Its right by the River Tees, so the location is not too bad either; also the pitch itself is always in excellent condition thanks to Tony Bell, our Groundsman.
Favourite match played by your team & why: Apart from winning the Carling cup in 2004 which will always be special cause it was our first major trophy, it’s a toss up between the two Uefa Cup Games in 2006.
In the Quarter Final 2nd leg against the Basel , Boro were 2-0 down on aggregate. Basel then scored to make it 3-0 up on aggregate. Boro looked dead and buried. They had to score four goals – and they did, winning 4-1 in the game and 4-2 on the night.
Then, in Semi-Final 2nd leg, Boro started the game 1-0 down on aggregate after Steaua Bucharest won the first leg 1-0. After 25 minutes, Steaua were 2-0 up in the game and 3-0 up on aggregate, and Middlesbrough needed four goals without reply to win the game. We scored four goals, winning the game 4-2 and winning 4-3 on aggregate and the winning goal came in the very last minute.
Those games were amazing and I very much doubt I will be lucky enough to experience games like that again in my lifetime but they were games that I can never forget………….fantastic!
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: It’s Got to be Bernie Slaven; he is a legend and was a fantastic goal scorer for Boro. I believe his record stands at 147 goals in 382 appearances……………he was a true fans favourite and still is.
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? This season I have been impressed with new signing Mustapha Carayol. It’s still early days for him but he has pace and likes to create and run at defenders to take them on. Also a mention must be given to our loan signing Josh McEachran. he is a tad lightweight perhaps but he is a fantastic player, great passing and movement and has the ability to win a game.
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? I think that Lukas Jutkiewicz will be brimming with confidence after his brace away at Blackburn and due to his injuries and lack of game time last season he wants to prove himself to the fans. He is a big unit and can cause problems for any defender.
Player in our squad you most fear and why? Given the hat-trick he scored against hull and the potential to bag a goal or two its David Nugent. Can be very tricky and we will need to keep him on a tight leash
Up and coming prospect in your squad? I think that Adam Reach and Luke Williams are both capable of getting into the first team this season. They are both local and products of the academy. Both very talented with bags of potential
Where do you think you’ll finish this season? I will be happy enough with a top 8 finish but would love a spot in the play offs as we just missed out last season
How do you think you’ll do against us? This will be a very interesting game. Both level on points and both coming off the back of a league win. We have won all our home games this season and although Leicester are a very strong side I am hoping we can hold out for a 1-0 win. If we play like we did against Blackburn and manage to get the majority of possession a slender victory could be on the cards
Any other comments? Only that I hope the game is an open one with good attacking play and ultimately 3 points for the Boro