Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town 
Saturday 14th March 2015 - 12:15
Riverside Stadium
Live on Sky
Opening thought – Jamma
I had to laugh when listening to the post-match phone-in on BBC Suffolk on Saturday evening. These platforms are, by their nature, notorious for attracting overly emotional responses to the preceding 90 minutes but supporters’ reactions have been getting more and more extreme in recent weeks. Beyond the usual selection of callers who had slipped through the net and whose contribution could most generously be described as ‘eccentric’, a frequently voiced concern was that we had thrown away our chance of making the play-offs and, in the eyes of one particularly vexed fan, that we would struggle to even finish in the top half! While these heat-of-the-moment comments convey the frustration over our continued inability to build on our promising position, they also reflect the Blue Army’s somewhat ‘all or nothing’ mentality summed up by Mick in his typically straight-talking way. Supporters will respond by pointing to a sense of déjà vu surrounding the manager’s recent post-match interviews. For what seemed like the umpteenth time in as many matches, McCarthy’s thoughts on Saturday went along the lines of [insert suitable Yorkshire accent here]: ‘We played well, against a good team, and were unlucky not to get more out of the game’. Brentford’s generosity at the back and exciting talent going forward, combined with Town’s profligacy in front of goal, made for an entertaining encounter, and one which, as with countless other recent matches, could easily have yielded more than just the one point.
By focusing on the positives, I believe Mick is trying to rediscover the squad’s levels of self-belief which were so evident in the run-up to Christmas and which helped propel us up the table. As we enter the final ten fixtures of the season – with up to five of our opponents aiming for promotion – confidence is going to be a big factor. In a ‘bonkers’ season even by the Championship’s standards, you can still make a case for any of eight clubs winning the title, with the top 4 separated only by goal difference. We are often hearing of the ‘concertina effect’, which means that there is likely to be a minimal difference between success and failure in 2014/15. It is difficult to predict anything in this league at the best of times but McCarthy has set the players the target of five more wins, giving us very little margin for error. There was the real sense of an opportunity missed against the Bees, the closest of our top 6 rivals. In reality, though, it was probably more a game we couldn’t afford to lose, as opposed to having to win. With Saturday’s opponents Middlesbrough one of the sides at the top tied on 66 points, some kind of result is imperative if we are to stand a chance of catching them.
The Opposition - Middlesbrough
The club turned professional in 1889, but reverted to amateur status in 1892. They turned professional permanently in 1899 and after three seasons, they won promotion to the First Division, where they would remain for the next 22 years.
In 1903, the club moved to Ayresome Park, their home for the next 92 years.
Over the next few years, their form fluctuated greatly, rising to sixth in 1907–08 before dropping to seventeenth two seasons later. The club rose to their highest league finish to date, third, in 1913–14. The First World War soon intervened and football was suspended. Before league football resumed, Middlesbrough won the Northern Victory League, but the team were unable to maintain their previous form and finished the 1919–20 season in mid-table. They remained in the First Division for the next few seasons, but were relegated in 1923–24 after finishing bottom, ten points adrift of their nearest rivals.
Three seasons later, they won the Division Two title. Their tenure back in the top flight lasted only one season, and the club were relegated. They were promoted at the first attempt in 1928–29, winning another Second Division title. The club remained in the First Division until 1954.
Middlesbrough climbed to fourth in the last full season before the Second World War and were expected to challenge for the title next season, but the war intervened. After the war, the club was unable to recover the form of the previous seasons and hovered around mid-table and exited in the early rounds of the FA Cup. Soon afterwards the team began to falter, eventually suffering relegation in 1953–54. This was the start of a 20-year spell outside the top division.
Over that period, Middlesbrough maintained reasonable progress in the Second Division but were never serious contenders for promotion. After a fourth place finish in 1962–63, the club endured a steady decline and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1966.
New manager Stan Anderson returned the club to the second flight at the first attempt. Middlesbrough would not finish below ninth during the next eight seasons. By 1974, Jack Charlton had taken over as manager and guided the team back to the top flight.
The club experienced severe financial difficulties during the mid-1980s. In the 1984–85 season. In April 1986 the club had to borrow £30,000 from the PFA to pay wages. The final game of the season saw Middlesbrough relegated to the Third Division once more. That summer, the club called in the Provisional Liquidator and shortly afterwards, the club was wound up and the gates to Ayresome Park were padlocked. Without the £350,000 capital required for Football League registration, a new rule, it seemed inevitable that the club would fold permanently. However, Steve Gibson, a member of the board at the time, brought together a consortium and with ten minutes to spare before the deadline, they completed their registration with the Football League for the 1986–87 season. Following the registration came both a change of club crest and a change of the official company name to Middlesbrough Football and Athletic Club (1986) Ltd.
Over the next two seasons, Middlesbrough gained successive promotions into Division Two and then into Division One. The next season though, they came straight back down to Division Two. Despite constant promotion and relegation, Middlesbrough were founding members of the FA Premier League for the 1992–93 season.
The 1996–97 season was compounded by a deduction of three points imposed just after Christmas, as punishment for the club's failure to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn, which ultimately resulted in relegation. At the same time, the club managed to reach both the League and FA Cup finals for the first time, but lost out in both. Despite being in the second tier they were again runners up in the League Cup final the next year.
Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premiership at the first attempt in 1998. They continued to stay secure in mid-table the following season.
Bryan Robson left the club before the start of 2001–02 season, having served as manager for 7 years, and was replaced by Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren. The following seasons saw Premiership security maintained as Middlesbrough slowly improved and were seen as a tough side to beat when playing at the Riverside Stadium. During McClaren's reign, Middlesbrough achieved their highest Premier league placing of 7th in the 2004–05 season.
The 2003–04 season was the most successful in the club's history as they finally won a major trophy after beating Bolton in the League Cup final.
Middlesbrough reached the 2006 UEFA Cup Final in Eindhoven, following two comebacks in the rounds preceding it, but lost to Sevilla. Following the cup final, McClaren left to head up the England team, and captain Gareth Southgate took over, despite not having the coaching qualifications, but he was allowed to continue after receiving special dispensation. Southgate's first two seasons saw the club finish in 12th and 13th places. He oversaw the club reaching the quarter finals of the FA Cup for three seasons, but the club was relegated to the Football League Championship on the last day of the 2008–09 season.
Despite starting the 2010–11 campaign as promotion favourites, the club endured a disappointing start to the season securing only 1-point in 5 away games. Having slipped to 20th in the Championship following a home defeat to rivals Leeds, Gordon Strachan resigned on 18 October. A week later, Tony Mowbray was confirmed as the new manager. Having staved off the threat of relegation, Mowbray successfully transformed Boro's fortunes, eventually guiding them to a top-half finish.
Following a poor run of form of 2 wins in 12 games in the 2013–14 campaign, on 21 October 2013, nearly 3 years after his arrival, Tony Mowbray left the club with immediate effect. Aitor Karanka, a former Spanish defender and assistant coach at Real Madrid became the new Middlesbrough manager on 13 November 2013, signing a two-year contract. He became the first non-British manager at the club.
One To Watch – Adam Clayton
The likes of Patrick Bamford, Albert Adomah and, yes, Grant Leadbitter may have grabbed most of the headlines in 2014/15 but equally important to ‘Boro’s success this season has been tenacious midfielder Adam Clayton.
Clayton’s potential was clear to see from a young age, as he joined Manchester City’s academy at the age of seven. He signed professionally with the club in 2007 but was restricted to a handful of appearances on the bench. After taking in loan spells with Carlisle, MK Dons and Peterborough, Clayton signed for Leeds in 2010, gaining a reputation for his ability from long range. He was soon on the move again, heading across Yorkshire to Huddersfield ahead of the 2012/13 campaign. The recently-turned 26-year-old became a mainstay in the Terriers’ side and, after picking up the Player of the Year award last season, was linked with a host of Premier League clubs. While this didn’t materialise, Clayton secured a move to the Riverside in August, signing on a four-year deal. His strong partnership with Leadbitter in midfield has provided the platform for the Teessiders’ promotion push. Arguably his highlight of the season so far, though, was ‘Boro’s shock 2-0 win over former club Manchester City in the FA Cup. After playing a starring role at the Etihad, Clayton revealed that he wasn’t interested in swapping shirts with any of City’s superstars, saying that he preferred to keep his own as a memento of the day!
The Gaffer – Aitor Karanka
Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Karanka played as a youth with hometown's Deportivo Alavés and then switched to Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao. He made his senior debuts with the reserves of the latter in 1992, competing with the team in Segunda División.
Karanka was promoted to the main squad by Jupp Heynckes in 1993, making his La Liga debut on 7 November and going on to feature in exactly 100 league matches in his three full seasons, before joining Real Madrid in 1997. With the capital team he was used mostly as a backup, but appeared in 33 UEFA Champions League games for the club, including the 1999–2000 final against Valencia CF . He also missed the vast majority of the 1998–99 campaign due to a heart condition.
For 2002–03 Karanka returned to Athletic Bilbao, helping the Lions qualify for the UEFA Cup in his second year after a fifth place in the league. He switched to Major League Soccer and the Colorado Rapids in 2006.
Karanka only played once for Spain at senior level, on 26 April 1995 against Armenia for the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifiers. He also represented the nation in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, playing in four matches in an eventual quarterfinal exit.
In June 2010 Karanka was appointed assistant manager at former side Real Madrid, by newly appointed manager José Mourinho. Three years later he left the club, following the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti who brought his own coaching staff.
On 13 November 2013 Karanka was appointed manager of Middlesbrough, replacing Tony Mowbray.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both teams
John Wark ITFC 1975–1984 1988–1990 and 1991–1997 Boro 1990–1991
Tony Mowbray ITFC 1995–2000 Boro 1982–1991
Mark Venus ITFC 1997–2003 Boro 2013 Manager
Kieron Dyer ITFC 1996–1999 2011 Loan Boro 2013
Media Watch - K L Blue
An interesting wee piece I found in the ‘Gazette Live’
Top two is still within our grasp, insists Ipswich midfielder ahead of Boro clash
Jay Tabb insists Ipswich are still in with a “great chance” of hijacking the top two automatic promotion spots if they can put together a win of results, starting at Boro on Saturday.
The pint-sized midfield player was on the scoresheet as the Tractor Boys strolled to a comfortable victory over Boro in December.
But while Ipswich were particularly impressive that day, they’ve since stuttered winning just one of their last five games and dropping out of the play-off places.
Due to the incredibly tight nature of the promotion-chasing pack this season, Mick McCarthy’s side are still just five points off the top.
And despite the blip, Tabb made it clear the Tractor Boys aren’t going to settle for a spot back in the top six - they’re still focusing on climbing back into the automatic promotion berths.
“There are still 30 points to play for and the top two is still within our grasp,” he said.
“Finishing in the top two might need a slightly lower points tally than usual, but getting in the top six might need a bit more.
“Teams are dropping points because it is nervy trying to get to the Premiership with everything that’s at stake.
“In previous years teams have run away with it, but everyone down to us and even Wolves is still looking at the top two.
“It is going to go to the last game of the season for the top two and top six.”
Ipswich aren’t the only team who’ve stumbled through the last month. Bournemouth went five games without a win, Boro have lost three out of their last five while Derby are without a win in three.
But just as Boro have a testing run of games to come, Ipswich also face a season-deciding spell with games against Watford and Bournemouth following their trip to Teesside and a home clash with Bolton.
“If we can go on another little run, as we have before, then we are in with a great chance,” confident Tabb told the East Anglian Times.
“We had a mini-blip but it is not like we lost a load on the run.”
Stat Time
Head To Head
Middlesbrough Wins..........17 (28.33%)
Ipswich Town Wins...........29 (48.33%)
Draws...........................14 (23.33%)
Middlesbrough Goals.........74 (Ave. 1.23 Per Match)
Ipswich Town Goals...........96 (Ave. 1.60 Per Match)
Head To Head at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Wins...........12 (41.38/%)
Ipswich Town Wins............9 (31.03%)
Draws...........................8 (27.59%)
Middlesbrough Goals.........46 (Ave. 1.59 Per Match)
Ipswich Town Goals..........35 (Ave. 1.21 Per Match)
The Predicted Teams
Middlesbrough
13 Konstantopoulos
05 Fredericks
26 Kalas
06 Gibson
03 Friend
07 Leadbitter
08 Clayton
27 Adomah
10 Tomlin
23 Bamford
09 Garcia Martinez
Ipswich Town
01 Gerken
04 Chambers
05 Smith
06 Berra
03 Mings
27 Bishop
08 Skuse
18 Tabb
02 Parr
20 Sears
09 Murphy
Marko’s Caption Competition
Some funny captions past two weeks, especially from the Brentford game.
Scores as follows:
Norwich caption;
Quasar 4pts
Herforder 3pts
James 2pts
Brentford Caption;
Frosty 4pts
Ashfordblue 3pts
Herforder 2pts.
TABLE:
Herforder 37
Quasar 34
FrostyNZ 34
Blueblood 33
James Scharmann 32
The Don 29
Derick Ipsw 28
Bluemike 21
Barmy Billy 18
Ashfordblue 12
Supershred 12
LoudNProud 6
Jamma123 6
Floors 6
Nicsreamer 6
Ohiotractorboy 6
Number 9 5
Andy M 5
IpswichtownNo1 4
Charnwood 4
Mr Punch 4
JimmyT 3
Morph 3
Hallamblue 2
Have a go at this:
Match referee – Michael Jones
Final Thought - Frosty
The most important thing about last Saturdays result is that we didn’t lose which would have left us 4 points off the Playoff zone and equally it stopped a two game losing streak becoming any worse.
There is no doubt Middlesbrough will be a huge challenge this weekend, however for some reason we seem to do well against Boro, basically winning half and drawing a quarter of the total times we have met over the years.
Like us, Boro have had some patchy results recently. At home they have beaten Millwall and Bolton, before dropping their bundle against Leeds. Away recently has seen them pick up the preistley sum of zero points with losses against Wednesday and last weekend against Forest.
In other fixtures this weekend, ideally the Budgies and the Derby will share the points at Carrot Rd which would be super of them. Bournemouth and Brentford face Blackpool and Cardiff respectively, which they both no doubt see as winnable fixtures, whilst the Wolves (who are starting to snap at our heels) go off to the seaside to face Brighton.
What is interesting after last weeks results is that 4 teams now share first place with 66 points. At this stage of a season I doubt whether there has ever been that many teams tied on points at the top.
Another point of interest to this weeks fixture is that one Mr Leadbitter is jointly leading Boro’s goal scoring with 13 so far this season.
For those of you travelling to the Riverside this weekend ....... try and not fall in! COYB
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 IPSWICH TOWN 2
The Don's - 'Hottie Pick of the Week'
[/quote]
More of the same please.
but I pray not
This depends on what team gets picked, and the attitude pep talk Mick give them, they way things have panned out lately I cant see us taking any thing here either, 
2-0 Brough, 
but I'm hoping & praying for a 6 pointer and a 3-0 Town away win, come on shock me please.
