The fans are raring to go and with very good reason,
As we kick off today to start another new season,
Could this be the one we’ve all been praying for?
With success, entertainment, and goals by the score.

As we get under way I do really believe,
We owe a very big “Thank you” to our chairman, Steve,
For again digging deep in his own personal pocket,
For a shot at the Premiership; now, can we unlock it?

If the bank isn’t broken it certainly been bent,
But, if success should now follow, then it’s money well spent,
It may take quite a while for the new stars to gel,
But whoever they are, we wish them all well.

The big Dutchman’s signing left us “Over the moon,”
As did the other young star who’s from Cameroon,
But, perhaps, for most fans, the greatest of thrills,
Will be the awesome sight of Juninho’s skills.

Some fans spent the close season whinging and whining,
When they read of the little man’s “impending signing,”
But now that he’s here, let us all hope and pray,
We see him at his best alongside Maccarone.

I had just written this verse when I heard the news,
That the damage to the ‘little man’ was much more than a bruise,
So please join with me now in a message to ‘Jun.,’
“Keep your pecker up, son, and do get well real soon.”

So, even before the new season has started,
Many true Boro fans are now broken hearted,
They watched as his transfer stammered and stuttered,
But now they’re all feeling, well, totally gutted.

But, although the ‘wee man’s’ season is already in tatters,
It’s now what the others do that really matters,
I’m sure they’ll do well; get the points on the board,
Then welcome back the Brazilian who is, truly, adored.

Today down in Southampton, the weather is warm and sunny,
We’ve spent some twenty-millions – an awful lot of money,
When we brought in Maccarone, many Boro fans did frown,
But, give him the ammunition and he’ll shoot the ‘enemy’ down.

We started off this game today, with one of the bigger shocks,
When we learned there was no starting place for the Croatian, Boks,
The game kicks off in conditions, which are really warm and bright,
As we hear the sharp, shrill whistle, of the referee, Barry Knight.

It appeared we might get off to the very best of starts,
But Jones in the Southampton goal, broke all the Boro hearts,
It started at the other end when Schwarzer got them on the go,
When he picked out Marinelli with an unbelievable throw.

He instantly found Maccarone and, let us make no bones,
He should have done much better when confronted by big man, Jones,
He failed to round the ‘keeper and left all his colleagues shocked,
When he attempted the wrong option and then found his effort blocked.

Who’s going to score the first goal? I wouldn’t like to bet,
As Marsden charges in on goal for the first Southampton threat,
He gets one in across the goal, a really decent try,
Then sees it headed clear by Southgate; on him we can rely!

Ehiogu and Stockdale then got their knickers in a knot,
Allowing Saints’ star, Pahars, to get in a dangerous shot,
It lifted and it curled, the home side’s clearest chance so far,
The first hint of a Southampton goal flew closely o’er the bar.

After just about twelve minutes, the sight that no-one likes to see,
When debutant David Murphy sustained an injury to his knee,
His contribution so far had been absolutely super,
But he left the field in agony to be replaced by Colin Cooper.

This brought a Boro corner and Marinelli dropped it by the post,
Their goalie couldn’t hold it; of that he’ll surely never boast!
He came out to collect the ball but then we saw him fluff it,
And Whelan was so unlucky, hard though he tried to stuff it.

Almost instantaneously a Boro error, something rare,
Our regular defenders were, surprisingly, caught square,
Pahars was clearly onside and he almost brought a mighty shock,
Then Schwarzer, standing big and brave, brought off a marvellous block.

Boro caught square yet again; saw Saints attacking on the break,
Svensson was the man this time but the chance he couldn’t take,
He got clear of the ‘keeper and then he managed to shoot,
Fortunately for the Boro, the angle left was too acute.

So that’s twice we’ve been wide open and each time we’ve seen them miss,
But Boro are currently living on the edge of a precipice,
Twice we’ve been so lucky, now just you take my word,
That Saints will put the ball away if we offer them a third.

The defence isn’t too steady and we can’t seem to move together,
A scrappy opening fixture for which we cannot blame the weather,
After the opening minutes we’re now sitting far too deeply,
And as if that isn’t quite enough we’re giving the ball away too cheaply.

Hesitancy is seen once again as our goal is under assault,
This time it’s Robbie Stockdale, who finds himself at fault,
He should have put it out of play when he clearly wasn’t certain,
And this error and uncertainty was, for Boro, almost curtains.

Well done, Noel Whelan, whose play is really plucky,
He gets a cross to Maccarone, who is so desperately unlucky,
The new man got his head to it; will he score? What’s the betting?
His gamble failed to pay off and he shot into the netting.

The next little episode isn’t too hard for me to show in rhyme,
It was not so much like football, more like a pantomime,
Schwarzer scuffed a goal kick, which failed to enter play,
How the officials failed to see it is really difficult to say.

The kick-out by the ‘keeper didn’t clear the eighteen yards,
So obviously a re-take was clearly on the cards,
The ref. was looking elsewhere so the error he then missed,
But the main blame lay, undoubtedly, with the man paid to assist.

However, all was rectified, but just how daft can you get?
What would have been the situation had Pahars put it in the net?
But common sense at last prevailed; it was all a bit of fun,
And, thankfully for all concerned, no real damage had been done.

With six minutes still remaining, the Saints’ tempo has been lifted,
As, just twenty yards from goal, a free kick they’re now gifted,
It deflected for a corner and how the Boro fought,
Eventually managed to clear it so the corner came to nought.

Maccarone once again was really beginning to figure,
Southgate put him through on goal and then he pulled the trigger,
He might well have done better but he showed tremendous skill,
Then the whistle blew to end the half; score standing at nil-nil.

As the second session’s under way we see Nemeth on for Whelan,
“Saints are there for the taking,” I’m sure that that’s the feeling,
Then within a matter of moments we see defending really dire,
But Southgate, who’s the culprit, recovers to retrieve us from the mire.

Then came an almighty scramble, though Saints soon clear the danger,
Nemeth played one low and hard up to Boro’s own ‘Lone Ranger,’
Marinelli nutmegged someone, so far the game’s best thrill,
That came so very close to Boro 1 – Southampton nil.

Geremi showed great vision; his ball to Greening quite a beauty,
His skill and execution wonderful but his marker did his duty,
It would seem to me Southampton have the greater cause to sweat,
For it’s Boro now, undoubtedly, posing the greater threat.

Suddenly things look better and our movement is much crisper,
However, don’t shout too loud just yet, but say it in a whisper,
Then everyone was most surprised to see Southampton, bless ‘em,
Take off the dangerous Pahars, to be replaced by Tessem.

Marsden homing in on goal lets go a real hum-dinger,
Schwarzer couldn’t hold it and I bet it burnt his finger,
But he held on tight the second time, showing great resistance,
And he would surely take some beating, by anyone, from that distance.

Suddenly we see danger; one can clearly see the signs,
But, standing guard is Ugo, who casually clears his lines,
Straight up to the other end then hear the Boro fans’ moans,
Macca on to Nemeth; shot then safely held by Jones.

Marinelli on a fantastic run, my, how this man is gifted!
Beating one man then the next, the team is suddenly lifted,
Quick one-two with Macca – the two look on a roll,
Blocked at the very last moment – denied a truly fabulous goal.

Then Schwarzer saved us once again when it might have been much bleaker,
And we were suddenly all ‘entertained’ by the appearance of a streaker,
Brought down to ground by stewards, his ‘embarrassment’ quickly hid,
No doubt to appear before ‘The Beak’ for a fine of several quid.

But let’s get back to football, that’s why the crowd had roared,
For everyone felt certain that the Saints had finally scored,
They were again frustrated, by the giant man from Oz,
And the home fans were all cheering for a goal that never was.

Now we see another change, this time in Boro’s attack,
When Croatian Alan Boksic comes on for Italian Macc,
Within a matter of moments, big Boksic showed great flair,
To be denied by ‘keeper Jones, who managed to clutch it from the air.

So the time ticked by so slowly and I think that, on reflection,
A draw was quite a fair result, but certainly not perfection,
Boksic twice so narrowly failed when he had Saints in a headlock,
Each time finding the side netting thus he failed to break the deadlock.