Anoraknaphobia

10 Things to know about Middlesbrough FC

1. Middlesbrough were formed by members of the town's cricket team in 1875.

2. Their best ever season in the top flight came in 1914 when they finished 3rd.

3. They've reached only one FA Cup final, losing to Chelsea in 1997.

4. They've been runners up in The League Cup twice, losing to us in 1997 and Chelsea in 1998.

5. So basically speaking; as they set up there they’ve won nowt.

6. Their current manager Bryan Robson is the oldest player ever to have played for them being just 10 days short of his 40th birthday. When he played against Arsenal on New Year's Day in 1997.

7. Their chairman is so rich that he let's his manager buy whoever he wants, at whatever price and stands firmly by his side and watches enthralled as the team continues to flounder.

8. They've got a nice new ground with a nice name: Riverside. That's what we want when we move a nice new ground with a nice new (not sponsored/corporate) name.

9. They continue to spend £m's..and the world sits and waits for them to perform: e.g. Rvanelli, Juninho, Ziege, Gascoigne, Merson etc etc etc.

10. Bryan Robson is so miserable.

I actually work with 'Boro fan, he said I could quote him: 'We stand no chance against you.' So there's faith if you like. He blames Robson rather like British Rail blame leaves on the track. He buys the wrong players, build no team spirit, can't coach, has no personality, but he just keeps getting away with it.

Last season was arguably the toughest season for 'Boro under Robson and how they didn't get relegated after some really appalling results I don't know.

The players seem morose and at odds with each other. Robson in his playing days was given the label Captain Marvel, quite how I never understood as all teams he played for underachieved including Man Utd and England. He has now worked on Teeside for seven years!!..surely if he loses this one he'll have to go'..but we've said that before now haven't we.

They have no players worth worrying about and our strong running attackers, defiant midfielders and dogmatic defenders, we could be on for another victory.

Last Match City Player Analysis

Flowers: I thought he looked tentative in the warm up, but he was faultless during the game.

Rowett: Must be over 30..otherwise shouldn't he be in the England Squad?

Elliott: Brilliant for 90mis,

Davidson: Over cautious, should have had a penalty as he was upended in the box , but Shearer didn't approve, so we got no penalty.

Taggart: Stuck to the task with great conviction.

Izzett: Very, very good from start to finish, a genuine box to box player.

Savage: Totally and utterly brilliant.

Lennon: A good player but he can leave if he wants.

Akinbiyi: Despite a fluffed chance he played well, winning the ball holding it up and positive in the air.

Benjamin: Definitely worth an extended run

Subs:

Gunnlaugsson: A great goal, the best free kicker in the team, is now emerging as a strong contender for regular inclusion.

Leicester are a very good away side....Boro are poor at home so ......make your own mind up.

Copyright.