Having seen the Birmingham game on my newly installed satellite system here in Cairo and thoroughly enjoyed the way we played, the pace, the endeavour, and above all the outright attacking nature of the team. I have been amazed at the level of interest in the Prem and more importantly in Boro.
I seriously think that I would have a Boro shirt, with Mido or Shawky written on it, ripped from my back, such is the level of interest.
It probably helps in sparking comments having a Boro Tat' but lots of people as soon as I mention being a Boro fan, are wanting to know all about the Boro. Not just the team, but the town, the people etc.
Ok, so you might say why would you bring up Boro in casual conversation? Well I am sorry for those of you who are a bit on the plastic side, but being Boro is a major part of me, moan as I might when things aren't going well, it is more than just a tat on my arm. As i said to my ex wife when she asked why the Boro and not a tat with her name in it.... "Aw c'mon, I will always love the Boro..." Unintentionally prophetic.
The Egyptians love football, and they really want their players to succeed abroad, and I have to agree that I would love those two to be in a top four team, yeah, thats Boro in the top four, not them playing for someone else. They want to know how we played, how good was Mido, and even though he hasn't played how good do we think Shawky is, and a question I have been asked a stack of times "why you no take Moteab".. Which of course I have no idea, although having seen Ahly play twice in a week I can understand why the 'Gate sent him back, no real penetration. So now you can expect him to get a hatful and the conversation will be back to how little I know :-)
As for Saturdays game.... I have criticised Gareth and Steve Mac in the past, but I have to say the 'Gate seems to have found a formula. The passing was good, the movement was excellent, we just need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. I was dissapointed that Ali baba failed to score, because I thought he really deserved it, worked so hard, got into position, I am sure he will get a hatful this season if Gareth keeps faith with him, which on that performance it would be hard to see why he wouldn't.
We need to take maximum points from the next two games, West Ham and the Scum from the Seaside. We have got to ram it so far up the mackems that they can taste it from inside. They looked organised against United, but then again, Fergies Fags looked so uneasy at being shorn of their creative flair that they were not too much of a threat. Lets take six points after the international break and then lets see where we are in the table....
C'mon Boro.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Phew, thank God for that !!
Three points yipee, we are off the mark.
Ok, it might not have been a convincing display but at least we have got points on the board before next weeks clash with the monochrome mackems.
I haven't seen the game so forgive me. I had to "watch" it on BBC's online commentary... Gary Lineker said he preferred to watch Wimbledon on teletext because it was less boring... Sorry Gary you have never tried supporting a team and watching on something that only updates every two minutes. I really don't have any finger nails left, and when the Catt got the second goal all I could do was pace around the place waiting for the next update, all the while dreading it would go the wrong way.
A couple of goals and what sound like reasonable assists will give everyone a real shot in the arm. Mido will be flying, as long as the ankle he turned is ok. It doesn't matter how you get them, the first goal for a new club is absolutely critical. Look at the flak big Peter Crouch took when he didn't score for ages. Closer to home I still remember Peter Davenport struggling badly after he didn't get a goal for a while, it took him ten games eventually, but as these things turn out his first Boro goal was against his old club.....Man U. Knock out. In the same game I recall Gary Pally getting a hard time from Mark Hughes, until he kidney punched him about half an hour in. I couldn't beleive the ref and linesman hadn't seen it, almost everyone in the Holgate did !! We just about pissed ourselves at the sight of Sparky going down like a sack of spuds and Pally just jogging away looking at him like, "whats up with you?"
I just hope we get a few players back for next weeks big game, we have to turn the black'n'white shite over. Looking at the comments on a few of the chat pages, they are butting in left right and centre gloating about how good they are. I hate to say it but they look like they could have a good season, filth. It would be nice to bring them down a peg or two (oh please, oh please, oh please). Hopefully by the time we get around to playing the other bunch of trash up the road Mr Keane will have been humbled a little bit. Far too arrogant that one, although I have to say I loved his rant at WAGS in the middle of the week.
I have lived in London and its a fantastic place to live if you've got the cash to enjoy it, but to be honest, the shopping is not that great, don't get me wrong, all the big designer names are there and you can spend a fortune on really nice stuff, but it takes you hours to get there and back again and there are so many hassles involved, even if you have got a big limo and you can park where you like. Sorry, but I prefer nipping into Psyche, across the road to Bakers, then down to Triads, or if you have to do a lot of stuff in one go, nipping up to the Metro Centre. What are these boys like letting the Totty rule there lives, well said Mr Keane. Now shut up and get your team back where they belong.... In the Championship.
I won't pass comment until I see how we played, but a win is a big confidence booster, now we have really got to get behind the team and lift them against the barcoders. Lets show them who the top team in the North East is.
C'Mon Boro.
Ok, it might not have been a convincing display but at least we have got points on the board before next weeks clash with the monochrome mackems.
I haven't seen the game so forgive me. I had to "watch" it on BBC's online commentary... Gary Lineker said he preferred to watch Wimbledon on teletext because it was less boring... Sorry Gary you have never tried supporting a team and watching on something that only updates every two minutes. I really don't have any finger nails left, and when the Catt got the second goal all I could do was pace around the place waiting for the next update, all the while dreading it would go the wrong way.
A couple of goals and what sound like reasonable assists will give everyone a real shot in the arm. Mido will be flying, as long as the ankle he turned is ok. It doesn't matter how you get them, the first goal for a new club is absolutely critical. Look at the flak big Peter Crouch took when he didn't score for ages. Closer to home I still remember Peter Davenport struggling badly after he didn't get a goal for a while, it took him ten games eventually, but as these things turn out his first Boro goal was against his old club.....Man U. Knock out. In the same game I recall Gary Pally getting a hard time from Mark Hughes, until he kidney punched him about half an hour in. I couldn't beleive the ref and linesman hadn't seen it, almost everyone in the Holgate did !! We just about pissed ourselves at the sight of Sparky going down like a sack of spuds and Pally just jogging away looking at him like, "whats up with you?"
I just hope we get a few players back for next weeks big game, we have to turn the black'n'white shite over. Looking at the comments on a few of the chat pages, they are butting in left right and centre gloating about how good they are. I hate to say it but they look like they could have a good season, filth. It would be nice to bring them down a peg or two (oh please, oh please, oh please). Hopefully by the time we get around to playing the other bunch of trash up the road Mr Keane will have been humbled a little bit. Far too arrogant that one, although I have to say I loved his rant at WAGS in the middle of the week.
I have lived in London and its a fantastic place to live if you've got the cash to enjoy it, but to be honest, the shopping is not that great, don't get me wrong, all the big designer names are there and you can spend a fortune on really nice stuff, but it takes you hours to get there and back again and there are so many hassles involved, even if you have got a big limo and you can park where you like. Sorry, but I prefer nipping into Psyche, across the road to Bakers, then down to Triads, or if you have to do a lot of stuff in one go, nipping up to the Metro Centre. What are these boys like letting the Totty rule there lives, well said Mr Keane. Now shut up and get your team back where they belong.... In the Championship.
I won't pass comment until I see how we played, but a win is a big confidence booster, now we have really got to get behind the team and lift them against the barcoders. Lets show them who the top team in the North East is.
C'Mon Boro.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Egypt
Well, here I am in sunny Egypt, its like Seaton Carew with Sun. Oh and slightly fewer scally's.
A bit of background, I'm here on a secondment from work, Oil and Gas Industry, onshore and offshore facilities to be managed.
I arrived on the 4th of August and I knew there was no getting out for a little respite until my visa came through. And THAT is where the fun starts.
Egypt is like England in the 70's without the rain of course (but the cars look smilar) only in certain ways of course. What I mean is that Egypt is highly beaurocratic, getting a visa means going through several layers of bs before I even got to have my HIV test, yes that is one of the hurdles to be cleared.... Here in Africa, with the highest rate of AIDS in the world, a civilised westerner, well ok me in this case, on a short term (two years) secondment with full international medical insurance, has to have an HIV test, before they give me a visa. Quite surreal, I am in greater danger here than anywhere else, well of course I could be personal situations apart, there is no chance of getting laid unless you know your way around the muslim world far better than a Johnny come lately like me.
Apparently it is possible, I have been informed, but you have to make promises you won't keep to the lady in question (sounds like some girls from my teenage years; I might write a post about that if there is enought positive feedback on the subject). This obviously leads to much upset later and to be honest I wouldn't know if it is worth it.
You can take the age old method of procuring a sex life, but lets be honest, its not worth it really. You are liable to end up with some poor kid who has been dragged here from some somalian hell hole and forced into the oldest trade to stay alive.
Anyway back to the visa, now I have had the HIV test I am not allowed to leave the country until the work permit and residency visa come through. I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones, my company are dealing with all of this for me and I just have to turn up at certain governemnt buildings to prove who I am, have some blood taken, and several other reasons of which I am unclear; show your passport, show your face, then bugger off back to work !!!
So hopefully I will get all of my paperwork sorted out soon and I will be able to come and go as I please. The reason for me wanting to get out of the country is not complicated, a beautiful eleven year old son, who is still at home in Teesside (his Mothers home, that is but I will be writing a post about some of that later), not for long, just enough time to maintain some level of fatherly responsibilty. Getting a driving licence for here is just as much of a problem, but I am sure you are bored with that already
Cairo itself is a strange mix. I think they gave up on building regs in certain areas when they stopped building those big pointy things a couple of thousand years ago. In some areas you have beautiful green suburbs, obviously with ruddy great potholes in the road, beggars, dead dogs, and no pavements worth a sod, but you know, most of the buildings look like they probably won't fall down in the first decent draught. Then you go to several other places and it looks like they are built out of the sand that surrounds the place. Ah yes, of course with an AC unit badly attached to the side.
The people are however, amazingly friendly, despite some stories I had heard prior to coming here, I have yet to see a really obnoxious Egyptian, well apart from the touts and tour guides at the pyramids. A warm smile and a cheery hello immediately receives a big smile and a warm welcome. Many Egyptians have very little, but if they are eating a meal as you pass and you give a cheery greeting, you are guaranteed to be offered a little of what they have, declining turns out to be the hardest part, they are so willing to share with you. Now don't get me wrong there are places where the beggars have nothing and all they want from you is a couple of Piastres or Pounds. But when you consider the exchange rate is greater than ten to one, giving them an Egyptian pound as you pass is like giving them ten pence, or about 14 (Euro) cents, it won't do your pocket any harm, and it will actually feed some of them for the day, unlike giving a quid to a drunken Jock begging on the tube, he might get a cheap can of lager for that I guess.
On the other side of the Egyptian coin, there is actually great wealth here, and it can be quite ostentacious, there are lots of very nice flash cars floating around, and sitting in the Grand Cafe on the side of the Nile, or the Garden Patio in the Marriot Hotel, you can see it in the clothes and jewellery being displayed, because the Egyptians do like to display their wealth. Another way they do this is by ordering huge amounts of food, then leaving half of it, "because I can afford it" is what they are saying in a most wasteful way. Its brought to the attention of how wasteful in seconds of leaving these places, as a small child in rags asks you for some money.
Apparently in the Islamic faith you are supossed help the needy, as a person with a conscience but no religion, I can't help but give the kids some small notes, but a lot of these well to do locals seem to have forgotten the teachings of their own faith.
I hope to get some photo's posted as a guided tour later.
To be continued....
A bit of background, I'm here on a secondment from work, Oil and Gas Industry, onshore and offshore facilities to be managed.
I arrived on the 4th of August and I knew there was no getting out for a little respite until my visa came through. And THAT is where the fun starts.
Egypt is like England in the 70's without the rain of course (but the cars look smilar) only in certain ways of course. What I mean is that Egypt is highly beaurocratic, getting a visa means going through several layers of bs before I even got to have my HIV test, yes that is one of the hurdles to be cleared.... Here in Africa, with the highest rate of AIDS in the world, a civilised westerner, well ok me in this case, on a short term (two years) secondment with full international medical insurance, has to have an HIV test, before they give me a visa. Quite surreal, I am in greater danger here than anywhere else, well of course I could be personal situations apart, there is no chance of getting laid unless you know your way around the muslim world far better than a Johnny come lately like me.
Apparently it is possible, I have been informed, but you have to make promises you won't keep to the lady in question (sounds like some girls from my teenage years; I might write a post about that if there is enought positive feedback on the subject). This obviously leads to much upset later and to be honest I wouldn't know if it is worth it.
You can take the age old method of procuring a sex life, but lets be honest, its not worth it really. You are liable to end up with some poor kid who has been dragged here from some somalian hell hole and forced into the oldest trade to stay alive.
Anyway back to the visa, now I have had the HIV test I am not allowed to leave the country until the work permit and residency visa come through. I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones, my company are dealing with all of this for me and I just have to turn up at certain governemnt buildings to prove who I am, have some blood taken, and several other reasons of which I am unclear; show your passport, show your face, then bugger off back to work !!!
So hopefully I will get all of my paperwork sorted out soon and I will be able to come and go as I please. The reason for me wanting to get out of the country is not complicated, a beautiful eleven year old son, who is still at home in Teesside (his Mothers home, that is but I will be writing a post about some of that later), not for long, just enough time to maintain some level of fatherly responsibilty. Getting a driving licence for here is just as much of a problem, but I am sure you are bored with that already
Cairo itself is a strange mix. I think they gave up on building regs in certain areas when they stopped building those big pointy things a couple of thousand years ago. In some areas you have beautiful green suburbs, obviously with ruddy great potholes in the road, beggars, dead dogs, and no pavements worth a sod, but you know, most of the buildings look like they probably won't fall down in the first decent draught. Then you go to several other places and it looks like they are built out of the sand that surrounds the place. Ah yes, of course with an AC unit badly attached to the side.
The people are however, amazingly friendly, despite some stories I had heard prior to coming here, I have yet to see a really obnoxious Egyptian, well apart from the touts and tour guides at the pyramids. A warm smile and a cheery hello immediately receives a big smile and a warm welcome. Many Egyptians have very little, but if they are eating a meal as you pass and you give a cheery greeting, you are guaranteed to be offered a little of what they have, declining turns out to be the hardest part, they are so willing to share with you. Now don't get me wrong there are places where the beggars have nothing and all they want from you is a couple of Piastres or Pounds. But when you consider the exchange rate is greater than ten to one, giving them an Egyptian pound as you pass is like giving them ten pence, or about 14 (Euro) cents, it won't do your pocket any harm, and it will actually feed some of them for the day, unlike giving a quid to a drunken Jock begging on the tube, he might get a cheap can of lager for that I guess.
On the other side of the Egyptian coin, there is actually great wealth here, and it can be quite ostentacious, there are lots of very nice flash cars floating around, and sitting in the Grand Cafe on the side of the Nile, or the Garden Patio in the Marriot Hotel, you can see it in the clothes and jewellery being displayed, because the Egyptians do like to display their wealth. Another way they do this is by ordering huge amounts of food, then leaving half of it, "because I can afford it" is what they are saying in a most wasteful way. Its brought to the attention of how wasteful in seconds of leaving these places, as a small child in rags asks you for some money.
Apparently in the Islamic faith you are supossed help the needy, as a person with a conscience but no religion, I can't help but give the kids some small notes, but a lot of these well to do locals seem to have forgotten the teachings of their own faith.
I hope to get some photo's posted as a guided tour later.
To be continued....
Ayersome Days
Or should that be Awesome Days.....
Is it just me or does anyone else who used to go to watch the Boro back then feel that the acheivements (oh alright there weren't that many) of 100 years have been swept under the carpet by the current marketing extravaganza? (hahaha, Lamby and Marketing Extravaganza, I nearly wet myself when I thought about that).
All those years ago, like pre Riverside, sorry to all the late comers but we had a history before the Riverside you know, we used to have a laugh at the match. A couple of pints in the Yella Rose or the Albert Park, before running like mad to get in before they played... pick your tune here kiddies, the Hansa, The Powergame, or even that F*cking bugle. Grabbing a program, and then after liquidation a copy of FMTTM, forcing your way through the crowd (mmm, sometimes) to get to your favourite spot. For me that was the girder to the left of the goal as you looked down from the mighty Holgate. I was first taken there when I was about ten, by my Dad, he had a bunch of work mates who used to stand there, the Cleveland Transit boys - they were all bus drivers, and they certainly opened my little ears to a few new phrases I can tell you.
As I grew up and the crowds grew thinner there developed a new crowd of people standing in that area, and although I don't remember the names of the blokes I watched the game with, I can remember every one of them as if it was yesterday. The old bloke with the flat cap, the speccy lad, who was the sole member of the Alan Kernaghan fan club, the ex bus drivers, the pie muncher, he really did arrive with one every week and invariably sprayed it over most of the lads in front whenever something wasn't to his pleasure, which was most of the time as I recall. It was like a little family, we watched we worried and we celebrated or comiserated at the final whistle.
Before the Holgate my old fella would only take me in the Boys end, but that soon stopped after a particularly interesting Derby match with Sunderland, when the fighting spilled past the East End into the boys end and we only saw about half of the match, before moving round the ground at the behest of the stewards, ah the good old days.
I have tried to get videos, dvds, etc over the years that show anything pre Riverside and its not an easy thing to do, I would love to see some footage from games like the 7-2 battering of Chelsea, circa 1980, or the game against Liverpool when big Billy Ashcroft scored from about 35 yards, I suspect that was '79, but can't be sure.
I also want to see footage of Brucey's Babe's. I have argued with some that the football played by that team was some of the best I have ever seen, two touch, pass and move, always looking to attack, obviously some disagree, it would be nice to be able to put some of that in perspective but it seems that history has vanished from the back catalogue at MFC.
On the subject of Brucey's Babe's, some of the recent publications from the club brought a smile to my face, reading recollections from the team in "Class of 86"certainly brought a smile to my face, some of them remember it like I do.
What a start to the season !!
Ok, lets not get this out of perspective, we haven't had a good start, but we have had worse. Remember McLarens first season in charge, lets hope we don't have the same thing obviously but lets give Gareth some time.
Being in Egypt I am getting some interesting feedback from the locals, Mido could be a good signing if we can get him fit. The Egyptians don't think he has an attitude problem and they rate him highly (check out my post on Egypt to get that into context though).
I have also heard that we are supposed to be in for another player "the best midfielder in Africa" was the description, plays or played for Al Ahly, (Sometimes the translation can be difficult), now this means a few things, Ahly are indeed the best team in Africa at the moment, but having seen a couple of their games on telly (a bit like Sven eh!!) they aren't quite European standard, however if he is that good, I hope we get him. Whoever he is?
It seems like we have kept our Jeckyl and Hyde standards from last year, but without the cutting edge of the big Aussie. I hope the press speculation dies down soon for Yakubu, or we sell him and bring in a huge name, because its clear all of the talk is getting to him.
What we need if we sell the Yak is a real quality strike and not one of these Beattie types. Although I don't know where we would pull that one out of the hat, so i would prefer to see the Yak get his nose back to the grindstone.
I am really worried about Gareths strategic thinking.
The last two games we have ended up depleting our strike force toward the end of the game when we desperately needed goals. I admire young Wheater, I think he will go a long way in the game, but pushing him forward as a battering ram at the end of the game i snot what he is there for. It was one thing for Brucey to push Mogga forward all those years ago, or even everyones favourite spud, Big Al Kernaghan*. But come on GS sort it out man, you need to plan every avenue before the start of the game, not make it up as you go along.
Don't get me wrong Ilike GS and I think he will be a good manager, but right now I think strategically, the team of him and Super Cooper are abit lacking in that department. Maybe we need a little help in the backroom form a man with the experience to make a few subtle changes in the pre match planning. I don't mean El Tel, but someone with that level of experience might be a useful addition to the team.
*I have recoded a few thoughts on the good old days on a post entitled "Ayresome Days".
Being in Egypt I am getting some interesting feedback from the locals, Mido could be a good signing if we can get him fit. The Egyptians don't think he has an attitude problem and they rate him highly (check out my post on Egypt to get that into context though).
I have also heard that we are supposed to be in for another player "the best midfielder in Africa" was the description, plays or played for Al Ahly, (Sometimes the translation can be difficult), now this means a few things, Ahly are indeed the best team in Africa at the moment, but having seen a couple of their games on telly (a bit like Sven eh!!) they aren't quite European standard, however if he is that good, I hope we get him. Whoever he is?
It seems like we have kept our Jeckyl and Hyde standards from last year, but without the cutting edge of the big Aussie. I hope the press speculation dies down soon for Yakubu, or we sell him and bring in a huge name, because its clear all of the talk is getting to him.
What we need if we sell the Yak is a real quality strike and not one of these Beattie types. Although I don't know where we would pull that one out of the hat, so i would prefer to see the Yak get his nose back to the grindstone.
I am really worried about Gareths strategic thinking.
The last two games we have ended up depleting our strike force toward the end of the game when we desperately needed goals. I admire young Wheater, I think he will go a long way in the game, but pushing him forward as a battering ram at the end of the game i snot what he is there for. It was one thing for Brucey to push Mogga forward all those years ago, or even everyones favourite spud, Big Al Kernaghan*. But come on GS sort it out man, you need to plan every avenue before the start of the game, not make it up as you go along.
Don't get me wrong Ilike GS and I think he will be a good manager, but right now I think strategically, the team of him and Super Cooper are abit lacking in that department. Maybe we need a little help in the backroom form a man with the experience to make a few subtle changes in the pre match planning. I don't mean El Tel, but someone with that level of experience might be a useful addition to the team.
*I have recoded a few thoughts on the good old days on a post entitled "Ayresome Days".
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