* The Unofficial "Official" Boro v Spurs. FA Cup. 5th Round. Match-day Thread *

[r00fie1]

Its our time......


Of all those teams who have taken part in the competition for the Football Association Challenge Cup - we are into the last 16 !

>>>>>>
Unlike Sunderland
Newcastle
Leeds
Arsenal
Everton
MANCHESTER UNITED

Leicester
Forest
Bournemouth
Fulham
et al
>>>>>
We are here on merit and have not just "come along for the ride". [Chris Wilder].



A close call against The Stags on a wet Saturday afternoon - then a brilliant night against the "Biggest club in the World" - we face the next big challenge in this roller-coaster season. We were disappointed and hurt by the defeat against Barnsley on Saturday and we know why. This isnt the same "Boro" which started the season. We`ve raised the bar much higher. Defeat isnt acceptable. The "core" team remains - Chris Wilder has been in place since Monday 8th November - 2 days after our 1-1 draw against West Brom at an overcast Hawthorns. He`s brought in a new Management Team and a positive mentality - like a gale of fresh air sweeping away the cobwebs - a Wilder Wind. In spite of the inevitable set-backs - this is a Team, a Club, a Manager and us Fans - going places we havent dreampt of for a number of years. The feeling of excitement, of hope and positive anticipation is a delight to be part of. Undoubtedly, big changes and big challenges will face us along the way - particularly in the Summer. Chris Wilder says he has already targeted new signings, not just in the up-coming transfer window, but next Christmas and the summer after that. In addition, there are those already looking to leave and seek pastures new.

Its astonishing the transformation: from the spluttering, inconsistent outfit, which began the season back in August. Dont know about you - but my knuckles are white, gripping on to the roller coaster! Hold on tight.

Its like everything on earth at the moment "Being a Red"!




Upcoming FA Cup Games:









Latest Form [All Competitions]

 

[r00fie1]

Red And White Shorts:
January 2020

[3:46]
Ashley Fletcher and Lucas Moura get the goals as Jonathan Woodgate's Middlesbrough take Tottenham to a replay.

 

[r00fie1]

Match Preview:

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Spurs - prediction, team news

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's FA Cup clash between Middlesbrough

www.sportsmole.co.uk

Middlesbrough vs. Tottenham Hotspur - prediction, team news, lineups​

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 1d

English


Tottenham Hotspur will be aiming to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup when they travel to the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday evening to take on Middlesbrough.
Spurs beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 at home in the previous round of the competition, while Middlesbrough overcame Manchester United at Old Trafford, winning a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

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Match preview​

© Reuters
Middlesbrough were second best for long stages of their clash with Man United in the fourth round of the competition, and it would be fair to say that their leveller from Matt Crooks was controversial, with Duncan Watmore appearing to handle the ball before his teammate converted from close range.

Crooks's goal was allowed to stand, though, and Boro, who reached the final of the 1997 FA Cup before losing to Chelsea, won 8-7 on penalties at Old Trafford to advance to the fifth round, and they will now be looking to claim another Premier League scalp in the shape of Tottenham.

Chris Wilder's side will enter Tuesday's contest off the back of a 3-2 defeat at Barnsley in the Championship on Saturday, which left them in eighth spot in the table, two points off the top six.

Boro have actually won their last seven matches in front of their own supporters so should be full of confidence heading into Tuesday's contest, especially as they have not lost a home FA Cup tie since January 2018, including a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in the third round of the 2019-20 competition before losing the replay.

Middlesbrough have not beaten Spurs in any competition since a 2-1 success in the Premier League back in August 2008, though, which proved to be their first victory over the North London club since May 2005.

© Reuters
Following their 3-2 victory away to Manchester City on February 19, Tottenham were brought crashing back down to earth at Burnley last week, suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Clarets at Turf Moor.

Antonio Conte's side returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, though, beating Leeds United 4-0 in the Premier League, with the result leaving them in seventh spot in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with two games in hand.

Spurs have had to win two home matches to progress to this stage of the FA Cup, recording a 3-1 victory over Morecambe on January 9 before beating Brighton by the same scoreline at the start of February.

Tottenham have won the FA Cup on eight previous occasions, the last of which was in 1991, when they beat Nottingham Forest in the final, and the North London club have not managed to win a major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008, which is simply too long for a team of their ilk.
Conte will be desperate to lead his side into the quarter-finals of the competition on Tuesday night, but Middlesbrough have already shown this season that they are capable of beating top-tier opposition.

Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

• W
• D
• W
• L
• W
• L

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

• W
• L
• L
• W
• L
• W

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Team News​

© Reuters
Middlesbrough will again be without the services of Marc Bola due to a knee injury, but Crooks is back from a suspension and should return to the starting side.

There is every chance that Wilder could select the same XI that started the previous round against Man United, with Folarin Balogun being joined by Andraz Sporar in the final third of the field.

As a result, Watmore, who played a key role in Boro's leveller at Old Trafford, is likely to drop down to the bench, while Crooks's return is likely to see James Lea Siliki come out of the side.

As for Tottenham, Rodrigo Bentancur will miss out with an ankle problem, while Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga are still on the sidelines due to their recent issues.

Lucas Moura will also be unavailable for the FA Cup contest, having missed out on Saturday's match against Leeds due to a knock that he picked up in training.

Conte could freshen his wing-backs for this match, with Emerson Royal and Sergio Reguilon potentially coming into the side, while Davinson Sanchez could replace Cristian Romero at the back, but Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski should start as the front three once again.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Dijksteel, Fry, McNair; Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Taylor; Balogun, Sporar

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Winks, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son

---

We say: Middlesbrough 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur​

Tottenham will not take Middlesbrough lightly, and it is set to be a fascinating battle at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night. We fancy the home side to score at some stage, but Kane and Son were excellent against Leeds at the weekend, and the pair could combine again to send Spurs into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

 

[r00fie1]

Antonio Conte has provided an injury update on his Tottenham players

Antonio Conte has provided an update on the players who were unavailable against Leeds and it isn't good news ahead of their FA Cup tie

www.football.london

Antonio Conte confirms injury blows for Tottenham ahead of FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough​

Antonio Conte has provided an update on the players who were unavailable against Leeds and it isn't good news ahead of their FA Cup tie


Antonio Conte has confirmed that he will still have the four players who were unavailable against Leeds out of the matchday squad when Tottenham travel to Middlesbrough.

Spurs make the trip to Teesside to play their FA Cup tie on the back of a 4-0 victory over Leeds on Saturday, which was a positive response from their midweek defeat against Burnley.

The Lilywhites will play the cup competition match after beating Morecambe and then Brighton to get to the fifth round.

Chris Wilder's side beat Manchester United on penalties in the fourth round to get to this stage of the competition and therefore it won't be an easy game for Conte's side against the Championship outfit who are pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

Ahead of Tuesday's match, the Italian provided the disappointing injury news in his pre-match press conference.

"Same squad as we have to face Leeds. No [Oliver] Skipp, [Japhet] Tanganga, [Lucas] Moura or [Rodrigo] Bentancur," he admitted.

Skipp is out with a groin injury, Tanganga has an issue with his knee and Bentancur injured his ankle in the defeat against Burnley.

The trio were already confirmed to be out of the matchday squad against Leeds when Conte spoke to the media on Friday but Moura was only ruled out of the squad on the day of the game, after it was revealed he had sustained an injury in training on Friday.

All four players provide the Italian with some much needed options in matches and both Skipp and Tanganga have been unavailable since Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League.

Bentancur's injury is a blow to Spurs not long after he arrived in the capital during the summer and although Dejan Kulusevski has been playing well alongside Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, Moura also provides another attacking outlet.

This leaves Conte with a lack of options outside his strongest XI and has left room on the bench for the likes of Dane Scarlett, Harvey White and Alfie Devine.

The 52-year-old will need to make some decisions in regards to how he lines up against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, to give his side the best possible chance of progressing in the cup competition and get one step closer to ending Tottenham's near-14 year trophy drought.

 

[r00fie1]

Last Time At The Riverside:

Tottenham Hotspur avoid early FA Cup exit at Middlesbrough after Lucas Moura saves Jose Mourinho blushes

Jose Mourinho is rapidly discovering that the life of a Tottenham Hotspur manager tends to be dominated by conversations about Harry Kane as his side just about avoided an embarrassingly early FA Cup exit against Middlesbrough.

www.telegraph.co.uk

​

Tottenham Hotspur avoid early FA Cup exit at Middlesbrough after Lucas Moura saves Jose Mourinho blushes​

Jose Mourinho is rapidly discovering that the life of a Tottenham Hotspur manager tends to be dominated by conversations about Harry Kane as his side just about avoided an embarrassingly early FA Cup exit against Middlesbrough.

Without Kane, their captain, talisman and most reliable source of goals, Spurs looked uncertain, constantly looking for a pass that was not there to someone they are still adjusting to playing without.

It has been a recurring issue for this team and Mourinho did not try to disguise the fact he thinks it will continue to be. Several times, as he defended the result and the performance, he used the phrase “playing without a striker”. That is not something you accidentally let slip.

Not that he would not say how long Kane would be out for, merely repeating that “it is not a small injury” to his hamstring. There is a growing feeling the England captain’s absence will be measured in months rather than weeks.

“It’s not going to be Harry, Harry,” replied Mourinho when asked another question about his star player. “I’m not going to be talking about him in every press conference, we have what we have and we cannot use Lucas Moura or Son [Heung-min] as a No 9 like Harry Kane, so we have to do other things and that is what we are going to do while Harry is out.

“Every minute he is out is a big loss because he is a big player for us, but we have to accept it and fight with the boys we have.”
At least Spurs avoided defeat here because this was a tricky tie against an in-form Middlesbrough side who seem to have found a fine young manager in Jonathan Woodgate.

Boro did themselves proud and although Spurs enjoyed more than 70 per cent of possession, they were neither precise nor imaginative enough to slice through the home team’s defensive formation.

In contrast, Boro’s sprightly, youthful side, who have sprinted up the Championship table over the past few weeks, caused plenty of problems with the speed of their counter-attacks. They also rattled Spurs at set-pieces, creating the ideal conditions for an upset.

The Teessiders may well have gone in front in the first half from a corner, delivered by Paddy McNair and met by Dael Fry at the far post. But his header was saved by the feet of Paulo Gazzaniga, who also did well to block Fry’s follow-up. Still the danger was not over and, when the ball fell to George Saville in the middle of the area, his shot was cleared off the line by Toby Alderweireld.

Boro continued to impress, finally getting their noses in front early in the second half. It was a terrible goal to concede from a Tottenham point of view, Saville looking up, spotting the space behind the defence and looping a high ball over the top for Ashley Fletcher to run on to.

With no video assistant referee to rule that his armpit or toe had strayed offside, he was in on goal and finished with a low shot under Gazzaniga’s leg.

Spurs were rocked, Mourinho looked flustered on the touchline, but he made changes, ending the game with six attacking players on the pitch. And finally Spurs delivered the sort of ball from which goals are scored, Serge Aurier whipping over a cross which Moura headed back across goal. It was a clinical finish made simple by the quality of the cross.

The chances of an upset receded. Spurs dominated the final exchanges and were only denied a winner by a superb save from Boro’s back-up goalkeeper, Tomas Mejias, who somehow got a strong hand to a dipping and swerving strike from Moura.

“It was a real cup match when you can disguise that it is two teams in different divisions,” added Mourinho. “It was a difficult match but if one team was going to win, it was going to be us in that final half an hour.”

This was another sign of Boro’s improvement, after a difficult start, under Woodgate, who will now enjoy a replay against his former club.
“I’m so proud of my lads because it has been difficult at times keeping their heads up,” Woodgate said. “But they have stayed with it, they have remained calm and they’ve got a real team spirit.

“I thought we played well at times in the game. We had to hang on as well because they’re really talented players, but we caused them problems, real problems.”

 

[r00fie1]

STAT FACT:

 

[r00fie1]

Spuds Fans Reactions to the Cup Draw >>>

“We’re not Man U”- Some fans react as Tottenham know FA Cup 5th round opponents

Fans react as Tottenham Hotspur to face Middlesbrough away in the fifth round of the FA Cup As confirmed by the club’s official website, Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn away against Championship side Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup. The exact date of the tie is to be...

tothelaneandback.com

* Its worth noting that Spurs havent won a trophy for nearly 14 seasons and last won the old Division One Title back in 1961.
They last won the FA Cup 31 years ago in 1991.
Unlike the "Big" club in North London >>>> Arsenal

“We’re not Man U”- Some fans react as Tottenham know FA Cup 5th round opponents ​

Published
February 6, 2022
By
Krishnan Sreekumar

Fans react as Tottenham Hotspur to face Middlesbrough away in the fifth round of the FA Cup​

As confirmed by the club’s official website, Tottenham Hotspur have been drawn away against Championship side Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup. The exact date of the tie is to be confirmed in due course.

Spurs progressed to the fifth round of the domestic competition in fine fashion last night, beating Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 at home. The game was put to bed by a double from talisman Harry Kane, who looked like he was back to being his best.

Boro, meanwhile, went on to the next stage of the FA Cup in dramatic fashion, as they knocked out English giants Manchester United on penalties, after the game ended in a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes on Old Trafford on Friday night.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane helped his team reach the fifth round of the FA Cup where they face Middlesbrough next. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

The draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup to determine the ties took place on Sunday morning, even before the fourth-round ties had been completed. As a result, Everton and Huddersfield Town were yet to find out which team exactly they were playing next.

Boro clash after 2 years​

Spurs’ meeting against Middlesbrough takes place after 2 years, with the two sides playing each other again in the FA Cup since a 2-1 replay win at home in January 2020. The Lilywhites had earlier drawn 1-1 against the Championship side to earn a replay.

The game also marked the first-ever FA Cup match to take place at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This time around, Spurs will be visiting Boro at the Riverside, coming up against a side that recently rode their luck to spectacularly dump Manchester United out of the cup.

Antonio Conte will face Championship side Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Although the official date for the fixture has not been announced, fifth-round ties will be played in the week commencing 28 February. The tie also sees fellow London clubs Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and West Ham United participate in the cup competition.

After overcoming Brighton last night, the FA Cup presents a very real possibility for manager Antonio Conte to get his hands on some silverware this season. Spurs have looked solid since he took over midseason, and he will hope that he is able to take his side all the way to the summit by the end of the campaign.

Spurs will go into the Boro fixture as favourites, especially considering that their opponents play an entire division below them. However, the Championship side has proven to be giant killers in the competition, and Conte will be mindful of this as he tries to navigate his team to the later stages of the FA Cup and win the entire thing by the end of the season.

Let us now see how fans reacted to this news as they took to Twitter to express their views/

United would have been easier tbf
— Jacob️™ (@N17JAC0B) February 6, 2022

Winning the cup with the Godfather… #THFC #COYS #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/UitEUWpnPB
— 🆃🅷🅴 🅻🅸🅻🆈🆆🅷🅸🆃🅴🆂 (@the_lilywhites_) February 6, 2022

Midweek away day, was hoping for one a bit closer to home.
— John R (@John1984R) February 6, 2022

We’re not Man U so not worried
— Dilly (@COYSonny7) February 6, 2022

We'll show you how it's done @ManUtd
— Samwinchester50 (@SamWin50) February 6, 2022

Not a bad draw, think Boro was lucky against MU but still think it will be a tough game away
— Barbara (@Alwaysblue888) February 6, 2022

Cmon lads pic.twitter.com/Oj7MASAwft
— Alex (@xAlexTHFC) February 6, 2022

We need to respect Boro as an opponent
— Spursaspor™ (@spursaspor) February 6, 2022

 

[r00fie1]

Listen to the latest>>>>>

Last Word On Spurs: 'Kane & Son Create History'

Host Ricky Sacks is joined by returning guests Lee McQueen, Chris Cowlin and Jamie Weir from Sky Sports to review Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League away game against Leeds United and preview Spu...

podfollow.com

 

[r00fie1]

According to this man, we are as good as "out" of the FA Cup >>>

* Just like ARSENAL

 

[r00fie1]

Red and White Shorts:

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City 2007-08 Cup R5 WHITTINGHAM GOAL​

[55 seconds]

After televised ties in the previous two rounds against Mansfield and Sheffield United, the live cameras are again covering Middlesbrough as they take on Cardiff City at The Riverside in the Cup Quarter Final. What they captured was probably the most insipid, uninspired, guileless and gutless performance from a Boro team since the immediate pre-liquidation years of 1984-86. Boro simply laid down and let Cardiff of The First Division win 2-0 without breaking sweat. The Cup was probably there for the taking this season as following the completion of the quarter finals, only Portsmouth, Barnsley and West Brom were left in the semi final draw. This result felt like a watershed moment akin to the Wolves quarter final defeat around 25 years earlier. Back then, the best players in the team were subsequently sold to be replaced by much inferior ones and Boro spiralled down into bankruptcy and near extinction. The liquidation bit wouldn't happen after being knocked out of the cup by Cardiff but the motivational powers and aptitude for top level football management of Gareth Southgate were now severely called into question as Boro took another 14 months to slide out of the top flight without much of a fight.

 

[r00fie1]

Beyond Our Wilderest Dreams - 1

Chris Wilder sees Antonio Conte parallels as Boro meet Spurs in FA Cup

The Middlesbrough manager joked about tactical similarities with Conte at a recent awards night, but feels that his counterpart’s record ‘speaks for itself’

www.theguardian.com

Chris Wilder sees Antonio Conte parallels as Boro meet Spurs in FA Cup​

• Boro manager joked about tactical similarities at awards night
• Wilder says beating Spurs would be ‘incredible achievement’

Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough host Tottenham in the FA Cup on Tuesday evening. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA

Louise Taylor
Mon 28 Feb 2022 16.21 GMT
Last modified on Mon 28 Feb 2022 16.23 GMT

When Chris Wilder got chatting to Antonio Conte at a recent awards night, Middlesbrough’s manager jokingly accused the Italian of copying his tactical blueprint.

At his former club, Sheffield United, and, albeit to a lesser extent, on Teesside today, Wilder has built teams around attack-minded wing-backs and a trio of sometimes overlapping centre-halves. It is not a million miles removed from the system Conte swiftly installed at Tottenham, favoured utilising at previous clubs and, like his FA Cup fifth-round opponents on Tuesday night, seems philosophically attuned to.

“I said to Antonio at one awards evening that he was copying me,” Wilder recalled as he looked forward to a reunion with Conte in front of a near 35,000 sellout crowd at the Riverside. “But, actually, I’m not so sure about that. Spurs have a world-class manager.”

If Conte is unlikely to underestimate a Boro side not merely pushing strongly for promotion from the Championship but which knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup – winning on penalties at Old Trafford in the fourth round – Wilder is certainly not downplaying the tactical challenge ahead.

“Just look at Antonio Conte’s record,” he said. “It speaks for itself and he’s got an incredible passion to help his team. For us to beat Spurs would be an incredible achievement.

“Just as we did at Old Trafford, we understand that a lot of things have to go for us and we have to be at our absolute best to give ourselves an opportunity.”

Middlesbrough players celebrate after beating Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup fourth round. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Middlesbrough have improved significantly since Wilder succeeded Neil Warnock in November but, following an unforeseen 3-2 defeat at Barnsley last Saturday, they slipped to eighth in the second tier, two points off a play-off place.

“If we play as badly as we did in the first 15 minutes at Oakwell it will quickly be game over against Spurs and we might as well go home at half time,” Wilder said.

Boro’s manager will welcome the return of Matt Crooks, so impressive at Manchester United, to midfield following suspension. He is also hoping his influential Australia international Riley McGree could be passed fit in time to start in the same department.

Crooks, who began his career at Manchester United, has impressed this season after being signed from Rotherham by Warnock last summer. Wilder believes the 28-year-old is one of a number of Boro players potentially capable of holding their own at Premier league level.

“Matt’s work ethic is fabulous and he chips in with goals too,” Boro’s manager said of his leading scorer. “He was good against Manchester United but blew up after 60 minutes because of the emotional exhaustion of playing against his former club.

“Hopefully Matt will have learnt from that because, to play in the biggest games, you can’t get emotional, you’ve got to stay calm.”

 

[r00fie1]

These two will keep our defenders busy, if we let them >>>>>>>

 

[r00fie1]

Balogun can gain hero status at Arsenal with a masterclass display against Spurs

Folarin Balogun has been presented with an excellent opportunity to impress Mikel Arteta and become a cult hero at Arsenal

www.football.london

Hale End star sets sight on Arsenal hero status with an excellent chance to humiliate Tottenham​

Folarin Balogun has been presented with an excellent opportunity to impress Mikel Arteta and become a cult hero at Arsenal


Folarin Balogun has the chance to claim his spot in Mikel Arteta’s side next season and become a fan favourite at the Emirates.

After Middlesbrough’s FA Cup third-round heroics against Manchester United at Old Trafford, they have now been drawn against the Gunners’ north London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

Balogun started for Boro in their victory over the Red Devils, and it will be likely that he’ll start against Tottenham in the fourth round.

With Arsenal’s current striker crisis, it bodes a great chance for the youngster to prove that he is ready for the step up to the Premier League next season.

The 21-year-old started Arsenal’s opening Premier League match of the season in the 2-0 defeat to Brentford but failed to start another first-team game since then, which saw him make the switch to Middlesborough.

Balogun is good enough for first-team football, but Arteta doesn’t seem to think he is capable for Arsenal’s level just yet.

The striker testing himself at first-team level is an idea that is supported by England under 21 boss Lee Carsley, as he said: “Watching him in the U23's for Arsenal, it's probably a little bit too easy for him and he's passed that level.”

Balogun played so well in the under 23 competitions that before the signing of his new Arsenal deal in the summer, there were a host of top clubs around Europe including RB Leipzig that signalled interest in securing his services, despite not making a first-team appearance.

Now at Middlesbrough until the end of the season, he has a great chance to replicate his qualities at first-team level, and the FA Cup fixtures are giving him an excellent platform to show his abilities against Premier League opposition.

Both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, which will leave Arsenal with just one recognised striker in Balogun due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s January move to Barcelona.

To prevent Arteta from signing two strikers in the summer which would leave Balogun further down in the pecking order, an excellent display against Tottenham could alter Arteta’s transfer plans.

A solid performance could also win over the hearts of Arsenal fans, who would love nothing more than to see an academy graduate knocking out their most fierce rivals.

 

[r00fie1]

Flashback:

1975: Boro 3 Sunderland 1​

Mackems line up for FA Cup tickets at the Fulwell End - Joker Park.
They queued to get out the exits at Ayresome Park after the final whistle >>>>>

 

[DrummerMan]

@r00fie1 .... 2-1 to Boro Roofy - Watmore and one other

 

[r00fie1]

#OnThisBoroDay 1995: Boro smash transfer record to sign Nick Barmby for £5.25m from Spurs.

The 21-year-old proved a masterstroke of a signing and fitted straight into the Boro side, helping to keep the club in the Premier League.

www.gazettelive.co.uk

[Originally published 4th August 2014 - By Dominic Shaw]

Boro Barmby!

Boro smash transfer record to sign Nick Barmby for £5.25m from Spurs.​

The 21-year-old proved a masterstroke of a signing and fitted straight into the Boro side, helping to keep the club in the Premier League.


The signing of Nicky Barmby in August 1995 was a clear message that Boro meant business.

The fact Steve Gibson had forked out £5.25m to smash the club record for the 21-year-old England international ahead of another punt at the Premier League showed that the club weren’t content with being a yo-yo outfit.

It was to be a serious assault on establishing themselves as top tier regulars.

In signing Jan Aage Fjortoft the season previous, Gibson had demonstrated his willingness to back his boss and add to what Robbo had at his disposal on the pitch.

But the recruitment of Barmby was more than that.

It set the precedent for signings to come - the ability to tempt big names north to Teesside.

“When Bryan Robson came in for me there was only one decision to make,” insisted the new-boy on the day of his arrival.


It was a message that would be repeated over and over by players who wanted to work under Captain Marvel at Boro.

“I have worked with Bryan in the England set-up and he has helped me a lot in the past,” said Barmby, upon sealing his move from Tottenham.

“He was a great player, and he is a top class coach.

“I believe he will be a successful manager with Middlesbrough and so I was absolutely delighted to link up with him again.

“It’s a lot of money but the transfer market seems to be very inflated at the moment.

“But the fee won’t have any effect on me. I won’t even think about it.

“It’s something between the clubs. The important thing is that I have got the move I wanted.

“Now I want to concentrate on doing my best for Middlesbrough.”

England's Nick Barmby celebrates scoring for England

Barmby stuck to his word - and had an immediate impact, teeing up Craig Hignett for the first ever competitive goal at the Riverside.

He hit seven in his first campaign at Boro and forged an oh-so delightful partnership with another new addition later that year, a certain Juninho, as the pair played off the front-man.

Barmby had a pivotal role to play in helping to secure Premier League status on Teesside, and doing so comfortably at that.

Boro finished the season in 12th, five points above the relegation zone.

But just 17 months after swapping Spurs for Boro, Barmby was on the move again, this time to Everton.

His stay might have been rather short, but it was sweet and he was to be the first of many high profile expensive newcomers.

 

[r00fie1]

FA CUP FINAL 1997

[Pictures: Evening Gazette https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/incoming/gallery/fa-cup-final-1997-middlesbrough-3903054]

No prize for coming second.

 

[Davey_C]

Here's something i put together after the draw was made ... Spurs dont have a bad record up here (hopefully that'll change on Tuesday)

Re: the clip .. Tommy Wright must have scored early for the camera man to miss his 1st goal!! The youtube copyright police kindly removed berbatov's goal

ENJOY

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

I wonder if there will be any tributes to the Ukrainian people before the match tomorrow. Anyone heard anything?

 

[r00fie1]

Here's something i put together after the draw was made ... Spurs dont have a bad record up here (hopefully that'll change on Tuesday)

Re: the clip .. Tommy Wright must have scored early for the camera man to miss his 1st goal!! The youtube copyright police kindly removed berbatov's goal

ENJOY

Luke Young! James Morrison! Why oh why did we get rid of them so quickly?......
Love the Juno sneeky tap-in