* The Unofficial "Official" Matchday Thread. Boro v Peterborough. Saturday 16th October *

[r00fie1]

Its that time again folks.........


Championship Fixtures [Saturday].

West Brom play Birmingham Friday 15th October
Swansea play Cardiff on Sunday 17th October.





What our opponents league results look like so far this season:






Championship Table - as it stands on Friday 15th October 2021 [18:04 BST]

Peterborough United’s top 5 performers so far this season according to WhoScored – do you agree?

Peterborough United have experienced a difficult start to life back in the Championship, following their promotion from the third tier last season.

the72.co.uk

​

Peterborough United have experienced a difficult start to life back in the Championship, following their promotion from the third tier last season.​

Darren Ferguson’s side currently sit 23rd in the table, in front of only Derby County who have undergone a 12-point deduction. Posh are currently winless in three games, and have shipped six goals in the process.


Fans will be hoping that this weekend’s match against Middlesbrough will earn them their first away points of the campaign, as the club struggles with attacking availability.

Here, we look at Peterborough United’s top five performers so far this season, as per WhoScored…

5. Oliver Norburn (Avg. rating: 6.56)​

Norburn has enjoyed his start to life at the Weston Homes Stadium, after moving over from Shrewsbury Town in the summer for an undisclosed fee.

The Granada international has already become one of the first names on the team sheet, often performing as a defensive midfielder alongside the likes of Jack Taylor and Jorge Grant.

4. Dan Butler (Avg. rating: 6.61)​

Harriet Lander/Getty Images Sport

An underrated member of the squad perhaps, Dan Butler has played more minutes than any other Posh player this season, keeping new signing Joe Tomlinson out of the team.

In the Cambridgeshire side’s most recent game against Bristol City, the left back’s crossing acted as a constant threat, as he set up Sammie Szmodics’ second of the match.

3. Nathan Thompson (Avg. rating: 6.86)​

The right-back ranks surprisingly low in this list. Thompson would probably be most supporters’ Player of the Season so far. Ferguson has utilised his versatility at both centre-back and wing back, and the vice-captain’s experience has proven important in the Championship.

Thompson arrived from the free agents list two seasons ago, and fitness issues aside, he’s proven to be one of the club’s most successful signings in recent years.

2. Siriki Dembélé (Avg. rating: 6.88)​

Posh’s main attacking threat. Dembélé has been a constant source of excitement during his three-and-a-half seasons at London Road. The 24-year-old made his name in the Nike Academy, and was signed during the Steve Evans management period.

To many EFL fans’ surprise, Dembélé didn’t earn himself a move this summer, after handing in a transfer request in January. Supporters will be hoping that the Ivorian will sign a new deal after showing such early promise in the second tier.

1. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Avg. rating: 7.00)​

Clarke-Harris scored a staggering 33 goals in all competitions last season, which subsequently earned him League One’s Golden Boot award. Like Dembélé, the striker was subject to transfer speculation during the window, with several top-end Championship clubs reportedly after his signature.

So far this season, the 27-year-old is yet to register a goal from open play, but has scored two penalties. However, he’s currently undergoing a four game suspension, for some controversial Tweets he previously made.

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Boro Record v Peterborough United:



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From The Archive:

Inspiring Factoids:



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[r00fie1]

The Good
The Bad
and
The Ugly.

The Posh.
Some you may recognise....



This is not who you might think he is.......but he bears an uncanny resemblance.



Twice - just in case we forget a face....

 

[r00fie1]

Posh View:


Darren Ferguson’s men are back in action on Saturday with a trip to face Middlesbrough.

Peterborough United return to Sky Bet Championship action on Saturday afternoon (3pm) with a trip north to the Riverside to face Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough as Darren Ferguson’s men look to record their point on the road.

Prior to the international break, Posh were beaten 3-2 by Bristol City at the Weston Homes Stadium, while Boro lost 2-0 at Grant McCann’s struggling Hull City side, who Ferguson’s men face at the MKM Stadium on Wednesday evening.

TEAM NEWS

Posh welcome back skipper Mark Beevers from a hamstring injury with the experienced central defender expected to return to the starting line-up after coming through two weeks of training, which featured an internal fixture.

Ricky-Jade Jones, Jack Marriott and Joel Randall are injured, while Jonson Clarke-Harris is serving the second of a four-match ban. Manager Darren Ferguson will watch the game from the stands after picking up a one-match touchline ban.

For Boro, Anfernee Dijksteel, Darnell Fisher, Marcus Browne, Sammy Ameobi and Onel Hernandez all out injured at present, while there are concerns over the fitness of recent signings James Lea Siliki and Martin Payero. Defender Lee Peltier is suspended after acculating five cautions.

FROM THE GAFFER

“It is an important week, there is no getting away from that, we have two away games and a home fixture within the week and we have to pick up points. Neil Warnock is a very experienced manager, he has a wonderful enthusiasm for the game, I think I have only come up against him once or twice, but you can see the passion he has for the game. His side will be organised and we know that we have to perform,” Darren Ferguson said.

FROM THE OPPOSITON

“We’ve got a nightmare injury list at the minute, but hey listen, that creates opportunities for people. We’ve got to be really positive and just have a go. We’ve got some good lads at this football club and I think with just a little bit of luck everything changes,” Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock said this week.

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Match Preview - Courtesy of Sportsmole.

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Peterborough - prediction, team

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between

www.sportsmole.co.uk

​

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups​

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 1d

English

Middlesbrough head into their Championship fixture with Peterborough United having lost four of their last six matches.

Neil Warnock's side now sit just four points above 23rd-placed Peterborough, who continue to possess the worst defensive record in the division.

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Match preview​

© Reuters
Middlesbrough have been running the fine line between possible playoff bid and relegation battle for some time, the North-East outfit still not recording back-to-back wins all season.

However, Neil Warnock will be thinking about the latter ahead of their meeting with Peterborough after witnessing Boro go down 2-0 at struggling Hull City.

Consistency and a lack of goals are the biggest issues with this Middlesbrough side, and they will find themselves pulled ever closer to the bottom three if they lose a third home fixture at the weekend.

In four of their last five setbacks, Warnock's side have conceded decisive goals in the final 15 minutes, a trend which cannot continue if they want to move away from safety.

Warnock is also still waiting for one of his players to hit the back of the net on a regular basis, their 11 goals being shared between nine members of the squad.

© Reuters

On a positive note, Warnock will be encouraged that Boro are facing opponents in Peterborough who have lost each of their five away matches for the loss of 16 goals.

Nevertheless, opposite number Darren Ferguson will feel equally optimistic that a game at the Riverside Stadium is the ideal setting to end that streak.

Ferguson was left bitterly disappointed with his side conceding an 84th-minute winner to Bristol City last time out, but there were enough positives in that game to take into this contest.

Sammie Szmodics netted his first two goals of the season during that encounter, surely doing enough for a permanent place in the team in the absence of Jonson Clarke-Harris.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

• L
• W
• L
• L
• W
• L

Peterborough United Championship form:

• L
• L
• W
• L
• D
• L

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Team News​

© Reuters
With Dael Fry out injured and Lee Peltier suspended for this game, Middlesbrough boss Warnock may use Paddy McNair and Marc Bola in a back three.

James Lea Siliki and Isaiah Jones could be introduced in midfield and at wing-back respectively, with the rest of the team staying the same to avoid further disruption.

Ferguson is unlikely to make too many alterations to his Peterborough side given the level of their performance against Bristol City.

Jack Taylor could replace Conor Coventry in midfield, but Ferguson may persist with a 4-4-2 formation which would see Siriki Dembele partner Szmodics in attack.

Clarke-Harris remains on the sidelines as he continues his ban for historic social media posts.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Lumley; McNair, Bamba, Bola; Tavernier, Howson, Lea Siliki, Jones; Crooks; Watmore, Sporar

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Thompson, Edwards, Kent, Butler; Ward, Norburn, Taylor, Burrows; Szmodics, Dembele

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We say: Middlesbrough 1-1 Peterborough United​

With these two teams having moved closer together in the league standings, this feels like a game that neither team will want to risk losing. With that in mind, we are expecting a low-scoring draw at the Riverside Stadium.

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Its "squeaky bum time"!​

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From The Archive.​

Boro Crush League One Peterborough! | Middlesbrough 5-0 Peterborough | Emirates FA Cup 18/19!​

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[r00fie1]

This week in the media and on the important FMTTM board, conversation has turned to the ethics of Gaming and Gambling companies being allowed to plaster football shirts with their logo`s.

With that in mind - its worth a look back at some of the Boro kits over the years - since advertising became the norm.

Here`s a selection - courtesy of MFC.

[Some of those players would fit right into the side v Peterborough!]






Continued.......................

 

[r00fie1]

And there`s more.....

 

[r00fie1]

Flashback!

Back in the dark days - when a large number of Boro players had contracted the plague.......we had a match tabled against Blackburn.......

Boro’s deduction (December 1996)

Hopes were high at Middlesbrough when the 1996-1997 season got underway. UEFA Champions League winner Fabrizio Ravanelli had joined Brazilians Juninho, Emerson and Branco at the club. Bryan Robson …

premierleague25years.wordpress.com

Boro’s deduction (December 1996)​

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Hopes were high at Middlesbrough when the 1996-1997 season got underway. UEFA Champions League winner Fabrizio Ravanelli had joined Brazilians Juninho, Emerson and Branco at the club. Bryan Robson was putting together a decent squad on Teesside.

It didn’t take long for that to fall apart though. Despite three wins from their opening five games, Boro went on a wretched run in the autumn and winter months and slipped towards a perilous relegation battle. Christmas 1996 looked like it would be a make-or-break period for the club.

On Saturday, 21 December 1996, the club were scheduled to make a trip to Ewood Park to play relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers. However at late notice, the game was postponed and it wasn’t down to the weather either. A flu bug had hit the Middlesbrough squad and the manager insisted he did not have enough players to fulfil the fixture due to illness and injury. 23 players were unavailable and the club had medical evidence to back their point up.

Blackburn were incensed at the postponement at 24 hours’ notice and the FA didn’t believe Robson and the club’s claim. Middlesbrough were charged and a month later, fined £50,000. The punishment didn’t end there either. The club were deducted three points which was the first time this happened in Premier League history.

Despite a revival towards the end of the season, Boro’s fixture pile-up having got to the League Cup and FA Cup final got the better of them. On the final day, a draw at Elland Road was not enough to keep them in the top-flight. They were relegated and finished two points adrift of safety.

Chairman Steve Gibson revealed later that the team had gone down not on the field, but because of the decision of “three men in grey suits.” To top things off, the Teesiders lost both domestic cup finals that season.

Right or wrong of what happened; Middlesbrough’s no-show at Ewood would turn out to be a costly error.

At the end of the day - those "grey men in suits" cost us our place in the Premier League. [The barstewards!!!!]

But we didnt stay down for long!

 

[r00fie1]

From The Gaffa`s Mouth:



Courtesy of MFC.

Team News: Neil Warnock Looking For Positives Amid Absences | Middlesbrough FC

Boro boss Neil Warnock says he is focusing on the positives despite a lengthy list of injuries heading into tomorrow’s clash with Peterborough United.

www.mfc.co.uk

Boro boss Neil Warnock says he is focusing on the positives despite a lengthy list of injuries heading into tomorrow’s clash with Peterborough United. ​

“It seems to be all defenders at the moment,” he said.


“Grant Hall and Dael Fry will be out for three or four weeks.


“Anfernee Dijksteel is out, Marc Bola went down yesterday, I can’t see either of them coming back before Cardiff.


“Lee Peltier is suspended and we haven’t seen Paddy McNair train yet.

“But the good news is we have Onel Hernandex back training, and the lads we do have available have been great.

“They’ve trained hard over the past couple of weeks, I wanted them to have a good preparation and I’ve been really impressed with the intensity and quality.”

Warnock admits it’s a tough time due to the extent of the absences, but hopes his squad can come out fighting.

“It looks like being a tough week for us, the chips are down,” he said.

“But I want the players to enjoy it, we have to get the crowd behind us.

“It’s all about togetherness.”

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[Erimus74]

Its that time again folks.........
View attachment 26108

Championship Fixtures [Saturday].

West Brom play Birmingham Friday 15th October
Swansea play Cardiff on Sunday 17th October.

View attachment 26113



What our opponents league results look like so far this season:

View attachment 26110




Championship Table - as it stands on Friday 15th October 2021 [18:04 BST]

View attachment 26111

Peterborough United’s top 5 performers so far this season according to WhoScored – do you agree?

Peterborough United have experienced a difficult start to life back in the Championship, following their promotion from the third tier last season.

the72.co.uk

​

Peterborough United have experienced a difficult start to life back in the Championship, following their promotion from the third tier last season.​

Darren Ferguson’s side currently sit 23rd in the table, in front of only Derby County who have undergone a 12-point deduction. Posh are currently winless in three games, and have shipped six goals in the process.


Fans will be hoping that this weekend’s match against Middlesbrough will earn them their first away points of the campaign, as the club struggles with attacking availability.

Here, we look at Peterborough United’s top five performers so far this season, as per WhoScored…

5. Oliver Norburn (Avg. rating: 6.56)​

Norburn has enjoyed his start to life at the Weston Homes Stadium, after moving over from Shrewsbury Town in the summer for an undisclosed fee.

The Granada international has already become one of the first names on the team sheet, often performing as a defensive midfielder alongside the likes of Jack Taylor and Jorge Grant.

4. Dan Butler (Avg. rating: 6.61)​

Harriet Lander/Getty Images Sport

An underrated member of the squad perhaps, Dan Butler has played more minutes than any other Posh player this season, keeping new signing Joe Tomlinson out of the team.

In the Cambridgeshire side’s most recent game against Bristol City, the left back’s crossing acted as a constant threat, as he set up Sammie Szmodics’ second of the match.

3. Nathan Thompson (Avg. rating: 6.86)​

The right-back ranks surprisingly low in this list. Thompson would probably be most supporters’ Player of the Season so far. Ferguson has utilised his versatility at both centre-back and wing back, and the vice-captain’s experience has proven important in the Championship.

Thompson arrived from the free agents list two seasons ago, and fitness issues aside, he’s proven to be one of the club’s most successful signings in recent years.

2. Siriki Dembélé (Avg. rating: 6.88)​

Posh’s main attacking threat. Dembélé has been a constant source of excitement during his three-and-a-half seasons at London Road. The 24-year-old made his name in the Nike Academy, and was signed during the Steve Evans management period.

To many EFL fans’ surprise, Dembélé didn’t earn himself a move this summer, after handing in a transfer request in January. Supporters will be hoping that the Ivorian will sign a new deal after showing such early promise in the second tier.

1. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Avg. rating: 7.00)​

Clarke-Harris scored a staggering 33 goals in all competitions last season, which subsequently earned him League One’s Golden Boot award. Like Dembélé, the striker was subject to transfer speculation during the window, with several top-end Championship clubs reportedly after his signature.

So far this season, the 27-year-old is yet to register a goal from open play, but has scored two penalties. However, he’s currently undergoing a four game suspension, for some controversial Tweets he previously made.

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Boro Record v Peterborough United:



View attachment 26114​

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From The Archive:

View attachment 26115



Inspiring Factoids:

View attachment 26116View attachment 26117View attachment 26118

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Excellent r00fie lad, you must start these match preview a week before the actual game, packed with so much info, well done mate,

 

[r00fie1]

Cast your mind back a month >>>>>>>>>>>

Forest were on their backside.
Chris Hughton`s fate was hanging by a thread.
And Boro came to town on a warm night in Nottingham.

Nottingham Forest 0 Middlesbrough 2: Boro's deadline-day buys make an instant impact

TWO games in, and it is safe to say that Middlesbrough’s transfer dealing in the final days of the transfer window is already paying off.

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

Nottingham Forest 0 Middlesbrough 2​

Scott Wilson . Chief Sports Writer

TWO games in, and it is safe to say that Middlesbrough’s transfer dealing in the final days of the transfer window is already paying off.


The Teessiders had to jump through countless financial and legal hoops to secure the loan signing of Andraz Sporar on deadline day, but the Slovenian ensured their efforts were not wasted as he marked his first start in spectacular fashion with the opening goal in a fully-deserved victory over a wretched Nottingham Forest last night.


Sporar just about burst the net as he lashed home from the edge of the area midway through the first half, and while that was his only opportunity all evening, the emphatic way in which he took it marked him out as an exciting talent. Admittedly, it was only one goal. But the finish was reminiscent of the type of goals Patrick Bamford was scoring under Aitor Karanka in a Boro shirt, which can hardly be a bad thing.

Onel Hernandez’s first Boro goal was rather less dramatic, with the Cuban nipping in to dispossess Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath after he miscontrolled a back-pass before rolling the ball into an empty net. Nevertheless, the fact he is also up and running after moving to Teesside on a season-long loan from Norwich on the final weekend of the window is another huge positive.

There wasn’t much positivity on display at the City Ground, with the home support calling for their manager Chris Hughton’s head with their side languishing at the foot of the table, and any assessment of Boro’s performance has to be posited against the paucity of the opposition.
Even so though, it was imperative the Teessiders got their season up and running with a second win of the campaign, and they did exactly that. Their defence was solid and secure throughout, with another full debutant, James Lea-Siliki, helping to shield his side’s back four as he raced here, there and everywhere at the heart of midfield.

Neil Warnock had taken his time to introduce his new arrivals, but when he asked them to deliver, the Boro boss received the ideal response.

Having resisted the urge to make too many changes at Coventry at the weekend, last night was finally the moment when Warnock shook up his squad to reflect the business that was conducted on deadline-day.

Lea-Siliki and Sporar, the two players to arrive in the final 24 hours before the transfer window swung shut last month, were handed their first Boro starts, with the former partnering Jonny Howson at the heart of midfield and the latter dislodging Uche Ikpeazu as the central striker.

Lea-Siliki was neat and tidy as he covered plenty of ground and snapped willingly into tackles during his 71 minutes on the field, but it was Sporar that made the more powerful first impression as he marked his full Boro debut with a superb goal.

The Slovenian had barely had a touch in the opening quarter of the game, but that changed in an instant as he received Marcus Tavernier’s through ball and lashed home a fantastic finish from the edge of the penalty area. Uche Ikpeazu might offer honest graft and toil, but on the evidence of last night’s explosive debut strike, Sporar is a much more threatening goalscoring proposition.

His goal, which came in the 24th minute, changed the mood at a mutinous City Ground at a stroke. Forest went into the game on the back of their worst start to a season for more than a century, and with their manager, Chris Hughton, facing mounting calls for his dismissal.
There was a nervousness to the home side’s play from the off, particularly when their goalkeeper, Ethan Horvath, had the ball at his feet, but prior to Sporar’s breakthrough, there was also a sense of early adventure which threatened to cause Boro problems.

Philip Zinckernagel fired in a low 25-yard effort that Joe Lumley saved away to his right before teeing up team-mate James Garner for a shot that was dragged wide of the upright.

At that stage, Forest were the marginally the better side, but the game changed completely thanks to Sporar’s moment of magic midway through the first half.

Tavernier’s perfectly-weighted through ball released the Slovenian behind the Forest defence, but he still had plenty to do as he advanced towards the edge of the area.

His first touch took the ball out of his feet, and his second was a sensational strike that saw the ball thunder past Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and cannon into the back of the net. In terms of introducing yourself to English football, Sporar could hardly have made a more forceful first impression.

It didn’t really matter that he didn’t do a lot for the remainder of the first half, with Boro’s central-midfield axis of Lea-Siliki and Jonny Howson ensuring that Forest were unable to provide any effective service to their front pairing of Lyle Taylor and former Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban.

The hosts’ best opportunity before the interval came in first-half stoppage time, but while Joe Worrall looked well-placed to take advantage of Grabban’s headed knock-down, his shot was blocked by a superb sliding challenge from Matt Crooks.

Crooks was involved at the other end straight at the interval, firing a 20-yard shot straight at Horvath, who was able to make a routine save, but when he broke again five minutes later, galloping down the left-hand side, the summer signing from Rotherham was unable to pick out a team-mate when at least three Boro players had broken into the box.

In truth, that was one of Boro’s few forward forays in the second half, with the visitors largely content to sit back and soak up the pressure rather than commit too many men into the final third.

With only a one-goal lead to defend, that was a somewhat risky tactic, although the return to a four-man defence seemed to help make Boro a more watertight unit. Dael Fry and Grant Hall dealt with Taylor and Grabban with a minimum of fuss, and while Lee Peltier might not be as adventurous as Marc Bola when moved across to left-back, his defensive nous means he is rarely beaten by his opponent on the outside.

What the Teessiders really needed was a second goal to make things safe, and it arrived in comical fashion with 18 minutes left.
Horvath, making his first league start in the Forest goal, had looked a bag of nerves all night, and he erred in calamitous fashion as he miscontrolled a routine back-pass from Loic Mbe Soh.

Hernandez was alert to the possibility of a mistake, and having nipped in to win possession on the corner of the six-yard box, he was left with the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net. The Cuban’s shirtless celebration in front a packed away end showed just how much his first goal in Boro colours meant to him.

Ikpeazu, introduced as a substitute with ten minutes remaining, almost added a third Boro goal in the dying seconds, but his powerful header was acrobatically saved by Horvath.

Not, however, that it made any difference to the final result, which was never really in doubt all night.

 

[r00fie1]

The long read.....

THE LITTLE FELLA

The big interview: Juninho – "When I got to Boro it was so cold I put newspaper inside my boots to help warm them up"

Was Ronaldinho's goal against England a fluke? Was winning the League Cup better than the World Cup? And how did he play two games in one night?! Your questions answered in August 2015...

www.fourfourtwo.com

The big interview: Juninho – "When I got to Boro it was so cold I put newspaper inside my boots to help warm them up"​

By Marcus Alves April 26, 2017
Was Ronaldinho's goal against England a fluke? Was winning the League Cup better than the World Cup? And how did he play two games in one night?! Your questions answered in August 2015...

Portrait: Jonne Roriz

It will come as no surprise when a whole host of exotic superstars from all corners of the globe descend on the Premier League this summer. But when Brazilian international Juninho arrived at Middlesbrough in 1995, he really set tongues wagging. ‘The Little Fella’ quickly became a cult hero on Teesside – and beyond – and fell so deeply in love with the north-east outfit that he joined them on further two occasions later in his career.

One of English football’s most popular imports is now president of his local club, Ituano FC – but, as he tells FourFourTwo, he’s still thinking of Boro…

FACT FILE

Full name: Osvaldo Giroldo Junior
Date of birth: 22/02/1973
Place of birth: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Height: 5ft 5in
Position: Attacking midfielder

You’re known for being particularly small, but was your size a help or a hindrance to you as a footballer?
Becky Scarrott, Surbiton

At the beginning of my career it was a disadvantage, for sure. I had to work extra hard to prove I was ready for the first team. I thought about giving up a few times because of resistance from the coaches, who never trusted me because of my size. After I became a professional, it totally changed: I looked flimsy, but I had strong muscles. If you look over my career, I had just one or two muscle injuries – I used to play every game. I was small, but I wasn’t weak.

Is it true you played two matches in one night at Sao Paulo? How?!
Sean Anderson, via email

Well, the Brazilian calendar was crazy in the ’90s, so to be able to fight for all the titles, the big sides pretty much had two teams. I was at the stage where I was a member of the first team and the reserves, so I was switching between the sides, getting lots of games.

This insane fixture calendar was why Sao Paulo had two games on the same night. We faced Sporting Cristal at 8pm for the CONMEBOL Cup [a precursor to today’s Copa Sudamericana, South America’s equivalent of the Europa League] – I scored and we won 3-1. Then at full-time I went to the dressing room, changed clothes and was straight back out at 10pm for a league game against Gremio. We won 3-1 again. I spoke to the Guinness Book of Records people about it, but I didn’t make it.



How did you get the nickname ‘Chucky’ at Sao Paulo?
Marcia, via Twitter

How did you find out about this?! It was the clownery of Cafu! He enjoyed creating nicknames for everyone – he still calls me Chucky to this day. He thought I looked like the doll from the Child’s Play movies, but I think I’m more beautiful than him!

It seemed unusual and unlikely for a Brazilian player of your type to go to the Premier League back in 1995. What made you choose England? Had you heard of Middlesbrough before you moved there? Did you have offers from any other clubs?
Christian Ionica, via Facebook

I heard that there had been talks with Arsenal, but I didn’t ever get an offer from them. I was still under contract at Sao Paulo, but it was running out and there was a big difference between what I wanted and what they were willing to offer me. That’s when Middlesbrough got in contact and Bryan Robson and the chief executive, Keith Lamb, came to Sao Paulo.



The Premier League wasn’t broadcast in Brazil back then and we had very little knowledge of it; of course I was aware how big the name Bryan Robson was in England, and I’d heard about Middlesbrough, but that was all. Before the deal was sealed, I started to watch matches and I remember being a bit frightened by all the long passes and the physical game! But I had never run away from anything before, and I certainly wasn’t going to run from this.

CLUBS AND INTERNATIONAL

1993-95 Sao Paulo
1995-97 Middlesbrough
1997-2002 Atletico Madrid
1999-2000 Middlesbrough (loan)
2000-01 Vasco da Gama (loan)
2002 Flamengo (loan)
2002-04 Middlesbrough
2004-05 Celtic
2005-06 Palmeiras
2007 Flamengo
2007-08 Sydney FC
Brazil 50 caps (5 goals)

It took me a few months to fit in. I arrived in October and it was so freezing cold that I couldn’t feel my feet – I had to put pieces of newspaper inside my boots to help warm them up. I also had to wear one of those ninja caps that leave just the eyes showing.

Were you surprised to see more than 6,000 locals turn up for your unveiling at Boro?
Simon, via Twitter

Let’s say it was an unusual way of welcoming a new player! We’re used now to seeing fans gathering for a player’s unveiling, but it wasn’t so common back in the ’90s. I had played in England for Brazil at the Umbro Cup a few months before arriving at Middlesbrough, and I think people started to hear about me during the tournament. I certainly didn’t expect such a warm welcome. In fact, I remember there was a Brazilian family waiting at the airport. We became friends and we’re still in touch 20 years later.

What was it like for you to arrive, not being able to speak a single word in English?
Anna Watson, Birmingham

Actually, that Brazilian family I met at the airport really had to help me out on this, because I quickly realised that the interpreter the club had employed didn’t understand a word I was saying and he was translating everything from his own mind. The Brazilian family asked me who he was and told me that he was not translating anything the right way. His name was Palladino and he did things like ask for faisao [pheasant] instead of feijao [beans].

Everybody remembers seeing you square up to Newcastle’s Philippe Albert. He was twice the size of you – what were you thinking?! Were you terrified, deep down?
Guy Maxwell, Gateshead

The Belgian guy, right? I was a little nervous but I was competitive – I always had been through my career. I was tough on the pitch because they couldn’t beat me up in front of the referee. I wasn’t scared of anyone – I thought he had been disrespectful and I came to ask him why he did that and told him not to do it again. It happened all the time in matches, but if it had been out on the street I think I’d call him names, punch him and run like I was running away from death.



What was Nigel Pearson like when you played with him at Boro? Terrifying?
Joel Bruno, via email

We could see even back then that he had it all to become a great manager. He was our centre-back and captain, and he owned our dressing room – he was fierce. But away from the pitch he was super nice, and always made sure everything was OK between his team-mates. It didn't surprise me to see him doing so well at Leicester. As a manager, he reminds me a little bit of Dunga.

You looked inconsolable when Boro were relegated at Leeds in 1997. Was that the only time football made you cry?
Si Hammond, via Twitter

Football has made me cry in moments of joy many times, but that was the only time I cried because of sadness. It was a big frustration for everyone – we had put so much faith and energy into that project, reaching two finals at Wembley and overcoming so many problems.

We used to send out one team in the Premier League and another in the cups because we were confident we’d be able to recover our league position nearer the end of the season. When we finally got to the last few games, we realised we were in big trouble. We had to win the last game away against Leeds United and it didn’t happen.

Was there ever any chance of you staying at Middlesbrough after their relegation in 1997? Imagine the damage you would have done in Division One! Was Atletico Madrid your only option?
Jon Bradley, Middlesbrough


It was difficult for me because I was also playing for Brazil, and I knew it would be impossible for me to stay and play in Division One and still keep my place with the national team. I was really upset because I had enjoyed playing for Middlesbrough so much and had fitted into English football so well. Now you begin to understand why I cried!


If I could go back in time and change one thing about my career, I wouldn’t have left England at this moment. Maybe I wouldn’t stay at Middlesbrough, but I’d move to another Premier League side. I had an offer from Liverpool – their coach even phoned my dad. The problem was that the numbers were much lower than those Atletico Madrid had sent us. Manchester United also thought I was too expensive and didn’t make a move.




Do you bear any grudges towards Michel Salgado after he broke your leg with a pretty nasty challenge during a game between Atletico and Celta Vigo, ruling you out of the France 98 World Cup? Did he ever apologise? Was that your worst injury?
Chris Hudson, Leeds


My first six months with Atletico were amazing. I had done the pre-season with them, I was very happy in Madrid, I was doing really well on the field, and I got called up again for the national team and won the Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia. Everything was going well and I was very happy.


Then in a game against Celta Vigo: this challenge from Salgado. The doctors expected me to recover in five months but I did it in three. Despite my incredible recovery, [Mario] Zagallo still left me out of the squad for the 1998 World Cup. I’m sure he wanted me to be in the squad, but I think his staff told him I wouldn’t be fully recovered for the tournament.


I don’t hold anything against Salgado. He wanted to go to the hospital to apologise, and went to the dressing room to say he didn’t intend to hurt me, but it’s complicated – the way he hit me, the ball wasn’t even close. He went for my leg. It took me nearly two years to get back to my best after that. But the thing that ***ed me off the most was that he didn’t even receive a red card!


HONOURS

Copa Libertadores 1993
Intercontinental Cup 1993
CONMEBOL Cup 1994
Confederations Cup 1997
World Cup 2002
League Cup 2004

You and Christian Vieri linked up brilliantly in 1997/98. Was your excellent relationship the same off the pitch? Was he as much of a party animal as his reputation suggests?
Juan Hidalgo, via Facebook


Actually, he was a pretty reserved person; he didn’t talk that much with the rest of the team. But we did get along very well, including outside of the dressing room. He was really into the fashion world, attending all these shows, going out with people involved in the industry. I was never interested in that kind of scene. We were very different people, but we understood each other.


I remember you claimed after winning the League Cup with Boro that it was a better feeling than winning the World Cup with Brazil. Do you still feel the same?
Rob Archer, via Facebook


Maybe not better, but the same feeling. Of course winning the World Cup is seen as a much bigger thing, but winning the League Cup meant a lot to me because we were reaching the goal we had dreamed about when the project started nine years before. It was special to me – really special. I had that feeling back then and I still have it with me: we had finally got Middlesbrough into Europe.




Didn’t you make your Celtic debut in an Old Firm game against Rangers? How did that derby compare to the others you played in? Which was the fiercest: Madrid, Tyne-Tees, one in Brazil...?
Jim Greer, via Twitter


The Old Firm involves religion; when you think about this, it is something totally different to any other match. We used to see people carrying some anger, but once you’re on the pitch it’s just like Flamengo-Vasco, Sao Paulo-Palmeiras or Middlesbrough-Newcastle. They were all great rivalries.


Why didn’t things work out for you in Scotland? Is it true you didn’t enjoy playing for Martin O’Neill?
Ciaran, via email


It was an awkward situation, and an especially frustrating one for me. I had won the League Cup with Boro, but then the next season Steve McClaren suddenly seemed to change his mind about me and kind of forced me out of Middlesbrough. I ended up accepting it, but maybe I should have been stronger because I’m sure I would still have played in most of the games.


I ended up in Scotland, but things didn’t really work out for me. I had this issue with Martin O’Neill and his tactics. I still can’t understand why he wanted me at Celtic. He used to play with a 4-4-2 and he asked me to play out wide with defensive responsibilities, but this was never my style. It didn’t suit me and he knew it.




Maybe inside his head he wasn’t looking for the Juninho of the ’90s, and maybe I’m to blame for that, but a manager should know a player’s style – you have to use them in the right way. It was a shame it didn’t work for me there, because Celtic is such a great club.


You were brilliant to watch during your time in the A-League with Sydney FC, but is it true that you had to take painkillers before each match?
Deano, via Twitter


It was a very good time for me. It could have been better if I had not picked up a shoulder injury in my second game. If I had decided to have surgery I would have lost the rest of the season, and I had only signed a one-year contract, so I decided to play despite the broken tendon.


I wasn’t at the same level, of course – I played with my arm in a sling – but I loved the experience. Football was growing in Australia and there was a lot of excitement around the A-League.
You played with some massive names during your three spells with Boro, but which player do you think was the most underrated?
Matthew Bage, via Twitter


If you’re talking in football terms, then Craig Hignett. He was technically above par – the English media even recognised it – but he didn’t make the national team. Maybe he was a different player to what the national coach was looking for at the time.


What’s the story behind everyone in Brazil’s 1997 Confederations Cup-winning team choosing to go bald?
Antony Figueroa, via Facebook


I arrived in Saudi Arabia one day later than the rest of the squad and they were already doing it when I got there. I’m not sure who started it, but Junior Baiano was leading it. He came to me and said: “Don’t worry – we’ll give you a grade three.”


Then they put the razor on the grade zero setting and shaved it all off! I let it go, but some guys got mad. Leo [Leonardo] was really ***ed off, and so was Bebeto – he loved that hair. There was some awkwardness, but we came to an understanding in the end. Everything was OK.


Did Ronaldinho ever admit that his goal against England in 2002 was actually a cross rather than a shot?
Dave Leech, via Facebook


He has never admitted it – at least not to me – but I’m sure he didn’t intend to shoot. It was one of those balls that we used to throw at the goalkeeper during the training sessions, so everyone could jump in front of him. He definitely wanted to cross it. Ronaldinho once said I was the worst Brazilian player when it came to samba.


Were the five minutes you played at the end of the 2002 World Cup Final the best of your life? Do you wish you could have played more, having started the first four games of the tournament?
Jake Taylor, Stockton-on-Tees


No doubt about it. I also got to play in my favoured position against Germany for the first time in the World Cup. [Luiz Felipe] Scolari asked me to do a different role as a defensive midfielder alongside Gilberto Silva, then he rewarded me in the final. It was a very special moment for me. I started four games and then left the team against England.


In 1998, I had a place secured in the first XI – much more secured. In 2002, Emerson suffered an accident during a training session and Big Phil thought I could fill that space. He asked me if I could do that role and I answered him that of course I’d be available to help.


The media heavily criticised me because they were expecting to see Juninho the playmaker; they weren’t analysing me as a holding midfielder. I had tactical responsibilities, such as covering Cafu when he went on the attack. I didn’t expect to be in the first team because I was training with the reserves until the day before of our first game against Turkey.
During your time on loan at Vasco da Gama, you played with the other Juninho – did it ever get confusing?
Martin Farley, via Facebook


We had to discuss it in the dressing room pretty early because it could have been confusing. We decided I would be Juninho Paulista, as I was from Sao Paulo, and he would be Juninho Pernambucano, as he was from Recife in the state of Pernambuco.


What was it like sharing a dressing room with Romario at Vasco? There were rumours he complained to coach Oswaldo de Oliveira because he thought Oswaldo felt you were more important than him…
Alan Blake, via Twitter


It’s funny, because I discussed this with Oswaldo just yesterday. He asked me: “You didn’t know about that story?” and I said no. Romario never treated me badly; on the contrary, he was always cheering me up and complimenting me. I had never noticed that this situation caused some discomfort with him. As a professional, he was excellent, and always did everything he was asked to do by the coach. We had such a good relationship, though he kept himself to himself outside of the team – he had his own friends.

I heard that you are chairman of Ituano in Sao Paulo now. Does it feel weird to be the man at the top? And how do you think the link that the team has with Middlesbrough will benefit the two clubs?
Lewis Pittman, via email


I have been here for six years now and my life has totally changed. As a footballer, you have an idea what it’s like to organise this stuff, but it’s far from easy. As a player, I took for granted that I would get to the dressing room and find my kit. I now realise that for this kit to be in the right place for every game, so many things need to be done!


My relationship with Middlesbrough is still very strong. Steve Gibson, the owner, is a brilliant person, with everything he’s done for the club – and everything he promised to me back in the ’90s was honoured.


We are trying to take this partnership to another level and have an exchange programme where we would be able to send some of our youngsters to Boro to get some experience of football in Europe. We had some talks regarding a possible friendly between the two teams, but the costs are too high at this moment. But in the future, who knows? Maybe if I lose a little bit of weight I could get some minutes myself!

 

[r00fie1]

Flash - Back:

Bournemouth v Middlesbrough 1991-92 LC R2 2L​

Bournemouth finished the 91 / 92 season 8th in the old Division 3.
It would be 23 years before they joined The Premiership!
5528 turned up at Dean Court that night.
The Boro ran out 2-1 Winners.

Middlesbrough FC - Middlesbrough FC

Welcome to the official website of Middlesbrough Football Club. Visit for Boro's latest news, videos and highlights, plus tickets and match information.

www.mfc.co.uk

With only a half-dozen meetings between the clubs in the last quarter century, you have to look back as far as the 1991/92 for our most recent victory at the south coast club.

It was also in the League Cup, and it was also in October.

Paul Wilkinson had scored for Boro in a hard-fought first leg at Ayresome Park, which finished 1-1 and left the tie in the balance as Boro made the long journey south.

John Hendrie, in what would prove to be still early days of his Boro career, opened the scoring, heading home his first of the season.

Division Three Bournemouth levelled things up after the break and with the match seemingly heading for a penalty shoot-out, Hendrie beat the offside trap before being felled in the area. Gary Parkinson stepped up and slammed home the resulting spot kick to put Boro’s name in the hat for the next round.

That second round result paved the way for Boro to equal what was then our best-ever performance in the ‘Rumbelows’ League Cup.

Boro would see off Barnsley, Manchester City and Peterborough United to set up our first semi-final tie in the competition since Jack Charlton’s Champions in 1975-76.

There, the Teessiders gave giants Manchester United a scare by first drawing battling to a goalless draw at Ayresome Park, before forcing extra time at a rain-soaked Old Trafford.

Bernie Slaven cancelled out Lee Sharpe’s opener, and Boro had a host of chances to nick it before a young Ryan Giggs volleyed in to clinch it for United.

It was a season that ended in promotion from the second tier from Boro, as Lennie Lawrence guided his side to a second-place finish in his first season as Boro boss – booking the club a place in the inaugural Premier League.

 

[r00fie1]

RED AND WHITE SHORTS:

Boro 3 - Skunks 0

What with all the talk about Saudi Princes an that:

Lets look back to the 1991 / 92 season, when the barcodes visited Ayresome Park.
Paul Wilkinson opened the scoring in the first half, followed by a rebound reflex into the net from Mark Proctor.
A superb cross from the left by Stuart Ripley saw Willy Falconer turn the ball into the Skunks net to seal the match.

 

[r00fie1]

A belated Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Evening to all Boro fans everywhere around the globe.

If I`ve missed you out [its not on purpose] - drop a comment on this thread and I will try to remember for the next match



Twe12thman Boro
@Twe12thman
Middlesbrough FC's Twe12thman

Middlesbrough, England
Joined February 2011

https://twitter.com/twe12thman?lang=en

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​

Rainbow Reds - Middlesbrough FC
@Rainbow_Reds
Proud to represent the
@Boro
LGBTQ+ supporters. We are the official supporters group for Middlesbrough FC. Previously
@RainbowRedsBoro
rainbowreds@outlook.com

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​

Boro North America
@utbna
Connecting Smoggies in the US & Canada since 2013
North Americafacebook.com/groups/boronor…

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​

Middlesbro Sup South
@midsupsouth
Middlesbrough Supporters South (mss) - A community of Middlesbrough fans in London, the South and beyond! contact@mss.org.uk

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midfcsg

MFC Singapore Supporters Club​

The Middlesbrough FC Official Singapore supporters club Est 2004. founded by Ariff Ahmad on the 3rd June 04 www.mfc-sg.blogspot.com

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https://www.facebook.com/BoroDownUndermiddlesbroughFcFansInAustralia/

Middlesbrough FC Supporters Down Under (Australia & N.Z)​

@BoroDownUndermiddlesbroughFcFansInAustralia

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Middlesbrough Supporters Club South West
@borosouthwest
Middlesbrough Supporters Club South West, for all fans located in the South West. Come and join us! #UTB #Boro #mfc hello@mscsw.co.uk

https://twitter.com/borosouthwest?lang=en

 

[r00fie1]

Middlesbrough Weather Forecast: Today [Saturday 16th October]​

Here`s the latest shots available [07:47 hrs] from various webcams [live] from around the North East: -

Webcams around Middlesbrough - meteoblue

Current webcams for Middlesbrough. Check if it is currently sunny, rainy, cloudy or even snowing in Middlesbrough

www.meteoblue.com

 

[Laughing]

Roofie why don't you pursue a career as a journalist, its clearly a love of yours.

In any event I am quite looking forward to today's game and there will be a ton of goals. 5-1 to boro.

I am hoping that the injury crisis marginalises warnock damage and the lads go out with a backs to the wall attitude. Forget the sniping from the bench, go out and play to the best of your abilities and the crowd will love you for it.

 

[r00fie1]

Roofie why don't you pursue a career as a journalist, its clearly a love of yours.

In any event I am quite looking forward to today's game and there will be a ton of goals. 5-1 to boro.

I am hoping that the injury crisis marginalises warnock damage and the lads go out with a backs to the wall attitude. Forget the sniping from the bench, go out and play to the best of your abilities and the crowd will love you for it.

I`l let you into a secret.
Many moons ago I wrote articles for a couple of journal, focusing on topical issues - taking a sideways slant.
I also had a slot on a Hospital Radio and trained as a Journo at one point.
Didnt pursue it beyond a semi-serious hobby, but its something I`ve considered earning some money from.
Dont tell everyone.

 

[r00fie1]

Time to go.
Laters.
[About 9 pm]

 

[Laughing]

I`l let you into a secret.
Many moons ago I wrote articles for a couple of journal, focusing on topical issues - taking a sideways slant.
I also had a slot on a Hospital Radio and trained as a Journo at one point.
Didnt pursue it beyond a semi-serious hobby, but its something I`ve considered earning some money from.
Dont tell everyone.

Your a long time dead and you should always pursue your love.

I have had stories published in magazines several times but it is such hard work for so little reward.

Oh I also won a prize at school for a short story. We were given the line of a poem.

He was too young to be left alone
Alone in a basement flat
Alone that is except for the cat

That had to be the first line. I wrote a short story of rats eating the cat then the child. My story ended with the line :

His carcass lay alone
Alone in a basement flat
Alone that is except for the cat's

My teacher said it was ridiculous, but the poem was called a case of murder and the boy kills the cat in the poem so not quite as ridiculous as my teacher made out.

And I won a national prize.

 

[Cress]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1449359457754943490

 

[JonnyHistory]

Hope he tries Payero in the 10 slot, him and Crooks could switch in and out one drop deep one bomb on from midfield, its a combination I'd like us to try anyway.