Saturday, 4 October 2008 Blackburn v Man Utd, 17:30 Paul Ince's Rovers beat Newcastle last week, but Man Utd will be a tougher customer - even without the injured Scholes and Rooney. Fergie faces yet another of his managerial offspring, which has to make him feel old. Prediction: 0-2 Bonus Prediction: Fergie to give Ince deliberately bad "advice" before [. Click to continue reading...

After a tough win against Grays on Thursday night, Boro are back in action tomorrow afternoon when York visit Broadhall Way. York began the season well and were unbeaten in their first 8 games, although they did draw 5 of those, winning the other 3. Since then they have been beaten twice against Kettering and [. Click to continue reading...

Saturday Arsenal v Hull City, 17:30 Can Hull's excellent run keep going. Against Arsenal? Away? No, it can't. Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal. Not an easy win for the Gunners, but a win nonetheless. Bonus Prediction: DNA tests confirm Hull's 39 year old striker Dean Windass as the father of Jack Wilshere, Carlos Vela and Kieran Gibbs. Click to continue reading...

After a difficult trilogy of away games, we finally return to Teesside this weekend in a match that sees the Boro of today against a little bit of Boro from yesterday. Click to continue reading...

Exactly 125 days after the final one of his 42 last season, Ronaldo converted his first of this one. A Carling Cup tie with Middlesbrough may be somewhat less enthralling than a Champions League final at the Luzhniki Stadium but the headers were eerily similar, marking the end of a turbulent summer for Ronaldo and providing [. Click to continue reading...

Manucho, the Angola striker named in the Africa Cup of Nations Best 11, could make his Manchester United debut tonight Carling Cup against Boro. I didn't know too much about him so, to save you faithful readers the trouble, I researched him and have to say I'm looking forward to seeing him have a run out.

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Stevenage Borough's Youth team begin their FA Youth Cup campaign tonight when they face Bishop's Stortford at Broadhall Way. It's the first game in the Youth Cup for the newly formed youth side since Colin Read took over during the summer. In their last game Boro were beaten quite comfortably at Broadhall Way by Barnet. Click to continue reading...

I think I'm getting better at this predicting business. Last week's attempts at clairvoyance actually yielded two correct scores (Man City 1-3 Chelsea and Portsmouth 2-1 Middlesbrough). But I also predicted that Liverpool vs Man Utd would be goalless only for Carlos Tevez to make a liar out of me within three minutes. Click to continue reading...

Stockton-born Lee Cattermole has launched an attack on Boro claiming that he joined Wigan because they're 'a better team' Click to continue reading...

Living here in Derbyshire as an exiled Boro' supporter, I only really get to see the away games at Burton, York and Mansfield and it does have its benefits, methinks after what had been a poor start to the season. However I decided to take in a trip with my son to Barrow to see if Boro could get [. Click to continue reading...

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the former Boro striker, has announced hie retirement from football after deciding not to move to the Middle East for one last pay day. Click to continue reading...

Boro's recent improvement continued as Altrincham were beaten convincingly at Broadhall Way this afternoon. Boro dominated the game from start to finish and outclassed a team who just shouldn't be in this division. Altrincham were always going to put 10 men behind the ball as they looked to take a point back to Cheshire. Click to continue reading...

Gareth Southgate has been rewarded for Boro's good start to the 2008/09 Premier League season by picking up the Manager of the Month award for August. Click to continue reading...

Garmin, proud sponsors of the Boro, have recently introduced a free file for your Garmin Sat Nav. Click to continue reading...

Graham Westley has completed 2 deadline day signings as he finalises his squad for the remainder of 2008. Goalkeeper Chris Day has signed a two year contract with Boro after a 2 game "trial" where he impressed enough to warrant a permanent deal. He was subject of late interest from Northampton Town, who have sold Mark Bunn [. Click to continue reading...

Saturday's Carling Cup draw has seen Manchester United drawn at home to the Boro! Click to continue reading...

Well, I did get a couple of things right last week, like Daniel Sturridge scoring for Man City. But overall, not so good. Arsenal to beat Fulham? You'd think so, but no. But maybe third time's the charm. Here are my predictions for week three in the Premier League. Saturday Bolton 1-1 West Bromwich Albion A win over Stoke [. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool 2, Middlesbourgh 1 -- Mido looks to be having a special year as he puts the Boro up 1-0 late. But there's some magic at Anfield these days as an own goal (85') and a last gasp winner by Gerrard (above, 90+') send the Reds fans home happy.

Fulham 1, Arsenal 0 -- Oh man Arsene. It's gonna be one of those years huh? Click to continue reading...

A listing of some interesting points from around the globe follows.

• Blackpool's Taylor-Fletcher is playing well at the start of the club's Championship campaign [@ Vital Blackpool]
• US international Michael Bradley again rumored with move to Middlesbrough [@ Yanks Soccer]
• Boro - Liverpool review with player ratings [@ Boro Mania]
  
  

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Liverpool needed a late Gerrard strike to oust Boro at Anfield, Fulham claimed a historic win over a poor Arsenal side at Craven Cottage, a Deco free-kick doomed Wigan at the JJB, Elano led Manchester City to a 3-0 win over West Ham at Eastlands, Blackburn and Hull drew, a Michael Owen goal propelled Newcastle to victory over Bolton, Stoke beat Villa, Tottenham lost at home to an inspired Sunderland side, and Everton won away to West Brom. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are ready to make a £14 million bid for Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing. The England international has been linked with a whole host of exits from the Riverside over the past 12 months or so with Tottenham also said to be interested. (News of the World)

The 24-year old could finally solve Rafa Benitez' left-sided problems, which have existed for some time now. Click to continue reading...

If Liverpool fans have dreams of winning the Premier League this season, they can kiss them goodbye. Today at Anfield, Liverpool escaped with a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough with a woeful performance that was rescued by an own goal and then an injury time goal by Steven Gerrard.

This was a cruel blow to Middlesbrough who played a strong defensive game for most of the match under a 4-5-1 formation. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez will this week make an official approach to Middlesbrough for Stewart Downing.

The Reds boss had hoped Downing would remain on Merseyside for talks following Boro's 2-1 defeat at Anfield yesterday, but the winger's boss Gareth Southgate refused him permission.

Benitez is a huge fan of the England star and is prepared to meet the north-east side's £12 million valuation. Click to continue reading...

Picture from the BBC via the PA.

Well well well, could the first halves be any more boring than we saw this past weekend? I think this was the most boring collective first forty-five minutes in the Premier League since I've started following.

Paddy Power got their press saying they would pay off Stoke City for relegation, now they get laughed at.

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Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane
Torres

Goals:
Mido 70'
Carragher 85'
Gerrard 90+4'

Wow. Just wow.

We've been privy to some incredible comebacks in the past five or so years. As late ones go, Olympiacos and West Ham obviously top that list, but this was a special last 10 minutes in its own right. Click to continue reading...

Saturday morning, 0930: I'm following Newcastle v Bolton on Setanta (HTPC); Spurs v Sunderland on FSC (cable); Liverpool v Boro on Sirius (radio); and Ebbsfleet Utd v Stevanage on BBC Radio Kent (laptop). This is after Charlton v Reading (on Setanta) at 0630. I wonder how much electricity I'm using to do this. Click to continue reading...

A quick quiz question......What connects Fernando Torres and the date January 21st 2008?

The answer is that it was the last time the Spaniard failed to score in a Premier League game at Anfield.

Since that blank against Villa, Torres has netted in eight successive Premier League home matches, scoring 12 goals. Click to continue reading...

How many scores did I get right last week? Absolutely none, that's how many. But am I discouraged? Of course not. You see, it wasn't my fault. Turns out someone (not me) had forgotten to recalibrate the old crystal ball for the new season and it was still on the 2007/8 settings. But I've had the [... Click to continue reading...

10am, live in the US on Setanta.

Last 4 head-to-head:
3-2 Liverpool (h) 02.23.08
1-1 (a) 01.12.08
2-0 Liverpool (h) 04.18.07
0-0 (a) 11.18.06

Last match:
Liverpool: 1-0 Sunderland (a)
Middlesbrough: 2-1 Spurs (h)

Referee: Mike Riley

Guess at a squad:
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Benayoun
Keane
Torres

Yes, I know, except for Agger, this would be the same line-up that struggled at Sunderland. Click to continue reading...

Soccer City FC's Chris C. commented on the former Bolton player in May. News today has Campo signing with Coca-Cola Championship side Ipswich Town. Will Campo's veteran presence be a positive? Or will he offer up a series of listless performances while in the Championship?

Also in Championship news:

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Middlesbrough defender Tony McMahon. Click to continue reading...

Joe Hart...future England keeper?

2007/8 Review

Manchester City present a conundrum for any statistician examining the 2007/8 Premiership. They performed so poorly in their final three games, contests which were essentially meaningless to Citeh, that some of the data is devalued. Click to continue reading...

  When Boro's defenders aren't busy keeping Spurs' expensively-assembled forward line at bay, they like to kick back with a little baking. On the pitch, Pogatetz is a fierce tackler and Wheater uses his massive frame to ward off attackers.  Off the pitch, Wheater mixes the icing and Pogatetz applies it with a flat knife. Click to continue reading...

Stevenage kick off their reserve season in the Football Combination East on Wednesday night with a home fixture against Wycombe Wanderers who we drew with in pre-season. Boro are expected to name a mix of first team players and some players from the newly formed "School of Excellence". Some names expected to feature are Peter Vincenti, [. Click to continue reading...

Middlesbrough have completed the £3million signing of full-back Justin Hoyte from Arsenal on a four-year contract. The 23-year-old, a former England Under-21 international, has agreed a deal to stay with the Teessiders until the summer of 2012. On his move, Hoyte seemed surprised at how quick everything had been sorted. Click to continue reading...

Last season Damian crusied to a comfortable win and took the predictions crown from Damon. How about this season. This is the first week and we concentrate on the Premier League. 08/09 Podcast 1 DB DF RES Sunderland vs Liverpool 2-1 0-0 Arsenal v WBA 3-1 (1) 2-0 (1) 1-0 M'boro v Tottenham 0-2 1-3 Chelsea v Portsmouth 1-0 2-0 Man U v Newcastle 2-1 2-0 Bayern M v Hamburg 2-0 2-1 Click to continue reading...