1. First off, are you happy with how the summer has gone for the club?
Yes. Not brought in many names but got rid of the likes of Mendieta and Dong Gook who were just eating away at the wage bill whilst doing nothing for the first team. Then the arrival of 2 new young lads in the shapes of Marvin Emnes and Didier Digard. At first i was disappointed to hear about the sale of Luke Young but when i was told he went for a potential £6 million i was chuffed as he is 29 year old and could (although it will be hard) be replaced. Cattermole's sale was a good one too as he hasn't progressed much in the last couple of seasons.
2. Who are the new boys?
Digard is a tough tackling young French player. He plays the same way as George Boateng but is a bit more athletic. Emnes can play on either wing or upfront and is another young, bright prospect. Been impressed with both in pre-season, espescially Digard.
3. Who have you been most disappointed to see leave the club?
Fabio Rochemback. Alot of fans got on his back too easily but in truth he would graft for the team and was prepared to put his foot in when it was needed even though he gave away a few too many silly free-kicks. Was also a good passer of the ball and on his day would run the midfield and create chances out of nothing. - in my opinion he was the only one to come out of our FA Cup loss to Cardiff with any credit. However, a return to Sporting has always been on the cards - just disappointed we never took up the option to extend his contract.
4. Who would you like to see the boss sign in the last few weeks of the trannsfer window?
A new goalkeeper please. I never liked Schwarzer and Brad Jones is just another clone of him - absolutely useless. He should be nowhere near any Premiership side and needs to be given the boot. Hopefully Ross Turnbull will be made number 1 but i would like to see some new back-up brought in for him.
5. Who has stood out during pre-season matches?
Rhys Williams. The lad had come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of seasons and is another product of our academy. He is a Welsh Under-21 international who is best in central defence, although he can also play right-back if needs be.
6. On the game, are you confident?
Spurs on paper have a very good side with a very strong midfield. However, whether they will gel or not on the first day of the new season remains to be seen. Glad you sold Robbie Keane as he always plays well against us. I am confident that we will win and i think we will just edge it 2-1 but it will be very tough and whoever comes out on top in midfield should win the match.
7. Who do you see as our biggest threat and why?
David Bentley. I think he will be a great signing for you and has the ability to cause any full backs problems with his creativity and crossing ability. Hopefully he will find it all a bit strange playing for his first clubs' rivals and be a complete flop come Saturday.........we can hope!
8. Who is your biggest threat to us and why?
Stewart Downing. In a tough midfield scrap i think he will be the key man in providing us with an attacking outlet. He will be the main man this season with regards to assists and goals from midfield. Like Bentley - he has the ability to cause any defender problems.
9. What do you think the score will be?
2-1 to the Boro. As i said previously, it will be a tough game but i think our firepower upfront will see us edge it.
10. If you could have one of our players in your side who would it be and why?
Heurelho Gomes. Watched quite a bit of him on Setanta last season and also in the UEFA Cup. Can sometimes be a bit of a flapper but on his day can play an absolute blinder.
11. What's your best memory of Spurs V Boro matches in the past?
Beating you 1-0 in the penultimate game of the 04-05 season. Both teams and Man City were chasing the last UEFA Cup spot and we beat you 1-0 at the Riverside with an early George Boateng goal to set-up that memorable 1-1 draw at Eastlands on the final day of the season. Schwarzer saving a penalty from Fowler to give us UEFA Cup football the following season. I also went to my first away game at WHL for my birthday and we beat you 3-0 in the 02-03 season - Maccarone, Job and Geremi the scorers.
12. What is your worst memory of Sours V Boro mathces in the past?
Losing 3-2 at home a couple of seasons back. We were awful that day until the hour mark when we started to give it a go. Berbatov scored one of the best goals i have seen at the Riverside in that game with a great volley from outside the box. Remember alot of Boro fans standing up to applaud him for the goal - he battered our defence for the whole 90 minutes.
13. Boro are known for having a quality youth team so with this in
mind who is the youngster we should be keeping an eye on this year?
As previously mentioned, Rhys Williams should be seeing a few first team games this season whether it be here with the Boro or out on loan elsewhere. Josh Walker has also impressed in pre-season, he was out on loan at Aberdeen last term and scored in the UEFA Cup versus Bayern Munich with an absolute screamer. He is a tough tackling central midfielder and has the potential to be a big name in the game - he could also go out on loan or stay at the Riverside.
14. Finally where do you think Middlesbrough will finish in the league
this season and where do you think Spurs will finish?
I am still undecided about Juande Ramos in the league. I know he won the Carling Cup with you but the league is completely different. However, he did a great job with Sevilla in La Liga with some good final positions aswell as winning a few cups with them (including the UEFA Cup final win over us in 2006!). Has made some good signings so i will say around 7th.
For the Boro, Southgate is contiuing to impress as a manager and is taking the club forward nicely. I think around 10th place is a realistic target and i would be happy to finish there come May.
Yes. Not brought in many names but got rid of the likes of Mendieta and Dong Gook who were just eating away at the wage bill whilst doing nothing for the first team. Then the arrival of 2 new young lads in the shapes of Marvin Emnes and Didier Digard. At first i was disappointed to hear about the sale of Luke Young but when i was told he went for a potential £6 million i was chuffed as he is 29 year old and could (although it will be hard) be replaced. Cattermole's sale was a good one too as he hasn't progressed much in the last couple of seasons.
2. Who are the new boys?
Digard is a tough tackling young French player. He plays the same way as George Boateng but is a bit more athletic. Emnes can play on either wing or upfront and is another young, bright prospect. Been impressed with both in pre-season, espescially Digard.
3. Who have you been most disappointed to see leave the club?
Fabio Rochemback. Alot of fans got on his back too easily but in truth he would graft for the team and was prepared to put his foot in when it was needed even though he gave away a few too many silly free-kicks. Was also a good passer of the ball and on his day would run the midfield and create chances out of nothing. - in my opinion he was the only one to come out of our FA Cup loss to Cardiff with any credit. However, a return to Sporting has always been on the cards - just disappointed we never took up the option to extend his contract.
4. Who would you like to see the boss sign in the last few weeks of the trannsfer window?
A new goalkeeper please. I never liked Schwarzer and Brad Jones is just another clone of him - absolutely useless. He should be nowhere near any Premiership side and needs to be given the boot. Hopefully Ross Turnbull will be made number 1 but i would like to see some new back-up brought in for him.
5. Who has stood out during pre-season matches?
Rhys Williams. The lad had come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of seasons and is another product of our academy. He is a Welsh Under-21 international who is best in central defence, although he can also play right-back if needs be.
6. On the game, are you confident?
Spurs on paper have a very good side with a very strong midfield. However, whether they will gel or not on the first day of the new season remains to be seen. Glad you sold Robbie Keane as he always plays well against us. I am confident that we will win and i think we will just edge it 2-1 but it will be very tough and whoever comes out on top in midfield should win the match.
7. Who do you see as our biggest threat and why?
David Bentley. I think he will be a great signing for you and has the ability to cause any full backs problems with his creativity and crossing ability. Hopefully he will find it all a bit strange playing for his first clubs' rivals and be a complete flop come Saturday.........we can hope!
8. Who is your biggest threat to us and why?
Stewart Downing. In a tough midfield scrap i think he will be the key man in providing us with an attacking outlet. He will be the main man this season with regards to assists and goals from midfield. Like Bentley - he has the ability to cause any defender problems.
9. What do you think the score will be?
2-1 to the Boro. As i said previously, it will be a tough game but i think our firepower upfront will see us edge it.
10. If you could have one of our players in your side who would it be and why?
Heurelho Gomes. Watched quite a bit of him on Setanta last season and also in the UEFA Cup. Can sometimes be a bit of a flapper but on his day can play an absolute blinder.
11. What's your best memory of Spurs V Boro matches in the past?
Beating you 1-0 in the penultimate game of the 04-05 season. Both teams and Man City were chasing the last UEFA Cup spot and we beat you 1-0 at the Riverside with an early George Boateng goal to set-up that memorable 1-1 draw at Eastlands on the final day of the season. Schwarzer saving a penalty from Fowler to give us UEFA Cup football the following season. I also went to my first away game at WHL for my birthday and we beat you 3-0 in the 02-03 season - Maccarone, Job and Geremi the scorers.
12. What is your worst memory of Sours V Boro mathces in the past?
Losing 3-2 at home a couple of seasons back. We were awful that day until the hour mark when we started to give it a go. Berbatov scored one of the best goals i have seen at the Riverside in that game with a great volley from outside the box. Remember alot of Boro fans standing up to applaud him for the goal - he battered our defence for the whole 90 minutes.
13. Boro are known for having a quality youth team so with this in
mind who is the youngster we should be keeping an eye on this year?
As previously mentioned, Rhys Williams should be seeing a few first team games this season whether it be here with the Boro or out on loan elsewhere. Josh Walker has also impressed in pre-season, he was out on loan at Aberdeen last term and scored in the UEFA Cup versus Bayern Munich with an absolute screamer. He is a tough tackling central midfielder and has the potential to be a big name in the game - he could also go out on loan or stay at the Riverside.
14. Finally where do you think Middlesbrough will finish in the league
this season and where do you think Spurs will finish?
I am still undecided about Juande Ramos in the league. I know he won the Carling Cup with you but the league is completely different. However, he did a great job with Sevilla in La Liga with some good final positions aswell as winning a few cups with them (including the UEFA Cup final win over us in 2006!). Has made some good signings so i will say around 7th.
For the Boro, Southgate is contiuing to impress as a manager and is taking the club forward nicely. I think around 10th place is a realistic target and i would be happy to finish there come May.