2013 PL - Just for Fun; Game 1 - Middlesbrough (away)

Div3North · 04-08-2013, 18:46

Middlesbrough FC

V

Accrington Stanley

2013/14 Prediction League – Just for Fun (Cup games) Game 1; v Middlesbrough (away); Capone Cup Round 1

Their “transfer” history over the summer perhaps goes a long way to show how Middlesbrough’s fortunes have dipped in recent years;

1.Australian-born striker Scott McDonald (29), who’s played for Southampton, Huddersfield, the Wombles and Motherwell, and who was brought to the Riverside from Celtic in 2010 for £3.5 million has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, signing for Millwall

2.MF Nicky Bailey (29) – ex Barnet, Southend and Charlton, who they paid £1.4 million for his services in 2010, has gone for free to Millwall as well

3.Stephen McManus (30) – 26 caps for Scotland, 12 years at Celtic, bought for £1.5 million – has left, after an “injury-blighted” stay at the Riverside, going to Motherwell

4.Julio Arca – a 32 year-old MF - has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, and has gone back to Argentina to try and get over a long-standing toe injury (he only made 3 appearances last season, 1 in the League)

5.Ex England international/injury prone Kieron Dyer, who joined on a short-term contract in February, has retired after his contract wasn’t renewed

In have come 30 year old defender Fraser Richardson – ex Leeds, Charlton and Southampton – who might make his debut on Tuesday (his registration didn’t go through in time for Saturday); ex Stoke MF Dean Whitehead (31), who signed from Sunderland in 2009 for £3 million but has now been released; and – on a season-long loan – MF Josef Varga, a Hungarian international with 21 caps, who arrives from Debrecen.

Loads of money, yes – but it sounds very historical …………… Their opening League game at home to Leicester saw them 1-0 up ten minutes before half time, only for the Foxes to score two in the second half and walk off with the points; currently they’re 18th – P1 L1 F1 A2 Pts 0; very similar to us, really; except that we’re “F1 A4”. As far as I’m aware we’ve never met before in a competitive game, so there are bragging rights on offer as well ……………….

They did quite well last season in the Capone Cup, reaching the Quarter Finals by beating Bury 2-1, Gillingham 2-0, PNE 3-1 and Sunderland 1-0 (all away), before going out to the eventual winners Swansea 1-0 (away), thanks to an 81st minute own goal ………… Not convinced they’ll get that far this time ………The have the air of a team in some trouble

This is “For Fun Only” – no points count towards the “proper” PL, but why not sharpen up your skills for the main event? Predictions in, please, by kick-off, which is 7.45pm this coming Tuesday, 6th August.

Good luck to everyone ………….Keep the Faith ……………. And thanks for playing!