Middlesbrough v FFC [R]

Bump. Come On Fulham!!
Don predicts a Zamora hat trick - crazy but I like it!

 

I say a 2-1 comeback win on a late goal by Clint. I say that because Clint seems to come up with the big play when we need it most.

BTW, speaking of Clint, there is a nice mention of him and Fulham in the Boston Globe's soccer blog:

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/blog/

 

0-0

Go Figure

 

I thought Boro played well, good pressure on the ball, left it all on the pitch. While we arguably had the better of the chances, I'd have almost felt a bit bad sneaking a late goal for 3 points. The final result was a fair one.

 

Disappointed that the lads didn't convert one of their chances, but as said above a draw was a fair result. I feel a little bad for Boro, don't really have anything against them and no particular desire to see them go down, but someone has to. If it is them, any chance Fulham might have a shot at Downing?

Oh, and that save by the Aussie on the header by Tuncay was pretty awesome.

 

Some highlights:

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2389997/

 

Mission accomplished, apparently.

I guess in light of the fact that some players (Deuce, Hangeland, Murphy) had some sort of injuries or were just dog tired after playing 40 games or so this year, it was a good result. Boro were the better team for the majority of the game.

Schwarzer has to be the signing of the season for the league, specially consideringb we paid a big fat zero dollar fee. That save on Tuncay was one for the league's highlight reel for the year.

Speaking of Tuncay, he will be back in the Prem next year, regardless of Boro's fate -- he is a horse. I hadn't seen Boro play ths year, he made our back four work all game.

Alfonso Alves couldn't score in a French whorehouse with 50,000 euros in his pocket. And would it kill Zamora to shoot a little more inside the box AND put some of those shots on target?

 

Alves was a BEAST in the Dutch League; once he gets used to English football, he's going to be good.

 

Schwarzer was easily Fulham's MOM and his save against Tuncay was beautiful. Speaking of Tuncay, if he were to be made available to Fulham I would not mind seeing him suit up for the Whites. Dempsey looked dangerous on the break during counter attacks and it was to bad that AJ didn't get the lucky bounce when he hit the post.

 

I envy those of you with a real soccer pub to watch the matches. We have a pseudo English chain and I was the only one there for soccer (and had to request they turn from Madden Nation for me to watch it).

Boro definitely looked the desperate side as evidenced by their hustle and myriad late slide tackles. It's hard to complain about a point on the road (despite recent form) but this still felt like one we could have had.

Agree with the praise for Schwarzer, that save on Tuncay gives him MoM on it's own.

Too bad Boro couldn't gift us a GPS from Garmin. Zamora could use one when shooting. He was back to endangering the crowd again, including on a gift from Dempsey that was almost the reverse of Dempsey's second goal last week.

Disappointed not to see Barnes subbed in for Davies instead of Gera. Zolton was crap and his first touch after coming in played Boro into the box, almost resulting in a good chance for them.

Thought everyone else played okay, just not as aggressive as we've been of late.

 

That was an impressive point if you ask me. Boro's fans roared the whole match and clearly that helped their boys continue to push forward one attack after another. I thought we should have had them however as we broke free late in the 2nd and Clint drew all the defenders to him and lays off a perfect ball for Zamora to run on to and he skies the shot when I think he should have finished. That said, great point considering their desperation and the help they received from their supporters the whole match. Now let's get three from Stoke

 

Sure. I had gone to Stone Oak this past w/e. Absolutely terrible.

 

He scored a bunch of goals for them down the stretch last year too (six in eleven matches); it's certainly possible that he's not getting great service and that's part of the problem this year too.

Forgot to mention, great effort by Hangeland apparently playing through pain.