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 08-16-2007, 01:59 AM | #31 (permalink) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 |
Overview Middlesbrough have spent the last nine seasons in the Premier League and 12 seasons in total. The 2004/05 season represented their best in the Premier League, as they secured a 7th place finish. Otherwise, Boro have generally been comfortable in the top flight and often excelled in the cup competitions. After finishing runners-up in the League Cup in 1997 and 1998, Boro won the trophy for the first time when, under Steve McClaren, they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium . Two years later, they were beaten by Sevilla in the Uefa Cup final after a dramatic run which saw them mount stunning late comebacks in the previous two rounds against Basel and Steaua Bucharest respectively. Current manager Gareth Southgate helped the north east club to a 12th place finish last season. Middlesbrough paid the first-ever four-figure transfer fee for a player in 1905 when they spent £1,000 on centre forward Alf Common. Club Heritage Middlesbrough Football Club was originally formed in 1876 by Middlesbrough Cricket team players to stay fit during the winter. In 1877, they recorded their first-ever result, a 1-1 draw with Teesside Wanderers. The club was elected to the Football League in 1899, with their inaugural league win coming at home against Grimsby. In 1903, the club moved to Ayresome Park from Linthorpe Road, where they had been playing since 1877. The club was relegated to the Second Division in the 1923-24 campaign after 22 straight seasons in the top flight. They were promoted again three seasons later, with striker George Camsell scoring 59 league goals. After a number of promotions and relegations, one of the club's highest-ever goalscorers emerged in the 1950s during a 20-year spell outside the top flight. Brian Clough scored 204 goals in 222 games before leaving for Sunderland. Once established back in the First Division, the club won its first-ever silverware in the 1975-76 season. They lifted the Anglo-Scottish Cup after beating Fulham over two legs. There were major fears that the club would fold permanently after experiencing severe financial difficulties in the mid 1980s. However, with just 10 minutes to go before the deadline to pay the £350,000 required for Football League registration, a consortium led by Steve Gibson, a board member at the time, produced the money necessary to compete in the 1986-87 season. Two successive promotions secured the club's place in Division One and they were in the top flight for the inaugural Premier League season. Premier League History 1992-93 - Relegated from Premier League 1993-94 - Manager Lennie Lawrence resigns 1994-95 - Bryan Robson appointed as player-manager 1994-95 - Promoted from Division One 1996-97 - Relegated from FA Carling Premiership 2001-02 - Robson resigns in summer 2001 2001-02 - Steve McClaren appointed manager 2002-03 - Massimo Maccarone signs from Empoli for a club record £8.15million 2003-04 - League Cup winners 2005-06 - McClaren resigns 2006-07 - Gareth Southgate appointed manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08-16-2007, 01:59 AM | #32 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barclays Premier League 
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| 08-16-2007, 02:00 AM | #33 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | oro still keen on Mido Gareth Southgate remains hopeful of pushing through a deal for Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido. The 24-year-old is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane following Darren Bent's record-breaking £16.5million move from Charlton Athletic. And his future has been the subject of much discussion over the past few weeks. Middlesbrough struck an agreement with the player at the end of last week but his destination was once again uncertain when Sunderland stepped in with an improved offer. very keen Spurs have had to reassess the situation but Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has held more talks with White Hart Lane officials and a fee has now been agreed. Mido saw a move to Birmingham City collapse earlier in the summer but Southgate believes Boro will soon secure the Egyptian. "Negotiations are ongoing," Southgate said. "We are still very keen to do it. I think Mido is in the same mind. "We thought that it was already done last week but there has been a little bit of a twist in it, and so discussions are carrying on." |
| 08-16-2007, 02:02 AM | #34 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barclays Premier League
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| 08-16-2007, 02:02 AM | #35 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Late drama in opening weekend games Late drama in opening weekend games Late goals and significant contributions by newcomers to the Barclays Premier League mark the new season. Spectators were richly entertained in the opening round of matches as spectacular goals and late twists of fate meant no one could take their eyes off any of the games until the final whistles blew up and down the country. Newly promoted Sunderland scored the first goal of the season - pulling off a shock result against big-spending Tottenham. New £5million signing Michael Chopra came off the substitutes bench to hit the decisive strike with practically the last kick of the game. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made his Barclays Premier League debut as Manchester City manager at Upton Park where his expensively assembled, multi-national side got off to the perfect start with an impressive win against West Ham United. Both City's goals came from new signings - Rolando Bianchi in the first half after impressive work by Elano, before Geovanni put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute. After the game Eriksson commented: "We played some really good football - not for 90 minutes because we suffered as well but we started well and the last 15 minutes we did very well again." spectacular own goal Liverpool's talismanic captain Steven Gerrard was another late scorer as his superb 87th minute free kick proved the winner against Aston Villa. Liverpool had gone ahead in the 31st minute when the luckless Martin Laursen hit a spectacular own goal, deflecting Dirk Kuyt's cross past keeper Stuart Taylor. Elsewhere other teams widely expected to be challenging for the top of the table did not have it all their own way. Chelsea were made to work hard for three points in a five-goal thriller against Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge. And Arsenal were given a fright after just 52 seconds when a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper Jens Lehman gifted Fulham debutant David Healy an easy goal. The Cottagers' keeper Tony Warner, on as a late substitute for Anti Niemi who was injured in the warm-up, pulled off a string of fine saves before a Robin van Persie penalty in the 94th minute brought matters level ahead of a dramatic last minute winner from Alexander Hleb - securing the points for the Gunners. But perhaps the biggest shock came at Old Trafford where last season's champions Manchester United were held in the weekend's only goalless draw by Reading who made the Red Devil's work hard against resolute man-for-man marking. Reading's Dave Kitson earned himself the unwanted statistic of being the season's first sending-off - lasting just 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute - a high tackle on Patrice Evra bringing out referee Rob Styles' red card. long range strike Newcastle United manager - Sam Allardyce - went back to former club Bolton Wanderers and looked on proudly as his new charges raced into a 3-0 half time lead. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins led the way with two goals, the first a stunning overhead kick followed by a deflected long range strike. Bolton rallied in the second half with a goal from Nicolas Anelka but the Newcastle defence held firm for the rest of the game. Afterwards Allardyce was full of praise for his players: "The application by the players was terrific and I think that the quality of the finishing was the difference between the two teams. I'm not sure what level these players are at yet but they are starting to hit a standard I don't want them to drop." Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside. New signing Roque Santa Cruz scored within minutes of coming off the bench to equalise before another substitute - England Under-21 star Matt Derbyshire - scored a spectacular goal with just his third touch. unstoppable header Barclays Premier League newcomers Derby County shared the points in a four-goal thriller with Portsmouth at Pride Park as they got their campaign off to a creditable start. Pompey had countered the Rams early goal with two of their own before another debut man Andy Todd - son of former Derby player and manager Colin - powered an unstoppable header into the top of the net in the 84th minute. In the remaining match of the weekend Everton built up a two-nil lead over Wigan Athletic before an 80th minute goal from yet another debutant - Antoine Sibierski - made it a nervous last ten minutes for the Toffees. |
| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #36 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barclays Premier League
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| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #37 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barclays Premier League
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| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #38 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Sunderland 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 Sunderland 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 A late goal from Michael Chopra handed Sunderland a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light. Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, pounced on a deep Ross Wallace cross to sweep the ball past a despairing Paul Robinson and get Sunderland manager Roy Keane's Barclays Premier League campaign off to a flyer. It was a rich reward for the way in which Keane's men had gone about their return to the top-flight with Dickson Etuhu also having had a match-winning chance moments earlier. In contrast Spurs' multi-million pound strikeforce appeared toothless and the usually inspirational Dimitar Berbatov was shackled superbly by Paul McShane throughout. Berbatov had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down in the first half and lofted a free-kick over the bar in the second half but otherwise the chances fell Sunderland's way. Craig Gordon, one of four summer signings named in Keane's starting line-up, could hardly have wished for a more low-key start to life as Britain's most expensive goalkeeper. As one would expect from a side managed by Keane, the Black Cats had started confidently with Carlos Edwards making good early progress down the right flank. sprang to life Spurs, whose boss Martin Jol preferred not to ring the changes and started with £16.5million man Darren Bent on the bench, had their first chance in the 11th minute when Jermaine Jenas shot wide. Sunderland were looking bright and inventive going forward and Stokes was only narrowly caught offside in the 14th minute when he sought to get on the end of a Wallace cross. At the other end, Steed Malbranque sent a superbly weighted cross into the home box which a stretching Robbie Keane just failed to reach at the far post. Keane had the first on-target effort of the afternoon in the 25th minute when he drilled a low shot which Gordon gathered with ease. But the game belatedly sprang to life in the final seven minutes of the half beginning with Daryl Murphy spurning a golden chance to give the home side the lead. Spurs defender Paul Stalteri failed to deal with a Wallace cross and the ball fell invitingly for Murphy, whose angle was narrowed by the advancing Robinson who saved his low shot well. Two minutes later Berbatov sprang the Sunderland offside trap and rounded the onrushing Gordon before McShane got in with a crucial interception despite Spurs' appeals for a penalty. penalty claims Referee Alan Wiley waved away penalty claims and the home side roared straight to the other end of the pitch where Edwards set up Etuhu to sweep a low shot inches wide. Lacking spark in front of goal, it was no surprise to see Jol finally introduce Bent in the 58th minute in place of Tainio, but still the Black Cats defence held firm. It spoke volumes that the visitors' best second half chance came via a set-piece on the edge of the Sunderland box, which Berbatov lofted inches over the bar. Berbatov was plainly unhappy to be replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 77th minute, but the Bulgarian could have no complaints about the way he had been handled by McShane. Sunderland continued pressing and Etuhu almost won it in the final minute when poor defending presented him with a point-blank chance which Robinson superbly palmed away. But Keane's men were not done yet and when Wallace crossed deep again Chopra turned and pounced to send the Stadium of Light wild with his side's last touch of the match. |
| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #39 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Sunderland 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 Sunderland 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 A late goal from Michael Chopra handed Sunderland a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light. Chopra, a 71st minute replacement for Anthony Stokes, pounced on a deep Ross Wallace cross to sweep the ball past a despairing Paul Robinson and get Sunderland manager Roy Keane's Barclays Premier League campaign off to a flyer. It was a rich reward for the way in which Keane's men had gone about their return to the top-flight with Dickson Etuhu also having had a match-winning chance moments earlier. In contrast Spurs' multi-million pound strikeforce appeared toothless and the usually inspirational Dimitar Berbatov was shackled superbly by Paul McShane throughout. Berbatov had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down in the first half and lofted a free-kick over the bar in the second half but otherwise the chances fell Sunderland's way. Craig Gordon, one of four summer signings named in Keane's starting line-up, could hardly have wished for a more low-key start to life as Britain's most expensive goalkeeper. As one would expect from a side managed by Keane, the Black Cats had started confidently with Carlos Edwards making good early progress down the right flank. sprang to life Spurs, whose boss Martin Jol preferred not to ring the changes and started with £16.5million man Darren Bent on the bench, had their first chance in the 11th minute when Jermaine Jenas shot wide. Sunderland were looking bright and inventive going forward and Stokes was only narrowly caught offside in the 14th minute when he sought to get on the end of a Wallace cross. At the other end, Steed Malbranque sent a superbly weighted cross into the home box which a stretching Robbie Keane just failed to reach at the far post. Keane had the first on-target effort of the afternoon in the 25th minute when he drilled a low shot which Gordon gathered with ease. But the game belatedly sprang to life in the final seven minutes of the half beginning with Daryl Murphy spurning a golden chance to give the home side the lead. Spurs defender Paul Stalteri failed to deal with a Wallace cross and the ball fell invitingly for Murphy, whose angle was narrowed by the advancing Robinson who saved his low shot well. Two minutes later Berbatov sprang the Sunderland offside trap and rounded the onrushing Gordon before McShane got in with a crucial interception despite Spurs' appeals for a penalty. penalty claims Referee Alan Wiley waved away penalty claims and the home side roared straight to the other end of the pitch where Edwards set up Etuhu to sweep a low shot inches wide. Lacking spark in front of goal, it was no surprise to see Jol finally introduce Bent in the 58th minute in place of Tainio, but still the Black Cats defence held firm. It spoke volumes that the visitors' best second half chance came via a set-piece on the edge of the Sunderland box, which Berbatov lofted inches over the bar. Berbatov was plainly unhappy to be replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 77th minute, but the Bulgarian could have no complaints about the way he had been handled by McShane. Sunderland continued pressing and Etuhu almost won it in the final minute when poor defending presented him with a point-blank chance which Robinson superbly palmed away. But Keane's men were not done yet and when Wallace crossed deep again Chopra turned and pounced to send the Stadium of Light wild with his side's last touch of the match. |
| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #40 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Chopra hails dream start Chopra hails dream start Michael Chopra believes he has won over the hearts of Sunderland fans. Black Cats supporters baulked when manager Roy Keane paid Cardiff City £5million this summer for the services of the former Newcastle United striker, who is also a Magpies fan. He joined Newcastle's academy as a 10-year-old in 1993, but Chopra had the Sunderland fans singing his praises by scoring the winning goal as his new side marked their return to the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over Tottenham. Doubts about me "I knew coming from Newcastle I had to get off to a good start to win a lot of hearts, and to actually score the winner in the last minute is just what dreams are made of," said Chopra. "I had to put to one side being a Newcastle fan and do what was best for my job. "I knew when I left Newcastle for Cardiff people had doubts about me playing in the Premiership. They said I had to drop down to the Championship because I was not good enough. I was desperate for someone to give me that chance in the Premiership and all thanks goes to the manager because he has paid the money for me." |
| 08-16-2007, 02:06 AM | #41 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Chopra hails dream start Chopra hails dream start Michael Chopra believes he has won over the hearts of Sunderland fans. Black Cats supporters baulked when manager Roy Keane paid Cardiff City £5million this summer for the services of the former Newcastle United striker, who is also a Magpies fan. He joined Newcastle's academy as a 10-year-old in 1993, but Chopra had the Sunderland fans singing his praises by scoring the winning goal as his new side marked their return to the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over Tottenham. Doubts about me "I knew coming from Newcastle I had to get off to a good start to win a lot of hearts, and to actually score the winner in the last minute is just what dreams are made of," said Chopra. "I had to put to one side being a Newcastle fan and do what was best for my job. "I knew when I left Newcastle for Cardiff people had doubts about me playing in the Premiership. They said I had to drop down to the Championship because I was not good enough. I was desperate for someone to give me that chance in the Premiership and all thanks goes to the manager because he has paid the money for me." |
| 08-16-2007, 02:08 AM | #43 (permalink) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Barclays Premier League
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| 08-16-2007, 02:08 AM | #44 (permalink) |
| Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916 | Late drama in opening weekend games Late drama in opening weekend games Late goals and significant contributions by newcomers to the Barclays Premier League mark the new season. Spectators were richly entertained in the opening round of matches as spectacular goals and late twists of fate meant no one could take their eyes off any of the games until the final whistles blew up and down the country. Newly promoted Sunderland scored the first goal of the season - pulling off a shock result against big-spending Tottenham. New £5million signing Michael Chopra came off the substitutes bench to hit the decisive strike with practically the last kick of the game. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made his Barclays Premier League debut as Manchester City manager at Upton Park where his expensively assembled, multi-national side got off to the perfect start with an impressive win against West Ham United. Both City's goals came from new signings - Rolando Bianchi in the first half after impressive work by Elano, before Geovanni put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute. After the game Eriksson commented: "We played some really good football - not for 90 minutes because we suffered as well but we started well and the last 15 minutes we did very well again." spectacular own goal Liverpool's talismanic captain Steven Gerrard was another late scorer as his superb 87th minute free kick proved the winner against Aston Villa. Liverpool had gone ahead in the 31st minute when the luckless Martin Laursen hit a spectacular own goal, deflecting Dirk Kuyt's cross past keeper Stuart Taylor. Elsewhere other teams widely expected to be challenging for the top of the table did not have it all their own way. Chelsea were made to work hard for three points in a five-goal thriller against Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge. And Arsenal were given a fright after just 52 seconds when a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper Jens Lehman gifted Fulham debutant David Healy an easy goal. The Cottagers' keeper Tony Warner, on as a late substitute for Anti Niemi who was injured in the warm-up, pulled off a string of fine saves before a Robin van Persie penalty in the 94th minute brought matters level ahead of a dramatic last minute winner from Alexander Hleb - securing the points for the Gunners. But perhaps the biggest shock came at Old Trafford where last season's champions Manchester United were held in the weekend's only goalless draw by Reading who made the Red Devil's work hard against resolute man-for-man marking. Reading's Dave Kitson earned himself the unwanted statistic of being the season's first sending-off - lasting just 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute - a high tackle on Patrice Evra bringing out referee Rob Styles' red card. long range strike Newcastle United manager - Sam Allardyce - went back to former club Bolton Wanderers and looked on proudly as his new charges raced into a 3-0 half time lead. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins led the way with two goals, the first a stunning overhead kick followed by a deflected long range strike. Bolton rallied in the second half with a goal from Nicolas Anelka but the Newcastle defence held firm for the rest of the game. Afterwards Allardyce was full of praise for his players: "The application by the players was terrific and I think that the quality of the finishing was the difference between the two teams. I'm not sure what level these players are at yet but they are starting to hit a standard I don't want them to drop." Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside. New signing Roque Santa Cruz scored within minutes of coming off the bench to equalise before another substitute - England Under-21 star Matt Derbyshire - scored a spectacular goal with just his third touch. unstoppable header Barclays Premier League newcomers Derby County shared the points in a four-goal thriller with Portsmouth at Pride Park as they got their campaign off to a creditable start. Pompey had countered the Rams early goal with two of their own before another debut man Andy Todd - son of former Derby player and manager Colin - powered an unstoppable header into the top of the net in the 84th minute. In the remaining match of the weekend Everton built up a two-nil lead over Wigan Athletic before an 80th minute goal from yet another debutant - Antoine Sibierski - made it a nervous last ten minutes for the Toffees. |
