Venue: The Riverside Stadium Middlesbrough Championship Game Number 26

Date: 4th January 2026

KO: 1500hrs  Depending on weather conditions

Dodgy streams listening to Maddo only means of live action

Sky not available 

 

Introduction

MFC players and staff and supporters welcome the visit of Finn Azaz and his new mates collectively known as Southampton FC to the Riverside for a jolly good game of football which or will not stop the rot currently being shown by our belove Boro.

As things stand our visitors are currently in 18th spot in the current last 6 game form guide whilst we sit not so prettily in 14th spot.

Current form (last five) starting with last match LLDLW for Boro and DDLDL for Southampton.

Not going to discuss our current situation but Hellberg's brilliant start of 4 wins has been undone by a brutal run of our last 4 games leaving so many searching for answers and reasons, my conclusion, hey that's life and part and parcel of being a Boro supporter. But it is galling that 2 of the teams we beat in the four match run have managed to reverse the results previously dished out

Injuries

Far too many to mention with Brittain being the latest on the production line, there could be others so we will wait and see! 

However we know that this situation is impacting the team we would like to see on the pitch and it is awful to know that some of the lads will be out for quite sometime it has caused us real problems.

Talking points

Slight crumb of comfort in that the awaited introduction of Malanda should come through and that the hype we have heard about him shows it to be the case, will he start against Saints?

Lack of goals since Riley McGree came off injured is a major concern for us all,  who in your mind should be starting in both forward line and midfield from those available to pick from?

Finn Azaz will he let the boo boys get to him or will he show us what we have been missing of late?   

How important is it that Boro score first?

If we do not score can we keep a clean sheet against Saints?

I am sure we will start scoring again but what is your confidence rate out of ten that this will happen soon?

How many air kicks will it take for TC to be taken out of service by Hellberg and how annoyed are you about his overall contributions as well as other forward play?

Ok given you guys a lot of ammo so if you want just answer the simple questions😉

A view from Downsouth

The rot has to stop and very soon we are all witnessing the decline of our position in the league very rapidly with chasing teams (some of whom are in tremendous form) catching us up.

I accept that Ipswich were the team to beat but boy have we handed those below a fantastic chance with our recent displays and frankly no- one on here really knows where it has come from but the clue has to ne McGree. Perhaps not the player himself because we know that he is a semi permacrock but a player in his mould.

Which leads me to whether or not MFC and the powers that be see this season as the best chance in a gazillion years to finally get out of the league into the promised land. Look and see who will be coming down making next season even more difficult for us so what is it going to be Mr Gibson back Hellberg to the hilt and get rid of some of the underperformers (actually want to use the dross term) and let's see where the dice falls.

This is our best chance we have to start on Sunday and recover what was at one time a very comfortable and credible position. Hey if we can't overtake Ipswich then make the effort to catch Coventry though Ipswich should be the team we are gunning for.

Anyway thanks for taking the time to read my drivel and UP THE BORO

 

 

 

0-2 Azaz and Armstrong. Nobby dont bother with stupid emojos- you can have a go after the game if im wrong and we dont lose!

Edited January 2Jan 2 by Robin Johnson

When was the last time we lost 3 in 1 week? Have we ever? 

Good post.

Im sure, when we went 6 games from the beginning of the season, under Carrick, without a win we beat Southampton for our first three points of the season 2-1, after going a goal behind, hopefully the same outcome

5 hours ago, Robin Johnson said:

0-2 Azaz and Armstrong. Nobby dont bother with stupid emojos- you can have a go after the game if im wrong and we dont lose!

Very negative again Robin, 2-0 Boro.

24 minutes ago, Swifty said:

Very negative again Robin, 2-0 Boro.

We all know how good your football knowledge is..............

1 minute ago, Robin Johnson said:

We all know how good your football knowledge is..............

My football knowledge is fine. Differing opinions that’s all. 

1 minute ago, Swifty said:

My football knowledge is fine. Differing opinions that’s all. 

Yeah, course it is.............

I'm hoping for an Alamo backs to the wall style performance, do or die, now or never mentality. That requires a leader on the pitch and I think it's time Hackney was relieved of the armband and told to concentrate on his game, cut out the silly errors and stupid free kicks and give it to Ayling.

I'd like to think that a few home truths have been issued by Hellberg about woeful uncontrolled shots killing seabirds and Strikers that couldn't score in a two week all inclusive in Pally Park.

I'd play Burgzorg as a main Striker in the box as he has the physical strength to hold his own and not be brushed aside. Not ideal having to resort to Delano but I'm not sure I can stomach much more of tippy tapping around the edge of the box until one pass too many loses possession and we fall to a swift counter attack or Hackney or Morris attempt a so called shot taking the floodlights out.

We should have been on average two goals up in the games we have lost recently and there needs to be consequences for it. Bettinelli, Lumley and most recently Glover have all been crucified on here for their inability to stop shots and the same has to be true for Strikers that can't take golden chances at the opposite end. The odd fumble form a Keeper is one thing as is a sliced shot from a Striker but it is every single game now and it can only cease one way and it isn't by keep playing them and hoping for a miracle. Stick Silvera wide left and move Burgzorg over and keep Whittaker where he might find his eye for goal again.

I think we probably get beat, will be interesting to see who plays and how we play.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he started 3 at the back with Targett, Ayling and Malanda but have the best ball player (probs Targett) push to CDM in possession. Means Ayling isn’t exposed as RB, keeps wide threat and still allows the 2-3-5 attacking shape he likes. Could become a 4 out of possession - Ayling simply cannot contribute in the same way Brittain does, but width from fullbacks is so important and he can still be RB when they’re attacking. Reduces defensive responsibilities of a Silvera (for example).

Edited January 2Jan 2 by mrlahhh

Played for both team

1906 Hector Shand - Played for Saints in 1905. Then played just the two games for Boro

1908 Danny Gordon - Played for Southampton in 1904. In 1908 he became our 14th different Boro player to play just the one game & not feature again

1913/14 William Stage - 3 games, zero goals for Boro. Signed for Southampton, his final club in 1930

1935/39 Norman Highman - Scored on his Boro debut in a 6-0 home win over first division leaders Sunderland at Ayresome Park, going on to make 50 appearances, scoring 10 goals. Sold to Southampton for £1,000 with Saint fans crowd funding for half the money with a bucket collection

1929/1933 Albert Elkes - Played for Saints from 1921/23. Signed for Boro from Arsenal for £500 making 113 appearances, scoring 4 goals

1935/37 Ray Parkin - Signed for £6,000 from Arsenal he only played 6 games & was soon sold to Southampton for £2,500

1954/56 Charlie Wayman - Played for Southampton bbetween 1947/1950. Signed from Preston for £8,000 he made 53 appearances, scoring an impressive 33 goals.

1966/1970 David Chadwick - He became Stan Anderson’s first signing when we paid Southampton £6,500 for him & made a massive contribution to us winning promotion from the third division, he made 116 appearances, scoring 4 goals, setting up a lot of goals for John Hickton & John O’Rourke. Sold to Halifax in 1970 for £7,000

1973/1981 David Armstrong - A fantastic player for us who made 431 appearances for the Boro, scoring 77 goals then sadly sold to Southampton in the summer of 1981 for £600,000 who had as good a career at the Saints too

1976 Alan Walsh - 3 sub appearances for Boro then released, he enjoyed spells at numerous clubs, including Southampton in 1993/94

1985/1992 Stuart Ripley - Flying winger a massive part of our history following liquidation a big member of the Riochs heros of 86 clocked up 311 games, scoring 32 goals. Played for Southampton in 1988

1986 Phil Kite - Our 45th goalkeeper - 6th loaned player when loaned from Southampton of which 4 were keepers made only two games, both defeats

1990/1991 Ian Baird - Started out at Saints. A popular £500,000 signing from Leeds he went on to play 75 games, scoring 21 goals

1992/1993 John Gittens - 15th loaned when loaned from Southampton. Played 27 games, one goal & what a goal to score for your only goal, signed permanently the following season

1997/1999 Andy Townsend - Played for Saints in 1985. Signed for Boro for £500,00 from Villa made 88 appearances, scoring 4 goals

1997/2001 Neil Maddison - Signed from Southampton, where he played in every position bar GK joined Boro for £250,000  made 67 appearances, scoring 4 goals

2002/2008 & 2011 Andrew Davies - Played 56 games over two separate spells, without scoring a first team goal. We loaned him to Southampton in 2007 who he then signed for £1m. In 2011 we signed him on loan from Southampton to become our 49th loaned player . 27th at the Riverside

2006/2007 Jason Euell - Signed for Boro for £300,000 but behind Viduka & Yakubu his game time was limited, 20 appearances, with 11 from the bench, no goals & in the summer he was released & signed for Southampton

2013 Frazer Richardson - Signed by Mogga after being released from Southampton he made his debut away to Charlton in a  1-0, going on to play 11 games, no goals

2015 Jack Stephens  - Became our 75th loaned player when loaned from Southampton - 53rd at the Riverside, 40th league cup debutant. After 5 games he was recalled by to his parent club due to lack of game time

2016 Calum Chambers - Started out at Southampton. He became our 82nd loaned player when loaned from Arsenal - 50th at the Riverside. Going on to play 26 games, scoring the one goal.

2016/2017 Gaston Ramirez - 79th loaned player - when loaned from Southampton, after 18 games, scoring 7 goals he signed permanently the following season - 57th at the Riverside 44 games, 9 goals

2018 Martin Craine  - Started out at Southampton. Tony Pulis brought him to the Riverside from PL Huddersfield Town. He made 9 appearances,  8 from the bench, in which 4 of those games he came on in the 89th minute

2018/2022 Nathan Wood - 14 games for Boro when he became our 52nd league cup debutant & Our youngest ever player at 16 years & 72 days of age.  Signed for Southampton in 2024

2018 Sam McQueen - 90th loaned player  when loaned from Southampton - 57th at the Riverside, made 7 appearances, before suffering a career ending cruciate injury & sadly never played again

2021/23 Joe Lumley - Our 81st different first team GK made 39 appearances, released in May 2023 wher he joined Southampton

2023 Cameron Archer - OA prolific goalscorer he became our110th loaned signing when loaned from Aston Villa - 77th at the Riverside he played 23 games, scoring an amazing11 goals. Presently playing for Southampton   

2024/2025 Finn Azaz - A £2m signing from Aston Villa he made 67 games, 17 goals before his £!2m signing to Southampton last August

 

Managers/players

1973/1977 Graeme Souness - Stan Andersons final signing & for me, the best ever player I have seen for the Boro, played 216 games, scoring 27 goals, including a hat trick in our amazing season against Sheff Weds in April 1974. Sold to Liverpool for a  club record fee of £352,000. Managed Saints 1996/97 season

 

UTMB

1 hour ago, mrlahhh said:

I think we probably get beat, will be interesting to see who plays and how we play.

I would say there's reason for a bit more optimism than that.  Southampton are in worse form than we are, and their away record is rubbish (3 wins from 13).  I can't see why anyone would expect us to lose. Even with injuries we should have enough to get at least a point if not all three.

8 hours ago, Changing Times said:

I would say there's reason for a bit more optimism than that.  Southampton are in worse form than we are, and their away record is rubbish (3 wins from 13).  I can't see why anyone would expect us to lose. Even with injuries we should have enough to get at least a point if not all three.

Liklihood is they will probably only need one goal. Can see them doing this.

8 hours ago, Changing Times said:

I would say there's reason for a bit more optimism than that.  Southampton are in worse form than we are, and their away record is rubbish (3 wins from 13).  I can't see why anyone would expect us to lose. Even with injuries we should have enough to get at least a point if not all three.

Naturally I hope you’re right and I didn’t realise their form was that bad. However “can’t see why anyone” is strong man, I wish I was that confident. 

Season form is only one factor. Our form isn’t great, particularly in front of goal we’re abysmal. I don’t necessarily trust us in front of a big crowd at home, especially if things start getting groany - most/all pressure on us.

Not majorly convinced by them or Eckart but think they’re the best (personnel we’ve played under KH) to counter our main defensive vulnerability under Hellberg - quick counters and catching us short at the back, especially missing Brittain who works so hard. Perfect get-right game for them.

21 hours ago, Downsouth said:

Hey if we can't overtake Ipswich then make the effort to catch Coventry though Ipswich should be the team we are gunning for.

If we can't overtake Ipswich then how on Earth are we supposed to catch Coventry?

Or am I reading that wrong?

The curse of Azaz is going to strike tomorrow, although if Malanda starts and puts in the sort of performance he did against Messi (the first time, let's not talk about the second time they came up against each other in the MLS!) we might just be able to avoid a defeat.

That said, I think injuries and our lack of confidence in front of goal sees this out as a 0-0 draw. Which isn't ideal, as most people will have Ipswich to beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park.