The defeat to Cardiff City showed why Boro are having so much trouble mounting any sort of promotion challenge this season, we are always in our own way.
Leroy Lita's outstretched hand was never going to help him score, but it did prevent David Wheater's goal from standing.
That was the third goal that Wheater has had disallowed this season, and, understandably, he is not very happy about it. In his post match interview he sounded as suicidal as any fan watching his team cock it up for the millionth time, particularly as his own performances have been excellent of late.
In Jeremie Aliadiere's case, getting in the way was a literal fault, as he managed to break his toe on some part of Stephen McManus's personage even faster than it took the Bluebirds to score.
The Frenchman is unlikely to be seen in a Boro shirt again as the minimum recovery time for his injury is estimated at six weeks. We only have eleven games left and, as we all know, Boro are not renewing his contract.
I have always been a fan of the French cockney, and will never forget him scoring at the Riverside against Arsenal and pointing to his badge screaming "f**cking Middlesbrough!" in response to his former fans' chants of "who are ya?". His Arsenal pedigree and continental origins lend him, and therefore Boro, a bit of the glamour we miss from the heady days of Festa and Ravanelli, yet a large section of the Boro faithful never took to him.
I could list Aliadiere's qualities here, but his fans are well aware of what he can bring to the team, and those who do not like him will only point to his disappointing strike record. And, in the end, that is what matters.
Plus, Ali is the probably the last of our big earners.
To me, Aliadiere is a good footballer who promised so much but ultimately failed to deliver on his potential.
Depending on summer signings, I think we will miss his technical ability and the quality he brings when in form, but he is very much a luxury player, and a luxury that, obviously, we cannot afford.
It does worry me, however, that when Aliadiere departs, our squad will only contain two players - Gary O'Neil and Julio Arca - who have played in the Premiership with anyone other than Boro.
I can't help but think if you fill your squad with Championship players, or their Scottish equivalent, it will inevitably become difficult to move up a level...
One of the SPL imports, Willo Flood, is unlikely to be fit to face Newcastle after sustaining a knee injury in the Cardiff defeat.
Personally, I'd put Gary O'Neil on the wing and bring Rhys Williams back into the center in the Irishman's absence.
Having had a couple of weeks enforced absence with a pelvic problem, Williams looked bright and hungry when he came on as a sub against the Bluebirds.
Strachan may be building a team of 'men', ie over 25, preferably married with 2.4 kids and a morgage, but he still has the intelligence to bring through our best and brightest youngsters.
And it's not just Williams who catches the eye, Jonathan Franks plays as if his life depends on it, steaming down the wing at any opportunity and shrugging off knocks with the single minded determination of a seasoned pro.
Joe Bennett always impresses me when he is given a chance, and it is clear to see that loan signing Kyle Naughton is a talented young player with a cool head and good feet.
In order to make this a positive column, I have refrained from mentioning Newcastle's dominance of the Championship, our mediocre positioning in the same league or the fact that we are still struggling to find the net, while they are banging in goals with alarming regularity.
We all know, and dwelling on the negatives will not help!
Although I have to say, I did enjoy the complete lack of a sense of irony the Geordie fans showed in taking the time to reply to my last column in order to tell me they were not interested in the Boro at all, and that I was giving Andy Carroll too much credit. Brilliant!
Once again Boro fans have our fingers crossed that Scott McDonald will be passed fit to play against the Geordies. And then that he will turn out to be a more mobile, less temperamental version of Mark Viduka and will restore Boro to the goal scoring ways we have been missing since Viduka, and Yakubu, departed the Riverside.
A lot of the players who contributed to our relegation, usually by inaction, are no longer part of the club, but there are players here who do deserve a reprieve, and those who are trying to achieve that objective despite having neither a history, and, in some cases, probably not a future, with the club.
Whether they will have to wait until next season remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, anyone who scores a match winning goal against Newcastle will become a fan favourite, regardless of the length of their association with MFC.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 11/3/2010
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