Middlesbrough F.C. season 2008–09
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This article documents a current football club season. Information may change as the event progresses. |
| Middlesbrough F.C. | |
| Season 2008-09 | |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Gareth Southgate |
| Chairman | Steve Gibson |
| Captain |  Emanuel Pogatetz |
| League | Premier League |
| League position | 17th |
| FA Cup | Fourth round |
| League Cup | Third round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Mido, Tuncay (4) All: Alves, Mido (5) |
| Highest attendance | Home: 32,623 v Tottenham Hotspur Away: 75,294 v Manchester United |
| Lowest attendance | Home: 15,651 v Yeovil Town Away: 16,806 v Wigan Athletic |
| All Competitions | ||||
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 5 | 3 | 4 | 41.7% |
| Away | 2 | 2 | 7 | 18.2% |
| Both | 7 | 5 | 11 | 30.4% |
| Premier League | ||||
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 3 | 3 | 4 | 30.0% |
| Away | 2 | 2 | 6 | 20.0% |
| Both | 5 | 5 | 10 | 25.0% |
During the 2008–09 season, Middlesbrough will participate in the Premier League, as well as the domestic FA Cup and League Cup competitions. This season is Middlesbrough's eleventh consecutive season in the top-flight.
Gareth Southgate continues as manager under chairman Steve Gibson. Before the season, Southgate was considering whether to continue with the traditional role of a club captain, but later decided that Emanuel Pogatetz would continue being captain following his performances in the final ten games of the previous season.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Team kit and sponsors
Middlesbrough's kits were once again produced by Errea, and sponsored by GPS manufacturer Garmin. Back at the start of 2008, the club ran a poll to decide whether the club should return to the white band of prior seasons. The votes came out in favour of the band, and it was then up to the fans to decide between three different designs.[2] The winning shirt was announced on 7 May 2008 to be choice A - the white band with a curl.[3] The away kit, announced on 17 July 2008 would see a return to the popular black and blue striped kit worn by Jack Charlton's mid-1970s side.[4]
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[edit] Transfers
[edit] Summer transfer window
Middlesbrough net spending over the 2008 summer transfer window was almost nil, as money spent bringing in new faces was matched by money brought in through player sales, though it had only been half a year since Afonso Alves' club-record signing during the previous season.
The first transfer for the season was thought to have been announced back in May, with Maidstone United's England youth international defender Chris Smalling signing a two year contract.[5] However, the player changed his mind, the contract was cancelled, and later the same month he decided to join Fulham instead as it was closer to his home.[6]
Mark Schwarzer's departure at the end of the previous season saw Gareth Southgate announce that Brad Jones and Ross Turnbull would fight it out for the first choice goalkeeper's shirt,[7] and thus no goalkeepers were amongst the signings during the summer, much to the initial dismay of Boro supporters.[8]
The club's first signings of the summer were both announced on the same day in early July, with Dutch forward Marvin Emnes arriving in a deal worth €4 million (£3.2 million at the time)[9] and French midfielder Didier Digard arriving from PSG for €5 million (£4 million).[10]
Next up came a series of midfield departures. After six years on Teesside, Dutch midfielder and former club captain George Boateng left for newly promoted Hull City for a fee of £1 million,[11] while Academy graduate and England under-21 midfielder Lee Cattermole signed for Wigan Athletic[12] in a deal worth £3.5 million, rising to £4 million based on appearances.[13] Boro's midfield options were further reduced when Herold Goulon, signed two years earlier, left without playing a senior game for the club.[14]
Wellington Phoenix's New Zealand international left-back Tony Lochhead joined the club on a week-long trial at the end of July[15] but the club eventually decided against offering him a contract.[16]
Finally, just a week before the season began and after only a year on Teesside, Luke Young moved to Aston Villa for a fee of £5.5 million rising to £6 million based on appearances. Fans were disappointed with the sale but coupled with Young's wish to make the move, the club felt the offer was too good to turn down having only paid £2.5 million for him a year earlier.[17][18] A replacement was brought in when Middlesbrough completed the £3 million signing of Arsenal's Justin Hoyte before the first game of the season, but not in time for him to be eligible to play. The right-back signed a four-year contract.[19]
[edit] January transfer window
In mid-November, before the window opened, former youth goalkeeper David Knight returned to the club on a month-to-month contract as cover following an injury to third-choice keeper Jason Steele.[20]
Middlesbrough and MFK Košice came to an agreement that would see talented young players exchanged between the two clubs. It was verbally agreed that 17-year-old Peter Gál-Andrezly would join the Middlesbrough Reserve side for the second half of the season.[21] Two further players, Serbian Under-21 international Nemanja Matić and 18-year-old Juraj Hovančík came to England on a trial period during December.[22]
During December, the club told reporters that there were no funds available for transfers, meaning they needed to sell before the could buy. At the same time, they weren't looking to move on any of their best players either.[23] This became a key element of the January transfer window.
The transfer window was once again dominated by reports linking Stewart Downing with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, however this time there was a basis for such reports. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp announced his interest in Downing towards the end of December.[24] With the transfer window open, Spurs put in a bid for the player, reported to be around £6 million, which was described as "derisory" by Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb.[25] An improved offer was submitted and immediately rejected. Middlesbrough told Tottenham that the player was not for sale and any further interest they had would not be entertained, while chairman Steve Gibson told the media that no senior player would be leaving the club in January. Shortly afterwards Downing submitted a written transfer request. The request was considered before being rejected.[26] Downing's father, Stewart Senior, revealed his son's reasons for submitting his transfer request, stating that "when he signed his new contract [in February 2008] he was assured that there would be significant investment in the squad", arguing this had not happened.[27]
[edit] Summary
[edit] In
| Date | Player | Previous Club | Fee | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2008 |  Marvin Emnes |
Sparta Rotterdam | £3.2 million | [9] |
| 4 July 2008 |  Didier Digard |
Paris Saint-German | £4 million | [10] |
| 16 August 2008 | Justin Hoyte |
Arsenal | £3 million | [19] |
| 4 November 2008 | David Knight |
Mansfield Town | Free | [20] |
[edit] In
| Date | Player | On Loan From | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2009 |  Peter Gál-Andrezly |
MFK Košice | Until end of season | [21] |
[edit] Trials In
| Date | Player | On Trial From | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2008 |  Tony Lochhead |
Wellington Phoenix | 1 week | [15] |
| 1 December 2008 | Nemanja Matić |
MFK Košice | 2 days[Note 1] | [22] |
| 1 December 2008 | Juraj Hovančík |
MFK Košice | 1 week | [22] |
- Note 1 Matić's trial was initially intended to last for 1 week but was cut short by an international call-up.
[edit] Out
For departures of players out of contract at the end of 2007-08 see Middlesbrough F.C. season 2007-08.
| Date | Player | New Club | Fee | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 July 2008 | George Boateng |
Hull City | £1 million | [11] |
| 29 July 2008 | Lee Cattermole |
Wigan Athletic | £3.5 million[Note 1] | [12] |
| 7 August 2008 | Herold Goulon |
– | Released | [14] |
| 7 August 2008 | Luke Young |
Aston Villa | £5.5 million[Note 2] | [17] |
- Note 1 Cattermole's transfer fee is £3.5 million rising to £4 million based on appearances.[13]
- Note 2 Young's transfer fee is £5.5 million rising by £250,000 after 30 appearances, and a further £250,000 after 60 appearances.[18]
[edit] Loans out
| Date | Player | Club At | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 2008 | Tony McMahon |
Sheffield Wednesday | To 24 October 2008[Note 1] | [28] |
| 1 September 2008 | Jonathan Grounds |
Norwich City | To 2 October 2008[Note 2] | [29] |
| 17 October 2008 | Tom Craddock |
Luton Town | To 20 December 2008[Note 3] | [30] |
| 3 November 2008 | Tony McMahon |
Sheffield Wednesday | 1 month | [31] |
| 25 November 2008 | John Johnson |
Tranmere Rovers | Until 31 December 2008 | [32] |
| 5 January 2009 | Seb Hines |
Derby County | 1 month | [33] |
- Note 1 McMahon's loan was extended from an initial period of 1 month,[34] but then cut short when he was recalled by Middlesbrough.[35]
- Note 2 Grounds' loan was initially intended to last three months, but was cut short when he was recalled.[36]
- Note 3 Craddock's loan was extended from one month, to two months, and then to three.[37]
[edit] Squad
[edit] Senior squad
Squad numbers for 2008–09 were announced on 23 July 2008. Changes saw Julio Arca move from 3 to 20, with Andrew Taylor moving from 33 to 3. Marvin Emnes took the number 11 shirt, vacated by Jérémie Aliadière's move to number 10. Didier Digard received the vacant number 8 shirt. Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones stayed at 21 and 22 respectively, leaving the number 1 shirt empty. Before they left, Luke Young, Lee Cattermole and Herold Goulon were given numbers 2, 27 and 37 respectively.[38] Justin Hoyte became the new number 2 upon his arrival, while Nathan Porritt was given number 33 before the away tie at Portsmouth. Franks was given the number 37 shirt before the away tie at Everton.
[edit] Appearances and goals
Appearance and goalscoring records for all the players who were in the Middlesbrough F.C. first team squad during the 2008–09 season.[39]
| No. | Nat. | Position | Player | Total | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 2 | |
DF | Justin Hoyte | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | |
DF | Andrew Taylor | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | |
MF | Gary O'Neil | 18 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | |
DF | Chris Riggott | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | |
DF | Emanuel Pogatetz | 20 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | |
MF | Didier Digard | 20 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 |  |
FW | Mido | 13 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | |
FW | Jérémie Aliadière | 22 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 11 | |
MF | Marvin Emnes | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 |  |
FW | Afonso Alves | 20 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 |  |
DF | Robert Huth | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | |
MF | Mohamed Shawky | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 |  |
FW | Tuncay Şanlı | 15 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | |
MF | Stewart Downing | 22 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 |  |
MF | Julio Arca | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | |
GK | Ross Turnbull | 20 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 |  |
GK | Brad Jones | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | |
DF | Matthew Bates | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | |
MF | Adam Johnson | 14 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 29 | |
DF | Tony McMahon | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | |
DF | David Wheater | 17 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | |
GK | Jason Steele | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | |
MF | Nathan Porritt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | |
DF | Joe Bennett | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | |
MF | Graeme Owens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | |
MF | John Johnson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | |
FW | Jonathan Franks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | |
DF | Seb Hines | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 |  |
DF | Rhys Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 40 | |
DF | Jonathan Grounds | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 41 | |
MF | Josh Walker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 42 | |
FW | Tom Craddock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
[edit] Discipline
Disciplinary records for 2008–09 league and cup matches. Only players with one or more cards are included.[39]
| No. | Nat. | Player |  Yellow cards |
 Red cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | |
Andrew Taylor | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | |
Gary O'Neil | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | |
Chris Riggott | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | |
Emanuel Pogatetz | 4 | 1 |
| 8 | |
Didier Digard | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | |
Mido | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | |
Jérémie Aliadière | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | |
Afonso Alves | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | |
Robert Huth | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | |
Mohamed Shawky | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | |
Tuncay Şanlı | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | |
Julio Arca | 5 | 0 |
| 28 | |
Adam Johnson | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | |
Tony McMahon | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | |
David Wheater | 2 | 1 |
[edit] Pre-season
| Top scorers | |
|---|---|
| Afonso Alves |
4 |
| Jérémie Aliadière |
3 |
| David Wheater |
2 |
| Adam Johnson |
2 |
The first game saw Boro visit the KitKat Crescent to play York City. The visitors fielded different outfield sides in both halves, with Brad Jones the only player to appear in both halves. Jonathan Franks put Middlesbrough ahead in the second half, before York scored two goals to take the lead. David Wheater scored a late equaliser to leave the score tied at 2–2.[40]
Next up came a trip to Portugal for the Algarve Challenge Cup. The mini-league format would see 3 points awarded for a win, 1 for a draw, with an extra point for every goal scored. Boro's first game was against Scottish champions Celtic. The first half finished goalless, and the manager again elected to make lots of changes - only Ross Turnbull and Josh Walker remaining on the field. Jérémie Aliadière put Boro ahead late in the second half, after the Celtic goalkeeper's clearance rebounded back off of the Boro forward. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink leveled the game during stoppage time to end the game at 1–1.[41]
It was a similar scenario in the next game, versus Vitoria Guimaraes. Nine changes at half time saw only Turnbull and Adam Johnson retain their places. Boro conceded another late goal to lose the game 0–1. Boro ended the competition with two points – one for a draw, and one for their solitary goal.[42]
Boro picked up their first pre-season win with victory over Carlisle United. French pair Jérémie Aliadière and Didier Digard scored Boro's goals. Aliadière scored within a minute of the second half starting, before Carlisle levelled almost instantly. Digard struck a great shot to win Boro the game.[43]
A trip to Scotland for a second year running saw a remarkable comeback versus Hibernian. Hibs took a two goal lead thanks to Steven Fletcher's goals in either half. Afonso Alves, on as a substitute, put Boro back in the game with a goal within a minute of coming on. Wheater's header levelled the game before Alves got his second goal to win the game 3–2 for Boro.[44] There was bad news however as Julio Arca was injured and ruled out for six weeks.[45]
A young Boro side cruised to a comfortable victory over Darlington in the next friendly. Adam Johnson opened the scoring by converting a penalty, with Marvin Emnes scoring his first goal for the club to leave the visitors two-up at the break. A Lewis Hardman own goal and a goal from Tony McMahon put Boro further in front, before Johnson scored his second of the game to complete a comfortable 5–0 victory.[46]
Pre-season finished in fantastic fashion, albeit their final game didn't start off in the best way. Sparta Rotterdam opened the scoring after just two minutes, but then Boro took charge. Alves scored three minutes later to level the game. A further three minutes down the line, Aliadière put Boro in front. Josh Walker got the third on thirteen minutes, and Alves got his second two minutes later. Stewart Downing made it five for the visitors just after the half-hour mark, while Rhys Williams added another shortly after half-time. No further goals were forthcoming and the game finished 6–1.[47]
[edit] Results
Win Draw Loss
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to mfc.co.uk.
| Game | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result F–A |
Attendance | Boro Goalscorers | Man/Men of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 July 2008 | A | York City |
2–2 | 3,177 | Franks, Wheater | Bennett (1st half), Downing (2nd half) |
| 2 | 22 July 2008 | N |  Celtic |
1–1 | 1,500 | Aliadière | Emnes (1st half), O'Neil (2nd half) |
| 3 | 24 July 2008 | N |  Vitoria Guimaraes |
0–1 | 400 | A. Johnson (1st half), Bennett (2nd half) | |
| 4 | 29 July 2008 | A | Carlisle United |
2–1 | 3,281 | Aliadière, Digard | Digard and A. Johnson |
| 5 | 2 August 2008 | A | Hibernian |
3–2 | 6,325 | Alves (2), Wheater | O'Neil |
| 6 | 5 August 2008 | A | Darlington |
5–0 | 5,811 | A.Johnson (2,1 pen), Emnes, Hardman (o.g.), McMahon |
Williams |
| 7 | 8 August 2008 | A | Sparta Rotterdam |
6–1 | Alves (2), Aliadière, Walker, Downing, Williams |
Digard |
[edit] Premier League
- Further information: Premier League 2008-09
[edit] August
Middlesbrough began their season with a victory for the first time in eight years with a 2–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Brad Jones was named as Gareth Southgate's new number 1, but there was no place in the starting line-up for any of the club's summer signings, with Didier Digard and Marvin Emnes on the bench, while Justin Hoyte, only signed on the day, was ineligible. An early chance for David Wheater was controversially ruled out for a foul, but he converted again in the second half for Boro's first goal of the season. Mido, on as a substitute, converted a cross/shot from fellow substitute Digard to put the home side two goals up, before Robert Huth conceded an own goal late in stoppage time.[48]
There was heartbreak for Middlesbrough at Anfield, as late goals from Liverpool saw them come from behind to win 2–1. Ross Turnbull started in goal after Brad Jones dislocated a finger during the warm-up, but the side were otherwise unchanged. It was goalless until Mido, again on as a substitute, put the visitors ahead after seventy minutes. Meanwhile, Justin Hoyte made his debut as a substitute for the injured Andrew Taylor. Boro looked set to record their first win at Anfield for thirty-two years until Jamie Carragher's shot deflected off Emanuel Pogatetz for an own goal with five minutes to go. Steven Gerrard's goal four minutes into stoppage time completed the comeback.[49]
Stoke City were Middlesbrough's next opponents when they came to the Riverside. The visitors frustrated the home side until Amdy Faye was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Mohamed Shawky; Afonso Alves converted the resulting direct free kick. Stewart Downing missed the chance to extend Boro's lead when his penalty kick struck the bar, before for the third time in three league games, Middlesbrough conceded an own goal, this time courtesy of Justin Hoyte. Five minutes from the end, the home side's lead was restored with Tuncay Şanlı's first goal of the season. The 2–1 victory extended Boro's home record to five wins from the last five home games in all competitions. It also gave the club its best Premier League start in nine years.[50]
Gareth Southgate picked up the Premier League Manager of the Month award for August, becoming only the second person after Stuart Pearce to pick up both the