20 Questions - Middlesbrough

Last updated : 17 September 2005 By Jon
1) Who are you; where are you from and how long have you supported your club?
Hello! I'm Jon Ridley from Middlesbrough, and I've been a Boro fan since 1990.

2) What was your first game?
My first game was in 1986 - against Southampton in the FA Cup at Ayresome Park. We lost, which is probably why I didn't go again for four years.

3) Describe the most memorable and worst game you've seen and why?
Easy! Got to be the Carling Cup Final in 2004 - on both counts! The atmosphere around Cardiff on the weekend was brilliant - and to go two up within the first 8 minutes was stuff of dreams. But, it's the Boro - and to sit through a further 80-odd minutes was very nerve wracking indeed!

4) If Boro were a Celebrity, who would they be and why?

5) Who do you consider as your current local rivals, and why?
It's the two teams up the road - Newcastle and Sunderland, although they seem to hate each other more than us.

6) Who are the best and worst players you have seen?
We've had many quality players at the Boro - Pallister, Southgate, Pearson, Boateng, Juninho, Ravanelli, Viduka to name just a few, but we've also seen a few on the other side as well. Brazilian Branco was awful - Alan Wright lasted two games in the Premiership, and Reiziger who has just left didn't settle in the Premiership at all.

7) Which current or former Latics player impressed you most?
I like Jimmy Bullard as a player - and you've also got ex-Boro boy Kavanagh in there as well.

8) What do you think of the Latics?
Good club, good ground, good football - rather than the Wimbledon stuff from a few years ago.

9) How did you fare last season?
We can seventh, and got through to the last 32 in our first season in the UEFA Cup. Domestic cups were a bit disappointing though with early exits.

10) How do you expect to fair this season?
Hopefully, we will be pushing for a Champions League place, but another Cup win would do us nicely!

11) Can you stay up?
Bloody well hope so!

12) Is Steve McLaren the man to take over Sven's job?
Not sure - he's part of the backroom staff at the moment, so maybe should take a bit of the blame. He's just about to sign a new 4 year contract, so hopefully he'll see that out.

13) Which Boro players should we watch out for?
Boateng should control the midfield - but if Viduka is firing on all cylinders he'll be looking to bag a couple of goals. His displays recently have been top notch.

14) Is your manager barking mad?
Probably - but not as mad as some!

15) Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?
Absolutely brilliant the whole lot of them. The Chairman Steve Gibson deserves a lot of credit for what has been achieved at Middlesbrough.

16) Which team do you want to beat the most this season and why?
Probably Newcastle at home. It seems like ages since we turned them over at the Riverside!

17) What sort of line-up can we expect from you?
Depends. McClaren has been playing a 4-5-1 on occasions, but can easily switch that to 4-4-2, with Viduka and Yakubu up front.

18) Predicted score and scorers?
Think we'll nick it 2-1. I'll go for Viduka to get both.

19) Who'll win the league?
Can't see far beyond Chelsea again to be honest.

20) Who's going down?
Sunderland (already gone!), Portsmouth and possibly West Ham!

Thanks Jon. You can visit borobarmy by clicking here.