DrBunker wrote:So, Nash actually went back in time?! That's at least as clever in my book.beglee wrote:Sorry to disappoint you, but january was last monthj0nners wrote:Two posts up - Nash has posted from the future. Very clever.
"Posted: 29 Jan 2008 04:49 pm"
If I could go to the future, I'm not sure I would spend my time updating team news on FISO
Schoolboy
[...] Boro will be without Andrew Taylor (foot) and Shawky (hamstring), [? - I think that should be a full stop, not a comma there - ed] Robert Huth and Fabio Rochemback are doubts, while late checks will be carried out on a handful of others. [...] Boro have Jeremie Aliadiere suspended
JULIO ARCA was left out of last night's squad after going through a dip in form but Gareth Southgate says the skilful Argentinian will be back. The former Sunderland star has been one of Boro's most influential players since switching to a central midfield position but he has struggled at times since returning from two months out with a serious knee ligament injury. He was left out of the squad altogether last night but he took the decision on he [sic] chin and travelled with the team for last night's game at Aston Villa.
Southgate said: "There are times when players aren't at their best when you either try to allow them to play their way through it or take them out of the firing line for a little while and allow them to get their confidence back and take a breather and reassess. I felt Julio just needs that little break from the team. He's a fantastic player. He'll be back, he's very much with us and he desperately wants to do well for this football club. He understands why I've left him out, he went with the squad, he wants to be part of it and he's a terrific character so he'll be back in with us. But yesterfday [sic] I felt it was right to change that area of the field for the game."
Arca had been promoted to captain since his return to the team and in his absence Emanuel Pogatetz was handed the armband. Fellow central midfielder Fabio Rochemback dropped to the bench as former skipper George Boateng returned to the starting line up and Egyptian international Shawky was given just his second Premier League start, almost helping Boro to a second surprise win on the road.
"Shawky showed us at Portsmouth just after Christmas what a good player he is," said Southgate. "He plays in a very disciplined way and he's a good athlete. We asked them, George and Shawky, to do a sitting job in the middle of the park, they went up against their midfield and stopped them from playing. They did a terrific job for us."
Although he returned from injury to play his first game for fourth [sic] months on Tuesday, the game will come too soon for Andrew Taylor. Jeremie Aliadiere has completed his four-match ban and is available.
Gareth Southgate made a change during the break as Lee Cattermole replaced Shawky, who had started the game with a broken nose sustained at Villa and damaged a toe in this game.
I listed Downing as fit but there does seem to be some element of doubt in Southgate's mind. This is more recent and also from the official site but it's not much use:ROCKLIFFE Park's medical department resembles Emergency Ward 10 according to Gareth Southgate as a number of players undergo treatment for minor knocks. The most serious doubt for Saturday's game against Derby from those who played at Arsenal is Egyptian midfielder Shawky, who suffered a stamp on the toe at the Emirates Stadium, although there is no break.
"Rockliffe is like Emergency Ward 10 at the minute," said Southgate. "It would be easier to name those who haven't got a knock. Shawky is the most doubtful of them in terms of Saturday's game. We are training today and of those that played on Saturday we will only have Jeremie [Aliadiaire], Tuncay, [Mark] Schwarz[er] and maybe Stewey [Stewart Downing?] with us.
"All of the others will be doing individual training or recovering from knocks."
Several players picked up knocks over the last couple of games and Southgate is hoping to have them back and fighting for a place, while Shawky's tough nature has not gone unnoticed by the manager.
"They're still a couple we're nursing through but everyone wants to get out there after the two league games and is keen to stay in the team. We'll need to take a late check on a couple of them and hopefully we'll have everyone available that we had last week. Shawky's back in training. He's a hard lad, he got a whack in the first five minutes against Arsenal but battled on for the rest of the half.
Mido misses the game as he serves the first in a three game ban after being sent off at Arsenal last Saturday. Fabio Rochemback misses this game and next week at Chelsea after picking up 10 yellow cards. Egypt international team mate Shawky, along with Robert Huth, Emanuel Pogatetz and Afonso Alves all returned to training yesterday.
Gary O'Neil picked up his 10th yellow card against Manchester United last Sunday, although due to the game against Spurs falling inside seven days of the 10th accumulated yellow, the two-game ban will come into effect next Saturday, when Boro host Bolton.
Boro will once again be without Mido as the Egyptian had a hernia operation last week and is not expected to return to the fold this season. Robert Huth is also out of the game as his foot injury continues to hamper his campaign.
Gary O'Neil is suspended for the next two games, but will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing a knee operation in the middle of the week. Mido (hernia), Robert Huth (foot) and Andrew Taylor (ribs) will all miss the game.
Boro have problems in the goalkeeper department. Both Mark Schwarzer and Ross Turnbull are nursing back injuries, while Brad Jones has just returned to training after six weeks out with a dislocated thumb. Mido remains on the sidelines after undergoing a hernia operation and Robert Huth is missing with a foot injury. Andrew Taylor's cracked rib is healing, he played with it last week.
