North East Derby

Apologies for starting a thread for this one, but its
5 days away, and I have been thinking about this one for a while (like most of Teesside) and the odds have been out for 2 weeks.

I think it will be pretty open as usual and should be a few goals scored, even though the last 2 at the Riverside have only produced 1 per game. Since the turn of the year Boro have been full of goals, but have been leaking them nearly as quickly.

Boro have looked on the whole good in their friendlies with only one defeat in Germany.

Newcastle went on a Far East tour and then won one and lost one in the Gateshead cup and then the squad was hit by a spate of eye infections and no one has trained for 6 days. They have called off their reserve game with Boro for Wednesday and there is even a doubt over Saturday's game.

Both sides have strengthened their squads in the Summer, but neutrals in general have been more impressed with Boro's signings. As said earlier I think many pundits have gone over the top tipping them for top 6, but they will very likely break the 50 point barrier.

Spead points between the teams are in a 3 to 5 point range of difference with Newcastle expected to finish 5th and Boro 6th or 7th. Over the full season I think Newcastle's larger squad will give them an edge.

I had just backed Boro at 10/11 to score first with B365 based on:

Boro scoring first in their last 7 home games (8 if Real Mallorca friendly included)

Boro scoring first in 6 out of the 9 cup and league games at the Riverside against Newcastle.

The last 0-0 between the 2 on Teesside was in 1974.

I think Boro are going into the game a bit better prepared and more buoyed up (first season in Europe, first ever silverware etc, 2 proven strikers at last) but I admit anything can happen in these sort of games. Newcastle have a very good record at the Riverside and will show alot of fight, so I am less confident of a Boro win than of them scoring first.

Views welcomed particularly from PL members North of the Tees!

[Carl]

I like boro as a team they always seem to do well and never get caught up in the relegation battles.
Steve mc is a quality manager and this year i think they will do very, with the likes of JFH and Viduka( although i dont like him) signing and with a strong goalkeeper and defence on their day they can beat almost anyone.

IMO i think they are better prepared than the toon and disruptions in the toon camp coupled with the eye infections that has plagued them i think that BORO not to lose would be a safe one.
but thats just my opinion

Boro evens with Tote to score first.