Will Boro’s most in form striker be sat on the bench against Stoke?
By Shaun • Aug 28th, 2008 • Category: Boro NewsHe has scored in every game for Middlesbrough so far this season, having only started one of them. He looks fitter and leaner than he has since he joined the club and looks to be full of confidence, yet come 3pm on Saturday Mido could very well be sat on the Boro bench awaiting his opportunity to get on and carry on his goal scoring streak.
There is no doubt that the Egyptian enigma is the in form striker at the club right now. Tuncay has been terrific in the opening two Premier League games, full of tricks and invention but for all his work rate he has zero goals. Afonso Alves has not looked anywhere neat his best this season, despite a good performance against Spurs, yet he is widely considered to be our most natural goalscorer and that once he gets a goal the floodgates will open.
Mido performed very well in the Carling Cup against Yeovil, showed great strength to hold off his man and get a strike on goal to put Boro one up. Yet by the end of that game it was clear he was tired. I think the fact that Gareth Southgate gave Mido the full 90 minutes against Yeovil is a clear indication that he will be on the bench against Stoke otherwise he’d have brought him off after an hour to give him a breather.
Now, why would Southgate leave our leading marksman on the bench? Mido missed a lot of the pre-season games through a number of reasons and is probably a few games behind the rest of the squad in terms of match fitness. The ninety minutes against Yeovil will have done him the world of good but I expect him to be on the bench on Saturday.
I think the starting eleven against Stoke will be very close to the starting eleven against Liverpool though I would love to see Digard in the midfield. I expect to see Mido on the bench, coming on in the second half to hopefully do some damage to the Stoke backline.
What is your opinion? Should Mido start against Stoke?
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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Mido has been playing well, 3 goals 3 games you can’t ask more from a striker. But at Anfield last week he faded in and out of the game when it suited him!!
There was lack of closing down by the front men when it was needed near the end, and if Tuncay was still on, running with heart on sleave we might have come away with something!
I think he will be on the bench this Saturday, as he is better putting defenese under pressure when they are tired!
I would like to see the pairing of Mido Alves, and possibly drop Gary Oniell, moving Tuncay in to Centre.
Works for me in Football Manger!!
I think he’ll be on the bench and i can understand why he’s getting frustrated because he is scoring goals. It seems like Alves/Tuncay partnership is going to be given some time to develop.
Tim,
I can see the benefits, especially at home against lesser teams (no offence to Stoke fans) of playing Mido and Alves up top with Tuncay in a “floating” role. But against a better side i think our midfield would suffer with Tuncay in there as he lacks the discipline to hold his position and track players, in my opinion.
If your resting him for a lesser team like us then do so at your peril as Aston Villa fielded a full squad and they found it hard against us. Expect the same on Saturday! While your at it try and rest a few more it will make all the more easy:-)
Not resting him for a “lesser” team Stokefan, Southgate will play his strongest side and i think Alves and Tuncay will start up front.
Stoke played well at home against Villa who seemed to underestimate them. But they also struggled away from home against Bolton in the opening game. I firmly believe if we go out there full strength we should win 2-0.
On the Mido front, he’s done enough to start but it’s down to how Southgate judges his fitness levels at the minute. Personally i’d like to see him and alves start up top
Personally i think it’s going to be Mido and Tuncay up front.
I’ve just finished up a story regarding Mido’s proposed move to wigan so keep an eye out for that shortly.