Middlesbrough F.C. season 2008-09

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. [cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2008/05/16/pogatetz-to-keep-captain-s-armband-84229-20920901/ |title=Pogatetz to keep captain's armband |publisher=Evening Gazette |date=2008-05-16 |accessdate=2008-05-16]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2008/01/17/it-s-your-choice-for-new-shirt-84229-20361208/ |title=It's your choice for new shirt |publisher=Evening Gazette |date=2008-01-17 |accessdate=2008-05-06] The winning shirt was announced on 7 May 2008 to be choice A - the white band with a curl. [cite news|url=http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,1~1307364,00.html |title=The Band Is Back! |publisher=MFC.co.uk |date=2008-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-07] 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. [cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2008/07/17/boro-go-back-to-future-in-kit-unveiling-84229-21358233/ |title=Boro go 'back to the future' in kit unveiling |publisher=Evening Gazette |date=2008-07-17 |accessdate=2008-07-18]

:note label|Cattermole|Note 1|Note 1 Cattermole's transfer fee is £3.5 million rising to £4 million based on appearances.:note label|Young|Note 2|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.

Loans out

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3835987,00.html |title=Boro held in season opener |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-18]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3853991,00.html |title=Boro held by Bhoys late show |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-07-22 |accessdate=2008-07-23]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3862325,00.html |title=Last-gasp Dinis downs Boro |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-07-24 |accessdate=2008-07-24]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3884444,00.html |title=Digard screamer sinks Cumbrians |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-07-29 |accessdate=2008-07-30]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3901185,00.html |title=Alves double defeats Hibs |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-08-02 |accessdate=2008-08-02] There was bad news however as Julio Arca was injured and ruled out for six weeks. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3940189,00.html |title=Arca blow for Boro |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-08-06 |accessdate=2008-08-06]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3938238,00.html |title=Boro cruise against Darlo |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-08-05 |accessdate=2008-08-06]

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. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3952420,00.html |title=Boro hit Sparta for six |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2008-08-08]

Results

"Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to [http://www.mfc.co.uk/ mfc.co.uk] ."

taff

Prior to the season, a shake-up in the medical department saw Scotsman Frank Nuttall, previously of Rangers and England, arrive as the new head of physical development, allowing Nick Allamby to leave his previous post of sports therapist and become a full-time conditioning coach. [cite news|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/news/display.var.2345797.0.boro_make_changes.php |title=Boro Make Changes |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=2008-06-17 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

First team coach Steve Harrison left the club in early July following seven years at the club. Steve Agnew stepped up from being Reserve team coach to replace Harrison, while Academy coach Martin Scott took over as new Reserve team coach. [cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_3790225,00.html |title=Harrison leaves Boro |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2008-07-07 |accessdate=2008-07-07]

Former midfielder Mark Proctor, who had also had prior spells as a Reserve and youth coach with the club, returned to Middlesbrough as under-18 coach during mid-September. [cite news|url=http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,1~1393117,00.html |title=Proc Makes Boro Comeback |publisher=MFC.co.uk |date=2008-09-15 |accessdate=2008-09-15]

Other events

On 11 August 2008 it was announced that former Manchester United youngster Ben Collett, who five years earlier had a "career-ending" injury as a result of a tackle in a game versus Middlesbrough's reserves, had been awarded more than £4.5 million in compensation. The fee would be paid by Middlesbrough's insurers. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7553678.stm |title=Man Utd player wins £4.5m payout |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-11 |accessdate=2008-08-11]

References