Boro New Boys!

BORO made their second signing in just 24 hours when they completed the transfer of France U21 midfielder Didier Digard from Paris St Germain for a fee of five million euros - or just over £4m.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "I'm very pleased that we've been able to bring Didier into the club.

"As with Emnes, he is another exciting young talent who fits the profile of young, hungry and ambitious players that we want here.

In Earlier news BORO have agreed the transfer of young Dutch attacker Marvin Emnes from Sparta Rotterdam for a fee of four million euros (about £3.2m).

A delighted Southgate said: "We feel we have signed an exciting young player in Marvin.

Straight replacement for Rochemback and Boeteng. We need to add two more additional player to cover up No 1 shirt and Defender/Left Back. For me Brad and Turnbull is not experience enough to handle pressure week by week.They need more time to get No 1 shirt.loan one of them to gain experience.That what i see area we need to cover up.other area looks strong enough. with Oneil want to commit with Boro next season.i believe Soughtgate will push him to middle alongside Digard and allowed Emnes play wide on right. With Tuncay(Awesome) and Alves infront,nothing to worry and also with Huth and Mido is back! Mido losing 10 kg like new bullet for Boro. Can't wait new season started.

Ariff

Trio Released

BORO today confirmed they will not be offering Fabio Rochemback a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of June, while Gaizka Mendieta and Dong Gook Lee have both been released.

Rochemback's initial three-year contract ends on June 30 and the club decided against an option to extend the deal by a further two years.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "We both feel that the time is right for Fabio to have a fresh challenge.

"He is a talented footballer and I think he's just had his best season for us, while it was fitting that he should bow out against Manchester City on Sunday with probably his best performance in a Middlesbrough shirt."

Rochemback, who joined Boro for a undisclosed fee from Barcelona in 2005, played 91 games for Boro, scoring seven goals - including a superb free-kick in his final match for the club, Sunday's 8-1 victory over Manchester City.

The midfielder played a major role in helping Boro to reach the 2006 UEFA Cup final, a year after appearing in the final during a loan spell with Sporting Lisbon.

Former Spain midfielder Mendieta is yet to decide where his future may lay after his release. The 34-year-old joined Boro from Lazio on a free transfer in the summer of 2004 after a year-long loan spell that saw him play a key role in Boro's Carling Cup victory, the club's first ever major silverware.

He played 83 times for Boro, scoring six goals, but had not appeared for Boro's first team since a Premier League match at Everton on Boxing Day 2006.

Gareth Southgate said: "It was a difficult situation for a player of Gaizka's calibre to find himself out of the first team reckoning. It was a dent to his pride.

"I made it clear to him that he did not figure in my plans but he decided to stay and try to get back into the first team. That didn't work out but his attitude to training was always excellent and he was a good influence on some of our young reserve team players."

South Korea international Lee joined Boro on a free transfer from Pohang Steelers in January 2007. The striker scored only twice in 11 starts and 18 substitute appearances for the club and had not appeared for the first team since early February.

"We took a chance on signing Dong Gook at a time when money was tight," said Southgate. "By his own admission, he didn't play as well as he thought he could, but he was never a minute's problem.

"He has offers from clubs in Japan and possibly Germany so we wish him well, as we do with Fabio and Gaizka."

Meanwhile, Boro confirmed they have offered striker Tom Craddock and right-back Tony McMahon one-year extensions to their current deals, which run out this summer.

Thank for your services! We will missing you all!

From MFC-SG

Ariff Ahmad

MIDDLESBROUGH V vs SCC - 17th MAY 08

MIDDLESBROUGH VETERAN 3 - 3 S.C.C(SINGAPORE CRICKETS CLUB)
Date 17th May 2008
Vanue - Padang Singapore



Swiss Hotel Singpore Panorama




The Match


Steve Agnew - MFC reserve coach



Injured Gibbo


Ariff with Football Crazy Andy Pandey



More water pleaaaaaase!


Pally - Oh my gawd!...Im sweat!



Half Time Break



Barnes - Let me show how to walk while you sleeping



Agnew - Hey after this we go Orchad Shopping
Pally - Hmm...I want go Night Safari
Fleming - I want go Pulau Ubin


Shooter - MFC Singapore Chairman



Gibbo - How much you want if i offer you contract
Shooter - Hmm....250k per week..Deal or No Deal



Lamb - I think we should sign Shooter his better than Ronaldo
Gibbo - He asked for 250k per week..



Ariff with Gibson and Keith Lamb

Ariff with Gary Pallister

David Yeo and Son with Chris Kamara


Ariff and Keith Lamb


Higgnet and Ariff

EIGHT - 1 Boro Smash Citeh

Middlesbrough 8

Downing 16(pen),58
Alves 37,60,90
Johnson 70
Rochemback 80
Aliadiere 85

Man City 1

Elano 87
Dunne s/o 15

Sven-Goran Eriksson's time in charge of Manchester City has almost certainly ended with a humiliating 8-1 demolition by Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

City suffered a cruel blow when skipper Richard Dunne was sent off after just 15 minutes.

The club's inspirational defender was shown a red card after a challenge on Tuncay in the penalty area. A penalty seemed a harsh decision, but as the last man Dunne had to go.

England international Stewart Downing made no mistake from the penalty spot for his ninth goal of the season.

Without the commanding influence of the club's player of the year, City were ripped apart by a side that delighted the home crowd with a brand of fast, attacking football.

For the visitors Martin Petrov blasted a free-kick over the bar and Stephen Ireland missed his kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Boro, however, were the more dangerous and it was no surprise when record buy Afonso Alves put them further ahead after 37 minutes.

From a Fabio Rochemback pass Alves gave Andreas Isaksson no chance with a shot into a corner of the net.

Isaksson was in action again shortly before the break, going down well to save from Alves and then George Boateng, when a goal seemed certain.

Downing piled on the agony for City with a magnificent left-foot shot that left the goalkeeper helpless just before the hour mark.

Ironically, manager Gareth Southgate wrote in his programme notes "I have set Downing a target of a brace so that he can finish in double figures".

Alves, who joined Middlesbrough mid-season for a club record of £12million claimed his second goal shortly afterwards, with a powerful shot that was parried by the goalkeeper but carried on over the goal-line.

Despite the scoreline the City fans were giving their team tremendous vocal support.

Both teams introduced substitutes with Adam Johnson making a quick impact for Boro with a deflected shot that beat Isaksson.

Rochemback followed up with a terrific strike in what could be his farewell appearance for Middlesbrough. City were in complete disarray by now and went further behind at 7-0 through substitute Jeremie Aliadiere.

The visitors claimed a consolation goal through substitute Elano, but Alves hit back to complete a hat-trick and give Boro an amazing eight goals for the afternoon.

City were completely outclassed as Eriksson possibly said goodbye to the Premier League in sorry style, despite the vocal backing of the City fans and banners of support among the away followers

Stadium - The Riverside Stadium, England
Attendance - 27,613
Referee - P Dowd (Referee)

MFC-SG Man of the Match - Alfonso Alves

You are my Alves,
Afonso Alves You make me happy,
when skies are grey,
cause when it's pouring,
you just keep on scoring O,
please don't take, my Alves away!