A Game of Two Halves

I I'm really trying to suppress my optimism because as I sit here and write this, the mighty Boro are four points clear at the top of the Championship with a game in hand. So that's effectively seven points clear isn't it? An unassailable lead and promotion guaranteed. Or at least you might think. Hhmmm maybe not, this is the Boro we are talking about.

But more of that later. I find myself in the unusual position of supporting a club but not being able, not in any practical sense anyway, to turn up for games. I've always thought it a bit odd that some fans proclaim their undying love for a team but have never seen them play - even when they live in the same hemisphere. But here I am, 12,000 miles away from the Riverside (or 'Fortress Riverside' as it is undoubtedly being called in bars on Teesside) and proudly boasting to be a Boro fan. Technically I could go to some home games but it would be one hell of a commitment - I'd be so jet lagged that I'd probably snooze through the game I'd gone to see. In recent times this would've been a God send - I have sat through some turgid games; windswept, cold, bored, frustrated and embarrassed. With the time-zone changes, I probably wouldn't even know what day it was. A bit like the Stachan era team I suppose.

Travelling halfway around the world and back to support my team is not going to happen, so I have resigned myself to being an armchair supporter. Or, as I am usually asleep when the games take place, should that be a bed-time supporter? Either way it's okay. Except when I look at the team sheet and read the names I've not got a clue who these people are; what they look like, their strengths, weaknesses or most importantly what their chant is. I'll never forget the glorious sound made by the Riverside crowd when Joseph Desire-Job got the better of an opponent. 'There's only one Job on Teesside' must go down as one of the finest post-ironic football chants ever. Who said football fans weren't erudite?

But being 12,000 miles removed doesn't help my optimism levels. Only witnessing the results and not the performance does raise expectations somewhat. I can't see, for example, the near misses, lapses in concentration in the defence and flukey wins. Yes I can (and do) analyse the stats but even they can give the wrong impression. To me, a 2-0 win is simply that. Three points following another classy display. I know, from bitter experience though, that the Boro like to do things the hard way. 

But I am very optimistic about this season. Surely, as I stated at the top of this blog, we can't squander a four point lead? But again, bitter experience tells me that we can, and usually in fantastic fashion. Three up at half time? Great, but surely it's better entertainment to let the opponents score two right after the break to set up a nail biting second half? Why stop there? How ably getting a player sent off with ten minutes to go? I'm told it's character building. Which is great if you want to build a character that is tense, sarcastic grumpy and pessimistic.

But I am starting to feel a little excited. Oh go on, very excited. So much so that I offered to buy a close relative a pint if we get promoted as champions. 'So what?' I hear you say? Well I also offered to fly him to New Zealand to drink the pint to help me celebrate. I know. Well there is a lot of football to be played before then. And knowing Boro it won't be straight forward.... but it's going to be fun finding out!