By Scott Stonehouse
August 10 2005

Scott Stonehouse - How things have changed since last week when I wrote my first column here at ComeOnBoro.com. Let's get down to business. Rodolph Douala
Boro have had a €6m bid rejected for the lightning-quick Sporting winger. €6m, or £4,173,859 million pounds for those of you who still haven't fully got to grips with the Euro. Sporting are trying to hold onto the Cameroon international, but it is believed a bid of around €6m would be too much for Lisbon to reject. We don't know much about this lad, apart from he scored at the Riverside during the first installment of our UEFA Cup tie and helped to kill off the dream.

He is rumoured to be quicker than Henry and to be classed in that kind of company is promising. Douala has been linked with Spurs, Birmingham, Man City and Fulham so McClaren will attempt to wrap up a move as soon as possible. McClaren probably sees Douala as the big summer signing to fill Zenden's boots, and compete with Downing on the left wing. If there was 5.5m available for Appiah, then don't be surprised if McClaren comes back with a higher bid, and brings the pacy winger to the North East.

Szilard Nemeth
Rumour has it that The Lizard is set for a year long loan move to Sparta Prague. The Czech outfit, currently have only two out and out strikers who go by the names of Miroslav Matuðoviè and Miroslav Slepièka. I'm not too good with the Czech scene. I went to Ostrava v Boro but that's about as far as my knowledge goes. However, I have it from a good source that Miroslav Matuðoviè is their main striker, with international experience, and if Nemeth does join then he will be paired with him.

Steed Malbranque - Staying, Or Going?
So, Malbranque is staying at Fulham now? That is, unless Jenas leaves Newcastle. If that happens, Souness is expected to bid for him as a replacement. One of the most under-rated players in the premiership, 25 years old, 38 goals in four Premiership seasons (9.5 goals a season - Zenden only managed 8 goals last season), Steed would be the ideal man to play alongside George in the middle, and he can also play on the right wing too. And the 5.5m for Appiah could be what Fulham are looking for.

Season Ticket Sales
Season ticket sales have dropped this season. At this stage last season there were around 25,000 season ticket holders but disappointingly, we have only managed just under the 24,000 mark so far. Probably because half of our fixture list is to shown on Sky TV and people would rather spend £7 ordering it on Prem Plus than £30 to watch it live in the Theatre of Smog.

I accept people find it hard to afford the price, and may wonder why they are doing so when they can sit at home and watch it but there is nothing like the thrill of a football match, the sound of pigbag, the smell of the crusty burnt burgers, the buzz of the crowd. Nothing is better than that feeling, and I hope that we can sell out the season tickets and fill the ground a few more times this season, especially against the barcodes and the mackems.

Robert Hoyzer - The Bent Ref
Possibly the most hated man on the face of the earth, even if he is only hated by Boro fans. The bent German referee who screwed the red army over in their pre-season defeat to Bundesliga strugglers Hansa Rostock has spoken for the first time since being caught out.

Speaking to World Service Radio network he said, "I have realised that the fans travelled all the way from England to Rostock to see this game, and so my apologies go to Middlesbrough." He also said that any of the 40 Boro fans who made the trip to Rostock could catch up with him, and he'd buy them a drink. Now that would be a sight, 40 angry Boro fans knocking at his door demanding drinks down the local tavern.

Away Travel - Spurs And Birmingham
Just bought my ticket for Spurs away. Going down with my brother in a hire-car, so looking forward to the first away victory of the season. Can't see it myself though. Spurs could grab 5th spot this season. Defoe, Keane, Davids, Carrick, King, Robinson make the basis of a good squad. They just need Jol to gel them and they need to start performing away from the Lane as well.

As for Birmingham, I'll be buying my ticket next week sometime and taking advantage of the cheap ticket arrangements. You can't beat a good old trip on the RaRa every now and again with some mates from college, notably Lee Bailey. Me and him will be touring the length and breath of the country this season, and I'll be reporting back on our travels with high points and low points of the away matches I attend.

Until then...