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The midway point of the season moves ever closer and Middlesbrough are still searching for a winning blend.Just when it looks like Garry Monk has found a successful formula, his team suffers a set-back, the latest being the calamitous home loss to Derby.That’s ramped up the pressure ahead of Saturday’s televised fixture against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.In the latest episode of the Tripe Supper podcast, Philip Tallentire and Anthony Vickers discuss the big issues Monk must address.He has to find a replacement for Dani Ayala, who is suspended and is almost certain to be replaced by Dael Fry or Ryan Shotton.He will also be pondering whether to stick with 4-2-3-1 or change to an alternative formation that could potentially get the best out of the players at his disposal.Those topics were debated, as was the gap between the promotion pace-setters and Boro and how it has put extra pressure on Monk to get his team firing on all cylinders. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Phil Stamp played for four different Boro managers and they all clearly rated his natural ability.Yet, despite enjoying 10 seasons either in, or on the fringes of the first team squad, he only made 116 appearances before joining Hearts in 2002.There were three reasons for that. Firstly, he was incredibly young when Lennie Lawrence gave him his debut as a promising 17-year-old in October 1993.Secondly he suffered more than his fair share of injuries and, thirdly, he was battling for a place when the club were spending big money on glamorous internationals in the Bryan Robson, Terry Venables and Steve McClaren eras.In the latest GazetteLive podcast, Stamp tells Philip Tallentire all about his life so far, starting in the early years as a football-mad kid kicking a ball around the streets of Berwick Hills.He was courted by the nation’s top clubs, including Liverpool, but chose his hometown team.Fearing that he’d be homesick, Stamp rejected the chance to attend the FA’s prestigious School of Excellence at Lillesh

Dominic Shaw is joined by Philip Tallentire & Jonathon Taylor to preview Boro's Championship game at Leeds For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

What to do on the Saturday afternoon of an international break?Well to help pass the time, here's our latest helping of Tripe 2, an offbeat chat about the Boro, obviously, and a few other subjects.This week the lads talk Martin Braithwaite, the Danish international who's impressed in recent weeks for Boro since returning from his injury.The battle for the fringe forwards to get back in the team is also discussed, while Dominic Shaw, Philip Tallentire and Anthony Vickers also wander down the road of sports films and discuss some of the best - and worst - from over the years.And Vic also tells about the time he shared a holiday and hotel with the full Boro squad! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Brucie Rioch’s babes were also occasionally described as Brucie’s blond bombshells.That’s because several key members of that promotion winning side boasted fair hair.For some, the colour came from a bottle, but Stuart Ripley was the real deal.The sight of the powerfully-built blond haired winger racing down the wing was something to behold.The Middlesbrough-born winger made the short journey from the Ayresome Park terraces to the pitch and was a fans’ favourite, helping the club to win back-to-back promotions in 1987 and 1988.In the latest GazetteLive podcast, Ripley relives that journey with Boro editor Philip Tallentire. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Boro are up to fifth in the Championship table after three wins on the bounce - but there's a lot more to come from Garry Monk's side.So says The Gazette's Boro Editor Philip Tallentire in the latest Tripe Supper podcast.He feels Boro are still some way short of hitting full flow this season.Anthony Vickers stresses the importance of Monk settling on a favoured formation, while our writers also discuss the players who had a big impact in the games against Reading, Hull and Sunderland.George Friend, Stewart Downing and Cyrus Christie are also discussed in this podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Robbie Stockdale will have to make sure he doesn’t walk through the wrong dressing room door when he visits the Riverside Stadium on Sunday.The 37-year-old Teessider made more than 70 league appearances for Middlesbrough after graduating from the club’s academy.Now he’ll be plotting Boro’s downfall as Sunderland’s new joint-caretaker manager alongside Billy McKinley.Prior to Tuesday’s eventful home encounter with Bolton at the Stadium of Light, Stockdale sat down with The Gazette's Boro editor Philip Tallentire for the Gazette’s latest exclusive podcast interview.They had plenty to talk about with the former England Under-21 defender talking about his years as a Boro mad schoolboy, his first team debut as a raw teenager and his stint as the first choice right-back in the Steve McClaren era.He also talks about his battles with injuries and his experiences playing lower league football after leaving Middlesbrough.And there are humorous recollections of his last visit to the Riverside as a coach with Sunderland

Six points out of six!Suddenly, the season is looking up for Boro after two consecutive successes on the road.So what's changed? How have Boro got their season back on track? And most importantly, how do they sustain this form moving forward?Dominic Shaw is joined by Anthony Vickers and Jonathon Taylor for a Tripe Supper looking back on Boro's victories at Reading and Hull and ahead to the visit of Sunderland on Sunday. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

After Saturday's defeat to Cardiff, Anthony Vickers and Chris Garbutt join Jonathon Taylor to sift through the wreckage and look ahead to Boro's Carabao Cup game at Bournemouth For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Colin Cooper is something of a Middlesbrough legend.A member of the team that rose from the ashes to win back-to-back promotions in 1987 and 1988 under Bruce Rioch, the 50-year-old is now an England Under-21 coach.He was a Boro player when they were at their lowest ebb – 1986’s liquidation – and when they were at their peak – the 2004 League Cup final in Cardiff.He’s worn the red shirt at a crumbling Ayresome Park and in the modern surroundings of the Riverside Stadium.Cooper has been a reserve and first team coach at Boro and was even, briefly, the caretaker manager when Gareth Southgate was sacked in 2009.So, it’s fair to say there was plenty to talk about when he sat down with Gazette Boro Editor Philip Tallentire to record an exclusive podcast.Cooper is an engaging and honest interviewee so why not hear what he has to say about his career so far and his plans for the future?He talks about leaving Boro in 1991, returning seven years later after successful stints with Millwall and Nottingham Forest.He revea

Fabio has fond memories of Boro vs Cardiff after scoring an absolute thunderbolt at the Riverside back in Feburary of 2016.That, though, was for the Bluebirds, before he completed his switch to Teesside later that year.The Brazilian has proved himself to be a very shrewd signing for Boro, offering versatility in the backline.And of late, he's established himself as Garry Monk's first choice left-back.So how did the former Manchester United man play his way into Monk's starting XI? What are his strengths? And how can he improve his game moving forward?Dominic Shaw is joined by Jonathon Taylor and Philip Tallentire for our latest Boro podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It’s hard to believe Matthew Bates is only 30-years-old.The former Middlesbrough defender has enjoyed an eventful career full of ups and downs.And in a new, exclusive interview with Gazette Boro Editor Philip Tallentire, he looks back over his career and also looks ahead to the future.Currently a member of Craig Harrison’s coaching staff at Hartlepool, Bates was a member of the Middlesbrough team that won the FA Youth Cup final in 2004 and he made his Premier League debut at the tender age of 18 at Tottenham the following year.A bright career beckoned but his progress was hampered by a heart-breaking series of cruciate knee ligament tears.Bates showed incredible fortitude to fight back from no less that five such setbacks and went on the captain the club he supported as a boy.After leaving Boro he played for Bristol City, Bradford and, most recently, Hartlepool, where he was appointed caretaker manager at the end of last season.By his own admission, Bates’ career “has flown by” but it’s well worth reliving, s

Remember when Boro were linked with Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo?And Dani and Flavio Conceicao.Our writers look back at some audacious transfer swoops of the past in this weekend's Tripe 2.But first it's deputy keepers.Mark Schwarzer celebrated his 45th birthday on Friday and while the Big Aussie was a long-time No.1, Boro have had their fair share of blink-and-you-miss-them deputy stoppers in the past.Finally, with Tripe 2 regularly strolling slightly off topic, Dominic Shaw, Anthony Vickers and Philip Tallentire talk sporting events, from the Super League Grand Final to Premier League darts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Is Boro's league position a fair reflection of performances in the first 11 games of the season?And how long should it take a side to click?Those two questions are discussed in our latest Boro podcast, as our writers reflect on the start to the season and look ahead to some crucial fixtures after the international break.Dominic Shaw is joined by Anthony Vickers and Philip Tallentire for this week's podcast, which also touches on Britt Assombalonga's start to life as a Boro player and Martin Braithwaite's return after his injury. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Jonathon Taylor is joined by Philip Tallentire & Anthony Vickers for a wider look at Boro, football & beyond For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Cyrus Christie notched his first Boro goal at the weekend and snatched a crucial point at Fulham in the process.It's been an impressive start to the season for the Republic of Ireland international, who's made the right-back spot his own since his summer move from Preston.But what about over at left-back?George Friend has lost his place in the side to Fabio of late and faces a battle to get back in the XI when both players are fit.Our writers talk Friend and Fabio and discuss Christie's early season form in this week's Tripe Supper podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Goals, goals, goals!Since the international break, Boro have had five different scorers in four games.Sharing the goals can obviously only benefit the side going forwards, but it also emphasises Monk's challenge as he bids to get the best out of all his attacking players - and to keep them all happy.Our writers talk attackers in this week's podcast, touching on Britt Assombalonga's impact and discussing the Patrick Bamford dilemma. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Philip Tallentire & Jonathon Taylor look ahead to Saturday's game at QPR and reflect on Boro's draw at Aston Villa For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Anthony Vickers and Jonathon Taylor reflect on Boro's win at Bolton & look ahead to Tuesday's trip to Villa Park For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's a defender special on this week's Tripe Supper as Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk weighs up his centre-back options ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton.The arrival of Ryan Shotton before Deadline Day further stocked an already-strong department, and the big challenge for Monk will now be to determine the best centre-back partner (or partners) for Ben Gibson.Will Boro's best system during a hectic September include three central defenders, or just the two? We'll soon find out - but with Dael Fry's early-season form catching the eye, competition for places is as fierce as ever at the back.With the luxury of an international break to get back to top condition, can Daniel Ayala return to his top form and dislodge Boro's homegrown pairing, and what role will new boy Shotton have over the coming months?They are all topics for discussion in this week's podcast, along with the importance of Cyrus Christie and George Friend's quest to hold off Fabio at left-back. For information regarding your data privacy, visit a