Don't get me wrong, I've played on the Wii and it can be really good fun using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to do a spot of bowling or boxing. I don't actually own one, I have an Xbox 360, but I'm by no means against them.

I've just read an article  about how Konami plan on using the aforementioned input devices to provide an "innovative user interface" for their latest incarnation of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.

Below are some of the quotes on how this innovation is going to work.

"The Nunchuck is used to move the current player, while the Wii Remote is used to pick out players to send them on runs or to receive passes via simple click and drag system which uses arrows to show the path of the run, and a press of the ‘B’ button to complete the move".

"Dribbling is effected by clicking on the player and using an arrow and the 'A' button to guide the ball. The speed of the run can then be altered by extending or reducing the length of the guiding arrow, allowing stunning quick turns and bursts of speed to catch defenders off-guard"

My question is this. Is this really actually innovativation? or is just forcing a technology somewhere it's not needed to prove a point? Lets face it, is it really going to make the game easier or more enjoyable to play?

Personally, I don't think so. A couple of FIFA versions ago (I've been buying it since 1995 by the way!) they introduced a way of running with players off the ball using the right analog pad. I found that controlling the main player in the left anlog pad, and trying to move a different way on the right analog pad, almost impossible to do (maybe it's my age!). I suspect others did too as this was never included in any future version

The Wii certainly has a place in the market and works brilliantly well for many genres of game.  I think that Wii developers should stick to developing games that lend themselves to the new input devices naturally rather than forcing the technology onto a game where there is really no need for it!

Saying that, I'd still be interested to have a go, and if I'm wrong, I'll eat my words! 

It's official!!, Afonso Alves has finally signed for Middlesbrough with less than half an hour remaining before the transfer windows closes. The fee for Alves is a club record deal, and is believed to be in the region of €20M (£12M) but has remained undisclosed.

Alves has a goalscoring record of 0.7 goals per game and has scored 11 goals in 7 games this season including 7 in one game :)

Hopefully international clearance will come through in time for him to make his debut against the Geordies this weekend!! 

There was a dream draw for my team Middlesbrough today as they avoided the "Big Four" in the fifth round of the FA Cup. As an added bonus, Man. Utd. have been drawn to play Arsenal :)

A good cup run could really boost the season but wouldn't it be typical if Robbo spoilt the day by putting one over us!

If we beat Sheffield Utd. and get another lucky draw, you never know....... 

UPDATE: Sheffield Utd vs Middlesbrough is to be shown live on Sunday 17 February (1400 GMT) on BBC1

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren believes his side on Thursday night put themselves on the European map with a "perfect" performance.

Boro dominated Lazio from virtually start to finish to sweep their way back to the top of Uefa Cup Group E and move within touching distance of a place in the last 32 knockout phase with a 2-0 win.

Considering this is Boro's debut continental campaign, they have so far taken Europe in their stride, and with this result will have sent out a clear message they mean business.

McClaren was left beaming after the game as he said: "It was a perfect European night.

"As I have said before, European nights are special and a little bit different, and with Lazio here there was an expectancy I could feel in the town.

"For the team to give them [the fans] a performance like that put the icing on the cake for me.

"It was a great night for them, a great performance, some great goals and the result at the end, with a clean sheet and the two goals, was perfect.

"But the biggest thing was the performance. We got about Lazio, didn't let them settle or play and in possession controlled it and looked threatening every time we went forward.

"You can see for yourself the experience we have in the squad is showing. To win in Europe you need to defend well, and we have done that because we have conceded only one goal in four games.

"We can also score goals, and again that is something you can see from the performances we have had, so we have good balance.

"I think we have really taken to Europe very well."

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Most tickets are in the £32 £42 seats there's also £54 £64 seats all area's have under 16 & over 65 reductions (50%). Max of 2 concessions per adult.
Main West Stand Office for £54 & £64
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Boro's reserve side came from two goals down at half-time to beat Manchester United Reserves in an entertaining game at Altrincham tonight.

Mads Timms and Darren Fletcher had the home side two-up in 44 minutes, but Phil Gulliver struck with a splendidly taken low volley within 90 seconds of the restart, before Brian Close (81) and Craig Dove (87), both scored contenders for goal of the season with brilliantly hit 25 yard shots.

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His view of the game on tuesday night was as follows:

"It is utterly not true, that Real Madrid won last night. It was all trickery. In fact we crushed Real Madrid, Ronaldo was committing suicide in the box. We fed poison to Figo and beat him to death with our shoes. The reports that they scored three goals are scandalous lies, we hammered their goal keeper, then when we stopped crushing them, they would quickly put the ball in the net and take a photo of this. Scandalous lies. Some of you may have seen the film Escape To Victory, if you are familiar with the plot of this, you will know that the Spanish infidels are nothing but dogs and liars not to be trusted. Victory was ours."