Battling Blades Are Tough Start
SO, BRUISING and brooding Sheffield United at home for the opener. They don't get much more archetypal rude awakening than that do they? The battling Blades and back line bouncer Chris Morgan are the blueprint for exactly the type of club soft-centred Boro have struggled against in recent years.
"It is a tough league and we have to learn the lessons from this." You can hear it now.
United are a big club and will bring a big crowd and will be up for what they think of as a massive clash against a potential promotion rival. In that sense it is a good start for Boro as there will be no room for complacency, they must be at their best and ready for the battle or they will be turned over in a 100mph route one blur.
Then there are two away games Boro will be expected to win by both boardroom and crowd - at managerless Swansea and newly promoted Scunthorpe - before reality really bites in the second home game: home to lowly Doncaster Rovers.
That will be the first time the mooted army of pickers-and-choosers and Red Book refuseniks make their absence felt. Sheffield United are a decent draw and it is the first game so there will be legions of undecided expecting to be swayed. Unless Boro have had a flying start the walk-up crowd for Doncaster will be poor while in economic terms, after the glamour of Manchester United and Arsenal the bump will really hurt.
Those who have wrapped in their season cards - and so lost the cushion of the discount on the matchday price - will find it hard to swallow paying more for Doncaster than they did for Premier League oppoistion. And Rovers will bring only a few hundred fans so expect a lowest ever Riverside league gate.
Elsewhere in the fixtures the biggest blow is the scheduling of Blackpool away. The bar room buzz suggested a major construction project would be needed at Bloomfield Road to build a new away end given the 20,000 Teessiders who were planning to "make a weekend of it." Naturally then it is a wet midweek in February.
The trip to hell - the trek to Plymouth - is Easter Monday. Great, a truncated Sunday service disrupted by engineering works on the rail network.
And the biggest disparity in perspectives in a single week comes either side of Christmas when Boro go to fellow fallen giants Newcastle on the last shopping Saturday before the fat lad in red shows up (insert your own Mido joke here) and then take on mighty minnows Scunthorpe on Boxing Day.
The most important thing about the fixture list is of course projecting your own personal brand of subjectivity onto it, pencilling in where the the big promotion or relegation clinchers fall depending on personal disposition.
Given the current political landscape the most important calculation for many is exactly when the boss gets the boot. With a poor start the pressure will mount with every match. The consensus is Southgate will get ten or 12 games to barge into the promotion pack or he faces the axe.
Some will have made the calculation then that the sharpening will begin in earnest after game 10 (home to Nigel Pearson's Leicester). Game 12 is at Watford and manager's rarely get the chop away from home - it doesn't satisfy the primeval urge for a blood sacrifice at home - so defeat at home to Derby could be unlucky for some.
Or, remember other speculative sequences are available, Boro could win the opener, then take advantage of a shell-shocked Swansea side that has been ransacked of good players by their former boss, show their class at Scunthorpe and then turn on the style and batter Doncaster to go top - and stay there.
Insert your own scenario here...
And if you think Boro have got a tough start, take a look at Newcastle; they start away at West Brom then have Reading and Sheffield Wednesday at home, Palace away and then take on Leicester. They could get through another two managers in that time.
Here is our full first day of new universe:
Cardiff v Scunthorpe
Coventry v Ipswich
Crystal Palace v Plymouth
Derby v Peterborough
Leicester v Swansea,
BORO v Sheff Utd
Preston v Bristol City
QPR v Blackpool
Reading v Nottm Forest
Sheff Wed v Barnsley,
Watford v Doncaster,
West Brom v Newcastle
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Anthony Vickers
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I think Boro will find Swansea and Scunthorpe far from push overs and the writing will be on the wall for Southgate by the time Doncaster arrive with Boro already adrift at the bottom on 0 points.
An interesting article on the BBC Footie site today about the perils of relegation to League 1.
"Since the Premier League's inaugural season in 1992/93, 14 clubs have experienced the slide from the top division to what is now League One. Of these teams, only Manchester City have succeeded in regaining their place among English football's elite."
And a glance at the opening day fixtures produces this gem
Leeds United v Exeter City
You couldnt make it up!
This should be pinned on Gibson's door so he realises the fine line he is treading.
I was scanning the fixtures looking for the games against the big boys, then realised they aren't any.
Now there is something to start debating.
It is certainly a difficult start with a match against SheffU. They are just the sort of strong side we do so well against!
Then of course there is Swansea who are in trouble, losing players, without a manager. Mmmmmm! Strikes a chord.
Just got to get on with the ins and outs of the transfer window then a glamourous pre season. Last year John Powls went to the Algarve with his lad, this year he is looking forward to battling the Midges bearing Claymores on the banks of Loch Lomond. Anyone who has been fly fishing in Scotland is well aware of the beasts.
None of these fixture are inspiring. They take me back to my childhood in the fifties in the bob end. We languished in that division for too long.The only reason to see the likes of Scunthorpe then, (the name is depressing enough) was the sight of Cloughie banging in three or four goals.What price Alves doing the same?
Still, I shall be there more in hope than expectation and if we are off the pace by the end of September I expect Southgate to pack his bags.Nothing less will do.
A lot of us as fans think there are no matches against any big clubs and it should be easy. If the players have the same nonchalance on match day then we will get a big surprise off these teams, mark my words.
There are no easy games in the championship. We must take every game seriously, failure to do so will have us having to eat some humble pie
Im looking forward to the season. A season filled with more victories than defeats hopefully will be good for morale.
But Anthony, I would suspect that the disrespect you have shown Doncaster Rovers by referring to them as 'lowly' could be the attitude we should be wary of the players showing. We and they are where they are on merit, we both deserve to be where each of us is. And remember we must not forget we were very priveleged to be in the Premier League for so long; some would say a minor miracle.
For me being in the Championships offers me the possibility to travel to more Away games, with me living in Pompey. Time to dust off the 20 all time Middlesbrough FC classics 'Up the Boro, the Boro's going up, the Boro's going up to stay'
**AV writes: I mean no disrespect to Doncaster who have carried out a minor miracle in bouncing back from the edge of oblivion, non-league exile and a boardroom soap opera beyond satire... but there is no getting away from the disparity in status and finances of the two clubs and when they come here (and go to Newcastle) their fans will be looking for a giant-killing, not seeing it as a meeting of equals.
Looking at these fixture is getting my 'juices' flowing AV!!
Bring it on proper football,proper fans and great away days just like i went too in my favourite period as a Boro fan the late 80s and early 90s.....people frown and scoff at football then but it was 100mile an hour stuff with a great if not 'risky' atmosphere.
I for one(like many) have grown a little tired of the Premiership "I love SKYTANTA Big 4 brigade" and boring suit fans. Ok yes, we will miss the money and the 'big' (used loosely) clubs but I for one would rather see the Boro spank Doncaster 4-0(hopefully ha) then defended out a 0-0 against UTD and think its a great result.
Sheff Utd is a great start and i am more than ready for the 'Derby' jibes from my Yorkshire mates. They should bring 4000ish so a cracking atmospher IMO. Agree though its a really hard start. They are a team that have everything that should beat the Boro... power,strength,great set-pieces... please no zonal marking ha. Alves will have a shock when Morgan clumps him..."have that, welcome to the champo ha"
Blackpool on a Tuesday is very grim...we wait years for it and get shafted...cheers fixture computer!! B+Bs should be cheaper though? Look on the bright side as my made says Teesside will just have to invade Blackpool for the week ha.
Leicester away for the final game is also a blow as we will have to be crowned champions the week before if we wanna parade the trophy at the Riverside ha.
Ignorant
I dont think it will be easy. Our reserves and kids struggle against the corresponding teams from the Championship, I see no reason why our first team will be any different in the coming season, especially with a number of our 'top' players leaving. You know the ones I mean, those that allied to our state of the art training facility, revamped back room team and best ever squad got us relegated.
I certainly dont think promotion is a gimme and a place in the play offs may be tough.
At least we have something to focus on in the coming weeks.
So, the first big name departure! Malcolm Crosby
There's a void that will take some filling!!!
Mr Vickers
As a supporter of "lowly Doncaster Rovers" who remembers watching your team beat them twice in the old third division in the mid 1980s, will the few hundred away fans Rovers bring to the Riverside in September be closer to the Rovers' average away league following last season of 1509 or Boro's of 1536?
You never know - we may bring a few more to help you fill your coffers to make up for the Boro fans who decide not to come. If we do, it may not be your lowest gate ever and you'll be able to lay off the hyperbole.
All the best for the forthcoming season.
Regards
A Donny Fan
**AV writes: We regularly had away followings of just a few hundred at the Riverside last term (Fulham, Pompey, Wigan etc) so if it is the lowest gate it will be more because of disillusioned Boro fans staying away than anything of Rovers making.
There is no disrespect intended. What Doncaster have done in the last five years has been incredible. Especiallly sticking to principles of good football. Good luck.
C'mon boys we haven't kicked a ball yet so lets at least wait till then before passing judgement.
Do I hear Tony Adams as AM - rumour
**AV writes. I'd rather have Gerry Adams!
Ian , I also spotted that not only Crosby but the sports psychologist has been axed as well. We definitely needed that area to be sorted!
**AV writes: It's a good job we are not looking for scapegoats.
So now we know who done it: it was Malcom Crosby in the dressing room with the duff tactics. Obvious when you see the answer, but I wasn’t even close.
My guess was Gareth Southgate in the board room with the empty promises.
Another game, Steve, or would you rather play Monopoly as usual?
Just read on Sky whilst out and about on business - The departure of Mr Crosby.
The pre-season has had a perfect start.
Cue The Little Fella ?
Who knows.....
There's a kind of nice look to those fixtures. It takes me back to my youth. Possibly I'm in my mid life crisis. I'll be taking up the electric guitar next...
Do you know what the chances are of those fixtures actually taking place on the dates shown? i.e. How much do the TV companies mess around with them in this league?
**AV writes: There's one live match every week, usually at 5.15pm on Saturday but occasionally on Sunday lunchtime. The BBC have a deal starting this season to show 10 Championship games but it is unclear as yet what slot they will go for.
I don't know if they are screened abroad - I can't imagine many will be - but most will be streamed on-line so it looks like the laptop and JustinTV.com for you.
Curses! Home game in the second week of my holidays! How long does it take to get back from the Isle of Lewis?
And even though it's a good nine hour drive, ignoring any "comfort breaks", to get back up to the port at Ullapool for the ferry over to Stornoway, the last return ferry sets out at 6.15pm. Even those sneaking out from the match at half-time and riding a rocket couldn't get there for 6.15!
Bearing in mind the island strictly observes the Sabbath, (so all services are shut for the day, including the ferry there and back) even if I drove back as soon as the whistle blows on Saturday after the Sheffield United game, I would have to wait at the ferry terminal until 10.15am on Monday to get back to the island. I wouldn't get back there until well into the afternoon on Monday.
Seriously, is it likely to be worth coming back for that game?
**AV writes: Pah! Part-timer.
AV, I'm surprised at you!
I have just posted this message re: Eric Paylor's headline in the Gazette: "Tough start!?" - Defeatist talk, already, even before a ball is kicked!
Paylor - and now you AV - Whose side are you BOTH on with such negative headlines? My headline would've read - "Attractive start to Championship campaign for Boro!"
As per my last Paylor/Gaz post, everyone connected with our beloved Boro needs to put in some good old fashioned graft and that includes you ALL at the Gazette by NOT using "negatives" but EMPHASISING the "positives"! - It would not have happened in the Mitchell days of reporting!
Comprende!
I can actually get BBC and all the ITVs on my sat dish. I cancelled Sky yonks ago, it was costing 40 pounds a month just to watch the Boro half a dozen times a season.
The reason I asked about moving fixtures was because we were thinking of doing a daft weekend and flying over for one of the away games. There seems to be loads in the Leeds/Bradford and Nottingham/East Midlands area. But obviously, you have to book well in advance to get the really cheap flights.
**AV writes: You should be OK then because even if they are picked for TV it is usually only from 3pm to 5.15.
I think we might get a few early TV appearances while we are still a "three years ago they were in Eindhoven, now they are at Scunthorpe" story but then we will slip off the radar unless there is a serious and unavoidable promotion push. Newcastle will be on every other week though.
Great news about Bing going. Rumour I have heard is that we are going to get Mr Smith the Aston Villa assistant !
We need to employ the sports pschyologist from Stoke City, don't care what he is on offer him double
UP THE BORO, the boro's going up to stay, hey.
Most of our televised games seem to end up in defeat. I hope the same is true of Newcastle.
So we start life in the championship with a couple of tricky looking fixtures - since I believe the fixture list is run past the club before publishing, then that probably explains Southgate's recent remarks about not panicking if we don't win the first few games as he already knew what was in store.
Personally, I don't think we should be worrying about particular clubs before the season kicks off as results will depend on whether Boro get their own act together.
So has there been a U-turn on scapegoating with the departure of Crosby and our sports psychologist (god knows was he's been telling Alves) - Perhaps the inquiry has already happened? No doubt Steve Gibson pointed the finger at Lamb, who pointed the finger at Southgate, who pointed the finger at Crosby, who pointed the finger at the sports psychologist, who said it was very negative to point at people.
As for possible replacements? Please spare us the depressing tones of Tony Adams otherwise Southgate may well rethink his 'suicide is not an option' policy. We probably need someone with some Championship experience, preferably not another central defender - though maybe it's part of the plan to lure Gary Neville and he'll become assistant manager, unless Eric Cantona is being lined up to re-interpretate Gareth's half-time team talks to the players.
Oh my God, after all the PR that was done last season to bring back the white band retail giants Addidas have reverted back to plain red with white sides. The kit looks like a championship kit fit for a championship club
Three ticks in the boxes in the build back to The Prem.
- Mr. Crosby (who?)leaving.
- A sports psychologist who very few were even aware of, certainly in terms of his impact (says it all, really) leaving.
- The ace new home kit.
A good start but there are an awful lot of blank boxes still to be ticked and what shouldn't be - but is - a challenging start to the Championship campaign not that far away.
First game to decide the 2nd best team in Yorkshire --- rock on ! Worth flying over for.
Eddie Fletcher
It is a tricky balance between between negativity and balanced reporting.
I think it is a tricky start and on balance that is the right message. The club need to hit the ground running with the fans behind them.
The worst thing that could happen is for false optimism and promises over inflating expectations only for a couple of performances to puncture the balloon.
We need to be realistic not negative. There is a lot that needed to be done at the club to turn things round. Many fans are adopting a wait and see approach hoping that the club get it right.
We need to get the fans behind the team aware that there is a tough battle ahead and not for them to turn up and just expect a top performance and result. Uncle Eric is right that it is a tough start, truth is we will be one of the clubs that other teams will try that bit harder against.
The good thing is that we have some fixtures to focus on, next is some transfer activity, then pre season to get as many as possible back on board.
It is now over to the club to get its act together
What can one say? Someone above writes "don't knock the team before a ball is kicked"... come on get the rose coloured glasses off! Do any of you out there actually believe that we are any better than the teams that come down or maybe four or five of the teams in the championship? I CERTAINLY DONT.
Southgate should have gone and most of the backroom, not only CROSBY. When we came up previously we had teams of fighters. There is more fight in an unopened packet of crisps than there is in this team - mostly bought by Southgate I might add - so if he could not motivate them to fight in the premiership what chance in the rough and tumble of the Championship?
The growler centre half from Sheff Utd v Alves (Alves wont know whats hit him!).
Ipswich will be one of the stronger contenders this season, so that leaves only two positions to play for. ARE WE UP FOR IT?
Another half a tick in the box - this time for Gate avoiding his 'Marvin the mullet: Paranoid Android' schtick in his latest quotes on the MFC website.
Properly positive and upbeat, whilst realistic and recognising last season's disaster.
A distinct improvement.
Gareth Southgate said:
“I'm well aware of how people feel. We've got to win games. If we play good football and win games then we'll get the crowds in.”
Brilliant! Why has this never been tried before?
AV & gt
Which Adams for Assistant Manager?
Could be Gomez - just the sort of suave enforcer that's needed.
And their Festa did OK at Boro.
Well I was able to watch 4 championship games last year on Supersport in South Africa, so Im sure if they show it here, someone else will show it abroad
The new strip matches our new status. It's second rate.
No offence to the rest of the league, but if we don't finish in the top two we should be ashamed.
Irrespective of how poor we were last season, the nucleus of the side and a couple of shrewd signings should have enough in the tank to go straight back up.
The under-strength side we took to Wolves in the cup beat last season's champions with few problems.
The only worry should be the physical aspect of the division, so a tough tackling centre mid and a forward who can hold the ball up are vital
Thing is, we might have so much fun in this division, going up would be more punishment than reward.
I am very much looking forward to the new season. Home to Sheff U should bring in a crowd of around 24,000. If we get a positive result then we can take that into the next three games and get off to a real good start to the season.
On a different subject I am confused, but hardly surprised at the announcement of Malcolm Crosby's departure.
Question : If GS does not rate Crosby good enough for the coming season in the Championship why didn't he think the same six months ago when we desperately needed a new face to instill freshness into the coaching team? Why wait until things had continued to go drastically wrong?
I am making no judgement on the attributes of Malcom Crosby. I have no idea what he did, or did not, contribute to the cause but his sacking now seems to me like he is being made something of a scapegoat for the overall failure of the management team. I suppose someone had to go. Easy target maybe. Some would argue that there was a much easier target.
Apparently Gareth has realised that if we win games the fans will be appreciative and show our support. Beggars belief, the incredulity of it all leaves me staggered, pity there was not a few more Scapegoats.
If the new kit is anything to go by it looks to be another dull and uninspiring season, it is reminiscent of Charlton Athletic's "hand me downs." Just hope we don't follow them into League One as well.
I always thought that a Team Kit was supposed to give identity and instant recognition. Another lesson which clearly hasn't been learned! Mind you the knitted polyester (sorry Climacool) fabric will apparently wick sweat away from the body - at least that implies we may actually see some sweat this season, Tuncay aside I don't recall seeing any of it last season.
Nice to see that all that time spent talking to the fans about the 'white stripe' has not gone to waste. All the opinions were taken on board, heck I even think we had a Gazette readers poll on whether we should or shouldn't have the white stripe.
If I remember correctly the the result was yes to the stripe......hmmmmmm. Nice to see it loud and proud on the new strip. Looks like our views ignored again!
Despite a few ticks in the box above - and more to come, according to The Count - Boro continue to be linked with some very iffy 'strikers'.
The latest are Kuqi (taking over the Gregg's sponsorship from Mido) and Lita (sponsorship from quite a different type of source). Yet, the word is that Boro are 'distancing themselves' from interest in Beckford.
If they're after a Kuqi type but with some fitness and some goals with less Mido-type attitude as well as girth, what about Becchio from Leeds?
What would be a big step forward would be to actually sign a couple and then it would be much easier to make a judgement about whether they will tick the right boxes too - or whether it's another poorly managed transfer window.
A.V.
What is this foot fetish? Downing, Alves and this Matic guy all with broken feet and a Chairman with a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth.
Now I know us realists are called "moaners" because we dare to criticise the triumvirate and not not subscribe to blind faith, but never mind time to put aside all of that and look forward to a season, when the Boro will be up at the top, playing exciting attacking football ..............
Sorry just broke off to watch a flock (herd) of pigs fly by.
But hey it is deja vu all over again. I remember going to Plymouth (was it 1967?) and we won 1-0, Arthur Horsfield scoring. Didn't Donny beat us 1-0 when we were in the Third.
Roll on Sheff Utd and Scunny and Donny!!!
Will the players and backroom staff please remember that the Doncaster game is against the Rovers and not the Belles?
I have now retired but used to work in the same office as a lady who played for Everton Ladies; she said games against the Belles always very difficult. Given the way the Boro played last season, I would not like to bet on them beating any of Everton Ladies, Arsenal Ladies or Doncaster Belles!
Lita?? Yeravinalaffarnyer? A "former" U21" ; "released or sent on loan by almost every club he's played for"; "main interest seems to be coming from Boro, Stoke, Crystal Palace, Bristol City, Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest, QPR, Hibs, Leeds and Wycombe".
Assault on the Championship Mr Lamb said, is this the best they can do?
This really is the Doldrums.
This blog's gone into neutral and the Gazette articles are just rehashing old Gate-o-gram messages from last week or before and passing them off as new.
The difficulty about the 'don't worry if you're not hearing anything' message (whenever it was delivered from MFC) is that we've had all this before and what it actually meant was that nothing - or at least nothing effective - was happening.
Its excruciatingly embarrassing being a Boro supporter and listening to the empty, frightened slogans issued by the Boro management team, the Gazette and those fans that belong to the 'eternally optimistic club' ("it could be worse ... at least we haven't got Mad Cows disease or.. ...")
The Gazette 'spinning' the virtues of dropping out of the Premiership alongside Gibson's state of denial are clear examples of the sort of dishonesty that brought about such a pathetic season. I'm not referring to 'fiddling', fraudulant dishonesty but the sort of dishonesty that involves you deliberately 'looking the other way' when you know something bad is happening.
I often wonder if players read this 'blog'. If they do, for what it's worth here's my advice on what they should do.
Based on the principle that if Gibson, Southgate and the Gazette couldn't give a Castlemaine XXXX why should anyone else ?
Adam Johnson - Demand a transfer ! You have been messed around too much son
Tony MacMahon - Demand a transfer ! You have been messed around too much son
Stewart Downing - Leave but make sure its to a club with a clever manager
David Wheater - Demand a transfer ! Maybe you can get a manager to play you at centre half ??
Ross Turnbull - Walkout tomorrow !! With two fingers waving at Gareth Southgate
Robert Huth - Do what's best for you and you could make German world cup squad (impressed with your effort professionalism when fit)
Manny Pogatetz - Get out if you can find a better club for you.
Gary Oneil - Really good footballer, very talented... but big disappointment. Insensitive, homesick ??? Don't know how lucky you are son Go 'home'.
Digard - Good lad waited patiently and played very well when given the chance - be patient big club will snap you up soon.
Afonso Alves - There are goals in you - but not under Gareth Southgate. Go on loan to Porto ? Villareal ? Fulham ?
Taylor - Played very well at the beginning of season (as did Downing) but turned into a scapegoat by Southgate. Leave if a good club is interested.
Riggot - You could easily get into a better team with a better manager - it's a question of money do what's best for you.
Arca - Ease out gracefully.
Crosby - cash in on a behind the scenes ' warts and all' expose of management at the Boro (I'll bet it's a hoot)
Bates, Aliadiare, King, Tuncay Hoyte, Jones - stick with Gareth he's the only manager in the league that will play you every week.
Gibson - get Strachan, he's eccentric and bold enough to take the Boro job. He'd fight for the Boro out of personal professional pride and drag us back up. Please don't wait until Sheff Utd have kicked us off the park and the players cleared off to Lallapollusa
There are no easy games in the Championship and Boro will undoubtedly take time to adjust to some very physical demands.
I agree with AV that Sheffield United are totally typical of teams that anybody has to out-muscle to do well. Next season could go one of three ways but my expectation is that Boro will end up as a middle of the table outfit that never really flirts with either top or bottom ends.
However the way things are going up the road at Magcastle they will be hard pressed to avoid getting relegated again next year. And they may well go into administration before that, but let's hope not until Boro have 6 points from them.
Boro will probably have a decent shot at promotion in 2010/11 and with a new manager who knows the ropes.
And, by the way, the Mags should be relegated again simply for having such a bad new away strip!
Tough start? If we can't beat 't Bleydes at home then it really will be a long season.
Personally, having looked at the fixture list I reckon it reads more like a renewal of old acquaintances - great games from the past v Ipswich, Notts Forest et al, in the days when only matchday and the Sports Gazette mattered, then on to the next fixture.
No Boronoia around relegation and well before the days of the Sky shilling which has perniciously eaten away at the very flesh of the football-loving public and turned us all to the hard-bitten cynicism and mean-spiritedness we can't escape today...
Is this blog EVER going to get updated?????
why i will not renew.
A tough start indeed and an even tougher one for us given the fact that we have rewarded the failure that got us relegated by keeping Southgate, Cooper and the Count in their jobs. How is this possible?
All post season comments continue to state that our downfall was a collective one in which responsibility was shared by all including all key buying and selling decisions. This is such a master stroke of Blairism that it rivals the current political climate in which people are fidleing galore and no one ever goes to jail.
So at the end of the day no individual here has to take any blame and everyone keeps their jobs. I have continued to renew after all the endless comments from the count about the fans not mattering, or the people from Stockton not mattering and all the other comments that he had to explain away or retract over the years and I simply will no longer stand by and pay to keep this man or Gareth bloody Southgate in their jobs.
This football club is a far far cry from what it used to be and i am sick to my back teeth of it. Sorry but I really have just had enough and the pass the parcel of responsibility that has been played out over why we fell into oblivion was the last straw.
Steve Gibson has always been number one in my book, a man who could no wrong, but in recent years and especially this season he has tainted his past reputation beyond the point of no return and i just cannot continue to give him my backing. Talking to many fans i know that i am not alone in holding this opinion and i know that there are many more who have not renewed.
This season has been the biggest slap in the face for me as a fan of many years and I am absolutely devastated by what has gone on over the last few years and especially now. The retainment of Southgate is beyond a joke and i think most of us know it deep down. We put up with it only because its the Boro thats all.