GATE CLOSES FOR GARETH

Long overdue and thoroughly deserved.

Please let this be the start of something brilliant.

Surprised it happened in these circumstances. Suprised it came after a win. Surprised it took so long. And surprised that I felt a swell of pride and affection for Gareth Soutgate on reading the clubs statement after the bitterness and resentment almost, that was building with each progressively worse performance of recent times.

He's been a bad manager and has genuinely strugled, and for that I wanted to see the back of him and felt alot of anger toward him. However, for all his acheievement with this club, the loyalty and love he's shown - I salute him.

I don't feel now is the time to celebrate - I'm now more inclined to talk like the rose tinted spec brigade, now is the time for optimism, and for talk of the future. Gareth was a great servant to the club as a player despite failings as a manager, I wish him well and thank him for his efforts - I do wish it could have worked out better but it didn't, and now we move on.

UP THE BORO

Why wasn't I reading this 365 days ago?? We would still be in the Premier league, the crowds would be 30,000+, Downing and the Turk would still be here, we would have a decent settled manager on board and his changes would be taking effect right about now!

Enough of the slow learner mentality Steven!

Gibbo break your trend of rookie love and gives us a tougher manager with some clout and charisma, a hardcase, a motivator!

Regardless, nice bloke the Gate but a very crap manager....get the new gadgee on board within the fortnight and he could be taking over a team at the top of the Chumpionship!!!

Just feel that wind roar through the hair as that Riverside Roller-coaster hits the nadir and piles upwards to the zenith!!!!

I hope you have got your internet techies on standby duty, AV. There might be 35,000 posts on this alone - the surprise sacking after a rare home WIN, and frenzied posts insisting SG has been seen in a service station on the M1 huddled together with XXX or with YYY.

You just have to wonder whether, fearing there was nothing to suggest we could pull out of the home game tail-spin and were facing a fourth consecutive defeat (though in reality Derby were truly awful last night), SG hadn't already been making plans for a new appointment. In which case we might be hearing something sooner reather than later.

Nigel Pearson, Curbs, Strachan, Souness, Hitzfeld and even Keegan will be getting a name call in the sporting press. But the most important thing is that, whoever is appointed, it HAS to be someone with experience.

We have to go up this year and, in a league with very little quality, it would be criminal to waste the "Get out of Jail" card handed to us this season.

I am suprised by the timing and maybe Gibson's mind was made up after the Watford game. The crowd being down 10,000 in seven games is probably the key factor in it all.

I was never a fan of Southgate as a manager but I do hope the chairman has a plan and manager in mind. Some of the names mentioned so far I dare not repeat.

I wish Southgate well for the future, he did have a difficult job to do but I think a more experienced manager would have coped better. I hope that he manages to get another post - if he wants to that is. For me he will be remembered at Boro as a player and captain, not as manager.

Any news if Lamb was sacked too?

I'm actually stunned!

This has to be the worst sacking in the history of worst sackings.

I have called and campaigned for GS and his team to be given the bullet since day one, and to be fair, I have done so to the point of irritation where it was all I talked about and so of late I thought I'd give people a rest.

But why now?

One point off the top with a young team and no money.

Forget that he got us relegated for one moment, but would another manager in the same circumstances as now have done any better?

Steve Gibson has lost the plot and this absurdely timed sacking under the guise of, " It's time for a change " is an absolute joke. It was time for a change before we got relegated mate and you never bloody took it, did you?

This sacking shows that Steve Gibson has shown himself incapable of running this football club and that he too should get the bullet. What an absolute sham.

I'm glad Southgate has gone, but to do it now after all the endless backings from everyone on a repeated basis, and with Southgate doing a very good job at the moment, this sacking at this time is absurd.

At the start of the season I held my hand up and said that not even the hardest critic could complain about the start we had had, and I suspect that even the hardest critic must ask the question, " Why now ".

Steve Gibson's time at this club is over. He has no money and his decision making is amongst the worst I have ever seen. There can be no sentiment in football.

Can someone please tell me what is going on at this club and how it has been run so badly of late?

Steve Gibson, please come forward and explain yourself and explain why you are still the right man to entrust our football club with. If you have the bottle you should do the right thing and have a press conference explaining this decision, your decision to hire him in the first place, your decision to stand by him as we went down and your decision to keep him on at the start of the season.

If he was good enough then, then being one point off the top he's good enough now.

****** STEVE GIBSON OUT ******

TB

**AV writes: *puts tin hat on and cowers under desk* INCOMINGGGG!

Wow. No one predicted that one. Glad of the points but that was a really poor and injury ravaged Derby. But 3 points is 3 points.

As for Gareth, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all his efforts. For reasons already outlined it was a difficult job and he did it to the best of his abilities. In the end every manager gets the sack so no shame in it.

But we need an experienced manager especially as we have a largely inexperienced squad. Two names stand out to me Curbishly and whispering Steve Coppell. I can only imagine Gibbo already has someone in mind and that the decision was made at 5 o’clock last Saturday.

The King is Dead, long live the King.

Now there are no excuses. Now is a time for unity, pride and MFC to set a new record of home wins!!

AV what is our record of consecutive home wins?

Is Tony Black's tongue firmly stuck into his cheek following the 9.30 post? Go on, it's a wind up, or someone impersonating TB!I suppose it is one way of encouraging a deluge of e-mails.

I dont think you'll have many problems getting this blog past the 200 post mark!

So 4 questions for you AV:

1) how many of the backroom staff will go with him?

2) Who's in charge in the meantime?

3) Will the new Manager have any money to play with that SG has been hiding down the back of the sofa from Gareth, like he did with Robbo?

4) Will there be any sort of admission from the club that the rest of the internal structure is massively flawed and decision making right up to the level of KL has been dreadful and that he needs the bullet too(in my humble opinion)?

Curbishley gets my vote too, but whoever the new man is he needs talent and experience and the nerve to shout down the board when they make stupid decisions.

**AV Writes: Initially Coops and Agnew will stay. Whether they will be happy under the new boss - who we think is bringing one person with him - is another question.

You can't say we've climbed to only one point from the top - it's rather that others have fallen to one point above us. What's more relevent to our current form is that we are now only three points from tenth.

But I agreee that ultimately this was a political decision - Southgate had lost a significant portion of the fans and this group would not be cutting him any slack. So on that basis he had passed his sellby date and would not recover his standing anytime soon.

Perhaps also Gibson seeing Johnson giving a significant contribution to winning the game by finally playing on the left had probably not gone unnoticed - what would have been if we'd managed to gain those eight points lost needlessly.

Though Gibson had probably already made his mind up after Saturday but given how little time there was before the Derby game he kept his powder dry.

I also agree it's time for the novelty of an experienced man in charge.

Firstly I would echo the sentiment of the announcement and some of the comments above. Southgate was a top player and skipper of the club. He took a poisoned chalice after Eindhoven when maintaining the level of achievement would have been a monster task.

He is an intelligent, honest and articulate man with a lot to offer. Sadly these qualities do not necessarily qualify you a a football manager. Perhaps a little more 'mongrel' is needed. I hope that even his fiercest detractors will wish him well for the future- no-one could argue that his heart wasn't in it.

Looking forward, you can't help but think that SG has someone lined up. I would think Curbishley would be the best choice, but wouldn't be suprised to see Nigel Pearson rock up.

Obviously I'm guessing here but I reckon the decisive moment came when Southgate started to blame the home support for his (and his coaches) sustained inability to motivate or manage the team. At this point the gap between the club and fans became a chasm which Southgate would inevitably fall into.

Personally, I find the timing a little odd and would have liked to have seen him eased out at the end of his second season when it was clear 'lessons were not being learned'. Although club was already on a downward spiral the slope wasn't so steep then. Now the incoming manager will have Southgate's team to work with for, at least, the next eleven matches until the transfer window opens.

The big positive is that the players now have the pressure to perform at home removed with Southgate and his coaches identified as the blocks to performance. I'm looking forward to seeing them express themselves without the 'inspirational' management speak which has seen them freeze far too often.

I'm actually stunned by tonyblack's comments. I know its been on TB's agenda to see Gibbo go with Southgate, but at a time like this, when the action we've all been craving has been taken, to then as a first response call for the chairmans head seems ludicrous.

To not even see who's incoming and allow yourself a little sigh of relief and feeling of excitement at the possibilities (I'm no foam hander but after all the negativity I've felt of late - I can't wait to see what will happen) makes it look like there is no joy to be had by TB in football.

I'm not looking to start an arguement, and might look like a johnny come lately upstart, whereas TB has been banging his drum for an age, we're all entitled to an opinion but that of some people defies logic regardless of how long they may or may no have been around!

I usually enjoy TBs posts interestingly enough! Maybe the shock to the system was too much?

UP THE BORO

A very sad day!

Why wasn't this either done at the end of last season or wait until Christmas to see how things were progressing.

Good luck Gareth.

As for a replacement, I would like to see Coppell given the job.

"Mass from Somerset said:

"Sad news but at least the moaners can't criticise Steve Gibson for not acting..........."

Oh but they can and will. Steve Gibson should have acted much earlier and then we'd still be in the Premier League.

On the positive side, a more bouyany atmosphere at the Riverside can only help encourage Johnson to stay.

I must admit I feel completely underwhelmed by this inevitable decision. Feel sorry in a way for GS. Given a poison chalice where the job and money given to him was not the same as his predecessors.

Was the job too early for him? Probably but all through it he has held his head high and tried to do his best for the club he led to silverware. Never let us forgot that.

For me, and I suspect the bulk of boro fans, this decsion ahould have came after the Cardiff cup defeat. In truth he lost the crowd then.

Good luck for the future GS.

Despite the sacking we shouldn't lose sight of the important issue that has concerned many people on this blog for the last couple of weeks - i.e. Will Forever Dormo get the 35,000 post?

AV you tease!!! Come on spill the beans. In response to Jaguar Boy at 10.15 you state ‘**AV Writes: Initially Coops and Agnew will stay. Whether they will be happy under the new boss - who we think is bringing one person with him - is another question.’

Who is the new man????? What have you heard? Was the one man Mervyn Day?? Be the first to tell all come on!!!

**AV writes: Later editions of today's Gazette. Ask me again in an hour.

TonyBlack

I have also been with you and all the others, campaigning against the Southgate appointment and continued tenure. When GS, survived despite relegation, it was clear he was on borrowed time and that the end of October would be the cut-off date for a decision as to his future.

The decision to appoint Southgate was not one of SG's finest and I too have called for him to go if he can't continue what he started and we all signed up to. As I said in my previous post, with hindsight and the problems being faced by other clubs, the actions he has taken on the financial front (self-inflicted? Another point of debate) mean we still have a club run by one of us and developing our own, which is something to be proud of.

No matter how painful and divisive the process has been to get rid of Southgate – he has now gone and SG now has to appoint a manager who can galvanise the resources of this club (and this includes the supporters) and realise the Gibson dream that I hope we all still subscribe to.

TB, it's been a long hard road and the “I told you so” isn't very nice, but let's wait and see what SG's response is, before calling for his head. It is probably the biggest decision of his tenure, if he gets this wrong then no, doubt, we and many others will be campaigning “to the point of irritation” for his removal.

12 months too late.

Whats all this talk about Curbs? Absolutely no possibility of him leaving London.

Coppell has huge respect throughout the game - mainly from the way he conducted himself in his playing days - a ManU player that everyone liked - a remarkable achievement in its own right. Management wise - one promotion with Reading wasn't it? other than that nothing to write home about.

Jewell, Strachan, Souness etc dream on. Plus plenty of names who prefer the easy money of punditry. One thing all of them have in common which wuld almost certainly rule them out of the reckoning. These are all experienced managers.

This is still the same Steve Gibson.

Internal promotion for Colin Cooper - you heard it here first.

For me, it has to be Curbishley, with out a doubt... if we can get him. The man has a proven track record - achievement of excellence with a mediocre Charlton and a great escape with West Ham.

And have you noticed that both of those clubs went into immediate decline when Curbishley left them? This fella has guts, tactical awareness, stamina and will want to play attractive football. Come on Mr. Gibson, get on that phone.

We are only one point off the top - COME ON BORO!

Souness? Keegan?? Pleeasse Noooooooooooo!!!

An hour AV, an Hour!!!! What about my lunch?
Doesn’t sound like we are negotiating a release with another club then.

I’m going for Curbs then, will he be in, in time for Preston.

Aren't the club always going to have to deal with lower crowds due to the economic problems of the area? Jobs are uncertain , the cost to watch a game are huge & the chance of competing against the global clubs are becoming even slimmer by the year.
I wld argue that lower crowds weren't all to do with GS.

Copied from 'HOME SICKNESS STRIKES AGAIN' blog.

Wow, this is like reading fiction. Boro win at home (at last) and Southgate is relieved of his position with immediate effect.

I came in from work (5 hours behind in the US) dreading looking up the result only to find the mighty Boro won 2-0. I read this on sportinglife.com before switching to mfc.co.uk.

Well you can imagine my surprise when sportinglife mentioned nothing, only to be greeted by a headline a plethora of Boro supporters have been hoping for, for a long time.

I do feel sorry for a certain Mr. Southgate, but was very dissapointed in him when he said "judge me on this season. This is my team", only for BORO to get relegated and him not doing the honorable thing in resigning. That really turned me against him.

Well, now for a new start. Please Sir Steve, get us a manager that knows what he is doing, not someone on work experience. A manager that knows how to change a match with substitutions will be a start.

Fiction?, or just a good dream?

Come on Boro!

I've been listening to Radio Tees online this morning (there's always a first time) and the smart money from those in the know seems to be on Strachan.

Though there are a few takers for Keegan (god forbid) and I even heard somebody say they wanted Souness (Doh).

I like the sound of Strachan, he's got good experience and would be no mug - plus he's got a great sense of humour (which is always useful for managing Boro).

Has everyone forgot the disparaging comments by Gordon Strachan when he turned down the chance to join the club as a player citing the porr quality of the area ect??

Not me.

Skybet offering 1-5 odds for Strachan, are you legally allowed to bet on it AV?

and would you recommend us all staking the house on it right now?

I got the smile back driving home after last night's match. Wasn't in bed 10 minutes when my mobile went into overdrive with post midnight texts about GS's dismissal.

Sven Goran who ? McClaren as his number 2
Don't be silly Christopher.

It doesnt really matter who we want, even if we get the right person into the interview room Lambie will shoot the deal straight in the head. Gareths leaving was inevitable, but Lambie needs to go as well. Without the very best there in his capacity we will never attract the right candidates.

David Craig from SkySports said he had received a text from a collueague yesterday saying Gate was going and that Strachan was going to be the new man.

If it is Strachan at least we will get some good quotes. I remember after one match at the Riverside he was asked in which areas of the pitch Boro had been better. His response the green ones out there.

AV

Your hour is up. We have shown blind faith and you havent delivered as yet.

Or is it a case of judge me at the end of the blog.

Or do you need a root and branch reform of the back room geeks.

Or will the Holy Trinity of Uncle Eric, Phil and Vic all share responsibilty.

**AV writes: Or have I been busy writing? You decide...

Is it strachan then? The hour is up!!

We all know if the teams around had put any type of run in they would have been out of sight by now.

Our home form was relegation stuff and even with last nights win wasnt much better as Derby by all accounts were very poor.

Good luck Gareth with whatever you do you will be remembered by me for your playing days at the Boro.

I hope it is Strachan. I can remember my sister had one of those Gonk toys. It looked like a troll, only wore trousers and had a mass of Flame red hair. If that was not modelled on Gordon Strachan then I’m a Dutch man.

Welcome to Messrs. Strachan & Pendry.

Glad that it's been moved on quickly. With a big game away to Preston on Saturday we need no 'eyes off the ball' - in any sense - and for everyone to hit Preston's ground running.

I've already seen some nicknames for Gordon Strachan coming out on this Blog and elsewhere. The poor man's not even got the job and he's being ridiculed! Sheesh.

His initials are remarkably similar to the former gaffer though.

Thank you for what you tried to do at Boro Gareth, I think we all know you gave it your best shot.

However, having eventually declaring my hand last weekend after another home defeat demanding some action from Gibbo, I believe it is the only decision that could have been made. But I didn't expect such a quick return on my plea.

So where now? I would vote for Curbs, as I indicated in that last post, and echoed by John Powls today, as I feel he is possibly the best option having managed a club in similar straits to where MFC find themselves now, and been quite successful. But would he give up his London home life and his cozy pundit job with Show Time Sports to come to the frozen norf to do a job that maybe now would not fill him with the same enthusiasm? Probably not.

AV has put out a few "clues" that we may see Stratchan unveiled? He would have been one of my choices, but I'm not sure if his persona will fit well with Steve Gibson or The Count; he certanly doesn't pull his punches. We'll certainly be entertained in his tv interviews (if we ever get on the box.)

Whatever happens, and whoever takes over, it must signal the beginning of a new togetherness from everyone connected to MFC and Boro. Let's hope so.

And so the end is near, Ive yet to Yada yada yada !!

This sacking despite it's timing is so long overdue I can't help but laugh.

Crowds down 10000 since last season and im proud to say Im one of them !!!! If the fans are going to take responsibility for forcing the manmger out then lets hope those same fans take the same responsibility to get behind the team !!!!

Southgate showed us his managerial acumen against Cardiff in the FA Cup...easily the worst performance I have ever seen... GUTLESS UNORGANISED PATHETIC !!!! Everything GS was not as a player and thats what hurt so much !!

So we bring in the terrier Gordon S. I just hope ppl arent expecting pretty football overnight !!!! We might get fight, we might get bottle, which is a start but I fear for the type of football we will be served up and that is what forced the fans away !

Good luck to both GS's for the new one your going to need it !!

Thank god for some sense after three years. Gareth the man and Gareth the manager are two different things. He had to go. Hopefully we can get a man who believes in good football and giving people a chance.

Maybe we can convince that certain great in YARM to come out of retirement and propel us on to greater things. Interest renewed......... up the boro!!

I'm gutted. I can't find words at the moment. I just feel totally sick. For now I'll repeat macca09.

THANK YOU GARETH SOUTHGATE FOR TAKING THIS CLUB TO YOUR HEART AND GIVING US THE PASSION AND COMMITMENT YOU HAVE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER

Weren't Coventry under Strachan the team that profited from our 3 point penalty?

**AV writes: They were indeed.

I wasnt certain about Curbs. Thinking back to his teams at Charlton they were all workmanlike and tended to play 4-5-1. Certainly not thrill a minute.

Strachan will at least be entertaining in interviews.

AV, OK you were doing journalist type things (squabbling over those choccie biscuits)

Maybe we could have a where next Talking Boro.

AV - Your job maybe that bit harder if Strachan is confirmed judging by these interviews!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfEV0iO0iCw

And a wee bit of copy and paste - what celtic supporters thought of Strachan......

"When Strachan came to Celtic I was delighted, but within weeks a blind man could see that he didn't know what he was doing. His style of play is so bad and boring that you can have a better night with 5 gallons of VALIUM.

"This style of football has helped turn the atmosphere inside Celtic Park like a morgue, it is so bad that I have not bothered going to half the homes games this season. When I see him giving interviews I cringe. He once said that only the views of those in the game matters to him. Well Mr Strachan, between the cost of three season books, the cost of travelling to away Champions league games, preseason friendlies, testimonials etc my three sons and I must spend about £5,000 to £10,000 per year on Celtic and if our opinions don't matter then the sooner you leave Celtic the better.

"How many times has he said he knows what the problems are and he is going to fix them but still the boring problems go on and on. Last but not least, religion and playing for Aberdeen has nothing to do with it. I'm a protestant who has supported Celtic for 58 years and lots of my protestant family are also season ticket holders at Celtic park."

http://www.sportingo.com/football/a7844_why-dont-celtic-fans-love-wee-gordon-strachan

**AV writes: People who have complained about the way Gareth Southgate answers searching questions are about to get a shock.

Oh, and that's the 35,000th comment by the way. Where is Dormo? Now that's out of the way can we get our heads down and concentrate on the game.

Well we all seem to agree that what we need is a manager with experience, there are plenty of good ones available.

Strachan seems nailed on; in fact he's probably down at McCoy's signing the contract.
Personally I would like to thank Gareth Southgate for his determination and commitment as a player and as the manager. He was far too inexperienced for the job but he gave it his best shot. There are very few people in football with his integrity and I hope his managerial career flourishes elsewhere.

So now its time to pull together, get behind the team and go for it, there's a league to be won and we have the team to do it.Boro should do a marketing special on tickets to get a big crowd for the next home game.

Strachanovite - very good!

A busy day for journos and for those posting to this blog. Sadly some of us have to go out to work from time to time.

One thought that occurs is that the crowd for the next home game should improve with the likes of "My name is scoredraw, boredraw, snoredraw...... and I'm a non-attender", and others deciding to return to the fold. It will be good to have you all back. Come on, you know you missed it!

Another is that this flurry of activity has probably caused the 35,000 mark to be buried like Pompeii, only to be discovered by some techie in years to come. I'm really saving myself for the big 50,000.

So there will be no tears. Maybe a gentle sigh at the thought of that shiny new Merc, but no tears. And I never warmed to the idea of those cigars rolled on the thighs of some suntry Cuban lady...... (I'd better stop here. I think I need to put the oven on. Pork or salmon tonight and I haven't decided yet). Might even need to pop over later to the Shark's Arms to dicuss events.

**AV writes: Oh no! He's missed again!

To Gibbo - if it is Gordon Strachan,then I will start following the club again - if only to be able to watch Strachan's press conferences (which rank up there with Mourinho's for sheer entertainment !).

Of course, as an advocate of Curbishley for the job for the past year and a half, I would be similarly enthused with his appointment. Jewell or Coppell would also be good choice, experience mixed with promotion success.

AV: I cannot understand why people constantly mention Souness - he seems to simply be another Southgate - a great player with little or no track record of managerial success. Perhaps you can explain his appeal ??

Sad.

I'm now going to have to ditch the pack of cards I bought at the club shop last Saturday. Thought they were a bargain at the time but now I'm not so sure. Three jokers and only nine royal cards.

Made pontoon dodgy.

I think Gutted!! is a goalpoacher, hanging around the 6 yard box hoping not to be noticed in case the ball happens to come along, and he can poke one over the line. Meanwhile, those of us in the blood and guts midfield, sweating it out in the boiler room (at work) with no thought of personal glory, lose out to the Fancy Dans....

35,004 was a good effort, I thought, particularly as I MIGHT have posted a sneaky quick one-liner instead of first reading the mountain of posts that had arrived in light of events.

But, as I have said, there will be no tears. I will learn the lessons and come back stronger next time, when I will truly be "up for it". Or something.

I am really looking forward to the interviews after the new manager takes control. And if he didn't accept the offer being put before him, I'd lose no sleep if the club turned to Curbs. Interesting times.

And if this is the appropriate time to say it, despite reservations about his appointment as manager, there was never any doubt of Southgate's quality as a player. I always thought of him as a "clean" player, who read the game better than most and gave his all. I will always remember his proudly holding the League Cup aloft at Cardiff, and his pumping fists to each side of the ground on winning at the Riverside - always a good way to get a roar from the crowd.

Good Luck for the future.

Now, let's get on with the job in hand. We have a Championship to win.

Pity someone like Strachan was not appointed 3 years ago, we would certainly still be a premiership team and probebly F.A cup winners last year

The one name that excites me is Kevin Keegan. The Riverside would be buzzing again with his appointment in my opinion. not sure if other fans would agree though bearing in mind his Geordie connections. BRING ON KING KEV!!!!!

Well if it is indeed Strachan, we can look forward to some bizarre quotes:

“I'm just going to crumble like a wreck. I'll go home, become an alcoholic and maybe! jump of a bridge.”

“I've got more important things to think about. I've got a yogurt to finish by today, the expiry date is today.”

AV you've become all smug! Stop it! I wouldn't be happy with Gibbo ringing me up at midnight, no matter what the news! It was bad enough last night for me with all the texts coming through, no wonder I'm grumpy today.

And another thing... do any of you fellow bloggers actually do any work ... looking at the times you have been contributing today! Get back to work!

Actually, Strachan is my choice from a limited pot. Didn't want Coppell - always a quitter, but at least he wouldn't hang around listening to all the abuse Southgate has had to take"!

Some people incredibly moaning already, before any official announcement, you can't please some Boro fans. Can't believe they are questioning Strachans CV. It is ok (not brill, but not bad. Everyone thinks they can manage Celtic but what it does give you is enormous experience managing under a great pressure of expectation) When you consider who is actually available to us, Strachan is very high up the list. We can't afford to poach a manager, that would cost too much cash which we haven't got remember.

Come on Gibbo, get it announced, then let's get back to our promotion campaign.

Strachan out! Isnt the right term Strachanista!

Anyway AV you are in disgrace for last night. There I was giving a running commentary of Radio Derby's view of the match when you disappear for a chummy break with the journos.

They were so on the ball they didn't know about Gates pending departure even though the lady in my cob shop in Derby knew he was going.

Then when I continued posting Radio Derby's comments you disappeared for yet more goodies (dressed up as after match comments from sundry players and club officials). You even let the 35,000 mark pass by without warnings!

You laud Gibbo's loyalty to his managers but show scant regard for one of your most regular (not necessarily interesting - a bit like Frank from Vicar of Dibley) posters.

Disgusted of Derby!

Gordon Strachan's ginger nut army!

**AV writes: If you were signed up to my "Typical Boro Pride" scheme you would have been given priority with important postings.

I have felt sorry all day, grieving mildly about the shabbiness of the whole business, and not quite knowing what to think.

I think I'm sorted out a bit now. This is how it stands with me:

If, at the end of the season, we are in a better position than now (i.e., mathematically, that will be fewer than four points off the top spot), we can call it evens. (Well, keeping it all very cool and rational, not quite evens, because Gareth's done the tough transitional work for the club, so let's give Gareth a five points margin for that process - calculating it as a win we should have had and a draw where we should have won: over the period of transition, that seems reasonable)

OK, so, if the new manager wins the league by more than a point, it will all work out to be about evens and I shall feel that trashing the hopes and efforts of probably the best man in football was not an overall negative for our beloved (and his beloved, when last calculated) club.

Yes, it may all be OK. To be fair, though, we mustn't give the new man any money to spend, of course!

Right, so I find myself asking where do I stand so far as Strachan is concerned? Well, apart from Nigel Pearson and Tony Mowbray, I do not care about any of them. So I look objectively at things to give me a feeling of balance.

It seems unlikely, according to Celtic fans, that the football will be fun to watch; historically, he doesn't seem to give much of a toss about what fans feel; he has no record of success in English football. So, if he comes, I will, of course support the club with all my heart, as ever, but it may be the case that the awful rift between members of the Boro family will not be helped one jot. And that is supposed to be important to SG: and indeed it is very important!

The boards today have been depressingly full of people keeping the old acrimonies going, on both sides, which seems, frankly, to be in bad taste considering what it has all led to. The Boro website being full of plaudits for our fallen hero had a very suspect taste too.

Oh, I don't know. Time heals some things, but this has been a seriously bad day. If I were Gordon Strachan, I would look at how much affection there is on the boards for Gareth and look at the wouldn't touch this job with a bargepole, not unless there was a guaraenteed budget of about £60m if we get back up to the Premiership. Or, of course, unless he just wants a decent salary and a compensation package when it all falls apart.

I hope we're in a position to hire Gareth back again when he proves to be a diamond of far more worth than Cattermole, Boateng and Danny Graham all rolled into one "commercial package", but I somehow doubt that we will be dictating terms in that sort of a way in the foreseeable future!

Boro till I die! And can we please try to get together now that some blood has been spilt? Or do we have to keep arguing about who "won" these arguments? (We will never know, will we?)

In the end it was all a bit sudden and a little bit sad but he must be sat at home now wondering if he'll ever get a better chance to make his mark - but enough of Dormo and the 35K, though it's perhaps appropriate that both winners and losers were gutted (by-the-way I had more squirrel analogies ready to rush out if only we'd been warned - was something distracting you today AV?).

I was listening to 5-Live earlier and Alan Green claimed to have been told at the weekend about Southgate's imminent sacking at the Burnley v Blackburn game by a reliable Championship source.

I also thought it was interesting that Gibson said he'd warned Southgate before the season that he would be dismissed at any point if he thought promotion was in danger.

The lesson to be learnt for all Boro managers is if you bring in an old experieced head to help you when you're struggling then you may as well serve your notice - for Robson & Venables read Southgate & Smith.

Still the biggest surprise of the day has been that Tony Black seems on the verge of leading the campaign to reinstate Southgate!

But, I'll end the day with punt that Boro will soon be running out to the sound of Queen's 'Flash' - "He'll save everyone of us..."

I do feel a sense of sadness given Southgates sacking. He is a good and dignified man who gave is best for our club but who ultimately fell short. I wish him well. I think most people feel he was sacked a year too late and the fact he wasnt of course reflects indecision and bad managment from Mr Gibson and Lamb.

I am decidedly underwhelmed at the prospect of Strachan. In my opinion he has achieved little and is not the manager I think will take the club forward. I can only see continuing mediocraty.

I for one would love to see Keegan come in - passionate, would play attacking football and would get the fans back in. Cant see it happening though. My other choices would include Curbishly or even Ravenelli - he has said he would like to come back. Sadly think I am going to be very dissapointed.

Paul
An exiled Boro Fan

Okay, I've been for a jog through the woods to clear my head. I was so wound up that I knocked 30 seconds off my personal best time! So at least some good's come of this.

For me this is a sad day for Middlesbrough Football Club. Gareth wasn't sacked because of capability or results. He showed he was a capable Premiership manager with two mid table finishes in his first two seasons. A glance at the league table shows that results this season are good. We could go top on Saturday.

Look at the names being bandied around to replace him. Strachan, Curbishley, Coppell? They've all been relegated from the Premiership.

Southgate was sacked because of mob rule. Steve Gibson was forced to part with him because the anti Southgate atmosphere was making it almost impossible for the team to be successful. A decent man was forced out of his job by some of the very same fans that cheered as he lifted the Carling Cup, or joined in with his famous fisted salute. Well done. Hope you're all happy now.

I'm sure Gareth Southgate will go on to prove again that he is a capable manager at another club.

Strachan would be a mistake in my (absolutely worthless) opinion. I don't like him. He thinks he's funny. He's not. He's arrogant. I'm "against him from day one". But I won't be coming on here to reitterate that after every defeat.

Like I said, a sad,sad, day for our club.

......so you had it first from AV in his reply at 9.35pm (last night). Might we have, not a manager, but a Messiah? Hope it turns out better than it did on Tyneside. And it would be insensitive to mention Palestine.

And another thing....If we are now to have a new manager, can we do four other things?

1. Can we start off all supporting whoever it turns out to be? Of course it is always possible GS (ii) might not like what he sees and might not agree the offer that is made. In which case we should really support the second, or third, choice (as appropriate).

2. Can we agree to be nice to Tony Black (at least to start with)?

3. Actually an agreement to avoid insults might be a good idea (except if they sneak in a post to snaffle a Big Number).

4. Can we agree to turn up in large numbers to the next home game in order to show solidarity and increase the chance of another win? (Obviously those in Germany, Baku, W Australia, Finland, USA and similar places in different time zones might be excused because of the short notice, but longer term....).

Actually when I think of it there could be more "other things to do" but if I don't stop now there will be trouble from a significant other, so maybe this is a time to say "Goodnight".

AV

great first impression - let's hope our new management team don't read too far down this blog but instead focus on you (next) welcome article!! Garry Pendrey (correct spelling) take note.

Just a thought though - yet another defender in the coaching ranks - well at least we get a classy midfieder as manager. Oh and do you know both Strachan and Pendrey share a birthday (yes slow day at work here in Oz - *thinks should be on a beach somewhere!!)*

Scoredraw - will you be at the Plymouth game?

TB - If that is the best you can come up with then take another sabbatical. Alternatively we await your illuminating thoughts on what will happen under our new regime, and not your destructive thoughts on what won't change - speak up we can't hear you down here...

Werdermouth - I waited around until 2am for that tap in from 3yds only for my posting to not even appear and Gutted!! to steal in front of me. Anyway every one knows 35 is nothing, life begins at 40 then a 50 is always worth celebrating. I reckon we'll make a decent forward line provided others can keep getting it into the box.

Gutted!! Mickey Burns more like.

Ian Gill - how was work yesterday - I work with 2 mates from Derby and our victory was totally lost in the Southgat announcemnt -

Time to win matches and start enjoying the football again. Enough politics. Come on Gibbo get Strachan announced so we can enjoy this ride back to the Premier League.

Was the sacking done at midnight so The Count could be there?

On a financial note there is an interesting article in the Grauniad about Liverpool. If they fail to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League and even worse, not qualify next year then they will be in serious financial problems servicing their debts.

Whilst on a different level those medium sized clubs who achieved a level of success by getting into Europe but do not stay there struggle with their finances. Boro, Blackburn, Bolton have all had a couple of seasons in europe then had problems. They just a few of the teams, Leeds are probably the biggest victims of too close to the sun syndrome.

Gibsons prudence is understandable but we still didnt get the best out of what we had. Southgate was the front man so carried the can but no one comes out of the affair with much credit.

Let us hope the new man can add something to the mix to get us back up. Often it is just a fresh pair of eyes that can make a difference. We think of Gate as being in position for three and a half years but he was the leader amongst the players before that so maybe he had been too long in the job and couldnt add any thing else to the club.

How close are we to 50,000?

And another thing, I thought I was an Untypical Boro red book holder? Do these Johnny come latelys get Eindhoven type preferencs over oldies like me?

There is a critique of Southgate's time in charge of Boro by Louise Taylor in the Guardian with an interesting conclusion:

"...he was, at times, simply a little too principled for his own good. And, surprisingly, maybe slightly too keen to surround himself with yes men. The irony is that his team of malleable youngsters badly lacked a feisty, articulate, senior pro, unafraid to play the barrack-room lawyer in front of the manager."

I was also wondering about the timing of the sacking (by-the-way I liked Ian's midnight Count theory) given it is now unlikely that we'll have the new man in charge for the Preston game. Was Gibson bounced into it a little earlier than he wished by results on Tuesday going our way, leaving him facing the politically damaging prospect of dismissing Southgate after going top next Saturday?

On the subject of photo's - I was thinking maybe you need two versions for your Blog header - the usual happy smiley picture and another where you look a bit glum. I sometimes find it a bit disconcerting to see you so happy after a bad defeat or even after sacking our manager.

**AV writes: Good point. Maybe I should have a non-descript expression but a moveable thumbs up/thumbs down feature

Brisbane Phil

I won some money so that was one disenchanted Derby fan. The general view was that if we couldnt beat Derby by more than 2-0 he deserved to get the sack.

They do look on us with a bit of envy but can understand the reasoning. They are astonished by the numbers of red seats. There is something about the way our ground is set out that makes it look a lot emptier than Pride Park with the same size crowd.

It is probably their corporate box lay out that takes whole swathes out of the main stand pushing fans to the rest of the ground. Our ground is nearly 2,000 to start with. Throw in the fact the seats are red and show up more and the picture is complete.

On the subject of fans hounding Gareth out. Dont underestimate the quality of product on offer (as it was for most of last season) and the debilitating effect of the remorseless slither into the championship. We had also had poor fare for at the Riverside for years before that, in part it had been masked by the UEFA Cup runs.

Onward and upward.

What is it with Gibson and his picking Manchester United rejects to be managers,, eh! EHH!!!

No more recriminations and good luck to Gareth, we wish you the best of luck and success in the future.

But the line has now been drawn and we need to give the new GS unqualified support, until of course he screws up ! or does that count as a qualification ?

No matter, we need someone who will show some passion, gee the under performers up and give the young kids some guidance and Strachan for his faults, one of which is no can understand him, will show passion and bring some experience to the table and I think we need that badly but more importantly the fans can unite behind the team again.

Is there any truth in the rumour that Strachan turned the offer of the job down initially, then changed his mind, perhaps accounting for the strange timing?

So if we get Strachan perhaps he can bring the Egyptians back into the fold? Can we recall Mido AV? Do you know any of the details of his loan deal? How many years are left on his contract? He would get goals in this league. Mendieta on a pay as you play... Perhaps that is a bit too far.

UTB

**AV writes: I don't think we can recall Mido. But Josh Walker may get a game.

Re- comments about players not being able to understand Gordon Stachan.

I wonder if the Count will consider re-hiring the club's interpreter after their dismissal by him a short time ago? Possibly they though him an "expensive luxury" (despite Digard, Emnes and others not being able to speak English well if at all.)

Well if the players couldn't understand Gareth, what chance will they have at comprehending one of Flash Gordons highland rants?

It's amazing to see the 'anti' Strachan brigade starting to form, its beyond belief in fact. He strikes me as being a better appointment than most names touted about and as Boro manager he will have my full support.

As others have said his interviews should be good value, but I think AV and colleagues will need their tin hats and flak jackets at the ready!

We have a squad good enough to finish in the top two, hopefully a new man in charge will have a galvanising influence and remove the negative atmosphere from the home fans which has clearly debilitated the Boro players.

Forever Dormo - No I cant be nice to TB - but I can ignore him.

AV

Have you heard the rumours of new investment coming into the club and they were insisting Southgate was replaced and Strachan was their prefered choice?

I'm happy that Southgate has gone as I don't believe he should have been given the job in the first place,regardless of the cost cutting plans etc when McClaren left we could have still got a manager with some experience that would have worked under such constraints.

Strachan is the type of manager that the club needs and I even if we lose a game his post match comments to the press will be a joy to watch.

Whilst I don’t like the thought of Gibbo going behind Southgate’s back, I am fully behind him in his pursuit of Strachan.

With it emerging that the defeat against Leicester may well have been the tipping point, I wonder when contact with Strachan was made. Reading the Noel Whelan’s interview, Strachan was at the Coventry game and I wonder if Gibbo was there and the initial contact was made.

Good to see Coops given the reigns for the game at Deepdale. I’ll be there hopefully to see Boro’s most successful ever manager. Played one, won one. 100%

As said earlier by others I think its time we reunite and get right behind Strachan. Of course there will be some who wished for another manager but lets give him a fair crack of the whip. Whilst complaints, gripes and infighting may make a good web based forum. It has lead to a terrible atmosphere at home games.

My fave Strachan quotes

‘Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problem.’ I prefer Bob Marley’s take on this one.

‘China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese. ‘ Can’t argue with that

‘I have a dream that one day even the town of Middlesbrough, a town sweltering with the heat of football, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice and Champions league football. ‘

Wee Gordon Strachan, man of the people.

Come on Boro

Great news if it is to be Strachan. think it is pretty nailed on by all opinions. We needed an experienced head this time around and we will certainly get that with Strachan. He has had a good break after leaving celtic so should be recharged and ready to go.

AV, any idea how many days he will be at the training ground etc.... is he like an O'Neill a few days a week and then turns up for games etc....?

I for one will be going back to our home games, i went to the leicester game and vowed never to return under Southgate it was appalling.

Strachan is a good manager and has what it takes to get us back up, I wonder though if he will be given funds in january as it was reported on sky news yesterday by some pathetic LMA adviser we had £25m to spend in the summer.?

If it is Strachan he must be rubbing his hands, what he will walk into is a team 1 point off the top with one of the youngest squads in the country, cash to spend and a club and fan base united behind him.

Im not getting too excited but i like the prospect of strachan and all that he brings.

COME ON BORO!!!!!!!

**AV writes: If we go up our revenue wikll increase by about £25m. How much of that would be available to spend is another thing entirely.

Well done Steve Gibson.

Gareth Southgate - a perfect gentleman but could not manage experienced players. Look around the Premiership for players who should still be at the club - Woodgate, Cattermole, Yakubu, Schwarzer, Downing and others.

Stewart Flaherty:
LOL :D. Priceless. If that sort of entertainment comes to the Riverside, I might even renew my season ticket! Thanks for compiling that! Just what we needed after a traumatic couple of days!

I think it's fair to say that the timing of Southgate's sacking came as a surprise to everyone and has probably been more of a debating point than the sacking itself.

Having had a day or so to reflect on it and accepting that it has happened, I think Steve Gibson's timing is right and understandable, for the following reasons:

With more than 25% of the season already gone and with Boro performances now benchmarked in Championship terms, Gibson knows that if he's serious about taking Boro back into the Premier League next season, he needs to do something really positive to drive performances up.

Leaving it later increases the risk - witness the slide last season and our inability to strengthen the midfield in the January window. Gibson learned from that and has decided to take earlier action, so that.....

if the new manager identifies weaknesses in the squad and wants to buy to strengthen, he'll have time to get his ducks in a row for January. Any later and we'd be in a similar position to last season, being thwarted in attempts to do so and running out of time.

He needs to send a positive message by way of hard evidence to try to stop the rot of dwindling crowds as soon as possible.

On this occasion, I'm inclined to believe Gibson, because IF your going to do something, then DO IT before it's too late.

However, I'm still of the belief that the squad is too weak and some fire and experience will have to be brought in, with up front and midfield being prime candidate positions. (Defensively, with Pogatetz coming back and if Chris Riggott makes an appearance anytime in the next month or so, we should have sufficient cover at the back.)

The aim has to be to bring in some quality in those key positions that will transend the Championship challenge and be settled in the squad in preparation for next season in the Premier League.

To do THAT however, will mean Gibson getting his plastic out in January. Anything short of that, and I shall remain sceptical. Hopeful, but sceptical.

I suspect that Mr Gibson will have kept a little spare money in his back pocket, not having wanted to give it all to Gareth to spend as he must have had it in the back of his mind that he would possibly end up handing over the old P45. I am not saying LOTS of money, but maybe a few millions to try to get a midfielder and/or a striker to make promotion more likely.

It is possible the new manager just might not fancy some of the players on our books (and therefore might want to sell, to raise a bit of cash). Also the spectre of a red and white striped Adam Johnson in January might give rise to SOME money coming in (though we'd obviously be better off keeping him as in this division he has proved he is the most likely both to score and to make goals - and goals make prizes AV).

If some money has been kept back, and if it is added to in January, it might be the case that our new manager will have a modest amount of money to spend then. It is difficult to imagine his coming here on the basis of a plan that said "One or two might go out, but you can't buy anyone for the rest of this season, though if you can organise a loanee whose wages aren't too high that might be OK".

Anyway it's late so get to sleep, you lot. (Or at least help me work out why my body is working on Los Angeles time. Maybe it's all that hard work hewing away at the parmo mine?).

The timing was nearly right, Sunday/Monday would not have raised an eyebrow. There was nothing wrong with the staging in terms of the historic results. We had already debated about the top/bottom results and that was the logic taken and it is difficult to argue against.

From a club perspective they probably didn't want to rock the boat before a home match. A draw or defeat against Derby wouldn't have harmed their case, a win didn't help it. The crowd was a big plus for the argument, in my view it is the shocking performances that have driven fans away. Take away the big followings of Sheff U and the Baggies and the crowds are below 20,000

A win at Preston would have made it extremely hard for them.

Rock and a hard place spring to mind, easier in the premiership with big gaps in the programme. The damage to Gibbo is already done, it will be stored away and used in evidence in typical Teesside fashion.


You also need to factor in the hours of darkness for the Count, wonder where his coffin is kept? I wonder if the lid creaked as Gate sat down?

What I do wonder is that, if David Craig was telling the truth and knew on the Monday, the NOTW were running the story, did the Gazette have a sense of what was going on? It is entirely possible that the answer could be no, maybe or yes.

It is entirely logical that journalists well out of the area may have picked up some clues not even by leaks. Maybe spotted Strachan deep in converstation with somebody, or overheard a conversation. Things that only the network of national journalists would pick up.

Our local journalists might sensed something but have no substance so kept schtum rather than cause mischief. This medium is for debating and we have discussed the situation for some time. The vast majority had no malice whatsoever. You didnt need to be a rocket scientist to guess that there must be some internal debate.

The third possibility is that someone within Gazette Towers knew the score. I doubt we will ever find out if that was the case. I suspect not, the alternative above seems more likely with some sense of disquiet that was non attributable.

AV

Setting apart the conspiracy theories, do the journalists outside of Planet Boro sometimes pick up information that you don't. I am not being insulting here. We have all experienced the new eyes syndrome where someone form 'outside' sees things differntly. In fact, as Gate had been here 8+ years he was possibly too immersed in the club, he was very much the manager amongst the players whilst still one of them. People like Wenger and Ferguson are freaks with their longevity.

**AV writes: You may want to reread my blog from Tuesday setting out the stakes of the Derby game (or indeed the first paragraphs of the live blog) to consider whether the Gazette knew change was on the agenda.

I doubt if journos outside get to hear stories that we don't. We all hear the rumours. The press room is a real tittle-tattle fish wives bitch fest - although I do think they are more likely to go to print with half-formed rumours that we wouldn't (we would always go to the club, either the manager or higher up first and we have to think about the political and diplomatic implications if the story is wrong.)

The Strachan story was clearly 'out' in some senses. It is possible people who know him in the game, or those close to his agents, or people close to those in the know at the club had leaked it. We were first told about it weeks ago, maybe after Bristol, certainly well back. We were also told Curbishley was nailed on when his money from West Ham ran out on November 1st. But so often these "nailed on" are simply wrong. A lot of it is just wishful thinking.

But there was definietly a rabbit off on Tuesday. The press room was heaving for the first time this season because all the national lads were there and that only happenes because they think there is a story. They had all left by 11pm when it started to become clear something funny was happening.

Sean St Ledger has commented on the departure of Southgate and has said he's now a bit worried about his position and that GS was the main reason he came to Boro since he was hoping to learn from a former England centre-half.

He said "It was a major shock to all the lads. We are one point off the top and Gareth was very well liked"

Whilst all that is understandable, what I find quite revealing is that he calls Southgate 'Gareth' - perhaps the relationship between player and manager shouldn't be so 'matey' if you want to keep them on their toes - can't imagine Rooney saying 'we all get on great with Alex'.

Richard

I do not believe that any manager will take the Boro job without been guaranteed money to spend in January. The new boss will want to bring in some new faces of his own.

If the Boro can still be challenging for promotion come the end of December I think we will have a stonger team by the end of January.

C'Mon Boro!

Strachan is pap and Boro are nailed on certainties to be wallowing around in mid table of the championship for many more years to come.

Put bluntly, Southgate should NEVER have been made manager in the first place. That much is clear. His otherwise impeccable record with Boro has been blemished by this ill-advised jaunt into taking on a job he clearly wasn't up to. This is all Gibbo's fault and it's obviously backfired - except it took too damn long for the blatantly obvious to show itself in his eyes.

As for Strachan being the replacement. I say bring it on! Either he or Curbishley would have been my ideal choices. So maybe there is hope on the horizon after all. After so many sterile performances and results of late (notice how the impressive clean sheet run we had suddenly dried up the moment Huthy left for Stoke anyone??), it's time for things to look up again.

I for one am now quietly and cautiously optimistic that the wee Scot can demonstrate why he has been such a fiery, enigmatic and passionate little bugger all these years!

I said before the game on here that despite Gibson's blind loyalty that falling attendances would force his hand and it did.

I'm excited about a new manager and a character at that. I think the club has been crying out for an 'experienced' manager for some time now. To a degree I think the potential that lies within this club has been squandered so far.

Strachan's CV doesn't excite me, but if he puts square pegs in square holes and if his leadership style is took on-board by all the players, it could work wonders. We are 4th and that was with a flagging manager, questionable tactics and an uneasy crowd, now we have someone that will naturally polarise the club which will help us to gain momentum.

Newcastle however, are on a blip and are about to appoint the caretaker manager, WBA have an inexperienced manager and are in a blip and NO WAY are they 5-0 better than us.

Strachan will inherit easily the best youth policy/set-up outside the top 4 of the PL and one of the best in the world. There are some quality young players here and maybe as a famous Scotsman once said you won't win anything with kids and a Scotsman went on to win many things with kids, perhaps our Scotsman will do something similar. I for one am looking forward to his press conferences.

Come on Boro and welcome Gordon.

My name is Scoredraw and I'm stunned:

As someone who is a 'footballing bigamist' I have a place in my heart for both the Boro and the Bhoys.

I always felt Gordon was a better manager than Martin O'Neil and 'the tic' seemed to play better football under him - he bought well and with a bit of luck can tempt Scott Brown to join him next year.

On a personal level Gordon is exactly the type of character we need to 'stick up' for the Boro. His personal pride is such that he will not allow his club and team to be treated with contempt.

At least my blue eyed boy 'Tony MacMahon' will get a fair crack of the whip because Gordon is not a moron.

If anyone has read his articles in the Observer they'll realise that behind the quips and 'one liners' there's a thinker who knows his football.

Assuming it all goes through - Good luck Gordon and welcome to Teesside - It can be a little wild and 'unruly' (Englands 'little Afghanistan') but as many foreigners will testify Venables, Mendiata, Juninho, Mustoe, Ravanelli the people are warm, long-suffering and generally soft hearted.

What is the 48 hour delay about?

We are not going to get a 94th minute Typical Boro moment are we?

Good news about the following to Preston of 3,000+. I wonder how close the Plymouth home crowd would have been to that had Derby beat us and Gareth stayed?

AV, do you know how many of the 3,000 tickets were sold after the sacking? This could signal a large home crowd on the way for the Plymouth game as the refuseniks return!

If anyone wants to read and you don't mind a plug preview of tomorrows game is here;

http://www.comeonboro.com/columns/314016.php

BBB, I think they don't want to disturb the players too much. Tomorrow's match could just go around the new GS and his opinions if he'd been unveiled in a hurry. Instead it should all be about Coops and his players. I even read somewhere that only his assistant Garry Pendrey is attending the match. So low profile until Monday.

So let's concentrate on the match on Saturday and look forward to Monday, later. Up the Boro!

So are all the faint-hearts and part-timers who bailed out on Boro supposedly because of Southgate all going to be back for the Plymouth game then? Are the so called diehards going to come back and show the pride and passion they said that Southgate had personally killed?

Or will these sanctimonious 'principled' political exiles now all find a new excuse to stay away now? My money is on the latter.

Now they will all move the goalposts and say 'Strachan isn't the right man' or 'he has onlt had success in a minor league' or 'if they had ambition they'd have gone for Curbs/Sven/Mourinho' or 'I'll wait to see who he buys in January' or 'I'll only go back if they get promoted'

The bottom line is that all these weak people who walked away were just using Southgate or Gibson's lack of cash as an excuse when really they were just plastic Premiership post-Juninho bandwagonners who couldn't face up to a few years without buying success. God knows how they would have coped in the early 80s.

If these so called supporters were all telling the truth about their reasons for staying away then I expect a sell out for Plymouth. My guess is most will still be in the pub bad-mouthing Strachan and Gibson and predicting doom.

How about this for a stab at the reason behind the 48 hour delay:

We’re in Steve Gibson’s office. Steve Gibson and Keith Lamb are present.

SG’s Secretary: “Mr Gibson, I have Colin Cooper on the line as you requested”

SG: “Thanks.” Picks phone up:- “Colin, Steve Gibson here. How’re things – OK? That’s good!”

“Listen Colin, with Gareth’s departure at short notice, there’s a little something I’d like you to do for me, if you think you can handle it?

CC: “Sure thing Mr Chairman. No problem - you know you can rely on me.”

SG: “Yes I know Colin, you’ve been with us a long time now and you know how we work. Colin, how would you like to step up to be caretaker manager for the Preston match? You know, with Gareth going off to spend more time with his family, it would only be fair to support the lads as best we can, in the circumstances, over at Deepdale. It isn’t fair for them not to have a recognised designated authoritative presence on their travels.

They need someone they can look up to and respect. Someone to offer guidance and support and to help them bring back those three points! I can think of nobody better for the job, Colin. How about it? Are you up for it. You and Aggers to bring back the bacon! Eh? Colin?”

CC: “Of course, Steve,……..erm,….Mr Chairman. I’m flattered that you have faith in me to look after the lads.”

SG: “Good man, Colin! I knew I could depend on you to step up to the plate! I’m counting on you to prove me right and bring us back those three points!”

CC: “We’ll do our best, Mr Chairman! Thanks for the opportunity!”

Click

KL: “Has he gone?”

CC: “Yep – he’s hung up. Right Keith, phone Gordon & tell him we’re OK for the weekend, but just make sure that he gets his lads, Garry Pendrey and Neil Lennon here for Monday’s Press Conference, because by Saturday midnight, Coops and Aggers are history!”

KL: “But what if we win?”

SG: “What difference does that make?

KL: "What do we tell Coops and Aggers?"

SG: "We'll tell them they're sacked of course! What else would you tell them? Listen Keith, The little Jock Ginger Nut's refusing to come unless he gets his own people around him, right? Well that Vickers guy on the gazette blew the gaff even before the phone went down last week and now the whole of Teesside, (except fo Stockton of course) is expecting me to deliver him as the Boro Messiah. So, I need his signature on that contract! And he won't sign unless he gets his own guys in!"

KL: "I know all that. It's just that Coops and Aggers, well, they deserve to be treated the Boro way!"

SG: Exactly, Keith! What a short memory you're developing!"

TeesExile:

That's a very narrow view of the world you have there! Are you drunk?

I imagine that these "weak people" to whom you refer have a quite different and perfectly valid set of values to yours.

Dare I even suggest that these "sanctimonious principled political exiles" may actually be a bit more discriminating in what they pay for - as is their absolute right?

Dare I suggest the possibility that many of these "plastic Premiership post-Juninho bandwagonners" may have stretched themselves financially, but thought it was worth it to bring their kids to Premier League football, but in view of the Championship dross and the recession, there might just be other things they could find to do with their money, like eat and put heat into their houses?

Or maybe TeesExile, irrespective of where YOU are domiciled, their world is perhaps a bit bigger than yours and they have a life outside of football?

Finally TeesExile, I think you might find yourself at variance with Steve Gibson, who is clearly quite keen to welcome back the weak-willed, lily-livered, rainy-day stayaways that at least equal and probably exceed by a significant margin, those who attend irrespective of what crap gets served up.

And before you cast me, or anyone else, in the same mold, just because I defend people's rights to make their own choices according to personal circumstances or proclivities, doesn't necessarily put me in either camp. Although I haven't renewed MY season ticket, I've only missed one match this season, because of family commitments. But I suppose that may not be allowed either in your world!

And that's despite my criticisms of the manner in which I believe Steve Gibson has managed the club and treated the supporters over the past three or four years.

Nobody can tell you who or what to like or dislike, but a little tolerance and open-mindedness wouldn't go amiss. Particularly when the people you denegrate would prefer to support (a better) Boro rather than abscond to be glory-hunting, remote supporters of Manchester United or Liverpool!

" sick as a parott said:

Tony Black, If you got your wish and Gibson leaves, who do you expect to buy the club? "

I'm not saying it would be easy, and any prospective buyer does bring an element of risk. Newcastle are a prime example.

The problem we have now is that Steve Gibson has taken the club as far as he can, in my opinion, and I think it's fair to say that most people would say that post Eindhoven that he has not done a good job. Add to that that we have sold most of our player assets and that we have a thin squad and it is very hard to imagine how we will ever be able to sustain life in the Premiership, never mind attempt to nick a trophy or a European spot.

I would like the club to be bought by anyone with lots of money, part shady or not as in the modern game it's the only way to survive. That isn't to say that someone would buy.

For me, football is about at least attempting to win, as opposed to simply attempting to exist which is what I feel Gibsons objective has been for some time.

Yes, of course for the type and size of club we are it was a great achievement to be in the Premiership and to stay in it, but then when we didn't kick on and just accepted the status quo under the guise of, " we're just a small town in Europe ", and I personally feel that it was this lack of ambition that cost us in the end and it is why we are where we are now.

I have never agreed with the so called, " model " that AV is such a big fan of. For me the model must always be to try to do better.

Steve Gibson has made many mistakes.

He hired Southgate.

He gave him a ludicrous and unheard of 5 year deal for a rookie manager.

He opted for, " continuity " in the backroom staff.

He stuck by Southgate through thick and thin and didn't even attempt to bring in some outside help when he could have done to save us from the drop.

He kept him in the job at the start of this season and he continuously backed him all the way.

He then sacks him when he was doing well when he should have sacked him as he wacthed him blowing his hard earned and remaining money on some truly horrendous players.

He then has the gall to claim that he will still one day be the next England manager.

This is not forgetting all the insults along the way that the fans have had to listen and endure to by his right hand man who should have been given the bullet for being so insulting.

How anyone can defend Steve Gibson post Eindhoven really is beyond me.

TB

Chris Marton (under Milkwood):

Apologies for all the disparaging remarks and jokes about Teesside. I'd forgotten about the arcadian delights of Marton, Captain Cook, quiz night at the Bluebell ?

You'll have to forgive me, we don't all live minutes from the rolling North Yorkshire countryside and only a matter of miles from somewhere nicer.


I forgot myself for a moment it won't happen again (unless I'm bored).

Don't worry I don't think Gordon will move in next door.

If the Second Coming happened in Teesside you could just see it: "He's done nowt for 2000 years".... "and last time it ended in a right mess"... "he only got the last job because of his dad,".... "and he couldn't man manage mavericks like Judas".... "Booo! Jesus out!"
October 21, 2009 9:35 PM

Yeah - and if I'd been around then I would have saved a lot of people a lot of time not to mention the avoidance of wars and persecution.

Best to deal with the elephant in the room and clear the decks rather than pretend the bloke loves the Boro and didn't say those things.

I will come round cos I have to. I have never bood and I am a glass half full fan. I just don't like people slagging off Middlesbrough and wouldn't personally appoint someone who had.

That said, I wish him every success.

jp

How can anyone be surprised at a 48 hour delay.

When hasn't there been in almost any Boro signing of recent years.

Magnificent Parmo army! Let's hope for a decent game and a result to live up to the travelling support.

Come on the Managerless Red & White Army!

I agree with Richard at 12.18am. We need all the support we can get. I have a friend who is one of the arch-loyalists. (Though I have to say, at the very end, even he said that Gareth had to go).

My friend used to disagree with anyone voicing a critical opinion about the players or the tactics etc. “The club doesn’t need support like that...” he would say. He argued the club would be better off followed by a smaller number of 100% committed fans, all hoarse from shouting uncritical support, and all showing the blind faith we have heard about.

He was wrong. The club needs money to pay for the players to keep it in the style to which we would like again to become accustomed. I realise that TV money outweighs other finances available but when fans come to the ground they don’t only pay the £35 or whatever for their ticket.

They might buy a couple of pints and a Newboulds pie before the game, they might buy a programme. They might buy a shirt or a scarf or some other items from the club shop before going home. Their money is as good as mine to the club.

Unfortunately there aren’t enough of the “old school dyed in the wool supporters” to keep the club afloat. Mr Gibson knows that if the ground is full, or nearly full, it is better for the club than if the ground is half-empty.

Whether the returning supporters are “political exiles” or “Plastic post Juninho bandwaggoners” their plastic (if that is how they pay for their tickets) puts the same money into the club’s coffers as mine does.

So I would welcome back everyone who has been missing, for whatever reason, in recent months. The ground will be much better, the atmosphere improved, if the seats are filled.

Anyone doubting this should look at Darlington. A wonderful white elephant of a ground with something like 2,000 fans in it – they may be the most committed and the rump of the earlier supporters, but they are still 2,000 peas rattling in a drum. And it is more than sad (unless you come from Hartlepool).

So let’s hope for a much fuller Riverside at the next home game. And that managerial pen is finally put to paper.

Forever Dormo at 12:20 PM:

That's why I couldn't for the life of me understand why Gibson took such a risk of alienating supporters outside the 5 mile radius. Absolutely mental - especially when you have a stadium that's not full. You should be encouraging anyone and everyone to attend and fill the vacant seats!

OK, Preston game over.

Late goal conceded not once, not twice, but three times on our travels. I haven't even mentioned Leicester's Riverside goal yet.

Seriously. Enough is enough is enough.

(almost tears hair out)

More later.

That last minute goal (again!) was farcical. Everyone marking shadows. There is only one Ball on the pitch, is it so difficult to just watch the damn thing instead of chasing opponents running around our box. Just watch for the ball, track its path, get on the end of it and clear it.

Whatever money we got for Huth and salary saved I hope its not going to prove a false economy. If GS II can't sort the backline out quickly then the spotlight will be focused higher up the West Stand!

Pedro de Espana:

"I still think that Mr Strachan, if he comes, will have his work cut out, without any additions to the squad."

Relatively few of us have been saying that for a long time now. But all we've been hearing in reply is how good a squad of players Boro have and it should be able to take on this division blind-folded. All it will take is a change of manager!!

Oh, yes? Is that right? We'll see! And do you know what? I don't believe Gibson will chance it this time! He'll be begging Strachan to spend some money to ensure the £25M comes in. I'm pretty convinced he wants his personal debt money back that he's shelled out over the years and he's not going to get it unless Boro gets promoted.

What the PNE result does demonstrate is that Gibson is right to be concerned. However, if he'd financed the club a bit more strongly to retain a few "old heads", we wouldn't be seeing the repeating failures to close matches out in which we're leading. Last season, I was sick to death of illustrating statistically how these lapses were costing us points. Had it not been for those, we'd still be in the Premier League. And here we are, still doing the same damned thing in the Championship.

That equalising goal of PNE's was shocking! David Wheater should be renamed Rip Van Winkle. He wasn't just sleeping - he must have been comatose, the amount of space that guy had to nod an unchallenged header in. Hell's teeth, my pet dog could have scored that!

And we can hardly claim it was a poor refereeing decision to award a free kick in the first place, as it was a similar situation that led to Gary O'Neil's goal in the first half.

Half way through the second half as some of us were having a "Total Immersion Experience", listening to Brownlee on BBC Radio Tees, with Sky Sports Score Centre in one window, Vic's webcast in another and some of us with Sky Sports and big McAnally reporting on TV live from Deepdale, Boro were top of the Championship, one point clear. It felt good - and then it didn't - and then it did, again. But then it didnt!! And at the end of it all, fun though it was, I felt like I'd been mugged!

You're not wrong Pedro!! The one with the ginger mullet has his work cut out!

In the after-match phone in on BBC Radio Tees, Brownlee was silenced (yes - it's true - albeit for about 1.46 seconds!!) by an astute questioner, who asked, "If after another 12 matches, Boro don't look like they're nailed-on favourites for an automatic promotion place, will Gibson be looking for another manager?"

Have you ever "heard a silence" on Brownlee's programmes? Well folks, you did on Saturday, as Gibson's mouthpiece, as he seems to have become, contemplated the possibility that Gibson himself may not actually have a "Plan B" should the Ginger Messiah fail to weave his magic with the cheaply-assembled squad that Gareth built!

Richard at 1.17am - appointing GS(ii) is, in fact, Plan B.

No doubt AV will be aware that Aggers was today planned to meet GS(ii) at 4pm for discussions.

here is my submission for number 200 - that should just about do it

Boo! Boring young Fuddy-Duddy!

**AV writes: Button it grandpa! Or I'll take your Werthers away.

And cigars are bad for your lungs!

Did someone call me

**AV writes: LOL

No regrets!

Smoking is bad for you and really, even if you live in Bremen, you must realise that Mercs are not the greenest of cars.

I am out working hard whilst some of you multi-post....If I was Fergie I would be complaining about the referee. And I've seen him. Fit? For what?

And now for 250.....

I don't know, fancy stooping to using alter-egos to sneak in the 200th post!

Though I think Richard probably fell victim to the illegal use of beach balls down-under - Anyway, I better get going as that second garage won't build itself.