GS2: It's Game On.
GORDON Strachan was finally unveiled as Boro boss at a Riverside press conference today and revealed a simple - and we hope effective - manifesto:
"I'm looking to make the players better technical, tactically and mentally," he said. "My aim is developing the players to make them better, fitter and more able to pass the ball."
As the margins between success and failure this term (and last too) have so often been frustratingly thin it should only take the ability to squeeze an extra few per cent in performance individually and collectively to turn Boro into an effective unit.
Strachan looked assured and confident as he was first quizzed by Sky Sports David Craig and ticked all the right boxes: he was here because he wanted to be, he relished the challenge, he thought the club was stable and ambitious, had a good structure; he had nothing to prove as he had taken a team from second bottom to eighth and the FA Cup final before; he had rejected other offers because they weren't right; he didn't have to be here, or need to be here but "wanted to be here"; and he would have the time - and he hinted the resources - to develop the Middlesbrough team the way he wanted to and he was determined to succeed in that project.
It was hard to pick fault with that broad set of aims, with his quiet determination or with his proposed methodology. He wants to get on the training ground and work with the players. Four times he stressed he wants to 'develop' the players, especially the younger players, and make them better, which will reassure any with doubts that they will get a chance to flourish and learn under the new boss.
He stressed that he would work on some key areas where there are clear flaws that readers on here are well versed in pointing out: fitness, work rate and mentality.
And he indicated there would be no radical reshuffle. He has met the staff and is ready to work with everyone at the club, he wants to see continuity and stability.
But he is aware of areas where the team need improving. He several times referred to the need to be fitter and stronger mentally and there was an oblique reference to the need to strengthen the attack 'one way or another,' a subject he has already brought up with scouting kingpin Gordon McQueen, possibly a discussion that led him to write out his now infamous 'PR blunder' shopping list.
He was less keen to answer the questions from Tyne Tees' Dawn Thewlis about transfer targets for January, plan for Plymouth and the problem of performances at home. "If you say its psychological then I'm ready to believe you," he said, although you felt it was close to adding a dismissive "hen" on the end of that sentence. Whether he was distracted by any inate swirl of sexism there is hard to tell.
He was certainly a bit peeved at the distraction of the chatter of hacks at the back of the room and was at one point driven to scold them like naughty school boys. I'm hoping there is a lot more of that. It is always funny to see your peers in trouble. And it is nice to have the first inevitable televised put down out of the way too.
There was a sprinkling of the quiptastic one liners we expected, and yes, they are mildly amusing - when they are used to divert other people's questions. Given that the previous two incumbents have been criticised for not being straight with the fans that could soon wear thin.
Journalists questions at times may be bland, inane and sometimes blindingly obvious but that doesn't make the interrogator stupid: they are asked in that time honoured way as an open mechanism by which the manager is invited in a non-confrontational way to make their observations or any point they want. They are asked to produce information for the public and when a manager refuses to speak, or is surly, sarcastic or dismissive it may be mildy amusing to see a hack who is just doing his job squirm a bit but ultimately it is you the reader who is being given the second hand snub.
What do readers think of the performance? First impressions?
Some other questions:
Who will flourish under Gordon Strachan and who will crumble? As a fan of workrate and honest endeavour he will surely love Gary O'Neil, Rhys Williams, Leroy Lita and possibly Tony McMahon and Mark Yeates too. But those who disappear in games and don't get stuck in may find themselves out in the cold... Jeremie Aliadiere will have his work cut out in proving to GS2 - "the Wii Fella" - that he is a fundamentally better player than the on-loan Arsenal man he left on the bench at Celtic.
Can Strachan deal quickly and effectively with the key problem areas? Namely the nervous late slow motion retreat, the panic that sets in when the fourth official starts to fiddle with his board, dead balls into the box and the profligate failure to convert chances into a commanding lead when Boro have teams on the rack.
Who will he bring in and get rid of between now and January 31st?
And - the only one that really matters - are we now more or less likely to go up?
***
Some interesting background to the launch of GS2, which promises to bring more exciting and realistic gameplay to Boro than ever before...
Gibson risked knacking GS2 - and spoiling any chance of him coming here - with a series of heavy "let him know your here early" tackles when they crossed studs in the chairman's annual Far East five-a-side frenzy.
And GS2 wasn't always so keen on clubs like Boro. When viewed from the summit of Mount Celtic a provincial Premiership struggler let alone a cash strapped Championship side didn't have such appeal 18 months ago.
Older/Newer
« Red Zone Repeat At Preston | GS2 Gossip, Marcus Bent And Number-Crunching The Southgate Reign »
102 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Anthony Vickers
Keep up to date
Follow Untypical Boro on
Good morning everybody. This could be exciting....
And GS2 is a great way of shortening the name that will inevitably appear with great frequency on these pages. Economic summits with the G8 (or have we gone up to 12 yet?) eclipsed by Boro's own ginger Brand Leader.
So is Gibson's new game called a GS2? or has he gone for a 'Wii fella'?
**AV writes: Gin-tendo?
Great thread title!
Looking forward to some interesting times - hopefully with GS2 sending both us up and the media.
Thanks AV feel better now.
Now for the new era.Good luck GS2 and your team.
Should make for interesting press conferences A.V.
I believe he is an apprentice Fergie when it comes to the media.
Beware of low flying hair driers !
Likeable, short, with a voice only Tatooine residents can understand.
R2 GS2
Referring to Strachan on his appointment Lamb said: "Not only was he a very talented player, but he has proved himself to be a very talented manager, and that’s why we were keen to bring him here."
In contrast to Southgate I presume? - do you think that was a counter-blow in response to Gareth's virtual swing at him in the Mail?
Excellent stuff - glad to see it sorted and the press conference announced.
AV - make sure you stay away from any "daft" or "silly" questions and you'll be alright.
I'm back on Teesside for a one-weekend-only spectacular next weekend, this has given me the extra enthusiasm needed to get myself down the Riverside and watch
GS2: Return of the Ginge (or should that be "The Ginger Strikes Back?")
Seriously. Gibson had no choice. Beaten at home 5-0. Southgate had to go. All the "lessons learnt" after match interviews just got too much.
As for Lamb maybe he should go. But please leave off Gibson. If anything Gibson's respect within the football circles will grow. His timing will prove to be a huge success and if the media thinks differently - who cares. He was prepared to sack a manager when many thought he didn't have the guts or didn't care.
Southgate all the best for the future. Now lets get behind Gordon and the team.
Am I the only one left feeling a little underwhelmed by this appointement? His record in England is far from outstanding.
Hope I am proved wrong, but this seems a very mediocre appointment to me!
AV, you shoud have had a live review from the press conference á la match day! So we would have got all the news and hilarious momnets live!
I respected the original GS very hihgly as a person. So all the best to Gareth. But we need to move on - so welcome to GS2!
Up the Boro!
**AV writes: If I wasn't very, very busy digging up some background on his previous record in Engalnd that wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
GS2 record in England far from outstanding?
He took over Southampton in 01/02 with them stranded at the bottom (under rookie Stuart Gray). They were already written off, but finished 11th. The following year they finished 8th, and reached the FA Cup Final. And the year after, finished 12th though GS2 left in March.
At Celtic, he won three SPL titles in his first three years, and twice got Celtic through to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Who else better was available?
** Werdermouth writes: So is Gibson's new game called a GS2? or has he gone for a 'Wii fella'?
**AV writes: Gin-tendo?
LOL! You guys are hilarious! Once a train set, SG now has his very own Playstation!
**AV writes: "If I wasn't very, very busy digging up some background on his previous record in England that wouldn't be a bad idea at all."
Are you discounting his record in Scotland then AV?
**AV writes: Not entirely, but it is mainly measuring his Coventry and Southampton records against Boro at the time, where we crossed paths, head to head results etc. You can't really do that across borders, especially in an historically distorted two team league.
**AV writes:You can't really do that across borders, especially in an historically distorted two team league.
Or because Scotch teams don't play English ones unless its in a European cup?!
Not forgetting his Champions League record of course. ( nice editing AV)
Good news that we have a new manager! I'm happy about the appointment because whoever took over has some crucial decisions to make and these are decisions which need to be made quickly.
In this post I'd like to look at the 'defence' which is costing us as many points this season as it did last. The players seem still uneasy with zonal marking and if we're going to stick with it they need expert coaching that's been lacking on who does what, where and when. At the moment no one seems to know.
Given that Coops and Agnew have struggled in this area will we see a new coach or will Strachan work with what he's inherited? There's two decisions: zonal marking and defensive coaching.
Lack of experience is costing is costing us. Heads go down and concentration is lost too easily. We've no old hands to reassure and the encourage the youngsters and, I'm sure, this is affecting the whole unit but Wheater, in particular, has looked less imperious than he did in his breakthrough season.
The key decision, here, revolves around Sean St. Ledger who looks a great prospect and certainly one for the future. What he can't offer is experience. Given limited funds Strachan needs to decide whether to complete the transfer or use the money on an experienced hand.
Assuming the transfer contract hasn't already been signed, I would bite the bullet, let St. Ledger return to PNE and go after Chris Morgan. Hard, uncompromising and unflappable he is just the man to bring some solidity to the team and his experience would rub off on the younger players. So there's decision 3: St. Ledger or an experienced hand?
Strachan will also need to think about keepers. Although, there haven't been many 'Corporalisms' this term, Jones is still not organising his defence in the way which came naturally to Coyne. He also spilled the ball too easily at Preston gifting them, at least, one goal. Stick with Jones, revert to Coyne or bring someone else in? It's a big decision and number 4.
Beyond all this Strachan will want to decide quickly where his strongest defence lies and play it regularly to develop the understanding which is so starkly missing.
So there's a huge amount for Strachan to do and this only covers the defence.
Glad Im not the one asking the questions after a defeat. Otherwise I was wondering how hes done in the transfer market,at his previous clubs
**AV writes: he bought some good players at Coventry. He stole Robbie Keane off Robbo but there was also the likes of Craig Bellamy, George Boateng, Mustapha Hadji, Darren Huckerby and Keith O'Neill (when they were good) and a couple of dependable cheap Scandawegians like Roland Nilsson and Marcus Hedman.
At Coventry he promoted James Beattie from the stiffs and gothim firing on all cylinders and brought in Kevin Phillips too. He seems to be able to persuade decent strikers to go to unfashionable clubs which could be useful.
At Celtic he signed a few older heads like Roy Keane and Thomas Graveson that didn't work out too well but also a lot of good youngsters who could play a bit, and again, beat us to Scott Brown. Celtic did sign Ben Hutchinson under him but we are told that was a move driven by their academy chief rather than Strachan.
Why didn't you put my email on the blog Anthony Viickers you cheerleading sychophant .
You can give your opinion due to your journalistic licence but there's not much freedom of speech for me on your website, probably because i disagree with you.
I remember when G southgate was appointed as manager, you and that other cheerleading sychophant of gibson's eric paylor were hailing southgates appointment as a master stroke of a genius.
your reputation aswell as paylors reputation as a self appointed boro sage is now in absolute tatters, and i suspect the real reason you are so quick to look for mitigating circumstances for southgate is because you and paylors judgement has been shown to be garbage , and now your trying to save some face.
I don't care if you put this comment on your website , i know you don't have the balls to do that ,but i do know you will read this and that's good enough for me.
**AV writes: Search 'dave craig' ... no results found. As far as I can see you have never submitted a post to this blog before. If you had I would have published it. I have no problem whatsoever with criticism or different opinions.
So there we are. A weekend of video viewing and he has clearly spotted the key points of fitness and mental fragility. He will develop the players, which, I think, implies that he has already learned how to do so.
Wise comments from an old hand, a touch of spice, and a declaration of not needing but wanting the special job. Not buying the whole continuity thing though. I think the political discourse just got adjusted.
AV - Does this mean that Southgate was supposed to leave all his "GS" monogrammed Boro jackets and other kit for his successor ? :)
One thing I remember distinctly about Strachan's two previous managerial stints in England, was that on his second stint, you could clearly see that he learned from all the mistakes that he made in his first stint. I never have gotten that impression from watching Southgate's teams, and the complete absence of goalscoring again this season demonstrates that.
What proves the point is Southgate's own statement in the Gazette article about the night he was sacked - he was told to talk to Gibson and quote: “As I walked up to see Steve, I thought about asking him about signing a striker on loan."
This the sentence after mentioning that there was a positive mood due to the win.
The point here is the completely haphazard way in which the club has been run. Southgate did not ask for a striker **because we need one** (which it is totally obvious that we do), he thought about asking for one as a reward for success.
At every point in the last 12 months, Boro have needed players in order to avoid losing income that would be 3-4 times the cost of the players. A real businesslike and scientific approach to management would have pointed out that cost/benefit analysis back in January. The most foolish idea in football is "needing to sell before you can buy". It's possible that I am even underemphasizing, because a 3 million pound purchase could have avoided 30 million in losses or more.
But enough of the past, I have not the slightest doubt that Strachan will ask for players one minute after deciding we need them. (Note the word "need", I am not talking here about the desire for top world class players, but rather when you only have three strikers and your left midfielder is the only proven goalscorer on the team).
PS I am sad that we now have lost players whom Strachan could have improved, and who had to go elsewhere. The Premiership highlights show mentioned Cattermole and Huth in two successive sentences (followed by his team's new top player - Queuedrue).
When I heard we were being linked with Strachan I wasn't overly excited - but now I'm kinda in the pre-season state of mind..... full of optimism and can only see good things happening.
Just hope it isn't a false ginger tinted dawn.
Up the BORO!
Anthony Vickers
I sent my comment that was confirmed by your website as recieved, under the name dave so it should be there.
But i do believe you didn't put it up because it was critical but fair.
**AV writes: I do believe you are mistaken. I have never failed to publish anything because it was critical. The only things that have gone unpublished of late were a string of pseudo-Australian comments posted to deliberately trigger the 200 mark on a previous thread. I don't censor anything except on legal/taste grounds.
It's simple:
GS2's 10 Key Performance Indicators:
1.Bring back the buzzzzz to the riverside
2.Remove the burden of the arm band from Wheater
3. and allow him to enjoy his game
4.Get rid of the dead wood that must still undermine moral ( Shawky et. al. )
5.Introduce and teach them how to do good old fashioned man-to-man marking at set pieces
6.Help O'Niel out by finding and bringing in a hard midfield general
7.Find and bring in the fabled big man who can score up front
8.Top before the Jan window opens
9.Keep Jono & O'Neil
10. Get promoted
I've done a bit of research myself on Strachan's record in the Premiership.
He's finished 17,11,15,14,19,11,8.
Points - 41,52,42,44,34,45,52.
Boro's record is
18,9,12,14,12,11,11,7,14,12,13,19.
Points - 42,51,52,42,45,49,48,55,45,46,42,32.
So Boro average 46 points and finish on average 13th.
Strachan averages 44 points and finishes on average 14th.
Looks like we were made for each other...
**AV writes: I've been number-crunching too. At Coventry he always finished below Boro except the year we got docked three points and they stayed up with two points more but at Southampton in his two full years he finished above Boro both times, which, as Boro remained fairly constant in resources and average achievements, suggests he was getting better.
At Southampton he never beat Boro in four games. At Cov he won two and lost four with one drawn.
Thanks, AV and other posters who have filled in details of Strachan's management CV. My initial reaction when i heard his name rumored was that I was not impressed, but the more I think about it, the more I like it.
My chief objection to Gate was that he seemed incapable of getting our players to perform at the best of their abilities. I'm interested to see whether GS2 makes drastic team changes, or just tweaks things.
Whether you agree with the timing of GS1's removal or not, no one can deny that this appointment has set town buzzing again.
I hope this takes us onwards and upwards because we seem to finally have the experienced, no-nonsense manager we've all been asking for.
I feel This Is The Biggest Gamble Ever.
What If players Disagree with His methods of His madness? What you going to do, put them In the Reserves to rot? Most players would take that,and let their contract run down. I believe this was money orientated from the start with The Board.
One GS out of the door and another one in. Welcome to the madhouse GS2. Good luck. Best wishes. Keeping my fingers crossed.
dave craig said:
Why didn't you put my email on the blog Anthony Viickers you cheerleading sychophant .
I never thought of you as a cheerleader AV, and to be honest I don't want to! Welcome to the blog Craig David, is your record career in tatters? (oh sorry just reread and noticed it is dave craig - sorry!) Well, we like humour on this blog, it has been missing for a while, so I for one welcome your comments if they are constructive.
As for GS2, I haven't been able to see all the press conference, but the sound bites I have seen makes me think he has said all the right things, and more importantly I think he means them. Welcome to Boro Gordon.
Mixed feelings about Strachan. He generally comes across as someone trying too hard to be witty and incisive, when he's actually not.
Anyway at least he should be more animated on the touchline than Southgate and give the players plenty of verbals.
Let's not blow the kitty now when we can only attract Championship quality players. The squad should stay the same as it's good enough to go up and in the summer we need a GK (CRAIG GORDON) a midfild hardman (SCOTT BROWN) and a proven forward (ROBBIE KEANE).
Strachan has already signed Brown and Keane once before in his career so let's bring them to Boro this summer.
david craig - if AV is trying to gag you for being critical why has he published your comment complaining about it? Think about it. I know it might be difficult.
There is plenty of criticism on this blog (of AV, Boro, Gibbo, the Gazzete, whatever) but we tend to debate about it rather than shooting the messanger.
Hello AV - I want to go on strike for dis-allowing my "200" goal but when I posted my response back there you didn't even have to pull it as your "auto-pilot" saw me coming with....
"Your comment submission failed for the following reasons: Too many comments have been submitted from you in a short period of time. Please try again in a short while." Am I now a marked man?
You said up above...
"I have never failed to publish anything because it was critical. The only things that have gone unpublished of late were a string of pseudo-Australian comments posted to deliberately trigger the 200 mark on a previous thread."
Does that mean people were staying up during the night to have some banter with me? - or was it my lonely banter you just flagged for offside? Either way, you are now top of my 'Kill-Joy' list as this blog is all that keeps me going during work - and if I can't have some cross-hemispheric banter at 2am UK time you really have over-stepped your mark.
*thinks "well it is your blog so that's probably OK. DO I really want to disappear at this momentous time? - may re-appear under a new name OMG here comes the boss - a new top of this Kill-Joy list on the horizon"
ANY WAY I"M OFF - Brisbane Phil
(C'mon Boro!)
**AV writes: No, someone who shall remain nameless was pretending to be an Aussie (while posting from a Teesside ISP) to make a contrived one man multi-post dash to the 200 mark. I flagged it offside. I am a killjoy.
Ned is excited GS2 is the new game of the week.
Very clever article AV and thanks for the soundbites. Now to turn our (not quite) losers into champions.. Over to you Wii man
Ned (formerly BP)
Despite the criticism of Steve Gibson in a national press that was quite happy to pat him on the head as a good guy (doubtless whilst we presented no threat to anyone), despite the feeling that GS1 was a loyal and quality player whose too-soon promotion to managing the team weakened the playing staff (imagine what Wheater might have learned from 18 months next to him), the reality is that the national press doesn't have a proper feel of what was going on at the club.
The regular supporters aren't influenced by a few headlines. They see the games, not just the occasional highlights. They concentrate on everything happening on the field, who is injured (again), the chances that are missed as well as those scored, the lack of chances, the effort shown and the apparent lack of effort.
They hear the same excuses as might have been lamely offered in the past. In the final analysis they actually pay for their seats (which the press don't do). If you were offered a bacon sandwich for free you might have a different opinion of the same sandwich than if you had been charged £30 for it.
Although most of the supporters might have an emotional investment in the team, it doesn't mean that their perception of the team is less accurate than a journalist who spent five of the last six weeks reporting on Premier League games (with a few Champions League games thrown in) and feels unhappy at being sent to the frozen north to report on a Boro game. Or a journalist who regards himself as a friend of the departing manager.
We might not know all the details of what is going on in the background, but we can see what is taking place on the field in front of us, and we don't only get to see the edited highlights.
We might not all agree about the way things were done, or the precise timing. But the vast majority here must agree that change was needed if we were to be promoted this season. It is possible that we might have gone up if things had continued unchanged, but could we keep conceding last minute goals whilst being generally shy in front of goal, and still be confident of promotion?
We still might not go up, but if nothing had been done and we had failed to go up, then in light of what happened last year, how much criticism would then have been aimed at the board?
A decision at this stage was better than making no decision at all. I wish GS1 all the best in the world, but it would be ridiculous to suggest he needs our sympathy. I'll bet his bank manager wouldn't let him swap places with Tony Black, nor any of the Boro diaspora who populate these pages (even though I guess nobody would be likely to work in Baku, Canada or Germany for less than a "good whack").
And if you had been working for 5 years as a (very good) mechanic on an oil rig, would you be likely to be appointed as BP's head geologist, on the basis that over the next few years you would get out the geology GCSE and then A-Level books and then maybe enrol for an Open University degree? Even if you were generally quite an intelligent mechanic who colleagues, and visitors to the rig, quite liked?
The time had come. And if GS2 can get this right, it will have been so obviously the right decision that everyone will agree they supported it in a couple of years. Essentially the opposite of the Alves signing.
Fitness of the players and giving them some mental toughness is something that does NOT require millions of pounds, so even a team like ours can sort those problems out. I hope GS2 can do so. But I am still worried about Adam Johnson and Gary O'Neill being prepared for a move in January. What would it profit the Club to receive a few millions in January compared to the greater millions that might be lost a few months later if we FAILED to secure promotion this season?
Could we really go up without Adam Johnson and O'Neill? How much would players of similar quality, and their effect on the game, cost? I suppose Poggi is due back very shortly (but for how long before a move beckons?), and Josh Walker seems to have been hidden under the stairs recently, and most people seem to agree Coyne looks better between the sticks than Jones. But we don't get to see what happens on the training pitch.
I feel GS2 could have his work cut out. But I remain positive, and he is SAYING the right things so far. Fingers crossed.....
(Sorry for its not being a short one, but I'm no Antipodean, and 200 isn't anywhere near!).
Re:ste mac
Are you a relative of av or something. have you not noticed that he give's his views or opinions as there sometimes called, rather than impartially reporting the facts around boro f.c.
Maybe that passed you by. You don't have to agree with everything he says you know.
**AV writes: I do give opinions here; attempts at analysis, a bit of colour sometimes; emotional reactions maybe. There is no attempt at making this a fact based news site. There's plenty of those.
Re: kev b
Do you think david craig is my real name?
you gullible fool, hows this for humour.
If you where constipated you'd be speechless.
P.S The only reason av put my cheerleading email up, is because i said he wouldn't have the balls to .
**AV writes: How to win friends and influence people....
**AV writes: "I do believe you are mistaken. I have never failed to publish anything because it was critical. The only things that have gone unpublished of late were a string of pseudo-Australian comments posted to deliberately trigger the 200 mark on a previous thread. I don't censor anything except on legal/taste grounds."
Oh, yes? What's so illegal or distasteful about these wee chappies then - other than they're pseudo-Australian???
Melbourne Micktaker said:
S’truth! Can’t believe you guys can’t do it by yourselves. Just answering Dormo’s plea for International Rescue!
Alice Springs Eternal said:
Sent in hope of a Merc and some Ceeeeegaaaars!!!!
Adelaide Alex said:
G’Day! Understand you Poms need some support from down-under to reach your 200? Typical!
Cairns Bairn said:
From one Zoo to another! Am I in the 200 Club then?
Darwin AbOriginal said:
H E L o e N G I L o n D
Sydney Sydney said:
Can’t see the point, myself! Or the Opera House! Or the Bridge! Bloody dust-storm!
Townsville Tommy said:
A guy in Nimbin said I should do this because you’d send me a Merc and somethin’ to smoke man!
Brisbane Fill said:
Is there a Kangaroo Point to this?
Hobart Robert said:
If this reaches you it’ll probably be the only post that does at the moment! Understand your delivery boys are on strike! Do I get a Merc and some Havana’s then?
Infamy! Infamy! The Immigration Officer's got it Infamy!
I won't be buying Werther's on principle either! They sound too German - like Werdermouth, the goal-line poacher!!
**AV writes: Don't give me this wounded innocence. You were miles offside and you know it.
Do the initials GS stand for:
Gareth Southgate?
Gordon Strachan?
or
Garmin Satnav?
I hope it's the latter two, and we finally have the GS that can lead us in the right direction!
Good luck Gordon, see you in the Premier League.
Come on Boro.
Big Al is probably glad that the manager's kit doesn't need new patches.
The PNE match is one of those ones where you get to think hard about the future of the club. I've got friends who are ST holders at Deepdale, and while it's a good club to support, ambitions are very tightly limited, as made clear by the run of playoff defeats and the need to sell on talent (or give up managers like Moyes).
We've been that kind of club in the past, but not for a while, and I hope that the travelling support last weekend got a sense of the potential future for MFC if we get rooted in this league.
As for Strachan, he's in the position of having to juggle short-term necessities with long-term goals. With everyone ganging up behind us in the table, dropping points puts us mid-table fast, and there's limited space to experiment.
The two Sunday matches before Christmas --Cardiff at home, then up to St James's -- are going to be huge not just in terms of the table but symbolic value, for reasons I don't need to explain. If Strachan's smart, he'll aim on having the bulk of the training ground changes well in place for Cardiff, because exorcising that demon matters.
So I'll reserve judgement till Christmas on what he's done to address the fitness, organisation and habit of conceding late goals, and then see if Santa Transfer Window brings any late presents. My gut says 'playoffs', which means beta blockers in May, but we'll see.
I read in The Times that they've cleverly managed to decypher a list of Strachan's loan targets from a piece of paper he was holding in his hand - They were:
Full Backs
- Kyle Naughton (Tottenham)
- Andy Griffin (Stoke City)
Midfield
- Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa)
- Isaiah Osbourne (Aston Villa)
- Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
- Hayden Mullins (Portsmouth)
Forwards
- Kevin Phillips (Birmingham)
- Federico Macheda (Man Utd)
Though, I'm not sure how many loanees we're allowed to have but I'd settle for the forwards and a midfielder.
David Craig
As an old (grey, fat, ugly) poster I can say I would be astonished if AV didnt post your post.
He might edit it for legal reasons or to take out abusive language but it would appear if it had arrived at Gazette Towers.
As the geeks improve the techie part the system occasionally falls over, sometimes you get odd messages from the system, sometimes they get lost in the virtual desert but if AV gets them he posts them.
AV
Any chance of a Talking Boro special on Gate and Ginger or is it too politically sensitive?
**AV writes: It was mentioned. Maybe during the next international break.
Love to be a fly on the wall the first time GS2 and Mad Dog have a falling out !
The word 'duck' might become quite common in and around the dressing room.
How can anybody be underwhelmed by Gordon Strachan's appointment.. I mean who do we think we could get Jose Mourinho, Capello, the bloke from Barcelona who'se name I cannot remember, Ferguson....
These are exciting times at the Boro....
2 extra seats sold for the plymouth game at least.
UP THE BORO
AV
You were right about the frisson with Dawn Thewlis - did anyone see her piece on BBC Look North last evening. To quote the famous song - 'Little Miss Fridgidaire'!
Did you get sight of the 'teamsheet' of, possibly, potential loan/transfer targets that GS2 was carrying and - like a few politicians and policemen of late - got videoed by the TV crews there?
There is a piece from George Caulkin in The Times this morning that names some of the names on it. Interesting. Apparently, the only positions left blank - not needed? - were left of midfield and the two centre backs. No surprises there, maybe.
But, that might mean some 'dogs who don't bark' - like GON, for instance?
And the team was set out 4-4-2.
[I feel This Is The Biggest Gamble Ever.]
Yes, this is far more dangerous than asking an unknown quantity to exchange his fooball kit for a suit and tank top to take charge of an ageing squad in an increasingly difficult league driven by billionaire investors.
Great interviews - I think we have made the right appointment here. GS2 seems to share our policy of continuity and youth deveploment. (Perhaps O'Neill didn't).
Of course this change could affect us short term - so don't expect miracles in the first few matches. Gordon and the players need to get knowing each other. But in the long run - hopefully after Xmas - he will be up there at top of the league. And come May in the top two!
Really existed! Well done SG and Mr Lamb. Up the Boro!
As i mentioned on the other blog on Strachans appointment, I am sure he as discussed plans in place to keep AJ, GON and Wheater beyond Jan.
I am sure he will want to keep them all but if thats not possable he will want that transfer money to bring in new players.He proberbly would have insisted that if any of these players are going they go early in the window to give him time to replace. I would have if i was him.
Still think Ali will be the first to go in Jan. Kilgallon and yes you heard me Hulse in on loan.
GS2 can do no worse for his debut game at the helm than by relegating Toothy Jones to the bench and giving Coyne the full 90 minutes against Plymouth. We might just get another clean sheet - and a win.
looks as if SG has woken up and realised even if we went up (unlikely) we would be straight back down with the Gate in charge. What players could GS attract? Answer none worth having.
With GS2 we don't yet know but he seems to have been able in the past to:
a) recognise a good striker and
b)get them to play for him, 2 things GS couldn't do.
After Saturday another 2 points lost GS2 has already said what he needs to change let's hope that includes the coaches.I'm guessing Coops et al will 'find' a better position than the one they have.
I may have missed it, but so far I've seen little mention of what Strachan may have to play with in the way of funds. Are you any wiser Vic?
It is believed that he quit Souhampton after being refused funds for a couple of players.
It could be that it's not only reporters who may have to choose their words carefully in the future.
**AV Writes: There was nothing specific but a vague reference to a chairman who would 'support' him. Unless the club have found something down the back of the settee I can't see there being a lot to spend in January (they are already committed to St Ledger) unless he can shift a few first.
It may be a case of make do and mend plus loans until they secure promotion.
Would the real Craig David please stand up. You haven"t even got the balls to post under your real name.
And by the way, 'no, I am Spartacus'
Ugly Bugly
I am hoping that GS2 will improve the training of coaches as well. He is supposed to be hands on and may well have been the perfect No1 with Gate as his No2 to learn from him.
He has brought his long term sidekick and I genuinely hope that Coops, Agnew et al push on and become top coaches. It would be beneficial for the future of the club if we could develop all of the football aspects and make it greater than the sum of the parts.
For all the chatter from national journalists the club was not moving forward. Three home defeats in a row and a crowd of 17459 is not progress.
Teesside fans are not stupid and rely on the evidence of their own eyes. Most of us don't have coaching badges but we can spot if something isnt right. If it looks like a bag of ....... no, tried that one before and AV edited it out.
Strachan makes first day gaffe with transfer slip... Middlesbrough manager poses for photos and signs autographs while holding list of targets.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/133025-strachan-makes-first-day-gaffe-with-transfer-slip/
Now we can up the price on all of them...... Brilliant.
Also Keith Lamb quotes today about how MFC only got in touch with GS2 after they fired GS1 are embarrasing! If he didn't open his big mouth about Strachan he would never have had to come out with that twaddle! I've got to say I really don't like Lamb - he did well flying out to Brasil for the little fella etc, but I just don't like the guy. He's got a face that I personally don't trust!!
AV, don’t know whether you can answer this but would GS2 have been your choice? You might be able to help with this one though. Was there a shortlist drawn up to replace Gareth? Or was it try Gordie first and see if he wants it?
Any news on ticket sales for Saturday, an upsurge?
P.S. That "bird" on Look North was a disgrace. She looked utterly miserable standing outside the Riverside, and she hadn’t even had to pay for the privilege like us poor buggers.
**AV writes: It isn't usually about who is your choice, it is about who is available.
Had GS been sacked and the job - which whatever we jaundiced souls on Teesside think is actually a very attractive one at a big relatively successful club with excellent facilities and decent resources - been 'advertised' there would have been dozens of candidates of which 10 would have been good and probably six would have been very good. I think GS2 would have been among those.
I think GS2 ticks a lot of boxes, knows the game, puts the hours in on the training ground and is up for the challenge and that is all you can really ask for. There may have been another two or three equally qualified, we'll never know.
I like this david craig character. There is a lot of anger there isn't they? If only his sky sports questions were so barbed. Can we keep him AV? Is he one of the paul bells?
I think even the most ardent Gareth fan can't really argue that this isn't for the best. Regardless of whether Gareth deserved to keep his job, the club and the town had been split with no real hope of a reunion.
It will be fascinating to see what Strachan makes of the existing training methods, how he rates the squad, who will line up in his first team etc.
Will Shawky be brought in from the cold? Who gets the right back spot? Where does he play O'Neil? Does Wheater keep the captaincy?
Exciting stuff. Praying that we get a really big crowd on Saturday.
Boro will be better for the new boss if everybody buys in. Lots of people are writing him off already. Go with him support him support the team. Take them back to the top together.
As well as WGS, Gerard Houllier was apparently on SG's list of potential suitors.
Dave Craig:
Dave I disagree with your judgment on Anthony Vickers but I am very jealous of your opening line: "print my post you cheerleading sychophant .."
I'm tempted to try and improve on your opening line, that type of imitation rarely works - but I am going to have a go.
**AV writes: I thought it was poor. I've have had some excellent insults aimed my way over the years, the best invariably from our striped friends to the North. My favourite came from a Sunderland fan after I had described Kenwyne Jones as "a Primark Drogba" - "No wonder you write so much ***** with your extra digits Vickers you two headed smoggie *****" It would make a brilliant t-shirt.
Lest anyone should believe otherwise, let me confirm that I was not the one sending fake Aussie messages to get to 200. Even if I keep getting so near.....
Very much enjoyed Richard's 1.43am post - very amusing, and also an early morning one.
And can I just say to David Craig that everyone on here must have had LOADS of posts go astray. In the absence of legal reasons or decency, the main reason for this is operator error - hitting the wrong key without having saved the piece elsewhere before attempting to send.
We try to remind ourselves to save first, but mistakes are still made. Occasionally the techies at Gazette Towers get the blame when efforts have been made to "upgrade" the system. But it's mostly our own fault, I'm afraid.
History suggests AV is perfectly willing to put up pieces with which he disagrees, providing they are legal, decent etc. After all, such pieces are likely to provoke a heated response from other posters. Chill out, and enjoy the fun.
And as to the "list", I'd love it, just love it, to have Macheda on loan (he won't be for sale at this stage!), though we could have had Phillips a few years ago when he was lethal in front of goal.
And how about a Tonka Truck for the one who gets nearest the crowd figure for the Plymouth game? Of course, "in the know" journos, with access to the Ticket Office staff would be excluded. 24,690 anyone?
Maybe GS2's "gaffe" was a planned PR stunt. Letting someone know that they might be replaced may work wonders. There's nothing wrong with injecting a little bit of paranoia, it can often make some people do things just that little bit better.
AV
What is the problem with 'S'? Sugar, semolina, soda bread, sunflour seeds, self raising flour, sultanas, they all come in bags. Baffled, truly baffled.
**AV writes: I thought the point had already been made. What' one character between friend?
Tragedy for Redcar Racecourse Sunday Market Boot Sale! Mr Ashley has announced he is taking Newcastle Utd off the market, and Chris Hughton is given an 18 months contract.
But the stadium naming rights are up for sale. I suspect there might be a few "suspect" suggestions coming in from places away from the River Tyne.
Only joking, our friends from the north. But, really, the things they will do to hit the headlines.
**AV writes: Please, please, please be the Greggs' Stottiedome.
"Injection of paranoia", an indication of ambition to the crowd..... smells like a leak.
Forever Dormo - 22,850!
A Tonka Truck and a pint please.
C'mon Boro.
AV
Just keeping you on your toes in your role as guardian of the public good.
So, there are going to be naming rights for Sid James Park to raise money now Ashley is staying. Now there is a competition for the blog.
Portsmouth hit with a transfer ban. Hull and West Ham struggling financially. All near the bottom of the premiership and in severe danger of financial meltdown.
Stories that the Glazers are using their Tampa bay buccs to help support ManU, £80m from Ronaldoveragain swallowed up.
Hicks and Gillett refinancing like billyo for Liverpool who need a bigger stadium to challenge the biggest clubs but havent started yet.
Gibbo and co doesnt look as daft after all. Apart from not using what they had very well.
**AV writes: I don't think anyone can argue against the idea that slashing spending and debt exposure in a recession is generally a good thing. Handling the consequences of that is the bit that is hard to sell.
I hear that Newcastle are looking to raise money from sponsors in exchange for giving them naming rights to their stadium.
Will we see Sunderland fans encouraging Red Stripe to make an offer or would the Laura Ashley Stadium replace the take-over with a make-over?
Plymouth - ? 17,600
I too have a post which has perished in the ether - sent early afternoon yesterday. CIA involvement not suspected.
In an earlier post (3.58 Oct.26) I'd suggested that Strachan might return St Ledger in favour of a wise old head like Chris Morgan. It now looks as if that's not possible as permanent transfer has been agreed (and signed?).
PNE have reported that the loan fee was £1.5m. Is the balance to complete the transfer £3m or £4.5m?
It also leaves me wondering if Caleb Folan's 'loan' is a disguised permanent? Are we committed irrespective of performance or recovery from injury? What do you think, Vic?
**AV writes: We are not sure on Folan. I don't any of the press have even spoken to him aprt from day one. St Ledger is definitely turning into a permanent and was only a "loan" to get round the deadline. Boro haven't said so but Preston have risked a FL rap on several occasions by blabbing the truth.
Name for our friends up north stadium. There is a company out there called ARS Enterprises don't believe it just Google it. So how about the ARS Stadium.
Forever Dormo prediction for crowd 25,000. Boro to win 4 - 0.
AV
Handling the conequences is what let us down. I stick by my view that it is what we did with what we had that got us relegated. Getting rid of the experience. A bit like rationalising the railways by sacking the signal men and leaving the trains out of control.
Onto our friends up the road. Sid James Park will take some beating in a naming game but lets have a go.
I am going to go for Disney. We could have Mickey Mouse hats on the floodlights, very appropriate. We could name the stadium after some of the themed lands or attractions from the Magic Kingdom.
There is Fantasyland for starters. or using Peter Pan there is Never Land. Not forgetting Tomorrowland.
Or from Hollywood studios: Muppet3DVision.
Over to you posters.
AV as you know as football fans tribalism and rivalry are the name of the game. Also playing a part are stats. So can you hit me with some cyber based fan statisms?
I’m guessing that other papers have on line blogs, I’m guessing NUFC = Blog on the Tyne or some other such nonsense. Is it possible to find out how many posters they have and how frequent their hosts blogs? How many posters do we have on this site? Are we just a small blog in Yorkshire or cyber pioneers?
As for Plymouth, my Granddad played for them so I have a soft spot for them. Estimated attendance 22,660
**AV writes: This blog is streets ahead of any similar provincial paper set-up in terms of unique users and page impressions. The last available figures had us on about 22,000 unique users per month and approx 45,000 page impressions a week, compared Blog on the Tyne on 30,000. I don't have figures for non-Trinity blogs but they are all several divisions behind us in the industry's official charts.
AV
Right around the time of Forlorn, not-Forlan Folan getting injured I foolishly said that the only reason I could think of for Boro holding on to him was because they had signed a contract that was rather more restrictive than yer normal loaner.
But - even with The Count running the business - I then tempered the thought with 'surely not'. Now it seems that I may have been right. Oh no.
This might also be why Folan thought it safe to incinerate the rest of the boats that Mr. Perma-Tan had left on the beach after his conflagration with his incendiary comments about his (Ex?) Manager.
In some future Brownlee phone in, you can just see The Count having to own up to a third notch on his 'numpty' credentials - three point deduction, Alves and now Folan!
Let's join The Count in hoping that if we are stuck with Folan, Strachan proves himself to be the coach he promises to be!!
AV Your response ot Ian Gill at 7:51am -
"**AV writes: I don't think anyone can argue against the idea that slashing spending and debt exposure in a recession is generally a good thing. Handling the consequences of that is the bit that is hard to sell."
Right to the heart of the matter AV!
It's how the whole thing was handled, set up, miscommunicated, not communicated, misdirected, support excluded, - all of those things that has done damage to the relationships between club and supporters and has, in my opinion left Gibson's halo seriously tarnished.
And the manner of Southgate's dismissal was another PR disaster that could so easily have been dealt with far more professionally. (That said, it remains to be seen just what effect the new appointment will have on the local mood and if the fickle public will choose to forget such mishandlings if the results on the field become even more favourable).
A properly run PR and Communications "department" (Hell, it might only be one good man and an assistant, properly organised) and some PR nous on the part of Gibson and Lamb, and the whole thing could have been turned to advantage, rather than disaffection.
I believe THAT'S why a lot of people voted wih their feet - as much as the downturn in performances. People were left to draw their own conclusions (some saw it earlier than others!) and it dawned on them that things had changed behind the scenes and they hadn't been informed and kept on-board Effectively, they'd been duped by a guy they'd trusted.
I estimate that Boro revenues (in gate receipts alone) are down by over £1M this season so far, as a result of getting this all wrong.
On Lamb, one poster said: "He's got a face that I personally don't trust!!"
Frighteningly, it's not too dissimilar to Frank Langella's in Frost/Nixon...
45,000 impressions? I have seen or heard any, so here’s a few
‘Just like that’ – Tommy Cooper
‘Oi loike you’ – Louis Walsh
"St Bottlers" Stadium
"The Doghouse"
"The Theatre of Optimism"
"Bare-belly Mountain"
"Fat-Belly's R US"
Gibson has been very quiet this week - Has he actually said anything regarding the appointment of GS2? So far I've only seen and heard from his right hand puppet (Lamb)
Le Camp Fatso - home of the the Geordie nation
Well guess what ! Brown at Hull looks to be on his way and guess who is joint favorite? Yup u guessed it...Southgate and curbishley both @ 5-1 !!! Looks like SG1 could be back in the premiership before the Boro!!!!
Who knows...maybe a bad move for him becouse imagine what 2 relegations in 2 seasons would do for your confidence!!! Suicidal me thinks...lol
Whoops....GS1....LOL.
Forever Dormo.....25000 + 3-0
can mine be red :)
Sorry missed the point about Goerdies new name for their stadium it has be one with a sponsors name! How about the "Kleenex Bowl" - Real men cry at will.
"The Blubber Bowl"
The Delusional Dome
23,569 + 5-0
Forever Dormo:
How about "Ashley's Folly" as the new name?
I can't see "Northern Shale Theatre of Wet Dreams" actually catching on, although it says just about everything!
The Newcastle Staying Down Ale Stadium?
But to repeat a point I have made some months ago, I am not happy to see Northern Rock (a troubled bank kept float by being taken over by the government using OUR taxes) paying money to have its name splattered over Newcastle shirts next season.
AV, any whispers coming out on Mr Strachans first impressions, now that he has had a few days at the club. Plus what he thinks of the players?
Don't know if they have this channel in the UK.
How about Sid James' Park being renamed the 'Cartoon Network Stadium'.
This is the channel all the fat kids in America watch - quite appropriate don't you think!
Forever Dormo, I forgot to add 3-0 to the crowd size of 22,850.
C'mon Boro
Look folks, the namimg rights for Sid James Park have to reflect the sponsors interest so even though I like Neil from Canada's The Delusional Dome, Kleenex Bowl is more accurate in that it brings together a brand/product and the nature of the fans.
23,636 plus five from Plymouth in the car, green army.
"Barcodes and Stone House"?
Halifaxp: Brilliant! Great pun and overpriced goods!
From the Stoke City page on the BBC Sport web site:
"Griffin considers Boro loan move
Stoke City defender Andy Griffin says he would consider a loan move to Gordon Strachan's Middlesborough. The new Boro boss is reported to have been photographed holding a list of potential transfer targets with Griffin's name among them. The 30-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke: "It's something I'd really have to consider, playing for a manager of his calibre, it's a good club. If I get a phone call, which I haven't yet, then we'll have to wait and see."
First-team opportunities have been limited to for Griffin this year. He has made just six appearances this year, and three of those have been in the Carling Cup this season. However, after getting knocked out by Portsmouth on Tuesday night, the former Derby full-back admits he is ready to get some games under his belt. "I would be interested in going out loan, as long as it's commutable every day and I can see my two boys, my little girl and my wife every day. I've come to a point in my life when my family is more important than playing a little bit of football."
Griffin played at Boro's North East neighbours Newcastle United for over six years from 1998, and knows how big a club they are. "They [Middlesborough] have got a great chance of moving straight back into the Premier League, great training ground, great ground, it's a big club."
Potters boss Tony Pulis says the time might be right to let certain members of his squad leave: "Without the cup, it gives us an opportunity to get a few players out to get some games."
Strachan was snapped by a fan holding the list on his first day at the Riverside, and there are thought to be eight other players he is considering, including Scotland's Chris Iwelumo, Manchester United striker Federico Macheda and Arsenal's young midfielder Jack Wilshere.
* I've e-mailed them about the misspelling of "Middlesbrough". ;)
I know Ledge has been quoted as saying that he agreed to move to Boro from PNE because he thought he could learn from GSI, but it would appear that "the Strachan effect" is already start to have an even greater galvanic effect on potential targets! *big grin*
3-0 and 22,564! LOL. It's the way you tell 'em!
a sly tilt at 100 here back in the original name for glory's sake! But really who wouldn't want to play for gs2?
I'm contemplating writing to a publishing company that is described on the internet as 'An independent art and culture magazine for Vancouver's under-40s' and asking them if they'll consider sponsoring Newcastle's stadium - It's called 'Sad Mag'!
Brisbane Phil - how could you? This is nearer to 100 (unless some rogues have been making recent mulitple posts!).
Someone MUST have sneaked in with 100 now (could it be me?). And I left it a decent time since the last one - no Aussie's here!
Basically I just lob it into the middle for someone to smash into the net.
**AV writes: Look at his face! Just look at his face!
99 up! Come on then! Which Sad Mag's gonna follow this up?
Werdermouth? Yupfrit again? Maybe you Dormo? Or perhaps Brissie Phil won't be able to resist a wee afternoon post when the rest of us are all tucked up in bed?
Then again maybe the control freak Immigration Officer will be open to bribery or some other influence? (This may just be tested in the next couple of days, he said cryptically!)
Sehr gut Herr Dormo! Congratulations my english cousin, at last you will be able to enjoy driving one of our beautiful Mercedes - As for Richard, Schade! close but no cigar.