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READY FOR ROMA 7-3-06
Long time readers of this column will be well aware that the views expressed can often be as provoking as Bernie Slaven running naked through the Metro Centre shouting "Up the fucking Boro". Writing this column on a weekly basis has taught me that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. In fact, I think I'm starting to know how Steve McClaren feels.
It hasn't been an easy season for anyone connected with Middlesbrough Football Club, and try as we have, being positive has often been a bridge too far. I don't need to list the results that have caused the most heartache this season as they are tattooed permanently in our minds.
But give credit where credit is due. Having seen his players crumble like cookies in the face of Aston Villa and having suffered abuse, insults and even a season ticket thrown at him, Steve McClaren has turned around a sinking ship in spectacular fashion, winning six out of the seven games that followed. When backed into a corner, McClaren came out fighting.
At the start of the season, fans demanded attacking and entertaining football. Playing one striker at home would not suffice and goals became the order of the day. As our league position shows, it was hardly a style that brought much success. New signings such as Pogatetz and Rochemback had failed to settle and fans were restless.
However, when it became apparent that what we had been doing wasn't working, McClaren changed things. JFH became a regular feature in the line-up, other key players returned and suddenly we have become very hard to beat. It's not pretty or particularly exciting, but it's effective. We are now all but safe from relegation, still in Europe and the F.A. Cup and a once failing season is still alive. Yet fans are still restless.
When we played to win in style and score goals, we found we conceded goals and didn't win games, which resulted in criticism. Then, with relegation looming we changed to a more defensive approach to keep us in the league, which has worked, and the result is the same - criticism.
So many people have said to me that the game was very boring and that we should have tried to kill Birmingham off from the outset. But Birmingham was NOT a must win game, rather, a must NOT LOSE game. A draw would have meant a big enough gap for us still to feel fairly comfortable. Why set out to beat a side that would have done exactly what we did had they scored first, making it almost impossible to get back into the game, when we don't need to?
Had we been flying high, chasing a European spot, then yes, I would have wanted a little more from the game as far as entertainment goes, and I can understand the frustration of fans when it comes to the post match comments of McClaren, but as for getting us out of the mess he got us into, he deserves some credit.
It's a crying shame that anyone seen to praise McClaren or defend the club is now shot down as a kiss arse, or even more insulting than that, having no knowledge about football, but it appears to be the way of the world at the moment. Fans, including myself, are quick to criticise, but not so keen to accept when a job has been well done. Contrary to our current form, Steve McClaren can't win 'em all.
Way back in August, Mark Viduka scored twice as we hammered Birmingham 3-0 at St. Andrews' with the Aussie skipper scoring a memorable volley that smacked of sheer class. He was at it again on Saturday, beating three players before rolling the ball into the net to seal our first Premiership double of the season.
Viduka has hardly endeared himself to Boro fans with his injury proneness and low work rate, but is a player who can be one of the best on his day. However, one day in mid-August and one day in early March isn't good enough. Viduka himself has more or less said he wants to leave, and while some will be disappointed, this writer won't find it a struggle to fight back the tears when, as is almost certain, he moves on.
He isn't first choice and by removing his hefty wage from the bill, we can use the summer to hunt a long-term partner for Yakubu. Probably some unknown Trinidad and Tobago striker who scores against England in Germany, for around £8million, one predicts.
Too many average performances and not enough goals suggest that injuries and father time have caught up with Viduka, who will almost certainly use the World Cup to put himself in the shop window. Expect him to win the Golden Boot and take the Aussie's to about the quarter final stage, producing the kind of form we have rarely seen from him in a Boro shirt.
Another player set to go the World Cup is George Boateng. It is no fluke that the Dutch Destroyer's return to the side has coincided with our return to form, proof if ever any were needed that a new contract must be forthcoming. Now that the club's Premiership future is just about confirmed, let's hope that George gets the new contract his efforts deserve.
All eyes now move to Thursday night, when in case you hadn't heard, a team called Roma visit the Riverside. Roma, believe it or not, won't fancy coming to the Riverside and if the service is right to Yakubu, we stand a chance of knocking the favourites out of the competition. We are ready for Roma.
Now, what's that one about the Geordies going to Rome to see the Pope...
Same time next week. UP THE BORO!!
NOW HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE NEW HOLGATE FORUM
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