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THE ROCKLIFFE FILES - HERE'S HOPING 10-10-06
Toby Higgins
As the more observant amongst you will have undoubtedly noticed, last week there was no edition of the Rockliffe Files. While I'm sure the majority of Rockliffe readers coped in its absence, for those who didn't, please accept my most genuine apologises, and consider this week's article a bid for forgiveness.
I had hoped that in the one week break between this File and the last, some, if not all of the problems at MFC would have been, or would be in the process of being, resolved. But if anything, our problems have done nothing but increase.
The last minute defeat at Sheffield United is not untypical of our season so far, and the frustration felt amongst us all is beginning to tell. That Saturday night, shouts, screams and moans told the story better than words ever could.
Southgate again shuffled his squad, like a nervous, rookie poker player shuffling his hand, changing from the ineffective 4-5-1 to the slightly more adventurous, but equally as unsuccessful 4-4-2. Consistency is what we were promised, though still none appears to be forthcoming. Actually, I lie. We're consistently failing to score maximum points.
Many have pointed to the start made by Southgate's predecessor Steve McClaren in a frantic effort to make this shocking start to the season seem less so.
"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark."
Yes, McClaren lost his first four games, but he then went on to win three and draw one of the next four to end September with a record that wasn't all that bad, given the fact he was working with an entirely new set of players in a squad that was in need of a major rebuild - something Southgate cannot point to as a reason for his own failures thus far.
McClaren's start as England manager has been a considerably better one than the one he made with the Boro. However, the Three Lions latest outing has left some describing England as the new Boro, and that we as England fans should expect similar bizarre formations, substitutions, post match interviews and of course, unpredictable results to the ones experienced by us when he was in power here.
Funnily enough, Saturday wasn't the first time England have failed to see off Macedonia at home. As recently as October 2002, England were held 2-2 by Macedonia, a game which a certain Jonathon Woodgate started, but more on him later.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
Four years on, the local Boro lad in the England team is of course, Stewey Downing. The criticism levelled at Downing is probably overly harsh as pundits look to target the newcomer as the scapegoat, though having said that, he does lack the pace and strength to beat full backs at the very top level. However, as a natural left footed winger, he is a rather rare and valuable commodity in the England squad.
While it's almost certain that Downing will lose his place when Joe Cole regains fitness, England could soon find themselves with an even bigger problem in midfield than the one they currently face.
For years, England had David Beckham on the right hand side, crossing the ball for strikers or midfielders to latch onto. Alhough he would occasionally wander inside, as a rule he got chalk on his boots and hugged the touchline. It gave England shape and balance, especially as such a service was rarely provided on the opposite flank. Now though, Downing operates the role vacated by Beckham, as a player he sticks to his line crosses frequently.
"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bare. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bare a hardship today."
The problem for England will come when Cole returns, simply because he and Downing are different types of winger. Whereas Cole favours coming inside onto his right foot, Downing does not, and with Steven Gerrard also preferring to come inside, McClaren might need to find his bottle again and drop yet another of England's big name underperformers to incorporate at least one natural winger.
It now looks as though the premature talk about a return to England for Jonathan Woodgate is exactly that - premature. Days after having been told to prove his fitness by McClaren, Woodgate has sustained a leg injury which rules him out of Saturday's game against Everton, and could leave him out for up to three weeks...
...which is all we need. Woodgate has been the undisputed star of the season up this point, and the loss of him from our already shaky back four leaves us in huge trouble. It could mean either a rushed Premiership debut for Robert Huth, or what is probably the most likely solution given Southgate's unwillingness to rush Huth back to fitness, Andrew Davies should move inside and Stuart Parnaby will come in at right back. At least, there would be some logic to doing it that way.
"Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself... 'How did I get through all of that?'"
No matter which eleven players take to the field on Saturday, we should still get more out of the team than we have been so far this season.
Everton have started the season brightly, but unlike the trip to Sheffield United, a quiet and reserved optimism is growing inside of me. Blind as it may be, optimism and hope are the only thing keeping me sane as far as Boro are concerned.
Saturday is where it all turns around.
Here's hoping.
Same time next week.
Up the Boro
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