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MID-TERM REPORT FROM HEADMASTER ERIMUS 7-2-07
Peter Holmes
Joyous Noel and a happy Christmas football period in Middlesbrough, an oxymoron of biblical proportions if ever there was one.
The very thought conjures up mental imagery of frozen football pitches during a bleak winter of grumbling apathetic discontent and abject misery. Anybody who has an ounce of smog in their veins knows full well that it's got nowt to do with the vagaries of British weather or icy winds whipping in from the Arctic blasted North Sea.
History illustrates our malaise in the numbers, in the archives of anorak, showing just how dismal my Bonny Boro have been over the hectic and compressed Christmas holiday football period and the Scrooge like dark months that follow.
Not this time though!
Actually having a heart full of pride and belligerence in the early part of February while expectantly looking forward to the rest of the season with hope and confidence, instead of struggling resignation, is a revelation in itself for all Boro supporters. An unbeaten foray throughout the month of January and two results in one season against Mr Whingers assembled cast of United Nations, are definable pointers to the winds of change blowing through the corridors of the Riverside during this unfolding season.
I can't really remember in recent memory a Boro team acquainting themselves so well in a battle of wits against the blinding pace, intricate inter-passing and structural fluidity that is Arsenal in full pomp. We have finally learned how to pass again, players looking confident on the ball, wanting the ball, good movement, very good back-up play with traces of flair and occasional individual quality. All expressed while we were playing a club who were at the top of their game and, arguably the most in-form team in the Premiership, who had also gone through January unbeaten.
A halcyon month for us, and the Gunners, who plundered twenty-three goals including the high profile defeat of Manchester United and, the shellacking of Liverpool at Anfield, on two occasions, to the tune of 3-1 and 6-3. Yet we matched them totally, across every area of the park and at times had them on the back foot. If we had Thierry Henry we'd be up there too!
The whole team is benefiting from a rich vein of confidence and consistency which has translated into form and a climb up the table.
After the goal laden performance against Bolton, it was especially good to see that we backed it up again at home in front of the Riverside crew. George Boateng is beginning to fire again with a compulsive display of midfield power play. He has finally regained some of his old self, driving into the maelstrom of midfield at the very heart of the game. Undoubtedly helped by young Cattermole's work rate, the Boat has at last got his groove back.
The burgeoning left side trinity of Taylor, Arca and Downing has both time and age on its side and is beginning to gel into a formidable portion of the team. I don't think I have seen Viduka play better and more passionately in the red shirt of Boro and at times his touch and hold-up play are sheer class aligned to the obvious skill he possesses. There are signs of an unfolding partnership with the Yak and I thought I would never see that.
Defensively we have vastly improved especially in the composure department. Playing in front of a good back four has helped Boro's 'Mr. Dependable', Mark Schwarzer, and he continues his excellent service for Boro. While Woodgate is without doubt the most adept English centre-back with a continental composure and gliding almost Beckenbauer like gait when on the ball. He has galvanised that defence around him like the super-star he is. But, special mention must go to Pogatetz who has been an absolute brickwall stalwart and a revelation with the consistency of his displays and his braveheart ways.
There have been a few blips, notably in the FA Cup, but we wouldn't be Boro if everything ran Greenwich clockwork, would we?
Boro's transmutation from wupped arse to arse wupper, is all the more remarkable when you make the comparison between the headless chickens of the early part of the season and the posturing cocks of the present Boro.
It's funny how a team of basically the same personnel were at times frankly inept prior to the winter holiday period, a period that historically holds about as much allure for the average Boro fan as skiing down Eston Hills in brass monkey weather while totally bollocky buff with a set of cowbells tied to your knackers or knockers.
Profoundly remarkable too is that it's all down to the same backroom personnel minus Steve Round, albeit injected with the canny spirit of one Colin Cooper who has provided a huge helping of man management, confidence and good coaching.
Cooper is certainly a transfusion we were dieing for.
The good vibes parallel effect on his mate Mr.Southgate is the one that is most beneficial for the long term health of our beloved Boro. There is obviously a mutual respect and understanding between the illustrious pairing that allows for a level of confidence in each other's ability with the trust that ensues in any good partnership.
Gareth and Coops are obviously having a similar effect on their charges and deserve huge plaudits from us all. They have reformed their on-field partnership in the dugout and they have reset the parameters that this squad formerly operated under and the whole enterprise looks more professional and more together than any Boro team I have seen since the rock solid crew of Jack Charlton's era with a special mention to Rioch's 86' backs against the wall mob.
I broke the habit of a lifetime and went to bed early on Saturday as our clash with the Gunners was on after 2am Perth time and I saw in the Foxsports schedule that the game was repeated in it's entirety at the more godly hour of 11:30 am on Sunday morning. I turned off my mobile, forbade anybody in the house to pass on the score, while especially trying to avoid my neighbour who is a poor deluded Arsenal fan.
Thankfully, I actually made it through and settled down to watch what turned out to be an absorbing technical tactical battle, one that I think we could have and should have won with a bit more luck. Even though I detest them, you have got to admire the never-say-die spirit of Arsenal and hate the never stop bloody whinging attitude of their manager!
My final comment is about the man we all love, Mr Steve Gibson.
Notice how our great leader has sat back keeping a very low profile recently and throughout the bleak times of the first semester. He has even told a few of you who had occasion to engage him in conversation that, he had the utmost confidence in Gareth and the future he would bring to the club, given time and patience. Well in truth with things turning around he could be a right arrogant bugger and start bleating about how;
"I told you so and when will you lot ever learn!?"
I think Steve Gibson still has huge plans for this football club and his vision will continue to unfold over the years. While he is at the helm of our club I feel confident that there isn't another soul on the planet who could do the job better or more passionately.
So, an historical unbeaten January makes one think that within the hallowed walls of Middlesbrough football club a major evolution has taken hold and obviously, whatever changes were wrought have been extremely beneficial for the players.
Enjoy the moment my fellow Boro mafia, soak it all in, make the most of the new era and enjoy your football because we are actually playing a brand and quality of football that just maybe will be the corner stone to the next phase of the Middlesbrough revolution.
Doing OK and playing canny football?
What more do you want, a never ending parmo and a bubbling spring of cold lager in the backyard!
Enough Said,
ErimusRed.
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