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FROM DESPAIR TO WHERE 27-3-07
Karl Watson
From despair to where? The winds have been firmly taken from our sails in the space of two short games and the buzz which surrounded the club now seems to have disappeared, firmly making its way down the River Tees.
Our hearts remain downbeat after what was a crushing defeat to Manchester United; somewhat reminiscent of the sombre atmosphere which surrounded Teesside after the UEFA Cup Final. No longer is the Boro on the forefront of our minds, as far as the rest of this season is concerned, we have little to talk about and that tiny bit of optimism we delve up from nowhere suddenly disappears when we take a look at the league table.
Our season disintegrated before our eyes in just two games and with it the chance of securing European football next season. We are getting very close to being a good consistent side that can challenge for cups and for Europe but when it comes to the crunch, it just appears like we cannot take the heat, and the players rush out of the kitchen.
However, I believe our fans still look forward to every game with a real chance that we can take something out of every remaining fixture. No team has really out dominated, outplayed, and outclassed us since the turn of the year, however could we say that we had done the same?
We are always more than capable of getting something from a game these days, despite pundit's opinions we are no more than just a three man squad. The likes of Julio Arca and Emanuel Pogatetz have really come on this season, and strikers are paid to put the ball in the net.
There is rarely a mention of how good our back five have been. Mark Schwarzer has yet again been in scintillating form and our back four has been very hard to break down.
As far as the rest of the season is concerned, we have competed well since the turn of the year and it is to our credit that with ten games to go we had a good chance of qualifying for Europe through the league. It's a shame that the season seems to have petered out to nothing when Southgate has done a great job to rally our troops when we seemed destined for a very difficult season.
For Southgate's sake if nothing else, I hope the players take to the pitch wanting to get as many points as possible, and not lying down asking to be turned over. Some players have came out saying that we still have something to play for and just so long as the players believe this then the remaining games at the Riverside should be entertaining - and results in our favour.
Let's try and secure a top half place - although with our away run in that could be difficult. Over Mac's five seasons in charge we only managed to secure a top half finish in one of those seasons. Many may say that our league form was hindered by the cup competitions but this was only the case in Mac's last season in charge.
This year we have played a lot of games due to the amount of replays endured, but this has not stopped Southgate from fielding full strength teams that can compete against anyone. The cup was probably our best chance of success this year, just like last season but it has not stopped Gareth from being very bold and adventurous and I feel the players owe it to him to keep on fighting till the end of the season.
If Southgate was to bring a top ten finish to us, would I be wrong in saying that in his first season as manager, in terms of the league, he would have achieved more in his maiden season than McClaren did in five?
The likes of Stuart Pearce and Glenn Roeder have shown that second seasons are much tougher than their first. Pearce was hailed as a possible replacement for Sven Goran Eriksson but this year has failed to bring any joy to Eastland's, and next year will prove how good Southgate is, and how good he can be.
Once Southgate has figured out his strongest team, some players may feel they do not have to work hard to get into the side and even if they conjur up a decent display it will be enough to warrant a start in the next game. This is what happened at West Ham, so next year will see just how much the players want to play for Southgate, their team mates, the chairman, the fans and the club.
In recent games Southgate has gone for an attacking approach at home, an approach we have been shouting out for for years. More fans do appear to be coming back to the Riverside because of this but the main fear is that Gareth may be more edgy next season because of the expectations on Teesside.
As far as the neutrals are concerned, Middlesbrough are still a mediocre side. However I believe we are becoming one of the top mediocre sides and it is up to everyone to diminish this label and really get everyone talking about us next year.
The only way this can be done is if we have much of the squad that we hold now, especially Woodgate and Viduka. I am still unsure whether or not Woodgate will be on our books next year or not. My instinct says he might just stay for another year, but you can't argue with his ambition. Next year we have to show real ambition to attract some the best names to Teesside if we are to build under Southgate.
Our next game is one I am not really looking forward to. A visit to a team destined for relegation who will fight for absolutely everything. If we still had a good chance of qualifying for Europe then I could see us taking something, but after the defeat to United, it may have just taken a lot out of the players mentally more than physically.
Rest assured, West Ham will be wanting to get to every 50/50 first and I don't feel our players will be up for a battling afternoon in West London. The only way I feel we can take something from this game is if we keep them quiet. Over recent weeks West Ham have started like a bull in a china shop but soon petered out, leaving gaping holes in their defence which we will need to exploit.
Although our performances over recent weeks have been good, the results have not so it would be very nice to go away from home and answer a few critics with what would be an excellent victory.
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