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NINE MORE POINTS TO PLAY FOR 26-4-07
Tom Warnock
On Saturday, all of Teesside tuned in, eyes glued to the screen, with hopes of exacting a degree of revenge on a Manchester United team we have now played four times this season. Many a fan's visual attention would have been focussed on Cristiano Ronaldo, who, as a result of his diving antics was under intense scrutiny by every Boro fan watching.
Securing a draw was a fantastic result. Although it wasn't so much the point gained, but what it represented. It represented a team who had matched their opponents in all previous encounters and the team's desire to take something back from the side who took away our FA Cup dream in controversial circumstances.
Many predicted a hammering at the hands of a rampant United side, but despite them being quite able to notch up win after win against other teams, when they face the Boro the game is an entirely different prospect.
So it came as no surprise that Sky changed the fixture schedule to incorporate this grudge match into its line-up. You could even say the result itself wasn't a surprise either - the form table suggested a slaughter - but as mentioned above, status seems to be irrelevant in this fixture.
Our fixtures against the top teams are almost becoming predictable. We've picked up points in both games against Arsenal (4th), defeated Chelsea (2nd), held Liverpool (3rd) at the Riverside, and have won at home and drawn away with Everton (5th) and Bolton (6th). Add those to the Old Trafford point, and being robbed of a semi-final place, and it's not a bad little portfolio.
So there clearly isn't a problem with us being outclassed, the problem for Gareth Southgate to solve is based in the nether regions of the table, which is incidentally where we currently lie.
Boro have succumbed to defeats by West Ham, Watford, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sheffield United. All of whom are bottom half sides. If you want further evidence you only have to look at how we crashed out of the Carling Cup to Notts County, and struggled greatly in FA Cup ties against lower league opposition.
Now it's not my job to work out a solution, but I'd be worried if Gareth Southgate can't see where it's going wrong. Our seasons have always been incoherent, but this season we've managed to surpass even our own inconsistency.
To put it in literal terms, if we'd completed the simple task of defeating Watford, West Ham and Sheffield United, we'd be right in the hunt for Europe. And if that team can't muster an extra 10% to pick up nine more points, then I don't really know why we are here.
There is massive potential for this club to go places, but the teamdo not appear willing to put in that extra 10% required. Every summer we hear promises of a breakthrough season, and yet come April we're told that in fact it was a transitional season really. Everyone talks about spending and buying, but it doesn't take much to win three extra games each year - literally all that's needed is more ambition and a bit of impetus.
It looks as if any chance of a top ten finish has all but disappeared now, but with nine points to play for, we should be aiming to take them all.
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