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AL OVER FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS 21-5-07
Karl Watson and Tom Warnock
Warnock says...
So here we are - it's all over for another three months and with the conclusion of yet another season comes much reflection and some disappointment.
In truth, the season never got started and we stuttered through the fixtures at times. Winning only two away games all season, coupled with an inability to defeat the 'easy' teams, condemned us to our umpteenth bottom half finish. There wasn't a point in the season where we looked like doing anything, and even our FA cup dreams amounted to nothing.
We don't know what season's targets were, but there seems to be an acceptance from the club that bottom half finishes are sufficient. I agree with Gibson's opinion that being in the Premiership for ten years is a massive achievement, but the team hasn't progressed as much as it could have. In football, if you're not moving forwards, you're moving backwards.
The cup ties versus Manchester United were entertaining affairs, but they were probably the only excitement of the entire season. Mark Viduka was quoted as saying the team were distracted by the cup games, and it had an adverse effect on league performances.
While I acknowledge the fact that we must attempt to win every competition we are in, realistically we were never going to win the FA Cup. We surrendered six points in league games either side of the Manchester United replay, against Manchester City and West Ham. If we're to achieve a higher league position we must get our priorities right and not let the cup games detract from the bread and butter.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's not my job to solve the problems at the club, I'm a fan, and I don't have all the answers. That being said, its obvious all is not perfect at the club. For me, we shouldn't be looking to solve our problems with signings alone, especially panic signings.
With one or two additions the current squad is capable of achieving seventh place, or higher. Does anyone really think that Reading, Bolton, Everton etc have better players than we do? The answer is probably not, yet they still finished above us.
Southgate needs to work out his first choice eleven. There are clearly players he's not happy with, for example James Morrison, and he's had a tendency of playing lads out of position, like Cattermole and Davies to plug the gaps. In truth we haven't had a quality right sided player since Geremi, and that's the main problem area. We need a right winger to restore the balance of the team.
Another problem is the choice of captain. George hasn't performed to his own high standard, he couldn't lift the team for away trips, and he sometimes speaks out of line. I personally would relieve George of the captaincy and hand it to Woodgate. It would be a bold move but if George wants what's best for the team, he will accept any decision by the manager.
Thanks to finishing above the Geordies, were the top dogs in the North-East, until at least August. That fact alone says something about the state of things in Newcastle, and maybe, just maybe it'll prevent even a Geordie from parading around the beach in Magaluf in a black and white shirt - a sight no-one deserves to be subjected to.
Overall it wasn't a disastrous season, nor was it spectacular. It could've been worse, and it could've been better. Simply put; it was Boro. So we look ahead to August with feverish anticipation of the unknown, wondering what's to be, but please Gareth, not another bottom half finish.
Watson says...
The final day of the Premiership once again drew up many surprises as the favourites to avoid relegation somehow managed to get relegated and 'Mr Illegal' made sure the Hammers clawed their way to safety. But in mine and in many Boro fan's eyes, a great surprise came at the Riverside.
Whenever mediocre teams head to the Riverside with nothing to play for they seem to turn us over as the mighty reds turn in another poor display. However it was very nice to see that the players actually cared about the result and performance against Fulham and wanted to put a smile on the fans faces and send them away with something to remember.
The performance was a good one and it could have been a cricket score if we could have made more of the chances we created. Once again, Viduka was absolutely out of this world and with reports of teams such as Manchester United and Newcastle after him, our work is perhaps cut out in our attempts to keep him. As much I would like him to stay at Boro I just don't think he will.
If Viduka was so hell bent on staying at Boro he would have signed his contract a few days after Boro had mathematically secured their Premiership status. From the rumours I have heard, Viduka has been offered a two year contract on around 40,000 a month however he appears reluctant to sign such a short contract.
Perhaps this is because he realises his time at the top is coming to an end. Steve Gibson is no mug. In two years time, Vids will be 33 and he won't be able to keep up to the current standard of football he currently offers. Offering him a four year contract would simply be a waste of money. We have already made this mistake with Mendieta. Mendieta must be the most expensive player in the reserve league's history, not to mention the most highly paid.
We cannot afford to be offering players silly amounts of money. But what does worry me is how we would or can replace Viduka. I feel he is irreplaceable. This, because we don't have anything to offer world class players who can score as many goals as he can. If Boro are interested in such a good player, so will better clubs and they will end up there and not at Boro. We will get no money for Viduka and we will either be taking a huge risk with a new signing or letting Dong Gook lead the line next year - a daunting prospect!
Reports also have Yakubu linked to a move away from Boro. I just feel our better players should be staying for a further year. I would not begrudge them a move away after next season but I would if they left now.
What many people do not understand was how Steve McClaren's departure left Boro in such a bad state. It was such a long process appointing a new manager and that manager was left with players that McClaren signed. Southgate has done a decent job with McClaren's Boro and next year we will see the true managerial abilities of Southgate.
Southgate has announced there will be a big shake up and I feel the players need to stay a further year to see what happens during the summer. Many of the players know we do not have enough quality to get into Europe and so does Gareth and this is why he is having a clear out.
Southgate made two good signings in Arca and Woodgate and surely the players must understand that Gareth isn't going to buy just anyone. He will try and sign quality players that will get us into Europe next year.
Losing out to Celtic for Scott Brown perhaps wasn't a bad thing. If we had lost out to Watford or Wigan then that wouldn't have been acceptable but because we lost out to Celtic it showed our ambition to sign players with quality.
To finish twelfth isn't particularly great but it could have been so much worse, especially seen as many people had us down for relegation before Christmas. There are a few positives to take. Our home record was good and if we can just sort out the away form then perhaps we can finish in Europe next year.
We also have to deal with the inconsistency problem. Again, if this is sorted out then there is a realistic chance of getting somewhere next season.
Finishing ahead of Newcastle was another nice achievement but next year I feel we should be looking to embarrass our north east neighbours.
Sunderland and Newcastle have basically forgotten about Middlesbrough, worrying about who can out do the other in spending, or should I say wasting the most money, during summer. They have both targeted finishing above the other and have already taken it for granted that they will be above Boro this time next season. I want us to do them both, and just make them remember that Boro have achieved far more than both have in twenty years.
I am looking forward to what happens in the summer transfer market but I will not say I am looking forward to next season until I see our new squad as we embark on a tenth consecutive season of Premiership football.
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