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ARSENAL v MIDDLESBROUGH - THE AFTERMATH - BRIGGSY'S VIEW
I'm not going to write a match report of the game, its far too much for any Boro fan to relive. So here's my alternative report, a report of the current predicament were now in. Yesterdays result hurt, more so than the game last week against Nuneaton. We're a battered and wounded animal at the moment, we need to lick our wounds, regroup and move on and the sooner the better.
What's more hurtful though, is the lack of support on the streets and the terraces. It's a fact that McClaren has never had the full support of the Boro faithful. This is a great shame, because he's earned it. Reading various message boards yesterday I sensed that certain individuals were glad with yesterdays proceedings, not so much for the defeat for the club, but for a chance to snipe at McClaren. Sad but true.
I'd like to make a point regarding what Slaven said on the leg ends a few months back. He said we should pick two strikers and stick with them. We have stuck with Viduka and Yakubu for five games now. This has obviously made Jimmy unsettled and he has voiced his concerns. But guess who's getting the blame for this? Yes that's right - the manager. The manager of any club has a lot to answer for, but the amount of stick he gets is uncalled for.
Despite what people think, I'm not pro McClaren. I'm pro Middlesbrough. I want what's best for the club. Despite that it seems what many want, I don't think sacking McClaren is the answer. We are still left with the same players, there is still limited funds available until we ship out some players and there's the small question of who to bring in?
I don't think McClaren will be sacked because Gibson is a wise business man. He sees the work Mac does day in day out and he felt McClaren had earned a contract extension. Constant berating of the players, and more so the manager, will only make matters worse especially in the time the club need the fans the most. We're in this together and we'll get out of it together.
We've still a lot to play for this season. We're still in the FA Cup and stand a very good chance of progressing to the fourth round where we'll play Coventry City. We're still in the Uefa cup and again stand a good chance of doing well in it. Both competitions provide a route back into Europe and I'm confident we'll take them both very seriously.
Then there's the league, where we've been very disappointing to say the least. But looking at our next three games we've got a chance to turn it all around. Wigan, Aston Villa and Sunderland present an opportunity to pick up some vital points. A win will do wonders for the morale. We haven't won a league game since November, so you can only imagine how low the players are feeling.
This has turned out to be a massive season for McClaren and the club. We're going through a transformation. We've fielded more players this season than any other Premiership club, which shows the true extent of the transformation. Our success over the past four seasons has been built on experience, with the addition of youth to give us that extra edge.
Parlour, Hasselbaink, Ugo, Doriva, Mendi, Southgate, Viduka are all players who have helped us achieve our goals over the last few years. The experience they will have passed on to our younger players is invaluable. The likes of Downing, Riggott, Morrison, Johnson, McMahon, Bates, Yakubu, Queudrue, Cattermole and Pogo with the addition of summer signings are the future of this club. A future which I am excited about.
It's not going to be an overnight transformation. It's going to take time, but I'm willing to be patient because it's the best for the club. The club needs our support now more now than ever before, so let's rally behind the club we love. We shall overcome.
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