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ARE THINGS GOONER GET BETTER? 11-12-07
Toby Higgins
Should one choose to carve out this week's ensemble of lexis in a manner of discourse such that it becomes ostentatious to the degree by which it becomes incomprehensible, and thus deviates from the common football related discussion through extreme prolixity, so much so that it becomes quasi-scientific, you would surely cease reading. Football fanatics, as a rule, much prefer the terse, perspicuous locution of an article, as opposed to the more challenging and obscure format presented here.
The reason why the above paragraph looks horrifically out of place is because it is. If you don't write to an audience who will appreciate what it is you are going to say, you might as well unzip your fly, take it out, and pee longingly into the wind.
It's a total waste of time, it'll make you look like you don't know what you're doing and it'll leave everyone feeling thoroughly unsatisfied.
The same goes for football.
Most fans want the same thing: A fast pace of play, decisive attacks, flamboyant players who could trick the clouds out of the sky (whilst being tough tackling with it), and a solid back line who concede few and are imperious throughout.
It's what we all seek but failing that, and indeed more importantly than that, what the audience really wants is to win.
We are never happy when we don't win. Steve Gibson himself couldn't deny that this week whilst speaking about Steve McClaren amongst other things.
The frustration grows rapidly because fans know what the team is capable of so much more in defeat and when weeks pass without a victory, it can become a serious issue. Scratch that, it HAS become a serious issue.
Credit, then, where it's due. Sunday's emphatic dismissal of Arsenal underlined the belief Gibson has always held with regard to his current manager. It also went a long way, if not the full distance, to reminding fans why we love football and why we hold the club so very close to our hearts.
Sunday afternoon was a very good time to be a Boro fan but God knows we earned it.
Sanli Tuncay and Jeremie Aliadiere lead from the front bravely and showed commitment, work-rate and skill.
George Boateng and Fabulous Rochemback made Gilberto Silva and Lasana Diarra look like amateurs.
Jonathan Woodgate and David Wheater marshalled Emmanuel Adebayor so well that he barely had a kick, whilst Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil were constant threats throughout.
It also could, and perhaps should, have been more than a one goal deficit by the final whistle.
Each player can be analysed as to why they put in such tremendous displays. Tuncay, having scored one last week, and presumably with many in his home nation watching, had a point to prove. The same goes for Aliadiere who was playing against his former employer.
Julio Arca's return meant Boateng and Rochemback were fighting for their places and Downing needed a good display to keep the fans off his back.
The main thing though is that the players played well because the club is in peril and they all heeded the call from management and the fans. It was NOT simply because we were playing Arsenal.
Let us not deny that Arsenal were far from their imperious best and they were missing several key first team players. Yet this is in no way doing us a disservice. Arsenal at full tilt are the best in Europe and on Sunday we beat them fair and square over ninety minutes.
Tactically, we were spot on. Southgate, having gone to watch the Gunners at Newcastle last week, knew their strengths and weaknesses and how to act upon both to full effect.
Downing made it clear afterwards that he and the rest of the players were fully prepared with regards to what Arsenal were going to do. The Boro knew that they would sit back and let us have the ball but when they were in possession they would break quickly. The Boro also knew that Arsenal don't like being hassled.
Our players were quick into every tackle, won every second ball, and were happy to play a bit themselves, knowing that Arsenal would let us. It was almost as if we beat them at their own game - the pupil Southgate becoming the Wenger's master.
Our record against Arsenal stands up to any in the League at present. We've lost only one of the last five league encounters (although that was the 7-0 hammering at Highbury in January 2006), and have won two and drawn two of the remaining four.
In recent seasons our record against any of the top four stands up to that of any club outside the said quartet. Our problems arise against the lesser teams - teams in similar positions to ourselves - teams we should beat.
The Derby and West Ham games bare even more importance than the Arsenal clash and thankfully, they now have a little less pressure on them. Four points is the minimum we should be looking to take from those games however.
Whether we will is going to demonstrate whether or not Southgate really has got what it takes to turn us around.
Unfortunately, you only get as many points for beating the team who is top of the League as the team at the bottom so the performance at Derby is crucial. It won't be the walkover I fear some may be expecting.
The one real current concern is the fitness of Woodgate, who has been withdrawn bang on seventy minutes for two games in succession. Why this is remains unknown, although hopefully an inquisitive journalist will make this a priority question during the next press conference.
Having a player in an area as key as the centre of defence who can only muster seventy minutes every week is a genuine worry, particularly as it means Woodgate's fitness is actually getting worse as opposed to better. On Sunday, he didn't look happy to be withdrawn.
Football, we are told, is a universal language that the whole audience can understand.
Having seen us record our first win in ten weeks (the first win since I started this term of University - I finish for Christmas on Friday), Boro showed they are beginning to speak in a tongue the fans can understand. This includes impressive performances but performances that also generates a win.
If Sunday's performance can be translated into three more points on Saturday, we might just have something to smile about this Christmas.
Same time next week
UpTheBoro
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A GUARANTEED PROFIT OF AT LEAST £41.00 ON THE FA CUP FINAL
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