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THE ACADEMY'S YEAR TO SHINE 13-8-07
Rob Dixon
Hello again! It's good to be back with my first column of 07/08!
Of course, some of the pedants amongst you may claim my predictions for the new season were actually my first contribution to the website this year, but sadly I've had to disregard them already.
I should have known as soon as I'd revealed my hopes for James Morrison to have a barnstorming season that the lad would be leaving the club. In fact, getting my blessing may have been what pushed the crooner over the edge and made him sign that WBA contract. I seem to have more of an adverse effect on the team (see Pompey Was My Fault) than Steve McClaren ever did.
Anyway, let's forget about that. Here we are looking forward to a new season, a new year, a new beginning. and every other cliché I can use to avoid commenting on what will no doubt be another nine months of average results and inconsistent performances.
This may sound harsh, but I have to join the other miserablists in stating that, at the time of writing, our first-team squad is so shallow it could be a paddling pool.
Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted with Southgate's astuteness in the transfer market. The additions of Luke Young, Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli for such small amounts looks set to be some of the best business done this pre-season.
However, while the unnecessary sale of Morrison and the £6million bid for Alan Smith suggests there is still money to spend, the quality of some of the other players we have been linked with hasn't got me too excited for the new campaign. Steve Gibson may end up cursing the day he mentioned 'spectacular signings' if Georgios Samaras signs on deadline day.
The over-inflated transfer market of this pre-season has caused a lot of misery for football fans over this summer. Premiership prices for Championship quality have forced so many sides to pay over the odds that, on paper, it looks like Boro in particular are being left behind in the summer sales.
I on the other hand feel the players who may make the most impact this season could already be at the football club, and it's up to Southgate, Cooper and co to recognise the potential and use our home-grown resources when necessary.
Whispers abound of exciting attacking talents such as right winger (yes, that's right winger) Graeme Owens, while Tom Craddock's goal scoring exploits in the reserve team deserve some first team attention. Elsewhere, we may also see the continuing development of Adam Johnson, a player whose undoubted talent has been spoilt somewhat by his lack of physical presence. Maybe this could be the year that the boy comes of age.
David Wheater is also worth a mention. After an impressive pre-season, he has the chance to stake his claim to more regular involvement with a place in the starting XI against Blackburn. He has always performed well when called upon, but this is his time to really shine.
It is also worth noting that Andrew Davies, Lee Cattermole, Andrew Taylor and Stewart Downing should no longer be referred to as just 'promising youngsters'. They are first-team squad members and they now have to finally repay the faith that our manager has shown in them with the consistent performances they undoubtedly can produce.
The idea that our club's academy is the best in the country has been talked about for the past two or three seasons, and with some of the national press mentioning the team in the same sentence as relegation, it's about time the hardcore fans finally had something to really shout about again.
Who needs to buy in 'spectacular' players when we could already have some in our own backyard? Let's pour our faith into the current crop and the next generation, as the up-and-coming youngsters may just hold the key to another rollercoaster season.
Until next time!
Come on Boro!
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