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WHAT DO WE DO WITH A PROBLEM LIKE THE BORO? 29-4-08
Rob Dixon
Last month, I ended my column with an urge for change.
I wrote hopefully of our beloved Boro's plight to end the ironically consistent inconsistency that has blighted them for an age.
Well, that worked didn't it?
Since that article, a predictably nervy win over Derby was followed by battling, driving performances against the top two.
By also throwing in a draw at Spurs and the losses to Bolton and Sunderland, you have some kind of microcosm that completely sums up the side's problems over the past two or three seasons.
Playing the noble and stoic outsiders is something that Boro do with aplomb.
However, when chasing a game, the limitations are there for all to see. The only way that these issues are ever going to end is with one very obvious solution - we need some new players.
I know this isn't a revelation but recent weeks have shown it more than ever.
When I read fans' comments, I see messages in support of the manager and others calling for his execution. Funnily enough, I can empathise with both sides of the coin.
Mr Gareth's squad is limited but is this his own doing?
I know that Adam Johnson remains highly thought of despite not actually displaying any form for the Boro. This suggests that he will become a permanent fixture in the team.
Yet Southgate's regular substitution of bringing him on for either Tuncay or Aliadiere smacks of a lack of options. What does AJ offer compared to those two other than a fresh pair of legs?
More competition is needed if the team are to go anywhere. Also, calls from fans for a complete renovation of the midfield are not exaggerated. It is needed.
Stewart Downing is arguably the only player in that part of the pitch who should be a shoe-in.
Both Arca and Rochemback have shown that while they are relatively gifted, they don't have that spark of creativity or imagination that we desperately need.
I also rate Gary O'Neil but it is difficult to really say at this time whether he should be put into the middle.
Mohammed Shawky is a name often mentioned as a potential saviour but he appears to either be unrated by the man who bought him or constantly niggled by injuries. Even his few weeks at the African Cup of Nations were blighted by a knock.
The Boat continues to work hard in a way that suggests he's worth hanging on to, while the jury is still very much out on the man formally known as Super Lee.
So what do we need to reinvigorate the midfield?
Steve Sidwell is mentioned by the Daily Mail and I have to admit that he could be useful. The man has a lot to prove after being lured by the almighty dollar to Chelski. A move to a club like ours would give him a chance to join what is (hopefully) a relatively young side with a strong spine of English talent.
Other names include Pennant and Lennon. Both players are increasingly falling out of favour with their respective managers and could provide the width needed on the right. However, I'm a little bit more unsure about these two as you can doubt the quality of their deliveries.
The other option would be to look to foreign shores but if Southgate does this again, he could risk losing the fans who continue to stand by him.
While the moves for the likes of Tuncay and Alves is now slowly paying off, it has taken too long for them to bed into the side.
If Boro are to avoid the same problems they had at the start of this season, they need players who are instantly aware of their surroundings and the rigours of the Premier League.
Without a doubt, the other problem area for Boro to address in the summer is that of goalkeeper. It is safe to assume that Schwarzer will be off as I doubt anyone can blame him for looking at a move to Bayern or Juventus.
However, recent weeks have given his two understudies a chance to stake a claim to his place, with only one of them really looking like a possibility.
I've always seen Ross Turnbull as a decent shot stopper and think that he will improve as time goes on. However, Southgate may be unsure about pitching him in as number one just yet.
This leaves Brad Jones who, in all honesty, barely deserves mention. It may sound harsh but his performance at Sunderland – as well as a number of other showings in the past - shows that he really isn't up to it. His decision-making is nothing more than suicidal. There is a word for a goalkeeper like him – liability.
If Southgate discovers Schwarzer is ready to leave, he has to make a big decision quickly. Does he put faith in one of the reserves or does he invest?
He can't dwell on it too long as the position is so vital to the rest of the team. The game against the Mackems showed how indecisive a defence can be if the fella behind them is a clown.
Without giving him the kiss of death, I still have some faith in Southgate.
However, I don't have the same feelings towards his squad. Last year, he had to wrestle with the loss of his two main strikers. But this time, he has an opportunity to decide who he wants to clear out and hopefully retain the players he feels he needs.
In a way, it makes next season an even bigger test for the manager and his footballing philosophies.
Of course, this all depends on whether we stay up, so feel free to ignore anything written here if the unthinkable happens.
On that happy note
Up the Boro.
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