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THE OUTSIDER
WHERE WEST BROM AND NEWCASTLE HAVE SUCCEEDED, WE HAVE FALTERED
Lachlan Sadler, 24 Nov 2009
The international break has not been kind to Boro.
We don't exactly have many players who are
travelling around the world playing for their countries, and it meant that we had
one extra week to mull over embarrassing 1-0 defeats at the hands of Plymouth and
Crystal Palace.
I wish I could say
that I was surprised that we didn't put in a satisfying performance against
Nottingham Forest. The draw leaves us 11th in the Championship table and only
marginally closer to guaranteed promotion than we are to relegation.
Column Continues Below...
A few weeks ago, I
wrote that we had to aim for a spot in the top two. Now, for the first time, we
are facing the very real possibility of not even making the play-offs.
Nottingham Forest were the better team and their position two spots above us in the Championship
table now reflects this.
The question must be
asked: why are we struggling so much in this division when West Brom and
Newcastle are thriving?
West Brom finished equal on points to us in the
Premiership but below us on goal difference. Meanwhile, Newcastle were only two points above
us. By all rights, we should not be struggling as much as we are.
With West Brom, the
answer is more obvious: they are accustomed to football in the Championship.
They never really adjusted to the Premiership and going back to the
Championship must have felt like going back home. They have slotted right back
into the swing of the Championship as if they never left, and look certain to
be promoted back to the Premiership.
Newcastle faced a similar situation to Middlesbrough in the wake of their relegation. However, they have
dealt with it much more effectively.
Just like us, they have been forced to
sell some of their biggest players. However, it's hard to find a
reason for their success in this division and our impending failure.
I believe
that the Championship has exacerbated the weaknesses which were
evident in our side when we were relegated. Our inconsistency, our
inability to close out games and our mercy shown to lesser teams: these weaknesses
have been exaggerated, not obscured, by Championship football.
Likewise, the faith of our
supporters, while stretched during relegation, has been shattered as a result
of out lacklustre displays in the Championship.
Many supporters felt
that the Championship would be a bit softer on us, that it would be more
forgiving. Instead, it has been
quite as brutal as the Premiership. Mistakes and poor performances here aren't
tolerated and the quicker we learn this, the quicker we can start to rise up
the table.
We need a major change
in our mentality and our performances if we want a chance of getting back
into the Premiership any time soon.
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