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MIDDLESBROUGH v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - SOUTHGATE PLAYS DOWN RAMOS EFFECT
Gareth Southgate has played down the potential impact Juande Ramos could have on struggling Tottenham at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The highly-rated Spanish coach will taste Barclays Premier League football for the first time when Spurs kick-off against Boro at the Riverside Stadium.
Given the huge hype which has surrounded his protracted appointment, Ramos begins his bid to lift the north London giants out of the bottom three amid high expectations.
Southgate, however, believes those hoping for miracles are unrealistic.
Asked if the appointment of a new manager makes a huge difference to a truggling team, the Boro boss answered: "I don't think it has much of an impact.
"Tottenham did well in the cup on Wednesday (in Ramos's first game against Blackpool) but that was the case under Martin Jol.
"Obviously he's just arrived at Tottenham so if he has an immediate impact that will be as much by chance or by players wanting to prove a point as by what he had time to do this week.
"He will have had minimal time on the training ground, but sometimes having to prove yourself to a new manager gives you a lift.
"If the players get a boost, that's interesting in regard to what was going on there before. If they do improve dramatically then you have to ask questions of the players.
"They are third from bottom, so confidence can't be particularly high.
"He (Ramos) is an appointment they've made for the long term, if they get short term results that can be down to chance."
Southgate added: "It doesn't always happen that way.
"Bolton have had a draw and loss since they changed managers, it doesn't always have an immediate impact."
The last time Southgate and Ramos crossed swords was the 2006 UEFA Cup final.
On that occasion, the Spaniard's Sevilla side emerged victorious, winning 4-0 in Eindhoven in a match that turned out to be Southgate's final competitive game as a player.
Recalling the game, the former Boro skipper said: "We knew that Seville were a good side, we probably didn't appreciate exactly how good a side they were until we played them that night.
"We got the result we deserved, they were far better than us and at the time we weren't ready for it.
"But that's past history, I'm sure it was a great night in his career but he's at Tottenham now and he's got to travel up here and get a result."
Of greater concern to Southgate will be fielding a team that can overcome tomorrow's opponents and thereby open up a four point gap on them.
Former Spurs striker Mido has failed to overcome a groin injury, although Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli are fit.
In midfield, captain George Boateng may again have to make do with a place on the bench with teenager Lee Cattermole set to start.
After picking up just one point from a possible 18, Southgate knows his side has to start winning games, especially as three of the club's next six games are against teams currently occupying the relegation places.
He said: "The next five to six games up to the lead up to Christmas are significant to our league position - each one carries a three-point reward and throughout the bad run we've had we're still just one or two points behind six or seven teams.
"None of us are happy where we are, none of us are enjoying losing matches, but we know what has to be done, we intend to play good football tomorrow and to win the game.
"It's an important month, definitely. We've had some important fixtures over the last couple of weeks and I don't necessarily think the games get easier because we're still up against quality opposition.
"Every team in this division is a test but after being on the road we've got a couple of home games in our next three and we want to make those count."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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