Source: Northern_Echo
Arca out to help Boro in from cold
JUST a few months after arriving in the North-East from Argentina, Julio Arca witnessed his first snowfall.[LNB] Nine years on, having been subjected to the worst cold snap since, the Middlesbrough midfielder still finds snow a shock to the system.[LNB] Over the course of the last eight weeks, the wintry weather has not been the only surprise at Boro's Rockliffe Park training headquarters, where a hot-tempered new boss has been warming things up.[LNB] Gordon Strachan, who took over in October after Gareth Southgate's departure, has spiced things up and players are treading carefully after spending three years under the more laid-back Southgate.[LNB] Given the three years of fighting relegation under the former manager, however, there is an acceptance that things needed to change. But the difference between the two men is such that it is taking time for the longer-serving players to adapt.[LNB] Gareth probably knew the majority of the players for a long, long time. Many came through the Academy and they trained with him when he was captain. Then things changed because he became the manager, but he knew them all and their strengths and weaknesses, said Arca.[LNB] Many of the guys didn't know the new gaffer and they have to adapt to his ideas and how he is. It will take time.[LNB] But he has come in with the right attitude to do the right things for the team.[LNB] We don't really know him yet. We know him as the manager but it doesn't go any deeper than that it is a manager- player relationship.[LNB] After taking a few tentative steps, Strachan has effectively introduced a new code of conduct and demands his players stick to the rules in place, with time-keeping figuring prominently.[LNB] It is a method he has used at Southampton, Coventry and Celtic, but Arca is also an admirer of his work on the training field even if it means being on the end of one of the manager's trademark insults.[LNB] He is strict, everything has to be right in training and when we do things he stops the games and explains what he wants us to do, said Arca. He is passionate and he likes us to do well. But he is calm as much as he can be.[LNB] He doesn't try to lose himself with us all the time. You may just see the pictures of him shouting by the touchline but he is not like that all the time.[LNB] Sometimes we deserve it when he shouts. He has lost his temper a little, he has been angry a little bit after games but I don't think it is 100 per cent yet.[LNB] Strachan hopes his way of doing things will bring a change in fortunes, knowing Scunthorpe arrive at the Riverside Stadium today when Middlesbrough have won just one of their eight matches under him.[LNB] It is probably a lack of confidence more than anything.[LNB] When you are in a bad run you start to think things will not go for you and, believe me, confidence is such a big thing for any team, said Arca.[LNB] When you are in a good run whatever you do goes the right way. When you lose you can be unlucky for one moment, the confidence is hit again and then when you concede it is harder to turn the game round.[LNB] It would be horrible if the team drops down the table because we are a better than that. We have shown it at the start of the season, and we played some good teams then.[LNB] The quality is still there in the team.[LNB] The players are still hungry for promotion. I don't know exactly why but we have to sort it out to click again and start to win games.[LNB] The poor run of form has not been the only thing frustrating Arca this week, having had to endure the freezing temperatures in the North-East.[LNB] The former Sunderland player, who moved to Wearside from Argentinos Juniors nine years ago, said: It was 2000 at the Charlie Hurley Centre when I first saw snow.[LNB] I remember it snowed loads, probably as much as now, and there has been snow since but nothing as bad as this.[LNB] I could never get my head round training in the snow and running around in it. It is something you have to do but I must admit I hate it. I am not a cold weather, winter person.[LNB] Even after all these years, I still hate it. I prefer to have sun all year. It was minus eight in the car this week and we can expect worse for January/ February.[LNB]
