Source: Daily_Mail
Colin Young: Gordon Strachan hits crossroads at Middlesbrough
Should he stay or should he go? That is the question hanging over Gordon Strachan and Middlesbrough as they take a breather for the international games and take stock of their shocking start to the season.[LNB]Ask the majority of Middlesbrough supporters whether they would stand by the former Celtic boss and the answer would be an emphatic `no'. [LNB]But arguably the club's biggest fan, and without question the most important one, wants to persevere the Strachan regime. Meantime, Steve Gibson's target of promotion has not changed.[LNB] Under pressure: Gordon Strachan has failed to make an impact at the Riverside[LNB] More from Colin Young... NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Win at Chelsea, lose at home to Blackpool and Stoke - the wonderful back-to-front Tyneside world...29/09/10 Colin Young: North east pair need to feel fringe benefits of Carling Cup21/09/10 Colin Young: Sunderland's Cattermole needs to start leading by example14/09/10 Colin Young: Campbell gives Toon boss Hughton big selection headache07/09/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Titus Bramble proves his doubters wrong (for now) after summer move to Sunderland01/09/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle brought back down with a bump17/08/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Bruce and Hughton fear the window slamming11/08/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Middlesbrough fans can get up close and personal with the players - how will they respond?03/08/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Just to prove the point, even the club accounts, which were revealed last week, highlighted the importance of a return to the Premier League for the start of next season.[LNB]The directors' report, under the heading 'Future outlook', says: `The company is determined that the team can achieve promotion no later than at the end of the second season in the Football League as a result of the restructuring carried out and with the help of the reduced financial benefit still being received from the Premier League.'[LNB]The full impact of relegation was not shown in the latest glance at the books, but they already make alarming reading. Boro had turnover of £41.79million (down from £57.88m), and made an operating loss of £12.6m (down from £17.1m), the sale of players, post-relegation, brought in £17.4m, leading to loss on ordinary activities before tax of only £333,000 (against a loss of £12.79m the year before). Boro's wage bill also fell from £34m to £31.2m.[LNB]At the moment parachute money has helped keep the dream alive, but that will fall from £31m last season to £8m if they fail to go up. The figures certainly show that Middlesbrough can't really afford to sack Strachan.[LNB]Such a scenario looked unthinkable in the summer when Gibson funded Strachan's summer recruitment campaign to fund the signing of the strong characters Strachan felt could deal with the demands of the Championship, and the tag of favourites, to mount a serious challenge.[LNB]Not all the signings were Scottish, it just looked that way, but Strachan certainly raided the SPL and the Football League to build a team with his stamp on it. And a very weak stamp it looks at the moment too.[LNB]With attendance falling to their lowest ever - half the Riverside Premier League average - the most worrying aspect on the pitch for Strachan must be that players he was clearly convinced would dominate the Championship just haven't. And they don't really look they are going to.[LNB]By his own admission, as home crowds will testify, they have only really done that against Reading and their repeated self-inflicted collapses on away grounds have been inexcusable. The stats, he tells us, show Boro are a good side. The league table doesn't.[LNB] Anger: Boro's players were fuming in the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth[LNB]Kris Boyd hasn't fired at all yet, with just two goals from nine games, and as the SPL's record goalscorer, his impact on this division was always going to be under the closest scrutiny. And rightly so. He might have been a freebie but the current attendances can surely barely cover his wages alone.[LNB]The former Rangers striker has never been renowned for his work-rate, but his inability to put his penalty area prowess to full effect is down to the players behind and wide of him, and they are not creative enough. [LNB]Barry Robson has as many goals but creativity is not his strong point, which is unfortunate as the man on the right. The whole squad owes Strachan and Middlesbrough, but none more so than Robson. He may have claimed his innocence for his part in the late penalty equaliser against Portsmouth on Saturday but his actions cost his team and his manager. Not the act of a player with a strong mentality, nor one of his experience.[LNB]Strachan put this squad together and clearly still believes he can turn them round. The day that changes, I think he will walk. But they have to stay in the hunt for the top six somehow. [LNB] Big hope: Strachan was brought in to deliver Premier League football[LNB]A fresh face, new ideas might provoke a positive reaction, and the man most fans want is Tony Mowbray. But isn't he the man who made a mess of Strachan's Celtic squad? And didn't he force some of them to sign for er... Strachan and Middlesbrough.[LNB]Sensibly and characteristically, his chairman takes the view that as the man who totally dismantled the squad he inherited from Gareth Southgate, Strachan needs more time to get it right. He still has their support, so for now, who better to try get Middlesbrough back on track?[LNB]It does feel like a promotion probation period and Middlesbrough need to win games, starting with the televised home game with Leeds United, which will inevitably put the national spotlight on Strachan.He'll be looking forward to that. [LNB]Watch him come out fighting, one last round perhaps to keep Middlesbrough on their feet and off the ropes. Whether he can get his players to do the same will decide his fate, and the club's.[LNB] Middlesbrough 2 Portsmouth 2: Strachan under fire as Pompey hit backDerby 3 Middlesbrough 1: Strachan on the brink after another defeat[LNB]
