Source: Northern_Echo
Middlesbrough Comment: High-earners sacrificed in stark contrast to Strachan's spending spree
A YEAR ago Middlesbrough were one of the biggest spending club's in the Championship, a summer restructuring plan that saw Gordon Strachan splash out £6m on a side that was tipped to win promotion back to the Premier League.[LNB] Twelve months on though, and it couldn't be a more different story on Teesside. Boro welcome Portsmouth to the Riverside tomorrow for their opening Championship fixture on the back of a very difficult summer.[LNB] Considerable changes have been made at the Riverside both on and off the field with chairman Steve Gibson eager to get the club back on an even keel financially.[LNB] Off the field, chief executive Keith Lamb left after 25 years at the club while on the field a drastic squad overhaul has seen several players move on.[LNB] Article continues below[LNB] IN [LNB] G Carl Ikeme Wolves, loan M Luke Dobbie Everton, free M Malaury Martin Blackpool, free F Curtis Main Darlington, free [LNB] OUT [LNB] D Andrew Taylor Cardiff, free F Kris Boyd Eskehirspor, nominal fee F Leroy Lita Swansea, £175m M Didier Digard Nice, free M Julio Arca unattached M Willo Flood Dundee United, free [LNB] Unlike a year ago, when the now departed Strachen was given sizeable funds to build a squad, current boss Tony Mowbray has had to carry out his summer recruitment project in an entirely different manner.[LNB] Boro fans have watched a number of first-team players leave Teesside in the past 12 months high earners such as Andrew Taylor, Kris Boyd and Didier Digard sacrificed to reduce the club's wage bill by up to 50 per cent.[LNB] However, with all the departures, there has been little in the way of replacements. Malaury Martin, Curtis Main and Luke Dobbie have arrived at the club, but you can't help but think Mowbray's squad looks dangerously thin.[LNB] Of course, there is still time for Mowbray to add to his squad, and after the recent departure of Leroy Lita to Swansea City, the purse strings could loosen slightly.[LNB] Something the club has done successfully this summer is keep a hold of the young talent that shone through in what was an otherwise difficult campaign last time out.[LNB] The likes of Joe Bennett, Jason Steele, Seb Hines and Richie Smallwood showed last season why Boro's youth set-up is regarded as one of the best around and they will prove vital in the quest to improve on last season's mid-table finish.[LNB] After a disastrous first half of the season, Boro ended the campaign in blistering form, suffering just one defeat in their final 12 games and if Mowbray's men can pick up where they left off early on they will be well on course to improve.[LNB] What fans must remember, though, is the huge transitional phase the club is going through. A new chapter is underway and the financial situation will provide a stern test of Mowbray's managerial skills.[LNB]
