Source: Daily_Mail
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Strachan has made a mark but novelty is wearing off
Hands up if you need a win: Strachan[LNB]The ingredients for a successful season? Take a fledgling manager you have supported from day one, having thrust him into a job he didn't really want in the first place (too soon) and sack him. [LNB]Appoint an experienced manager with a proven track record (well he won trophies in a pub league), who has some decent contacts and a very different perspective on life and football. [LNB]And then watch your beloved team fall down the league. [LNB]Strange times at Middlesbrough, even stranger decisions. Gareth Southgate goes, Gordon Strachan comes in so promotion is achieved. [LNB]But as we head to the New Year, Boro are losing their grip on their play-off place. And supporters are losing interest. [LNB]While few have doubted the wisdom and support of Steve Gibson in the past, the Middlesbrough chairman's halo is slipping on Teesside at the moment.[LNB]The decision to sack Southgate (or was it a mutual decision?) was a surprise only because Middlesbrough had enjoyed a good start to their Championship season, and were still in the top three when he left the Riverside. [LNB]Papering over the cracks? Gibson thought so. And although the majority of Middlesbrough supporters were sorry to see the demise of the man who lifted their only trophy - not least Gibson - it appeared to have universal support. [LNB]In fact the frankest observation was that it should have happened sooner. [LNB]When he survived the summer, and despite relegation and warnings from the chairman that there had to be improvements and lessons learned, the former club captain enjoyed the support of Gibson and that looked certain to continue as both attempted to steer the club back to the top flight. [LNB]Southgate, who had been forced to work under difficult financial constraints last year, certainly appears to have believed that would be the case when he headed to the boardroom after the home win over Derby County at the end of October. [LNB]How wrong he was. Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of the squadhe had built and he has left behind, these were Southgate's players,and most were Southgate signings. [LNB]He knew how to get the best out of them, and just occasionally he did so. [LNB]They wobbled at home, they gave away daft goals but they were on the heels of the top two. [LNB] Not enough: Dave Kitson scored twice at the weekend but bottom club Peterborough dug in for a 2-2 draw at London Road[LNB]He also knew the strengths and weaknesses of every single young player promoted from the Academy - of which there were probably too many - and he knew how much relegation had affected every person at the club. [LNB]The form of Adam Johnson since Southgate's departure and the appointment of Strachan should already set the alarm bells ringing. [LNB]Although the winger, crowned North East player of the year on Sunday night, could never have kept up his scintillating form and his outstanding goalscoring record - eight goals when Southgate said his emotional farewells - he has scored just once since. [LNB]Johnson, a target for numerous Premier League clubs, not least Sunderland, now has just a handful of months left on his contract and the negotiations with Middlesbrough, and without Southgate, have been stalling for just as long. [LNB]He looks to be heading out of the club as a free agent, and any compensation payment would be no compensation at all. [LNB] More from Colin Young... NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Wigan's humiliation may be bad news for Bruce24/11/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Jimmy Bullard hails Hull's unsung hero10/11/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: A sure sign this region has become a deadzone05/11/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Gordon's in, so Boro must back him with cash27/10/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Gareth Southgate crowded out at Middlesbrough as Gordon Strachan emerges as the wanted man to lead promotion charge21/10/09 Northern Exposure: Newcastle fans want promotion far more than they want Alan Shearer in or Mike Ashley out 20/10/09 COLIN YOUNG: Ireland persist with Ireland when Reid could replace Reid06/10/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Ian Harte fears the worst for return to Leeds 29/09/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE And four games in, Strachan has failed to win a game. They cannot hold on to leads, they are shipping goals and failing to create enough chances to bury weaker opponents and, even with Strachan's new striking additions, are not scoring enough goals. [LNB]Apart from that all is well. Judging by his utterances in his press conference before the visit to bottom-placed Peterborough last week, Strachan has been pretty unimpressed by the squad he has inherited. [LNB]The little changes he has made indicate he is prepared to wipe the slate clean - taking the captain's armband from David Wheater and giving it to Gary O'Neil; Julio Arca's four starts; the disappearance of Martin Emnes and Didier Digard; the loan signings of Dave Kitson, Marcus Bent and Isiah Osbourne. [LNB]But there is no time to experiment or wait for inexperienced players to perform. [LNB]And Middlesbrough certainly cannot afford for their players to feel sorry for themselves. [LNB]With every point they drop, the Premier League gets further away and while Newcastle grind out results and go from strength to strength in the Championship, Middlesbrough are losing valuable ground. [LNB]There are too many teams, once established regulars of the top league, who have allowed that to happen, and then found themselves anchored in the wrong division.[LNB] That was the nightmare Gibson saw unfolding in October, and that was why he decided to act. Brave and cruel. But was he right? [LNB]Familiar look: Southgate last season[LNB]As Middlesbrough tread water under Strachan, Southgate will not think so, and increasing numbers of Boro fans will start to believe the same. [LNB]When he was manager of Celtic, Strachan could do and say what he liked because chances were he would win every week.[LNB] And if you can win Scottish titles and cups in Glasgow who cares what anyone thinks of you? But it is different in the North East, especially when you are the manager of a struggling club; a club struggling to win matches and win over its fans. [LNB]Strachan gives the impression that press conferences and interviews - in fact the media full stop - are an irrelevance, a pain in the backside and a waste of his valuable time. [LNB]Why does anyone want to be asked and then have to answer stupid questions? [LNB]But supporters in this region expect a little more from their managers. They want to hear what they have to say, in fact they demand it. [LNB]And the new man only has to look at the managers who have tried to take on the media and the fans in past, and failed miserably, to realise he will have to change his perspective. [LNB]He will say winning football matches is all that matters, but as he is incapable of doing that so far, perhaps a little charm, and an acceptance of playing the media game will help him come through this unexpectedly turbulent start. [LNB]No one likes a manager who is a smartypants. Especially when he can't win matches.[LNB] All the fizz of the Coca-Cola Football LeaguePeterborough 2 Boro 2: Cooper on a high but Strachan still waitingGareth Southgate set to sue Middlesbrough for compensationDowning ready to repay Aston Villa boss O'Neill who signed him as a crock [LNB] Explore more:People:Adam Johnson, Gary O'Neil, David Wheater, Dave Kitson, Gareth Southgate, Gordon StrachanPlaces:Newcastle, Glasgow
