Source: Northern_Echo
O'Neil claims hard work can iron out Boro flaws
GARY O'Neil has echoed Gordon Strachan's sentiments about "fundamental flaws" at Middlesbrough, and claimed the current crisis is part of a deeper malaise that can be traced back more than two seasons.[LNB] Despite kicking off the campaign as favourites for the Championship title, Boro go into today's game with Portsmouth just two points above the relegation zone.[LNB] Successive 3-1 away defeats have exposed major weaknesses within the squad, and raised serious questions about Strachan's ability to oversee a successful promotion push.[LNB] The Scot hinted at deep-rooted problems in his post-match press conference at Derby on Tuesday, and while he continues to insist that a top-two finish is a realistic ambition, O'Neil accepts Boro's current difficulties have not appeared overnight.[LNB] "We've gone two-and-a-half seasons now without doing what we wanted to do," said the skipper, who is hoping to shrug off an ongoing knee problem to take his place in the starting line-up this afternoon.[LNB] "We got relegated from the Premier League, and our aim that year was to finish in the top half. Last year our aim was to get promoted, and we failed. This year we were aiming to start well, and we've failed at that as well. So there's obviously something going wrong.[LNB] "Sometimes, it's hard to put your finger on what it is, but I can guarantee you it isn't a lack of effort from the gaffer or the lads. We're all desperately working out what we have to do to turn it around. But it's obvious at the minute that things aren't going for us."[LNB] On the evidence of this week's disappointments at Watford and Derby, there appears little likelihood of Boro improving sufficiently to turn around a season that has already contained five defeats, one more than Newcastle United recorded in the whole of last term.[LNB] Nevertheless, O'Neil has seen enough in his footballing career to know that dramatic improvements are possible. Back in 2005, the midfielder was captain of Portsmouth when Alain Perrin guided the south coast club to just 11 points in the opening three-and-a-half months of the season.[LNB] When Harry Redknapp took over, Pompey were rooted to the foot of the table, but they lost just two of their final ten matches as they survived with a game to spare.[LNB] There will be no managerial reshuffle to inspire a similar revival at the Riverside, with chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb determined to give Strachan every opportunity to turn things around, but O'Neil remains confident that brighter times are possible and has identified an increase in workrate as the key catalyst for change.[LNB] "I was captain down at Portsmouth when we were bottom of the league by miles," he said. "We couldn't win a game before Christmas, but then Harry came in and it was weird really.[LNB] "He got the workrate stats for that season and we were about second bottom in the league for how hard we were working. He set us a target to outwork every team we played against, and we did that for the last ten games. We won seven of them, and made up an eight-point deficit on Birmingham to stay up with a game to spare.[LNB] "It can definitely be done, and sometimes, it can be as simple as working that little bit harder. You might be thinking. Oh we haven't got this player who can beat someone' or We haven't got this player who can score enough goals', but sometimes effort and work can be the difference. This is important. If everyone puts in that little bit extra, we'll find out whether we're good enough or not as a group."[LNB] Strachan has also been emphasising the importance of calmness and composure this week, and while results have not gone to plan since the Scot replaced Gareth Southgate last October, O'Neil has enjoyed working for a manager who was one of the most respected midfielders of his generation.[LNB] "The gaffer works really hard to improve people," he said. "He's worked really hard with me to try to improve aspects of my game. The amount of work he puts in to improve people is unbelievable, it's more than I've ever had from any other manager.[LNB] "He's more hands on than I've ever seen. Normally, managers these days leave it to their coaches to do. He puts in a lot of work and I've found him really good to work with."[LNB]
