Source: Northern_Echo
Southgate issues a call for concentration
ELEVEN days of frantic transfer activity is expected, with many of Middlesbrough’s early-season pacesetters expected to be targeted.
Gareth Southgate, however, will try not to become bogged down by who may or may not be leaving the Riverside Stadium.
In Southgate’s ideal world, the transfer window would have closed on the day Boro started their Championship season against Sheffield United on August 7.
I n s t e a d , though, FIFA r e g u l a t i o n s state that transfers are allowed up until 5pm on September 1 this season, when Southgate will finally know which players he has lost to other clubs.
Middlesbrough will be looking to continue their impressive start to the season at home to Doncaster Rovers today, when a victory could see them end the day top of the Championship after four matches.
It is a position which has already alerted numerous Premier League clubs about some of Southgate’s players, although he is determined not to think about those he could lose.
“I have no idea how much change there will be this month and it’s out of my control to a degree,” said Southgate, who does hope to move on Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli if the price is right.
“I’m focusing on coaching and training the team. We have had to make tough decisions over the summer. We have started in a positive frame of mind.
“My job is not to comment on finances and that sort of thing. I got involved too much on that side of things last year.
“In the end supporters want their managers to comment on what their team is doing, why we have won, lost, drawn, who is going to play better next week. That’s my primary concern.
“I don’t think people want to here we have this money, no money, you give explanations for things but in the end people think they are excuses.
They are probably reasons.
But when you are winning games it’s easier.”
David Wheater, Robert Huth and Adam Johnson are just three of the players interesting Premier League outfits this month, but it is deals for Alves and Tuncay that Southgate would prefer to see done.
After opening the season with five goals and none conceded from their opening three league fixtures, Southgate’s only concern tomorrow will be continuing that run in front of their own fans.
“What I want is a team where everyone is playing for the shirt,” said Southgate.
“They are playing with tremendous pride and for each other. If we do that the our class will come out as it did at Scunthorpe and Swansea.
“We want a first home win because we want to make the Riverside a really tough place to come to. We have picked up good wins on the road and that’s great, but we also want to do that in front of our own fans.”
