Source: Northern_Echo
Splashing the cash in quest for promotion
TWELVE months ago Middlesbrough were being tipped to lead the charge to the Premier League after Gordon Strachan had invested £6m in his squad. This time around supporters at the Riverside Stadium are going to have to be more realistic.[LNB] One of the main reasons Boro were fancied so highly last season was because there was a general belief the division did not have too many contenders. Tony Mowbray, Strachan's successor, does not have things quite the same.[LNB] Not only has the money dried up completely and Mowbray has had to oversee a summer of cost cutting on Teesside, he has also had to sit back and witness the ever changing squads of the ambitious clubs around him.[LNB] If there were only a select few clubs that many had earmarked for automatic promotion last season, the new season has started with more than half of the division in with a genuine chance of a play-off place at least.[LNB] Middlesbrough, despite reducing the wage bill by more than 50 per cent under Mowbray, quite rightly have to believe they are good enough to be contend for a top six place - and they probably are, particularly if he can add one or two in the next four weeks.[LNB] But there are so many clubs intent on a top two finish that Middlesbrough, whose only senior permanent signing this summer is Frenchman Malaury Martin, face a real fight to be up there.[LNB] Leicester, 22nd last season, are favourites. Kasper Schmeichel, Sean St Ledger, David Nugent, Paul Konchesky and John Pantsil are among nine new faces at the Walkers Stadium. And Sven-Goran Eriksson still wants another striker.[LNB] Eriksson's former assistant and ex-Boro boss Steve McClaren has also been given licence to invest during his first summer back in English football.[LNB] McClaren, assisted on the coaching side by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, has increased the North-East connection at Nottingham Forest by landing Andy Reid, Jonathan Greening, George Boateng.[LNB] Chris Hughton, who led Newcastle out of the Championship, will be aiming to repeat the feat in his first season in charge at Birmingham.[LNB] He will, though, have to do that without the likes of Craig Gardner, Barry Ferguson and Ben Foster who have moved on following relegation from the top-flight and there are likely to be more.[LNB] Then there's Sam Allardyce at West Ham, where the ex-Mapgies boss has been able to hand Premier League contracts to Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye.[LNB] Promotion is an essential requirement at Upton Park - and their spending illustrates that.[LNB] Cardiff City's decision to bring in Malky Mackay - after flirting with Alan Shearer - has sparked a spending spree which has included Andrew Taylor and two former Boro targets in Kenny Miller and Craig Conway.[LNB] Ipswich, Burnley and Blackpool - who face a testing season without Charlie Adam and David Vaughan - should also have an outside chance, but perhaps the biggest surprise package could be Brighton.[LNB] It is 28 years since the Seagulls last played in the top tier of English football and there is a feeling on the south coast that this could be the year they return.[LNB] Craig Mackail-Smith's decision to reject Leicester and move to Brighton is an indication of the impact Brighton want to make and he will partner Will Hoskins - signed from Bristol Rovers - in attack.[LNB] Gus Poyet delivered promotion from League One with an attractive brand of football and by signing the likes of Kazenga LuaLua from Newcastle and Will Buckley from Watford, he is keen to do the same again.[LNB] Throw in the buzz surrounding the move to their new 22,374-seater Amex Stadium and the highly-rated Poyet could have delivered back-to-back promotions come May.[LNB]
