Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan’s resolve is as strong as ever
DURING one of the most challenging runs he has experienced during his football career, Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan last night admitted he has been asking questions of himself in a bid to find a solution.[LNB] But the Boro boss, who has won just one of his first eight matches in charge, insists he has no regrets about taking over at the Riverside Stadium.[LNB] Strachan's frustration has grown after witnessing Middlesbrough drop from being contenders for automatic promotion to 14th in the Championship, where they are ten points shy of second place.[LNB] Intriguingly, though, he will be aware they are also only 11 points clear of the bottom three ahead of the Boxing Day visit of lowly Scunthorpe, a situation he knows needs addressing quickly.[LNB] But after criticism from the stands has been mounting in recent weeks, Strachan claims he remains as determined to turn fortunes around at the Teesside club as he did when he took on the job in late October.[LNB] The results have made things harder, but the job is exactly what I expected, said Strachan.[LNB] It has been harder, the working conditions have been fine, but the results have made it mentally harder to deal with. I always ask myself questions and I have been answering them in the last couple of weeks. I think as a manager I have got the answers.[LNB] Do I have regrets No, I am fine that way. You make decisions and you live with it. I have still got 20 years left ahead of me when I leave here to enjoy myself again and that's why I keep myself in good nick.[LNB] Strachan stopped short of saying that his start to life at Middlesbrough was the worst adversity he had encountered during a football career dating back to the early seventies.[LNB] But he said: It is a goodie, but you have to deal with it.[LNB] What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I don't enjoy it but I have to deal with it.[LNB] The witty Scotsman will not be losing any sleep over the criticism he has been receiving and he is trying to drum that approach into his players during difficult times.[LNB] The most overused thing I have heard in my life is the phrase about proving people wrong, said Strachan. I think you have to prove to yourself you can deal with it, first and foremost. Everybody else does not matter.[LNB] People say prove the critics wrong, but who are the critics[LNB] And that refers to everything.[LNB] If you hear Kenny Dalglish come on and he says this and that about you then you sit up and think about it.[LNB] If some drunken wife batterer says something about you, who has never kicked a ball in his life, then so what It does not count.[LNB] You have to understand that. You have to prove things to yourself in terms of dealing with adversity but that can only be answered by yourself.[LNB] I deal with it. I ask myself every day am I good enough to deal with it That is important, but I don't like the let's prove the critics wrong' because it is naff.[LNB] You really have to motivate yourself to do better and self-motivated players are better than ones who aren't.[LNB] Strachan knows he is not the only one to come under fire during the recent run, with goalkeeper Brad Jones being targeted the most by the boo-boys.[LNB] Jones' errors were responsible for gifting both Cardiff City and Newcastle United their opening goals in each of Middlesbrough's last two defeats.[LNB] It remains to be seen whether Jones will retain his place ahead of Danny Coyne against Scunthorpe, but Strachan feels the Australian's experiences will be good for character building.[LNB] Only time will tell. I could not tell you just now how he will react, said Strachan.[LNB] But it is propaganda if I say anything else because the only thing which I can say is in time we will know. If I say anything else that is just wasting time. Not just Jones, but that is the same for everybody.[LNB] When Mark Schwarzer was here he came in for some stick from the fans I remember, but he came out OK.[LNB] Brad just has to come through it. I repeat, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.[LNB] I asked myself questions every time I played. Every game, I was prepared to deal with what life throws at you.[LNB] I was told I was too small to make it. You have times in your life when it is uncomfortable, like when you leave school or start playing in the reserves.[LNB] Challenges are there all the way through and you will find them. At the time you think it is horrible but then you look back and think, well, it wasn't that bad.[LNB]
