Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan’s ways are taking a big hold
GORDON STRACHAN has left every member of his Middlesbrough squad clear in what is being demanded at the Riverside Stadium, with goalkeeper Danny Coyne insisting there is no room for shirkers.[LNB] Tuesday's defeat at Blackpool arrived on the back of a six-match unbeaten run that has re-ignited hopes of a Championship play-off place come the end of the season.[LNB] After helping to turn around a season that had threatened to descend into a relegation struggle before the January transfer window opened, Strachan was quick to stress to his players that complacency will not be accepted in the aftermath of the Bloomfield Road loss.[LNB] Middlesbrough will be back in training this morning, ahead of travelling for tomorrow's match at Nottingham Forest this afternoon, and the demanding Scottish boss wants to see hard work.[LNB] It took time for the players he inherited to learn the Strachan way, but now there is a clear understanding and growing respect, with a line drawn between enjoying his quick wit and adhering to the high standards he sets.[LNB] He's not nasty at all. That's the wrong perception people have of him. He is a good coach, who understands the game, said Coyne.[LNB] What he expects as a manager is that hard work should come naturally. He thinks lads should go in the gym, look after themselves, and work on the stuff they need to do.[LNB] As a player he used to do that, which is why he played as long as he did. That's what he expects players to do. I'm of that thought as well. You are a professional player and you should work as hard as you can for every game.[LNB] If players don't give that then they know about it. He's not shy with that. He lets you know. It was a shock initially because they have not had anything else.[LNB] It's not personal, he just wants players to better themselves.[LNB] He's firm but fair.[LNB] Some lads did not know how to take him, but if you do things right he will be fair.[LNB] Otherwise you will know about it.[LNB] In recent weeks Strachan has regularly revealed his delight at the number of players who have declared themselves fit enough to play, despite knowing they are still carrying an injury.[LNB] Gary O'Neil, his captain, has been doing that and his groin problem will be monitored again today before a decision is made on whether or not he should be risked at Forest.[LNB] Emanuel Pogatetz and Tony McMahon, who is sidelined with a broken foot, have also played through pain.[LNB] Coyne said: He loves players putting themselves forward to play if they are injured.[LNB] He has brought that up himself. If I'm manager I would love players knocking on my door saying that I want to play. They are professionals and that's what it should be like.[LNB] Coyne might have been on a day off yesterday but he still put himself forward to offer advice to young goalkeepers at in Eston.[LNB] The mud-bath was reminiscent of the conditions at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday, when Boro found it difficult to adapt to the conditions, ending in a defeat which leaves them three points off sixthplace.[LNB] But Coyne said: We have to bounce back. We have been looking stronger, but playing Saturday-Tuesday games for three weeks in a row can take their toll with injuries etc and that's what happened.[LNB] We have not had a settled back four. We want consistency so it was nice to get on a sixmatch unbeaten run.[LNB] Now we have to go to Forest on Saturday, a good side, one of the best in the division and return to form.[LNB] Coyne was busy passing advice to budding goalkeepers at Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community at the town's Eston centre yesterday.[LNB] He later answered questions from the children read about it in Paul Fraser's blog at www.northerecho.co.uk/sport /football/blog[LNB]
