Source: Northern_Echo
Stubborn Strachan confident players will come good
GORDON Strachan insists he will not panic into changing the way his team play after a difficult start but believes his side are getting better and better with every game.[LNB] The Scot takes his Middlesbrough side to Loftus Road today for their clash with Championship leaders QPR and with the Teessiders yet to win away from home, they face a difficult challenge against a side unbeaten so far.[LNB] Strachan admits scoring goals has been a big problem for his side and, while QPR have netted 11 in four games, Boro have only managed three but the boss believes goals will come without having to change the set up of his team.[LNB] I've played a couple of different systems so far this season and I don't think I'll be changing it again, Strachan insisted. If we make the same amount of chances that we did against Millwall and Barnsley I'll be happy with that. If we start to take our chances then things will be different.[LNB] I don't think the problem is with the system at the moment.[LNB] It's what you can do with the players you've got and how you can get the most out of them but I think there's one or two things we need to do better within the system.[LNB] Boro's only win this season came at home to Sheffield United and while they are yet to win on the road, Strachan believes his side have performed better away from home.[LNB] All games are hard, but it depends how we play, the former Celtic manager said.[LNB] Funnily enough I think our best performances in terms of chances have come in the last two games away at Millwall and Barnsley and we've got beat.[LNB] Football can be a bit perplexing at times but we'll keep on plugging away until we put it together.[LNB] Strachan also revealed new signing Michael Tavares could be in contention for his first appearance for the club after joining on loan from Bundesliga side Hamburg The Senegal international was drafted in by Strachan late in the transfer window to compensate for injuries in central midfield to Kevin Thomson, Willo Flood and Rhys Williams and he claims Tavares could prove a useful signing.[LNB] He will be in contention for Saturday, because of the big hole we have in that area,'' he said.[LNB] I have to be fair, it was kind of forced upon us, but sometimes in life you can stumble across something good and he may be very beneficial to us this season.[LNB] He's got composure, strength and height. To play for Hamburg you're no mug.[LNB] He was unfortunate that the manager who signed him left and the new guy didn't fancy him but that's sometimes the case and I've had to do that with a few of ours.[LNB]
