Southgate Looks To Vaughan For Goals September 10, 2009
Posted by stuart in James Vaughan, Southgate, Transfer Rumours.Tags: David Moyes, Everton, Gareth Southgate, James Vaughan, Middlesbrough, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu Aiyegbeni
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Gareth Southgate is apparently inquiring about a possible loan move for 21-year-old James Vaughan. The young striker will have limited chances to shine this year at Everton with the likes of Yakubu, Saha, Jo and Anichebe ahead of him in the pecking order. Southgate is reported to be ready to pounce for the Birmingham born striker who would fit straight into the Boro team with his goal scoring instincts.
Fingers crossed this one materialises because the lad would be a great addition to help us top the Championship. David Moyes will be reluctant to loan the player to a Premiership club so a move to a Championship club would be the best scenario for everybody involved. Vaughan, at his age, just wants to play football and the only way for him to get any consistency as a striker is if he plays week in week out. What you waiting for Vaughany, get up here!
What do you think of a possible move for the Everton youngster? Would he be a hit in the Championship?
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Gary O’Neil Fighting Fit For Ipswich Game September 5, 2009
Posted by stuart in Middlesbrough, O'Neil, Southgate.Tags: Boro, Gareth Southgate, Gary O'Neil, Ipswich Town, Julio Arca, Middlesbrough F.C.
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Gary O’Neil will strengthen Southgate’s options next week if he can be fit for the Ipswich Town game at the Riverside next Saturday. The 26-year-old has been in heroic form so far this season and even postponed a hernia operation to play in the first four league matches of the new season.
Julio Arca has come in for O’Neil and has done a steady job, nothing more so the return of O’Neil will be a massive boost for Southgate’s men as we look to get back to winning ways. I was concerned during transfer deadline day because I thought a Premiership team would come in for the midfielder, but luckily nobody did and now he can concentrate on his game and help us push for the Championship title. We need more players like O’Neil this season – a no nonsense type of player that has a bit of class on the ball, but ultimately is a workhorse.
It will be good to have him back in the middle of the park bossing the midfield because I thought we definitely missed his guile and tenacity in the 2-1 loss to Bristol City. Fingers crossed he can make the home game next week.
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Time For A Change At Boro? September 4, 2009
Posted by stuart in Gibson, Lamb, Southgate.Tags: Gareth Southgate, Keith Lamb, Middlesbrough F.C., Steve Gibson, Steve McClaren, Tuncay Sanli
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It’s Friday lunchtime and I feel I should be doing the predictions and preview for Boro’s next game, but that isn’t until next Saturday. What will I write about today then to replace the normal feature? I was reading all the garbage that followed our dismal trading in the transfer window and have come to the conclusion that we are heading for a transition at the club. Times are changing, but what can we expect to happen in the next six months?
I have come up with two scenarios which are possible considering the unpredictable environment of professional football. These are purely opinions, but feel free to jump in at any time and let me know your thoughts.
Scenario 1 – Gibson Sets Sail From Middlesbrough
So, after one of the most disappointing summer transfer windows involving Middlesbrough we have lost five key players and replaced them with two players, one being a relatively unknown quantity – Yeates. Keith Lamb expressed why we had to sell during these painful times at Middlesbrough. TV money was lost as soon as we were relegated leaving us needing to find funds to pay our way through the Championship this season. Mido, Downing, Huth, Tuncay and Alves were all sold leaving Gibson to fill the gaps with over £30million in transfer monies. With Aliadiere, O’Neil and Arca being the only remaining high earners at the club the wage-bill has significantly dropped meaning we are now in a healthy position, but that is as far as it goes because behind the scenes there must be something going on.
Southgate was unable to use any of the transfer money that was recouped with the sales of key players – our gaffer even said his hands were tied until we sold players on, but when that did happen (Tuncay and Huth to Stoke) was their funds available for Southgate? No. So that brings me to my first suggestion about the future of the club and the way it is run. Steve Gibson is certainly having problems outside of football with his business, which has been well documented so I think he might be on the verge of selling the club to save himself financially even though he is very wealthy, I’m sure you know what I mean. Money coming in and no money going out is surely a sign that something is about to happen!?
Scenario 2 – Gibson Resurrects The Riverside Revolution
My second scenario is something that will perk any Boro fan up. Although this is far from reality, it could well happen within the next four months. There might be a reason why Southgate has not been handed the cheque book this summer. Steve and Keith are plotting a replacement for Southgate which will be presented to the club and the fans early in the new year. Southgate is certainly on borrowed time since guiding the team to relegation and it is thought that Gareth has been given only 15 games to get it right this season otherwise he is off. Five games in and it is going ok for Southgate, but we do face some tough teams in the next ten fixtures.
Gibson let the fans down when McClaren left in 2006 by saying he would bring in a top manager to guide the team back into Europe once again, but that never came instead we were rewarded with Gareth Southgate – a rookie manager that has not improved the squad at all in three years. Gibson has to be very careful with his next big decision because there are big cracks appearing on Sir Steve’s reputation as the best’ chairman in the game. We might be seeing Steve Gibson deliver a top manager to Middlesbrough within the next few months. If he does, I’m sure a new manager would have a war-chest to dig into during the January transfer window – that’s why we didn’t buy this summer. It has been said by many before today, I will just reiterate the point about needing a top manager that is equally adept at proceedings on and off the pitch. Keep your eyes peeled for developments. It is going to be a very interesting few months off the pitch, maybe a Riverside revolution will return!
Let me know your thoughts people. Do you agree with one of those scenarios or do you have a different take on things that will happen at the club in the near future.
Once again, this post is purely opinion.
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Cup Run Can Help Boro’s Promotion Push August 25, 2009
Posted by stuart in Carling Cup, Southgate, Steve Gibson, Steve McClaren.Tags: Carling Cup, Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough F.C., Nottingham Forest, Steve Gibson, Steve McClaren
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Five years ago we won our first major piece of silverware in Cardiff. The 2004 campaign brought us the memories that will never be forgotten until we eclipse that achievement by winning the trophy again, but this time at Wembley.
Only five years on and we have experienced so much for a town club in the North East. Since that day when we saw Juninho punch the air with delight and Gibson getting soaked with champagne we have hiked through Europe on two occasions reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 2006 and also coming close to appearing in three finals of the F.A. Cup only to be beaten by the eventual losing finalists.
A shift in management has seen the McClaren days turn into the Southgate reign – something which was questionable at the time and will still continue to be analysed until we win another trophy or embark on another European journey. Gareth Southgate knows what the fans want at the Riverside, he just needs to deliver it. So far this season he has got everything spot on; performances on the pitch and also the activity off the pitch.
The Premier League will be Southgate’s main objective this season and achieving promotion at the first attempt will be a case of job done, but is their room in our objectives this season for a decent cup run in the Carling Cup? Why not, the boss has to keep the momentum going for the sake of our league preparations so a good spell in the League Cup can be a good distraction from the Championship for the players as they remain mentally strong for the season long haul.
Our Carling Cup campaign starts tonight at Nottingham Forest. How far can we go and would a good cup run benefit our Premier League promotion push?
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Boro Close To Yeates Deal June 24, 2009
Posted by stuart in Follow The Boro Brick Road, Middlesbrough, News, Southgate.Tags: Follow The Boro Brick Road, Gareth Southgate, Mark Yeates, Middlesbrough
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Mark Yeates could be Middlesbrough’s first summer signing. The 24-year-old is a wanted man in the Championship and apparently Gareth Southgate has him on his wish list to strengthen the squad for a promotion challenge.
If Yeates does head up north to the Riverside it will cost Gibbo around £500,000. After speaking to some Colchester fans, they said he is a class player, but does have his quiet days. Just what we need then to help us back into the Premiership. He can play in midfield or up front so Southgate will have options on where to play the versatile potato waffle.
A good thing to come out of this potential summer signing would be the chance to put a nice rhyme together about Wheates and Yeates!
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Boro Players Need To Stand Up For The Fight March 19, 2009
Posted by stuart in Aliadiere, Alves, Arca, Bates, Boro, Digard, Downing, Huth, Johnson, King, Middlesbrough, O'Neil, Southgate, Tuncay, Walker, Wheater.add a comment
Can Josh Walker be our battling hero on Saturday?
This Saturday sees Middlesbrough travel to Stoke City for yet another six-pointer at the bottom of the league. Southgate finally said something right the other day, we do have our own fate in our hands. A bit obvious though Gareth.
We don’t have to worry about other results going our way as long as we are beating the teams around us which means three points against Stoke on Saturday is a must.
Tony Pulis’s side are very competitive and are very physical. The lads that battled well against Pompey last Saturday will have to be at their best again to thwart any fight that Stoke try to put upon us. The likes of Wheater and Huth will have to muscle their way through the game leaving battling bodies like Walker, Arca, Tuncay and King to get hold of the ball and play football.
Looking at the players we have available for Saturday it is not looking good in the middle of the park. Matthew Bates is suspended following his red card against Portsmouth, Digard is out for the remainder of the season and Gary O’Neil is now on the treatment table after picking up a hip injury in training.
It looks like Southgate might have to call upon youngster Josh Walker to partner Julio Arca in the middle with Johnson and Downing providing the width.
Walker is still very inexperienced in the Premiership, but his technical ability and above all his passion for the club should give Southgate the player he can call upon to command that midfield engine.
Goals will still be a problem if we can’t keep it tight at the back on Saturday. I fear the worst if we concede a couple of goals on Saturday. Can Tuncay, King, Aliadiere and Alves provide us with a few goals? It’s a tall order at this stage of the season.
More team news and match predictions in tomorrows post.
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