Boro Mania

Firstly, I apologise for my long absence from BoroMania.com.
The last time I wrote for this website was in the aftermath of Gareth Southgate’s sacking. That was four months ago - plenty of time for Southgate’s successor Gordon Strachan to have imprinted his mark upon the Middlesbrough squad.
Those four months have seen a tinkering of tactics [...]

On Tuesday night, Boro sacked Gareth Southgate: cue rejoicing on Teesside. Southgate was the clueless manager who got us relegated for the first time in 12 years. He was the man who took us from the Uefa Cup to the foot of the table. He was the man who sold our best players, and brought in our worst.

After 27 years supporting Middlesbrough Football Club, I could be forgiven for thinking I had seen it all. Cup finals, relegations, promotions. Liquidation, Europe. Memorable victories and crushing defeats. I thought nothing about the club would ever truly surprise me again. Tuesday night, I was proven wrong.

He was simply Hamilton Ricard, a unique and perplexing talent. All the best Hammy, thanks for the slightly confusing memories. Ah, one more time: Riiiicard, Riiiicard, Riiiicard!!!

A little over two weeks ago, the transfer window slammed shut, leaving many Boro fans disillusioned. We had not brought in any big names. But now, we have won two on the bounce. Adam Johnson is on fire. Jeremie Aliadiere – thanks to some clever man-management from Gareth Southgate – is a striker reinvigorated.

After the heartbreak of relegation; after a summer of uncertainty; after all the pessimism, anger and frustration; after all of this, the run up to the Sheffield United game brought one thing back. It brought back anticipation.

So, pre-season has come to a close, and the season starts in less than a week. The obvious question is ‘are we ready?’

Now, we are signing Mark Yeates, from League One side Colchester United, for an undisclosed fee. Cue tumbleweed moment.

Is this an uninspiring, unimaginative and un-ambitious signing by a club in financial crisis, with a manager who hasn’t a clue how to mount a promotion challenge? Or is it a return to the Middlesbrough of old?

Middlesbrough have announced that, after 3 years as assistant manager, Malcolm Crosby has left the club.

The angry majority of Boro fans have been calling for boss Gareth Southgate’s head for a long while now, but this back-room departure comes somewhat out of the blue. According to the report on BBC Sport, and Crosby’s comments, the decision was down to Southgate.

Can Boro still avoid the drop? Dan Donovan looks at Boro’s plight as his mind wanders to an alternate reality. Boro’s current plight is so bad that his mind has created an alternate universe in which Boro ARE competing with the big boys, qualifying for Europe regularly and maybe even winning the odd trophy.