In the same year, we signed full England international Nick Barmby. Then we signed Brazilian prodigy Juninho. In 1996, we signed European Cup winner Fabrizio Ravanelli. The excitement was too much to bear.

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?

Before Fjortoft and his famous flying celebration, Boro had precious little glamour. Bryan Robson had only recently arrived on Teesside, and his revolution was in its precocious infancy. The club’s biggest signing to that point had been right-back Neil Cox, for a then club record £1million from Aston Villa. Cox’s signing seems light years away from that of Ravanelli just two years later.

But hang on. Coxy was a good right-back, who played an integral part in the team that got promoted in Robbo’s first season. He went on to give a pretty good account of himself in the Premier League.

Jan was a pretty decent striker, and a natural fans’ favourite. He helped us get promoted, and was then the fulcrum of the famously successful ‘midget gems’ attack that tormented Premier League defences before Juninho’s arrival.

After Juninho signed, we plummeted down the league. After Ravanelli signed, we were relegated. We threw money at more stars. Gazza, Hamilton Ricard and Paul Merson were all bought in the pursuit of promotion, and promotion we got.

Since then, a galaxy of stars has passed through Teesside: Yakubu, Mark Viduka, Gaizka Mendieta, Ray Parlour, Ugo Ehiogu, Michael Reizeger, Danny Mills, Gareth Southgate, Massimo Maccarone, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink; the list goes on. Each world-class player signed was greeted with fan-fare, delirium and the promise of greatness. The result? £90million debt, a mickey-mouse cup and a 4-0 drubbing in the UEFA Cup final.

Now we have been relegated again. Where did it all go wrong?

Shouldn’t we have bought more stars? Shouldn’t we have dug ever-deeper in to Steve Gibson’s bottomless pockets? Shouldn’t we have kept Yakubu and Viduka and Schwarzer even if they didn’t want to play for us? Why on earth are we signing Mark Yeates?

Apparently, Mark Yeates is the first player Boro have signed from outside of the top two divisions (or abroad) since Craig Hignett. Interesting that, particularly as Higgy typifies the change in the club’s culture under Robson. While Robbo went out scouring South America for expensive but glamorous talent, such as Branco, Hignett was on the expendable list. Hignett was forced to take a pay-cut just to stay at the club.

Players such as Hignett, John Hendrie and Robbie Mustoe, much like Coxy and Jan, were not that glamorous. They were not world-beaters or major international stars. But they would run through brick-walls for Middlesbrough Football Club. They were good footballers. They were all integral parts of a good team. They were all parts of a team that could compete with the best.

None of them required a team to be built around them. They were square pegs in square holes. They were hard workers who appreciated the gift of being a professional footballer. It’s interesting that we were performing well in the league with all of these players in the side. They were key players in a side with only one recognised international star, Nick Barmby. But even Barmby was a team player. He has proven this by prolonging his career with Hull City.

The rest of the squad were predominantly workmanlike players – such as Curtis Fleming, Chris Morris and Steve Vickers – who gave their all for the club. Overall, the squad was made up of decent pros picked up at reasonable prices, with a few touches of class.

So, where did it all go wrong?

We forgot where the success up to 95-96 had come from. We forgot about the hard-work and industry. We forgot our roots.

Robson may have set up the Academy at Middlesbrough, but he wasted the talent that came through in his era. Phil Stamp, Alan Moore and Mark Summerbell stand out as players who might have gone far under a different regime.

Compare that the current squad. Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Matthew Bates, David Wheater, Brad Jones, Tony McMahon, Rhys Williams, and so on. All of them could have big futures in the game, and Gareth Southgate seems intent on getting that out of them. He seems intent on teaching them about hard work and industry. He seems intent on reminding them of their roots.

Part of this process is to remove the bad seeds – the ones who don’t want to be here, the ones who don’t want to put in the graft, the ones who won’t take on the responsibility. The big-time Charlies. Cue mini-exodus: Schwarzer, Cattermole, Boateng, Viduka and Yakubu. Southgate can’t have foreseen so many of his top players leaving so readily. He must have been hurt that they wouldn’t embrace his vision, and back his ideals. He must have been tempted to bow to pressure and offer them more lucrative deals, promise them guaranteed first team football and to meet whatever other whims they demanded.

But he didn’t. He stuck to his guns and Boro got relegated for it. Even so, he’s still sticking to his guns, and that in its self should be admired. A weaker man would have walked away.

The mantra now is about hungry players: that means players that want to be at the club, want to work hard for the club and want to be part of success at the club. Players like Hignett, Fjortoft and Hendrie. 110%ers. Players like Mark Yeates will hopefully prove to be.

If signing Mark Yeates signals a return to this sort of transfer policy, is that really so bad?

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Yeates signing signals transfer shift?

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. The gaffer himself has called it his hardest decision as a manager. So, the bottom line is that Southgate sacked Crosby.

In my previous article, There's only one Stevie Gibson, I touched on the subject of the replacing Crosby:

A concern that is often overlooked is the quality of the people around Southgate. As a young manager still learning his trade, he is sometimes going to need an older head to guide him. That is his assistant Malcolm Crosby’s role at the club, but how qualified is he to do it?

Perhaps Southgate would be better served asking for some advice from some of his old contacts in the game. Not least a man who has helped us out of trouble before, and who is currently unemployed, Terry Venables.

Whether Terry Venables would be interested in joining Southgate's team is doubtful, but moving Crosby on does create an opportunity for Southgate. It is a chance to bring in, or promote, a stronger number two. There is no doubting that the best managers have quality assistants. It has been a feature of Manchester United's success, with Brian Kidd, Steve McClaren and Carlos Queiroz. Pat Rice at Arsenal, Eric Black at Wigan (now Sunderland) and Steve Clark at West Ham are all recognised as being crucial to the success of their managers and clubs.

If Southgate can bring the right man in this could go a long way to solving many of the long-standing problems at the club. We struggle to defend set-pieces. We don't seem to get the best out of our players, particularly the likes of Mido and Afonso Alves. Morale at the club tends to be fragile, and this has led to some spectacular losing streaks. A strong assistant manager could redress the training methods, take some of the weight of man-management off Southgate and help instil confidence in the squad.

Of course these things are ultimately the manager's responsibility, but he clearly needs to have the right staff in place to support him. Crosby seems like a nice guy, who has clearly been a supportive, possibly fatherly, figure for Southgate. He is experienced in the game but has never had any great success and, prior to joining Boro, as reserve team manager, he had been working some pretty low profile jobs.

Crosby's comforting presence has no doubt helped Southgate to cope, personally, with the tough times this season. Crosby seems to be the sort of assistant who would put his arm around the manager after a defeat and tell him everything will be alright.

This is not what Southgate needs. He needs an assistant with a successful track record of his own, and the personal confidence that brings. He needs an assistant with his own ideas, willing to argue a point to challenge Southgate's thoughts. A commanding assistant could be absolutely crucial in Southgate's own development as a manager and, as a result, the development of Middlesbrough Football Club.

It is encouraging to see Southgate axe arguably his closest ally. This is another example to contradict popular opinion that Southgate is 'too nice' to be a manager. He has sacked his close confidant, his loyal supporter and, presumably, his friend, in order to move the club forward. It's another example to show Southgate willing to make tough choices, and to follow through on his principles. It's another example to back up why some Boro fans still think Southgate could have what it takes to be a good manager for this club, despite having taken us down.

What happens next is critical. If someone of Venables' stature could be brought in it would be a major coup. If someone is promoted internally, most likely Colin Cooper, it would be a major gamble. An option somewhere in between would be a young coach, or a retiring player, looking to make a name for himself. We have always had strong links with Manchester United. Perhaps Brian McClair, currently United's academy boss, or Gary Neville, who has been linked with Boro as a player, would fancy the challenge.

A lot of fans are still going to say Southgate himself should go, but let's face it: he's going nowhere. It is important to look forward now, and at least with this bit of news we can see that this is exactly what the boss is doing.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Southgate makes tough decision

Many players are been linked with futures elsewhere as well as a few of the players stating they may see their futures been decided away from the Boro.

This is to be expected in the modern game, though whilst the season was still in progress it was a very disrespectful happening to both the fans and the club that currently employed them.

With this in mind and the division we’ll find ourselves playing in next season been the Championship and not the Premier League which many of the players will wish to grace, coupled with the vultures circling near some of our players, namely Downing, Tuncay and Alves.

What is in store for the Boro faithful next season?

It’s obvious we’ll have comings and goings like any other club but after the worst case scenario recently happened it is likely to be a summer of transistion with many comings and goings at the club.

I believe we will lose a lot of so-called big name players this summer and with the clubs policy of promoting the youthful palyers, could the below team be the starting XI for the newly sponsored adidas Boro next season.

What do you think? Who’d be in yours?

Turnbull
Hoyte
Wheater
Riggott
Pogatetz
O’Neil
Walker
Digard
Franks
Johnson
Emnes

Obviously we will and need to make signings should the players who currently play fo rthe club and aren’t in this team leave, we’ve already been linked with a few players, namely Jason Scotland and Tommy Spurr.

But as rumours circulate with regard players leaving, admitting they want to leave and for the sake of the fans hopefully leaving then this team above is what we are ultimately left with to build upon.

It is set to be an interesting couple of months ahead but beware, the team above could be coming to a Championship ground near you soon!

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Next Seasons Starting XI?

We have to at some point face up to the fact that we are now a Championship side, one of the favourites to be promoted in the coming 2009/2010 season and now we have to deal with this and move forward or we would face turning into the next Nottingham Forest or even worse Leeds United.

With this in mind we need to take the positives the club clearly possess and move towards the future, a future that is very bright when compared to many other football clubs. Newcastle United is the obvious comparison to this point.

Recently Steve Gibson announced he had restructured the clubs debts which have been reduced to approximately £30million with a view to these been wiped out completely by the end of the year. Incoming transfer revenue, season ticket sales and Adidas sponsorship and merchandising are the main reasons for this.

Gibson deserves more praise than he has received for doing this as many clubs are currently struggling to survive let alone work on an even platform.

With this in mind the announcement to allow Gareth Southgate to continue is his role as manager needs to stop been criticised, we have to move on and support the club for this coming season. Gareth is an intelligent young manager and with an assistant manager appointed who could add a bit of steel and authority to proceedings, then we should be able to move forward.

Gareth offers many qualities to move the club in the right direction; familiarity has to be a significant quality, he knows the club, which players to keep, which will leave as well as continuing the excellent youth policy the club has in place.

Adidas branding and merchandise will bring a new wave of football fan to the team, energise the current fan base as Errea definitely needed removing as well as bringing many financial opportunities to the club.

Yes we know several players will leave and this is probably something we needed to happen; we have carried a lot of dead wood for too long, I just hope Gareth and his coaching team can be ruthless enough with those who feel they can stay for a comfortable ride. We know who they are, he should know who they are and hopefully this will happen.

Investment in the playing staff is required, but we have to invest in some experience to help us through what will be a long hard season in the Championship, 3 or maybe 4 experienced signings right through the centre of the team should put us in a good position to start the season.

I was as disappointed as anyone when we suffered relegation but let us turn this on its head, we have a bright future in the game and it will not be long before we return to the heady heights of the Premier League, but not to just make up the numbers, we will go back and compete to a level that will excite and allow Boro fans to dream of success.

Time will tell, I only hope I am right, come on Boro back me up, actions speak louder than words!

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Positivity Will Pay

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The first, in 1989, was disappointing yet it came as the last heave of relief after the post-liquidation drama. Those who remember the young side put together by Bruce Rioch will look back fondly at the sheer momentum they picked up as, by happy chance, they realised they were a pretty good unit after all and stormed through two divisions on their way to the top flight. The First was a stage too far. Boro's infrastructure was still that of a club recovering from nearly being snuffed out of existence. Money wasn't swilling around the coffers, and it told as Bruce's boys were expected to grapple with the likes of Barnes, Beardsley and a raft of pedigree teams and star players. Tony Mowbray was injured for swathes of the season, and that mattered, as did the botched signing of Peter Davenport, the first in a Top Trumps of Boro strikers who failed in England's premier league. Mostly, we were just happy to be there, to be anywhere, in fact, following a horrible period when it looked as though there might not be a team to support.

In 1991, Lennie Lawrence completed his first year in charge with promotion to the freshly established Premiership. For much of that season, Boro looked far too good for Division Two and Lennie had complemented some fine signings by his predecessor, Colin Todd, with Paul Wilkinson, Willie Falconer and, er, Andy Peake, to finish second. This was no squad of superstars, rather a well managed group of honest, decent players from an age before the money started rolling in who represented the best value around at the time. Piece by piece, Rioch's scratch side had been dismantled and in most cases Lennie's replacements added slight improvements to the overall picture. On the downside, his previous experience and profile - as manager of a workaday Charlton Athletic - meant he was never going to attract the players we needed to survive in the top flight. When Gavin Peacock and Robert Lee rejected moves to Ayresome in favour of Kevin Keegan's Newcastle, who were then playing in the second tier, the writing was already on the wall. One or two incredible results aside - the best was beating champions, Leeds, 4-1 - we weren't good enough for the top table, and Sky TV's marketing of their new baby seemed entirely odds with grim reality at Ayresome. After all, we just felt sorry for those cheerleaders they employed to rally the crowd on a bitterly cold March night whilst the side busily lost to Oldham.

Our next brush with the drop came in 1997, the inevitable end to a chaotic and exciting season in which Boro were rarely out of the headlines, often for the wrong reasons. I could spend thousands of words going on about this campaign, and in fact I have. There's a lengthy essay I once wrote about this term; if you would like a copy, leave your e-mail address in the Comments box below and I shall see you right. Speaking broadly and with the benefit of hindsight, it now seems incredible that we did as well as we did, that Boro's relegation came by the margin of three points that had been taken from us by the FA. Whether they were right to do so remains a debatable point that will never be resolved. What mattered was that they were fateful, as were so many things that season. Bryan Robson sought to augment his already lavish unit with a highly promising Brazilian midfielder who had amazing hair and a striker who came fresh from winning the European Cup with Juventus. Both Emerson and Ravanelli promised much, yet came with stings in the tail, the former sodding off to Rio de Janeiro when the feeling took him, the latter openly scornful of his new paymasters, their supporters and the area in which he found himself. More importantly, Robson made the mistake of grafting several undoubted stars to a side that was still largely 'Division One' in terms of overall ability. Too late he made decisive changes in defence. By the time Festa and Schwarzer arrived, our cards were already marked. That said, scoring goals was never a problem for us. And we had Juninho. By some distance the greatest pleasure of being a Boro fan was to watch this delightful, skilful and committed player strut his silky stuff for the place he stunningly decided to embrace. The biggest failure of that year's relegation was that it took the little fella away from us. We, and he, would never be the same again.

With Boro down, Robson was given fresh funds to send us straight back up. Though losing Juninho meant we now had a gap in the side that could never truly be filled, the manager did his best, signing Paul Merson from Arsenal. This turned out to be great business, not to mention a sure sign of our intention to charge towards promotion. 'Merse' was a pedigree England international, albeit a troubled one; he wouldn't normally have dropped a division but no doubt the wages were good and sure enough, a quick return to the Premiership we mounted. Robson then changed the tactical outlook of the team in an effort to ensure we wouldn't fall again. Sadly, what this meant was an increased negativity, a reliance on 'Route One' football that was signified in the arrival of Brian Deane to complement Hamilton Ricard and give us the two archetypal big lads up front. I guess it worked, but it called an end to the attractive, expansive game Boro had tried when Robson first took us up, a philosophy maintained to an even more stupefying extent under Steve McClaren.

1997 was avoidable, yet I don't think I would trade the memories of that glorious failure of a season. One thing we didn't do that year was capitulate, play as though we weren't good enough. Robbo's Boro thought they could survive, and do so in the right spirit. The latter part of that campaign showed signs that we had a great escape in us, something that was missing completely from what has happened this term. Yesterday, I noted a comment that Southgate's team had simply given up. I can't disagree. What makes relegation so painful is that it didn't have to happen. Boro were given more 'Get out of jail free' cards than a bent Monopoly player and failed to use them.

We could all see it coming by Christmas, our doom writ large as we entered the January transfer window and hoped Gareth would buy one or two players, if only to add other options to a wafer-thin squad. It didn't happen, unless you count the Mido-King swap deal that handed us a limited striker in exchange for someone far better but more troublesome. The folly of our lack of action became clear late in the season, when we would look at the players and line-ups available to Boro, and found very little for Gareth to play with. In the meantime, Blackburn and Portsmouth sacked their young, English managers when it looked like they were in peril. Both teams recruited more experienced hands, and as much as we might scorn the lack of time they gave to their charges it's they who will be playing Premiership football in 2009/10.

We go down with a game West Brom side that wasn't really talented enough to play open football with the players they possessed, and the team that Mike Ashley turned into a joke during his stewardship. I would have hoped for better where Mowbray was concerned; I don't think Newcastle deserved anything more than they got. As for us, our place in the Premiership has been taken by Hull, or by Stoke City. They're next year's cannon fodder. Neither squad has the kind of ability Gareth had to play with and wasted. The bottom line is that relegation was entirely avoidable, and that's why it hurts. Unlike in 1997, I can't see us rushing back to the top flight anything like as quickly.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Looking on the Bright Side - This cut hurts the deepest

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Middlesbrough v Oldham Athletic SC] 1988 89

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Colin Todd had to re-build and having worked under Bruce Rioch (Rioch had tried to sign Hendrie previously for the Boro) he decided to try again to bring in John Hendrie, the barrel chested Scottish player from Leeds United for £500,000. A lot of money back in the day, the same summer he brought Robbie Mustoe to Ayresome Park, so in his short tenure Todd made some good signings, if not a lot else.

Hendrie arrived having made this his fourth club in four years and had spent spells at our arch rivals Leeds United and Newcastle United. He’d soon be forgiven and would eventually go down in Boro history as a true great.

He began his career on the wing (flank was the term in those days) and often inter-changed with Stuart Ripley to terrorise opposing full-backs. This included a very memorable goal against Millwall, taking the ball from the edge of his own box and finishing at the other end, with calmness and compose not often seen in the 2nd division.

Under Lennie Lawrence, Hendrie became deployed as a 2ndstriker and became more prolific in his middle years with the club, firmly becoming a fans’ favourite, especially after hitting the clubs first Premier League hat-trick in a Match of the Day main feature 3-2 home win against Blackburn Rovers, Dalglish, Shearer et al.

His final years at the club saw the arrival of Bryan Robson, the move away from Ayresome Park to the Riverside Stadium and the influx of foreign players to the club. But Hendrie left with his head held high, having kept his nerve on the final day of the 1994/95 season to fire the final goals at Ayresome Park and bring the First Division trophy to the club at the same time.

Hendrie had a respectable goal scoring record at the Boro:

192 league games scoring 44 goals

40 cup games scoring 11 goals

But he’s more than his scoring return. It was about his mazy runs, its commitment to the shirt, his ability to score great goals, to terrorise opposing defenders. He truly found his spiritual home at the club and we treated him as one of our own.

Surprisingly Hendrie was never capped by Scotland but he did go into club management and was harshly treated by Barnsley in my opinion. John now enjoys a successful career in the media whilst ferrying his sons Luke to Manchester United for junior games and Jordan to Bradford City for junior games.

Thanks for the memories John.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

John Hendrie – The Barrel Chested Piece of History

Well one game to go and we are deep in the relegation mire, needing a win away to West Ham and help from other teams to save ourselves. As we stare down the barrel of Championship football next season I thought I would give my review of the Middlesbrough squad, not pretty reading i'm afraid, feel free to add your comments at the bottom.

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Middlesbrough FC Training Top 2008 2009 Season

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Middlesbrough Goalkeepers

Ross Turnbull - Ross Turnbull began the season as the number 2 goalkeeper behind Brad Jones and that is where he will end the season. The 24 year old, Bishop Auckland born keeper did play 22 games for Middlesbrough this season though after getting into the team when Brad Jones injured himself in the warmup at Anfield. Turnbull began his spell in the first team well and initially looked to be the answer between the sticks for Middlesbrough, he lost his form though and had a couple of poor games with a few notable errors. He lost his place again to Brad Jones, though some argued it had more to do with his reluctance to sign a new deal at the club, and he has sat on the bench for the remainder of the season.

Speculation surrounds Turnbull's future and it is looking like he may well be on the move at the end of the season with Leicester City and Chelsea linked with him.

Score: 5/10

Brad Jones - Brad Jones is a keeper that, before the season, most Boro fans had written off as not being good enough. Can anybody honestly say that the doubts over him have gone? He had a spell earlier on in the season where he looked a different keeper, much more confident and commanding, unfortunately he soon reverted to his previous form with errors and indecision causing unease in the Boro defence. Jones has the physical attributes to be a very good keeper, I just doubt very much whether he will ever become a solid, consistent goalkeeper.

Score: 5/10

Middlesbrough Defenders

Emanuel Pogatetz -Pogatetz has had a very poor season despite being named as captain by Gareth Southgate. His performances at left back were very poor and when everybody is fit he is not good enough to warrant a starting place in the heart of the defence.

Score: 4/10

Tony McMahon - McMahon spent a large portion of the season on loan at Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, his loan spell was very successful and he returned to the Boro squad to fight for a first team place. Injury to Justin Hoyte presented a chance for McMahon to play for the first team, a disappointing lack of consistency has seen him in and out of the side.

A player I really rated when he first broke into the side he has been fairly limited this season, in particular his use of the ball. Defensively he has had his good games and his bad games, can't fault his commitment to the cause though. If his spell with Sheffield Wednesday showed us anything it's that he can more than cope with Championship football and that should stand him in good stead for next season.

Score: 5/10

Andrew Taylor -Taylor has become a bit of a target for the boo boys this season, he certainly hasn't progressed in the way the club will have hoped. His lack of pace was shown up a few times and in general his defensive play was not good enough, I still harbour the belief that he has not fully recovered from the last injury and it has badly hampered his game. Very likely to find himself as the starting Left Back if we go down and will probably find his level in the Championship.

Score: 3/10

Robert Huth - When Huth is fit he is the best centre back at the club, not the most mobile of centre backs nor the most vocal of players but he is a solid defender. Sadly misses a lot of games through injury and his form has been patchy, particularly in the second half of this seasaon. Recently re-called to the German national team set up which is likely to mean he will not be too keen on sticking with Middlesbrough if we go down.

Score: 6/10

David Wheater - Last season Wheater could do no wrong and it looked as if he was heading for England stardom, this season has been very tough on the young Redcar born defender leading to some labelling him as Championship quality. I think the truth lies somewhere in between the two, Wheater is more than capable of playing Premiership football i just hope it will be in a Boro shirt and he doesn't move on to find it.

Wheater has been struggling with injury and is due to go under the knife at the end of the season, it's a credit to his commitment that he continues to battle for the cause but there is no doubt the injury has hampered his form.

Score: 5/10

Justin Hoyte - Hoyte looked very promising when he first arrived, definitely not as good defensively as Luke Young but he appeared to bring an extra attacking dimension to the side. An injury broke up his early progress with the team and since returning there have been a few notable weaknesses in his defensive game showing through.

Still offers a lot in an attacking sense from full back but really needs to become a lot stronger and more positionally aware.

Score: 5/10

Matthew Bates - I have put him in with the defenders despite him playing the majority of the recent games in a midfield role. Bates the midfielder was a very limited but very committed player, a keep it simple no frills midfielder. He reverted to his more favoured role in the Boro defence for the Newcastle game and did ok, I thought he was clearly fouled by Nolan for the first goal and then Boro went to pot and lost the game.

Rumoured to be leaving at the end of the season as his contract is up, I think it will be a shame because he has a lot of potential but if he is after a big pay rise I think he is getting ahead of himself, he would struggle to make the side with a fully fit squad.

Score: 4/10

Middlesbrough Midfielders

Julio Arca - Arca still has the footballing brain to play at the top, sadly since his injury against the Mackems last season he no longer has the legs to continue at this level. He is constantly getting caught in possession and seems to struggle with the pace of the game now. I was a huge fan when Southgate first moved him into the central midfield role, the injury seems to have really affected him and, sadly, I think it is time for Arca to move on.

Score: 4/10

Mohamed Shawky - The fact that Shawky is getting into the Boro team is all the evidence you will ever need for the reason we are at the bottom of the league. A very poor footballer who would struggle to get into a League One side never mind a Premier League side. Too slow for this league, his passing is dreadful and, as a holding midfielder, he is as physically imposing as Mahatma Gandhi.

The sooner he is off the wage bill the better.

Score: 1/10

Gary O'Neil - Gary O'Neil is a player who puts in a good shift and works hard for the side, he prefers to play in the middle of the side but I don't think he is good enough to play a central midfield role. For all of his work, O'Neil lacks an end product and has not provided enough this season.

One of our better players this season, sadly this says more about the quality of our squad than the performances of Gary O'Neil.

Score: 6/10

Stewart Downing - By his own very high standards, Downing had been excellent for Boro over the last couple of season, Stewy has had a very poor campaign. No goals, very few assists and missed penalties tells it's own story, Downing is our best player and when he is not playing well we suffer badly. The January transfer window seemed to really affect his game, Tottenham sniffing around and Downing asking to leave seemed to affect him on the pitch and his performances dipped.

The news that he will miss the final game is a massive blow, if the injury is as bad as first feared he may not be fit before pre-season and will anyone want to risk buying him before he returns from injury?

Score: 6/10

Adam Johnson - Flashes of the ability he undoubtedly has but when given a number of starts in the side he was unable to cement a place in the team. If Downing goes and Johnson stays then he will certainly get the chance to show he has what it takes to replace the England winger.

Johnson has shown a lot more for the England Under-21's than he has for Boro this season.

Score: 5/10

Didier Digard - Injured way too often to really have an impact on the side, it's a shame because I have been impressed with him on the whole and believe, had he not been injured so often, he may have been that bit of quality in the midfield to keep us out of this mess.

I have heard rumours he will want away if we go down, hopefully they are just rumours and he knuckles down and plays regularly for the Boro next season.

Score: 6/10

Middlesbrough Attackers

Mido - When fit and up for it the Egyptian is a formidable striker and can get goals. Sadly his attitude stinks and he only plays when he wants to, for all his ability I would be happy to never see him wear the Boro shirt ever again.

The warnings were clearly there before we signed him, Southgate obviously thought he could manage him and get the best out of him, I don't think there is a manager around that could stop Mido being a complete waste of talent.

Score: 2/10

Afonso Alves - I am probably one of the few Boro fans left who believe Alves could get goals in the Premier League. I think he has been very badly used by Southgate who seemed determined to use him as a "Kevin Davies" style centre forward, odd that you would spend so much on a striker and then not build the team to play to his strengths.

All that said his contribution this season has not been good enough and he can only be described as a massive flop at Middlesbrough.

Score: 3/10

Jeremie Aliadiere - Aliadiere is probably the most frustrating player I have seen in a Boro shirt in recent years (maybe Carlos Marinelli?). Parts of his game are superb, his pace alone can cause defenders headaches and create opportunities but his finishing is absolutely awful. It is no coincidence that when played up front he will get at least one gilt edged chance to score, his pace and off the ball running get him into those positions. It is also no coincidence and no surprise that, when given a chance, he invariably hits his shot straight at the goalkeeper. Infuriating!

Still, I think we are a better team when he plays if only for the fact that his pace and running seems to buy other players a bit more time on the ball.

Score: 5/10

Tuncay Sanli - A player capable of the sublime (the overhead kick against Villa, the outrageous flick around Carragher at Anfield) he is the most exciting player in the side. He works extremely hard for the side, chasing down and harrying defenders into mistakes, but he had a spell of a couple of months where he just went missing and seemed completely disinterested. Whether it had something to do with an alleged failed bid from Chelsea I have no idea but that spell, where he seemed to sulk, grates on me.

In recent weeks though I can't fault his commitment, he has been our best player over the last couple of weeks, and his quality shines out from the rest of the team, I will be disappointed when he moves on.

Score: 7/10

So there you go, my view on the team. I have left out a few players who haven't really played enough like Josh Walker and Marvin Emnes. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Boro squad review - Not pretty reading

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Then Robson realised we needed a fresh impetus on the playing field to relight the season and guide us towards the Holy Grail.

As the impeding transfer of Jan Age Fjortoft from Swindon Town was taking longer than had been expected, Robson had to look elsewhere.

Then enter Uwe Fuchs. "Who is he?" cried the Boro faithful. This was a player we'd never heard of and Uwe was brought in on loan until the end of the season. Could this be the answer to the Boro's plight.

Sitting in 3rd place and with prospects of Premier League football at the to be opened Riverside Stadium dwindling away, could the man with a surname like a swear word be the answer?

A love affair with the mullet man from Kaiserslautern had begun and he was to be nicknamed the German Bomber by the Ayresome Angels.

What followed was Roy of the Rovers' stuff, Uwe netted an incredible 9 goals in only 13 appearances for the Boro including a hat-trick against Bristol City en route to helping the Boro achieve their Premier League goal.

Wow. Surely Uwe was to be the man to help enter a new era at the sparklingly new Riverside Stadium? No was the emphatic answer as Robson went on to splash the cash. Uwe was gone but never to be forgotten, Millwall being his next destination.

Ask any Boro fan about the German Bomber and it brings a smile to their faces, the man with a funny surname helped fire Boro towards their short-term goal and will be remembered on Teesside as a legend, even if its only for allegedly dating Jet from Gladiators.

Uwe decided after his playing days had come to an end to follow in his father and uncles' footsteps and moved into coaching and management in German. He currently managers Wuppertaler SV Borussia in the third tier of the German League.

Good lcuk for the future Uwe and your always welcome back at the Boro with open arms.

"Uwe, Uwe, Uwe, Uwe, Uwe!"

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Uwe Fuchs - 13 Game Hero

The Aussie, a player Boro essentially couldn't afford to keep, was everything Afonso Alves and Marlon King weren't. Viduka was too good and too powerful for Boro's makeshift defence, when he is on his game there is no better player in the league at holding the ball up and bringing players into the play. It was extremely disheartening to see the ball stick with Viduka everytime Newcastle launched it forward, taking the pressure off their backline and allowing the likes of Nolan, Duff and Butt the time to get forward to join the attack. Whenever Boro launched it forward it came straight back at them, admittedly it may have something to do with the fact that Marvin Emnes was the target of the high balls and he isn't exactly tall!

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I am not trying to say that we should have kept him because he has missed most of the season at Newcastle and not exactly set them alight when he has played but last night he was streets ahead of Boro's attacking options.

Moving on to the game last night I couldn't really believe my eyes when I saw the starting 11. McMahon out for Hoyte with Andrew Taylor coming in at left back, Mohamed Shawky and O'Neil in the centre of midfield and Marvin Emnes up front?! With Tuncay and Downing on the wings, maybe not the worst idea in the world, but Stewart Downing played on the right? Haven't we tried that before?

I think essentially Southgate took our best player and effectively nullified him for a large portion of the game, playing him on the right (square pegs in round holes anyone?) and then moving him to left back later in the game was completely wasting our best player.

Boro fans only had to wait three minutes for a combination of an Alves run and pass, and a clever Tuncay flick to unhinge the Geordie defence. Harper managed to get out and saved the shot at the Turk's feet, but the unfortunate Beye ran into the ball and bounced it into his own net.

Typically though Boro had raised the expectations and hopes of the Boro fans before dashing them on the rocks. A corner was headed home by Steven Taylor to level the scores, despite Kevin Nolan blocking off Matthew Bates the goal stood.

Newcastle came on strong after the goal and Mark Viduka struck the upright but Boro always looked threatening on the break and it was the pace and running of Emnes that was stretching their defence. The Dutchman had a fantastic opportunity to put Boro back into the lead when, having seen his first shot blocked, he turned the Newcastle defender well but slid his finish just wide of the post.

Boro then lost Afonso Alves after a nasty looking challenge from Nicky Butt, it looks likely that the final sight of Alves in a Boro shirt will be him lying prostrate on the St James' pitch after it has been confirmed he has broken a bone in his foot. The equally ineffectual Marlon King came on to replace him and that tells it's own story. When Gareth looked to his bench he brought on King and Aliadiere both of whom have offered very little in front of goal, when Shearer looked to his bench he could bring on Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands (both of whom scored).

The killer goal came in the 70th minute and, again, not without a tint of controversy. Viduka beat Huth in the air, Nolan managed to get to the flick on and directed the ball to Martins who turned Bates and finished into the far corner. Replays showed Nolan was clearly offside when Viduka won the flick on but the flag stayed down and Newcastle were on their way to 3 points.

The goal effectively killed Boro off and it was all one way traffic after that, Lovenkrands adding a third after some shocking defending.

I had held out hopes of survival but lets be honest we are not good enough, we cannot score enough goals. Alves rarely got involved before getting injured, I know he played the pass into Tuncay but I think the Turk made the best of a ball played behind him to create the chance. Marlon King was even more anonymous when he was introduced, I am racking my brain trying to think of any positive contribution he made to the side?

Newcastle were poor especially at the back, with better strikers we could have scored a hatful of goals. Sadly Middlesbrough are even worse, apart from Emnes who worked hard and impressed at times we were totally toothless up front, our midfield was a shambles (i'm trying not to dwell on the fact the Mohamed Shawky started the game or thoughts of making it as a professional footballer would start swimming around my mind) and at the back we weren't good enough to cope with the physical presence of Mark Viduka, if he had been wearing the red of Boro last night we'd have won the game.

Back to back wins against Villa and West Ham would keep us up I believe, but when was the last time we won back to back league games?

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Viduka shows Boro what they are missing

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Yesterday we needed Hull to lose and Stoke kindly provided us with the right result, beating them 2-1 at the KC Stadium. Hull have been in free fall for weeks now and with just two games remaining, away to Bolton and home to Manchester United, can anybody truly see Hull collecting another point all season?

The mackems are 5 points above the drop zone after a 0-0 draw at Bolton and they are still very much in the relegation equation. With a trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth and a home tie with Chelsea to come, I also feel they will struggle to pick up any more points this season.

I believe that for the current bottom three 6 or 7 points are required from the remaining games to leapfrog Hull and maybe even Sunderland for safety. Of course none of this means anything if Boro cannot finally help themselves, we need to win 2 from our final 3 and thats no easy task for us.

Our remaining three games are all games in which I could see us picking up points and I would swap our final run in with any other team down at the bottom. Newcastle are a poor team, but we will go there as the underdogs, the Geordies appear to be confident that the game tomorrow is theirs for the taking.

Our fate is in our hands at the moment, with the fact that I believe Hull will not pick up another point all season. Newcastle away is a tricky game but it is definately one which we could pick up at least a point, frustrate them for an hour and I can see the fans turning and getting on their backs.

Villa at home is definately a winnable game, they have been in poor form for a few weeks and were stuffed by Fulham at the weekend. Is West Ham away as tricky a game as it is being made out to be? I certainly think there are points to be picked up at Upton Park.

We have won only 7 games all season and now we need to win 2 out of 3, can we do it? On our day we can beat anybody, it wasn't too long ago we beat title chasing Liverpool at the Riverside so I can see no reason why we couldn't beat Newcastle, Villa or West Ham.

Will we do it, odds are stacked against us thats for sure, but you have to believe.......

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Can Boro finally help themselves?