Southgate Is Losing The Plot
Monday, 09 February 09, 06:48 AM · Comments(4)
Afternoon Peeps and Boro fans,
It has been a few days since my last post. I have been lost in the wilderness for a while, but have now found home again.
Boro have been battling away in the relegation zone recently without making any progress. You can't call a point at home to Blackburn progress. Can we?
Where do we go from here?
The Manchester City match on Saturday was much better in terms of end product, but the result was inevitable becaue of our confidence in front of goal.
When I say end product, I mean getting forward and into dangerous areas to cause the opposition trouble resulting in shots on goal.
Southgate managed 180 minutes of football without a goal threat prior to the City game, but within 20 minutes on Saturday, either side of half time, we went close on three separate occasions. Alveshad all three chances to score but was thwarted by Shay Given. That was always going to the biggest problem on Saturday against Manchester City, their new goalkeeper.
Boro have a habit of playing against opposition goalkeepers that are in the best form of their careers. Given made two world class saves to deny Afonso and received man of the match for his heroics.
I must say Brad Jones was also excellent in the opposite goal. He produced many good saves to deny City in the first half. I must admit, if we do go down, we will have two very good goalkeepers to help us back up.
It does look bleak in terms of results, but at least the performance was encouraging from Saturday. We actually looked like scoring. Shock!
My manager notes
Clueless again on Saturday. Bates in midfield and O'Neil on the bench. What is he playing at? Digard was back, but was taken off with half an hour to go with no sign of fatigue or injury. Has Southgate lost the plot?
Another moan must go to Southgate for leaving Tuncay on the bench and persisting with Marlon King up front. The gut has offered nothing since his switch from Wigan/Hull.
If Southgate keeps up the crazy decisions he will soon be following Tony Adams to the managerial scrapheap.
A trip to West Ham on Saturday will ease the pressure on Southgate, but a heavy defeat to the hands of the Hammers will mean curtains for GS.
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4 Comments · Add yours
Hii, i do think you's need a new manager but it hink southgate will come good in about 2/3 years i think he should defo go and manage a championship team for a few years then come back. Middlesbrough cant go down, i live in newcastle and i so badly want them relegated (i surport villa btw lol)
but middlesbrough and sunderland and just better teams simple as that.
Sort it out guys lol you cant go down.
bottom 3 West brom stoke newcastle.
I hope so! We will go down if we can't score goals. The chances we had on Saturday were unreal. I do hope that the team plays as well as they did against City in the remaining games of the season. I can't see us getting anything at Arsenal or at home to Manchester United. The must win games are against the likes of Stoke, Portsmouth, Spurs, Hull, Wigan, Bolton and Fulham. If we fail to beat half of those teams, then we deserve to go down. I agree with what you are saying regarding Southgate. He does need a few years in the Championship. Newcastle for relegation lol!! Cheers for the comment mate. Villa are doing really well this season!
Southgate totally losing idea.His tactical and formation even team selection is crap.Gibson should sack him or advise him step down.Bring in new coach and backroom staff.
Southgate did wrong by axed experience player without replace new experience player.yeah he want new young blood.but young blood need experience to guide them too.we dont have playmaker.Southgate failed the chance to sell GON and Downing to strengthen squad.now we facing relegation.what if we really relegated.we will lost Downing and experience stars with cheaper price.Losing TV right million pound.and will take time 5 to 10 year to bring back Boro to EPL.
Ill suggest Phil Thompson to guide Boro at the moment.He is Wenger assistant once upon time.Sure he can save us.
Good to read your thoughts on the team again Ariff! Hope you are well?
I have to agree with what you have said Ariff. Southgate is becoming worse as a manager the more games we play. His tactics are ridiculous at times. I could not understand why he left O'Neil on the bench against Manchester City. He is losing the plot!
He definitely needs help if we're going to avoid the drop. I know Gibbo won't sack him so he has to help him by bringing in an experienced coach.