Warnock Weekly 8-8-07 || Middlesbrough F.C. news, reviews and comment

WARNOCK WEEKLY 8-8-07
Tom Warnock

Firstly, I'd like to say a friendly hello to all Boro fans and a warm welcome to any new writers on the site. I have a feeling this season will be the best yet for COB - let's hope so.

For us Boro fans, every pre-season is typically filled with uncertainty and numerous questions about everything from the hierarchy, to season ticket sales to the summer transfers. This season is no different, and here are my answers.

Firstly, let's deal with the first issue of the summer which began towards the conclusion of the last season;

Why did Mark Viduka leave?

Now before I start, a disclaimer of sorts; I'm not saying for one moment that I'm part of Mark Viduka's PR team or I would be laughing all the way to bank right now. Nor do I have any official word on his reasons for leaving - this is purely my opinion.

The whole 'will he, won't he saga' had been a long time coming in my opinion. The main reason for this is the club not offering him a contract early enough. It's almost criminal to let a player's contract expire, and then turn around and tell that same player that he is still wanted.

When a player's contract expires they have permission to talk to any club they wish to. Even though they may not want to leave, they will almost inevitably do so. If you were offered the chance to talk to potentially better employers, what do you have to lose? So that factor in itself was the catalyst for Viduka's departure.

Another contributing factor is the choice of manager. Excluding Chris Coleman, virtually no other Premiership players make the move from the pitch to the office.

From Viduka's perspective, he was now taking orders and advice from a former player who isn't terribly more experienced than himself. For someone like Viduka, this will have been hard to take; perhaps he didn't see Gareth being able to move the club onwards before the culmination of his own career - meaning he would need to move elsewhere to increase his chances of success.

Whatever the reasons, he is gone. And maybe I'm the only one wondering what all the fuss was about? Although perhaps in six months time, I'll be wishing he was still a Boro player. But I can't see it.

Why did we lose out on Alan Smith?

Smith was a long-term transfer target for Gareth, and perhaps a player he was pinning some hopes on. Just recently Southgate was quoted as saying that we're 'in there right until the very end.' I'm not sure what the idea of that interview was, because glossing over failure doesn't particularly inspire.

We need to question why he chose Newcastle over Middlesbrough, because it can't be in the pursuit of trophies. It's depressing to think we can't even compete for players with Newcastle, even though in recent years all the success in the North-East has headed the way of the Boro.

Where are our 'spectacular' signings?

We have made some solid summer signings, but none which would fall under the category of 'spectacular' Spectacular would be Darlington coercing Ronaldinho; you get the point. Tuncay looks to be our most promising signing; he seems to have pace, skill and dedication, along with a good goal scoring record. I'm looking forward to seeing him play in a competitive match.

Luke Young was a welcome yet necessary addition. He has experience and is comfortable in the Premiership, and it shouldn't take him too long to settle down into the team. Aliadiere is almost as much of an unknown quantity as Tuncay. We have seen glimpses of his ability in an Arsenal shirt, but he was loaned out a lot and disrupted by injuries. Perhaps now he can flourish playing regular football and show everyone what he's worth.

Woodgate was the most important signing of the summer, and he will be a stalwart in our defence this season. I believe he will end his career at Middlesbrough, provided we don't get relegated before then.

And now, turning attention to matters off the pitch.

Why do we still have no new replica shirt, and no release date?

From a business perspective, the club needs to find a new kit supplier. Year after year fans are left waiting until the second week of the season to don the new shirt. This can be as frustrating as the lack of quality football. If indeed season ticket sales have fallen, then the replica shirt market is the other main area for income, meaning the club are losing out on further revenue.

How many season tickets have we sold?

Going on a general headcount from the local pub, the workplace and radio phone-ins, I would hazard a guess that there will be around a 20% drop in season ticket holders. There seems to be less people renewing, and even less buying.

It doesn't seem to be because the team is getting worse - last season was about the average - it seems to be a combination of the fans growing tired of disappointment, and the lack of ambition, particularly since the UEFA Cup final and departure of McClaren, which I maintain both took a lot of wind out of our sails.

And finally...

What does the season hold?

It seems as though the Boro faithful are divided between optimism and pessimism. The main reason for the divide is the uncertainty surrounding our signings, and also the form of players currently at the club such as Dong Gook and Yakubu.

I can't see us making a particularly strong start as we have injuries at the back and up front we don't even know who will start. I predict bottom half at Christmas and a final place of tenth by the end of the season.

Whether that will be seen as good enough, only time will tell.

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