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ALASTAIR BROWNLEE'S READING v BORO MATCH PREVIEW 30-11-07
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At the Madejski Stadium on 19 August 2006, Gareth Southgate took charge of a Boro side for the first time.
As he returns to Reading this weekend he could be forgiven for reflecting that whatever ideas he had about football management, the reality has been a tough sixteen months.
The manager has certainly had his fair share of bad luck with injuries to key players this season.
The news that Mido will probably miss the rest of Boro's games this year, combined with Mark Schwarzer breaking his thumb in training, have added to the growing sense of frustration with a campaign in which little has gone right.
Schwarzer has his critics in some sections of the crowd but he is an experienced Premier League goalkeeper and the responsibility of trying to keep out the Reading strike force will now fall upon 22-year-old Ross Turnbull.
Turnbull had a spell on loan earlier this season at Cardiff but it is a big step up to the top flight.
Fans will remember the young keeper impressing on his Premier League debut at Bolton towards the end of the 2005-06 season. In that game he picked up the man of the match award in a 1-1 draw.
The three goals conceded in last week's hugely disappointing defeat by Aston Villa have taken the number of goals let in for the season to twenty-six in fourteen matches. Turnbull will therefore have the added problem of coming into a side whose confidence is fragile to say the least.
Up front I had hoped, like many fans, to see the return of Mido but that has been dashed and the team desperately need at least one of the remaining strikers to hit form.
Tuncay has clearly struggled to adapt to the Premier League but his record in Turkey was good and it could be that once he gets his first goal his confidence will return.
It must have been difficult for him to see Ben Hutchinson come on ahead of him against Aston Villa but that might be the motivation he needs to prove people wrong. If he gets a chance at Reading, he might take it.
In a week beset by bad news, the bright spot was the return of Julio Arca who played a part in the reserves' midweek victory at Bolton.
Arca made his debut as a full back at Reading last season but has shown himself to be a highly talented midfielder and until his injury against his former club Sunderland back in September, he was putting in a string of top quality performances.
In Boro's present plight the sight of a creative Arca back in the midfield could just be the difference.
Reading are hardly in top form themselves as they have lost the last three matches and are in thirteenth place in the League. They are just three points ahead of Boro and their last victory was back on 27 October against Newcastle United.
Steve Coppell had a major influence on Gareth Southgate's career, giving him a first team chance at Crystal Palace. There will be little room for sentiment on Saturday, however, as the points are of crucial importance.
Naturally fans are speculating about who might arrive in the January transfer window but December is a big month with eighteen points up for grabs.
It is vital that Boro pick up as many of these as possible, not only to make a much needed push up the table, but also to make the club an attractive proposition for the players targeted to come in.
There has been a lot of Boro soul searching this week in the press and radio about the current problems facing the team and the fact that the club is facing a winter battle for survival.
Some fans have suggested that there should be a change in manager and whilst Gareth is realistic enough to know that football is a results business, he also strongly believes that he is the right man for the job and can see the team through the current crisis.
The fans support at this time is crucial and I do know that the supporters who travelled to the last away game at Bolton made a big difference and the players appreciated their support.
I am sure that those who are going to Reading on Saturday will be right behind the team on a big afternoon for the club.
Bernie and I will be reflecting on, hopefully, a Boro win at Reading in Simply Red on Sunday on Century fm.
There will be all the usual features including the chance to win Sunday lunch for two at the Bluebell Hotel, Acklam Road, Middlesbrough.
Our guests on the show will include a member of the "Class of 86" who is now boss of Sheffield Wednesday, Brian Laws, and a star of "Charlton's Champions", David Armstrong.
We will be on air between 11am and 1pm so give us a call on 08450021100 or send a text on 85102.
After the show Bernie and I will be in the Hillstreet Shopping Centre in Middlesbrough signing copies of Voice of the Boro and Legend? so why not pop along for a chat about the Boro?
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