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NOT LOOKING GREAT FOR GATE 27-11-07
Jeff Winter
It has not been the best footballing week of my life.
On Tuesday I travelled to Northampton to see Darlington lose in the FA Cup. With Hereford winning at Leeds this means that there will be no game to watch this Saturday between my radio shows.
The following week there is another blank Saturday as the Boro are playing against Arsenal on the Sunday.
I know one reason why so many people are losing interest. In my day 3pm on a Saturday was football, now people are getting out of the habit.
Readers of my columns will know that the England defeat did not surprise me but was it due to a bad coach or because our players just do not appear technically good enough?
It was interesting to hear Roy Keane come out with his condemnation of English internationals as "arrogant". Shortly afterwards there was Michael Owen's reported statement that "Not one Croatian would get into the England Team". Well if you need proof that Roy Keane was 100% right then there you have it.
Listening to the radio on Monday I discovered that Derby County had sacked Billy Davies, that Newcastle fans want rid of "Big Sam" and that Rafa might be forced out of Liverpool.
Benitez's crime is wanting to plan ahead to improve his side!
Davies sacking shows what a joke football is at the moment. The guy achieved a miracle in getting them up, then with next to no money to spend has had to pay the price for what was always going to be guaranteed failure.
Whilst some might smile at the woes of the Geordies, this is another example of the state of the game. You don't arrive at a club and turn it around in five minutes or four matches without a win.
At least in a week of doom and gloom there was one bright spot to raise a smile - Boro's press release announcing that the fans can vote on the club playing goal scoring music. To be honest, I would just settle for a goal or at least a shot on goal. I know that improving the atmosphere is important but the timing of the poll was questionable.
I received more emails, texts and calls to the show than ever before from irate Boro fans. Many joined the "Sack the Manager" brigade. I have answered these on my web site.
The one problem is that fans are not coming up with realistic alternatives. Mourinho is not likely to come to the Riverside, is he? The comment that anyone is better than Southgate is not really a sensible one in my book.
It is clear that Gareth has made mistakes in the transfer marke, but then again who hasn't? He also hasn't been helped by players like Viduka, Yakubu and Mido.
I understand that he was warned off Mido indirectly by none other than Martin Jol. The signing of Dong Gook Lee has just not worked and it would appear that Tuncay is slipping down the pecking order as well.
If Gareth is still in the post in January (although it is starting to look like the away games at Reading and Derby will go a long way to decide his fate) then he has to have money to make purchases.
If the club does not have the money or is not prepared to commit funds in case we are relegated then the only answer is to wheel and deal.
Looking at our saleable assets we may not be able to raise enough funds to buy what is required. There is one major possibility, and his sale would not displease some, but I still maintain that if you sell the likes of Downing then that is a step backwards.
The bottom line in my opinion is that, as my article in this Friday's Evening Gazette will state, we are a poor team in a very poor league. Nine teams who average a point a game or less!! Best league in the world, yer joking aren't yer?
Boro fans might like to give me a call this Saturday evening from 5.30 till 7pm on the Phone-in show that has not gone away. 01642 616666.
YOU CAN READ MANY MORE OF JEFF'S ARTICLES ON HIS OFFICIAL SITE
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