|
 |
RESPECT 7-2-08
Rob Dixon
Being a Middlesbrough fan is often a difficult task. While performances in recent seasons have varied from the sublime to the ridiculous, the general view of "other" football fans and the press towards Teesside's football club is usually one of indifference.
This accepted view has made it all the more surprising to read Rod Liddle's recent article in the Sunday Times.
While it is open to conjecture as to whether the article was actually intended to place some praise at the foot of Messrs Southgate and Gibson, or whether it was just written to wind up the Geordie Nation, the feature opens the door for a new opinion of our beloved Boro to become the general view "dahn sarf".
Obviously it is early days to proclaim that Gareth Southgate has won over the London-based press with his side's recent renaissance, but surely this article is further proof, if needed, that the team's performances on the pitch are heading in the right direction.
This was also recently echoed by a posting on the BBC's Boro messageboard where a Manchester United fan (who is, I presume, also based down south) stated that he was impressed by the Boro's performance against Newcastle on Sunday. He then added that he was beginning to warm to Southgate as a boss.
It appears that if our leader doesn't watch himself, he could end up being respected - a position which Boro's former manager very rarely, if ever, found himself in.
I for one think that a little bit of respect would not go amiss for Mr Gareth, as long as his side continues to play good football whilst also climbing the table.
The game against Newcastle was an excellent performance. The team that played did not look like one that had just sold one of its most high-profile players. Boro stifled the Magpies with their resilience, whilst also being as creative as a side can be when playing Jeremie Aliadiere up-front on his own.
One can only hope that the new resilience is proof that Southgate may have finally turned the corner that he and his team have often threatened to do.
The game against Fulham on Saturday should be viewed as the final confirmation of that. Aliadiere has stated that a win will take Boro safe of relegation. While I wouldn't immediately jump to that conclusion, it would not only signal a step up by the team but it could also boost their position in the table if Newcastle fail to overcome Aston Villa away from home.
The first half of this season represented a long hard struggle for a team that was struggling to balance playing neat attacking football whilst maintaining some solidity at the back.
Let's hope that the second half continues to prove that all those difficulties were worth it.
Up the Boro!
RETURN TO ROB DIXON INDEX HERE
 |
|
|
|
