Downsizing begins for Strachan at Boro

Despite retaining some hopes of reaching the Premiership play-off's, and a one in four chance of promotion, Middlesbrough are scaling down their squad for next season as they prepare for another term in The Championship.

Midfielder Gary O'Neil was left out of Monday's 2-0 win at Plymouth which would have been his 100th Boro appearance- and triggered a £1m payment to former club Portsmouth.

Despite the financial madness that dominates English football 'Boro chairman Steve Gibson won't be rushing a cheque off to help Portsmouth just for the sake of 90 minutes from O'Neil.

Fulham and Blackburn are both reported to be interested in the midfielder as 'Boro prepare for the second and final £11.5m parachute payment from the Premiership.

Gordon Strachan funded his January spending, extensively on Celtic players, with the sale of Adam Johnston to Manchester City for £8m.

Selling the club's better players to fund reinforcements seems like the way forward for Strachan who is likely to turn to the SPL in the summer to boost his squad.

Reading between the lines it seems that a permanent deal to sign Stephen McManus might be a bit steep for 'Boro to consider when a transfer fee and wages are tallied up.

Just like in the majority of his time at Celtic Strachan will be expected to wheel and deal on a moderate budget whilst some others in the division over extend themselves in a bid to reach the Premiership.

Whatever clubs are relegated from the Premiership are unlikely to 'do a Newcastle' and take the hit of continuing to pay out big wages on the gamble of an instant return although in Newcastle's case they mainly retained players because there was no interest elsewhere in matching their St James Park wages.

Robson promises that Boro will improve

Stand-in Middlesbrough captain Barry Robson has promised the 'Boro support that his performances will only improve.

Robson has made the biggest impact at the Riverside Stadium of the five players that left Celtic in January and has a red card, a goal and the captaincy to show for his efforts.

Boro must win at Nottingham Forest today to retain any outside hopes of an automatic promotion place although a play-off spot looks much more realistic.

Forest are battling it out with West Brom and Newcastle for a promotion place with Robson aware that Gordon Strachan's side will need to improve on their midweek defeat from Blackpool if they are to take anything from today's match.

Discussing his goal in last weeks win over Peterbroug he said: "I don't think my overall performance was one of my better ones and as for the team, it won't do.

"We're better footballers than that. That wasn't us, I think we can all do a lot better. That's the disappointing thing, we want to do much better for the fans.

"I suppose it was a good thing that we could win when not playing well. Winning is the most important thing, but we're good footballers and we want to show that.

"The manager sets the standards very, very high at this football club and if you don't reach those standards he lets you know.
 
"We need to stay strong and work hard. The manager wasn't happy with the performances and the players weren't either. We can play and we can penetrate, but we can play a lot better."

Middlesbrough go into today's game trailing Forest by 14 points with Gordon Strachan having won five, lost five and drawn nine matches since replacing Gareth Southgate.

Robson to miss Riverside debut

Barry Robson will miss out on his home debut for Middlesbrough after picking up a hamstring injury in training during the week.

Gordon Strachan's side face an important home match with on-form Swansea with just 11 fit outfield players available for selection.

Robson played in last week's defeat away to Sheffield United but will miss out on appearing at the Riverside Stadium as his new side attempt to push their way back into play-off contention.

'Boro have lost five of their last six matches with Strachan admitting that the injury crisis couldn't have come at a worst time.

The former Celtic boss said: "You get periods like this, it's a tough spell that's for sure.

"But it's not the first time this year that we've suffered from injuries and we'll deal with it.

"We are looking forward to a time when we have everyone available, then we'll see what we are made of..

"Injuries are part and parcel of the game, we have prepared well all week and are looking forward to the game."

Willo Flood and Chris Killen will make their home debut's for Boro against a Swansea side that has moved into fourth place in the league.

Turnaround specialist Lambert is the top bhoy

On a day of debuts it was former Celtic skipper Paul Lambert that emerged as the top bhoy as Norwich steamrollered his old club Colchester United 5-0.

Davie Moyes and Gary Caldwell also enjoyed good wins whilst former Celt Colin Healy looked very comfortable helping Falkirk to a 1-1 draw on his first return trip to Celtic Park.

It's hard to imagine a bigger turnaround than reversing a 7-1 home defeat into a 5-0 away win, add in some local rivalry and a promotion place and it makes Norwich's win all the more remarkable.

There were predictable chants of Judas aimed at Lambert from the home supporters but that won't be bothering the Norwich boss with his new side now sitting just three points behind pace-setters Leeds United.

The grudge match attracted Colchester's biggest crowd in 42 years but Lambert played down the significance of the result afterwards.
He said: “The lads were brilliant, they really were, considering all the things that have been going on and have been said, they kept their heads and kept their game going and I thought we were worthy winners.

“We came here to try and win another three points, which we've done. I thought some of the football we played in really bad conditions was exceptional.

“Some of those players were beaten heavily at the beginning of the season and I'm pretty sure for some of them it was at their back of their minds but they never ever showed it.

“We came here to try and win another three points, which we've done.

"I said to the lads you've got to change your game for certain conditions but I thought some of the football we played in really bad conditions was exceptional.

“We had 2,000 fans here today and we could have had a lot more, as I've said before they have been fantastic for us this season following us everywhere in their droves.

“I'm pretty sure that today was sweet for them after what happened on the opening day of the season.

“We will do everything we can to try and go up this season, but for this moment in time I hope we gave them something to feel happy about today”

Norwich have now won seven of their last eight League One fixtures and are clearly looking more towards automatic promotion rather than a play-off place.

Sitting four places behind Norwich is Simon Ferry's Swindon who beat Gillingham 3-1 at home with Paul Caddis expected to move to the County Ground on loan before the end of the month.

It was debut day for Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen at Sheffield United but they were unable to prevent Middlesbrough losing 1-0.

Gordon Strachan's side are 13 points away from an automatic promotion place and six behind Sheffield United who are in the fourth play-off spot.

After the defeat Strachan said: “I know what has to be done and I have to change it.

“It's not great fun, it's not nice, I wouldn't recommend it for anybody but you have to deal with it.

“Fortunately I've been about for a few years in this job but I don't think it would be great for a young manager.”

In the Premiership Davie Moyes became the first manager to defeat Roberto Mancini's Manchester City with a 2-0 win at Goodison while Caldwell made a winning start to his Wigan career with James McCarthy a scorer in the 2-0 win away to Wolves.

Strachan scouting for married men, and bhoys?

Gordon Strachan is deadly serious about his persuit of married men with married Bhoys at the top of his wanted list.

Middlesbrough scouts are out in force looking to bring in new recruits to the Riverside with matrimonial status a key factor.

Despite the troubles that Tiger Woods is engulfed in the former Celtic boss seems to be a subscriber to the old fashioned view that married footballers are more stable, settled and reliable than batchelors and singletons.

The WAG generation doesn't seem to have altered Strachan's thoughts despite many current players being under instructions from their other half with no self respecting WAG likely to see a move to Teeside as a sensible step in their career.

Despite his due diligence before taking the Riverside job Strachan was dismayed to find just three married men in his Middlesbrough squad with one of them the reserve 'keeper!

Speaking to The Times he said: "There are only three people married here. You need a bit of responsibility in life. Three people married and one of them is the reserve goalkeeper, Danny Coyne.

"You need a certain amount of men in your team. When I say to the scouts I need men, they think somebody clattering into tackles, and I say, ‘no, calm down’, I mean ‘men’ who take responsibility and play when the pressure is on."

A number of the players that Strachan brought to Celtic are married, with two of them also out of contract at the end of the season.

Will Mrs Caldwell and Mrs Robson feature in transfer negotiations in the new year? Can married players expect to be paid more at 'Boro?

Strachan has plenty to get involved in during the transfer window on the back of home defeats from Blackpool and Cardiff City that sees the club lying in 11th place, nine points behind West Brom in the second automatic promotion place.

One win in seven since taking over from Gareth Southgate probably wasn't what chairman Steve Gibson was anticipating when he changed manager.

Middlesbrough require a quick return to the Premiership, not an overhaul of the club, if promotion isn't achieved this season they could join the long list of former Premiership clubs marooned outwith the top flight and cast adrift without the lifeboat of parachute payments.

Most managers return to their former clubs when the transfer window opens with Strachan quiet honest about his likely dealings with Celtic.

He admitted, again referring to men (ie married players) : "As long as you are honest, that’s all Dermot (Desmond) and Peter (Lawwell) ask.

"They know that fine well, they trust me implicitly, they know I would never be dishonest. I wouldn’t feel good about myself. Can I see myself going back (for players)? I am after men and if Celtic have men...”

Strachan's emphasis on men points towards the married types, scrappers and battlers- categories that Caldwell and Robson both score highly in.

TIMES interview with Gordon Strachan

EVENING HERALD report on Motherwell match

Honeymoon over for Strachan at 'Boro?

After a month in charge at Middlesbrough, without a win, it seems that the problems and issues that dogged Gordon Strachan at Celtic have followed him to Teeside.

For a team with just three married men in their squad the end of the honeymoon is an inappropriate term to use but there doesn't seem much evidence of love-in's going on around the Riverside Stadium as new relationships develop.

Reading through an opinion piece in the Daily Mail the writer seemed to identify and highlight a number of issues which will be very familiar to most Celtic fans.

Touching on the problems of finding the right combination of strikers to put the ball in the net through inconsistent team selections and onto his contempt for media duties it reads like deja vu from the moans and groans of Celtic supporters over the last few years.

Throw in a fall-out with the teams most creative player, in this case Adam Johnson, and it seems that football at the Riverside isn't much fun at the moment.

PROMOTION
Without a win in the four games that Strachan has been in charge for 'Boro travel to face QPR at the weekend with their hopes of automatic promotion fading fast.

The appointment of a new manager is supposed to give a team a lift but it seems that Strachan has had a negative effect on the squad at the Riverside Stadium with his approach and attitude rubbing people up the wrong way.

Gareth Southgate managed to survive relegation last season and had the club in a decent position when he was axed although a three consecutive home defeats, including a 5-0 hammering from West Brom had attendances plummeting.

"The form of Adam Johnson since Southgate's departure and the appointment of Strachan should already set the alarm bells ringing," sounds a little familiar as we approach the first anniversary of the spectacular fall out of Strachan and Aiden McGeady.

Johnson was voted the North-East Player of the Year last week but with his mentor Southgate no longer at the club it looks certain that the academy graduate will be leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

"They cannot hold on to leads, they are shipping goals and failing to create enough chances to bury weaker opponents and, even with Strachan's new striking additions, are not scoring enough goals," added the article, if it wasn't for the date that comment could have applied to Celtic at any point from January 3 onwards to the final goal-less draws that saw the SPL title lost.

MEDIA
Finally it's onto media relations and it doesn't seem that Gordon has learned much from his Celtic experience.

Sure there can be silly questions, and even sillier questioners, but when the cameras and tapes are rolling it's a good idea to view the bigger picture and appreciate that you are talking to your supporters and the public in general rather than the dirty dozen sitting with you in the room.

The article added: "Strachan gives the impression that press conferences and interviews - in fact the media full stop - are an irrelevance, a pain in the backside and a waste of his valuable time.

"Why does anyone want to be asked and then have to answer stupid questions?

"But supporters in this region expect a little more from their managers. They want to hear what they have to say, in fact they demand it."

As I said it all sounds very familiar to the latter days of his Celtic reign, that wonderful thing called hindsight would surely suggest that winning three-in-a-row at Tannadice in May 2008 would have been the perfect time for Strachan to bow out unbeaten at Celtic.

The trials of Strachan and Middlesbrough will make interesting and detached viewing for Celtic supporters over the coming weeks and months.

Despite their league position they remain third favourites for promotion but even at odds of 20/1 there's unlikely to be a rush of money for 'Boro to finish the season as champions.

Strachan wary of Boro Batchelor Boys

Gordon Strachan has revealed that he prefers his players to be married!

After back-to-back defeats in his opening matches in charge of Middlesboro Strachan has plenty of work to do on the training ground but appears distracted by the amount of unmarried players in his squad.

Now that he is no longer at Celtic Strachan can be viewed in a different light as he entertains the media that he dislikes and fires off signs of his own insecurities.

Finding a goalscorer or two amongst his new squad should be more of a priority than getting players down the aisle with the arrival of Marcus Bent on loan from Birmingham raising a few eyebrows.

MARRIAGE

He said: "There are only three players in the squad that are married which is quite unbelievable, in a world that should be for men.

"I have never come across that in my life. That’s how young we are. I’m not saying you have to be married to be a good footballer.

"I’m just saying it felt strange to come to a club where there are only three members of the first team squad that are married.

"You need responsibility in life. I’m not going about finding wives for them, it was just a shock to me."

The early signs of Strachan's reign should be worrying for Middlesboro fans although not as worrying as his first two games in charge of Celtic when nine goals were lost.

SACKED

The Championship is a brutally competitive league with 'Boro dropping down to tenth place on the back of three defeats since Gareth Southgate was sacked with the club in second place.

Strachan arrived on the back of some controversy having claimed that he would never speak to a club who still have a manager only for Southgate to reveal that he had been in discussions for the 'Boro job two weeks before he received his P45

There is no runaway side in this season's Championship but against that more than a dozen clubs have genuine aspirations of reaching the play-off's or better.

On the pitch Strachan has plenty to think about through the international break with Middlesboro losing to Plymouth and Crystal Palace in his first two games in charge.

Two one-nil wins in his final games in charge of Celtic would have seen him lift the title for the fourth year running but an inability to find the net seems to have followed him to 'Boro.

Speaking after yesterday's defeat he said: "When you have chances like that and you don't take them you have a problem, luck has nothing to do with it.
"It's frustrating, just like last week against Plymouth when our best player Adam Johnson missed a penalty.

"It's frustrating for me, it's frustrating for the players who work so hard and it's frustrating for the fans."

Article from the Northern Echo

Gordon Strachan lined up Middlesbrough job

The appointment of Gordon Strachan as manager of Middlesbrough seems almost inevitable according to the Teeside grapevine.

Gareth Southgate's sacking had barely had time to sink in before the former Celtic manager was linked with the job with no other genuine contenders around.

How Strachan fares at Middlesbrough will be fascinating to watch for Celtic supporters who tried to warm to Strachan, who took to his successes but were left dismayed and disappointed as a golden opportunity to put daylight between the club and Rangers was carelessly tossed away.

Two single goal wins against Hibs and Hearts in May of this year would have given Strachan the fourth title of his Celtic reign but during the months since then Celtic supporters have been left thinking over what might have been.

If he takes on the 'Boro job we will see just how Strachan fares as a manager.

Some of the questions left unanswered by his time at Celtic will be resolved.

Was he too keen to please the boardroom?

Did he have issues dealing with high profile players?

Can he avoid the baiting of the media?

How good is his judgement in the transfer market?

At Celtic success generally means that you were more successful than Rangers, Strachan saw off Alex McLeish and Paul le Guen with ease but stumbled against Walter Smith although there were notable successes as well.

THRILLING

In Europe Strachan achieved greater success than Martin O'Neill but despite thrilling Champions League campaigns highlighted by wins over Manchester United and AC Milan defeats from Artmedia Bratislava and Aalborg are just as vivid.

Looking back at Strachan's time at Celtic the defeat in Aalborg was the end of the road for his reign which was confirmed in January when the only arrival was £100,000 Willo Flood to bolster the 4-in-a-row bid.

Without doubt Strachan was right to leave Celtic but the mystery of how they managed to lose the title to Rangers will remain as will the thoughts of what might have happened had the league been won last season.

I doubt if we'll ever see a Celtic manager remain in the job for more than four years, in those terms it'll be hard to better Strachan's record although arguments will run forever about what he actualy accomplished.

QUALITY

Three championships and back-to-back qualification for the last 16 in the Champions League will be hard to match but the quality of the football on view and development and progress of players is harder to defend.

Success in Scotland will never attract English clubs to come chasing after managers, results in Europe however are noted and the success Strachan enjoyed will have caught the eye of Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson.

It may be overlooked in Scotland but Strachan has a far superior European record to Walter Smith. Despite the general praise that Smith receives and the 'safe pair of hands/Steady Eddie' type coverage that he gets his Champions League record is very poor with just five wins from 27 games.

In contrast Strachan has recorded seven wins from 18 Champions League matches.

IMPRESSED

That sort of record alongside three title wins will have impressed Gibson and there can be no doubt that contact has been established about the vacancy at Middlesbrough.

I'd have thought that Strachan would have hoped for a more high profile job after Celtic, he often dismissed talk of leaving Celtic to join a Coventry or Southampton type job where it would be a constant battle for Premiership survival.

Middlesbrough looks to have a similar profile to his two previous management jobs in England but the longer that a manager is out of football the keener they are to get back involved again.

At any other time Tony Mowbray would have been a strong candidate for the Middlesbrough job, watching Strachan back involved in management again will be fascinating, especially when it comes to January and the opening of the transfer window.