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2009-07-21T11:14:37Z

Much of the anger that was felt towards the end of last season has probably subsided now that the reality of relegation has had to be accepted. It may be still simmering a little but it's largely been replaced by something else - increasing apprehension.

If I have interpreted correctly, it's been suggested elsewhere that judgment and expectations of Boro's prospects will be based on their last performance. I disagree.

There is widespread acceptance that the squad that finished last season so abysmally will not be much like the squad that will start the new campaign. And the squad that kicks off the new season is likely to be different to the one that ends it.

At this time, I believe people are continuously adjusting their positions, waiting to see if Steve Gibson is going to be as good as his word (or people's interpretation of it!). We're waiting to see if Boro's preparatory actions are consistent with the declared intent of an all-out major assault on the Championship and an immediate return to the Premier League.

These days, I'd venture that most people are inclined to believe and judge on the basis of evidence. The evidence that stacked up over the last 3 years and last season in particular, contrary to what the club were, at worst, (mis)leading fans to believe and, at best, allowing some fans to continue to believe from earlier hype that was no longer applicable, was that Boro were no longer "walking the talk".

We still are desperate to know! And there's scant additional evidence, so far, to corroborate the positive intent espoused by the chairman in his BBC Radio Tees phone-in at the end of May. Lack of evidence and lack of explanation, on top of seemingly contradictory messages from different club officials!

Despite the chairman's "blind faith" request, there was simply too much, and there remains too much mistrust around for many people. And with the time dwindling away before the start of the new season and the recognised advantage of having a settled squad available early on being diminished with each day that passes, it's hardly surprising that there is rising apprehension within the ranks of Boro supporters.

I do think it's right to consider and make allowances for the dynamics of the transfer market at this time - because that's the reality of the situation. But many people, myself included, don't fully understand the subtleties and pressures of the market and it certainly doesn't help build confidence on this side of the fence when apparently contradictory statements or sentiments are expressed by club officials, or there are delays in making things happen without explanation being offered by the club.

The club isn't keeping its finger on the pulse of public opinion. Or, if it is, it's either deliberately ignoring the quickening heart rate and rising anxiety, or it doesn't know how to interpret and respond to collective tachycardia!

When so much fragile customer loyalty appears to hang on clear communication from the club to supporters, desperate for reassurance that things will work out OK over time, it continues to astonish me that so little professional effort is expended by the club in communicating an official club strategy or position through one single outlet. Even if the message was that, "there's no real meaningful message just now, because to issue a message at this time would undermine the work that is going on to fulfil the chairman's declared ambition of return to the EPL in one season", would be better than allowing supporters to be confused, frustrated and, as I say, trying to contain their rising apprehension and control their increasing frustration.

To keep fans in the dark and guessing is no way to build trust and loyalty. The club could be giving the fans something they can understand - not just a rather arrogant, "Trust me - I'm Steve Gibson". That way, many more people will be more likely to accept it.

It's an observed psychological and behavioral observation that if you provide a statement backed up with a "because" - a simple and understandable reason, even if that reason isn't entirely in keeping with people's own rationale - then people react far more positively to that rather than to being either ignored or treated like mushrooms or sent conflicting messages from more than one internal, supposedly official source.

And why should the club have to rely on people such as Anthony Vickers to try to explain speculatively to the public what is the club's position and the dynamics of the transfer market? Why on Earth are they not pro-actively and professionally managing public relations communications directly, instead of relying on the good auspices of Gazzettelive's Untypical Boro Blog and Anthony Vickers's unofficial interpretation of circumstances?

As was said in another blog, on Boro Banter, the club could do with some more professionalism in its PR department. It is after all a public-facing retail organisation and in retail, image and customer loyalty count. One "blind faith" statement back in May is hardly enough of an effort, really is it?

This isn't simply a whinge from a disaffected supporter. It's more substantial than that. Because it has consequences for the relationship between the club, as a supplier, and the supporter, as a customer. And that has a direct influence on revenue.

OASIS IN MACCLESFIELD - 'MIRAGE OR NOT?'

2009-07-19T11:36:47Z

Yes, I know it was only the first friendly of this pre-season, and it was only Macclesfield. But it was the return of football, an AWAY WIN - by three goals, and a clean sheet. And the first drops of water to those parched and thirsting from the slog across the desert of a closed season after the desolation of relegation.

This last weekend when the no mark Summer sports will push football to the margins of the sports coverage was the first of the new term that Sky had reporters at the raft of pre-season friendlies round the country and the world (The Algarve? Those were the days!) - including at Moss Rose for Boro's game.

I was fortunate to have even more direct text coverage from my mate, Ian Gill, who travelled from Derby to be there. His first text was the pleasant surprise at quite how close to the gates he could park the car. The shape of away games to come?

One element carried over from The Algarve Tournament at this time last year - a first half team and a second half team with only new acquisition - goalie, Danny Coyne - playing through.

The squad was still short of those still recovering from Internationals, injury and the last remaining refusenik, Mido. So, a good few youngsters got a chance, including some only recently signed to The Academy.

If whoever is now running pre-season fitness and conditioning - after the putsch in the backroom - had been doing their job, you'd expect the players to be taking the field tired in these early friendlies. Another reason for the 'two teams' approach.

Here's Ian's report:-

"A trip down memory line with open stands and terraces.

The first half was fairly even and Macclesfield gave as good as they got.

Digard was full of energy and all over the pitch. Yeates looked useful.

Macclesfield got through the centre of Boro's defence several times but their finishing was appalling. Coyne is quite short for a goalie but bossed the defence.

The second half saw Boro playing with much more purpose.

The picks were O'Neil, Franks and Emnes with the last two showing great touch and movement. Emnes is going to cause Championship defences problems with his pace and touch, he often came out of groups of players with the ball attached to his feet.

We also saw Nathan Porritt who looked more like Jinky than Downing.

Boro got more secure at the back with Hines and McMahon the pick.

Even Arca seemed OK - but he had a couple of trademark twirls.

It is only early in the season but Boro will struggle for goals again unless they sort out our strikers, lots of balls into the box and no one to attack them.

As I texted, Aliadiere had a 'chat' with a fan who had a go at him at halftime. All a bit of a storm in a tea cup but Ali should have just walked away.

The second half improvement was probably due to fresh legs and a bit of trickery on Boro's part and the fact Macclesfield were largely the same team and ran out of steam as the half wore on.

A final note is on the kit. The 'work' between MFC and adidas seems to be what colour the shirt is. Macclesfield wore their away kit. The shirt was the spit of Boro's but in black and gold! It must have taken ages to decide that Boro would play in the red version.

Not much else to note."

Other press reports from the ground also had praise for Jon Franks, whose input was rewarded with the last of the three late goals that started with a neat Arca spot kick on seventy-one after the Macclesfield defender, Bisley, was foxed into handling a Gary O'Neil cross.

These two sandwiched a sumptuous Emnes effort that I savoured later on Sky and would have graced any game. His sublime first touch, turn and lash into the net supported Ian's comments on his performance overall.

In the Sky post-match interviews, both managers declared themselves happy. Keith Alexander with the first half in particular, until Boro's fresh legs and superior skills took over.

Gate also got asked about the 'Downing Dividend' again and gave the same 'not up to me' answer.

The Manager also stressed his view of those who didn't want to stay with Boro for the Championship campaign - that they would go as soon as deals that suited MFC could be done and that he wanted to concentrate on working with those who were staying and can be brought in.

Now it's on to Loch Lomond, mega-midgies (that's a biting insect, not a Newbould's pie, Mido! No need to rush back.) and Dumbarton on Wednesday. Lets hope the Loch's not the only oasis and more substance than mirage emerges.

TROUBLE IN UN-PARADISE?

2009-07-19T11:29:31Z

Like many, I noted those comments from Gate that it wasn't up to him how much money from the 'Downing Dividend' would be available to him for squad strengthening.

Was that the first sign of 'trouble in un-paradise' from that element of The Unholy Trinity? Certainly, it is the first overt sign of some distancing by Gate from Gibbo and The Count.

Unwillingness to continue to be the stooge for the other two might just be the most positive sign that I've yet seen from Gate in his managerial career. I'd certainly warm a little more if he became more his own man and less of a cypher. Much of 'his own man' - as I know from some personal experience - is well worth having.

It might, likely, increase the chances of him getting the sack too. But then it won't be The Count who will be Mr. 'Sacrificial' Lamb, nor Gibbo, if the 'Ten Game Test' is failed. So, if you're going to be hung by, rather than for, the Lamb, why not go for the sheep?

It is interesting, though far from surprising, that Stewie has the same view as many of us do - Boro's chances of going up depends on the dividend from the fee for him (and others) being spent on the right number of quality players to boost the squad strength.

Of course, he's said that before too and was assured it would happen last closed season - which is why he stayed. When it didn't happen that's what caused him to ask for a transfer in January.

Did Gibbo use the 'Blind Faith' line on him too, I wonder? And did he find that it was a 'Blind Alley'?

TROUBLE IN UN-PARADISE?

2009-07-19T11:29:31Z

Like many, I noted those comments from Gate that it wasn't up to him how much money from the 'Downing Dividend' would be available to him for squad strengthening.

Was that the first sign of 'trouble in un-paradise' from that element of The Unholy Trinity? Certainly, it is the first overt sign of some distancing by Gate from Gibbo and The Count.

Of course, he's said that before too and was assured it would happen last closed season - which is why he stayed. When it didn't happen that's what caused him to ask for a transfer in January.

Did Gibbo use the 'Blind Faith' line on him too, I wonder? And did he find that it was a 'Blind Alley'?

SENDING OUT AN SOS......

2009-07-11T17:22:14Z

This pre-season window is fast producing a taxonomy of transfers with its own hierarchy of message and audience.

At the apex, with brain starved of oxygen from the rarified atmosphere inside a hermetically sealed money-bubble and with an audience of only one - their Catalan rivals at Barcelona - sit Real Madrid with their two 'New Galactico' signings.

At the next level down, Chelski - and some others - have talked of 'Marquee' signings with a small audience of other regular Champions' League semi-finalists that they want to sit up and take notice. Despite the unaccountable £18m on Glen Johnson Rafa is still claiming this marquee is a tent that The Scousers can only afford to stand outside and micturate!

In the Prem several clubs, including even The Mackems under Mrs. Doubtfire have spoken about 'Statement' signings with an eye to the rest of that division.

All of these are meant to come early in the buying and selling cycle to 'set the tone' of the transfer rhetoric that, beyond its first intended audience, is meant to convince players already at the club, prospective targets, the fans and the media.

After that, I guess most would be aiming for at least a few, good value, 'Ronseal' (Does What It Says On The Tin) signings.

Then we come to the MFC and Boro levels to date.

Yeates looks to have potential, could be a gem - but the recent record on spotting those sort of prospects isn't good. Not getting at the guy himself, but Coyne is just cheap but experienced window dressing to cover Gate's mono-mania favouritism with Brad Jones.

They could be labelled 'Message In A Bottle' signings.

Then we come to the latest batch of rumours that seem to have been given credence by Gate and MFC. The likes of the ageing, cynical Hull hacker - Bryan Hughes who The Tigers bought The Boat to oust! And another non-scorer of the sort Gate loves, Danny Webber - so good he's available on a free, having been released by The Blades.

If these, or others of their ilk, are actually signed - even as 'fill out the squad' players - they will be termed 'Suicide Note' signings. Doing nothing would be better.

Boro fans, the squad to be retained and the rest of The Championship need to see some 'Statement' and 'Ronseal' signings on the Hurworth veranda as soon as possible.

The story about what can be afforded and when needs to stop changing every second day too - and preferably on the basis of what Gibbo said in his 'blind faith' interview.

Meanwhile, we will be left to wonder quite what the difference is between Alan Smith's role previously and the 'not assistant manager, not on the training ground, not in the dressing room, not full time, consultancy' one he's just been signed up for.

Acknowledgement and money, presumably. Wonder what he's got to say about squad morale and discipline in the wake of Alves' and Mido's refusenik antics, with The Sphinx still missing? And what of Gate's authority?

We are now told that there will be no 'one for one replacement' of Bing. More slimming down of the wage bill? And what is everyone's responsibility is, probably, no-one's. Just like the specialised coaching for attacking play and strikers, I guess.

Presumably, one of the reasons that those players who did bother to turn up began pre-season with ball work rather than beep test and doggies was that the successor to Frank Nuttall at Crockliffe isn't appointed yet. Or maybe that's another role we don't need.

Yeah, well - Boro don't have a problem with fitness, injury and recovery, do we?

It still looks like the Unholy Trinity who were responsible for trashing Boro's Prem status last season haven't yet taken on board that 'when you're in a hole, at least, stop digging'.

Whether it's the backroom, bootroom or the squad the shovels are still out with a will and digging the hole deeper or threatening to.

The answer's up and out, guys - the treasure's not buried.

But Boro's season might be by the time the 'Ten Game Test' plays out - unless things turn round soon.

Some are advocating a 'Zen And The Art Of Middlesbrough Maintenance' approach until that potentially fateful Tuesday at the end of September when Leicester visit The Riverside. Some prefer the Primal Scream as their therapy, though we know what the childhood problem was - your Dad taking you to your first Boro match!

Last season, Gate told us that he didn't favour 'suicide' - for our sake, as well as his, let's hope he avoids any transfer 'Suicide Notes' too.

NORMAL SERVICE ISN'T RESUMED - IT NEVER WENT AWAY

2009-07-06T16:25:54Z

Don't get me wrong, I'm no great fan of egg-chasing or of 'leather on willow' but at least you can see that these are proper sports with proper fans and the Lions' tour and The Ashes are at least in their proper places and spaces.

As a lapsed, sometime fairweather cyclist I love the telegenic spectacle of the Tour de France but more for its helicopter panoramas of the more lovely parts of France embellished by the technicolour circus of the Tour than for the doping diminished 'sport'.

Every year at this time Henley, Ascot and Wimbledon - as A.A. Gill has recently remarked - effortlessly exhibit everything that is pathetic, weird, embarrassing and unattractive in England and the English. With the glib, blind vanity that those exhibiting also effortlessly possess they also assume they are quite the opposite. Any of my fellow commuters from Reading railway station in June will know what I mean.

As Arthur Smith has it, "Not interested in sport, only in wearing a bizarre hat, squeaking and downing Pimms and strawberries." Or, the Bill Tidy cartoon of top hatted and tailed gent straining and scraping as he poles the punt with his fragrant and fascinater-ed (no, me neither) lady up Wimbledon High Street.

But, in their own eccentric ways, these are the set pieces of this time of year in the footy-free doldrums.

Every bit as much of a fixture is Boro's supine approach to the transfer window - even when major squad surgery is required and admitted as such - and the start of a vital pre-season that you'd think would need backroom and bootroom sorted too.

Sure, Malcolm Crosby and a sports psychologist have gone. They've recently been joined by Frank Nuttall, last closed seasons' recruit brought to sort out the execrable Boro fitness regime.

But we still don't know who is the next to take on 'Crockliffe' and, in addition to the issues we all know about, may also have to try to make up for the much-rumoured excesses of certain players whose performance has failed to mitigate the alleged unprofessional late nights, booze and fags that have, seemingly, gone unchallenged by backroom or bootroom.

A rare case of lots of smoke and no fire.

Although we are told that Alan Smith (the one that used to be Gate's manager at Palace and is now a managers' agent) is going to continue to be a part-time mentor for the Boro Manager, we still don't know who will be Gate's assistant nor how the rest of the coaching team will be reformed. Who's doing what in managing a vital pre-season?

As to squad matters, I liked Ian Gill's commentary:-

"Odd to think that this time last year we were talking of training camps in the Algarve, a mini-tournament involving some good teams, a trim and hungry squad (best ever, pacy, attacking etc, etc, etc).

Now we look forward to the lads going to Loch Lomond - I await the incredible bad luck of someone being bitten by a Scottish midge and missing the start of the season. We have a top class line up of friendlies with Dumbarton, Carlisle, Darlo and Macclesfield, finishing off with a trip to the Capital to face the might of, er, Millwall.

[JP writes: Gate has recently told us that this is about the sort of 'thud and blunder' opposition Boro will face in The Championship, not wasting time on travel in a short closed season and trying to remedy the century long unwanted record of away defeats. Yeah, right!]

We have brought in Yeates who is 'multi-talented', so along with Bates that is five players we have signed.

Turnbull has decided he prefers being No. 2 to Cech at Chelsea, going on European campaigns, getting medals and maybe a run in the Premiership rather than No. 2 to The Corporal, secure in the knowledge that if Yeates is good at basket ball he would have been demoted to No. 3. [JP writes: And maybe No. 4 now that Danny Coyne has signed!]

The new kit is a blessed relief compared to the 'Tango' job up the A1. No announcement about the away kit as, in light of our away record and in order to reduce costs, we won't be playing any away games so we won't need one.

We already have one excuse gifted to us. Due to TV our players can be tired by 'having to start their season earlier than the other teams'."

I think Ian's on to something with the multi-role Yeates and Bates - not more players in the squad but fewer - and all called 'Jack', presumably.

The other advantage for Gate is that if none of them have a position then he can't be accused of square-pegging either!

Of course, we all know that the girls are better at multi-tasking. There would be some of the existing squad who would be clear favourites for retention on the basis of being the biggest girl Boro have got!

An economic triumph of squad building for The Count who is still claiming to be reeling from Turnbull not wanting to accept Boro's generous offer!

It could be considered a little strange (though welcome - depending on the quality Coyne shows) that an experienced goalkeeper has just been recruited, given that Gate said recently that a goal-keeper wasn't his priority. But maybe that should have told us something.

I can't help having the feeling, though, that Coyne is an affordable (cheap: Boro Coyne-ing it in!) means of The Unholy Trinity being able to proclaim that they have signed an experienced goalie without it being seriously intended that he challenge 'Gate's Favourite', The Corporal, as Number One.

The excuses of 'everyone's on holiday' and 'all football contracts end at the end of June' have been consigned to the same Summer bin as Saltire and lion face paint. The need to excite Boro fans - and indeed the squad members they want to retain - about 'the season that no-one wanted' is palpable.

I think that it almost goes without saying that 'excitement' isn't exactly the emotion generated by Mark Yeates and Danny Coyne joining or by Matt Bates staying. And if you buy enough League One players......

So, are we about to see the promised and much needed action at last - or are we about to hear the 'have to sell before we make any significant buys' line that has so far been eschewed and that might see Boro, yet again, continuing 'Normal Service' by rummaging in the remainders bin at the end of August and ending up without either the promised quality and quantity?

Stretched Customer Loyalties

2009-07-03T01:30:19Z

Twice this summer, my loyalties as a customer have been stretched to breaking point.

On each occasion, the similarities, for me, in reaction are stark. And it emanates from personal emotional reaction, as a customer.

I received a renewal letter from my house insurer advising me that for "my convenience", I need "do nothing" and my insurance cover would "simply" be renewed, without discontinuity, for a further year. Over the three years I've been insured with this lot, despite my circumstances not having changed and having made no claims on the policy, the premium has risen by 104%! For the purposes of ensuing comparison, I urge the reader to view this as a reduction in value for money, rather than an increase in cost.

What kind of loyalty reward is that, I asked myself? Is it the state of the market - or am I being taken for a mug?

An internet search and a couple of phone calls later, I discover that I am indeed being inticed into being taken for a complete mug. Had I unquestioningly and undemandingly allowed the renewal to proceed, I would have paid £602 instead of the £269 that I am now going to pay with my new insurer.

Following up on the renewal notification letter, I got a personal phone call from the insurer (the £602 lot), asking me if I intended to renew. Apparently I am the kind of customer they were keen to retain. You bet I am!! No claims and unquestioning acceptance of drastically deteriorating value for money? A sales and marketing man's dream! Had I allowed this to go unchallenged I would have been what is known as an undemanding customer; a customer who will buy the product irrespective of what the value for money is. Many retailers LOVE customers like that! Enlightened retailers who seek a better future however, don't bite the hand that feeds them, continuously seek to improve their products and services and reward customer loyalty - not penalize it!

With no real negotiation, other than advising their telephone representative that I would NOT be renewing, I was then immediately offered the same insurance cover for £478! Instead of being grateful, I was immediately sceptical, insulted and angry. Why? Because had I said that I would be renewing, he no doubt would have said, "Thanks very much for your loyalty, we're delighted to have you with us for a further year", and allowed me to pay the £602! Not only that but, his revised offer at £478, which I also rejected, I subsequently discovered was also grossly uncompetitive.

I hate being duped. I hate being manipulated. I hate being treated dishonestly. I hate being treated disrespectfully and I hate being deliberately and cynically exploited. I don't suppose for one second that makes me unique!

But, what's this got to do with football?................

It is my view that, albeit for the first time ever, sadly, Steve Gibson has let the club and the fans down. I consider that his pursuit of greater personal wealth, requiring him to pull in the Boro purse-strings, while big money was being spent elsewhere in his commercial empire was at the heart of the last three years of poor value for money at MFC.

At the same time, his Boro publicity machine was attempting to hide the reality behind a facade of "more exciting fast, attacking football and youthful energy". This, I believe, was quite cynically designed to mislead the support (customers). I feel sure that he hoped like hell that we would have enough in the tank to stay up. But he got it badly wrong - in every respect! His strategy delivered abysmal results, schoolboy football naivety, the worst scoring record in the club's history, drove us ultimately into a cul-de-sac from which there was no escape and resulted in disappointment, frustration and pain for those who cared enough through a blind faith allegiance, or who, more cognitively, allowed themselves to care enough.

He effectively played roulette with the emotions and custom of every Boro fan and every MFC supporter (two different species) - and lost!

The former, the Boro fans, will be there in numbers at the start of the forthcoming season, but many of the latter won't - because they feel the same way as I do and they don't want to pay the same money to watch Championship football. They want and are prepared to pay for Premier League football and won't return to season ticket holder status until it's here again - and even then, some will be sufficiently hacked off by the last three seasons not to bother.

Gibson may well find that he gets what his small-town psyche would not-so-secretly prefer - attendances, albeit dwindling, dominated even more by those living within a 5-mile radius of the Riverside. Those more discerning, discriminating, or less deeply indoctrinated, perhaps living outside the magic circle, may stay away in disproportionate numbers. And after his BBC Radio Tees performance, there is some justice in that! As a Chairman, Gibson would appear to have a lot to learn about retail psychology.

Customers will only put up with so much crap. Even when they're buying crap, they can be happy. But when it's rubbed in their faces, when they're publicly exposed as buyers of poor value for money wares, they'll desert in droves - like Gerald Ratner, the high street purveyor of "crap", found out to his cost some years ago and like Direct Line Insurance have discovered to theirs this year.

When the customer becomes aware that he/she is being either taken for granted or treated like his/her feelings don't matter a damn, then that's when reaction happens. And relegation brings that into stark focus.

That's why Direct Line won't be getting my business again. And it's also why I have not renewed my Boro season ticket.

Because the game has become one of "who's finances are greatest" and with the few anomalous exceptions that ultimately help to prove the rule, the dominant factor in the league positioning is club spending levels - squad salaries and transfer spending. More and more people are coming to realise that. And when you can't fight it, hell - just join it! So, many will subscribe to Sky and preferentially watch the Premier League through boxes currently being fitted free of charge until the end of July! (I haven't gone that far - yet!)

If what I consider is Gibson's long-term strategy eventually pays off and Rockliffe becomes as big a money-spinner as he hopes it might (and I have reservations (excuse the pun) about that because of its location and niche market), then, and only then, might sufficient money be able to be channeled once again into Boro for the club to re-establish a position in the Premier League. But, of course, the Premier League will have moved on again in financial terms, making it all the more difficult.

So, in the meantime, the aforementioned Boro fans would be well-advised not to hold their breath.

There will always be a hard core of Boro fans who live and breathe red air. But there is a sizeable, more marginal discriminatory tranche of supporters; more discerning customers whose consumerist needs will have to be met for them to continue as patrons.

It's in the club's hands. Deliver what the people want (perceived value for money), treat them respectfully and the people are more likely to stay loyal!

But try to con them or milk them as simple herd cattle and you'll get killed in the exodus stampede!

Let's generate a bit of banter

2009-06-28T17:32:04Z

As the dust settles (finally) on the depressing demise of our football club, I would like to discover the general feeling on Teesside on the prospects of next season and on the club in general. A bit of Boro Banter.

I understand there was (still is?) an abundance of unhappiness at the fact that GS was retained but has that abated?

The anti-Gibbo brigade - are they still around?

Is there a growing optimism around the town, looking ahead to the new season in...dare I say it, the Championship?

Where did this term "Blind Faith" come from by the way (was it from AV?)? Does anyone really believe that blind faith exists in footballing terms?

Maybe passion for our local team whether a born and bred local or a long term fan from outside the area? Maybe the love of the atmosphere and camaraderie of a match day? for good days travelling to away games? Is that to be confused as Blind faith?

Personally I believe it is because Boro are an intrinsic part of true fan's life. It is not easy to break away from that.

Me? I was born in Stewart Downing territory, a hotbed for.......well let's not delve too deeply but I was proud to grow up in that area and my Boro FC roots were nurtured there during hard times for the club to a depth whereby I retain the desire to support my team without scientific analysis of the quality of product versus capital or time outlay. Is that "Blind Faith"?

Having come to terms with the 'disaster' of relegation, I look forward to the coming season in equal measure as the previous 'good times' in the Premier League. There is no point whatsoever claiming "I wish we were still in the Premier League". The clock cannot be turned back. The club and true fans should get on with it and face the season with optimism.

Optimism tempered with the reality that our 'big stars' are set to leave, but good quality younger players supplemented with new, experienced, signings will more than hold their own in the top six of the Championship. It is important that we hold on to Emnes, Digard, Wheater, Johnson, Walker, Riggott, McMahon, Williams, Grounds and others with big potential.

"New experienced signings", that is the one of the main factors contributing to our near term success, as well as hanging on to those players mentioned above. It is true that GS's signings have not set the club alight. He has to quickly demonstrate that he has collated all those lessons from last season and that he has finally, finally begun to learn something from them.

If we can instil a feeling in our heads that we will be at least challenging for the league title, and maybe, hopefully, winning it, then I'm sure all fans would be looking forward to the new season and subsequently attract gates of 25,000+. A good start to the season will rid of the negativity.

The responsibility ultimately lies with the club and the players of course to instil those feelings with retention of hungry proven players, good signings and then getting off to a good start, especially given the first four games where we should pick up a minimum of eight points.

To hear some fans referring to the Championship as the "fizzy pop league" reveals a sad denial of reality and displays the arrogance of the whole ethic surrounding the Premier League circus. Footballing life does not end with relegation from the super-dooper EPL. Yes I realise that is the general trend of feeling in England but built on what foundation? I suspect too many believe the hype.

I also suspect that Wolves and Birmingham fans enjoyed their season far more than fans of the bottom ten EPL clubs did. Why shouldn't we do the same next season?

Come on Boro fans, call me a "foam hander", the supreme wearer of rose-tinted glasses, leader of the Blind Faith brigade, I don't care. This could be the most enjoyable season since...since we were promoted last time around!

STARTING TO TICK (SOME OF) THE RIGHT BOXES

2009-06-21T10:26:37Z

We're just entering that, thankfully short, Summer doldrums when footy is forced from dominance of the sports pages and screens. And if you've just been shifted from the Prem to The Championship you soon realise how much further into the media 'outer darkness' you've been pushed.

Even given that, all that Boro fans can hope is that 'no news is good news' because that's mostly what they've got. Given MFC's record in recent times that really is 'blind faith'!

When Gibbo confirmed the 'Unholy Trinity' were staying he promised an inquest and radical changes in backroom, bootroom and squad to correct the failures of the last, disastrous season and set up for a 'first time of asking' promotion push.

With pre-season only a fortnight away 'back to the future' has been slow off the blocks but - to give credit - it has started to tick some of the right boxes.

Only time will tell whether Gate's partners in the backroom 'Triumverate' concentrate, as they should, on the football business of MFC. Gate's accountability must come with its rightful football responsibilities this time round if, as suggested, he's to carry the can rather than the collective.

We can also only hope that the promised net benefits of the hotel and golf course begin to outweigh its distractions.

In both instances the only evidence we will get, as before, will not be direct but from the indirect impacts that we can see. A bit like inferring the presence of a celestial body that can't be 'seen' by measuring its gravitational disturbance on bodies around it.

Most importantly, Gibbo and The Count have assured that the resources are available to deliver the ambition of a promotion push and are more than competitive with the rest of the Championship. So, there has been a welcome end to Gate's pleading poverty.

As a very visible first step, the choice of the new home kit is sure footed. The adidas brand is a good one to be associated with and the kit shows a design input that is as welcome as it is somewhat unexpected from both MFC and adidas. The re-appearance of white shorts and socks and the retention but re-working of the white shirt panels is a great mix of continuity, change and reference.

A proper motif and representation for 'back to the future'.

The bootroom has seen the start of change too. Assistant Manager, Malcolm Crosby (who?) was the first to move out, despite Gate describing it as the hardest decision of his managerial career. This is a positive move - nice guy though he is, as an advisor, the ex-Mackem who sometimes couldn't forget that, seemed all 'grise' and no 'eminence'.

He was joined through the exit by a sports psychologist, Michael Caulfield. I haven't yet come across anyone who even knew Boro had a sports psychologist. That, and the mental fragility of the squad last term, may be clues to his demise.

The Count has re-affirmed that the clear out in the bootroom will continue as it will in the backroom and the squad. That makes sense.

But, with 6 July fast approaching, when will we see the new bootroom team shaping up?

It must, surely, include an Assistant for Gate that compliments him rather than being stamped from the same mould. He needs an enforcer/translator who will boss the coaching team and dominate the dressing room along with a credible new club and team Captain. I think that person spec will need to be sourced from outside the current crop.

It must also have a balance of all the competences so that goalkeepers, defenders, the midfield and the strikers have credible and dedicated coaching. One or two authoritative player coaches could work well too.

Gate can then concentrate on 'big picture' team management and leadership with an effective collective that ensures that he is well advised and supported but that his writ runs. They can also give him scope for some needed distance from the dressing room and mitigate the apparent tendency towards some favouritism that grated somewhat last season.

On the squad, despite so much change being both likely and necessary, there is still no evidence of results in terms of ins and outs secured, nor on reform of the failed scouting set-up. Are these two things are linked?

In the absence of one or two 'statement of intent', benchmark setting moves into a squad that, it has been acknowledged, requires both the right quantity and quantity of players the rumours have, on balance, not been that encouraging.

The news of interest in the likes of Neville and Scholes was welcome. They fit the bill of old heads, leaders on the pitch and potential Captain and player coaches.

But almost as soon as the rumours surfaced they were played down - with the, frankly, bizarre rationale that Sralex - for the only time in decades - didn't know what he was going to do with his ManUre squad this closed season.

There will be similar others - Dietmar Hamann is set to leave Citeh, for one.

At the other end of the experience scale there has been talk about more 'ones for the future' loans from the squads of the big four. A nice, affordable luxury, sure - but not the bedrock of case hardened pro's that are needed at Boro.

Yet again, there's indecision from Gate about an experienced goalie but also repeat of last season with Turnbull substituted for Skippy. The difference? There's no sense that Steele is in any sort of competition for the number one spot with The Corporal.

A squad such as the one The Triumverate have talked about needs three custodians anyway. A good, experienced goalie is needed to challenge for the number one, not the number two slot.

There's been little mention of the athlete/artisans and - even more key - athlete/artists needed for the centre of midfield and no mention of the right flank slot that has been square-pegged for seasons now.

But there has been is an apparent keen-ness to retain the services of refusenik Matt Bates, beyond the value that his displays last term - albeit mostly square-pegged - merited.

The departure of Stewie, possibly in January, and the wanderlust of Johnno have only brought as response a rumoured interest in Mark Yeates, a £350k shot from Colchester - how are the mighty truly fallen, if true.

Rumours around the defence are more about those who have interested suitors - the likes of Huth, Pogi, Rhys Williams and Wheats. If the last two could be retained, along with Riggs, that would set a firm base to central defence which you'd only need to add one to. Someone like a St. Ledger from Preston, for example.

Strikers are the part of the squad that the current MFC regime have struggled with sourcing, developing or coaching for Boro. The current rumours indicate that, apparently, not much has changed. The fact that the young Serb and former Boro trialist, Matic has a broken foot from the U21 Euros will only encourage Boro's scouts, on past performance!

It is alleged that they are 'distancing themselves' from Beckford. His Leeds strike partner, Becchio hasn't even been mentioned, nor has the likes of Jason Scotland. Meanwhile, Matt Derbyshire is going for £3m and Ched Evans from Citeh for less.

Instead, Boro have been linked with the ageing Kuqi - all the attitudes and appetite for Gregg's offerings of a Mido but little of the Egyptian's quality - Steven Fletcher from Hibs and Leroy Lita - so good that he was released by Reading at the end of his contract after he'd been dropped and then loaned out.

Hardly inspiring to be linked with these potential targets - even just rumoured. If that's a statement - then what of? Well, perhaps people's perception of MFC and Boro. A couple of excellent signature signings would change all that and encourage 'les autres'.

The 'Ten Game Test' - so telling of a season's outcome most years - has even more resonance for Gate this time around. The other two legs of the 'three legged stool' have hinted strongly that if things aren't looking good by then the manager will be sawn off.

The set of games look more testing than they should, given how Boro finished last season - not just in the outcome but also in the manner of it.

But it's a fair test and representative of the Championship. After the challenge of a starter against The Blades - all the thud and blunder that would wilt the current, femmer Reds and just lost out to Burnley in the play offs - Boro play a side relegated with them, The Baggies, sides newly promoted from League One and teams that reflect all the strata and styles of rest of the division. By the end of September, we'll all know.

Gate came back from holiday and started by getting his excuses in early about slow starting not meaning you don't get promoted and 'marathons, not sprints'. The reaction to that meant the tune soon changed to 'need to hit the ground running' and more confidence.

Strange then, that so few of the boxes are yet ticked, let alone all the right ones.

The Sound of Silence

2009-06-09T22:31:21Z

With thanks and apologies to SG (that's Simon and Garfunkel, by the way!)

Hello Steve Gibson, our old friend
You've come to talk with us again
Paint a vision all-creeping
Take our money, leave us all weeping
For the vision that's been planted in our brains
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In my dreams I sit alone
West stand fan without a throne
Application form remaining blank
Envelope without a first class stamp
With my eyes being stabbed by the flash of a glorious sight
That Steaua night!
But I return, to silence

Then in my mind I dreamt I saw
Ten thousand people, not many more
People watching without cheering
People cursing without swearing
Writing songs, for Pigbag's over-played
And no one cared
Disturbs the sound of silence

"Fools" said Steve,"You do not know
Costs like a cancer grow
Hear my words that might teach you
Mark my words that I might reach you."
But his words like Afonso Alves fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

Yet still some people bowed and prayed
To the Park End God they made
Although the signs flashed out their warning
'Bout the squad that was forming
And the boss said, "No Boro profits
Will be posted in the Gazette's cols
But Rockliffe Hall...?"
And in the stands, there's silence.

THEY DON'T CALL IT 'THE MASTERS' FOR NOTHING!

2009-06-08T14:01:09Z

Congratulations to John Hendrie's Boro side on winning - again - in the Northern Masters, televised on Sky yesterday. Let's hope they can get to the National final this time and maybe go on to win.

What a treat to see a 'Boro' side that was fitter, better drilled, shaped and organised than their opponents and thus given the opportunity to display their skills, play the right brand of football for the Tournament with belief and pride and to justify, rather than wilt under the expectation placed on them - in this case, being pre-tournament favourites.

They had a mean defence - until they were four up in the final against The Mackems - with the best goalie in the Tournament in Kelham O'Hanlon and Coops, a creative and mobile midfield with passing, penetration and control with Higgy and Kavanagh (or 'Kavanelli', as he got nicknamed) pulling the strings and reliable goalscorers - three of the top four in the tournament, including two midfielders.

I'm sure these ironies - and the 'lessons to be learned' - were not lost on Coops and Higgy, particularly, given their respective coaching roles at Boro. Coops - winner of Man of the Tournament on his Masters' debut - said in interview that it was nice to give Boro fans something to smile about!

The same traits that were evident in this Summer diversion - though taken nonetheless seriously by those playing - must be present when Boro kick off their Championship campaign in August.

A Manifesto for Championship mastery is needed - but one more successful than recent political ones in convincing with its rhetoric, through actions, that a regime responsible for disastrous failure can be trusted with recovery. Particularly since the Boro public have no choice over that regime and 'Blind Faith' is no answer.

From all that's been said by Gate, Gibbo and The Count in the aftermath of their trashing of Boro's Prem status we must assume that The Triumverate will stay in place. We have to take them at their word that the other changes they talked about will be put in place - in the squad, bootroom and backroom.

If Gate is to be held properly accountable this time round - with all the consequences that go with that - the other two in the 'Unholy Trinity' must stick with the football business, more narrowly defined than it has been, and not the football. The hotel and golf course must not be a diversion in any way as it moves towards net contribution.

They must also recognise that their public image and that of the club have a lot of ground to make up with fans that are, rightly, hurting, feeling cheated and seeing the difference between MFC and Boro more starkly than for a long time.

Changing that must involve a root and branch change to how the club does its PR, presents itself and responds. It means making a reality of the oft quoted platitude that The Triumverate are only custodians of a club that belongs to the town(s) and the fans.

It goes beyond merely avoiding the cackhanded 'Sit down, shut up and support Boro' stuff and its aftermath, the inanities of 'learning' (the new 'magnificent') and wild over-optimism by players in the face of what is evident to everyone from what they see on the pitch.

It's not just about the person whose direct responsibility PR is but is also about the bunker mentality that has governed them with its occasional tendency towards 'Stockton Mackem' type gaffes, tinges of xenophobia and small town thinking.

The backroom scouting and fitness/conditioning regimes that were only overhauled last closed season have been shown to have failed. They must be totally overhauled and people replaced where necessary so they are fit for the new purpose required.

The investment on players, including the set up at what is now known as 'Crockliffe', must produce the returns necessary and all the 'assets' - players, buildings, grounds and equipment - must be sweated as they should be.

If Gate is to remain as manager his assistant/deputy and coaching team must compliment him and eachother, not all be stamped from the same Gate-shaped mould.

The manager has to live and operate successfully with the sorts of strong and differently opinioned characters in the bootroom and dressing room that he seems to have gone some way to avoid during his tenure. There are ways of achieving 'My way or the highway' without just moving out those who may disagree with you.

Some more leadership 'distance' with the players could also, helpfully, be cultivated. Less apparent favouritism may bring better followership, too.

The Gazette 'Talking Boro' panel agreed about having an experienced assistant/deputy who could both mentor Gate but also act as his 'enforcer/tranlator' with the players. This has to be right and this person spec. does not fit the encumbent.

The coaching team is heavily skewed with defenders but has failed to prepare and send out a decent defensive unit. This includes Stephen Pears, on whose say so Brad Jones and Turnbull were assessed to be good enough to preclude the need for a replacement for Skippy.

The bootroom team for the new campaign must be properly competent across the spectrum - goalkeepers, defence, midfield and strikers should have dedicated coaches and the coaching team should be lead by the new assistant/deputy to Gate who would have the overall responsibility of translating Gate's vision (properly moderated in its formulation by his own experience) for how the team will play through the training field and onto the pitch.

What should that playing vision be? Well, what it shouldn't be is Arsenal-Lite again. That didn't even work for Arsenal last season and would be ripped to pieces in The Championship, done the way Gate's Boro did it.

We are often presented with a dichotomy on how to get out of The Championship - either The Baggies/Burnley way; 'playing football' or something more like The Blades' or Stoke's so called direct 'thud and blunder'.

I think that's a false choice. The answer's both/and not either/or. In any division - as Boro adequately proved by exception in the Prem last season - you have to win the battle for the right to play then you have to play - and play to win for all ninety plus minutes. That will involve getting ahead and holding what you have, seeing a game out or coming from behind. Settling for a draw should be a non-desired outcome not an aim.

So, the play itself will need elements of the direct and the more passing game and the ability to flex between them with players and coaches who know when and where to do either or both. Plan A on its own doesn't work either - you need Plans B & C too and, again, the flexibility and nous to move between them between games and during them with the squad to match and the dugout that knows what it's doing.

You can work with 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. All have their devotees and in the right hands all can work well. But please forget zonal marking in defending set pieces!

But overall, I think that Boro fans - and indeed those at the club - would prefer an emphasis on a passing and attacking, front foot approach without the naivety, open-ness and square-pegging that so hampered last season. Done successfully, this will not only work but attract a crowd to The Riverside.

There would be a good deal of advantage in getting to this of having one or more or the coaching posts filled by the right sort of player/coach. Paul Scholes has been mentioned as one such possibility - that would be right on the mark.

Beyond that, the Triumverate has spoken of a playing squad that has more numbers for a longer season in a tough league and more experience with the right technical, physical and psychological qualities for a different challenge than the Prem. That's right, so, I'll take them at their word, for now.

The exact make-up will be determined by those leaving and retained but the plans must be actioned early so that the squad is substantially as needed by the start of pre-season.

The turnover in the squad is set to be significant and will require all the preparation time that a full pre-season together affords so that they hit the ground running and firing on all cylinders as a functioning team on 8 August.

That's going to need a step change in MFC's handling of transfer window activity and there's been little that's evident, so far, in terms of getting a flying start to that.

There remains a rightful place for the right Academy products, of course, but the core of the squad has to be case hardened pros - particularly through the spine of the side. And the Academy ain't broke - so don't fix it.

Amongst the experienced, case-hardened pros, you'd expect to have more than one who had leadership qualities on the pitch. But you do need a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch that you can build the squad and the team round.

They must command instant respect and would have an input with Gate, his assistant/deputy in particular (I'd expect this duo to boss the dressing room between them) and the coaches. Again, Gary Neville has been spoken of - that would be right on the mark too.

In any sensible approach to squad building, you'd want the 'leader on the pitch' and any other 'player coaches' in first - not just for the practical advantage but for the message of intent it will send to other potential recruits.

On the 'Talking Boro' panel, Anthony Vickers set out the view that MFC would be well resourced to pay amongst the best wages in the division, offer one of the best grounds and levels of support and the best training facilities. He was also of the view that, from outside the club, the track record of the last eleven years in the league and in domestic and European cups would pre-dominate over last year's debacle.

Let's hope his judgement is, as usual, sound and that the right players are attracted. And since Gibbo and The Count have recently confirmed that the club is on a sound financial footing we can, presumably, look forward to less bleating about resources.

Some specific adds to the squad are needed and are pretty obvious:-

An experienced goalie - and not just as a second string to Brad Jones, that's Jason Steele. Even if more than one of Wheats, Riggs, Pogi and Williams stay there is a need for a centre-back 'rock' to add to the Redcar variety.

The centre of midfield needs beefing up with experienced athlete/artisans who can win the ball and carry it or lay it off simply to a red shirt. But athlete/artists who can pass, run a game, open a defence and score one or two are also needed - and have been for several seasons now.

The right side of midfield needs filling with someone who knows how to play there and is not square-pegged or a convert who has failed elsewhere - another longstanding issue. The same will go for the left if both Johnno and Stewie leave.

Last, but absolutely not least, are proven, goalscoring strikers - note the plural - at this level.

I don't think there's much above that - to quote Gibbo - would be different if we all made a list of what needed doing. But then, it needs doing. And nothing would be more healing after the wounding season we've had than evidence of positive action.

Though the experience will be as unwelcome as it is now inevitable and was avoidable - if all the above is put in place Boro have some chance of 'Master-ing' The Championship and Boro fans could have an enjoyable, exciting and winning experience next season - just as they did at the Newcastle Arena and on Sky.

If not, then it will, likely, master them and we won't.

MOVIN' ON UP......

Let's ditch 'Pigbag' in favour of another theme tune for another era.

Despite it's use, seemingly without issue, at the Newcastle Arena, I have got somewhat fed up of opposing supporters using the tune - home and away - as something to beat us with as their team was beating Boro on the pitch.

Let me kick off the suggestions for a successor, make a link to the other fight that the town has on its hands and show my vintage by putting forward Chris Rea's 'Steel River'.

Chris could be asked for a special, new arrangement just for this purpose and he could do a CD single with this plus a version, sung by him, with an updated set of lyrics for the situation at the steelworks. Some sort of fighting fund for that purpose could benefit from sales and also benefit Boro's club and community ethos - something else that doesn't need changing but further nourishing.

Publicising these worthy efforts - which must of course be done - should also recognise that the prime purpose of MFC and Boro is sporting glory.

Some others have already suggested another retro approach with the return of 'The Power Game'. This has the risk of unintended irony if things don't work out next season.

You'll have your own suggestions.

You can take the Boy out of Park End, but............

2009-05-28T17:58:47Z

Without being fawning and one of the (I think) over-the-top "One of us" band of Gibsonites, I have been a modestly strong advocate of Gibson's stewardship of Middlesbrough Football Club. Some other recent Boro Banter articles are testimony to that.

However, I now have some developing unease.

His ownership and financial support of the club has clearly been responsible, directly and indirectly for the most successful period in Middlesbrough Football Club's history.

At this time therefore, which I believe is the lowest ebb to date, in the history of the Gibson stewardship of MFC, I am, like thousands of others, more than a little interested in what the chairman has to say. Because, for one, it has the potential to affect the shape and content of my Saturdays and contribute to a significant shift in my life's interests!

I have not yet renewed my season ticket, and as one of Steve Gibson's customers, because that's what I am, was waiting for some signs of directional guidance, some flash of passionate appeal, backed up with some public pronouncement of specific action that will be taken to make the product that Steve Gibson's company sells, more appealing to me than it was in the season that's just finished so abysmally.

But instead of inspiration, what I heard on Radio Tees on Tueday evening was an insight into the mind and mentality of the chairman which frankly, leaves me wondering if Premier League sporting glory is at all possible for MFC under his ownership.

Investing in values - backing the character
It is said that when you invest in a company, it is important to invest in the person or management team leading it and not just the company because of its products or services. If you want a decent positive return on your investment, then you need growth. And for growth, you need people who are committed to growth and who demonstrate that commitment to growth week in, week out, month in, month out, year in, year out and who have the vision, the passion, the drive, the imagination and the determination to achieve it.

If there is a mismatch, or if you have reason to believe that their values are somehow incompatible with your own ambitions, then alarm bells ought to be ringing inside your head and because this is the real world, you ought to be revisiting any intentions you had of making your investment - or, at least, not committing irrevocably until you have more evidence of both intent and capability.

Insights - reading between the lines and getting behind the words
Having listened to every minute of the Radio Tees question and answer session, I believe we've been given some significant insights into the character of Steve Gibson and some of the reasons why Middlesbrough Football Club is and always will be, under his stewardship, a relatively small club. They are not the only reasons, but they are limiting. And they are partly why MFC did not, could not and never would, in a month of Sundays, have capitalised on the Club's raised profile and sporting currency after reaching the UEFA Cup Final.

Steve Gibson gave us all some significant insight into Steve Gibson, the man, in his responses to some of the questions posed in the Radio Tees interview.

Before dealing with specifics, let me say that the day after the Radio Tees broadcast, I spoke with another long-standing Boro season-ticket holder who suggested that he thought that some of the questioners simply had to be Gibson plants - so gratuitously syrupy were they in their adoration of Gibson in their pre-question comments.

Other than the persistent theme of Gareth Southgate's management, Gibson was given an easy ride by Radio Tees's pre-screened questioners who were clearly as articulate (more so) than Gibson himself. However, in demonstrating their ability to maintain a calm presence on live radio, they did so at the expense of hitting Gibson with the difficult supplementary questions that some of his responses deserved.

However, I also felt that had they pressed for answers to some supplementary questions, Alistair Brownlee, as MC, would have taken a convenient break, moving the event along "in the interests of including as many other questioners as possible to have their moment of enlightenment", and so avoiding any head to head nitty-gritty controversial stuff. Alastair Brownlee, Jeremy Paxman, you are not!

Specifically, I was also disappointed in Brownlee for so obviously recognising the controversial nature of a Gibson comment and favouring his relationship with Gibson more than dealing with the controversy, cut short the opportunity for Ian from Hertfordshire to follow up on the chairman's assertion that Stockton-on-Tees might as well be Stockton-on-Wear being such a hotbed of Mackem Mafiosi! Gibson's assertion, was just begging for the supplementary question about where the leak is in the ticket office at the Stadium of Light that gives Gibson access to Sunderland's marketing demographics!

That piece of trite nonsense, added to other jingoistic, xenophobic, heavy pro-Middlesbrough conurbation bias, offered the suggestion of an introspective, almost insular world view that doesn't really want to deal in the bigger world of the Premier League any more. Gibson's view of MFC is just that. It's MFC. In his mind, it seems to belong only to Middlesbrough. Not Teesside. Not the North East. Not North Yorkshire. Not parts of Northumbria, Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Scotland, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Reading, Finland, Baku, South Korea, and loads of other places where erstwhile Boro supporters may have travelled either temporarily or permanently getting on with their lives. With an attitude like that, what chance does MFC have of encouraging offshore allegiances, such as those that the most successful teams in Great Britain have fostered in pursuit of their success? Small town mentality!

Or maybe Gibson simply doesn't want to go down that route. In which case, wouldn't it be more honest to say so and leave the Boro support in no doubt about which party line the club will be following? If I was to vote for the BNP, at least I'd know what I'd be voting for!

If the "Stockton" comment was a tongue-in-cheek attempt at an ill-advised joke, Gibson may have done better to have remembered that he was on radio rather than TV and if he was smiling, nobody other than Alistair Brownlee could see it and thus be able to interpret his words as a joke! He didn't sound like he was smiling though! And the haste with which the MC hammered the matter to a close, suggested also that there wasn't much of a smile on Gibson's countenance either!

In the 90 minute Q&A, Gibson demonstrated what clearly are some of his own strengths. But on the other hand, I believe we've all witnessed some personal characteristics that are a disadvantage and which will unfortunately, stand in the way of the club's progress, unless he voluntarily recognises them, acknowledges them and like the Demi-God some would have had us believe he is, take the necessary steps, on behalf of the football club, to address limiting weaknesses that I believe are now apparent in the executive management of the club.

The Positives
Gibson is single-minded and strong-minded; a man who's not for turning very easily. These are strong and admirable leadership qualities - when they are applied appropriately.

He's given every indication that he's a fair leader and a man from whom his direct employees can expect fair treatment. His personal leadership, I can quite believe may, in day-to-day matters, be supportive and, at times, inspirational - provided you buy into his vision.

I have maintained, and I continue to maintain that his treatment of Southgate was just.

All along, it has been obvious, to me at least, that Southgate was working with a fair proportion of his limbs tied behind his back and was not solely responsible for many decisions that were taken about personnel. Gibson has acknowledged this. It was probably the case that because of Southgate's relative inexperience it was felt that autonomy on important matters, like spending millions of Gibson's money, was probably best not left entirely to Gareth Southgate! Such a management approach would probably have been part and parcel of Southgate's appointment and development as a longer term strong managerial prospect that otherwise ticked all of Gibson's boxes - even if all of the supporters' boxes weren't!

Gibson is clearly passionate about Middlesbrough and what repeatedly comes across is an unshakeable affiliation with the town.

But in an internnational business arena as is the Premier League with it's global exposure, Gibson and MFC/Boro as currently constituted are makeweights. Also, as is so painfully obvious, they are also disposable and instantly replaceable.

This brings me to identifiable weaknesses in Gibson's chairmanship and stewardship of MFC.

The Negatives
Support Funding
For the last three years it has been apparent that some limit of support from Stee Gibson has been reached. Without knowing the details, there was some driver for the wages cost reduction that exacerbated the drift into relegation. There may have been Rockcliffe investment priorities that had a constraining impact on available funds but Gibson stopped short of admitting that. What he did do was to suggest, without promising, that when the complex begins to earn money [rather than drain it], then the ability to return to higher levels of funding for Boro may be possible.

If the Rockcliffe Complex has been built on money that could have otherwise been designate for funding of Boro, arguably, Gibson's strategy has short-changed the Boro support. Because the one measure of success that matters to them is sporting success - not business success.

In addition, any external loans that may have been taken to fund the development, will of course have to be serviced out of the revenues that the development generates, thus reducing the available funding. Without specific information however, we are all left wondering where the reality lies.

Xenophobia & Small Town Mentality
It seems that he's already accepted the inevitable. And the inevitable is that under his complete ownership, the club is limited in its ability to compete with those in the Premier League as the latter is currently constituted and regulated (which it, of course, isn't).
Despite his words of determination that MFC is a Premier League Club and the intent is to target an early return, other facets of his most recent radio performance have given rise to concerns that he has accepted the reality of what it takes to genuinely compete in the Premier League for the residual crumbs off Manchelarsepool's table.

For many of the club's fans, now more accustomed to progressive growth, that is unacceptable. That attitude is in itself limiting. It is consigning the football club of many to the constraints of one - albeit that one is the owner!

I consider that he demonstrated, in his responses to several questions, a provincial and xenophobic attitude that will be obstructive to sporting success at the level to which he claims to aspire. His extreme preferences of all things English (not even "British") and his constricting, almost disabling pride in being "Middlesbrough" - that is "borough" rather than "region" or "district" - brings with it a danger of making sub-optimal decisions by rejecting on dubious grounds some options that may be in Boro's rather than Steve Gibson's best interests. What was that he said about considering and dismissing a German coach (Otmar Hitzfeld, we think) on the grounds of him not being English? Well Steve isn't it amazing how each and every one of Manchelarsepool have built and retained their success employing a succession of "foreign" coaches! But that's not good enough for Boro! What kind of throwback attitude is that????

If Boro is to genuinely compete against the best in the country, then this mentality at the top will have to be overcome somehow, and a more expansive view taken of the world in which he claims he wishes to compete. I find this somewhat ironic, in a man who is also at the helm of another business that ships materials around the world and whose football club shirt sponsor is a Global SatNav company!

Threat, Opportunity or just Short-Sightedness?
His claim that 90% of the ticket sales (and lets give him the benefit of the doubt about the walk-up sales, rather than confining the view to only season ticket sales - which is what I consider he meant, by the way) of 28,000 are taken up by customers living within five miles of the Riverside.

I'd be a bit surprised if it was dramatically otherwise. I dare say similar demographic distributions may well be replicated at every football club in the country.

What Gibson's observation actually draws attention to is that there are about 5000 "home" seats vacant every match and they're not being filled by anyone - not even by people within the seemingly magical 5 mile radius catchment zone. So, with the stadium undersold, it seems to be a peculiar sales and PR strategy to go alienating a wider community than would seemingly be prefered, by suggesting that Middlesbrough Football Club exists for the town of Middlesbrough and that people from outlying areas may be reluctantly tolerated! Hmm! Ratner immediately and disappointingly springs to mind! Because I have defended Steve Gibson on this very point in an earlier blog

However, the chairman's comments and this implied "insular" attitude are preposterous and therefore, in my book, indefensible - both professionally and logically. It's an indictment on the club's ability to attract customers from farther afield and it would serve the club's interests more if he were to consider what he might be doing to attract people from Durham, Darlington, Dinsdale and even Drumnadrochit, rather than biasing any appeal to the population of the borough of Middlesbrough. But that would require an expansive and sales growth-oriented outlook.

Professionalism
Although I happen to agree with him on sticking with Gareth Southgate for the time being, on balance, I was generally disappointed by Steve Gibson's interview responses.

Having posted here and blogged frequently on Boro Banter over the course of the season, much of what Gibson said corroborates the interpretation of circumstances and rationale which I'd postulated from time to time. Therefore, those responses didn't surprise or shock me in any way. And I didn't expect much more than the "Blind Faith" plea, reminiscent of the scene in Walt Disney's film "Jungle Book" in which Moggli, the Man Cub is hypnotised by the snake with spiral eyes and the trance-inducing song, "Trust in me", as the latter prepares to sqeeze the life out of the hapless victim.

But what I didn't expect was an inept sales and PR performance which only served to suggest lower levels of professionalism than many would have hoped in someone running MFC.

One brave caller, again after prefixing his contribution with the obligatory Gibson accolade, actually pointed out how poor the club's communications performance has been. To which the caller received a "Typical Boro" unhelpful non-communicative reply that more than suggested that the club wasn't really listening to what fans felt they needed from the club, so that they, the fans, could understand better the strategy and the rationale behind some of the decisions that had been and were being taken. This lack of openness and willingness to accept that there is an issue that requires addressing, simply reinforced and perpetuated the very condition that the caller was attempting to highlight.

There appears to be a determination to keep a personal hold of control of some aspects of running the club that would be better served by people with specific professional capabilities in those fields. Apart from whatever constitutes Plan A, it might be a good idea to start with Public Relations, Image Consultation, Communications and Marketing! And not just focusing on cutting ticket prices, either. It's not about ticket price any more. In fact, it's doubtful if it ever was, except in parts of the borough of Middlesbrough!

Where Now?
This week, I had a loose arrangement to meet up with the friend and ex-work colleague with whom I've attended Boro matches routinely, for the last 3-4 years. We were going to discuss whether or not to renew our season tickets, having already delayed the decision past the "early-bird" date, preferring to wait and see what further grounds there might be for presenting MFC with £550 of my annual pension income and £550 of her salary. We haven't quite managed to fix a date for that meeting yet. And we haven't yet made contact since a brief exchange of text messages after the West Ham match.

So, Sue, if you're reading this, it may shock you to learn via this piece, the answer is "No", I'm not renewing. After weeks of procrastination, soul-searching and the torture of self-analysis, my own personal investment strategy, financially and emotionally, is now to take it a week at a time, starting with the lead up to the new season and watch for and make a personal assessment of whether I feel that Steve Gibson's company is doing enough for me to buy their product, before I come anywhere close to investing a year's worth in advance. I don't anticipate much tightness in ticket availability should we choose to go!

But perhaps we shouldn't let them know that neither Sue nor I, nor my father who attends when he visits from Scotland, live within the 5-mile radius! Otherwise they might not sell us tickets! But then that might also be a part of Plan A! Or is it Plan B?

RADIO GA-GA AND BLIND FAITH

2009-05-28T09:51:37Z

I have now 'listened again' through the Gibbo interview and Q&A that was on Ali Brownlee's Radio Tees programme.

To say I was underwhelmed by what he said in response to the articulate, consistently themed but respectful questions by Boro fans - even though my expectations of the event were pretty low - is an understatement.

I could wax lyrical - and not at all positively - about almost everything he said about the footballing side of the Prem trashing season just gone, despite the outcome being absolutely avoidable.

I could equally rant about what wasn't said or was avoided on the footballing side too.

I have no comment on anything financial because he simply refused to answer the questions about money or how MFC is managed - except for the tourist board schtick on the hotel and golf course at Crockliffe.

The 'Stockton Mackems' thing was just clumsy but the evidence from the various message boards and blogs is that it wasn't the only thing that wound people up further or where the rhetoric failed to convince

The one crucial thing came in the answer to the penultimate - and probably the most searching - question of the evening when he said that he was asking Boro fans for 'blind faith' in him.

And he said that he was asking for that in the knowledge of how tough an ask that was given what Boro fans have just had to endure and that he's committed himself to Gate continuing, despite knowing now if he didn't before, that he is in a tiny minority amongst a Boro fandom that he always, rightly, describes as being amongst the most knowledgeable in football.

The truth is, if you're a Boro fan, there's not really an alternative for two reasons:-

In Gibbo's MFC-land it's one man, one vote and he's that one man. Nothing we say or do is going to change that until or unless he is prepared to. Nor will it change the key decisions for the Summer, most of which, it seems from the interview, have already been taken.

Secondly, as was equally evident from the programme, Gibbo holds a special place in Boro hearts - even if those hearts are heavy and the heads are telling us that what he's saying doesn't stack up. What he's done since 1986 means that he deserves the right to ask for that 'blind faith'.

Despite it all, and like many others, I will be at Reading and Watford and Palace and Peterborough and, and, and.....and as often as I can at The Riverside to support Boro.

All we can do is hope to hell that our faith isn't as misplaced as it's been this season just gone. It would certainly help if the 'Blind' element could be taken away as soon as possible. Nothing will be as healing as evidence of swift and positive action.

There's also no point in more trawling over what went on last season - we all know it all only too well and there is tremendous coherence of view amongst most Boro fans. If you go back through these Boro Banter articles the themes around errors of omission and commission have been repeated many times over the months - some of them since pre-season in The Algarve Tournament. The milk's spilt - we've cried.

Gibbo said that if we were to list what we felt had been wrong it was very likely that his list would be the same. Where we differ is in the conclusions drawn and decisions made. So, no 'end of season review' from me.

And no more nugatory carping about old mistakes - though I make no such pledge if the same mistakes are repeated.

If Gibbo doesn't come through (and we're all realistic enough to know there's no guarantee of promotion) or is seen to have been just plain badly wrong, again, in his judgements then I don't think even his Middlesbrough (within five miles of The Riverside and in the worldwide diaspora) cred will survive it.

That's another reason why he has the right to ask for our faith. Let's hope that it turns out "Well All Right" and not "Had To Cry Today"!!

So, to take Gibbo at his word about the 'best/strongest squad in The Championship' and to move the debate on - because I'm fed up feeling as bad as I do - how about Gibbo and The Count mounting a concerted raid on 'The Damned United' now that they've failed in the play-offs again.

No time like the present; Boro will already be playing catch up with sides that have known for some time that their next season was going to be in the Prem.

Beckford has refused a new contract and been placed on the transfer list; we've been interested in Becchio before. Why not go after them as a pair? Aside from their goal scoring credentials they have streaks of 'nastiness' and 'attitude' - not untypical of the club they currently play for but sometimes lacking in Gate's Boro sides.

And they've got a couple of handy midfielders too - including one who can actually play wide right because that's his position and not because he's square-pegged!

In attracting new recruits it would be useful to know the outcomes of the 'who's going and who's staying' meetings that have been happening. That, in turn, will be influenced - as it will for attracting new recruits - on what the ambitions of MFC are for Boro and how these are evidenced in actions.

That must involve making a better job of that than happened last Summer and in January.

Who else should be on the 'wanted' list?
Just to add to the alleged interest in Jordi Gomez - what about Michael Brown from Wigan?

Hartlepool lad and has a bit of a dig on him - in both senses.

And if MFC are up for a cheeky punt that would wake a few ideas up, how about checking out with Sralex and the lad himself how Paul Scholes sees his future, now that his first team chances at ManUre are getting more limited?

Could be next season's Merse or Andy Townsend.

C'Mon Boro!!

THE DIRTY DOZEN

2009-05-24T20:35:41Z

I offer you two threads from The Dirty Dozen. The first is that this latest away defeat at The Boleyn Ground that brings down the curtain on Boro's eleven year sojourn as a Prem team was their twelfth in a row - extending further a Century long record of ignominy.

The second is the eponymous movie starring Lee Marvin. The gravel voiced one is the American Army leader that brings together a rag tag group of criminal misfits and moulds them into a crack commando team that take on overwhelming odds and succeed in their mission.

Given that as a leader, Gareth Southgate is more Hank Marvin that Lee Marvin you can guess that the rag tag group of Boro misfits stayed just that for this game, that there was never any chance that the odds would be overcome and it was certain they'd be wiped out.

This was always going to be literally Mission Impossible and it would all self-destruct - blowing up in Boro's faces with the collateral damage being worst to those who least deserve it - the fans, who were splendid for this game as they have been all season.

How's that for a mix of movie metaphors!

You can't fault Gate's Boro for consistency with the rest of their season in this match, though - and it was in more than just notching yet another away defeat.

The first half - in the traditional, last Sunday baking sunshine - had Boro at their usual pretty but pointless worst or best; not much difference between the two.

They must have had sixty per cent of the possession but with Arca reminding everyone of why he richly deserves the epithet 'Argentinian Land Crab', Johnno showing why he isn't Stewie and the West Ham penalty area a blue and black stripes free zone they weren't able to contrive a single attempt on Robert Green's goal.

Meanwhile, at the other end, yet another example of comedy defending by Boro. The Hammers worked an opening on the left through Boa Morte and Ilunga. The left back slid his cross across the six yard box, it bisected Wheats and the square-pegged Hoyte who showed why a right back on the left isn't a good idea when he got drawn into the goalmouth and left two West Ham players unmarked.

Carlton Cole had the easy task of slotting home from the corner of the six yard box.

Boro had had a warning a little earlier when a Stanislas shot that was half blocked looped up and smacked off their bar with Brad Jones stranded.

At the break, Gate brought on Bennett at left back and moved Justin Hoyte to the right. Hoyte's form continued to make everyone wonder why it was Tony McMahon and not he that had to give way. Josh Walker replaced the hapless Arca.

The slightly better shape and more direct approach brought an almost immediate dividend.

The Tricky Turkish Tyro, Tuncay, went on a mazy run through the centre of midfield. Rather than drive on into the box he found Gary O'Neil free on the right. The Boro midfielder cut in from the corner of the box and slotted home in a similar style to Cole for The Hammers earlier.

The tiny, flickering flame of hope guttered shakily as the Away End started up the chant of "We only need four more". But it was to be extinguished all too quickly.

More slack marking left Stanislas free just outside the Boro box. He nudged a toe poke that almost apologetically rolled towards the net. Brad Jones once again reprised his role as 'The Corporal' and let it dribble under his dive.

After that, the game stuttered to its inevitable conclusion as did Boro's Premiership existence.

It's often - rightly - said that relegation isn't because of one game but because of a whole season. But this was Boro's whole season in one game. The table doesn't lie and they ended up where they deserved to.

The responsibility for trashing our Prem status is shared right across the club - both MFC and Boro. It lies with Gibbo and The Count, just as it does with Gate, his backroom staff and the players.

But, the biggest and most central responsibility has to be taken by Gate. Relegation wasn't inevitable at the start of this season, it remained eminently avoidable for most of it. Even given all the shortcomings, the resources that were available to the Boro manager were enough - absolutely and comparatively - to have done a lot better with.

The same mistakes have been made over and over with the occasional novel one added for good measure and the rhetoric of 'learning' has long since become an oxymoron and a matter for derision. The lack of basic tactical nous, organisation and motivation has been glaring.

He is clearly determined to stay - though many players and some of the backroom team, we are told will leave - and he believes he has the support of Gibbo to do so.

But just what is it about his judgement and decision making over the last three seasons and the one just gone, particularly, that makes a case for trusting him again for the season to come?

There is cause to question Gibbo's decision making and judgement over the same three year period but at least he has a twenty year track record before that to fall back on.

I would ask both men to consider, again, whether that is in the best interest of Boro - in yet another season where debt management, we are told, will predominate over sporting glory in a lower but just as tough a division in its own way, where Gate becomes an absolute rooky again and where the remaining resources of the Ressies and The Academy will struggle if not supported by a core of case hardened pros of the sort Gate seems to struggle with handling.

I don't believe it is.

It's a sad, sad day.

No expectation...no surprises...only sadness

2009-05-24T19:04:47Z

No surprises there then. Typical Boro, some nice stuff, awful defending for both goals, lightweight attack. To be honest we were well beaten by a mid-table team who rarely got out of second gear.

Because I had no expectation I feel no disappointment. Not today at least. I felt disappointment after the 'easy' run of games Sunderland, West Brom, Blackburn, Fulham...Stoke, Bolton that returned scant rewards. It was after those two games, Stoke and Bolton that reality kicked in and I reluctantly accepted that we were favourites to go down.

The disappointment had evolved over many weeks to a stage of acceptance.

To think that 35 points was good enough to stay up is, quite frankly, embarrassing given our good position in December.

I feel sadness that the situation could have been arrested some months ago by, either by changes in the management team or by that very team adopting such tactics in order to win games instead of panic selections to plug defensive naivety.

The five centre backs played in the outfield ten in a home game against a very ordinary Blackburn team will remain in Teesside minds for many years, as those defeats against Wolves and Orient in the FA Cup many moons ago. That particular selection will come up in every future conversation about Boro's 2008-2009 season, guaranteed.

Because I had come to terms with our situation some weeks ago, I have had time to reflect on what the future may hold. Acceptance brings a whole new outlook. Depression? No way. I look forward to a whole new challenge in the Championship.

Dare I say, we may even enjoy it after several seasons of mundane life in the lower regions of the Premiership. I will wager that if we are in the top four then the Riverside will see crowds of 24,000 plus. Winning is enjoyable, although I have to go back some way to remember the feeling.

And, I see a big advantage in that our better younger players ought to have a full season playing regular football to help their development. I am thinking of Adam Johnson, Matt Bates, Josh Walker, Rhys Williams (our best prospect), Joe Bennett, Nathan Porritt, Tony McMahon, Jon Grounds and others.

But the Championship is no place for youth alone. The manager, whoever that may be will have to bring in experience to help the youngster along. If the manager is GS then maybe this is ONE lesson he has leaned this season.

Accepting that we will lose most, if not all, of our senior players, the players we keep is going to be the key element in the challenge

What of Digard? Emnes? Riggott? Wheater? These for me are the key players to keep. Not Tuncay (I wish) who will go, or Ali, Alves, Huth, O'Neil, Mido, Shawky and Hoyte.

Talking of Hoyte. Has anyone been impressed by this guy? I think, on reflection, he was a poor signing. He appears to possess an intrinsic fear of the football. He can't wait to get rid of it, full of nervous disposition it seems.

A few comments on the game against West Ham....

One consolation, Adam Johnson's sub-par performance will have scared off the potential suitors seeking to sign him next season.

Tuncay looked to be our main threat, again, until he started to bleat on to the ref in the second half, then he fell away, probably out of frustration.

O'Neil played well. What a shame that Pompey were involved in the relegation battle for so long into the season. I wish they had reached safety earlier than they did.

Brad Jones really has to reduce the number of errors, although the room given to Stanislas to get in a clear shot was the result of woeful defending. Nevertheless the ball was there to be saved. Game over.

Joe Bennett looked comfortable and got forward on several occasions.

I don't know why Marlon King wasn't on the bench....any ideas?

So, the miracle did not arrive. The only reason to look back on this season is to learn from mistakes. We have to look forward to doing what Birmingham have done and hope that this relegation has not caused terminal damage to the football club. I won't even speculate on how we would take on the re-building exercise if we were to make an immediate return to the EPL as that may very well be a bigger task than actually getting out of the Championship. One step at a time