Much more than a dedicated and defensively-solid performance against one of Boro’s promotion rivals, clearly. The chorus of boos that scythed through the Riverside at the final whistle of Friday night’s lame 0-0 with Sheff Utd was audible, yet hardly sustained. But who – or what – were they aimed at?
Well, probably not the players, who had plenty of energy and endeavour – qualities seriously lacking last season – against those tough-tackling Blades. (A team led by Chris Morgan won’t be featuring on Soccer AM’s showboat too much, you wouldn’t have thought.)
Danny Coyne made some smart stops on his debut. Wheater and Huth were dominant at the back. And the surprise picks at full-back McMahon and Grounds looked pretty solid. In midfield, Rhys Williams was at least entering the opponents’ half – take note, Arca and Shawky. While outside him, Yeates and Johnson looked dangerous switching flanks.
.
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As was often last season though, a toothless attack was the difference between one point and three. Marvin Emnes was full of running but was never going to get into the game with Jeremie Aliadiere leading the line in front of him.
I don’t know what it is with the Frenchman. He’s a canny little player – has a bit of pace and shows some nice touches. But where on earth do you play him on the football field? No prowess in the box to be a striker and no crossing ability to play on the wing. He should do a Cantona and go and play in that beach soccer tournament at Butlins, I reckon.
Still, the effort was there from Ali – I think he even won a header. And effort counts for a lot on Teesside. Remember Alen Boksic and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? Sure, plenty of goals and moments of quality, but they could never close down a defender like Dean Windass could.
Lita may be the spark needed up in the final third when he’s fit. But you feel it needs to happen sooner. Scoreless games at home will not be tolerated by a crowd starved of goals last season and actively disillusioned at the management and direction of the club.
As Antony Vickers astutely points out in his blog, Southgate is in a no-win situation as Boro boss. Wins at this level are to be expected, not celebrated. So of course, some of the boos on Friday night will undoubtedly have been aimed his way for his handling of the first-team squad.
In many fans’ eyes, Southgate’s mismanagement of Mido and Afonso Alves was one of the reasons for both players’ misfiring form. The Egyptian was ignored despite hitting three in three at the beginning of last season, while Alves was dropped after scoring in the FA Cup win at Wolves in January.
But discontent with Southgate has already been registered. Supporters made it perfectly clear they were unhappy with him in charge during a live radio phone-in a couple of weeks ago. And the boo boys sporadically vented their anger after poor performances towards the end of last season.
Could some of the current dissent from the terraces be directed higher up? Or is it still unthinkable that some factions might be dissatisfied enough to vocally turn on our golden chairman?
After all, to those fans who called for Southgate to be sacked from January onwards, Steve Gibson’s failure to act decisively was just as telling a contribution to Boro’s decline as the manager’s team selection.
I don’t know what it is with the Frenchman. He’s a canny little player – has a bit of pace and shows some nice touches. But where on earth do you play him on the football field? No prowess in the box to be a striker and no crossing ability to play on the wing. He should do a Cantona and go and play in that beach soccer tournament at Butlins, I reckon.
Still, the effort was there from Ali – I think he even won a header. And effort counts for a lot on Teesside. Remember Alen Boksic and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? Sure, plenty of goals and moments of quality, but they could never close down a defender like Dean Windass could.
Lita may be the spark needed up in the final third when he’s fit. But you feel it needs to happen sooner. Scoreless games at home will not be tolerated by a crowd starved of goals last season and actively disillusioned at the management and direction of the club.
As Antony Vickers astutely points out in his blog, Southgate is in a no-win situation as Boro boss. Wins at this level are to be expected, not celebrated. So of course, some of the boos on Friday night will undoubtedly have been aimed his way for his handling of the first-team squad.
In many fans’ eyes, Southgate’s mismanagement of Mido and Afonso Alves was one of the reasons for both players’ misfiring form. The Egyptian was ignored despite hitting three in three at the beginning of last season, while Alves was dropped after scoring in the FA Cup win at Wolves in January.
But discontent with Southgate has already been registered. Supporters made it perfectly clear they were unhappy with him in charge during a live radio phone-in a couple of weeks ago. And the boo boys sporadically vented their anger after poor performances towards the end of last season.
Could some of the current dissent from the terraces be directed higher up? Or is it still unthinkable that some factions might be dissatisfied enough to vocally turn on our golden chairman?
After all, to those fans who called for Southgate to be sacked from January onwards, Steve Gibson’s failure to act decisively was just as telling a contribution to Boro’s decline as the manager’s team selection.
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