An important transfer window lies ahead for Boro and Gordon Strachan. The Christmas holiday weekend represented another false dawn to which the new boss has become synonymouse in his brief, faltering tenure.
Defeat at Barsley was a case of ‘typical Boro’ having brushed aside Scunny in a shock home win two days earlier.
Strachan is under pressure after only 11 games in charge
The Scot’s arrival was supposed to ignite energy both inside the dressing room and through the turnstiles. But two months on, the champagne football lacking in Southgate’s Boro is yet to flow, while there’s more murder suspects on Albert Square than there are fans at the Riverside at the moment – until we diddle the figures, of course.
In fairness, though, this isn’t Strach’s squad. There’s plenty of deadwood left over from the Southgate regime which the Scot clearly doesn’t fancy. Marvin Emnes, for example, is struggling to get the nod ahead of a lad fresh from having kick-abouts at break time.
The likes of Grounds, Taylor, Shawky and Digard might also be up for the chop this transfer window, which would be a shame in the case of the latter, who has shown promise when fit.
Priority for Strachan has to be a striker. You know you’ve got limited options up front when you’re begging a club to lend you Marcus Bent for another couple of weeks.
Marcus Bent celebrating a goal - no, really
Kitson might be worth having back, but only on loan. He’s likely to grab some goals if we create the chances, but he isn’t going to carve them out himself you feel.
In an ideal world, Gibbo would cough up the daft amount Leeds want for Man Utd-slaying hitman Jermaine Beckford. That’s if he’d come to us – at the moment, his League One club look a much more attractive prospect than bungling Boro.
Let’s hope Strachan has a few targets in mind. Because the current crop of players will get the club nowhere. And the manager’s honeymoon period – if there ever was one – is over. Not that he cares what I think.
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