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Middlesbrough: Gareth Southgate is the loan ranger

The debate on whether we need to replace Robert Huth continues. The German had a magnificent start our campaign, but we do have Emanuel Pogatetz only a couple of games away from a comeback so it seems we have little to worry about. Gareth Southgate has been rumoured to be looking at Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley as a short-term replacement for Huth whilst Pogatetz gains much needed match fitness. This would be a clever move by Southgate because the Northern Ireland international will certainly add experience to the team.

Southgate is yet to complete a loan deal at present, but a number of names have been mentioned in the past couple of days. James Vaughan from Everton and Hull’s Caleb Folan have been rumoured to be in talks with us over a possible move to the Riverside. One of these players will certainly add pace and more importantly goals to the team, which will be needed if we want to climb out of this league at the first attempt.

Middlesbrough: rash sales put Southgate under pressure

Gareth Southgate faces a tough few days as Middlesbrough manager. Our boss has seen two first-team players leave the Riverside less than 48 hours before our next important match in the Championship. As the breaking news filtered in yesterday morning that Tuncay Sanli and Robert Huth were both on their way to Stoke City for medicals many fans must have thought it was about time something was happening in the transfer window.

The blow of Tuncay leaving was softened because we knew he was going to go sooner rather than later to pursue football in a league that deserves his quality, but as Boro fans were taking bites out of their BLT sandwiches at lunchtime yesterday it was soon apparent that we were letting him go for £5 million.

Middlesbrough: Time to sign a target man to add balance

Stuart Young

Following on from the last post, we are still without a big man up top and with the lack of movement in the transfer window it is starting to worry me slightly. Rob Hulse has stated his desire to stay at Derby County and is not getting involved in any sort of transfer speculation.

As much as we do need a big lad up front to hold the ball up and win everything in the air I am a little shocked that we were rumoured to be offering Derby County £5 million for the 29-year-old who turns 30 in October. Seems a bit steep for an ageing lump.

We showed on Saturday at Swansea that we can cause problems with our pace and movement up front. As long as we are playing the ball on the deck and have the quality to deliver to the two front lads we should continue to score goals. A big man is still a must though for our attacking options. We will dominate teams if we had an all round balanced team. With the backbone of the team coming along nicely we should be able to add to the already impressive consistency we have achieved so far in the Championship.

Middlesbrough: Give us some height Gareth

 

So, we are up and running in the new surroundings of the Championship. The lads had a nice test against one of the most physical sides in the league and came through it OK. Sheffield United at home in the first match of the season was always going to be a tough challenge for the youngsters and the new lads that Southgate has brought into the squad.

A goalless draw against a play-off hopeful is always a good start. One moan from me and probably the majority of Boro fans though was the lack of physical strength up front. Neither Jeremie Aliadiere or Marvin Emnes coped well with Morgan and co's strength. The two front-runners were hustled off the ball with ease by the United defence, which is worrying considering that almost all of the central defenders in this league are tall and very strong. Southgate needs to grab a big striker soon so we can at least match these big defenders.

Middlesbrough: Arsenal and United Don't Scare Us

If you look at the Premiership Table you will see Middlesbrough in the bottom three, four points from safety and will probably be thinking that we are in deep trouble. You would be correct especially when you see the next two games for Boro.

We travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to face one of the Champions League semi-finalists and then to make things even worse for our run-in we entertain Manchester Utd at home, another team that's in the last four of the toughest club football tournament on the planet. Are we scared though? No, we've done it before against the big boys of the Premiership, so we can certainly do it again.

Middlesbrough: Perfect tonic for aerial battle

The Boro boys travel to Stoke on Saturday predicting an aerial bombardment from the Stoke City players. Long-balls, corners, set-pieces and of course the famous long throw will be used against us in an attempt to jolt our back four.

We have the perfect tonic for this aerial game of chess though - we have David Wheater and Robert Huth. With a combined height of 12ft 8" these two love to soak up anything that is in the air and will be well up for the flight, sorry the fight, on Saturday.

Middlesbrough: Have we got the fighting spirit?

Gareth Southgate faces his biggest test yet as the Middlesbrough manager. He has the task of picking his players up and getting them focused for Saturdays crunch six-pointer against Portsmouth at home.

What will Southgate be saying to the team this week I wonder? I hope it is more than what he said at half time in yesterday's game.

Middlesbrough: Consistency is key

Two very promising wins in a row have seen the team turn a new corner in their ever extraordinary journey this season.

Consistency will be the key to our survival from now on. It is up to the players to play the way we know they can on a regular basis. Can we keep it going?

Middlesbrough: Southgate gets the balance right for a change

Gareth Southgate chose a very balanced team to face West Ham last night and the resulting team selection paid off with attacking football and some resilient defending.

Southgate must have been in a very gloomy position just before kick-off. A terrible league position, lack of goals, players not at their best and to make things even worse the stadium was half empty.

Our boss must have been praying prior to the match. This could have been curtains for him if a defeat had occurred. A loss last night and with Liverpool coming to the Riverside on Saturday I would have expected Southgate to have been out of a job, but instead after the win last night he is still the manager and fair play to him for making a good decision on the team selection.

I wonder what sort of pressure Gareth put himself under when he dropped Afonso Alves for last nights game? I'm thinking a couple of Boro board member eyebrows were raised when our £12million 'hit and miss' man was left on the bench.

The boss chose to play Tuncay and Aliadiere in attack which proved to be a breath of fresh air in our attack play. The movement these two produced last night was the best I've seen in a long time at the Riverside.

If there was ever the right moment to see your players have a good game, then last night was the time for the Boro boss. You could see the tension loosen around Southgate's neck when Tuncay struck the second goal. It was time for the manager to loosen that tie.

Southgate's decision to play a 4-4-2 formation was greeted by many fans including me with relief as we are very much a free flowing attacking team which creates chances from having two up front.

The defence has been key for me as well ever since Wheater and Huth struck up a partnership in the centre and with Hoyte at right back we have been more balanced in defending and going forward.

I believe if we can take 90% of last nights performance into every remaining game of the season we will be safe from relegation.

UpTheBoro

Middlesbrough: We're afraid of scoring

It is sad to see when a team are afraid to score goals in any game at any level. Boro have the worst goal scoring record in all four of the top professional English leagues.

Why can't we score goals? Well, surely it doesn't help when the manager plays one striker up front for a home game.