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THE SOUTHGATE DILEMMA 27-11-07
On Saturday I received a record number of emails into the show regarding the future of Gareth Southgate and where Middlesbrough Football Club should go from here.
Here I have answered your correspondence:
From: Sandra
Hi Jeff
After another beating I personally blame the players. Fans cannot keep on blaming managers.
Maybe Gareth needs to give them all a good kick or dock their wages.
There's no easy answer. I wish I had some kind of idea but I am at a
loss.
Keep up the good work
Sandra
Jeff's reply
Under normal circumstances I would agree but the problem at the moment is we have
injuries to key players in key positions. We do not have the
strength in depth and confidence is sliding quickly.
I too am at a loss.
It's going to be a long time until January and then Gibbo is going to
have to splash the cash.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Richy Parsons
Hiya Jeff
How about Tony Mowbray? He could bring Kevin Phillips, Nathan
Ellington and Russell Hoult with him.
Pools blew it but our forwards can score. It's a pity we can't defend lol!
I say we should take Penny from Darlo lol. It's the only way to stop them because they ARE going
up. And that is from a life long Poolie.
P.S Boro didn't play badly, they are just not Premiership standard.
Jeff's reply
Mogga was my choice but now I have my doubts. I don't want to see another
Boro playing legend gradually have the fans turn on him and have his
reputation in the area left in tatters.
I recall Southgate as the air
punching, driving captain that we all loved but now people are calling him
worse than muck.
Mogga likewise was a God on Teesside but people have
short memories and without the money he too would probably fall short of
people's unreasonable expectations.
Boro are in the second division of the Premiership. We are crap but
so are the other teams in the bottom half of the table.
Pools are likewise having a few problems and need to get nasty in both
boxes.
Best Wishes
Jeff
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From: Jaye
Hi Jeff
What about Terry Venables or Martin Jol? Anybody has to be better than Relegate Southgate.
I will never renew my season ticket again.
It seems to me that Steve Gibson is not only the chairman but also the manager as he's got himself a complete yes man.
If Southgate can't motivate his men then he's not capable of being a manager.
Great show
Bye
Jeff's reply
I've got to admit I chuckled at the "Relegate Southgate" description even
though I think it's a bit harsh.
Venables certainly has experience but
the problem with Jol and Co is that they are not likely to come here
anyway.
Maybe Southgate was appointed so that SG could control things.
I
don't think it's a problem with motivation it's just that he does not
have the personnel that are good enough to motivate. We need strikers
and we have not got them.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Peter Owen
Hi Jeff
Are we making Mido out to be the ONLY thing we lack?
0 -0 at Bolton was a defensive result and a point gained, unless I have lost my touch.
Peter
Jeff's reply
You are correct in some respects but if the ball is played up field and there is no one to hold it up then it comes straight back again and puts the defence under more pressure.
You might build a team from the back but you defend from the front and that is not happening.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Rob
We need to get Alex McLeish in NOW. He is used to working with players
of limited ability, he can organise and motivate and hopefully he get our defence
to keep clean sheets until January.
Due to Southgate's terrible signings ( particularly strikers), we need two quality strikers in otherwise we are doomed, even
though there is a lot of dross in the lower regions of the Premiership.
GARETH, WALK NOW!!
Jeff's reply
Hi Rob
Big Eck has the experience and know how. Realistically though, even
though I know that he fancies managing in the Premiership, would the ex-manager
of Rangers and current Scotland International manager really consider
coming to the Boro? I doubt it.
I refuse to join the "Southgate out" brigade until a realistic
alternative is mentioned.
I agree with your comments about the Premiership. Read my article in this
Friday's Evening Gazette with my further thoughts on it.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Rob
Jeff
We have been told by Keith Lamb that he and Steve Gibson are "custodians" of the club for the fans. If this is true then they
should be listening to the fans and the majority want a change
of manager.
Has Keith Lamb got the balls to come on this programme and
explain why the club aren't listening to the fans on this important
topic? I'd love the opportunity to grill the Lamb!
Jeff's reply
Point well made Rob.
I will offer an invitation to the club to come on to the show on
December 8th when the Boro do not have a game.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Martin
Steve Gibson needs to step up and correct his mistake.
Gareth Southgate
shouldn't have been appointed in the first place as he is way out of his
depth.
Gibbo, swallow your pride and do the right thing.
Jeff's reply
Ok Martin, but if he does get rid of Southgate who should he appoint?
Everybody shouts "sack the manager" but any new guy is stuck with the same
players until January. Whoever comes in is not going to create a goal
scorer out of our current squad.
Don't forget when Gareth was appointed, others were not interested. We
did not complain when Southgate's leadership helped save the season and
get us to the UEFA Cup Final.
He does care and I believe could come
through. Too many times people are just sacked without being given a
chance. Had he been given money to spend in the summer it might have
been different.
Best wishes
Jeff
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From: Jeff Dixon
Dear Jeff
What can I say about the Boro?
In all walks of life experience counts for everything. I work for the
world's biggest retailer and we don't keep at the top by promoting
inexperienced staff.
You cannot put an inexperienced manager in at the top level and expect
success. I feel sorry for Gareth, he will do what he will do and you
can't blame him.
If he had been a manager for five years then maybe so but
not after one year. Why else do the FA/FIFA insist on a minimum level of
coaching badge? We now have the answer.
The man I blame fair and square is Mr Gibson. He should not have dangled
the managerial carrot in front of Gareth. We have gone backwards since
the Cup win.
Why won't he appoint an experienced manager? He seems
reluctant to have somebody around who might challenge his authority or
be a father-like figure.
I keep hearing excuses along the lines of "if we didn't have Mido injured..." etc. Mido is only one man - where is the suitable backup? The other strikers are inexperienced in
the Premler League and we have got we paid for.
Mr Gibson - act now and don't embarrass Gareth anymore. He seemed a
broken man after the Villa match.
Regards
Jeff
Jeff's reply
I agree with you Jeff. The only problem is that the logic of football
defies all common sense and business acumen.
Successful businessmen get involved with football clubs and let their
hearts run their heads.
I can't understand what possesses people to put
money into a club. There is hardly any chance of making money and you
end up like Steve Gibson, who incidentally helped save the club, being
vilified by those who know next to nothing about football,
management or business.
The problem is that the experienced successful managers don't seem to
want to come to the Boro. Even if we did get a new man in now, he is
stuck with the same players until January and then I have my doubts if
Steve is going to throw money at a club that may be playing Championship
football next season.
Best wishes
Jeff
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