Southgate Sacked

In the wee hours, after leading Boro to a 2-0 win:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/8317621.stm

I'm quite surprised about this.

Totally shocked, especially as he has them within a point of the leaders. I wonder if Meggo is interested !!!

He was being touted about on Monday as some sort of 'Ambassador for the North East' for the 2012 London Olympics.

He was saying that the North East would be a great place for countries to train in the run-up to the Olympics.
Maybe the board at Middlesboro came to the conclusion he was nuttier than a fruit cake.

This puts paid to that bizarre factoid about Steve Gibson being the best chairman in the entire universe (as so many pundits insist on telling us). Fair enough, he stands by Southgate following relegation (which is worthy of some praise I admit) but then he has to sell all his decent players, reduce his wage bill by some huge margin and then retain a high up position in the league...surely there's not a lot more Southgate could have done? I mean, who is going to go there and do much better now they have cut their cloth accordingly? Gibson must realise that the title is a foregone conclusion between the two sides who have maintained their Premier League integrity (Newcastle and West Brom) and the two or three usual contenders.

The Boro squad is now just average and not much more. It's certainly capable of staying in the play off places all season, or at least it was with Southgate...I reckon there's more chance of them dropping down the table now instead of climbing it.

I never rated Southgate... thought he was a cheap option when appointed, and made some poor decisions throughout. Gibson should have wielded the axe midway through last season, not now for god's sake... it's too bloody late, and besides they're still right up there in spite of their weak squad (although I too think Toon and the Baggies will sail that division).

I just hope they don't come and try to tempt Meggo away with promises of money to spend, less anti-Megson support and fairer weather.

Well, today Gibson is saying that it was a decision made a number of weeks ago.

Have to agree that rocking the boat now may do them more harm than good.

If that's true Wendy why did they wait to wield the axe ? Something very suspicious there I think.

I have no idea Pete. Gibson also expects to name a new manager before the game on Saturday, which leads me to think that he set things in motion prior to sacking Southgate.

It's all very fishy in my opinion.

If Strachan is their way forward then good luck to them.

Denn