Boro's Promotion Hopes - They think it's all over... It is now

I'm sick to death of reading how we need to keep the faith, that promotion is still possible, and how we need to back the team. The latter is true, but just because something is mathematically possible it doesn't mean it's going to happen, and it isn't.

Personally when the Boro spin machine churns out the 'we can do it' messages I feel insulted. It’s like they think they can dupe you into still believing. I think Middlesbrough Football Club need to be looking at how to get fans to renew and come to the games next season rather than trying to con the fans into thinking our promotion campaign is still on.

£370 to sit in the North Stand next season (the early bird price), another price freeze - but I'm sorry, I really think that Steve Gibson has dropped a clanger... There are only so many seasons that you can pay nearly £400 based on 'blind faith', and I think after 4 seasons of dross the Boro fans are finally realising this. I would personally have gone for a £50 drop in season tickets prices, making the early bird price in the North Stand £320 - an offer that I'm sure would have had many doubters renewing straight away. Maybe if that wasn't practical throw in a half price shirt, or £20 to spend in the club shop - something... but alas, no.

There will be people who have already renewed, but these would have renewed even if the price had gone up - it’s the middle grounders that Boro need to convince - the ones who haven't been entertained, with families, that maybe have lost their jobs or have low incomes. Why should they renew? £370 is a week’s holiday, which after the season we have endured would be much more preferable if you had to choose one or the other.

My prediction is we will finish around 10th in the league this season, and will be facing regular sub 15,000 crowds at the Riverside next season unless something is done fast, and that might be reducing the renewal prices, or signing someone that will bring the crowds back - but who would that? - I don't even think Juninho could bring the fans back now.

The next few months are the most important since 1986, correct guidance could see Boro flourish next season, with 25,000 fans at every game, but if even more mistakes are made I dread to think of the consequences - relegation, administration - they are all possibilities. I hope I'm wrong, I hope we could somehow manage to get promoted, I hope we sell more tickets next season, but I'm a realist, I just can't see it happening.

Boro v Newcastle - Trophy Virgins or Lazy Journalists?

I would have to argue both. I have enjoyed reading blogs and articles from more main stream papers trying desperately to work out what we were saying with the infamous 'Trophy Virgins' banner... and they have all failed. Why? Because as with most Newcastle fans they are so far up their own proverbials that they are unable to take a step back and appreciate the bigger picture.

For season upon season both Middlesbrough and Sunderland fans alike get told from Geordies that they are the 8th biggest club in the world, that they should be in the top 4, that they should be mentioned in the same breath as Manchester United, Liverpool and the other massive clubs that this country has produced. We also here how because they sell out every week (a fact that is untrue as of late) they are up there with the likes of the aforementioned Premier League Galaticos. But when you ask for any proof of their success, like winning a recent trophy, they are stumped.

And this is it entirely. How many of the 3,743 Newcastle fans at the Riverside on Saturday have ever seen their side lift a major trophy? 2%? 5%? What you certainly can say is that the majority have not - that the majority are 'Trophy Virgins'. No one who supports Boro are saying for one minute that Newcastle in their history haven't won anything, as saying that is absurd. That is why its so unbelievable that trained journalists from the North East have gone down this line with their articles, merely listing the FA Cup wins, and various other pots won in years gone by and thinking that Boro fans have never know this.

Stuart Rayner from the Sunday Sun wrote a tremendously lazy article on this very same subject, highlighting the papers bias towards Newcastle United, and with that reducing sales on Teesside. What would have been a change is if, like some Newcastle fans, thought that it was quite witty, and did wonders to create an even better atmosphere at the Riverside. But, with their laziness they have just told us all that they can't take a joke, and confirmed to us all that Newcastle fans think that they are better than us all.

The Boro fans took the Geordie rendition of 'We'll Meet Again' with good humour and it was well received, and I suppose Newcastle will have the last laugh if Boro can't miraculously make the play-off's and regain their Premier League status, but for that one afternoon we upset the league leaders using their own insecurities and got one reaction that both sides will never forget.

Anyway, I thought the banner was genius. I got the joke. But you know what they say eh Geordies? 'If you can't take it, don't give it'.

The Day Boro Stood Still

The date, Saturday 6th March 2010, is the day when Boro's season was finished off by a recent nemesis, Cardiff City. The Bluebirds, responsible for Boro's exit from the FA Cup the season before, hammered the final nail in the coffin for Gordon Strachan's men the 3rd minute of play, and typically Boro were unable to find an answer.

So what now? Maybe a token victory against Newcastle? The chances of that are slim, and even it did happen it would just prolong the agony even more. Even if we beat Newcastle we still have no chance of reaching the play-offs in my eyes. The gap is 5 points, Cardiff have 2 games in hand, and the gap to 5th is another 2 points away. On our recent form we will be unable to pick up enough points to keep up, never mind overtake anyone.

All we can hope for is that Steve Gibson has learned a few valuable lessons:

* You can't get promoted automatically if you sell your best players
* Sacking a manager a third of the way into a season when in a play-off place is bad timing
* Leaving a manager who gets the club relegated in charge is a bad idea
* Not to make promises to fans that he can't keep ie. Promotion, signing TOP players, Johnson staying etc...

I sadly predict that Boro will finish mid table this season, and that after the Newcastle game attendances will fall, booing will increase, and so will the calls for Strachan's head. All very sad, but that's Boro fans for you.

The Newcastle game couldn't have come at a worse time for Steve Gibson. Defeat in this game will be a disaster for the club, ensuring that no fan will have any hope of our promotion this season. The worst case scenario is the most likely, defeat on Saturday, and 8 point gap to the promotion places, and quite probably spin coming from the club telling us all to keep the faith. If this isn't a reason for fans to stay away for the rest of the season I don't know what it.

So looking ahead to next season what do we need to do to get promotion a second time around?

* Keep Strachan on as manager - any more change is too disruptive to the players he's already brought in
* Keep Gary O'Neil if possible
* Buy some strikers who have a PROVEN Championship goal scoring record
* Buy a creative midfielder
* Buy a left back and a right back
* Get rid of Aliadiere and use his wages for someone who either scores or creates goals, as he does neither

I think if we do the above we should get promotion. Please add your own suggestions in the comments box, or if you disagree with mine please post also!

As usual, I hope I am wrong, I hope we can still turn it around, but alas I think it is to late. Boro, its been emotional, and as long as sensible decisions are made for the good of the club I'll see you next season. If not a Boro Pride card it will be...


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