Window Closes On Survival Hopes

Window Closes On Survival Hopes

The transfer window slammed shut on Monday afternoon and, after no much-needed business was conducted by Gareth Southgate, I firmly believe Boro’s time in the top floor of English football is about to end!

Striker Marlon King’s arrival was offset by the departure of Mido in the opposite direction to Wigan, while the real area of concern in central midfield was completely neglected despite the entire Boro faithful recognising that if we did only one piece of business last month it was to sign a new face in that department!

Gareth obviously knew he needed reinforcements in the middle of the park otherwise he would not have bid for Ben Watson or made a reported attempt to sign Reading’s James Harper!

Whether it was down to finances or Boro being extra prudent remains to be seen, but to simply shrug shoulders and say we will get on with the relegation battle with the resources available to us, is not good enough in my opinion!

If the football odds were against us before the transfer window well they will have shortened significantly now as most of our rivals have strengthened their ranks in the past month or so while we have been left to stagnate!

Even the one arrival in King has failed to stir us given that Gareth has opted not to utilise him alongside Afonso Alves in a strike partnership the fans were eagerly waiting to see in action!

True we have a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup to look forward to at West Ham after our decent result at Wolves. However, while it’s all very well suggesting that a cup run can kick-start us in the Premier League, results following victories over Barrow and Wolves have indicated otherwise.

A tough trip to Manchester City is up next and judging by their awesome home form I cannot see light at the end of the tunnel creeping in for us at Eastlands, while Wigan and Liverpool at home follow on after the Hammers cup clash!

It has now got to the stage where myself and many fans I speak to cannot see where the next win is coming from this season. And, while the positive propaganda is streaming out of the club on a daily basis, I suspect many of the players feel the same way as the fans.

The only hope was to bring in new blood in the transfer window to give the place a lift. But nothing was done and it looks like our last chance of survival has gone!

Written by Craig Smithson, a Middlesbrough season-ticket holder and a sports writer who blogs about football betting.

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