BORO HAD A REAL STINKER
Chairman needs a new leader
STEVE GIBSON vowed that Middlesbrough would give it a real go in the Premier League – but that could hardly be further from the truth.
Boro stank out the Premier League and slunk off without so much as a fight and seemingly without hope.
The stats are damning. They are the Premier League’s lowest scorers with just 26 goals and only five victories – two of those against their hapless neighbours Sunderland – and no wins against a top-half team.
The inquest into what went wrong is already in full swing.
Any probe will start with a lack of quality signings and a failure to axe Aitor Karanka until March following a mind-numbing nine months.
Steve Agnew has failed in his nine-game audition to prove he is the man to lead Boro.
The caretaker boss was unable to spark the kind of revival seen at Leicester, Hull, Swansea and Crystal Palace – all struggling clubs who have improved since changing managers mid-season.
Chairman Gibson (right) left himself open to accusations of pandering too much to Karanka and now there’s a growing groundswell among fans to return to his tried and tested policy of British bosses. Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and Gareth Southgate were all handed their big break at the Riverside. Many want to see Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs given his first shot at management – a chance to prove himself away from Old Trafford. Gibson has a decent track record when it comes to picking his bosses and he won’t be rushed at what is another crucial crossroads for the club.
The Teessiders will lose their big-earning Spaniards Alvaro Negredo and Victor Valdes.
At least Gibson plans to reinvest the £20m-plus the Teessiders will bank from the sale of his in-demand nephew.
Ben Gibson, a summer target for Everton and Leicester, said: “I have no doubt there will be lots of changes and there probably has to be because of the manner of how we have been relegated.
“Now is not the time to talk about individuals.
“All that matters is the club. We have let it down.”