RSS

Why Middlesbrough should give Gareth Southgate time to put things right

Published 00:00 23/05/09 By By Mark Lawrenson

It looks all over for Middlesbrough but I think Steve Gibson will give Gareth Southgate at least until Christmas to make them competitive again.

And you have to admire the Boro chairman for sanctioning the clear out of big earners that would have crippled the club if it had been in this position with them still there.

Star striker Afonso Alves has been a bitter disappointment, their best player Stewart Downing is out injured and they can't defend. But at least Gareth has a young group of players with which he can bounce back.

Read the rest of Mark Lawrenson's column here - and come back eve r y Saturday for more

FREE £25 BET WITH BETFAIR
Win £18,000 paid off your mortgage

188 Bet

Follow MirrorFootball on Twitter for breaking news, the latest opinions and fun stuff throughout the day

Play a new game of fantasy football every week and win cash every week with Mirror Football Fantasy Stakes

Post to :

Twitter
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
More

Sunderland striker Darren Bent named in Fabio Capello's England squad for Brazil friendly

Alex Ferguson facing FA rap after branding referee Martin Atkinson "absolutely ridiculous"

Rafa Benitez facing toughest decision of his career over Torres and Gerrard

Ferguson: 'Chelsea's goal should never have been allowed'

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Terry winner takes Blues five points clear at the top

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United: Red Devils dominate but can't break down Chelsea

In form Didier Drogba will fire Chelsea to victory over United, says skipper John Terry

We will not sell any of our star players, vows Liverpool owner Tom Hicks

Roman Pavlyuchenko set to end White Hart Lane hell with move to Spain

Wolves 1-4 Arsenal: Four star Gunners too strong for Wolves

Fergie's travel rants, the worst mascot in the world and the real reason Gordon Strachan got the Middlesbrough manager's job

Jonny Evans wants to be Jackie Chan, plus nine other things we learned from Chelsea v Man United

Arsenal transfer target Mesut Ozil: 10 things you need to know about Cesc Fabregas' replacement - plus video of him in action

Arsenal to replace Cesc with Ozil, Hamsik to Chelsea and Dean Ashton to retire - transfer news and gossip from Saturday's papers

Rafa Benitez is victim of a witch-hunt against foreign managers

Katy Perry plans West Ham trip, Russell Brand sings Bubbles, Sven stars in Kleenex ad and women footballers get dirty - the five best things we've found on the web today

Plastic fantastic! Time to cash in on Action Man and his vintage clobber

Sergio Aguero, Aaron Lennon and Chelsea's Top 10 January transfer targets now ban is lifted

After Katy Perry, see more beautiful women in football shirts!

Liverpool transfer target Eljero Elia: 10 things you need to know - plus video of him in action

10@10: Ji-Sung Sparkler and other footballers as fireworks - Friday fun

Katy Perry pouting in sexy West Ham basque at the MTV EMAs picture special

Chelsea want Sergio Aguero? 10 things you need to know about Atletico Madrid's Argentine ace

Milos Krasic video special: watch the Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City target's five best clips

Who the hell is Angelo Ogbonna? 10 things you need to know about the Arsenal target - plus video of him in action

David Villa profile: 10 things you need to know about the Manchester United target - plus video of him in action

View Previous Polls

Are Chelsea going to win the Premier League?

Place vote

Stan Collymore

Manchester City spent £38m on Lescott and Toure but all it's bought them is a soft centre

Liverpool have to do the right thing by Torres, and that means surgery now

Rangers fans shamed British football and the club should be kick out of Europe

Read more from Stan Collymore

3pm

The perfect gift for Christmas, the magic of Bobby Gould and the moment that inspired a West Ham fan's devotion

Fergie's travel rants, the worst mascot in the world and the real reason Gordon Strachan got the Middlesbrough manager's job

Wicked Whispers, Pies for chants and the daftest quotes of the week

Read more from 3pm

Michael Calvin

Guus Hiddink would be perfect for Liverpool... but Roman Abramovich will eventually tempt him back to the Bridge

Just how did inept Toon owner Mike Ashley make so much money?

I hope Iain Hume cuts the Blades down to size

Read more from Michael Calvin

The Mole

Fulham foe Kevin Blom is one weak whistler

King's Cross not quite fit for a President

Belgian boss Jacobs pulls a cracker with press

Read more from The Mole

Mark Lawrenson

Nicolas Anelka and Jonny Evans can outshine Rooney and Drogba in Sunday sizzler

Rafa Benitez's failure to buy Fernando Torres backup could cost him dear

Fabio Capello should be hell-Bent on taking Michael Owen to World Cup

Read more from Mark Lawrenson

View all Columnists

John Terry proves again he is the man for the biggest occasion, says Oliver Holt - Mirror Football Blog

Jonny Evans wants to be Jackie Chan, plus nine other things we learned from Chelsea v Man United - Mirror Football Blog

After Europa league lesson from Benfica, the highlight of Everton's week was Lyon equalising against Liverpool - Everton

Why West Ham's win over Aston Villa was all the sweeter for the abundance of Academy players that played their part - West Ham United

Arsenal transfer target Mesut Ozil: 10 things you need to know about Cesc Fabregas' replacement - plus video of him in action - Football Spy

Arsenal to replace Cesc with Ozil, Hamsik to Chelsea and Dean Ashton to retire - transfer news and gossip from Saturday's papers - Football Spy

Oh baby! No way new dad Wayne Rooney will beat Chelsea - Betting Blog

Would you buy quack medicine off this Rams legend? Yes, please! - Got Not Got