I was very happy to note that one of the ways in which Strachan's management style appears to differ from his predecessor, is that he is trying to secure the players he wants at the club, before trying to offload any duds.
Traditionally Boro think that cutting the chaffe will appease fans (or the Chairman), but the club always run out of time to bring in replacements. We therefore end up with an inadequately small squad, peopled with injury-prone 'bargain' players.
But 'cutting the wage bill' only excuses so much, and 'getting shot' of anybody out of contract is not really good business.
Boro fans are notorious for moaning about all the players we have let go on free transfers, yet a good number of them are now advocating letting a sizeable portion of our squad do just that.
The thing is, we actually do need a squad, not just eleven men.
Strachan was quoted last week as saying he didn't actually want rid of anybody.
His is a positive attitude.
That does not mean however, that the won't be departures. It looks increasingly likely that Stephen McManus will return to Celtic, although fingers crossed someone at the club can change his mind.
Emanuel Pogatetz also appears to be on the move, as Strachan has said 'if it is up to him' McManus and Chris Riggot will stay. No mention of the Austrian.
And Jeremie Aliadiere has not been given a new contract, and yet got the nod to start against Coventry.
The first order of business seems to be to retain the services of young Spurs full-back Kyle Naughton, as it should be.
This could be a relatively simple procedure as Spurs are fond of season long loans, particularly to clubs who can in no way affect their season.
Strachan says Naughton is 'open minded' about the situation but surely, like any young player he would rather play football than sit on a better bench, and the Championship is his domain.
Not that the Sheffield born full-back isn't Premier League quality, because he is, but he could also be an integral part of getting us back up there next season.
This season we have used so many players that if the campaign was any longer Colin Cooper et al would have been called in to the fray!
So if, as often suggested on various fans forums, Jeremie Aliadiere, Julio Arca, Chris Riggot, Emanuel Pogatetz, Justin Hoyte, Andrew Taylor, Lee Miller, Matthew Bates, Tony McMahon, Rhys Williams, Brad Jones and Gary O'Neil do depart this summer, who exactly is going to be playing for us next season?!
I'm not saying let the likes Aliadiere, O'Neil and Hoyte continue to collect Premier League wages after failing to get us back up there, but we do need to keep some players with Premier League experience.
At the moment, only Scott McDonald, Brad Jones, Rhys Williams and Barry Robson have 'pledged their future' to Boro while being on sufficiently long contracts for us to believe the club are in agreement.
Willo Flood will still be our player when he returns from injury.
Chris Killen was desperate to leave Celtic when he signed for us on loan, and has repeatedly voiced his wishes to remain on Teesside.
Riggot has admitted he doesn't know what the hell's going on (in his Coventry post match interview) and David Wheater only has a year left on his current contract.
In between, there are the home grown boys like Andrew Taylor and Tony McMahon.
Strachan has also said there are no players between the departed Adam Johnson, and the baby of the bunch, Luke Williams, who we have not seen who are good enough to be included.
Right, so we know there are no hidden gems in the academy just yet, although both Strachan and Craig Hignett have expressed excitement about a number of players in the under 15 band, who are being tipped to eclipse the success of players such as Johnson and Stewart Downing in years to come.
And then there are the 'long term absentees'. Neither Matthew Bates nor Seb Hines has had the Strachan treatment yet, and it will be interesting to see whether he can improve their development in the same way players such as Scott McDonald have credited him with doing so for them.
Off the field, Keith Lamb's comments regarding us being better funded than the three clubs coming down were misguided at best.
Portsmouth have gone into administration, Hull are so close to following them they can smell the sweat, and 'well run' Burnley are just skint, despite not investing in anything resembling a defence.
Frankly if we weren't better funded than this trio I'd be despairing.
But there seems to be a new found confidence at the club, something seems to have changed behind the scenes, and if there is another source of revenue, or Gibson has found some more pennies down the back of his sofa, then, with transfer savvy Strachan at the helm, we may just assemble a team of true Champions.
Fingers crossed!
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 2/5/2010
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