After weeks of struggling to field a full team, Gordon Strachan has now acquired a total of seven new signings through the magic of the transfer window.
Historically Boro do not do well in transfer windows, however the final batch of signings, Spurs and England Under 21 defender Kyle Naughton, Aberdeen striker Lee Miller and Celtic duo centre back Stephen McManus and striker Scott McDonald have finally whipped up some excitement amongst the Boro faithful.
Strachan is still operating with an injury ravaged team ahead of the trip to Ipswich. Rhys Williams (pelvis) Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring), Chris Riggot (hamstring) Jeremie Aliadiere (ankle) and long term absentees Seb Hines and Matthew Bates will definitely miss the match.
Midfielder Barry Robson will also not feature due to his suspension after being sent off at the Riverside against Bristol City.
Isaiah Osbourne has returned to Aston Villa and Marvin Emnes is apparently suffering with tonsilitis.
Strachan himself was feeling under the weather as he spoke to the press about his new signings, the Ipswich match and the departure of Adam Johnson to Manchester City.
Speaking about bringing in new players, Strachan explained that his plan was to create a squad where 'everbody is a competitor.'
Asked whether he was now happy with what he has, the Scot replied:
"You can never put a time limit on these things.
On the question of Scott McDonald being the out and out goalscorer that Boro have been severely lacking, Strachan answered simply: "He scored against Manchester United and AC Milan in the Champions League, Scott scores anywhere, in the big games he scores goals."
Strachan was also impressed with defender Stephen McManus' drive, saying: "He drove himself on to become Scotland and Celtic captain."
Despite the slew of new signings coming in, the biggest news at the Boro this transfer window was still the departure of winger Adam Johnson, who joined Manchester City for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be around £7.5 million.
"I would have loved to have kept him here and built a more balanced team around him. I like the lad he's a smashing fella. He knows what is right and wrong and he's respectful of everyone.
"Adam wanted to go and we understood that, I wouldn't have felt right stopping him.
"He's got himself a few bob and brought money in to the club.
"This morning he's training with Tevez, I'm excited for him.
"I talked to him about how we could make him better but he's made himself better immediately by joining Man City!"
The jokes about Boro becoming 'Celtic reserves' will no doubt continue, but Strachan is adamant that the Old Firm players are very well suited to the grit of the Championship.
"There are five or six [SPL players] at Cardiff and Preston. all the teams who are doing well all have a fair smattering of players who have played in the Scottish Premier League.
And Strachan believes he is a good man manager, as former players still ask his advice on a regular basis, he explained: "It is always nice to think that you have a relationship with players and have helped them in some way. I've had a couple of players call me recently asking for advice at the clubs they are at now, so that's nice."
The pressure associated with playing for an Old Firm club cannot be underestimated, and Strachan believes this 'must win' mentality will be passed on from his new recruits to the younger local lads.
"A draw is not good enough [at Rangers or Celtic] they are scared to even draw."
"But if you have done all you can and you still draw you have to accept that. I'd like to be hard to beat and then I believe we have the ability to win games.
"I've been hearing voices in training demanding things of each other, even this week, and I hadn't heard that before."
Asked about Saturday's opposite number Roy Keane, Strachan was reluctant to comment on his capabilities as a manager but did remember him fondly as a player.
"He was great with the kids at Celtic Park, they loved being around him.
"And he had that drive that I'm talking about now."
When pressed about Keane as a manager, he added: "Sometimes the techniques he uses can be a bit rough, at times, but you have got to do what you can to get the best out of them.
"Good managers.. its not so much tactics it is getting best out of a group of players.
"He [Keane] had the presence when he was at Celtic and you need people like that, Stephen is the very same.
Whether Strachan chooses to start Stephen McManus, or continues his most recent defensive partnership of David Wheater and Jonathan Grounds for tomorrow's game remains to be seen and whether Scott McDonald can score on his debut will also be answered by the final whistle against Ipswich.
Either way, let's hope Boro can continue our fledgling unbeaten run and do the double over the Tractor Boys!
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 5/2/2010
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