The final game of the season, and of Boro's eleven year spell in the Premier League, was as predictable as it was heartbreaking. Our injury list was extensive, the task ahead of us massive and the confidence that we could pull it off was almost nonexistent. Most fans thought we were down after giving Newcastle their only win under Alan Shearer. As it turns out we were right.
The main threat against West Ham earlier in the season was Stewart Downing. Unfortunately Downing is out for the foreseeable future with a foot injury and deputy Adam Johnson had a frustrating game where brief flashes of skill were lost in a below-par performance.
Carlton Cole tried to put us out of our misery by putting the ball past Jones in the thirty third minute, but Tuncay and O'Neil give us yet more false hope by combining to create an equaliser and keep the scores level at half time.
Gary O'Neil added to his 'highest scoring midfielder' tally with a strike which showed his quality, the same quality which will most likely see him leave this summer.
Acting captain Tuncay was the architect of O'Neil's goal and was typically busy, while Boro kept the pressure on, resulting in a barrage of corners which unfortunately we could not capitalise on.
The lack of urgency was once again apparent, though it was by no means our worst performance of the season. It just wasn't good enough, again.
Josh Walker, Joe Bennett and Jonathan Franks were thrown to the lions in the second half. Walker has been involved enough and has enough confidence in his own abilities to handle it but why on earth were Bennett and Franks chucked on? To be fair, Bennett at least got himself involved but I don't think Franks touched the ball in the final ten minutes of the game he was allotted.
It didn't really matter though, as expected Villa beat Newcastle and Hull were defeated by Manchester United's third string ensemble but Boro could not get a second goal, and allowed the Hammers to strike again.
Brad Jones did what he has done for most of his tenure in goal, made some very good saves but cost us so very much with stupid mistakes.
West Ham's second goal and the final nail in Boro's coffin was another effort that a more experienced or, dare I say it, just better, goalkeeper would have stopped, despite the deflection.
Junior Stanislas, who? exactly. A kid who has been on loan at Southend, apparently, saw an easy opening (Boro's goal with only Jones in it) and took it.
If Southgate/Gibson/the magic eight ball he uses to make his team selections had decided that, having berated the youngsters for not being good enough, throwing a few more into the mix would help, why not Rhys Williams? Fresh from an impressive loan spell with newly promoted Burnley and flying high on the prospect of his first senior cap for his country (well one of them anyway!) the versatile defender was probably raring to go...
I felt slightly numb watching the clock tick down, mostly because I'd done all my crying in the aftermath of Boro's trip to St James' Park and for me the fact that Newcastle came down with us is not that much consolation.
It is however quite amusing that the 'Messiah' third? fourth? fifth? I've lost count now, Big Al, took the Geordies down with help from a Damien Duff own goal.
Newcastle United have always provided competition for Boro when it comes to signing players and it is a sad reality that potential targets will see Newcastle as a more attractive option. They are a higher profile club than us, can likely offer bigger wages and are probably more likely to bounce back.
They are also a complete shambles.
Like us they will lose their big names and while they will be looking to strengthen, most of the current crop will want out.
Back at Boro, Stewart Downing's injury may mean he will have to play a couple of games for Boro next season before he can move to pastures new in January. Absolutely everyone expects Tuncay to leave but no one is sure precisely where he will go. Gary O'Neil, Robert Huth and Jeremie Aliadiere have all been linked with moves away from Teesside and Alves is unlikely to be up for Championship football.
As things stand Mido will return to the Riverside.
This summer's transfer window will require a lot of wheeling and dealing. We need some battle hardened Championship players without a doubt but we also need enough quality to mount a serious promotion challenge. It is a question of balance, something Southgate and co have struggled with in the past few seasons.
I want to see which players are prepared to give us a season to dig ourselves out of the mess they helped create but I am not holding out my breath. Hopefully some will step up and prove me wrong because none of them were really up for a fight this season and look how that turned out.
First published on www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/fanzone - May 09
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