Another game, another loss, but this one was at home. Watching Boro play West Brom was truly painful. Not just because most players in a red shirt would have to concede that they were not having the best of games, but because there was no-one motivating the team, no-one urging them forward and no-one offering any inspiration, including the manager.
Faced with fairly ordinary opposition and a truly terrible referee (for both sides) Boro ran out of ideas all too quickly.
We created chances and we even worked the goalkeeper a few times but, when the ball wouldn't go in easily, we were devoid of any creativity.
Southgate offered a few half-hearted gestures and then made a very odd substitution, taking off Aliadiere who had not been great but, in a game of staggering mediocrity, had at least looked lively and opened up Albion's defence a few times, for Mido - who couldn't save us this time, and Alves - who couldn't even stay on his feet.
Bringing on Adam Johnson was a good idea. After his goal against Man Utd in the Carling Cup, many fans had expected him to start instead of Aliadiere. The problem is that Stewart Downing should have been sacrificed instead of the Frenchman.
In the absence of the suspended Pogatetz, Southgate decided to give the captain's armband to Downing. This was a decision I wholeheartedly agreed with prior to the match, as I thought it might give Stewy a personal boost, give the other local lads something more to aspire to and because I think as the player who has played almost every match for his home town club since turning professional and joining the Boro's starting eleven, he was the natural choice.
Unfortunately, on a day when nothing went right for the Boro, the decision proved a bit of a disaster.
Downing is one of Boro's best and, crucially, most consistent players but at the moment he is not playing well, and yesterday he was dreadful, yet remained on the pitch for the full ninety minutes.
I understand that Southgate is showing his support for the fan's favourite boo boy, but the longer Downing was on the pitch the more abuse he received and that, surely, cannot help his confidence.
Stewy's off the pitch problems concerning his former agent are well documented, he has also missed two penalties in two games which we have gone on to lose. It is fair to assume he has a lot on his mind. Sadly being named as captain just seemed to put more pressure on him and he crumbled under it.
Shouting instructions at players who are not listening to you whilst losing the ball will never make you a captain and the more Stewy tried to do what he thought a captain should be doing, the more his own game suffered.
Meanwhile, West Brom realised we were not going to put up much fight and decided to finish us off.
Boro capitulated as they have done in every away match this season and Albion took the points, becoming the first team to beat Boro at the Riverside this season, but almost certainly not the last.
Nobody stepped up because nobody had the confidence, or in some cases the inclination, to do so.
Simple things such as throw-ins became farcical as Taylor searched desperately for someone who actually wanted the ball, then hurled it in frustration, usually to an Albion player. Taylor was actually one of our better players yesterday but the team performance was poor, strangely desperate yet lacking any kind of urgency or belief.
A major confidence crisis seems to have hit every Boro player at the same time, the manager is at a loss and the fans are struggling to understand how a team which looked so exciting a mere month ago are now playing like a team who are already beaten.
We do not know how to win ugly, neither are we the kind of team with enough skill to play opponents off the park. Instead we try to play attractive football which entertains the fans but produces no goals, go behind and then try to fight our way back without success.
This may sound a bit premature, after all we are only six games into the season and we have plenty of time to 'come good' right? Wrong. Last season we ended up in a relegation battle because of our poor start to the season, sound familiar?
The truth is these mistakes have got to be corrected now. 'Boro's babes' must dig deep and find the youthful swagger and precocious talent which got them into the team in the first place. They have to take responsibility for the results each game, their own performance and change the collective mentality which is pulling us further down the table.
We are a young team but we do not lack Premier League experience. Southgate is clearly building a team for the future but these boys must start performing this season, because what we are seeing from them at the moment simply is not good enough.
First published on www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/fanzone - Sept 08
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