When Robert Huth departed the Riverside for sunny erm Stoke, it is not an exaggeration to say that Boro's defence fell apart. The arrival of Sean St Ledger did not help matters, or aid David Wheater's development from a poor second season in the Premier League.
Fingers were pointed at both players although St Ledger, as the outsider, bore the brunt of it, but in the end it was the partnership which just did not work.
Wheater has proved that as long as he trusts his defensive partner, be it Pogatetz, Grounds or McManus, he will put in a full shift, throw himself into the game and eliminate the slip ups which have cost Boro so many goals.
And Stephen McManus is as strong a partner as Wheater could ask for.
He is already being compared, favourably, to Robert Huth for the stability he has brought to his fledgling partnership with in the heart of Boro's defence with Wheater.
No disrespect to Huth, but McManus is actually a better bet. He is not injury prone, like the German was and, I would suspect his services can be purchased for a far more reasonable wage packet.
In the four games he has played for us so far, McManus has looked unflappable, strong and calm he leads by example and encourages his team mates to keep their concentration.
Like fellow Celtic import Robson, he is also vocal and inclusive of the younger players.
In person, something about McManus brings to mind legendary Boro captain Nigel Pearson, I think it is called 'presence'.
McManus is not Boro's captain, but Strachan insists you need 11 leaders on the pitch, and McManus is certainly a natural leader.
One of Celtic's youngest ever captains (aged 24) McManus is also the captain of the Scottish national side.
Despite his experience, McManus was careful to ackowledge that he and his fellow new signings are coming into a team which was, if not established, closeknit.
"First and foremost we are coming into their playground, its up to us to make it successful."
"We saw Adam Johnson going to Manchester City, he's a top top player but there's other lads in the squad we have who are top players and they are young as well, if we can bring experience, that's good."
While the use of 'playground' may be a reference to the relative youth of the side McManus has joined, 'Respect' is a clearly an important concept for the defender.
"Respect of your team mates first and foremost, you want to be respected as a player and a man first and foremost." He said.
Amusingly, in a press conference designed to introduce him to the press and the fans, McManus was reluctant to discuss his assests as a player, saying: "I'm not going to sit here and talk about myself, thats for you people to do, but we all bring different things."
But McManus did confirm that the draw of Boro, apart from Strachan, was the possibility of Premier League football next season.
"I've been there since I was 14. If you leave the Old Firm, you have to have a really good chance at winning something.
"Obviously now at Middlesbrough we are looking to do what we have done at Celtic and be successful."
At present McManus is only on loan to Boro until June, but while when Sean St Ledger failed to sign a permanent deal it was, in truth, a relief, I think the majority of Boro supporters will be hoping the big Scot puts pen to paper on a permanent deal.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 20/2/2010
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