Strachan is bored by Boro
Despite the disastrous reign of Tony Mowbray there wasn’t any suggestions that the club should go back for Strachan.
Although Strachan brought success to Celtic the style of play that his side used and the managers attitude were out of sync with the desires of most fans.
Phrases like ‘I was bored’, ‘It was plod, plod football’ and ‘It was been like being in a coma’ were typical of the comments and thoughts of many supporters who tried but failed to warm to Strachan and his ways.
Strangely enough it was Strachan that used those phrases in a frank and honest appraisal of his new clubs displays delivered to the Middlesbrough website.
After taking over a side that was in the promotion hunt Strachan’s record was played 33, won 9, lost 13 and drew 11 leaving ‘Boro well short of the play-off’s.
Not having Strachan as your club manager is much more amusing than having him in charge of your club with his heart-on-sleeve attitude to the media that he dislikes always good value.
“You look at our general play and I was bored with it to be honest, let alone the fans,” Strachan admitted condemning his own side’s performances.
“It was plod, plod football. Occasionally there was some good football, but I’m a fan of football and I didn’t enjoy what I saw.
“I’m not one of these purists, what I want to do is win but fans also want to see tackles, shots, crosses and chances.
“In some games this season my heartbeat was the same all the way. I want to feel alive and I’m sure the fans want to feel alive. I enjoyed the Newcastle game – that’s what I’m after.
“You must win the game but you want football you enjoy watching as well.”
He added: “The fans have been fantastic and they have not seen anything like what I would like them to see. It’s not been easy for them.
“I want them to come away and feel like they’ve been alive. I want that myself. It was been like being in a coma for the last two weeks.”
Strachan will have Middlesbrough back in training on May 20 with a pre-season trip to La Manga to cut short the summer holidays of Willo Flood and Barry Robson before Scott McDonald has even arrived in South Africa for the World Cup.
The crowds at the Riverside Stadium dipped markedly in the second half of the season, putting his words into action will be needed to win over the fans- and give the former Celtic boss a chance of putting together a promotion winning campaign.
Middlesbrough website interview