Middlesbrough FC

The Mirror

by Stan Collymore

I thought Middlesbrough would feature in the top 10 this season, but that likelihood is diminishing with every defeat. Boss Gareth Southgate has a squad full of young players and the situation with the wantaway duo, Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil, is clearly disrupting the squad.

I'm not sure that the squad is being disrupted by the transfer speculation surrounding O'Neil and Downing. The problem is the team selection. Downing played well again on Saturday when he was handed the captains arm band.
O'Neil would have kicked up a fuss by now if he wanted to leave the Riverside. They are both fully committed to their contracts at the minute and are knuckling down for the relegation battle.

Come On Boro!