Being manager-less won't help results though, and sacking managers isn't the way Boro work, and I'm actually quite proud of Gibson's usual loyalty in this respect. I hope we don't end up with a revolving door like Newcastle... 
Or Steve Coppell. Curbishley would be ok, but would he come up North?
).
We haven't been playing well, and I know that must come down at least in part to Southgate's management and tactics. We haven't been playing well enough to have a realistic chance of promotion. However, I still really like Southgate and still believe that he has enormous potential. As both a player and a manager he cared about the club, and I would have loved to have had him lead us back into the Premier League. Why sack him when we've just won? Why not sack him while we were getting beat at home by teams we should have been able to win against, or when we got relegated? Why hasn't a caretaker manager been appointed (especially with Alan Smith having gone as well)? We have an important match in 3 days time against Preston, and have lost our manager and his main assistant and don't have anyone in place to act as a caretaker manager - that's a bit scary. 
Does this strange timing and lack of a caretaker manager mean that the club has had it, or does Steve Gibson have someone lined up ready and waiting? I don't understand what's going on...
As people who know me know, I absolutely love the guy (really) 
I'd have loved for everything to work out for him at Boro. I've only supported the club for a few years, so it's hard to imagine Boro without Southgate. It really is the end of an era! I have a poster of him in my office at uni 
As people who know me know, I absolutely love the guy (really) ... it's hard to imagine Boro without Southgate. It really is the end of an era! 
Except I think that the shock is now starting to set in. Southgate is, and to me always will be, one of the Boro greats - and he was also a true gentleman, with an honesty and integrity that is so often lacking amongst current managers. I find it hard to grasp the idea that he is no longer part of Boro, and am sad that things didn't work out. I hope that one day his name will be up there with the likes of Bobby Robson. So, yes, I'm gutted that things didn't work out for him here, but I am partially pleased if a change of manager will give us more chance of promotion - although I would have dearly loved Southgate to be the one to lead us back up.
The club hasn't said anything, except that there will be an anouncement before the Preston game. Have listened to the interview Gibson did last night and he was careful not to be drawn into giving anything away about who he might appoint.
The club hasn't said anything, except that there will be an anouncement before the Preston game. Have listened to the interview Gibson did last night and he was careful not to be drawn into giving anything away about who he might appoint. The club hasn't said anything, except that there will be an anouncement before the Preston game. Have listened to the interview Gibson did last night and he was careful not to be drawn into giving anything away about who he might appoint.
Does this mean that it's all falling thorugh?
Is it actually a lot of media hype that got blown totally out of proportion and turned into 'fact' when it wasn't based on anything substantial in the first place? I would be very glad to have Strachan, but I can't see where the story has come from and am a bit wary of building hopes that aren't based on anything.
Will our lack of manager encourage the team to out in a good performance, or will it unsettle them?
Do yous play tomorrow then?
They've had the majority of the possession so far and need to convert that into goals before they burn themselves out.
We could be 5-0 up already if the shots had gone in, as it is it's 0-0. 
Not so good.
Preston are now on top and look more likely to score. We could do with getting more points than them... Gary O'Neil. just before half time as well. 
Can we hold on to the lead... Can we hold on to the lead...
If you win tomorrow you'll overtake Plymouth and Peterborough again.
If you win tomorrow you'll overtake Plymouth and Peterborough again. 
Newcastle have equalised to. Jinky.
You just need Scunny to find a couple of goals now... There's still time for Charlton to score...
There's still time for Charlton to score... for a Reading win tomorrow.
for Barry.