Despite a bright start in which the side played some attractive free-flowing football, earning Southgate the Manager of the Month award in August, things stated to head downhill and quickly.
The writing on the wall was there for all to see just before Christmas when clubs in trouble around Boro were expressing their desperation to avoid the drop, while Southgate was telling the national media the club could not afford to be in the Premier League such was the expectation levels on sides to spend big money!
Then rumours of unrest amongst the ranks resulted in Mido being shipped out on loan to Wigan with Marlon King arriving in exchange and Downing slapped in a January transfer request that was turned down. Downing responded well enough by refusing to sulk at the snub, but he failed to live up to the previous season in which he bagged 10 league goals.
The side was in a terminal decline by January with Alves’ failure to live up to his billing and the likes of Jeremie Aliadiere and King not being good enough in front of goal which piled pressure on Boro’s shining light Tuncay to try and come up with the goods. The Turk did his best but he was always fighting a losing battle!
Injuries hampered Digard’s progress, while Emnes was not given a chance to shine until it was arguably too late as Southgate’s team selection policies became erratic and unpredictable by the week!
To compound the misery a record which stood for almost 100 years was smashed as Boro lost over 10 games in succession away from home, while the side’s inability to finish teams off on home soil came back to haunt them repeatedly as valuable wins were replaced by too many costly draws.
The once solid relationship between the fans and chairman developed cracks of monumental proportions by the time relegation was confirmed as many blamed the man at the top for refusing to act when he had the chance and for his seemingly continued blind faith in Southgate.
So on May 24, 2009, an 11-year stint amongst the upper classes of English football ended after a myriad of thrills and spills along the way. And as we consider the prospect of life in the Championship wilderness, the question many of us have is just when will Boro get the chance to jump back on board the Premier League rollercoaster once again?
Written exclusively for oneBoro.co.uk by Craig Smithson
