As much as we may like it to, football is not a sport which cares for narratives, storylines and our feelings. Nothing personifies this more than sentimental managerial appointments. Though greatly welcomed by fans, they rarely have a fairy-tale ending. This is something Middlesbrough legend Jonathan Woodgate came to realise this week as his short tenure as Boro manager came to an abrupt end, being immediately replaced by journeyman manager Neil Warnock.
This, however, came as no great surprise. Boro – at the time of Woodgate’s sacking – are sitting 21st in the Championship table, precariously above the drop zone on goal difference alone. Their form, too, is uninspiring. They picked up a measly one point in their last five games before lockdown halted the season and returned to action last weekend with a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Swansea City. With little sign of things turning around, the sack was looming over the Middlesbrough boss. Nonetheless, it will be a bitter blow to Woodgate, who had been given his dream job as part of a gargantuan effort to begin a new dawn for the Yorkshire club.
On June 14 2019, Woodgate was announced by Boro as their new head coach, committing to a three-year deal. It was a statement of intent from Boro, they were now seizing an opportunity to rebuild the club from top to bottom – in order to take the club forward. No longer would they persist with a disjointed squad built by various different managers, for various different systems. Instead, they tasked Woodgate with building a squad capable of playing attractive, attacking football. Last season, Middlesbrough missed out on the play-offs by a single point – finishing 7th – and came under heavy criticism for their lack of goals and failing to entertain under then-manager Tony Pulis.
The appointment of Woodgate was viewed by many as a positive stride, but all understood it would be no quick fix. Patience, from chairman Steve Gibson and the Middlesbrough board, was required to stick by Woodgate as he assembled a new-look squad while the luxury of parachute payment money ran dry. There was an understanding that the club would not be promoted this season and that Boro could, in fact, finish in a lowly position. It was a decision that Middlesbrough were willing to take.
This, however, came as no great surprise. Boro – at the time of Woodgate’s sacking – are sitting 21st in the Championship table, precariously above the drop zone on goal difference alone. Their form, too, is uninspiring. They picked up a measly one point in their last five games before lockdown halted the season and returned to action last weekend with a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Swansea City. With little sign of things turning around, the sack was looming over the Middlesbrough boss. Nonetheless, it will be a bitter blow to Woodgate, who had been given his dream job as part of a gargantuan effort to begin a new dawn for the Yorkshire club.
On June 14 2019, Woodgate was announced by Boro as their new head coach, committing to a three-year deal. It was a statement of intent from Boro, they were now seizing an opportunity to rebuild the club from top to bottom – in order to take the club forward. No longer would they persist with a disjointed squad built by various different managers, for various different systems. Instead, they tasked Woodgate with building a squad capable of playing attractive, attacking football. Last season, Middlesbrough missed out on the play-offs by a single point – finishing 7th – and came under heavy criticism for their lack of goals and failing to entertain under then-manager Tony Pulis.
The appointment of Woodgate was viewed by many as a positive stride, but all understood it would be no quick fix. Patience, from chairman Steve Gibson and the Middlesbrough board, was required to stick by Woodgate as he assembled a new-look squad while the luxury of parachute payment money ran dry. There was an understanding that the club would not be promoted this season and that Boro could, in fact, finish in a lowly position. It was a decision that Middlesbrough were willing to take.
Woodgate spent six seasons over two spells at Middlesbrough. A 12th-placed Premier League finish in 06/07 was his best for the club, and he was appointed manager with the long-term aim of guiding Middlesbrough back to such heights.
Sentimental appointments, however, rarely work out. Look no further than Kenny Dalglish’s second spell at Liverpool, Alan Shearer at Newcastle United and Martin O’Neill at Nottingham Forest. Too often, they are misguided and overlook a managers’ ability or how well suited to the task at hand they are. The appeal to reconnect a fragmented relationship between the board and supporters is an all too familiar tale.
Furthermore, the appointments can be detrimental in other manners also. While managers are usually seen as expendable, and are usually booted out at the first sign of the trouble, this is rarely the case for club legends. Boards will look to stick by them for as long as possible; the idea of sacking someone so intimately twined to the club is not a favourable decision. Thus, clubs hang on – hoping for a change in fortunes – at the expense of their own success. Instead of making a composed business decision, judgements are clouded by the potential PR disaster awaiting them following the dismissal of such a figure.
This is well exemplified by Middlesbrough this season. Despite their best efforts, Boro have been dull, dreary and unconvincing throughout this campaign. In normal circumstances, Woodgate would have been sacked months earlier. Yet, it’s taken Boro 38 games and the very real prospect of relegation for them to finally dismiss Woodgate. They’ve waited for the vast majority of fans to turn against him, as opposed to just a few murmurs of discontent which often leads to a sacking.
Things might have been different, had Middlesbrough’s problems this term been anew. If they had been free scoring, yet found themselves leaking goals at the back, then maybe Boro would’ve stuck by their chosen one. However, it was Boro’s perennial issue of sticking the ball in the back of the net that has been their downfall this term. With a meagre 37 goals this campaign, they are the lowest scoring side – six less than 23rd placed Barnsley. The issues which the club attempted to address with the appointment of Woodgate, have not been remedied.
Furthermore, the appointments can be detrimental in other manners also. While managers are usually seen as expendable, and are usually booted out at the first sign of the trouble, this is rarely the case for club legends. Boards will look to stick by them for as long as possible; the idea of sacking someone so intimately twined to the club is not a favourable decision. Thus, clubs hang on – hoping for a change in fortunes – at the expense of their own success. Instead of making a composed business decision, judgements are clouded by the potential PR disaster awaiting them following the dismissal of such a figure.
This is well exemplified by Middlesbrough this season. Despite their best efforts, Boro have been dull, dreary and unconvincing throughout this campaign. In normal circumstances, Woodgate would have been sacked months earlier. Yet, it’s taken Boro 38 games and the very real prospect of relegation for them to finally dismiss Woodgate. They’ve waited for the vast majority of fans to turn against him, as opposed to just a few murmurs of discontent which often leads to a sacking.
Things might have been different, had Middlesbrough’s problems this term been anew. If they had been free scoring, yet found themselves leaking goals at the back, then maybe Boro would’ve stuck by their chosen one. However, it was Boro’s perennial issue of sticking the ball in the back of the net that has been their downfall this term. With a meagre 37 goals this campaign, they are the lowest scoring side – six less than 23rd placed Barnsley. The issues which the club attempted to address with the appointment of Woodgate, have not been remedied.
24-year-old Ashley Fletcher is enjoying his best ever goal-scoring season. However, his eight league goals have not been enough to protect Middlesbrough - who have experienced two 10-game winless runs this season - from the threat of relegation.
Woodgate, though, may justifiably feel hard done by. Last year, Pulis spent approximately £20 million in the transfer market. This season, Woodgate has been limited to spending just over £3 million and has had to recruit in a much different fashion than the club has become accustomed to.
Gone are the days of marquee signings such as Britt Assombalonga (£15 million), Martin Braithwaite (£10 million) and Aden Flint (£7 million). Rather, Woodgate’s most expensive incoming was right-back Anfernee Dijksteel from fellow Championship side Charlton Athletic for under £2 million. Tasked with rebuilding a club and generating a completely new style of play, the Middlesbrough hierarchy has failed to support Woodgate appropriately.
Despite their lowly position, there have been some bright sparks this season for Middlesbrough. Promising left-back Hayden Coulson has broken into the first team, providing a threat going forward while remaining solid defensively. Dael Fry and Daniel Ayala have also built a solid defensive partnership, with Boro having conceded only 50 goals this term – an achievement matched by 7th placed Cardiff City – who, incidentally, started the campaign with the manager who will see out Middlesbrough’s season.
Football is a sport that cares for no-one. It does not provide fairy-tales, it is us who choose to find and create them. Jonathan Woodgate has found this out the hard way, but will not be the last to do so. Let down by the club he loves, he will be more hurt by the thought of himself letting down that very club.
Football and Middlesbrough will move on, while Woodgate’s iconic reputation at Boro will forever be tarnished. Then again, who could honestly expect football to accommodate a fairy-tale ending?
Gone are the days of marquee signings such as Britt Assombalonga (£15 million), Martin Braithwaite (£10 million) and Aden Flint (£7 million). Rather, Woodgate’s most expensive incoming was right-back Anfernee Dijksteel from fellow Championship side Charlton Athletic for under £2 million. Tasked with rebuilding a club and generating a completely new style of play, the Middlesbrough hierarchy has failed to support Woodgate appropriately.
Despite their lowly position, there have been some bright sparks this season for Middlesbrough. Promising left-back Hayden Coulson has broken into the first team, providing a threat going forward while remaining solid defensively. Dael Fry and Daniel Ayala have also built a solid defensive partnership, with Boro having conceded only 50 goals this term – an achievement matched by 7th placed Cardiff City – who, incidentally, started the campaign with the manager who will see out Middlesbrough’s season.
Football is a sport that cares for no-one. It does not provide fairy-tales, it is us who choose to find and create them. Jonathan Woodgate has found this out the hard way, but will not be the last to do so. Let down by the club he loves, he will be more hurt by the thought of himself letting down that very club.
Football and Middlesbrough will move on, while Woodgate’s iconic reputation at Boro will forever be tarnished. Then again, who could honestly expect football to accommodate a fairy-tale ending?
Written by - James McEvoy
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back