Boro Will Live Or Die On Gibson Transfer Decision!

Lack of available funding had the Boro chairman making the decision (with Gareth Southgate) to stick with what he has.

Boro could quite easily have sold Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil and had significant spending power in the transfer market.

But the pair decided against it, when others would have taken the dosh and freshened up a squad that NEEDS freshening up.

Obviously they could not be certain that they could spend a lot of money wisely ... but isn't that what Southgate gets paid for?

Or perhaps Gibson didn't TRUST him to spend it wisely.

Gareth Southgate did bring in one new face when he was able to agree a quick loan deal for Marlon King when the Wigan striker was sent home by Hull.

But top target Ben Watson declined to move to the Boro from Crystal Palace and opted to sign for Wigan instead, and THAT was the blow that could hurt us most.

Watson was shown around the area, past his medicals, but still opted to go to the JJB Stadium where he was reportedly given a bigger personal contract.

Reading's James Harper was another allegedly on his way to Teeside, but, much to Southgate's frustration, Reading later changed their minds.