Strachan to multi-task after McAllister departure

Last updated : 02 October 2010 By Northern Echo

The Boro boss lost one of his key right-hand men last month when Gary McAllister resigned to become assistant manager to Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa.

Initially, Strachan claimed he had no desire to appoint a replacement for his former Leeds team-mate, but the clamour for change has increased following two 3-1 away defeats in the space of four days.

The Scot has been forced to do more hands-on coaching in the wake of McAllister's departure, but recent results have not convinced him of a need to increase his backroom options.

"I will not be bringing anybody in," said Strachan, who will welcome Scott McDonald back into his starting line-up for today's home game with Portsmouth. "We will have to multitask.

"Everyone else at Middlesbrough seems to do that already because there's been a lot of cuts since we were relegated, so I might as well multitask as well and get on with it.

"Roger Spry will be joining us as full-time head of fitness, which will help, and we've also got Garry (Pendry) and Aggers (Steve Agnew).

"We need to make sure we don't over-stretch ourselves, but I'm all right on the training ground. I enjoy that side of things and I'm fine with having to do a bit more."

Strachan has divided most of his time since Tuesday's defeat at Derby between overseeing a series of coaching drills on the training pitch and chairing a number of team meetings inside Rockliffe Park.

With Boro having conceded three goals in the space of 20 minutes on four separate occasions this season, the on-field sessions have focused on improving the side's defending under pressure.

"When you lose a goal, you can look at it as something to embrace because it can test you as a character," said Strachan. "At the moment, and especially away from home, we seem to get spooked when a goal goes in.

"There is more to it than that, though, and I have my own theories after having looked at the goals. I don't want to give too much away on why it's happening, but safe to say we've been working on it."

Thursday afternoon was spent in a number of team discussions, but Strachan has been at pains to stress that the meetings were part of the regular midweek schedule rather than a string of specially-arranged crisis talks'.

"Some times you have that crisis meeting', but it was nothing like that," said the Boro boss. "It was all video related. If there is a crisis meeting, we will make sure everyone knows. You'll be able to see the black smoke go up anyway."

Source: Northern Echo

Source: Northern Echo