THE CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGERIAL MAGNATE THAT IS NEIL WARNOCK GUIDED MIDDLESBROUGH TO SAFETY AFTER A DIFFICULT SEASON LAST TIME OUT.
Boro reluctantly dismissed their former centre-back hero Jonathan Woodgate in June of the last crazy campaign. He took his first managerial job at the Riverside as the Club looked to the future with promises of attacking and expansive football. The change from Pulis to Woodgate was met with excitement from the fans. However, the results and performances did not provide the pleasure that the fans hoped for and Steve Gibson was forced to bring in the record holding, eight-time promotion king, Neil Warnock.
Warnock had started the last season with Cardiff City with his heart set that it would be his last campaign in football management, after the Bluebirds were relegated from the Premier League in the 2018/19 season. Survival in the Championship was followed with a shortened summer, but the Boro fans will be hoping that Warnock can deliver another promotion on his CV!
They were the curtain raisers in a visit to Watford in September which ended in defeat before a Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Barnsley followed. However, there has been only one
defeat since then. Warnock’s side now sit 7th without a defeat in 10 and have proven to be tough customers so far this campaign.
Hard to beat and to score against, they will hope that Ashley Fletcher, Chuba Akpom and Marvin Johnson can add to their two goals already this season and hit some goal scoring form. All Warnock sides are known as tough to beat and this team have continued this habit.
Many would have tipped Boro to be much worse off even at this early stage, but all signs so far point towards them being in the mix this year. It would not be a surprise to anyone if Warnock gets another team to the Premier League, announces his retirement, and ends up back in the Championship next year!
Peter Kenny Jones @PeterKennyJones https://peterkj.wixsite.com/football-historian
