Tony Mowbray Speaks Out About Boro Middlesbrough FC manager, Tony Mowbray insisted that he won't compromise his own football beliefs despite falling attendances at the clubs Riverside stadium. Boro are currently in a mid-table position of the Championship League after a rather disappointing and rather mixed start to their campaign this season, but do have the added boost with a victory at Watford last time out. However, attendances at home have continued to fall this season and the recent draw with Derby County set a new league low of 13,377 for the Teesside club. Mowbray has maintained that he has no intention of his side suddenly becoming more direct in an effort to thrill those still watching and entice back a few more. "Football is what it is, there's a balance between having the ball and having a threat," he told the Northern Echo. "I don't see that punting the ball up to the centre-forward and relying on taking the second ball is a type of football that will take anybody, anywhere. "There is a balance to be had. Sometimes you have to keep the ball, sometimes you have to play it forward," Mowbray continued. "You sometimes have to keep it, move it to the side and wait for something to open up. "I understand that sometimes supporters just want the ball played up front, but if it keeps breaking down when you do that, and the opposition keep breaking on you, then it is also disappointing when the ball ends up in your net." Mowbray believes their recently acquired defender Andre Bikey can develop into a really top performer at the Riverside. The 27 year old former Reading and Burnley centre back has featured in every Championship game since arriving at the club in September. He did make one horrendous mistake in the recent win at Watford when immediately dropping an intended back pass short but the visitors still recovered to take maximum points. "People in the game have said to me Andre Bikey will take chances," Mowbray told the Evening Gazette. "And yet I really like him as a footballer. I've liked him for a long time, maybe four or five years. "He's got all the attributes to be a top player," he continued. "You can see he's got power, control, composure, and yet you can't have people giving you a reputation that you will take a chance or give a soft goal away. "He needs to get that out of his game, he needs to keep working and stay concentrated and focused and he will be a big player for us." |
