mfc.co.uk saying that Viduka is going nowhere thankfully. Also Coops has taken over from Crosby as reserve team manager.
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Plan of attackJun 29 2006
Eric Paylor, Evening Gazette
Fans pay a hell of a lot of money to come and watch us and we have to do what we can to send them home with a smile on their faces
Boro boss Gareth Southgate aims to shift the emphasis towards attack as he prepares to make his managerial bow in the Premiership.
Southgate is mindful that many fans were frustrated whenever safety-first tactics were employed in the past.
He wants to take advantage of Boro's natural attacking talents by fully utilising the dual threat of key strikers Yakubu and Mark Viduka.
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Hence the move for attacking midfielder Steed Malbranque as his major target this summer.
Southgate told the Evening Gazette: "I want to attack. I want to play an attacking brand of football next season.
"That's not to say we want to win games 8-6 every week.
"But I am mindful of how expensive it is for supporters to watch Premiership football these days.
"Fans pay a hell of a lot of money to come and watch us and we have to do what we can to send them home with a smile on their faces."
Southgate, who has been working towards completing his UEFA B Badge at Rockliffe Park this week, is not suggesting that Boro will throw caution to the wind.
In fact, the impending arrival of German international Robert Huth, plus the search for a second central defender, is an indication that the Boro boss recognises the need to be strong and solid at the back in the new campaign.
But Southgate is aware that Boro have clinical goalscorers in their squad, and attack-minded players who can cause problems for opposition defenders.
Hence the need for Boro to try to play to their strengths.
It's by attacking, when opportunities allow, that Southgate hopes he can push Boro back up the Premiership.
He said: "I think we were better than 14th in the Premiership last season, but we put the emphasis on winning cup games because we had so much more to gain in those competitions.
"We won't be in that situation this season and so we have to concentrate on winning points and climbing the table."
Southgate is now just eight days away from welcoming the squad back for pre-season training, and he is currently ringing around to have advance chats with some of the senior men.
He wants everybody fully focussed on the new challenge from the start.
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