Give new keeper a chance to show stuff!

Aug 17 2008 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

WHOEVER he chose and barring a catastrophe, however they got on, Gareth Southgate must stick by Middlesbrough’s new goalkeeping No 1.

That’s the verdict of Rolando Ugolini as the Teessiders enter the brave new world of Brad Jones, or Ross Turnbull.

Having dispensed with Mark Schwarzer and snubbed the chance to sign an experienced replacement, Southgate’s decision to put his faith in Jones and Turnbull is either brave, naive or both.

Undoubtedly, it invites pressure on everyone.

So Ugolini — Italian-born, Scottish-bred but with 320 appearances for the club, a Boro legend — says whoever Southgate opted for yesterday must be given an extended opportunity to prove himself . . .

Adding that, while the ideal age to overcome their inexperience, they must take their chance by being as bold as their manager has been in selecting them.

“I’m hoping Middlesbrough do very well this season but I understand they’ve been undecided about the young goalkeepers,” said Ugolini, a keen spectator at the recent friendly against Hibernian, whose Easter Road ground is a mile-and-a-half from his home.

“They’ve got to get experience so they must play, it doesn’t matter how old you are. I was 19 when I joined Celtic but I couldn’t get a game because Willie Miller was first-choice and he played for Scotland.

“When I signed for Middlesbrough I was 24 and that was really the start for me. They’re at the perfect age (Jones is 26, Turnbull 23) so they must give them a chance, even if they make mistakes, which they’re bound to until they get confidence.

“They won’t get confidence if they start taking them off.

“It’s very difficult for the manager but if he can I would say he has to stay with one goalkeeper for a long time, give him a chance.

“Then what they must do is be brave. If they make up their mind to go for the ball, they have to do it, no matter what happens. If you miss it, at least you put the guy off.

“It’s very difficult for goalkeepers now, with the ball.

“In our day we had the old leather ball and it came straight at us with no swerving or the lightest gust of wind taking it away.

“So it’s hard for them now but I really hope they do well, and that Middlesbrough do well because of that.”

The sentiment is sincere, for even at 84, half-a-century since he left Teesside for Wrexham, Ugolini still holds Boro dear and — thanks to the club’s Former Players’ Association — gets to see them the odd time.

“I still keep a keen eye on Middlesbrough, we get down at least twice a year thanks to (FPA chairman) Alan Peacock, who’s a fantastic guy,” said Ugolini, echoing a similar assessment of Southgate, a “very very good and nice person”.

“I’m coming down for the Stoke game, there’s quite a few of the old lads going so it’ll be a nice wee reunion and hopefully it’ll go better than the last one. I was down for a golf day but I didn’t play so good!”