Is it because he demanded to leave you to win a trophy?
Joking.
Your not seeing the bigger picture.
Yes McClaren spent money, and won us a cup, got us into europe, got us to the final of the UEFA cup (and got hammered) it was a great time playing boring football but witnessing some of the best matches in my life (Basel, Steau, Bolton...)
Since Soutghate has came in, he finished 12th and 13th (our usual season) and has reached the FA cup semi's twice I think. He has also had to deal with losing the likes of Yakubu and Viduka and finding replacements for 20+ goals a season (he wasn't the only one who though Alves would score plenty in the league now was he, go on, admit it). A 20 goal a season striker isn't an easy thing to find (how many have scored 20+ this year?...
He inherited an ageing squad, on huge salaries (Mendieta 33+, on 40k a week for example. He has got rid of some deadwoord and ageing players on big wages (Mendieta, Boateng, Ehiogu, Parlour etc...) and has had to replace them on limited funds. He also made the bold decision to sell Young, but at 29 making a £4m profit in a year isn't too bad business especially in times of a recession.
Yes he has made mistakes; not replacing schwarzer, Alves was a mistake that not many would of predicted being this bad, thinking Wheater was ready to take over from Woodgate (who's head was turned anyway), Shawky, but he has been working on a ridiculously tight budget and was given strict instructions to reduce the wage budget...
This season hasn't gone right, for whatever reasons. If we go down at least Southgate has helped to ensure that we won't get in too big trouble from the loss in revenue and despite the poor season I am 100% behind Southgate staying at Boro next year regardless.
p.s. It also doesn't help when players are clearly not bothered about the club or the fans.
UTB.