And as Boro try and get the wheels back on the truck, I'd say the man had it "spot on".
"Foreign players take time to settle in this country", said the Boro boss, and time was not on Strachan's side.
So it was a bit of a surprise to read today that Ivorian star Arouna Kone turned down the chance to move to Boro last month.
The Sevilla striker was made available for loan and agreed to join German side Hannover.
But he has revealed that he also had interest from the Premier League, believed to be Wigan, as well as Gordon Strachan's Middlesbrough.
Kone: "I could have gone to England, teams like Middlesbrough and a Premier League team were interested in me, but I chose Hannover because I will be ready here to force my way back in the Ivorian national team for the World Cup 2010."