When it comes to dropping players perhaps Steve Agnew could take advantage of Teesside’s iconic Transporter Bridge when sending out a message to signal his displeasure at the under-performing Gaston Ramirez for his quite frankly ridiculous display at Bournemouth last weekend – though the only questions for many exasperated supporters would be is whether it is high enough!
The Boro boss has come under criticism for appearing to be ‘too nice’ in recent weeks as basic errors and lack of concentration from the players have let him down in his bid to avoid the now seemingly unavoidable relegation. So maybe as he lines up his squad in front of the Transporter Bridge with Gaston’s Boro career dangling by the thinnest of threads, he can demonstrate that nothing but fully-focused 100% performances will be tolerated under his regime.
Indeed, he may even be able to turn the whole exercise into a belated Houdini-like relegation-escaping team-bonding exercise by getting the players to all to pull in the same direction whilst holding on to the want-away Ramirez attached to the top of the Transporter by his mega-elastic bungee rope – then on his signal the Uruguayan can be launched back home without him even accumulating any cushy first-class air miles as the players simply let go of their former team-mate. The club need only issue a short statement informing the media that Gaston Ramirez has been ‘released’ by Steve Agnew – as far as they are concerned it would be both true and literal.
It may well be that Agnew could also soon find himself hanging from the Transporter Bridge from a bungee-rope as Steve Gibson looks to be more pro-active in obtaining that elusive new-manger bounce – dangling together with his coaching team in what would be the ultimate executive toy for an ambitious chairman. Though the potential hazard for shipping along the Tees and no doubt the interference of health and safety legislation may curtail the Boro chairman’s plans for much needed stress release.
With each game that passes it becomes ever more likely that Steve Agnew has not done enough to suggest his appointment will be long-term. To be fair he was handed something of a poisoned chalice as he was already starting with a handicap in terms of points and team confidence – before immediately being hit with a defensive injury crisis to boot. It would have required a coach of far greater experience and charismatic leadership to have made an instant turnaround to Boro’s ten-game slump. Even the great escape artist of Big Sam took more than half-a-dozen games to have an impact at Palace – plus he had much better players at his disposal too.
I suspect our former number two is predominantly a coach rather than a number one and ideally he’s probably the kind of operator who needs a pre-season on the training pitch to effectively get his methods over to the players. It appears after his initial attempt to apply a quick fix to Boro’s lack of attacking intent spectacularly misfired at Hull, he over-compensated and retreated to the tried and tested midfield defensive shield. Then with very little margin for error due to the increasing gap between safety and Championship oblivion, it seems he’s quickly re-adopted the orphaned child tactics that was Karanka’s lone striker.
In addition, as he has become more embattled in the absence of a victory, his substitutions have become less bold, more conservative and increasingly random to the point where it would have been hard not to imagine they have been lifted straight from Karanka’s safety-first playbook that he forgot to clear from his desk. Even though he’s now got his first win under his belt against easily the most ineffective opposition to visit the Riverside this season, his disjointed team were hanging on after only managing two shots on target during the whole unconvincing display against the neighbourhood eight-lives-gone-and-counting Black Cats.
Wednesday’s victory will have left only those inhaling Capstan full-strength foam fumes that this would be the first in a high-five run of lung-bursting victories probably needed to dip in front of our relegation rivals at the finishing line. There was absolutely no indication that this current Boro team have enough to see off any of the top four – let alone three of them!
In that respect, Agnew has got a tough task to pick a First XI from a combination of what remains from Boro’s out-of-sorts, out-of-confidence and out-of-their-depth squad. We can only hope the win has breathed a bit of life into everyone but they know in the back of their mind that they need to win every game now – and that may ultimately be a weight greater than the one that was lifted against the Mackems.
I fully expect Karankaesque tactics against City on Sunday as Boro hope to keep it tight and emulate their performance at the Etihad Stadium – perhaps even keeping a clean sheet and hoping Marten de Roon continues with his new-found status of midfield goal machine. The former Boro boss’s mentor showed how to bore out a goal-less draw against the Sky Blues on Thursday evening in the Manchester stalemate – with any luck we may still find them sleeping and hope that they get out on the wrong side of the bed when they shuffle up to the Riverside on Sunday.
My money will be on 4-3-3 this weekend but a less-than-match-fit back-four of Fabio-Chambers-Gibson-Friend may struggle against their movement even with the three-man defensive shield of Clayton, Forshaw and de Roon – a front three of Downing, Negredo and Adama sounds most likely given how ineffective Stuani was and how unpalatable an immediate return of Gaston would go down.
So will Boro be transported to a parallel universe where winning becomes the norm or will the prospect of two victories in week be a bridge too far? As usual it’s time for your predictions on line-up, score and scorers – plus will Ramirez break the sound barrier on his sudden return to the Riverside after Woody forgot to cut the bungee rope after his earlier launch from the Transporter Bridge?
Fine piece of writing again, Werder!
I thought for a mo that the figure on a string underneath the Transporter was the Angel of the North left behind by disgruntled Mackems after the derby defeat of the century – the Barcodes regularly gifted the Mackems six points a season. Now it looks like they have passed on the favour to us but to no avail , as both teams appear doomed.
Game against city will turn out to be a 1-0 er to the Citi or a troublsome 4-0 if Aggers tries to go for it. 4-0 to the Citi that is unless a miracle of the same proportions as Jeremy Corbyn getting elected PM occurs – you never know!
Life, ain’t it great!!!!!
Thanks Spartak – actually that’s probably a good way of looking at our relative points tally – Boro are basically six ahead of Sunderland primarily thanks to them gifting us them in our encounters. So we’ve been just slightly less bad than they are.
There is little Angew Karanka can do. The die was cast in January with a sulking Ramirez leaving the building and no suitable incoming. You could say the die was cast way back in August.
It will be 433 but the front three are not Pedro, Cost and Hazard or Song, Kane and Eriksen or Aguero, Sliva and Jesus though the later would be useful in the treatment room.
I think we have to keep it tight at the back and not drop too deep to let them scrap and battle in our 18 yard box as with their skills and fleet of foot movement they will almost certainly score. Keep them pushed back with a scrappy bruising battle in the middle of the park also gives de Roon the chance to get up field to support Negredo.
Presumably Traore will be given a start and hopefully with a rocket up his Jacksy to ensure he remains focussed and not star gazing. Maybe Fischer would be a better more intelligent option if Bamford is deemed a waste of £6m (or whatever the fudged figure was).
Are we going to just let Ramirez dangle ?
Or are we just going to string him up?
Just a quick post off to see Gary Kemp he of Spandeau Ballet fame so I think our futures Gold always believe in Gold
I remember a team going away to a club going for the premiership title and what seemed an impossible task, having only one shot on target and winning 3 – 0.
If it’s in the stars, the impossible can happen,
We should all light a candle on Sunday morning, ten city players will come down with a dose of narcolepsy and we will beat them 1 – 0.
UTB
GT,
Only 1 – 0 and they have ten down with narcolepsy? That would really show what rubbish Boro are. Which position is the one awake? No doubt it would be a penalty!
UTB,
John
Surely Agnew cannot be contemplating picking Ramirez again this season. He should never play for the Boro again and should be sent on gardening leave (or whatever leave is the equivalent in Uruguay) prior to having his contract terminated for gross misconduct.
Or has Agnew maybe been told to play him so that he retains at least some value in the transfer market, although why any club would want him after his recent non-performances and tantrums is beyond me.
If Ramirez is selected again this season it demonstrates without any doubt that the lunatics are running the asylum and it is time for the people in white coats to turn up and take them all away.
As for the game on Sunday, I think City will win 3-0..
Boroexile,
I posted earlier in the week that he must in breach of contract, hell managers go just like that (well not at Boro) and should not play against city. Personally with his watertight contract I put some stocks up outside the riverside and put him in them every game until his contract is finished. On the other hand he is the only player that deserves that awful gastric band shirt, he should wear it in the stocks.
I reckon in Uruguay it’s probably Pampas Hoeing.
Now to stock my behind the couch bar, ear defenders so I can’t hear, check. lightbulb removed, check. Ear plugs to make sure I can’t hear Geordie wife telling me the score (belt & braces there), check. Etc., etc.
UTB,
John
Pampas hoeing – yes, has a nice ring to it.
Working out equivalents to gardening leave has endless possibilities. In Wales, leek tending. In Scotland, Sturgeon fishing. In Ireland, potato picking. In France, onion barging. In Germany, sour Krauting.
More suggestion welcome!!
Beach combing
With Silva back, the big risk is Silva and De Bruyne combining to feed Sterling and Sane to get round the sides of our defence. We’ll have to pack midfield to try and cut off the supply and also try to make them play through the middle. It’s a tall order and I don’t see how we can win by defending. I wouldn’t start with Traore but instead hope for 0-0 at half time and then look to move forward.
There is no way that Ramirez should play.
UTB
Morning paper says Pulis is baulking at a possible price of £30m for Gibson, Pulis wants the club managed properly.
The article does say the £30m is in line with similar talents.
Watched Dom and Phil talking about Agnew and Gaston. The view was that once let down Agnew needs convincing to trust players again. We may well have seen the last of Gaston this season and probably permanently.
This is interesting because it seems Agnew has a naughty step, I will let you in to a secret, I suspect all mangers have a naughty step.
Until it comes down to money.
Great article again Werdermouth. I hope you strung him up by the proverbials.
I too agree that Ramirez should not be allowed to play for us again and the sooner we can get rid, and save on what are no doubt significant wages, the better.
We need to win but can’t go gung ho or city are likely to give us a walloping. Need to pack midfield and defend high up the pitch and support Negredo as much as possible in the hope we can nick one. No harm in going for it in the last 20 mins if we are still level or earlier if we are behind.
Can’t really believe we can beat them given what was served up earlier in the week and have gone for a city win in the Exmil challenge.
The typical boro scenario will be that both Swansea and Hull lose and we fail to take advantage again.
CoB blow another hole in my Emil predictions!
City desperately need to go for a win to keep in a Champions League spot. They will be as desperate for the points as we are so they will go for the jugular as they will see this game as nailed on 3 points.
We need to get at them from the start, rattle, them, clatter them, knock them off their stride and then watch the petty gamesmanship from them as they lose control. For that reason we need to start with a credible outlet up front of which Negredo is only half of it and Gestede is most definitely not the other half. We are playing probably the most skilful side in the Premiership, this is not a game for Gestede, quick, fast, slick players will toast the lumbering lump.
Traore (though it pains me), Fischer or Bamford are better options. Keep Gestede on the bench for the last 15 minutes if needs to to start launching desperate route 1 balls into the box.
Much appreciated KP, well it’s only fair since Gaston has been stringing us along too – BTW I think my Exmil predictions have more holes than Blackburn, Lancashire
RR
Ref. Last post (now there’s a hint as our season culminates in glory -not!), previous thread.
Money down the toilet or up in smoke?
It’s a perenial problem for those endowed with cash to burn. Who can you trust, Bernie Maydoff? There are soooo many sharks in the water just waitin to take a large free bite. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that SG is more than a little concerned that the wealth isn’t purloined by stealth by the untrustworthy. Hence, surround yourself with those you know.
Problems, problems, problems!
I think SG must have concerns that he has been royally stitched up regarding player acquisitions of late. The fees allegedly spent are ludicrous if remotely accurate. If not then he has surrounded himself with clueless fools, not sure which is the worse scenario.
Must agree…what I find hard to understand is quite how the chairman, a successful businessman, could preside over such a clusterfk. Seems to me he has been bewitched by the execrable Kenyon, whose advice is worth the ✔️FA…and that’s not the Football Association…
It’s a bit of a closed loop in a similar way to the way top executives are on the panels that set the pay of other top executives. The longer you have been paddling in the gravy boat the more easily you accept the concept of the ‘going rate’ as everyone expects their slice of the action with a bigger slice obtained from an ever-increasing size of cake.
Great article once again, Werder. I hope we have seen the last of Gaston too. Enough is enough and whatever happens, he surely won’t be here next season anyway.
City like to start their wide players on the touch lines and spread the play as wide as possible, creating space centrally for Silva/De Bruyne and Aguero.
We’ve tried most formations this season, I see have done so under Agnew, so I’ll go for a 5-4-1 to try and ensure we don’t get pulled to wide with a back four.
We’ll need some pace in the side to counter but Traore can’t be trusted so maybe give Fischer a try or play Fabio as a winger.
Thanks Andy, it’s certainly going to be tough defensively and neither Chambers or Friend look up to speed at the moment, plus Fabio got muscled out occasionally against Sunderland – five at the back would probably mean Bernado or even Barragan playing in the three as Ayala appears to be injured. Agnew seemed to hint that perhaps Fischer will get a game – though I was a bit shocked when it was reported he’s not actually played this year.
Barragan arguably had his best games at centre back at the start of the season. I’m more comfortable with him there than at right back!
Another option is a 3-5-2 of sorts with Downing central behind Negredo and Bamford. I’d like to see that but suspect it might be an attacking player too many against City.
That said, does it really matter? Maybe we should just try to score and give Bamford some game time ahead of next season. Tomorrow’s result it unlikely to make much difference to our season.
The chances of Boro getting out of this predicament are minimal. Would a fully motivated Ramirez playing at the top of his game increase those chances? I think so.
In that case, do we go for it, bite the bullet and give the player another chance at the end of his ban?
What is the prospect of avoiding relegation? Bearing in mind our position, the fact we would have to turn the only victory in 4 months (a narrow one against the weakest team in the division) into a string of victories, and EVEN THEN we would need the competition to fail to pick up points: maybe 1 in 100 of staying up?
If we played Ramirez and he suddenly turned into a motivated, on form, player, then I guess that would double our chances of staying up. 1 in 50, anyone? Even if the team played brilliantly, consistently, we now rely on the failure of the other teams above us. So, in reality, even a fit, motivated and on-form Ramirez from now to the end of the season is not likely to affect the outcome for the club.
The problem is, after three months of sulking, leaving a trail of sucked dummies on the grass to track his lack of progress around various fields, you’d have to say that the prospect of Ramirez suddenly becoming the player he believes he is, is vanishingly small. That, in itself, is probably more than 1,000 to 1. And if he could suddenly turn it on now, when it is almost certainly too late, what has he been doing for the last half-season?
A quite talented footballer, Ramirez finds himself in a league where most of the players are talented, and many of them are much more talented than him. Let’s not think he is any great shakes. The thing is that REALLY good players also put the effort in, for 90 minutes plus every minute of injury time after that, until the final whistle blows. Good players strive to be better, and that doesn’t just happen by accident, but by a lot of hard work in training and by self-motivation. We can’t see what he might be doing in training (though we all remember the “Alves has been banging them in from all angles in training” and similar comments from club staff in the past, so such comments might be regarded suspiciously in any event) but we can all see the lack of hard work and the apparent lack of motivation to help the team, on the pitch in recent months.
Looking back at some of our former players, it would have been interesting to see how such as Souness or Pearson would have greeted Ramirez in the changing rooms at St Mary’s after the whistle had blown. I suspect words would have been spoken, they would not have been gentle, and there would have been no need for an interpreter.
I would be very disappointed if Ramirez wears the shirt again. It is difficult to have any respect for the man. I guess if he came onto the pitch, he would be booed by a significant proportion of the crowd. Maybe that would be a good thing, so he can’t fester in a self-delusion that he has done everything he could have done and the delusion that the supporters applaud him for that. Maybe the better option is to have him as an unused sub, rather like Bamford and Traore were in the Sunderland game. Ramirez could go out to the sidelines on his own, so it would be clear who the crowd was addressing in its vocal response to seeing him. He could perhaps be left to warm up for the full 90 minutes. He is, after all, being paid for it.
I don’t suppose for a second that Ramirez is ashamed of himself and his recent attitude and non-performances, but I guess his bank manager will be proud of him. Ramirez is no doubt well-insulated from the public, in his plush car and plush home and a bank balance and income that will put him in the world’s elite few. He is probably surrounded by many in the game who will pander to him, yes-men who will tell him what he wants to hear. It is not healthy. Ramirez is one of several symptoms of what is wrong with Premier League football.
Surely we deserve to see players striving for the club. Surely the rest of the team deserve to know that the chap next to them on the field is doing all that he can, that the team is “in it together”? It’s not a question of ability. How must Ben Gibson, Leadbitter and Clayton feel about it all?
It would be much better is Ramirez doesn’t play for the club again.
Dormo….you either have the skill or not. However you can train longer, try harder, give your all. You may be having a bad game, it happens, but you should ALWAYS be trying your best.
Yes, exactly. Ramirez has shown disrespect for the club, his team mates and the fans. He should be sacked.
Brilliantly put – if I could give more than one like for this comment then I would 🙂
When will our fate be sealed? We still have a theoretical chance of staying up. I would describe it more as a mathematical chance, as it’s not going to happen.
We can’t go down today or tomorrow, even if Swansea and Hull both win and we lose. A more likely scenario is that all 3 teams lose this weekend which leaves us 6 points behind with 3 to play. If Hull then beat Sunderland it leaves us needing a win at Chelsea to keep the mathematical chance alive. That should be that, down with 2 games left to play.
Although I’m sure Boro will find some way to prolong the agony …
I don’t understand how I could have “liked” my comment above. I thought I was “liking” a previous comment. Fat fingers on the keyboard again.
If you want to retain your modesty, I believe clicking on like again will remove your original like – it’s a toggle thingy in tech speak…
Good post BTW!
Thanks, Werder. And thanks for the tip. So THAT’S what people mean by toggling!
Steve H
Boro usually find a way to put us through agony prior to ultimate disappointment or success (see: last season).
I would like it to be mathematically over as soon as possible and start the planning for next season.
If we somehow took it to the wire, then it might be perceived that Agnew and co should stay because we just missed out.
Am I being harsh on them but I just feel we need a clean sweep?
As regards Ramirez, I don’t want him to play again. Agree with Forever that he is talented but has sold himself short with his petulance. Again, as Forever says, top players are not just talented but they also work hard. Over the years, many talented players have failed for this reason. You can’t rest on your laurels, you’ve got to keep striving for improvement.
Nice article Werder, thanks for the time and effort piecing it together.
I have got to agree with the previous posters that Ramirez should not be considered under any circumstances to play again for the Boro, full stop.
In reality we should not of been surprised at the way it has gone with him, petulance, feigning injury when tackled (well apart from against Brighton) and never consistently up for it. probably his history said it all if looked at deep enough.
However the majority were happy to sign him, me included. And in January if we had been successful with one of AK´s preferred targets instead of the wasted 15mil+ signings, then probably he would have joined Leicester for a decent fee. As it is now, we may be lucky to get shot of him on a free to off load his wages. See Southampton.
Tomorrow, I think City will just have far too much even if we turn up and play well. SA will probably turn to an AK set up and try and frustrate them. But if they score early it could well be a rout as the heads look to the sky.
Still think that Bamford should be given a chance,preferably alongside Negrado. He alone has at least some pace to play off him.
Thanks Pedro, two games in a week can be tricky regarding time. It’s all the more irritating regarding Ramirez as we know what he’s capable of – though we also know he’s prone to petulance on the pitch and always looked like a red card waiting to happen. The club certainly painted themselves into a corner by deciding to keep him – though at the time Leicester under Ranieri were in free fall and Boro looked more likely to finish above them so I can understand the decision not to sell – another lesson to add to that ‘lessons learned’ book that Boro are currently compiling.
Looks like MOTD is shaping up to be a real treat this evening – one hour gone and only one goals so far. Also looks like I’m going to miss the Boro game tomorrow as since it’s going to be decent weather over here tomorrow, Mrs Werder is keen on a family day out. I was just about to take a stand and argue my case when I realised that I had no supporting evidence to suggest that by staying at home and watching the game it would amount to enjoyment…
I will be at work and there is no justifiaction for sneaking off. Highlights will do – where will we get 7 points from? I’m afraid its over….
Yeah, same here Werder. We’re off to Straßburg. Though I have noticed they have a few irish pubs there…
You could argue that we are the antithesis of fair weather Boro supporters…
Not really , if we were in Teesside – or in UK even I would be there.
OK- Just got the pun – sorry , good one.
So seven points behind Hull with a game in hand and three games left after tomorrow.
Things nearly got better when the Saints got a penalty late on, then the spot kick was saved. Then things nearly got worse as Hull nearly scored very, very late on.
Our neighbours went down and now we approach the Citeh game with little expectation but will Gilly’s points from unexpected sources prevail.
I would put Gary’s money on it rather than mine. there again as a highly successful member of our renowned recruitment team he can afford it.
If you consider that Hull’s next home game is against a relegated Sunderland then realistically Boro now need a minimum of three wins and a draw from their remaining games – which given we’ve got both Chelsea and Liverpool away – means City is essentially a must win. With Burnley winning it also means four wins are now needed to catch anyone above Hull.
OK that was the basic maths – the probability is Boro have a very small chance indeed of escaping the drop.
All ifs buts & mayby’s for us on this blog for the last 3 months at least. We’re hanging in by the skin of our teeth but the Mackems are down. Good luck to them next season, yeh ?
I would suggest we are not over effusive in our thanks to Werder for his work, we don’t know who might be looking in, MFC, Gazette or even more worrying Mrs Werder. This could have a serious impact on the ‘bit’ of work Werder is doing not that the likes of OFDB or myself could not accomplish the same outcome, guffaw!
Discrete cough! Say no more. Wink. wink!
We are lucky we have Werder Redcar Red and SI’s Insights for our articles
This has been a great blog and now we have our first win we are really up and running
OFB
The same goes for RR and Simon, we have to be careful in our praise, those without the Boro virus just don’t get it so we have to be circumspect.
Ian
I was circumspect in James Cook Hospital 2 weeks ago !
Fat Bob
Circumspect. The unkindest cut of all!
OFB
In the words of Kenneth Williams – ooh matron!
For all those wondering if that excellent match analyst Peter Beagrie will be running a rule over the Boro tomorrow?
I don’t think so…
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3445109/sky-sports-peter-beagrie-domestic-abuse-court/
Tongue in cheek for excellent!
A highly respected local independent councillor met SG last week , who told him this season has been an utter shambles. Think we all agree on that.
Yet the shambles was predictable very early on despite a league position bolstered more by poor performing clubs elsewhere rather than our own ability. Huge opportunity squandered and unnecessarily in my book because I still believe there are four or five teams “worse” than us on paper.
The progress of Hull from starting the season with only 13 first team players compared to our false complacency based upon boring and drawing our way to “safety” frustrates the heck out of me. Maybe if SG paid more attention to what is said on here rather then the sycophantic “professionals” he surrounded himself with along with media spin MFC wouldn’t be in this position.
I could always send him a copy of my spread sheet – it never lies…….:(
After the breaking of bread (and a sip or two perhaps of fermented red grape) we gather this Sunday by the side of the River hoping to see a miracle. It’s entirely likely we will see Jesus at some point but praying that Bravo, Stones and Silva’s afflictions will last at least another 24 hours. If there is a supreme being then surely today would be a very good day indeed for some divine intervention (and retribution) for Aguero’s mid-week theatrical disgrace.
If Stones is out then Otamendi will likely partner Kompany at the back, if so who will step up to do a “Lee Tomlin” back pocket impersonation? Bacary Sagna is apparently fit again but after 5 weeks out he would surely be a tad rusty hopefully? Who will Aggers select, surely not Stuani wide right again so will that leave a space for Traore or Bamford and what tactics will he deploy, 442, 352, 4321?
City desperately need to win this as much as we do so expect two up top. If anything we are pretty much resigned to our fate but failure to qualify for the Champions League as a minimum will see Guardiola sacked for certain with a few “Stars” following him out of the door. I would suggest more pressure on them than us.
For me it has that “after the Lord Mayor’s show” feeling and the most I’m expecting is to see Agnew desperately trying to submit a late addendum to his CV at best. I doubt a win will ultimately make any difference to our fate and just prolong the agony but as Brighton found out last night Football doesn’t always go the way you planned it.
I think we all know that the Boro will be relegated, but if we are to get promoted next season we will need 20+ goals from Bamford and goals from midfield. If we can keep De Roon could he be the Frank Lampard of the Championship?
Redcar Red
Hull also brought in an experienced coach followed by some very good buys in January.
Our January wing targets had a distinctly blinkered Spanish flavour and we failed to land any of them. Hull picked up Polish International Kamil Grosicki from French club Rennes for an undisclosed fee on deadline day. It makes you wonder and question yet again the recruitment and scouting capabilities at the club about where and who they were looking.
Hull were and still are a basket case of a club yet despite the head start we had Boro still managed to implode, underwhelm and underperform on so many levels in comparison it beggars belief. The appointment of Marco Silva until the end of the Season was of course their best signing.
It would be nice to hope SG could maybe entice him to the Riverside come the Summer when his Hull agreement ends but I doubt it very much.
Roberto Snodhierba?
At the ground today and the latest rumour is that Gibson has sold to a North American Sporting Conglomerate and they will appoint Juergen Klinsmann as manager
Well I hope that is only a rumour OFB, about Klinsmann I mean.
That’z a BIG FAT ‘WOW!’ from me if it’s true OFB.
Back to the game.
Heard the same rumour although minus the Klinsmann bit. My take on it is that I would be surprised if a major deal like that would “leak” out but hey if someone had told me Jan 1st that we would have let Rhodes go and spent £16m on Guedioura, Gestede and Bamford I would have fallen of my chair wetting myself laughing.
Safety first from Agnew then, with the underperforming Stuani ahead a Bamford. Looks like we would have to have a few more injuries before he will get on the pitch from the off.
Good to see that Ramirez is not in the match day squad. I hope it stays that way until he is shipped out.
But why oh why is Stuani selected to start?
AHHHHHHH GGOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!
🙂
Blow the final whistle for goodness sake!
Boro road their look just a little in the first twenty minutes, but then started to come into it with some very good break outs….. then SD finally puts in a reasonable cross resulting in an excellent swivel by Negrado…deserving.
Credit to the players, working their socks off against a very skillful City side.
Just checking that the blog is not broken as nobody has left a comment for over four hours – perhaps it’s just the spirit that has been broken – I Got back from my day out and checked the score and for a brief millisecond thought Boro had won when I read ‘Middlesbrough 2…’ – but for a dodgy penalty and a late leveler who know what could have been…
One of the most shocking dives ever, to fail to give a red card to the perpetrator was a failure of due care by the ref. To give a penalty was to make a fool of himself in public, surely that must be the end of his duties as a ref.
Basking in the glory of a otherwise unusually outstanding performance by the Boro, your hero and mine Spartakboro cannot but wonder how it came to be that we can go from the ridiculous to the sublime in a week?
Where and how did it all change, from cherry faced red embarrassment to true blue we love you Boro we do? Energy levels up – check! In yer faces dont give a yard – check! Men in the box when attacking – check! Not one but two goals scored – check!
Not sure about yer good selves, sportsfans, but I have to say that when all things are considered it’s motivation and the right attitude that makes the difference. Where was the source, the inspiration coming from? Where ever, why was it not found before?
A number of Boro devottees on this here site said our team was capable of so much more (no names mentioned) and so it seems to be the case.
The season – what a wasted opportunity!
Spartak…my sentiments entirely.
Werder, the lack of posts (I too thought there may be a malfunction) I think are down to the disbelief that a team, basically the same team, can go from garbage to, well what superlative do you want to use, to something that would have avoided relegation…..with room to spare.
Bloggers must be hiding in corners, faces to wall, thinking of what could have been.
I await with bated breath RR’s take on the match. He will be distraught at that performance one would think?
A wasted opportunity indeed.
Wow. We could, no should have won that. Deserved to win it indeed.
Unfortunately, it probably means that’s it for our PL dreams, Hull have an easier run in and unless Sunderland do us a favour (and we get some unexpected wins) then we are down. It would be great to overhaul Swansea, but it would probably further frustrate us at what could have been.
Still don’t want Agnew in charge next season though. David Wagner for me.
Well after a few beers to calm down Redcar Red has just filed his match report from apparently Boro’s best display of the season – which typically I was persuaded to skip in order to enjoy a family day out – the sacrifices I make for the Boro cause…
https://diasboro.club/2017/04/30/boro-v-man-city-match-report/
Whatever happened to Guediora?
Sounds like an Agatha Christie mystery!
Agatha Christie, sign her (him) up right now, can’t be any worse than the previous dross.
A guaranteed continuity of Tails of the Unexpected.