Champions League tantalisation via the excitement of a Premiership ménage à trois with Arsenal and Man City ensured high stakes for Liverpool but Chambers aside Boro really couldn’t give a stuff. Any away terrace talk was focused on AK’s Sky interview and bookie inspired speculation on the next Boro manager. So the scene was set for an anxious afternoon in the Kop whilst listening to other scores coming in and a deckchair mind-set for those who “honoured” their purchased away ticket making the trip across the M62.
Who would start and what formation had been a declining topic since the Man City robbery which effectively finished our survival hopes. The only item of discussion would be if Aggers decided to use the game as an opportunity to give game time to loyal squad players or go all Karankesque and put up a closed sign on the Middlesbrough goalmouth. As it was it was a bit of a mixture, when the line-up was announced there were a few raised eyebrows at the omissions of Negredo and de Roon, still no sign of Valdes and Gaston but surprisingly Traore wasn’t even on the bench.
In the ninth minute news started to filter through that both City and Arsenal had taken the lead in their respective games. The pressure upped a little bit on the Kop who were also unaccustomed to see their side attacking them in the first half. Boro as predicted had started off with a defence not much further forward than the Kop itself with our midfield only a row or two in front. The nearest early attacking “activity” that Boro offered were a few isolated Gestede pogo style headers that went straight up off his head to nowhere and no one.
A high upfield ball saw Bamford take it down and turn brilliantly only for Milner to “accidentally” get his legs fortuitously entangled with Paddy’s, leading to a Boro free kick 25 yards out which Downing struck only for the wall to do its job. Seconds earlier Gibson had done well to block Wijnaldum in the Boro box. Defensively Boro were looking very Karanka inspired with a backs to the wall resolute display. Then on 21 minutes Gestede glanced a header through to Forshaw who chipped it over the head of Lovren for Paddy to leave him in his wake but he was hauled back by the big Croat for a nailed on Penalty. As we have learnt this season Officials are seemingly under an unspoken direction to only give advantages and Penalties to the top six and incredibly neither Martin Atkinson or his assistant could see what everyone else could plainly see.
Boro were still under pressure but were now getting themselves a little more into the game with Gestede deflecting a header wide of the far post a minute or so later after the Penalty appeal. So Boro should have had a Penalty and Liverpool down to ten men but elsewhere Arsenal had gone down to ten men but were still 1-0 up and City had made it 2-0 against the Hornets.
The atmosphere inside Anfield was getting decidedly edgy made worse by the news that Arsenal had actually manged to get a second against Everton despite being a man light. As things stood a draw meant that Liverpool wouldn’t be in the Champions League and everyone knew it! Whistles and jeers greeted Guzan every time he delayed releasing the ball with an inevitable kick that would go straight out of play. Taunts of “Championship you’re having a laugh” was replied with “Champions League you’re having a laugh” by the Boro faithful as news filtered through that City had now gone three up at Watford.
Boro had weathered the storm and were starting to create a little more in midfield and Bamford continued to cause problems in and around the Liverpool box just as Watford had now conceded a fourth to City. Friend danced clumsily into the Liverpool box causing a desperate nervous clearance leading to Boro’s first corner which wasn’t exactly something to talk about as the opportunity was wasted. In the sole minute of added time Firmino put Wijnaldum through in a slick one two (as oppose to Boro’s one, three touches, pause, ponder and pick out a predictable easily read two) and blasted past a suspect Guzan at his near post. Hugely frustrating for Boro who looked to be holding on but huge relief for Liverpool who were now back into the Champions League.
The second half started, the atmosphere still tense with half time analysis concluding what Boro fans already knew, unfashionable sides don’t get Premiership decisions. Then on 50 minutes a 30 yard Coutinho free kick cleared the poorly assembled Boro defensive wall and sailed past Guzan. Can you imagine the outrage and despair had Boro actually gone 1-0 up and Liverpool down to 10 men in the first half? Not that it mattered much to Boro but I’m sure Arsenal will struggle to see the irony in it with game effectively over.
The second goal initiated the pressure relief valve and suddenly the Kop found their voices. Boro’s defensive rearguard had been holed below the waterline and so the need to keep nine men back became irrelevant. Another poor Boro corner kick led to a Liverpool breakaway attack (that means charging forwards with supporting players instead of sideways and backwards) and Lallana putting the game beyond reach with Liverpool’s third. Almost immediately after a speculative Friend long ball saw Gestede flick on to Forshaw who was clean through but Mignolet got a touch. Yet another garbage Boro corner which this time sailed over the box led to another Liverpool breakaway which this time saw Guzan get his fingertips to it.
Thirty minutes to go and City had now gone five up and if Boro weren’t careful a similar scoreline would be replicated at Anfield. A characteristic series of possession sideways and backwards midfield passing saw us play ourselves into trouble, consequently Firmino just had the ball nicked from his toes by Grant on the Penalty spot as Liverpool were now enjoying 70% possession and Boro devoid of ideas. A once defiant start had now become a sorry site with passes going awry and communication between our midfield and defence looking shaky with Guzan seemingly even more detached from his back four exaggerated with shouts of “shoot” every time a Liverpool player was in possession.
On 72 minutes a characteristic pointless double Boro substitution seen Fabio (who had had another questionable game) come off with Ayala taking his place and Gestede off for the Beast. Chambers moved into Fabio’s position on the right with Ayala slotting alongside Ben and almost immediately scored with a 40 yard cross come lob from the Arsenal loanee which rattled the Liverpool crossbar. With ten to go the pace had dipped and it was all a mere formality then Negredo who had looked understandably forlorn since entering swivelled and dinked a ball through for Forshaw who kept up his shooting accuracy and put his half chance wide.
With seconds remaining Forshaw managed to get another effort on target but like our season his attempt was scuffed with no impetus behind it and so it was to be the final disappointing Premiership effort from Boro. In terms of performances there were some very poor uninspiring ones today from Boro indeed some almost anonymous ones notably Downing and Clayton but on a positive (the only one) Bamford looked comfortable at this level and was easily MOM.
And so Boro now unspectacularly depart this League twelve points adrift of that coveted seventeenth place where the Bottom fourteen sides are effectively decorative collateral damage, pimped just to satisfy the lust of the few where cheating, gamesmanship and unwritten officiating seems to be the norm, roll on the Championship!
Indeed RR
Just a couple of points
Clayton took a knee in the leg from an advancing sideways ‘Pool’ player – consquence was foul given to ‘Pool’ – total nonsense of course
Their goal from the free kick was due to the gaps in our wall (I use the word tenuously) & The Great Guzon having a snooze before he decided to throw himself in the direction of the ball which had already passed him.
George the ‘dancing bear!’ I loved it and if only Paddy Bam Bam had struck it a nano second earlier it would have been a great goal.
Stewy was anon on the left. What is he doing there? No impact, no pace, no tricks – waste of time. Stick him in the middle behind a front two or don’t bother. Once again 3 DM’s against a ‘Pool’ team who lacked confidence early on.
God’s teeth is it so hard to practise defence & attack? I can only believe De Roon has been sold already coz our 3 DM cavaliars are bereft of ideas to which they can turn to to supply some pressure.
Mind u it doesn’t help when the powers that be have already decided which team’s going to win before the ball’s been kicked.
Happy Days
Thoughts turn towards changes in MFC management and playing staff. As a lot of names have been thrown into the manager pot, I would like opinions on the following thought:
If Leicester bring in a new manager, do we think Craig Shakespeares would be a good candidate. I see Gary Monk is now sky bet favourite.
Come on BORO.
Glad to see that Steve Agnew made sure that Steve Gibson didn’t have a dilemma about deciding on bringing in a new manager.
2-0 down, nothing to lose and we are still terrified of ‘having a go’. He could have at least given the loyal fans something to shout about by throwing caution to the wind for the final 30mins.
Agnew reckons that he will be having ‘discussions’ with Steve Gibson in the next couple of weeks about his future.
Personally I hope that the new manager is named tomorrow to start the promotion rebuild.
I watched I wished I waited I wanted I wondered I wailed I wasted a part of my life and I walked to the wall and switched off the wake
Thank god that’s over.
Nigel, couldn’t agree more! Problem is that unless there is a total clear out of the old guard and a manager brought in who knows what he is doing it could be the same purgatory next season.
The more I think about it the more it has to be an experienced Manager. Knowing how to get out of the Championship is one thing and heaven knows that will be hard enough but the real task will be in dealing with what is left.
There are a few ego’s that need sorting as their worth is now sadly well below their own self valuations, “the untouchables”! Then there are the “left behinds”, the ones who missed the great Latin exodus. Next come “the recruited”, unwanted and unloved by so many.
Then we have the Ying and Yang of “the departees” a mixture of those once loved but we can no longer hang onto (and in the words of someone mushy somewhere “if you love someone you will sell them to the highest bidder”) and the spiritually impoverished “the dispossessed”, those that sold their souls along with their Cuban heels just after Christmas.
The biggest challenge of all will come in dealing with “the myopics”, those in towers of Ivory believing that their proverbial smells of roses and it just wasn’t their fault when in reality they are the root cause of probably the lowest win rate and goals scored in the history of MFC (does anyone know out of interest what that record actually is?).
Doesn’t sound like a job for a novice to me. Much as I shudder to say it but it puts the likes of Pearson and Pardew close to the very the top of my list.
Steve Gibson thinks he is a football guru,or he’s lost his mind,three seasons ago he sought some experience and help from outside,
That gave us Karanka and promotion,
He as now decided nor not for me, the gazzette boys ,some armchair fans,and moaning players know better.
So eleven games to go,let’s throw the manager out,upset his leuitenants, bring in different assistants, forget the advice he was given and what!
Get relagated!
PS.
Atkinson bottled it, if that had been the other way, penalty.
More later.
I think its much worse than simply “bottling it”, I think its becoming a case of “involuntary collusion”.
Some say it has intensified this season after an outsider penetrated the inner sanctum last season and ruined the party by winning the League. Those with the purse strings issued a directive to ensure it never happens again.
One point about our abysmal corners and free kicks
I though Fischers corners which he took las week were superb
Spartak
I had the same observation about De Roon. Forshaw runs a lot but doesn’t deliver and if De Roon had been in the same position for the three chances that Forshaw had, he would probably have scored two of them. I can only assume that his absence meant that he is gone but I hope I’m wrong.
Today’s game was just disappointing. Another twenty seconds and a draw at half tim and we might have seem Liverpool panicking. The penalty looked pretty certain and would, of course, have changed the game. Shame that we didn’t have a good referee like Michael Oliver who is relatively blind to which side is committing the offence.
Guzman is a donkey, has no idea about free kicks and I remain disappointed that Dimi didn’t get a game. If he can sit on the bench, he can’t be injured.
Downing really delivered nothing. He plays as defensive cover and occasionally lobs forward to take a free kick or swing in a cross.
I didn’t understand the subs. Was Fabio injured? Otherwise, they could have started with Chamberscat right back. It made no sense.
Anyway, now we need to know about the new manager and his team and then we can see the club start to build. There are actually a fair number of good players and some excellent young talent but we need to start moving forward again with new blood at the helm. Friend, Gibson, Chambers, Clayton, Ayala and perhaps Ripley in goal would make a great Championship defence but looks unlikely.
Anyway, there has to be a psychological line drawn in the sand so that a new stronger club can emerge.
The fans deserve better.
UTB
Flew into UK on Saturday for a wedding next weekend to find
my son had got tickets for the game. The match passed me by. So little structure or game plan, just defend and lump it up to Gestede. The reason for writing was the fantastic atmosphere in the away end. It was worth the 12,000 mile journey just to be amongst people pouring their heart and soul into the club. I had forgotten what an adrenaline rush it is. Now the waiting begins, looking for the white smoke to appear from Rockliffe and what has to be the new manager announcement.
I like that – waiting for the white smoke… sounds like a good banner for a piece next week – white smoke or white flag..?
Yes I agree the away fans are great. Went to Derby v Boror some years back with my two small boys and they loved it – being part of the “hooligans” and using words their mum would have shot me for. Toe poke Ricard scored a cracker and Ziege scored a slide rule free kick. Great day out.
The morning paper shows we received £16.4m from live TV games, £3.8m for finishing 19th and £84.4m as our equal share of TV and commercial income. A grand total of £104.6m, that is more than Hull and Sunderland.
You can add the income generated by the club from it’s own gate money and commercial activities.
As football is entertainment that is grand larceny from the TV and robbery for the shirt.
We were certainly doorstepped with the shirt. Please give us a strip next season that says ‘BORO”. No more crap doodles converted to fabric.
UTB,
John
Just heard why the penalty wasn’t given. According to AV Bamford was told by the ref that he thought Bamford stopped running to allow the defender to run in to his back.
So, the attacker, in the box, goal side of the defender, with the ball in front of him and the goal at his mercy, stops running to try and get a penalty rather than shooting past the keeper.
Beggars belief. Anywhere on the pitch bundle the player over from behind and it is a free kick.
If the ref said it was a coming together he would have been wrong but in essence to blame Bamford for slowing down so the defender cleared him out is, er, odd.
Ian
Loathe as I am to criticise the honourable professions that are referees, I have to say I thought the man in black actually signalled the the players clashed because they were ‘crossing’ each other and thus it was purely accidental and therefore not a penalty. Given the defender had his hand on Bam Bam’s neck pushin him forward and over means nothing.
If I fail to give due space and consideration to the car infront if it stops abrupty, would I not be guilty of a traffic offence and docked points accordingly? Seems as though the big club bias is alive and kicking.
Spartak
I thought the same as you from the ref’s signals.
I was dropping Mrs G off and the dual carriage way was snarled up because someone had driven in to the back of a van. Police were interviewing the driver, I was half tempted to wind the window down and tell him to blame the van driver for stopping.
Like you, I was trained that if you run in to the back of somebody it is always your fault.
There does seem to be some big team decisions that go in their favour
As posted previously the ref thought Bamford slowed to let the defender run into him
Funnily enough at the time i thought the same thing. It must be a ref blind spot we suffer from!
Why would he slow down? Was he clever enough to go for the penalty? Or was he just slowing to shape and shoot?
It’s just a question of a referees judgement and the laws state quite clearly “in the opinion of the referee…”
Personally I think big club mentality gives top 6 a big advantage
I see Gary Monk has been installed as the major contender to take over at Boro Leeds fans pretty upset at that.
I missed the first half-hour but thought it was an odd team selection unless it was an attempt to see how Boro fared without de Roon and Negredo. Agnew seemed quite upset to concede the first goal – it was almost as if he thought a decent result would give him a case to continue.
On MOTD it was deemed we should have had a penalty and they should have been down to ten men so would have made it interesting (in the academic sense of the word).
Unfortunately the failure of Boro to score means we’ve lowered the bar for the lowest scorers in PL history – so I do worry whether Bamford and Gestede are to be the plan for next season.
As far as Agnew is concerned, Steve Gibson doesn’t have to weigh up whether he thinks he could do the job but need only ask himself the question of whether the interim head coach is the best candidate for the task next season – so it should be a simple decision.
In the meantime we wait for news – clearly a new face is needed to shake things up – I’m also not convinced that we have a dynamic enough central midfield to build upon – the danger is Boro continue in a similar style next season and do enough but will go up without the root problems being resolved.
See, this is what happens when a rudderless Boro, drained of confidence and momentum, walk out on the pitch.
For all the negatives that come with cult managers, they do fill you with belief and move you in the right direction. Albeit for only a limited time.
Werdermouth, at the present moment IMHO I, not only, don’t think we will make the playoffs but we will be in another relegation battle, team ran by “some of our own”.
Come on BORO.
No I don’t think so Gibson isn’t that stupid surely?
If the players cant play for those fans then they cant be professional. That’s why Karanka upset them and it was the beginning of the end when he criticised them
I didn’t watch the game live as I was watching Magic Weekend from St James’ Park. What a great concept that is with fans from other teams mingling with each other, and the applause from everyone (well maybe not from Rhinos fans) when the most outrageous backwood flick from Michael Shelton to his winger produced the third Castleford try was great to witness. Of course, it would never happen in football!
Anyway, I did watch Boro’s match later in full and have to acknowledge it did have a good atmosphere. But where do we go from here?
The thrashing yesterday of the three relegated teams does show what a wide gulf there is between the Championship and the Premier League and that is likely to widen next season.
Boro’ may have a core of players good enough for a promotion bid next season, and provide some excitement to match what I witnessed at Magic Weekend, and with a good manager and some wise recruitment should “smash” the league.
However, in my opinion on what I saw yesterday (and most of the season), only Gibson and Chambers are Premier League players and we’re likely to lose at least one of them,
Even if we get promoted next season it is going to take a massive influx of players next year to make us competitive in the Premier League. What I don’t want is a repetition of a season like the one we have just seen.
The last breath of the season or was it a death rattle? Praise to those supporters who travelled to Liverpool too.
Now the waiting begins, not only for the fans but a lot of players too, wouldn’t it be great if some thought they could/should stay on lower wages just prove that they can do it and get us back up there again. I’m sad Dimi didn’t get one single game and I’m not convinced that those brought in at great expense were or are any better. Are Valdes and Guzman gone now?
I hope and pray that the new manager assess our assets in the U23s thoroughly and properly and gives them a chance if he thinks they are good enough.
Right, time to turn on the optimism drip for next season. Optimism IV now on.
UTB,
John
Something clearly wasn’t right with Valdes whether it be rumours of a training ground spat or sore ribs. My concern is why he was ever brought to the club in the first place, if ever there was a misfit that was it. He may have arrived cheap but I bet his wages alone could have provided a creative Midfielder.
I had the same opinion of Negredo initially but have to say that I have nothing but respect for him as he battled in vain alone ostracised by puerile tactics all season yet defended corners with gusto and even tracked back to pick up extra runners. Big wages yes, big ego definitely not.
Ramirez needs no comment. We all clamoured for Ramirez the player but none of us knew Ramirez the man, the club after employing him did and should have been wary especially with his “previous”. Valdes just wasn’t physically suited to the Premiership and what value did he bring other than reputation? He improved over time but at a huge cost in both Sterling and Points. Negredo I like but why bring him in when the squads skill set was in complete contrast to his? A striker needs service and AK’s squad and set up didn’t and never was going to provide it.
The squad was a strong Championship squad that was reasonably well balanced. The only exception in the Championship was Stewy and its questionable now with hindsight if that was a success. We ended up with our core Championship side with a few journeymen added to it with little additional quality or ability but upsetting the balance. Throw in a few of Villa’s worst and the whole backroom atmosphere must have been unrecognisable from last May.
Many years ago I worked for an astute Director who I initially thought was a royal pain but over time I learnt that he knew exactly what he was doing. Every time someone suggested or put forward something he only asked one question “why would you want to do it”?
In doing so it was like peeling back layers of an Onion every stage asking “yes I get that but why would we want to do it”? It was draining but by the time we got to the end the answer was patently obvious and sometimes we did go ahead with the idea but many times the cons outweighed the pro’s and the original contributor would inevitably say at some point in the proceedings “Hmm, I don’t think this is going to work”.
It was brilliant, nobody was humiliated or knocked back just a logical in depth discussion prompted by one repeated statement at each stage meant that people had explored, learned, developed and felt that they had not only been listened to but also made the decision themselves not to go ahead. Needless to say the quality of suggestions improved ten fold as people asked themselves “why” before proposing.
My point in this is that there seems to be a lack of experienced Management (I’m not talking Football on the pitch directly) in the club. A wise old sage to develop others around them and ask the open question “Why”. Its a damn site cheaper long term and removes the emotional aspect from kits to superstars and hopefully even management selection.
Exmil –
I agree that it doesn’t look like we have anything approaching a core of a team that’s going to win promotion – any team that only managed one win since mid-December is not going make a significant dent on the league – let alone smash it.
If the club think our disparate bunch of projects, discontents and under-performers are suddenly going to gel with new leadership and a few additions – then they will start next season with too much to do.
Unlike Newcastle did last season, we will not be relegated with any kind of momentum having had Rafa already addressing their issues – plus Boro will not be going down with PL-level players in their squad.
It’s a much bigger job than pretending Boro will resume with the core of their promotion-winning squad and use our parachute payments to add a bit of flair and pace.
Without Negredo, de Roon, Chambers and possibly Gibson – plus the former catalyst of Gaston and a decent keeper – you are left with a very ordinary looking side that no longer has the team spirit it once had either.
Perhaps Villa is a better comparison to where we are currently at.
I just remembered a comment by Steve Gibson post the Southampton match, he said something along the lines we needed to bring in a couple of pacey, flair players. Just so he is in no doubt we needed the same last summer and in January.
When people were shouting for Aitors head my belief was that the problem was deeper than a control freak at helm. The squad wasn’t strong enough back in September, it certainly didn’t improve in January.
Gaston disappearing just made things worse. Like many I chuntered about AK playing Traore on the flank near him so he could instruct him during the game, I think I owe AK an apology over that one. Aggers has come up with one solution about what to do with Adama, it is the same one Villa adopted.
Once Aitor rightly left the club, the expected bounce was a dull thud as realisation hit home, we had the pace and guile of congealed tapioca pudding.
Aitor knew that, Steve Gibson apparently knew that and if he didn’t he does now.
Interesting comments from Ian & RR
Fundamentally we’ve lacked footballing nous among the executive for a very long time. Stewards & apparatchiks, yes, but football brains, no!
We’ve have of course interference, meddling and agent provocateurs in abundance but strangely that ain’t helped. So that brings me back to the question who on earth would agree to join such a ‘well managed’ club?
I certainly agree that the squad wasn’t strong enough, and like you had misgivings as to whether we would avoid relegation, especially when it took us five matches to win at home.against three of which “we were expected to win”.
Maybe I should have written “targeted to win”.
Thank you RR for your take on the match, and as you alluded to there were some very poor performances.
Taking Werders post above, I also just cannot see how we can “smash the Championship” with the core of players we may retatain and add to. SG should have learnt by now to say as little as possible until business has been done. Thats a new Coach, backroom staff and some very good additions on the playing side.
I am not sure I am as possitive as RR in saying that the defence or should I say Bernardo, will be OK.
Guzan won’t be with us so that problem is solved, but we will need a new number 1, also assuming the injured Valdes???…is leaving. Fabio was all at sea yesterday and appears to have gone backover since getting the RB slot. George will be fine, but without Ben and Chambers?
As others have said the midfield just does not offer enough, even for the hurly burly of the Championship. The creativity is virtually non existent, and can Gestede and Bamford really get us the required number of goals.
As Werder says we will be starting from scratch. New Coach, new players, new system probably. It all takes time. Just look at Villa as Weder said, then add Norwich, Derby.
Continuity is key, and that is something we will not have.
I am staggered at the suggestion by Steve Agnew that he will meet SG some time this week or next to discuss the future. I would have thought today after the players have left, or at the very latest tomorrow would be appropriate. The clock is now ticking on a six-week break before the players return for next season, and the managerial situation needs to be resolved pronto (unless SG is set on Wagner and awaiting the outcome of the play-off final).
I am assuming that SG has realised that retaining Agnew in charge would be unjustified based on the poor results he has achieved so far, and that a strong manager with a proven track record is the appropriate way forward.
In that case, the man needs to be in place ASAP so that he can start influencing recruitment, and we can bring in players who will fit his style of play and preferred formation. Gary Monk did very well at Leeds and plays an attractive brand of football, if he is to be offered the job that’s fine by me, but SG needs to get on with it.
As a few of the guys posting above have said, I think analysis of the squad likely to be available after departures will show that we are way off having a promotion team without a major influx of new blood. The new manager has to direct that recruitment.
Well, that’s that then.
Some observations. Firstly, I hope the absence of De Roon is not because he is about to be sold, but instead that he had a minor strain or something and it wasn’t worth risking him. If we are to sell him I would want £18m or I wouldn’t bother. Why £18m? Well, I think it’s highly unlikely that we could replace De Roon for the Championship with a similar quality player, firstly because they may consider themselves at the PL level, not at our new, ahem, level, and secondly because the attributes required next season are, as we have seen to our cost, not the same as the ones required in the PL. So, selling De Roon now means we need to replace him twice – once for the Championship and if we get promoted again next season, again for the PL. I reckon we’d need at least £18m to be able to do that, otherwise, if the player is happy – why bother selling?
Second observation. The drips and noises coming out of the club paint a highly dysfunctional picture, where coaches don’t talk to the players (at least those ones out of the first team picture) and the rifts were never truly healed from Rotherham last season onwards. That is quite a shocking state of affairs, and if you want to level charges at SG, it is simply that he left the club in the hands of squabbling amateurs. As a Chairman, owner, whatever, it is remiss of you to leave a multi-million pound investment to slowly devalue because the wrong people are in the wrong positions. Why this wasn’t fixed sooner is bizarre.
To me it sounds like a few actions should have been taken last summer: clear out the trouble-causers from the previous season – whether that was AK himself or Downing/Woodgate (only one half of that dynamic duo was dealt with), and secondly to ensure that any additions or incomings were aligned with the direction of the club. Bringing in lots of new analysts is lovely, but if they have their own agendas, or can’t say the word “agenda” then you are in trouble. Likewise, buying players who do not fit your strategy or playing style is also a recipe for disaster.
I don’t know who should have left last summer, but I will be perfectly clear now in saying that SG needs to clear out Downing, Woodgate, Agnew and anyone else who thinks that they know what is best in terms of personnel or tactics. This season’s diabolical efforts should leave that lot under no illusion that they are not the Sainted Messiah’s – they are simply footballs very naughty boys.
As for the new manager? I’d be very happy with Monk, who seems to be on the up, but would also be happy with someone with more experience who doesn’t suffer fools. Crikey, I’d even be happy with getting Mick McCarthy in for 6 weeks over the summer to sort the wheat from the chaff and tell it like it is. Pity he’s otherwise engaged.
As for next season – we still have a relatively decent core, but we need to add a lot of pace and tenacity through the middle. And we might need 2 new goalkeepers, which considering the fact we signed 2 last summer would be an indication of a very poor recruitment strategy.
Smoggy
Good Post but I think the club should be cleared out even further as it is apparent that Neil Bausor has not done the job he is paid to do. He should have sorted out the recruitment department, reported back to Steve Gibson about the lack of communication between the coaches and players and the different sections and divisions in the club.
Any good chief executive knows whats going on in the organisation and if they don’t they should just hear the words.
“your’e fired!”
Absolutely OFB. Bausor hasn’t covered himself in glory and doesn’t seem to know when he’s been taken for a ride if some of the recent signings (and their fees) are anything to go by. The Kenyon link (mentor to a young Bausor?) makes sense in that respect, but it’s also a conduit to the murky-world of agent-led transactions. With the Pogba transfer under significant investigation, I’d want to be well-away from the “super agents” and their networks.
Aside from this, as Si says below – what did Bournemouth manage to do that we didn’t? And Burnley? I think Bournemouth managed to hold on to a very successful attacking style, and had a good goal keeper in good form to fall back on. Burnley, I would argue, were in the final season of a 4 season project – they kept a good core of players from Championship to PL and back again, and again, and added quality exactly where they felt they needed it. They also used a style suited to their personnel. Such Pulisian methodology gets results.
Boro meanwhile were soft. Not enough fighters and not enough nous for the league, nous which Burnley would have picked up last time out. I am no way in the Joey Barton fan club, but he doesn’t let the opposition boss him about. We missed Grant to do likewise, and despite Clayton performing a similar role last season he seemed to become much more cultured and less “hard” in this one.
Hello all.
What I think we need to ask is, what on earth did Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche do right that we didn’t? They recruited frequently, their starting line-ups changed, but they thrived and survived, Bournemouth twice over. I mean, promotion hero Matt Ritchie was sold – and is back up with Newcastle – while poor Callum Wilson is nearly forgotten about in a new goal King’s shadow.
It’s called transition. Something that happens at every single club. And you must wonder why we didn’t handle it well. At all.
Perhaps what we need as well as a manager is a director of Football because there seems to be a gap between football coaching and the strategy of the club
Perhaps someone like Roy Hodgson or Claudio Ranieri as an elder stateman?
Whilst I was unimpressed with the squad we approached the premiership with it was because of gaps that were not addressed.
Good recruitment will address those gaps for the Championship starting with the manager. My concern is if we adopt either the ‘everything Aitor did was wrong’ or old boys rule ok approaches then we are compounding any mistakes by all parties.
Fans are not daft, after Charltongate I opined the view that the fans may actually blame the players. I thought AK was a goner and had no way back but Gibbo soothed the unhappy bunnies.
As it was, the performance at Charlton was shocking and in the Gazette poll 80% backed AK.
I don’t think you would get the same result now but I do think many fans are aware it wasn’t just the Spanish Armada at fault. There are things to be sorted out within the club, you can sack a manager but you can’t sack 25 players, someone needs to look at the club and start the process sooner rather than later.
I don’t expect a statement in the gazette outlining everything that took place but internally they need to look at how we just imploded.
I have already nailed my colours to the mast about keeping de Roon, de Sart and Fischer all of whom would be starting their second season in English football and I firmly believe they all will blossom.
Goalkeepers, if Valdez is sold with Connor Ripley back and Dimi as number 3 we need another keeper.
Defence, if Ben is sold I would bring Fry into the first team squad, possibly retain Ayala, Baptiste, Espinosa, Fabio, Friend and maybe even Husband but we would need another quality CB, Chambers would be ideal if he would drop a division.
Midfield, as well as the 3 mentioned I would retain Clayton, Forshaw possibly Leadbitter then I would be looking to add 2/3 quality players.
Strikers, retain Bamford, not convinced about Gestede so would be looking for another (at least) 2 quality players.
Overall we need 6/7 players coming in and I won’t even bother naming who would go except Agnew, Woodgate and Downing. This of cause is my own honest opinion.
Come on BORO.
tHE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS FFP WE CANT SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY
I think we have money (parachute payments) and do not need to worry about FFP as long as we spend wisely. Not like Strachan – the requirements did not have much sell-on value.
I don’t know about the experience. It is good – of course – but there are other things to consider, too. I don’t want another ‘Arry or Strachan to mess about.
Any idea when shall we know the manager’s name? Please.
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
I believe it we to have been this week but seems to have been put back a bit
Whether or not that is due to managers in the playoffs or still discussing contracts like Monk (or Wenger !) remains to be seen
OFB
I was typing whilst you were posting so in some ways we have overlapped but you are correct someone oversaw the club, or rather didn’t.
It is all too easy for all this angst to suddenly appear, you cant cover it up within an organisation, it will be apparent to all within and wasn’t addressed.
It may not have been all that bad and some may well be useful for deflecting blame on to others.
I think some people can sniff trouble, unrest, disquiet or just plain bad atmosphere from a mile off then there are some that walk right through the middle of it and so long as their Armani suit doesn’t get creased and the car valeter doesn’t delay them everything is fine and dandy.
Confronting and dealing with something is a prerequisite in senior Management/Exec roles. It appears to me that Boro had too many less than ideal practices all going on at the same time to be just a coincidence, Player power, poor Recruitment, Coaching non-communication, naughty stepping senior Professionals, Charltongate and even that off the peg laughable supposed 18 month lead time Gastric band Pub Team shirt.
RR
Personal question
Do you have nightmares about THAT shirt in the wee hours? Do you wake up in a cold sweat screaming ‘Gastric band! Gastric band! Nnnooooooo!’
Just asking like
Lol
I do Spartak, the worst ever and nothing to with Boro. It is hideous, hopefully we’ve seen the last of it and the next one actually looks like a Boro shirt.
UTB,
John
I wonder what masterpiece design Ladgate Primary School will dream up for next seasons shirt?
OFB
I think AV talked about us putting around £50m on the pitch next season without too much FFP worry – the rules are less of a problem for relegated top flight teams.
We had £104m from the League plus our own income, that will more than cover last season. Sales, loans returning, parachute payments, own income for next season.
It is not the money, it is how we spend it that will matter.
Agree with all that Ian but would like to add that its not only “how we spend it” but who spends it.
Spartak
“That” shirt has to be the worst imaginable but made far worse by those within the Club being sold a lemon and not even realising it. Everything about it including pairing it with white shorts to the blue trim is horrendous made worse that the same standard catalogue item can be purchased for a little over a tenner.
When the likes of Motherwell or Hamilton Academicals just as two examples can find suitable shirts and a Premiership club can’t beggars belief. So in answer to your question, I struggle to get to sleep at night thinking about that shirt let alone have nightmares.
To me it symbolises absolutely everything about our season and when things started going pear shaped by sourcing on the cheap be it shirts or players. No doubt this years will be a cracker as apparently it had already been decided upon last Summer because of the long lead times in factories (shakes head in disbelief).
‘Do I not like that shirt!’ Lol
Henceforth it shall always be referred to as “that shirt” in certain circles!
There is not one player at this club, who I consider untouchable,any offer should be considered,
Some if possible should be gone without delay, even if we managed to go back up,it’s proven they are not good enough,and I’m saying the likes of, Fabio,Friend,Forshaw,Clayton,Downing, Gestede,Watford guy,Leadbitter
Harsh yes,but facts are facts,everyone I mentioned are poor with the ball,and panic when closed down,
Let’s see Mr Chairman,I don’t believe you?
GT
Looks like your wish has come true in part, except MFC website report it’s Chambers & Negredo out the door and returning to their original clubs – gulp!!!!
Easier to get rid than to bring in perhaps?
Maybees one or both may return next season but my runes ain’t confirming it for sure.
I’d agree with this. Everyone has a price, and although some of the players mentioned could do a good job in the Championship, such as Fabio, Friend, Clayton and Forshaw, there will be better players available.
We should have the resources to create a very strong squad, Let’s hope we do. And quickly.
I disagree. I think the worst thing we could do is make 8/9/10/11 changes on top of the manager and coaching staff.
I think we should onto every player that wants to stay and bring in 3/4 quality additions. I would like to think that any additional squad players we need can come from the academy (Ripley, Chapman etc).
The wages, too, have to be considered. Let me quote for you AV from September 5, 2012. When Scott McDonald was on the naughty step despite having the highest strike rate of any Boro player at the time…
“McDonald is well down the pecking order. And if it wasn’t for his wages it wouldn’t even be an issue…
“Ah yes, his wages. That thorny subject. While being the top earner (on c. £30,000 a week – Si) could be a compelling argument that he must play no matter what, finances could equally be a reason why he should not.
“Football wages are complex structures with layers of bonuses piled on top of the basic package. It may be that with appearance fees, win bonuses, goal bonuses and top ups triggered by Boro being in a certain position in the league, putting McDonald on the team sheet could cost more than the wages of several of the summer signings combined.
“That’s not his fault, of course. You can’t blame him for accepting the crazy wages handed out by the former management and endorsed by the club’s top brass, then convinced the Strachanovite project was a sure-fire short cut to the Premiership where such largesse could easily be offset. Boro thought the odds were stacked in their favour in the gamble.
“Yet neither can you blame the club for trying to change tack and repair the damage. After the unsuccessful Strachan splurge, applying rigorous cost control and cutting down bonus payments to a minimum makes sense, especially when they are being paid to player the manager has decided does not have a future in the squad.
“It has happened before: Gaizka Mendieta was side-lined and frozen out and wasn’t even given a squad number in his final year. He dug his heels in as the club trying to flog him off behind the scenes and – even though the evidence of the previous season was that ‘his legs had gone’ – he became an icon in his absence, a political prisoner poster boy for the anti-Southgate, anti-Lamb opposition.
“Ray Parlour, Massimo Maccarone and Chris Riggott, were all ghostly presences at Hurworth, still clocking in diligently after slipping out of favour until their generous contracts ran down. And, as they say on the compilation albums, many many more.”
The EG are reporting that the only first team player out of contract this summer is Dimi but I thought Grant was also ooc at the end of June. Anyone know?
Finances will not be an issue for the next two years, Boro will probably have the biggest budget next season for the following reasons:
– AV’s recent article on expenditure estimated Boro altogether spent around £100m this season in the PL.
– if Boro picked up £104m in PL prize money, they will have also had income around £25-35m in gate receipts and other commercial income, which will be all profit.
– FFP is now calculated over three years and you can offset £35m for every year in the PL and £13m for every Championship year – which gives Boro a potential £61m loss over three years to play with.
– Boro will receive £47m in parachute payments next season and £38m the following year but will not get a third year payment as they only survived a single season.
– Revenue in the Championship could possibly around £25m at tops.
– AV estimated the current wage bill to be around £50-60m – most players contracts will have clauses to reduce wages by around 40% on relegation and many big earners will be leaving – e.g. Negredo £5m p/a, Valdes, Gaston etc – leaving a Championship wage bill of probably less than half that.
– Also we’d have to hope despite their failure some of our players will demand a transfer fee – plus the £10m Rhodes money is due in too – if Gibson is sold we can maybe add £30m to the kitty as well.
Therefore the main issue will be finding and attracting the right players who are either higher-end Championship with potential to play at PL level – or PL level who are willing to drop down a division for a season. We should also be trying to get first dibs on the best of the young PL loan market. We should consider the rest Championship squad players who could be replaced if a better option is available.
I’d have to agree with GT that Boro have to assess quickly which players are going to be capable of playing the PL in two seasons time and we should only retain players who have potential improvement in them.
Moyes has left Sunderland !
Come on BORO.
Is it a swop AK for Moyes. !
Come on BORO.
I am worried by the concepts being floated in some places that we already have a solid spine, or that there is the core of a strong team for next season. I think this is an absolutely fundamental mistake, the team desperately needs fit-for-purpose fresh blood in every area, with only defensive midfield looking anywhere near adequate.
My first reasoning for this view is that I think a large number of players will leave:
Players gone – Negredo, Chambers, Guzan
Players likely to have offers to move – Ben, De Roon, Valdes, Fischer, Ramirez, perhaps Adama Traore. I suspect most or all will go, especially to protect their international aspirations.
Cristhian Stuani may well not fancy the idea of dropping back down and may want to move on after three years here.
OFB has explained that some of the players who came last season may have release clauses in the case of relegation, so this is also worth bearing in mind.
Boronurk
I understand your concerns and I myself posted that SG had a lot of work to do to make us fit for purpose. The one thing in his favour is that the players are under contract and he does not have to accept any offers that may be forthcoming.
If he really wants to smash it next season then he needs to pursuade the key players to stay and look to move one the ones not considered fit for purpose.
I would like him to persuade Negredo to stay for another year rather than seek to find and intergrate another striker.
I should also probably add that despite the smashing budget at Boro’s disposal next season – the reality is that PL standard players are unlikely to drop down to the Championship as there are probably a dozen PL clubs who would trump any wages we could offer and obviously offer top-flight football too.
It may only mean we pay over the odds for players who are not proven at top-tier or who are essentially inconsistent but good on their day. That’s why clubs who have been in the PL longer can hang on to their better players for a season or two that can make a difference.
The other issue may be is that whilst it will be easy to shift our more desirable players, we may be left with the ones who’d we prefer to move on instead – that would be a double whammy and may make us cash rich but with a squad that is on the whole average.
Therefore the recruitment team need to be at the top of their game to identify who the upper Championship players are and then use our wealth to pick off 3 or 4 of the best ones. It will be important to have these players who have adjusted to the league – we should remember that our promotion squad took several years to piece together, so we’ll do well to get the right deals in one go – that is probably where much of our budget will go and the club should avoid signing anymore expensive punts.
I agree. We need three or four players with proven Championship quality and experience. Any further numbers to Ben made up can come from the academy and PL loans (is Kalas still on loan at Fulham?).
I’m not concerned about signing players who can cut it in the PL in two years’ time. Worry about that next summer if we go up. Right now, concentrate on an immediate return.
I would definitely bring Kalas back. I have no idea why we didn’t buy him at the start of the PL season, because he is much better than Barragan. Shockingly poor decision.
He probably would have walked here up the A1 too.
Bring back Kalas and Adomah and have a look at Nsue, Fabbrini, Nugent and Amorebietta! Bring them all back!
There are reasons why I think players will move on, even if we want to keep them.
Firstly, any of the guys such as Valdes, De Roon and Fischer who came last season may have agents who put release clauses in their contracts, although presumably where we have paid a fee that might have to be recouped in any move.
The other is that when you try and block a player leaving they resent it*, and may become disaffected (Ramirez showed the problem in an extreme form), and that has all sorts of consequences in their performances and team morale. We know for a fact that teams without 100% commitment will struggle in the Championship. So it’s usually better to let such players go.
(*For example, De Roon may want to keep his place in the Holland squad, Fischer the same with Denmark.)
Also, as time drags on running a dispute with a player who wants to leave, we don’t know if we need to replace them, so recruitment strategy becomes more confused.
I don’t disagree with any of that, Mark.
The first task for the new manager is to sit across from each player and ask if he wants to stay or go. Any that have made their minds up to leave should be helped out within reason.
Kalas is on loan at Fulham so could be a possibility for loan/transfer but would he want to come or stay at Fulham – a test for the recruitment team.
The Gazette should drop their Premium service now we are in the championship .Not all that good anyway I hear !
Redcar Red said
Henceforth it shall always be referred to as “that shirt” in certain circles!
RR, what we don’t know is what masterpiece is on it’s way.
🙂
While there are the inevitable ‘clear them all out’ voices clamouring for wholesale change on the playing side, I’d urge a little caution and thinking here. While there may be some logic for some departures (Gaston springs to mind, hem hem) being beyond the point of recovery, we should consider the ‘good coach/manager’ factor. Its obvious that the management for some time has been, ahem, poor. Therefore the performances of some (not all) players need to be set in context. How many times have we seen a ‘good manager’ come in and get more out of a team left for dead previously.
There are a lot of comments saying ‘get rid and get good championship players in’…….without a good manager that’s a total waste and not resolving the problem. I’d argue that the mooted ‘spine of the team next year’ is the manager/coaching/backroom team. If they’re right THEY can work out who is salvageable based on the coaching, tactics, system, and other players coming in. We might well have the right players, just not necessarily in the right order, to paraphrase the late Mr Morecambe.
Let’s hope there is movement on that front soon, to allow the maximum preparation time……UTB
And of course the manager has to want to come. We perceive our club as attractive with Steve Gibson and the promises of support.
What will prospective managers see? A relegated club likely to get crowds of 22-24,000 but with money to spend. How big are we compared to other clubs?
Historically Villa, Sunderland, Leeds and Wednesday are bigger, Wolves, Derby and Forest have a longer history of trophies, not difficult because we have one!
The players look at the prospects as well.
There is no guarantee that managers or players will come or that we get to pay reasonable prices.
Villa spent a fortune to no avail.
It is difficult, do I want us to buy whatever or to spend sensibly?
Local news gossip, sorry here in Spain not Boro.
Victor Vajdes could be joining local club Malaga!!
I have read the “Starter” piece, but not yet the comments which follow. I thought I might give a few words without being influenced first by the comments others have made. However, and to start, thanks to RR for his article and the others which have sometimes been put out there very soon after the final whistles have been blown. It has been good service, RR, which is more than can usually be said about the performances we have had to put up with this season.
So, where does this leave us (apart from being relegated)? Let’s have a think.
1. The table doesn’t lie. We might have been unlucky in this incident (failure to be given a penalty at Anfield, unfortunate to concede one against Man City at home etc), but that is not the reason for our relegation this season. We were simply not good enough, not well enough led, and on balance the results over the season reflect that.
2. We have been for much of the season, and until the game was almost up, fairly solid at the back. That is partly due to being spectacularly unadventurous further upfield. Of course the defence had been a mark of quality in the club over the past two seasons in the Championship and proved adequate early on in the Premier League season but, with injuries, and as shackles were removed when the team was up against it in the last couple of months and there was a pressing need to take more risks, the defence became more porous. Of course other Premier League teams had, by then, more opportunity to see the weaknesses and take advantage.
3. Fabio has generally be good(ish), Friend has had his season disrupted by injury after struggling to come to terms with the division at the start of the season, then improving before injury, then struggling again when brought back, but he always tries and is easily good enough in the Championship where, if uninjured, he should be one of the better players next season. Ayala is to fitness what I am to ballet dancing and I am not convinced he is a Premier League player but again, if we could see him regularly, he will also be a very good Championship player next season. Chambers has been good and might be a better centre half than a full back, but he will already be back in London as we speak, probably wanting a chat with Mr Wenger about his prospects next year. Ben Gibson, apart from a couple of wobbly games, has been our most consistent performer. He is clearly a leader on the field, a very competent Premier League player and I think could easily fit into one of the top teams. He will improve further. He can hold his head up high and be proud of his achievements this season and few Boro fans would begrudge him if he moved away to fulfill his England ambitions.
4. It is no surprise that our “holding midfielders” were able to perform creditably earlier in the season, but there has been virtually no spark or invention, or attacking intent in the team. If the club had a team bus, it would have been carefully parked. Clayton has generally been solid. Leadbitter is not able to be the dominating holding midfielder in the Premier League that he has been in previous years in the division below, but he might be a good squad player next season in the Championship, where, hopefully, we will not see the need to double or treble-up in defensive midfield. Forshaw seemed better a few months ago than he is now. I had expected him to “come on” this season, even at a higher level.
5. Up front we have been shot-shy (and if you don’t buy a ticket, you can’t win the Lottery, as they say), with Negredo usually forty yards away from his nearest team mate, and left to plough his own lonely furrow. If he headed the ball down, there was usually nobody near enough to pick the ball up. Bamford joined us late on, we are told rather unfit and certainly lacking in game-time in the last 18 months. He might have been started earlier than he was and we know from previous experience that he can cope well and should score goals in the Championship next season, provided he has a supply.
6. So far as concerns those who might have been expected to supply the bullets for the lonely chap up front, do we really need to say much about Ramirez? He obviously has some talent (he jolly well should have for the money paid, and the wages he receives) and there have been rare flashes, but they are far outweighed by dummy-spitting petulance and what seemed to the amateur observer a lot like lack of effort. He didn’t want to be here after January. He should never wear the shirt again. Downing may well have had his nose put out of joint by AK making it clear he didn’t have faith in the returned Boro Old Faithful, but even after AK left, and although there were some improved performances from him, Downing must himself have felt disappointed by his general showing. De Roon may have more to him than we first saw evidence of, and he scored SOME goals, but his price seems to have been a gross over valuation. If he stays, he will improve and will be one of the top Championship players next term.
7. Goalkeeping….where do we begin? Without wishing to be repetitive, when we were promoted we clearly had weaknesses which needed strengthening – we had been short of goalscoring threat even in the last two seasons in the Championship where we finished the losing play-off finalists and then automatically promoted. The defensive part of the team was a strength and it was up front we needed to acquire quality. So buying TWO goalkeepers was a “surprising” decision (if I might use a neutral word). Valdes struggled in the first two or three months then improved (which, bearing in mind his pedigree and the fortune in wages paid to him, is the least we could have expected), and more recently he has been injured. He never looked likely to control his box. He can make some saves which, after all, is what keepers are paid to do. He appeared to have “communication issues” with his defence. He has had sore ribs for some time. If there was an FACup Final or an international game in which he was expecting to play, he WOULD have been fit. A convenient diplomatic injury if someone doesn’t want to play. A lot more was expected of him – a poor return. Guzan? An embarrassment: three nutmegged goals against Chelsea and then in the next game against Southampton many of his team’s own supporters were encouraging the ref to send him off with a red card following his giving away a penalty. Maybe Dimi is past it and would have done no better, but we will never know as he wasn’t given the opportunity to appear in the Premier League after he had been a mainstay in the team which got us there. At least he had the confidence of the men in front of him. Difficult to fathom, and difficult to challenge if the goalkeeping plan had worked, but it did not.
8. The management is always under scrutiny if a team struggles. But on the one hand there is a team cheaply assembled, giving it a go but falling short, but then regrouping with a view to making another challenge for promotion the next year, a la Burnley who kept their manager and many of their players. And on the other hand there is a fairly abject, whimpering, surrender (which more accurately described what we have witnessed this season, especially for the last 5 months). Karanka was probably very fortunate to have been persuaded to return to the club after his walkout before the Charlton game last year, and his position may have been mortally wounded at the time of that return, with relations poisoned between him and many in the changing room he felt had been disloyal and challenging to him. What we can say about Karanka is that he was overly negative, inflexible and uncommunicative. He criticised the club’s higher management, the transfer window activity and therefore the players brought in (such as Bamford) and the supporters, and you always know that when a manager rounds on the supporters, his time is almost up. Things were becoming rather toxic before Karanka left the club, and the situation could not be allowed to fester any longer – I suspect most agree the decision to part was taken far too late. Steve Agnew was handed the poisoned chalice when there was precious little time for any antidote he could find, to take effect. It was a hospital pass. Players say he is a good coach, but obviously that is different to being a manager, but what we do know is that he has the confidence of Steve Gibson, and that he cares deeply about the club (which might not be said about everybody who has been receiving wages from the club in the last year). Some players in the squad, and backroom staff, may have had sympathies with Karanka and none with Agnew. We will soon find out whether Steve Gibson’s confidence extends to a season managing in the Championship.
9. The infamous recruitment set-up……hardly a success. Too ridiculous for words. How much money have we thrown away? How many of the players brought in will go out for any serious money? If brought in, but not played, why were they brought in at all? Does it help if they speak Spanish? How can we employ a professional footballer who cannot even take a throw in? I don’t want to go on about it or I will sound obsessive.
10. Steve Gibson is the man at the top, where the Buck stops. He knows that. He must know why key decisions have been made, which promises have been given, and why things have gone wrong. At least I hope he does because it will be much easier to remedy the situation if you at least know what the problem is. There is a very big decision to be made in the next few days which may well set the tone for what is to follow. Fingers crossed that he makes the right decision. He has put a lot of money into the club and I am sure he would like to see the club successful as much, if not more, than the rest of us do.
11. Why have we seen so little of Fischer (when doubts were expressed about Downing), and Husband (when we had a full back crisis)? Was it thought that Gestede and Guedioura were Premier League players or was it hoped that they might be useful (in which case why pay so much) next season in the Championship – and for that matter if one eye was being cast over the possibility of relegation surely someone might have thought Nugent and Jordan Rhodes had the pedigree to contribute something there? What about de Pena? Is there some mystery to football club management that we, mere mortals, can never understand? Or is it really smoke and mirrors, the blind leading the blind and only the mega-rich billionaires able to fund anything remotely like Premier League success (the miracle of Leicester City being the staggering exception)?
12. I don’t have all the answers but I do realise there are some questions shouting for attention. I do not expect to read in a few months time the results of a “deep and searching inquest” into the reasons things turned out as they did. I don’t expect to be told any secrets from deep within the boardroom. It might simply be a case that the club or its manager over-estimated the abilities of some of the players, that we underestimated the scale of the task in attempting to stay up in a league where the gap between that and the Championship is increasing, and that we were simply too passive rather than trying to seize those few chances we had to win other games (like Leicester City & Man Utd away, Stoke, Palace & Watford at home….). But I do hope that those IN the boardroom know what has happened, and that they have a plan to put it right, otherwise how do we avoid repetition in the future?
13. I wish Karanka all the best for the future. Initial anger has subsided. I am sure he would have wanted to be successful, even if he wasn’t able to deliver. I hope he can learn from what he knows went wrong. I hope Agnew will be successful whatever his future holds (actually, especially if he is still with the club…!). Most of all, I would like to enjoy the football next season, and will still dream of promotion again when the season begins, even if that means ANOTHER nervy Premier League season after that, when wins will almost certainly be much rarer again. At the end of the day, football is a pass-time, an entertainment. It is not life itself even if, when the results go badly, it can sour the weekend and can affect those who love us. If supporters are continually unhappy they will stay away. I am committed to attending again for ANOTHER three years. It would be nice to enjoy a promotion and more Premier League football within that 3 year time span. There is always hope……
Great Post
Almost like poetry!
Yes I decide to make it into a blog post as it was worthy of being an article in its own right
The players that got us promoted who are still here and deemed to be the ones to get us back up again may not be the answer.
In my opinion with the exception of Gibson have gone backwards and do not seem to have any confidence in their own ability anymore.
Whoever comes in is going to have a huge job on their hands restoring confidence,getting rid of defensive mentality and bringing in new players to create a serious promotion push.
Experience is needed not a rookie
I thought Forever Dormo’s indepth assessment of the season would make an excellent midweek post to facilitate the discussions on where Boro go from here…
https://diasboro.club/2017/05/23/where-does-this-leave-us/
Just put the news on and saw that there’s been an horrendous terror attack in Manchester – clearly the actions of a brainwashed sick individual, especially targeting innocent children. Quite awful news for the families involved and our thoughts go out to them.
If people are saying ‘get rid’ I agree with you that would be wrong, Smoggypaul. I would certainly keep Ben, Negredo, De Roon, Chambers, and Stuani if played centrally. But I have read some wishful thinking about this and I think it’s better to accept that they can’t be kept and get on with recruitment.
I hope no-one is saying we should buy ‘good’ Championship players – we need dominant players who can perform to a high level in the Championship, and who would therefore have the potential to grow into Premiership players.
Ben is a good example, Adam Clayton and Fabio were decent*, George or Dani if uninjured may have proved effective as well. Bamford simply wasn’t brought up to speed quickly enough and that was an appalling failure by the management team, so we don’t know how many goals he may have scored. Albert, we’ll never know.
*Many players are competitive at Premiership mid- to lower-table level whilst still getting getting embarrassed when people like Sanchez, Coutinho, Hazard, De Bruyne, etc are working their magic.
Just to echo Werdermouth’s very well-chosen words about events in Manchester.
Mark W
Absolutely heart breaking those poor families and young people
All our thoughts are with them