Does the wind of change also need a Category One storm?

by werdermouth, posted in Uncategorized

The wind of change is blowing through the Riverside and there are hopes that with the help of the club’s Premier League windfall Garry Monk is building a team to blow away the Championship this season. After last season’s punt on projects, Boro supporters have been pleased to see the arrival of tried and tested players though the door at Hurworth – though they would I imagine also quite like to see some of our brighter prospects from the the much hailed Category One academy storm their way into contention for starting places. When Garry Monk arrived at the club he stated he wanted to give a clear pathway for young players to make the transition into the Boro first-team squad. The recent pre-season friendlies have given opportunities for some of Boro’s promising young players to shine and impress the new boss with the likes Dael Fry and Harry Chapman, fresh from England duty at the FIFA under-20 World Cup squad in South Korea, notably hoping to catch the eye.

Last season Dael Fry was on loan at Rotherham but ended up only making a dozen appearances after slipping down the pecking order – clearly he has the attributes and potential to become a more than decent centre-back but he needs a run of games at a high level to make that leap forward. The question is whether he’ll get enough opportunities at Boro this season, otherwise surely another loan spell is required. Though it becomes increasingly hard for the player to imagine his future remains at club if he is then expected to break through in the Premier League next season instead.

Harry Chapman (or is it now the more trendy Harri as in Harrison) is another lively winger who has impressed at the academy and went out on loan last season to Sheffield United but also had his season cut short at the Blades to only a dozen appearances due to injury. Again he’s at a stage in his career as he approaches his twentieth birthday where he needs to start playing week-in week-out if he is to reach his potential. The worry is if he stays at Boro this season he’ll be in the queue behind some expensive purchases and loan players from top PL clubs.

Should the players stay and fight for a place in the hope that the can take their chance and impress the new manager? Or should they go on loan until January with the objective of building their reputations and look to break into the Boro team for the second half of the season?

Connor Ripley will have noted the arrival of Darren Randolph from West Ham on the basis that he’s moving to get first-team football to secure his place in the Republic of Ireland’s squad ahead of next year’s World Cup – plus the club have paid West Ham £5m and offered the keeper £27k a week, which looks a little pricey to risk a splinter injury on a Championship bench. He will I imagine view that piece of business as a signal that now is not his time to occupy the Boro number one shirt – perhaps he’ll be given the role of second-choice keeper as he gazes mischievously from the bench while wondering if Randolph is only one rash sliding challenge away on a wet and windy afternoon in South Yorkshire from handing him the gloves.

Perhaps a lesser known youngster who impressed in parts against Rochdale was Marcus Tavernier – he’s a pacey left-sided player who has also played at left-back – with many of our protesting lefties marching out of the exit door, he may see the possibility of breaking though into the first-team this term. He must know Garry Monk is looking for dynamic players and it seems Downing didn’t meet that requirement and Gaston’s agent has admitted his client’s future probably lies elsewhere, even if the player himself is trying his best to give the impression he’s a model professional – though they certainly threw away the mould for that particular model some time ago.

Another young talent who replaced starter Adama for the last quarter-of-an-hour at Rochdale was lively Finnish prospect Mikael Soisalo, who joined the Boro academy in January from Tampere. It appears he’s quite well regarded at the club and even managed to score in the previous friendly at Mansfield. It’s possible he may force himself into the squad and it looks like Monk is certainly having a good look at him ahead of the start of the season. A lot may depend on whether the Boro cheque book has a few more unused stubs left in it – perhaps when it comes down to hard choices the hot prospects of the likes of Liverpool may get the nod over our own molten steel variants.

The adage that if you’re good enough then you’re old enough is quite often trotted out – but we seem to err on the side of caution these days at Boro when it comes to academy players. They almost have to be better than some of the ‘projects’ that the club have thrown millions at of late before they will even be considered. One wonders if Adama had been from our own academy whether he would be entertaining the prospect of his third loan spell at somewhere like Preston or Sheffield United until he’d worked on his crossing a bit more.

Ben Gibson wasn’t by any means an overnight success, but grew into the player he now is over time and is possibly on the verge of swelling the club’s coffers by around £30m should he decide to move on to bigger things. Incidentally, he had to leave the field yesterday with what looked like a broken nose, though at least the incident seems to have shown a novel way to tone down the Ramsdens advertising hoarding by liberally covering the white band with blood – whether this will inspire commercially sensitive fashion-conscious supporters to punch themselves in the nose as they de-sponsor their replica shirts is too early to say.

Sometimes perhaps we expect more from our own home-grown prospects and seemingly leave room in the squad for average journey-man-like players just because they were bought with Euros. Though the flip-side to that argument is perhaps we imagine our home-grown players to be better than they actually are. It’s hard to think of any of the recent fringe academy players who have gone on to impress elsewhere. Maybe you actually need a group of players who break into the team together that will spur each other on and be inspired by the shared journey. It’s a long time since the days where many in the first XI consisted of our best young talent – Downing, Morrison, Cattermole, Wheater, Bates, Johnson et al seemed to inspire perhaps less gifted players to rise to the challenge as the likes of Taylor, Davies and others performed above themselves in their company.

Let’s also not forget how having a core of players who have come through the ranks would effect the dynamic of the dressing room and create a strong team spirit, which may give you that extra five percent on the pitch when it matters. The recruitment process last season left a lot to be desired as a disparate bunch of projects failed to gel into anything either collectively or individually – they’re are now being shipped out and are leaving berths to be filled. It’s to Monk’s credit that he’s taking a serious look at what talent he’s got coming through – this season may be an opportunity to bring several through as it will no doubt be harder next year to make the leap if Boro hopefully gain promotion.

Whether our squad is built from the outside or the inside may not matter to many if we ‘smash the league’ but there is something more satisfying and it instills a sense of pride when you see the core of a team that had ‘made in Teesside’ stamped through it.

272 thoughts on “Does the wind of change also need a Category One storm?”

    1. I’ve spoken in detail on the Bloke’s agent (and his previous one) before and I have to say that Sporting Witness are exactly right when describing his past history and dealings to date. An agent only makes serious money when a player is sold. The really good ones have a wide client list and therefore have a regular stream of income, the poor ones or greedy ones are always desperate for their next payday.
      Clearly his agent is struggling to get anyone interested at €12m, hardly surprising seeing what he has done to his client’s reputation.

  2. Why the club didn’t accept the offer from Leicester ,for someone we got for now, is beyond any logic.
    Although we did buy, the guy from Watford, and De Penna,
    Don’t mention logic when it comes to Boro, aka The Gong Show

  3. Had we sold Ramirez there would have been uproar at selling our best player to what was at the time a relegation rival. The fans would have rightly demanded and expected a better option arriving had Gaston gone, including AK. Fact was we couldn’t attract the minger at the end of the dance when the lights come up so were unlikely to trade Ramirez. As it happens with hindsight we should have got shot but that was then and this is now.
    The signings that we did make in January indicate exactly the state our recruitment competence was at the time. One couldn’t trap a bag of cement, one isn’t even included in the new Manager’s friendly squads and now struggling with the U23’s and one was someone for the future who wasn’t match fit. Gaston going would have been a huge bat to not so much beat SG with but more likely batter him and by now it would have been cited as the sole reason we went down and AK leaving.

    1. R R
      The whole and entire secret of dealing in the market is decision making and judgement of form, attitude and class, plus the price offered, plus the likelihood of getting that price at a later date.
      As you can no doubt see we batted 0 out of 100 on that one.
      No one who has ever watched top level football thought for one moment that Leicester would go down(not because of their form, but because they had so many top players, and they had that winning mentality from the previous season)
      We are a poor club because we really have no idea. As an example downing could and should have brought a price ( the size of the fee does not matter, but a fee, nevertheless)
      So there is sixteen for Gaston, four for Downing, twenty million, a decent player for fifteen plus five towards his wages. Hmmm.

  4. Of all the young lads I think Dael Fry will come good this season
    Harry Chapman still a bit inconsistent and not experienced enough needs another loan
    The Danish Lad looks promising we could get more supporters from the Baltic states!
    What do you think Jarrko?

    1. I’m hoping there’s space for 3-4 of the academy lads to be part of the first team squad so they can develop to the next level as Monk seemed to suggest he’ll be willing to give them a chance.
      It was interesting when I was researching the subject I noticed that there is a photo collage of Boro’s high profile graduates at the academy on an article proudly declaring that Boro had received Category One status once again in May this year. Ben Gibson was in the centre but most of the others (e.g. Downing, Morrison, Cattermole, Wheater, Bates) are now in their thirties and approaching the end of their careers – it’s almost on the back of a previous generation from which the club is selling the dream that this could be them one day.
      Those players made their first team debuts between 17-18 in the Premier League – they weren’t the finished article and made mistakes but they grew into good reliable top-level players. It’s as if the club no longer has the confidence to blood it’s young players – we seem to prefer to pluck overseas journeymen out of obscurity rather than invest the time in getting our own graduates up to speed.
      I’m sure we had players during the last ten years who were better than the ones that came and went without leaving a lasting memory – look at Adam Reach, he was jettisoned in favour of de Pena for god’s sake – OK he wasn’t exactly brilliant but he was still a useful squad player and looked decent occasionally.
      I think the club perhaps need a bit of a rethink when it comes to developing talent as how many of our academy graduates have just slipped away without having a real chance to grow and gain the belief that comes from coming through the ranks? There have been many academy players who have broken through to play in the top two leagues in the last ten years – though it seems rarely from Boro’s academy!

  5. A few weeks ago I mentioned how I was surprised how foreigners found English easy to learn because certain words with similar letters are pronounced differently, and as an example quoted words ending in “ough”. All my life I have written verses for colleagues birthdays, weddings, leaving, etc and have just come across this particular verse I had printed in the Sports Gazette in 1956 when I was 18 and thought it might interest some of you.
    It was headed “Pronounce it Cluff”.
    When first Boro’s centre forward played
    His name was not announced,
    Spectators knew how it was spelt
    But not how t’was pronounced.
    “”Tis easy to decide” quoth one
    “He plays for Middlesbrough,
    And so I think if he were asked
    He’d say his name was Clough (Clow).
    “You’re wrong” said one outside the ground
    “Now help me climb this bough
    I want to get a better view
    Of the lad I know as Clough (Clow)”
    At last our hero got the ball,
    McLean had sent him through,
    His shot went straight between the posts,
    Some shouted “Great goal Clough (Clue)”
    The crowd began to roar like mad
    Until it made some cough
    Our hero’s colleagues shook his hand
    And said “A good goal, Clough (Cloff)”
    But now this rhyme comes to an end
    I’m sure you’ve read enough
    Perhaps you’ve guessed our hero’s name
    If not, it’s Brian Clough.

    1. I’d like to say, ‘I thought that great’,
      So embed this verse forth with.
      To celebrate the talent that is,
      Our very own Ken Smith.
      Brilliant Ken. Thanks for sharing that.

  8. If anyone thought that Aitor Karanka was a strict disciplinarian and held grudges about certain players, they might be interested to read Chris Waters excellent review in the Yorkshire Post of the biography of ex Yorkshire captain “Brian Sellars; Yorkshire Tyrant”.
    As this is a Boro forum I won’t go into details, but for Yorkshire cricket lovers I think this review might be worth reading.

    1. Ken
      My name is Brian Sellers and born in Oct 1939 and all my school days I was asked by all the sports teachers if I could play cricket like my name sake “ if only! “. But did not know I was a tyrant as well very interesting read in the Yorkshire Post so thanks for the info.

  9. A good article by Anthony Vickers in the Gazette, one that in my opinion sets him apart from the other Gazette reporters. It was not only well written but realistic in its content. Perhaps he is the Gazette reporter who should have sole access to MFC, rather like Cliff Mitchell and Eric Paylor before him.
    What was also interesting was that the blogs following his article showed a much more conservative and realistic approach to “smashing the League”.

  10. A bit worried over the friendly matches, I fully accept that they do not matter.
    But, when it is a no pressure game, no one is kicking lumps out of you, the sun is shining and all is well with the world, you should be able to strut your stuff, score the odd worldie, and generally put away the odd lower league side. We shall see?

  11. Ken, I think Mitchell and our AK are the two best Boro reporters. Then it is RR and Paylor, me thinks.
    About pronouncing, in Finnish every letter is pronounced the same way. So we do not often need business cards as hearing is as easy as writing. For example we have two first names like Jarko and Jarkko – and we can hear the difference between these two! But the Finnish grammar is nearly impossible to learn for the foreigners.
    So for us – Finns – the pronunciation is difficult. How to know the difference between Gill or Gillingham, for example. Souness and Clough are not easy either.
    But it helps when I see some Englishmen do not know all these things. Some Boro fans never learned how to spell McClaren, either.
    Up the Boro!

    1. To be mentioned in the same sentence as the Boro reporting equivalents of Messi, Ronaldo and Pele is undeserved but very humbling all the same. Thanks Jarkko!

  12. Ah yes, McLaren.
    Even the gut-wrenching, devastating mini series Three Girls had Middlesborough in its credits but the drama had done so much right I cut it slack.
    Comedy nitpickers CinemaSins wouldn’t though. I take it you’ve heard of them?

  14. Damn.
    One consolation of being in the Championship was the chance to get to local matches to watch Boro after a largely barren top flight season.
    Wolves away first match of the season, get in! No chance, 2592 tickets sold in 45 minutes to season card holders.
    Ah well.
    Caught the second half of England v Spain in the women’s euro 2017. Clearly a kit clash between Spain in all red and England’s all white kit so England played in all blue. Well done to the ladies.
    Great game in the women’s cricket world cup, I caught the last 5 overs after listening to it whilst putting up wall paper. Well done the ladies again.

    1. Ian
      It’s a good job my missus doesn’t read this blog. She would spot that you’re always busy painting, or papering, or mending, and she’d be getting on my back constantly to push on with all the jobs she has lined up for me! Ooh, the very thought has given me a right twinge in the bad back I can often cite as the reason for my inactivity. You put me to shame, mate.
      Actually, I used to be very good at DIY. If someone asked me to do something practical for them, I would always reply, ‘Nah. Do it yourself. ‘

  15. Thanks to those that complimented me on the verse I wrote in 1956 entitled “Pronounce it Cluff”, especially Powmill-Naemore who responded in verse. As for Bob’s comment of Boro’s poet laureate, although meant as a witticism, I would be flattered if that were so.
    I’ve always liked poetry, especially inspirational ones. A particular favourite of mine is Rudyard Kipling’s “If” and a poem written in similar vain by Peter Dale Wimbrow “The Man in the Glass” which can be found on the internet and was once recited by Nigel Adkins (when Southampton manager) on “Football Focus”. They both represent ideals I hope that I have tried to live up to.
    Of course they are real poetry while mine are merely verses, but I’ve always found it quite easy to write them, usually starting with the first verse then the last verse before filling in several middle ones, and usually in the same format as the following one entitled “The Bitter End” which I DIDN’T write, but wish I had but for effect sounds much better when recited than when written:-
    He grabbed me round my slender neck;
    I could not call or scream.
    He dragged me to his dingy room,
    Where he could not be seen.
    He stripped away my flimsy wrap
    And looked upon my form.
    I felt so cold and damp and scared,
    Whilst he was hot and warm.
    He pressed his feverish lips to mine;
    I could not make him stop.
    He drained me of my very self;
    I gave him every drop.
    He made me what I am today,
    That’s why you see me here-
    An empty bottle thrown away
    That once was full of beer.
    “Pronounce it Cluff” was the first verse I wrote, and have since written several more over the years. I was once asked by the researcher/producer of “This is Your Life” if I had any anecdotes about Paul Daniels whose real Christian names were Newton Edward known by me at school and as a work colleague as Teddy. So I wrote some verses, but as I was unable to appear on the show due to being abroad at the time, the producer passed them on to him, but weren’t read on the programme.
    However, the hardest verses to write were the ones to Seve Ballesteros when he was fighting for his life following his brain tumour, and the following in a similar vein which I wrote in a book of remembrance in Redcar following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales:-
    God has called you from above;
    Oh what sadness we all feel!
    Outwardly we show our grief.
    Diana’s died – the news reveals.
    But no, we won’t forget you, Di,
    You enriched us with your glow;
    Even those you never met
    Deep condolences they show.
    In all these years we’ve known you
    And admired you from the start.
    Now let us all pray for your sons
    And God bless our Queen of Hearts.
    Besides being a sad poem to write at the time, it was also very difficult to compose because it was the first one to inspire me to write many more using the format of spelling out a message using the first letter of each line. In this instance reading downwards – GOODBYE DIANA.
    I hope you forgive my indulgence in writing this on a Boro forum, but thanks again to those who responded.

  16. Another good article Werder. Makes you wonder if our Acadamy Category 1 status is about producing home grown players or just a Tax Dodge?
    Also not sure what AV’s Premier minutes for Acadamy Players shows or proves. Its minutes that YOUR players playing for the your team that count in that context.
    Well the Rochdale result certainly burst the balloon, friendly or not, a poor poor defeat. There should have been sufficient experience and skill out there to turn Rochdale over. Just not up for a kick around….hope Mr Monk was not happy.
    Not sure about Shotton, not unless he has improved at the Blues, certainly not good enough at Derby hence him shown the door. We will need two CH’s now as it does lokk more and more that Ben will leave. I think it is just about getting the right fee.

    1. Thanks Pedro – Yes it’s a bit of strange way of presenting the success or not of an academy (thanks to Jarkko for the link BTW) – I’m sure some of the other clubs listed will probably have their graduates also playing in other European leagues too. As I mentioned earlier, take away Ben Gibson and we’re talking about and handful of players who graduated a dozen years or more ago. Incidentally, Chris Brunt’s inclusion slightly skews the table for me as he joined Boro when he was nearly 17 and left without playing a game for us.
      The club appear to have failed to find a way to bring through a crop of youngsters in a very long time – I’m sure it’s not deliberate or a tax dodge but one wonders why more youngsters are not able to make it into our squad – especially given the kind of players we ended up buying instead. I would struggle in presenting it as a production line – more likely a painstaking hand-crafted collectors item at the rate of finished articles emerging.
      Perhaps our managers of late just don’t feel they have the time to wait for talent to mature – the timeline of their tenure is perhaps too short to risk on youngsters coming good – or has the club instead filled these available slots in the squad on youngsters from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs etc and blocked our own graduates?

  19. Clive
    I must admit my favourite wall paper comes in 2.5l tins with no pattern repeat.
    It was only two walls but it had two doors, an alcove set in to the wall – the type you ornaments in, an arch, three sockets, all to be cut round. In 12 drops of wallpaper only one had no cutting out involved.

      1. Clive and John
        Do you think I had much choice in the matter, as a parent I wouldn’t like my son and his girlfriend walking into a hall with bare walls, well, that is what I was told. My comment that it had character went down as well as the gastric band.
        My reward was a trip to Wolves with a shiny halo, the buggers with season cards wrecked that. I didn’t see them on a freezing night in the winter at Molyneux when 800 turned up, that is more than could be said about the team.

  20. I am not a supporter of the view that the results in pre-season friendlies don’t matter I accept that some of their value is to let the players get match time under their belts and to enable the manager to see what he has got and begin working towards knowing his best team.
    However, winning builds confidence and becomes a habit whereas losing does nothing for confidence and puts doubt into the players’ minds.
    The pre-season campaign so far has been disappointing. The opposition faced was nothing special and, as Pedro says above, with the talent in the Boro squad surely it is not asking too much to expect that performances and results should have been much better than they have been.
    If any of the apparent pre-season uncertainty and lack of intensity is taken into the first few games in the Championship then we will be turned over for sure and it will not be the start to the campaign needed for the “smashing” of the league.
    Hopefully Monk recognises that he needs to get the team organised and up for the upcoming challenge and he is capable of generating the attitude, motivation and determination needed in every game over the entirely of the season.

    1. It must be a concern that with Boro only one pre-season game away from the real thing there are no immediate signs of anything approaching a team ready to hit the ground running – ok this is partly due to the transfer window being rather out of sync with the actual season and who knows how the squad will actually look in five weeks time once a few more signings have been made, several loan deals sealed and those glancing over their shoulders at the exit door get the signal they’re waiting for (e.g. de Roon, Gaston, Gibson, Adama).
      Monk I suspect will have a less regimented style of play than that of Karanka so it will be more dependent on the whole team gelling and getting the forwards into play. This may take more time than many of us expected and it mean Boro will be vulnerable in the first few weeks – especially if Gibson gets snapped up by a top six side and our midfield is expected to be more than a defensive shield.
      It may be that we could be reliant on our fire power rather than our mean defence in order to pick up points – though we still have the core of our stopping crew but they are now under new instruction. Though to be fair, most of our new attack have barely had a kick so far – they will still be settling in and getting used to playing in a new setup – the good news is this almost certainly applies to most teams at this juncture so the aim must be to play our way into form as soon as possible.
      Hopefully we will have acquired enough quality to make it count but like you say we’ve seen lesser opposition who are up for it able to thwart our ambition – maybe a wake up call to remind any player that smashing the league is by no means our destiny just because we’ve spent some cash.

  21. Boroexile
    I agree and I think Ian has pointed out that we are probably undercooked and a friendly game short of where we need to be.
    Two more friendlies would have been better for GM to play his “first eleven” and getting them to gel but he only has this Saturday and then the season is underway.
    Britt Assombalonga has already confirmed that whilst he has been training he has not had much game time.
    We still do not have the required play makers we need and with other comings and goings expected over the coming days/weeks then to my mind we do not look fully ready for the off and could end up playing catch up – we will soon find out!
    CoB 😎

  23. I beginning to think with all this talk about paint some posters are trying to gloss over some of the important pre-season issues – it could well turn into a whitewash if we’re not careful.
    May I also congratulate Ken on demonstrating his considerable poetic talent – I particularly enjoyed his Clough play on English pronunciation. Though if I’m being honest, a poem about Princess Diana was not one of the response I was anticipating when I raised the issue of Boro’s academy – I thought something of that nature would only appear on the blog in the event of Steve Gibson selling up to Viscount Rothemere following a brush with relegation to League 2.
    However, in the interests of balance, if anyone has penned the odd verse about Prince Charles then feel free to post it – though I should remind people that house rules apply and no use of the f-word please, even with the asterisk…

    1. Boro’s Riverside Stadium has been voted among the best in the country by visiting fans across a range of categories.
      The annual survey was completed by just shy of 1,500 fans on behalf of the Football Supporters’ Federation.
      All fans were asked to rate the various factors on the following scale: 5 (Excellent), 4 (Good), 3 (Adequate), 2 (Poor) and 1 (Very Poor). The findings show Boro’s stadium experience ranked among the very best in the Premier League in every category for the 2016/17 season.
      Entering the Stadium: Boro ranked 4th of the 20 Premier League clubs with a score of 3.93
      Price of refreshments: Boro ranked 2nd with a score of 3.28
      Choice of refreshments: Boro ranked 6th with a score of 3.17
      Quality/comfort of the away sector: Boro ranked 3rd with a score of 3.84
      Behaviour of stewards/club staff: Boro ranked 2nd with a score of 3.94
      Overall value for money: Boro ranked 3rd with a score of 3.88

    2. There was an old prince called Charles
      Talked to the flowers the trees and the walls
      Twice he would marry
      Two sons (if you count Harry)
      And In his life dropped plenty of balls

  24. Academy players, some thoughts.
    The highpoint was the couple of years including with Downing, Morrison, Redcar Rock, McMahon, Clattermole, Taylor et,. They all came through under Schteve but the foundations were under Robbo and Parnaby.
    They were lucky because we were playing 60 games per season and our ageing squad didn’t fancy Blackburn away on a Tuesday in February. The low point was the game at Arsenal when Andrew Taylor made his debut. In front of him on the left flank was Rochembach. Luckily we had the hard working Yak and Viduka up front tracking back as only they could. Cough!
    Southgate was appointed manager to bring Arsenal lite to the Riverside based on young, talented, local youngsters. The reality was they were sold by intent or default. Morrison and Cat left, Downing, Wheats and Johnson via fire sales be it following relegation or it’s impact.
    Strachan came in to the wreckage and gave a few players a chance, Mogga followed but his history of bringing kids through was not great – his baggies squad had no academy players, Boro had two in the same squad.
    AK did little better.
    Why have so few broken through in recent years? When Gates team was imploding so was the academy then I think we spent a time playing in the midlands league.
    The current generations look better but the thought sticks in my mind that the breakthrough was due to a good crop and the shear number of games under Schteve.

  25. What kind of academy we had in 1986? OK, Pally was bought from Billingham and Maddren bought Slaven, but there were a lot of local lads back then.
    Just saying, like. Up the Boro!

  26. A prince who’s not really that Welsh
    Had a picture he took of himself
    “If Dumbo can fly”, he exclaimed with a sigh
    “Why can’t I with my ears like an elf?”

  27. And then there is Edinburgh Phil
    Who can insult all comers at will
    With a nose like beak
    He is known as the Greek
    That is happily married to Lil

  28. I see that Raie Ramirez’ agent is at it again. How does he think he is improving the offer with his imbecilic behaviour? I pray he succeeds in pulling a deal from the mess he creates, perhaps the player is actually OK and the real problem is the ‘agent’. Does he ever visit Rockliffe or is it more than his life is worth?
    OFB, today I am at last coming off the antibiotics after three months on a double dosage and all is clear. Tonight a glass of ale and a fine wine with dinner. Now what to have.
    UTB,
    John

    1. A pint of Theakstons old peciliar or mashams black sheep followed by a bottle of chilled sancerre for the white or chateauneuf du pape for the red
      All can be bought at Aldi or Tesco quite reasonable prices
      Hope you are now on the mend
      OFB

      1. OFB,
        Thank you, I feel better each day and I’m going buying some ale today. Sancerre it is, our daughter is an MW and she sent me some fine wines so I think I’ll work my way through them over the next few days or. A bottle a night shared with the boss.
        Tonight Sancerre with dressed Cromer crab. Excellent.
        No to examine the Boro with renewed vigour!
        UTB,
        John

      2. Tesco also do a white Cotes de Gascoyne which I am told is eminently quaffable and very reasonably priced at £5. Cant vouch for it myself you understand.
        Just saying, hic, like. 🙂

  29. Princess Anne, who in Scotland is known
    As the queen that is not on the throne
    When she’s not on a horse
    Always shouts herself hoarse
    In Murrayfield’s oval-ball’s home

  30. Of course Andrew, according to Burke’s
    Is unable to smile when he twerks
    He flew in the war
    On that far southern shore
    Now has golfing as one of the perks

  31. The youngest of all, little Ted
    Was the last one to make his own bed
    He once did a show
    “It’s a Knockout” you know
    Now the boards he will no longer tread

      1. Thanks Ken, but there is a qualitative world of difference between a limerick verse and a truly poetic verse and despite my amusement on the bus trip to work this morning writing those royal ditties, I must say that conVERSEly ,they fall well short of poetry.
        I did write a poem once, but it was for and to my wife and for now it is staying as ours.

  33. Sunderland are hoping to sign Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele as well as adding unattached shot-stopper Robbin Ruiter to their ranks. The Dutchman is a free agent following his release from Utrecht, and is set to be offered a permanent contract at the Stadium of Light.
    Also, they are after Ross McCormack, a Scottish professional footballer at Aston Villa and aged 30. He can be best remembered from Fulham as a former target for Boro.
    I think Sunderland are in a situation where Boro were during Mogga’s reign or just after. Seems that they can mainly afford free transfers – even though 500 000 € was mentioned for Steele who might want to move to the NE again.
    At least financially Boro look healthier. But the matches are not won in cabinets.
    Up the Boro!

  34. As always great work, and while more of a lurker than a contributor I’m a big fan of the blog and how you’ve moved it on 🙂
    I’m finding this summer a bit surreal. The club seems really progressive in its dealings and the mood is one of cautious optimism, yet the decisive tone of our dealings in the transfer market appears in contrast with the (lack of) work we carried out in January. I’n fairness it’s easy in hindsight to say that’s where it all went wrong, but I would argue most of us knew that transfer window was pivotal and the additions that did not happen made a difficult job verging on the impossible. So why the change? Was AK unrealistic in the players he wanted? Were we just unlucky, or was confidence in the manager already hitting a low and they didn’t trust him to turn millions of investment into results on the pitch?
    Still, if we consider 2017/18 to be a fresh start (and everyone connected with the club seems keen to do so) then it all feels positive, albeit with the usual caveats and sense of foreboding e.g. when has breaking the transfer record on a striker not been a safe bet? Er, wait…

    1. Great Post Mike
      Why be a lurker ? Especially when you have some great comments and observations
      I think the difference is with transfers we now don’t have Orta who did have idealistic and unrealistic transfer targets
      I don’t think the club were willing to sanction £30m spend in January when the team spirit had gone and Karanka had obviously lost the team the fans and more importantly lost the management
      Although our recruitment team came in for a lot of criticism they in conjunction with our new manager and financial support from our chairman have signed players who could make a difference
      Results will prove the case or otherwise

  35. I too have slightly mixed feelings at the moment.
    On the one hand, I am pleased with the appointment of Monk as probably the most appropriate available option, and, with the possible exception of Braithwaite who I know very little about, the transfer dealings look a good mix of sensible (Howson, Christie, Randolph) and ambitious (Assombalonga). The championship experience among the new recruits (again, Braithwaite aside) is very encouraging and points to the kind of thinking around Championship signings that we’ve been banging on about here and on Untypical for a long time.
    On the other hand, pre-season results have been uninspiring and the lack of fixtures a little concerning. One speculative theory I has was that, after Leeds tailed off at the end of last season, perhaps Monk was deliberately keeping pre-season light with a view to keeping his squad fresh for March, April and May 2018. However, upon a little research, I see that his Leeds team played on five pre-season games last year (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-five-pre-season-games-enough-for-us-says-garry-monk-1-8015432), so it simply appears to be his way.

  36. Remiss of me to forget my thanks to Werder for another excellent blog.
    If the potential is there, I’d be very keen to see more Academy products breaking into the first team set up. My view for a squad aiming to be at the top of the Championship would be to have two players for each position with the third coming from the Academy. If a particular youngster is already good enough then by all means have him as the first or second choice.
    Connor Ripley is an interesting one. If the club feel he has the potential but is a few seasons away from the first team – particularly with one eye on being a Premier League club in 2018/19 – then perhaps we could offer him a long term deal, say eight years, with the understanding that he will be out on loan wracking up the games for the next 2/3/4 years. He will be an experienced keeper by then who will have several suitors if we feel he still isn’t right for us.

  37. So the talk is of Gaston moving to Real Betis, if it happens I don’t expect a message from Ramirez saying how great the fans were.
    There again he may thank the fans and not mention the club.
    The first flight available to Seville is tomorrow at 12.25 from Stansted. Cost £205. I didn’t look at return flights.

  39. OFB
    And of course January is a difficult time to do business, generally you getting shop soiled goods if you are near the bottom of the table.

  40. It’s shame that Lee Tomlin has moved to Cardiff already this summer. I think he was jettisoned too hastily, erroneously even. Tomlin had a terrific partnership with Assombalonga with Peterborough, albeit in League One. He and (presumably) Braithwaite battling for the no. 10 role could have been a healthy position to be in.
    How much for Forestieri?

    1. Interesting mentioning former players one name that came up whilst talking to some former players two weeks ago was James Morrison
      Highly regarded by the pros and they thought he could do a job

      1. OFB
        I remember Gareth getting rid of Morrison.
        He was about eighteen, played about twenty games in the prem. Played (and scored) in the Euro cup (and scored, more than once, away of course)
        Then Gareth got to work, dropped, brought on with ten to go, we were losing, of course.
        Then started, brought off after twenty, we went on to lose, of course.
        And so it went on.
        West brom tried their luck (sound familiar) scraped a few bob together and bob’s your uncle, ten years on and they are trying to really rub our noses in it.
        They are thinking, offer fifteen for Gibbon, let us have our old player back for, oh four million (after all he is a prem. Player)
        So you see, dealing is the most important part of the game.

  41. No please no. We have been down the former player route too many times and most of the time it has not worked.
    Fresh creative blood is needed in the side not tried and tested and sometimes found wanting ex players.
    CoB 😎

  42. Lee Tomlin wasn’t jettisoned, he had a chance to play for Bournemouth and took it. The move didn’t work out for him but that is life.

    1. Indeed, though wasn’t he told that he wasn’t part of AK’s plans once Downing was brought in?
      Doesn’t mean he couldn’t have stayed and fought for his place, a place he might well have won in hindsight.
      Anyway, it doesn’t matter now as not only has he gone, he’s also just signed for Cardiff.

  43. I think we need an attacking midfielder if we lose Ramirez. I know he is not very popular now but if he is good enough for Monk, he is good enough for me. But of course there have been reports on a move to Real Betis today.
    Also an extra centre back is a must. Ben Gibson likely to sit out friendly against Augsburg and is a doubt for the opening game of the season at Wolves. Not only this but we have not replaiced Bernardo Espinosa nor Calum Chambers. We have Fry but we need another one soon.
    The problem is that we have had nearly as many changes as last summer. And we used to say it takes half a season or more for new players really to gel in. And we have now a new manager, too. So as we have seen with the practice matches, there is still a long way to go before we smash the league. Patience is needed in August and September.
    Up the Boro!

    1. I wonder if Monk would be happy to hold onto the likes of Gaston, de Roon and Gibson as long as possible to help see us through to the end of August while the new players have time to get used to each other.

  45. Ian – I think you may be right about Mogga and Karanka not being overly keen on introducing youngsters, whether it was related to their penchant for over-thinking or wanting players who had a greater understanding of the tactical side of the game and were able to follow more complex instructions is always a possibility – though that theory doesn’t account for how Adama got picked.
    Mike – always pleased to have lurkers and thanks for the comments on the blog – Yes, it’s one of the mysteries of last season how Boro ended up last January with only the guy from Watford, an unfit Bamford and a big Man with an even bigger first touch – plus a new striker off the pitch in Gaston. Perhaps lessons have been learned as they say.
    Andy – Interesting point about how Monk doesn’t seem to prefer too many pre-season games – I think I recall some of the players (it might have been Bamford) saying that pre-season training was quite intense under the new boss so he may prefer to concentrate on getting enough training sessions – though not a lot of evidence to suggest Boro will be quick out the blocks this term. I agree about having the academy boys available to play and see no reason why a few of them shouldn’t get a chance and gain experience – maybe bring them on for 20 minutes if the game is looking secure and see what they can do. BTW thanks for your comments on the article.
    Powmill – thanks for rising to the poetic challenge, your Charles one was my favourite – it’s a pity your journey to work ended before you had a chance to get onto the minor royals 🙂 well done OFB too!

    1. Charlie’s not the darling the prince for the common man
      He has uniformed flunkies to wash him even flush the toilet pan
      He likes the plants and animals even the odd gorilla
      But chose a wife who suits him well from the country set its Camilla
      As he grows old he wonders if he’ll ever succeed the throne
      Will I be king he often asks as he has his little moan
      Step aside you Charlie you, we do not want your ills
      We’ll have your son the balding one our very own Prince Wills

  47. If the club find a young player it is most important that they get an early introduction to the big time, once identified as ahead of their cohort, their rate of improvement will stall if left in that class.
    Fry is an example, he could and should have been in the team last season, we will never know if things would have been different, but he would have been well prepared for the champ. This season, and yes, I do expect him to play every match, his height is a great factor in defensive matters.š

    1. I would agree with that – a season playing alongside Ben Gibson would have been invaluable for Fry in his development and would have fast-tracked his career to the point where we would be imagining he would probably have the opportunity to serve the club for many years. His future is now in the balance, if he doesn’t get his chance and may well go backwards. The club need to be more pro-active in bringing their most promising talent through – a dozen games for Rotherham last season was not what he needed to progress. Instead Chambers (who’s only 18 months older) got the experience under his belt alongside Gibson and Arsenal are now on the verge of selling him for £20m to Palace.

  48. I am not a big fan of the way that we have taken leading clubs players on loan. Although as I write that, we would not have got Bamford on the books without him having spent a season here on loan.
    All the same, I do agree we should be giving our own the opportunity and not farming them out.

  49. With “Untypical Boro” forbidden
    By the local Evening Gazette
    We wondered what fate might befall us
    As thousands of blogs it did get.
    So Werdermouth took over this forum
    Whilst Boro again and again
    Were struggling to sign three new players
    So the Premier League they’d remain.
    “Now who would give us reports
    Of the matches?” Len Masterman said.
    Well we needn’t have worried much longer
    As the task fell to our friend Redcar Red.
    His reports are so comprehensive
    For Jarkko and Peasepud in Perth
    And for Spanish friends KP and Pedro
    One can only guess what they’re worth.
    We also have friends in high places
    Who keep us ahead of the job;
    We get up to date information
    From friendly Original Fat Bob.
    Now Werdermouth gives us free rein
    To discuss other sports such as cricket,
    Though if I should mention Cas Tigers
    I might find I’m on t’sticky wicket.
    Cos AV on “Untypical Boro”
    The game cricket he obviously hated
    For although Boro was the main topic
    Some sports were not highly rated.
    But although most of us might be strangers
    Some meet at the pub now and then,
    But this forum has been such a lifeline
    Especially to me, blogger Ken.

  50. Sorry I couldn’t mention other contributors on this forum such as Ian Gill and Powmil-Naemore in the verses, but it’s several years since I last wrote such a poem and also most bloggers nom-de-plumes are difficult to rhyme. Apologies for that.

      1. I agree it’s things like that that make this blog a special place to be part of
        Hopefully it will make all the lads and lasses overseas feel that much closer to home and the Boro

      3. The problem with having a name ending “Gill”
        You can’t find the rhyme that will just fit the bill
        More so, when some say you are over the hill
        Or maybe perhaps that you look really ill
        In which case make sure you keep taking the pill
        Or better by far take a sixth of a gill
        But I am quite certain you still have the skill
        To make post one hundred while still standing still
        Intelligent comments, your grist to the mill
        Without the superlatives which overkill
        Even if it’s them two when the Boro are nil
        So Ian, I’m sure you’ll continue to fill
        This blog with your posts so consistently brill
        All while ‘Typical Boro’ are failing to thrill
        In this shortish pre-season, but only until
        The sight of The Reds gives opponents a chill
        As we smash through the league like a hammerhead drill
        Leaving others behind us like withering dill
        But now as the ink has dried up in my quill
        I’ve used up my rhymes for a name ending “Gill”
        PS. I couldn’t resist.
        PPS. Ken, I’m not in competition with you !

  51. It’s true that along with others I have been lamenting the fact that we have lacked real pace in the team, and I can see that the club’s recruitment has started to put that right up front. It may be one reason Stuani has left and Braithwaite has come. I have also heard somewhere recently – may have been one of the EG guys – that the specialist winger is an out-of-date concept, and we need versatility.
    It may be that having people moving very quickly in pre-practised patterns, is going to be effective in getting us promoted. I like the idea of pass and move. I like overlapping full backs, and it looks like we will have two of them who are forward-thinking and can put the ball in the box from out wide. My problem is that we’ve seen with Adama that moving fast and being entertaining and even getting to the byline isn’t enough in itself.
    The idea of having Braithwaite wide left and Bamford wide right looks very attractive if you think about their goal-scoring potential. But if they don’t have the craft to consistently get dangerous balls in from wide, and the full backs are willing but also not highly skilled at consistently delivering dangerous balls, then where do the chances come from? Similarly, Adam Forshaw is a tremendous, dynamic midfielder, but is he going to create chances, is he going to unpick and split open defences with vision and a range of passes as the no.10? (Howson seems destined for one of the two holding roles.)
    The beauty of a winger is that it’s a straightforward tactic to implement – you get the ball to him as quickly and in as much space and as far up the pitch as you can – and a good one will work an opening and get the ball into the box with some craft and intelligence. A good no.10 will make space for himself and distribute the ball such that it gets to an attacker in a dangerous area. If you can get them in possession, these players can make things happen.
    Which is why I think we do need at least one specialist wide man, and a central playmaker. Otherwise we may face the scenario of playing the top six or seven Championship clubs, and moving very quickly chasing shadows of skilful players who pick us apart with their creative passing.

  52. Oh the subject of pre-season friendly results, we haven’t played the strongest eleven together yet. However, I do think we will be struggling to assemble a balanced team with all the skillsets we need, and if / when we do recruit these players then they will need time to gel.
    So I don’t think we should expect to smash the league in the opening fixtures.

  53. I’d be happy with a steady start and an explosive finish to the season.
    I’m still concerned that we will be losing Ben (and others?) last minute without having their replacements lined up or already here.
    Trying to remain optimistic that it will all come together nicely.

  54. All this tall about West Brom and their supposedly record bid for Ben
    Sources say it was for £12m plus so much for so many England caps so much for staying up so much for league position etc then they go and shout out why have Boro rejected it?
    Pathetic really it’s just a sop for their fans to say well we tried to sign him !!

    1. This Ashley Fletcher looks likely he’s flying back from Germany for talks with the Boro
      Cam believe it’s £7m for an imexperienced 21 yr old

  57. Ben Gibson cropped up on Talksport during Adrian Durham’s show.
    ‘Holding’ him back and asking too much for him was Adrian’s view. Tosspot. Left footed, young, English centre back in the England squad. Clearly he doesn’t play for a London team or one based near the East Lancs Road.

  58. #BORO chased Fedor Černych for months. Now Jagiellonia Bialystok have exited the Europa League the club are happy to sanction the move

  60. Expected to leave this summer after Middlesbrough’s relegation, Gaston Ramirez is on the verge of leaving the Riverside and getting himself a move to Spain.
    This is, at least, according to his agent, who spoke to El Desmarque in Spain, saying the agreement to transfer the Uruguayan forward to Real Betis is ‘basically done’.
    Arriving on a free from Southampton last year, any money made from his sale would be a profit for Boro, and it looks like they’ll probably be making somewhere around €5m for him.
    The Spanish outlet claim the fee will be between €4-6m, which isn’t bad considering Ramirez didn’t exactly set the league alight last year, with just two goals and three assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.
    Never really adapting to English football despite spells at Southampton, Hull City and Middlesbrough last year, perhaps a move to a more technical league, like La Liga, is exactly what the 27-year-old needs to rekindle his career, especially with the 2018 World Cup looming.

    1. OFB
      I am not certain that what we receive for GR will be all profit. I say that based on the fact that if you remember before we signed him permanently as oppose to the loan deal, he had signed a pre contract with Penarol. I can’t believe that Penarol or GR’s agent would have allowed him to walk away from the pre contract without cash changing hands somewhere along the line.
      I dare say, however, we will never know unless our Premier reporter in the north is able to elicit some information from his contacts. 😎

  61. On the subject of transfers, I see Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is denouncing the unsustainable spending by some Premier League clubs – for example Man City have already spent over £200m on just five players.
    Then Levy moaned that his club are having to finance a new stadium without any state help – why would the state pay towards a football stadium? especially when they are raking in hundreds of millions (though now I mention it, they did actually give poor West Ham one that they didn’t need anymore).
    I then read that Spurs are paying £750m to build a 61,000 seat stadium – not sure of the sustainable economics of that decision as it it works out at over £12k a seat, which will probably take 20 years worth of ticket receipts to pay off – probably a lot longer if you take into account interest on the money borrowed. These new stadiums must be some kind of top-of-the-range sports car for top clubs to show off their wealth – or lack of! I’ve no idea where that price tag comes from and why at no point someone didn’t ask about the budget option.

    1. Werdermouth,
      In the same article he says how Spurs play their academy kids in the first team then you don’t have to pay extortionate transfer fees. No doubt he wants Ben Gibson for next to nothing so he can sell him on at an extortionate profit1
      tub,
      John

    2. It would be interesting to see the budget for the new White Hart Lane stadium.
      The footprint of the new stadium is much much bigger than the old one, so I presume they have had to buy up a lot of land to enable the development to go ahead. Land in London is already nauseatingly expensive, but buying up peoples homes/plots to make the space for your big new stadium will surely push those prices to an even bigger premium.
      I imagine that is where a significant proportion of their overall budget has gone.

  62. I have just spent the best part of five hours chasing after a little white ball around a golf course in blazing sunshine and feel quite knackered.
    Got home and first job, after getting a cold drink, was to catch up with the blog and I have been blown away with Ken’s & Powmill ‘s poems and the comments that followed, many of which had me chuckling to myself.
    I now feel quite refreshed and proud to be part of such a diverse and talented community and I thank you all for allowing me to be part of it and to feel as if I am still at home in Stockton.
    CoB 😎

    1. You can take the man out of Stockton but not Stockton out of the Man
      I must admit I wish I’d had something like this all the years I worked and lived overseas
      COB

    2. I don’t recall, did we ever get a judgement on the eligibility of those from the other place (Stockton-on-Tees)
      ? … (Powmill exits quickly stage left, eyes rolling innocently and whispering ho hum to himself)

  63. I have just spent the best part of 4.5 hours chasing after a little white ball in thirty three degrees of bright sun shine and feel quite knackered.
    First job on arriving home, after getting a cold drink, was to catch up on the blog and I have been blown away by Ken and Powmill’s poems and the comments that followed, many of which have made me chuckle.
    It has refreshed me and I am so pleased and grateful to be part of a diverse and talented bunch of people who all share a common aim of wanting to see their team do well.
    I left home in the early seventies (work related) and have only been back infrequently to visit relatives (brother is season ticket holder) but this blog makes me feel as if I have never left and that I have a host of best friends who I have never met – thank you one and all.
    CoB 😎

    1. There are still seats available on the 12.25 tomorrow for the Stansted to Seville flight, £209.99.
      Maybe OFB can let his contacts know at MFC.

  65. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments following my latest poem. I did attempt to write one with the first letter of each line spelling WERDERMOUTH for the first 11 lines reading vertically with perhaps the 12th line starting with a hyphen as it wouldn’t work with an odd number of letters.
    However this proved very difficult and besides, it would have meant writing only 3 verses and too short for the message I wished to convey.
    In the 6th verse I felt I had to use the Yorkshire version of the definite article t’ to get the scansion right, and hope this didn’t confuse Jarkko or indeed our friends from County Durham.
    The lines “Though if I should mention Cas Tigers, I might find I’m on t’sticky wicket ” however did get me thinking. As most people will know I am also a Rugby League fan and have supported Castleford Tigers since 1961, and now they have just completed the “regular season” with 20 wins from 23 matches and require only 2 more wins from their last 7 fixtures to win the League Leaders Trophy for the first time in their 91 year history, although this doesn’t guarantee they will be Champions as the top 4 teams will play off after a total of 30 matches.
    However what has occurred so far is what I would call “smashing the league”. I do realise that there are only 12 teams in Super League (half the number in the Championship Football League), but wouldn’t it be wonderful if Boro could win 18 of their first 23 matches, or indeed on a pro ratio basis, maybe 9 of their first 11 or 12?

      1. Thank you Ken, but in true Old Corinthians style I choose to miss the penalty and so forfeit any hint of victory.
        My last one is to you:
        I’d like to applaud wordsmith Ken
        For the talent he shows with the pen
        And for taking his while
        To make all of us smile
        And remember we’re all Boro men
        Not long to wait for the footie to begin again…

    3. Cas have been superb this year (spoken through gritted teeth as a Wigan fan). I hope try get to Old Trafford, the fans and players deserve it.
      It’s great that the old days, where one of four teams won everything, have gone.

    1. What is important is that these are posted for him to see, less so exactly where the are posted!
      Don’t suppose his agent will have got him the tickets though

    2. West Ham United have accepted a £7million offer from Middlesbrough for striker Ashley Fletcher, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the club.

      1. If this comes off, have to say that I am very impressed at the way recruitment is taking place in comparison to previous seasons. Of course we can’t know the right selections are being made until we see the results on the pitch, but at least everything is positive and it appears with a determination to land the preferred targets.
        I think Fletcher will be a good investment for us if he signs.
        COB

  67. Ken we can but dream and as OFB has said but remember this is the Boro. I know you are a stats and historian man as far as the Boro is concerned.
    I believe that Jack’s promotion winning team only lost c. 4 games in their promotion year but not sure how many they won in their first 23 – perhaps you can enlighten us. Could lightening strike twice?
    I would not have been confused by the Yorkshire version of the definite article despite being born in County Durham as my Father and Grandfather were Yorkshire men.
    I played cricket in my younger days both for the school team and also Stockton CC. I had some successes and when reporting back to my parents about the wickets I had taken or the runs I had scored I was constantly reminded that I would never play for the best county! In those days many will remember that if you were not born in the county of Yorkshire then you could not play for the County team. Durham was only a minor counties team at that time.

    1. Glad to, KP
      In Jack Charitons first season in charge 1973-74, Boro won their first match at Portsmouth but then lost their first home match to Fulham.
      Then came a marvellous sequence of results of 15 wins in an unbeaten run of 24 matches, then a surprising 1-5 defeat at Forest, a draw home to Blackpool, then another run of 9 successive wins. So at that time after 37 matches their record was won 25 drawn 10 and only 2 defeats.
      At the time that sounded very impressive, but a similar stretch of results occurred in 1926-27, the season when George Camsell scored his 59 league goals. After only obtaining one point from their first 4 matches, Camsell made his debut in the 5th match and Boro then won 24 drew 6 and only lost 2 of their next 32 matches.
      So there have been a couple of precedents, so even if Boro make a bad start, it may not be beyond the realms of possibility that a long unbeaten sequence might follow.
      Maybe improbable, but we can dream, can’t we?

  68. After well over fifty years of following our local gladiators,it seems from my experience overalling the squad with anymore than possibly four or five players, it never works,
    Two or three adding to a good team makes sense,but I’m concerned with, eight or nine new faces,your heading for confusion.
    Hope not maybe it’s the modern way now as they say.but if your new and not getting a regular game, how can you really Excell.
    On the Ben Gibson thing,I support the club ,on wanting as much as they can get,
    I personally don’t think anyone is worth ,the zillions players are going for ,but if that is the way it is ok.
    I watched the last U21 world cup , when Ben kept Keane out of the England team, and was always there to cover Stones backside.
    The game against Italy they lost ,the media boys pointed at the defence, but Ben was the only one taking responsibility.
    On Stones, he’s a player with skills teams at the top like ,however he’s also a player that can make fellow defenders look bad,by some of his erratic play, Ben covered for him,Ben also kept Dier out of the team.
    If I was a club and had to choose ,I’d go for zBen, by the way Pullis knows a defender.
    Ben is not brilliant, he has some things he as to work on, but he is steady Eddie, and if it’s £40m, then that’s what we want.

  69. Ken
    Many thanks for that. Yes it was an impressive season by Jack’s team and I saw the majority of games both home and away. That’s what I call smashing the league.
    Camsell era was before my time. 😎

  70. I meant to add that who would have thought that Leicester would have won the Premier League? I bet the Leicester fans didn’t, and I’m pretty sure the Cas Tigers fans didn’t think that Cas would have had a 10 point lead over 2nd place Leeds Rhinos having beaten them three times already including a thumping 66-10 win.

    1. Being a supporter of Bradford Northern (calling them the Bulls doesn’t work for me … Though they have been a load of bull of late…) I just love it that your Cas have turned Leeds over three times this season. I will be absolutely delighted that they win the league this year.
      You mention Leicester, and so with Castleford this is dream for which we all follow our teams.

  71. Middlesbrough have spent more money this summer than in any transfer window before, and more than any other Championship club so far. Here is an extract of an article that Lyall Thomas wrote…
    Straight after Middlesbrough were relegated following just one season in the Premier League, chairman Steve Gibson gave an important interview with local media in the north east.
    “Many things have gone wrong,” he admitted. “The recruitment policy was not what we thought and there was disruption on the management side which affected the players.
    Aitor Karanka was unhappy the club did not land the right players in January “But now we need to look ahead to next season. We want to smash the league. We want to go up as champions, and we need to bring in the type of players to do what I said.”
    Player recruitment had been a contentious issue on Teesside since the January transfer window when then-manager Aitor Karanka hit out at the club’s board for failing to land his preferred targets.
    Boro were already battling relegation by then and struggling to score goals. Karanka wanted proven Premier League attackers, and he asked the club to bring him Bojan from Stoke and Robert Snodgrass from Hull, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Jese on loan.
    But instead they signed Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede – players who had played at Championship level and not even regularly at that – and Karanka did not consider them ready to try and keep the club in the top flight.
    After failing to pick up a single win from their next eight league games, Karanka left the Riverside by mutual consent in March and head of recruitment Victor Orta followed as Middlesbrough were relegated two months later.
    It appears the club are determined not to make the same mistakes again. There is more than a month left of this summer’s transfer window and Boro have spent more following relegation than they did after promotion last year.
    They have smashed their transfer record on two fronts; surpassing the £9.7m record on Marten de Roon with £15m striker Britt Assombalonga, breaking their previous highest window total in the process.
    On Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite (£8m), Jonny Howson (£6m), Cyrus Christie (£2.5m) and Darren Randolph (£5m) Boro have spent £36.5m – £17.5m more than the £19m outlay in 2016 – and they are not done yet.
    It seems chairman Gibson is putting his money where his mouth is and backing new boss Garry Monk.
    A massive £48m parachute payment plus last season’s Premier League earnings have helped but, to their credit, Boro’s board are awake to the spending power of their promotion rivals and have refused to be cautious.
    “It’s a long season and you need a good squad, you need a solid squad, you need a squad that’s ready and capable of dealing with the Championship and that’s what we’re trying to create,” Monk said from a training camp in Portugal last month.
    “That’s not just for the sake of having a squad but having good players in the squad, and I’m sure the club are working back home to get one or two more that we’ve identified for the areas we need to strengthen.”
    The Championship is a ferociously competitive league and big transfers do not guarantee success, but there is no doubt Middlesbrough are giving it their best shot.
    Championship club spends so far…
    Middlesbrough: £36.5m – Assombalonga, Braithwaite, Howson, Christie, Randolph
    Wolves: £19.3m – Douglas, Miranda, Neves
    Sheff Wed: £10m – Rhodes
    Leeds Utd: £10m – Jansson, Klich, Wiedwald, Ekuban, Saiz
    Hull City: £7m – Stewart
    🔴 I’ve edited that a bit for you as I think some additional extra commercial bits got pasted in by mistake – plus I think the author forgot about our record signing Alves (as many at the club probably wish to also) – Werdermouth

  72. Yorkshire beat Durham in the T20. Just thought I would mention it.
    If we get Ashley Fletcher that would give us Assombalonga, Bamford, Gestede, Fletcher and Braithwaite.
    Someone is going to lose out or possibly leave. Of the players we have who are the most vulnerable. Three brought in under Monk leaves Paddy and his donkey.

    1. I am now assuming some of these forewards will be used in the supporting three, and that Monk will try to develop them as more rounded, “dynamic”, players. It is the only way I can make sense of recent recruitment. Apparently, Fletcher can play left side.

  73. I’m still waiting for a real playmaker in midfielder, I would have gone after Josh Mceachran, I think there is a very good footballer in there.
    When he was here he was in a bad team, and he suffered,

  74. I don’t believe Josh McEachran is anywhere near good enough for the side Monk is assembling. Leave him at Brentford but I would definitely like to have Jota from them. Problem is that Jota has just agreed another years extension on his loan from Celta Vigo I think (which perhaps indicates that there are far richer pickings to be had at his parent club).
    An article on Newsnow this morning suggests Ryad Boudebouz a 27-year-old Algerian attacking midfielder with Montpellier and Deniz Turuc a 24-year-old who plays for Turkish side Kayserispor would be good No.10’s. Boudebouz would be my pick but financially Turuc 3 less years may make him a more attractive proposition on getting a return on investment.
    On the Ashley Fletcher thing I didn’t initially read too much into it as we now seem top heavy at the sharp end. At this point in time however it looks like we are landing the lad at somewhere between £6 to £7m. Must say for that sort of money I would have preferred someone a bit more proven and established but I guess you don’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. If he comes then good luck to the lad but it surely indicates some outgoings up front. Gestede is the obvious one but who knows maybe Traore will be sold to a Premiership suitor for serious cash to redress the outlay this summer.

  75. Right you lot, I am away for a week with unknown WIFI quality so I am leaving you shower in charge.
    Wish list
    1. A settled coherent team for the Wolves match.
    2. Gaston gone.
    3. Gibson to sign a long term deal and commit to smashing the league.
    4. Some creativity brought in for midfield.
    That is the easy part, the last is the hardest
    5. Bang heads together at MFC and the Gazette.
    1-4 are a gimme, 5?????
    No slacking, I will pop back when I can to check progress.

  76. Since West Ham are prepared to sell him, then I would say Ashley Fletcher probably falls into the unproven ‘punt’ category and at £6-7m is on a par with the price Boro paid for Adama and Gestede – he made only 16 appearances last season (mainly from the bench) and had one League Cup goal to his name. He previously had a loan spell with Barnsely in League 1, where he managed 5 goals in 21 appearances.
    Just looking at his biometrics (that’s height and weight to us normal people) he’s nearly 22 and is 1.85m and 78kg – so perhaps he’s being viewed as a bit more physical than Bamford and a little more mobile than Gestede – incidentally Bamford is the same height but only 71kg (whereas Gestede is a lumbering giant at 1.93m and 86kg), which is maybe why he has struggled to impose himself in the PL since he left after his first spell and at almost 24 needs to start showing his early promise – but it looks increasingly that Paddy probably won’t be first choice under Monk.
    So does the price-tag and those half-a-dozen goals make him a potential good signing – well he has to prove it on the pitch still. He’s almost like one of those young loan signings we normally get but as Bamford’s career has shown, players at that age can be hit or miss. I wonder if some of our academy lads see it as one less slot open to them in the squad.

    1. I’m definitely an old fogey because I don’t understand all these metric measures, but what I don’t understand is quoting car consumption rates in miles per gallon. I’m now used to petrol in litres but have yet to see miles per litre quoted. God help me if it becomes kilometres per litre! I’ve never been able to envisage an acre either, never mind a hectare, and to think Maths was my best subject at school.
      On a Boro subject, now I have seen photos of the team in full kit with red shorts, I don’t think that the lettering on the white band looks as large as I at first thought. In fact I now quite like the whole outfit.

      1. elsewhere in Europe we quote fuel consumption as litres per 100 km. So the lower the better. The Germans had a target of a three litre car – so fuel consuption to be 3 litre per 100 km. Some cars can do it now, I think. But I don’t have a clue how much that is in gallons as we have never used gallons – and then there are the American gallon to confuse us. I saw that more often.
        We needed to convert to euros in the past. But it was so long ago that nobody talks about the old money anymore. But it took two years to adapt – especially if you bought something expensive that you did seldom. As I travel a lot and do business in several countries, I wouldn’t have it any other way now. Makes business and travelling very easy that way.
        Up the Boro!

        1. I trained as a Quantity Surveyor when it was still feet and inches !
          Made it easier when we changed to metric !
          Duo decimals in twelfths !!

  77. Interesting that the price quoted for Ashley Fletcher is £7M – I just wonder if Adama Traore could be part of the deal as West Ham have supposedly shown interest in the past?
    I am still not convinced that AT has got a football brain or the ability to deliver quality ball and if we can get a good price then now would be the time to do so. If he has another season or half a season with us and fails to produce then I suspect we will make a big loss when we have to move him on.
    Still concerned like many others on here at the lack of creativity in the side and concerned that we end up with another AK mark 2 team with similar failings as in the past. No good having goalscorers in the side if they are not provided with quality ball.
    Have a good trip IG and you know that with Werder and OFB/RR that Diasboro is in safe hands. Item 4 and 5 of your wish list might be a stretch!

      1. Ah!
        12 inches = 1 foot
        3 feet = 1 yard
        22 yards = 1 chain
        10 chains = 1 furlong
        8 furlongs = 1 mile
        So 63,360 inches = 1 mile
        Getting there, but can’t find a ruler long enough.
        I know I’ll try weights.
        16 ounces = 1 pound (guess that must be weight of £1 coin)
        14 pounds = 1 stone (how do I find a stone with the exact measurements)
        Anyway 2 stones = 1 quarter (a quarter of what?)
        Oh I know its 4 quarters = 1 hundredweight (so how many ounces make up 1 weight? I make that 16x14x2x4 divided by 100= 17.92 surely that can’t be right!
        I guess it should read hundredth weight of a ton.
        Now I get it, but why is it spelt “tonne”?
        Never mind let’s try litres. Yes I see 4.546 litres = 1 gallon
        8 pints = I gallon, therefore 1 pint = .56825 of a litre
        It’s getting too complicated now.
        Let’s try money.
        4 farthings = 1 penny
        6 pennies = 1 tanner
        2 tanners = 1 shilling
        2 shillings = 1 florin
        10 florins = 1 pound (yes that sounds metric)
        1 guinea = 21 shillings (where on earth did that come from?)
        4 crowns = 1 pound (yes I see that)
        But hang on we had halfcrowns, so how many halfcrowns are there in a guinea? Let me see, 21 divided by 20 x8 = 8.4. That’s odd, I think I’ll stick to pound.
        So how many halfcrowns would there be in a stone?
        Well let’s see. 14 pounds in a stone, so that must be 8×14=112
        Now I’m really confused, must be the wrong pound.
        I bet Jarkko’s also confused!
        WHY DON’T WE GO METRIC?

        1. All I would add is cooking in metric is much easier as a litre of water weighs a kilogram so instead of measuring out liquids you can just weigh them on the scales (e.g. 100ml is 100g etc) – Anyway, I can almost sense weights and measures poem beginning to form in Ken’s head…

  78. Sky news now reporting that Ashley Fletcher has left the West Ham training camp in Germany to fly to Boro for talks.
    Good to see that Tony Pulis appears to be giving up on Ben Gibson. Just hope one of the big boys do not come knocking before the window closes.
    I want Ben to do well but not until we are back in PL or have missed out in which case his loyalty and performances will deserve a move to a top six club.
    CoB

    2. KP
      I think that Ben is fixed up and has been for some time, and for a big club.
      Any assessment of him will tick a lot of boxes, height, weight, in the air, on the ground, injury free record, discipline record, will he be a credit to your club, has he been found wanting against the top strikers, no, has he faced most of the top strikers, yes.
      He is a young English player, and they all need a certain number of those.
      A few of them are distinctly short in the central defender department.
      Last but by no means least, he looks the part.
      The bids by the bottom feeders? Working on the principle that, if you do not buy a ticket you can not win the raffle.
      Twelve million, hmmm! Bit dumb, if you ask me.
      Certainly shows what they think of our management.
      !t

  79. Looking at the potential Ashley Fletcher signing and some of the younger players we’ve brought in, we are very active in this area of the team – it looks as if we are setting up a production line stream of strikers who will develop and hopefully give us strong options over several years, at very low cost compared with having to shell out for Britt and Rhodes-type purchases. Of course, some will not fulfil their promise, but if even one comes off in a big way it more than pays for all of them.
    Fletcher will want to play this season, of course, and could still say no if he thinks he isn’t in contention for a starting role. If we assume we have Britt up front, and possibly one of the ‘versatile’ players out wide, I suppose we can accomodate two out of Britt/Rudy G and PB/Fletcher. But if Braithwaite isn’t the no10, we have PB/Fletcher/Braithwaite and we look to be overmanned.

    1. Sky Sports Reporting
      Ashley Fletcher has left the West Ham camp in Germany to travel to Middlesbrough for talks/medical. £7m fee agreed between clubs.

  80. Ken, I agree that the new kit looks nice in the pictures when the players are wearing it. So I suppose they look OK on TV and from the stand of Riverside.
    As I haven’t bought one, I do not know if the advertisement look too large when you wear the top yourself.
    Has anyone bought the new kit in here?
    Up the Boro!

  81. Ashley Fletcher
    From the sublime to the ridiculous.
    Last season we were all defence. Organised to stifle teams and score in the last 10mins.
    Now we have sooo many forwards it will be difficult if not impossible to give them all game time.
    Me heads swimming!
    How much av we spent? Leeds fans saying what chumps Boro are, but I think they can’t believe a Championship team can afford to spend over £40 squillion spondoolies. Not suprisin cox I can’t believe it either.
    GM has had his eye on Fletcher for over a year and now he has signed him. Monk knows his potential and believes he’s a gem (just guessin like!).
    So, I reckon there’s going to be serious skill and speed for Boro up front this season and opposition teams may well come to fear having to play us.
    Just sayin like.
    UTB

      2. With all the forward signings is Monk looking to play 433 without a No.10 perchance? It would make some sense as to why we haven’t been directly linked with temperamental Latin “playmakers”.
        I think that there will be some unexpected outgoings apart from Downing and Ramirez (if anyone can afford their wages of course). Traore, Fabio and Gestede may depart I suspect along with Ben late in August when the serious bids come in. Meanwhile I do think we need two decent CB’s arriving anyway unless Monk has concluded that Fry is ready and Mahmutovic is good enough cover along with Baptiste?
        If we are splashing £7m on Fletcher I think I would have been more comfortable splashing that sort of cash on Kyle Bartley from Swansea.

    3. I think Gaston wants to stay.
      His agent is stirring things up just to get his fees
      One interesting comment this morning on twitter
      A group of fans were at Rockliffe yesterday whilst the Boro were training
      As soon as they finished the first player to come over and see the fans and start signing autographs was
      Gaston!!
      I was infuriated with him last season and yet I met him a couple of times even spoke my rough and ready Spanish in conversation and thought what a nice bloke he was
      As they say there’s always two sides to a story.
      Did AK bring out the worst in him?
      If Monk wants him to stay then I would give him a second chance just hope the crowd will !

      1. Interesting Bob. I get the high potential for a falling out with AK (and that’s not meant as a dig at AK just reflecting on his strict regime and standards) but after he had gone he was playing for he that has been wiped from the records at MFC so I would have thought he would have put a shift for him. There again maybe there was more to the whole set up and falling out and who said what to who, when and where, how and why?
        Either way Gaston needs to sort his head out but to do that I think he needs to sort his agent out first.

  84. Continuing Ian’s wish list theme as I also depart for a couple of weeks hols:
    1: Boro to be top of the league when I get back mid-August
    2. Boro to stay top of the league for the rest of the season.
    3. Boro to be promoted next May
    4. Ben Gibson to be playing premiership football for Boro in 2018 onward.

  85. I just started reading an article about Ashley Fletcher in the Gazette but got somewhat distracted half way through it as for some reason there was a video of two unduly vicious glamorously dressed pouting women wrestling each other in a Summer Slam trailer embedded within the text – to think AV used to frown upon cricket sullying the purity of his football offerings…

  86. TalkSport claim that Gaston Ramirez has rejected the chance to join Real Betis.
    The Uruguayan has reportedly snubbed their approach as the move would force him to take a big pay cut from his current wage in England.
    Maybe OFB is right and he might stay?
    Up the Boro!

    1. Hmmm a player who feels partially responsible for the club being relegated and wants to stay to help them get back up or a player that is only interested in money.
      Will the real Gaston please stand up!

    2. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be committed to the cause. A guaranteed cheque is one thing but putting the club first to prove your worth and earnt the cheque is another. I’ve said before his agent is trouble and discontent and Ramirez was, as far as I am concerned, in breach of his contract last season.
      Jekyll and Hyde springs to mind.
      UTB,
      John

  87. I don’t want to see Ramirez anywhere near the first team, if he stays i’d having training with the youth squad.
    A player not to be trusted under any circumstances.
    Plenty of time in the transfer window yet to do a deal and if not then he can be loaned out.

    1. I am with you on this Nigel
      He should be kept out of the squad and I would not even have him with the youngsters. He should train alone under enough supervision to see that he does not breach any contractual obligations. We should make no effort to sell him, but accept any offer that his agent can arrange that is in line with the release clause in his contract. I would only consider rehabilitating him into the squad if he fires his agent.
      However, it is already too late for that as he has been trading with the first team and involved in pre season games. So I (sadly) expect he will be included in the squad and used.

    3. Nigel, I agree 100%. He is trouble and Monk would be well advised not to even consider rehabilitating him.
      While I can just about understand the argument that his behaviour last season might have been because he had a lousy relationship with AK, it doesn’t excuse the appalling lack of respect he showed to his teammates, the fans and the club.

  88. Steve Gibson should have gone through the process of a verbal warning, followed by a written warning, then the threat of dismissal last season for breach of contract by Ramirez. In my opinion there was enough evidence before the Bournemouth match of the players intentions.
    In any other profession that would be the correct procedure. As it stands now MFC are stuck with him until his contract runs out, but under no circumstances should Ramirez ever play for Boro again. It would not only be ethnically immoral, but a betrayal to the clubs supporters.
    MFC have faced similar situations with Yakubu and Mido in the past, and to a certain extent with Boksic. There have been too many of these expensive mistakes over the years. They never learn.

  89. I’m gonna say it, if we sell Adama , unless it’s for crazy money,this club as definitely lost the plot.
    There is not another player like him,in the country never mind this division,go back on utube, and watch some of his runs,yes there seemed to be no end,but I think some players weren’t helping him with effort on their part and in this division I can see a penalty a game, think of Bournmouth,how many do they get.because they run at teams and force defenders to commit.
    Why are we after Fletcher, is there a concern about assomobolongos, fitness or history of injuries, or even is he injured now?

    1. I agree that the Mirror article is a collection of recycled quotes with the addition of “MirrorSport understands Gibson is determined to play top-flight football to keep himself on Gareth Southgate’s radar” – and with that plausible sentence, then hey presto you’ve got an article complemented with suitably matched library Photos of Ben and Steve looking not very happy – plus several thousand clicks to please the advertisers.

  92. RR
    Re your response to Ken, I’m sure I read that Monk played a 433 at Leeds last season. It does seems a better fit for the squad at the moment too.
    However, all the friendly reports say we were playing a 4231.
    I quite like the idea of Clayton sitting and Howson and de Roon pushing forwards. Plenty of options for the front three.

    1. Be careful not to speak about this too loudly in here, in case OFB gets naughty stepped by the club and we lose our ears on the ground.
      Anyway, you should rest assured that, being the fully transparent organisation it is, the club has all you need to know (or should that be “all it needs you to know”?) about this matter on its very own website, devoid of pop up advertising as well as of incisive journalism.

    2. Strong rumours at a Rockliffe that Nathan Dyer is signing today
      Nathan Antone Jonah Dyer /ˈdaɪər/ (born 29 November 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swansea City. He started playing as a teenager at Southampton, making the first team. He has also had loan spells with Sheffield United, Burnley and Leicester City.

    3. Status to date plus Dyer and a centre back to come
      Saw Downing at Lunchtime today driving past still on Boro training top.
      He lives near me so the Birmingham deal must be dragging on……
      The sixth permanent signing of the summer has brought a 21-year-old striker to Teesside.
      Fletcher arrived for talks on Thursday after flying in from West Ham’s training camp in Germany and put pen to paper on a four-year deal on Friday morning.
      Signed for £6.5m, Fletcher adds to the fire-power assembled at the Riverside over the last few weeks as Garry Monk shapes his squad for the Championship season and is the second player to sign from West Ham in the last seven days, following on from the acquisition of Ireland international goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
      So far this summer we have signed Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite, Cyrus Christie, Jonny Howson and Darren Randolph, plus Luke Armstrong, Enes Mahmutovic, George Miller and Lewis Wing at Under-23 level and Connor Roberts on loan for the season from Swansea.

    5. Ben Gibson was asked today will you be fit to play at Wolves next week?
      “Next week?” He replied
      “”I’m playing tomorrow in the friendly!”

    6. Just thinking about these signings and a 4231 doesn’t add up to me !
      Monk is gonna play 4-3-3 isn’t he bamford and braithwaite either side of Britt😍😍😍😍😍😍

  96. In terms of Gaston’s loyalty, or the seeming lack of it, well it’s not ideal to have a player who’s less than committed – but we shouldn’t overlook the other side of the coin that clubs think nothing of telling a player he’s no longer in their plans, despite him being contracted for several more years. For example, Downing was told he’s no longer wanted and should look for another club because the manager has decided he wanted someone else to wear your shirt – is that very different? As an occasional cynic I would say for many involved in football, loyalty only exists until a better option comes along for either party. The problem only arises when your public handling is done with all the diplomacy of a Donald Trump late night Tweet.

    1. That’s an interesting way to look at it Werdermouth.
      I think there is a world of difference between :
      1) a club/manger being open and honest with its employee, that it no longer sees a place for him in the operation, so will not stand in his way of finding another job for himself and will even waive any transfer fee to make it easier for him to do that, at the same time continuing to honour the contract it has with him and actually continuing t use his skills and experience; and
      2) a player that works in the background (by his agent and/or by himself) to find himself an alternative pay day and when he doesn’t get what he wants,petulantly throws his toys out of the pram and dis-honours the contract he has with the club.

      1. I think Gaston was pretty open with the club that he wanted to leave for Leicester – they said no but probably should have said yes once they knew he wanted out. Downing’s problem at the moment is finding a club that will match the current wages of his contract – he could also say no to a move and remain.
        Though I’m not saying I agree with his attitude or disagree with trying to move Downing on.

  97. Werder, of course Downing could say no to a move and of course the club could have said yes to a Gaston move in January (and boy isn’t it a shame they didn’t !!). That is not quite the point. As Nigel Reeve and Ken Smith and others I think have indicated, Ramirez has acted in what most of us would consider to be breach of contract (obviously we are not party to the actual contractual arrangement, so we are speculating, but with enough collective knowledge and experience for that speculation to be reasonable).. I think that is what makes his situation not really comparable to the way that Downing (and others before and after him) are being treated honourably (in a contractual as well as in an ethical sense) as they are being moved on.
    You asked “…is that very different?”. I am only saying the answer to that in this case is “yes”.

    1. Powmill
      Modern professional football is a murky world of competing interests, made all the more distasteful by the excessive amounts of filthy lucre in the pigs trough.
      MFC are moving towards keepin Gaston because regardless of the moral imperative he’s seen as both a playing and financial asset -period!
      UTB

    2. I don’t really disagree with the point you’re making, but a player’s performance in the end is related to his mental state and that is no doubt dependent on their character too. Perhaps creative players are also prone to be a little more moody on the whole and Gaston wasn’t by any means the first player to have his head turned.
      After all the modern game is quite often about trying to prise the players you want away from others by financial persuasion. Whether players under contract should be even aware of bids unless the selling club accepts an offer is perhaps desirable but ultimately impossible to prevent.
      Likewise it’s not unknown for a manager or club to freeze out players it wishes to encourage to leave – look at Dimi last season or even Rhodes. Though it’s unlikely that any player with a market value beyond the value of their remaining contracted wages will be sacked for failing to perform to their best level. That’s the main difference between Gaston and Downing as far as the club is concerned – Downing has no real sell on value and will cost the club £4-5m in wages over the next two years – though Gaston will cost the same he could command around £10m to the right buyer. It’s simply business over loyalty or indiscretion.

      1. You’re right, Werdermouth, it is business but also immoral in my opinion. I know hindsight is a luxury, but MFC should have questioned why both Southampton and Hull City wanted rid of him, and wasn’t there some kerfuffle over his registration with a foreign club before we signed him? As I said before, Boro never seem to learn from previous mistakes.

  98. Werder and others, is it the time to look who we could and should play on the more advanced midfield positions and as strikers? I think we have plenty of players fighting for the four attacking roles in the Monk’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
    I think Monk won’t be using wingers in that formation. He will use both full backs as the widest men. We know what Friend can do with his runs down his side. What Christie said in his interview is he likes to attack and run all day down the touch line.
    So we have plenty of players to choose for the attacking midfield positions – and the sole striker role. Even if Gaston or Stewie would leave the club.
    The players to choose from:
    Tavernier, Fletcher (if true), Chapman, Ramirez, Downing, Braithwaite, Howson, Farsaw, Bamford, Traore and Soisalo. And Gestede and Assombalonga as attackers.
    Philippe Tallentire gave his verdict on players he thinks will be fielded against Augsburg tomorrow. See: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-middlesbrough-could-line-up-13397747
    What do you like to see in the 3-1 position tomorrow or at Wolves? Up the Boro!

      1. But that’s how I see the 4-2-3-1 must work, Ken. There is not many wingers in the squad left if Downing and Ramirez departs.
        I saw Boro vs. Derby live at Riverside and then Friend and Nsue were very high on the pitch. Above the midfielders when we had ball. And that was Karanka time.
        Up the Boro!

  99. I would play (at least vs Augsburg):
    —– Assombalong —-
    Braithwaite–Howson–Bamford
    —- Clayton–DeRoon —-
    Friend–Fry–Ayala–Christie
    —– Randoph —-
    Up the Boro!

    1. Interesting that in Jarkko’s team only three players remain from the promotion winning side, Friend, Ayala and Clayts, on continuity from last season we could add De Roon into the equation but it seems likely that he will be going, we could perhaps add Bamford to an extent but that is really pushing it.
      If we hold onto Gibson then that would be four from the promotion side. I know Fry is one of our own but he wasn’t a regular and was even out on loan for half of last season. It will take a while for things to settle and gel, our opening few weeks may see us getting smashed rather than smashing the league.
      Meanwhile there are “rumours” of Ripley going to Bristol permanently. At 24 I guess the lad has to make his mind up on how long does he sit and wait for an opportunity. A loan would be great but I gather that he only has 12 months left on his contract, Aden Flint coming in the opposite direction has been mooted as part of any deal and whilst he doesn’t excite me he does have solidity if not exactly silky skilled athleticism. Newcastle signed a few bread and butter Championship players last summer rather than future Premiership potential so its maybe not a bad thought process if Flint does arrive.

      1. Well, I did not realize that, RR.
        Been really busy close season for Boro, but I have to admit that I am afraid of TOO MANY changes in our squad. We can become good finally but I half expect a difficult start to the season. Where is the continuity?
        And we need to keep Ben at all costs now. We need him but he must not play while injured.
        Up the Boro!

    1. Jarkko
      Thanks for that. Only trouble is the website will not let me log in at present!
      I had the same problem a few weeks ago and ended up having to change my password albeit I had not made any mistakes.
      I have just emailed the club to ascertain why this keeps happening and not sure if it will be resolved by tomorrow!
      CoB

  101. Ashley Fletcher
    During my readings of the excellent fellow posters opinions, I noted that not too much has been said of our new signing.
    It occured to me that in GM’s previous role at Leeds, he was accredited with the positive development of their main striker, Chris Woods. Here is a player with 10/11 previous clubs, where he struggled to score double figures. Last season, he scored 27 in the league alone.
    Now, if GM can do for Fletcher, that which he has done for Woods, I suggest the sum of £6.5 million can be/ will be upped by 5 to £30million minimum and all those mocking voices from West Ham and Leeds maybe stiefled somewhat.
    Interesting to note that West Ham insisted on a sell on clause. Why do so unless you anticipate a large increase in the players future value – otherwise it’s pointless?
    The aforementioned is why I amongst others are excited about the appointment of Monk. It’s an added bonus that Fletcher was born in Yorkshire 🙂
    UTB

  102. What’s happened to the Ramsden Trophy? I seem to remember a few years ago that Scottish Championship teams played a knockout competition and the winner played at home to Boro preseason and televised on BBC Alba.
    I think we beat Falkirk in a high scoring match (might have been 7-4). Did this competition occur just for one season, does anyone recall?

  105. Referencing Bob’s earlier Nathan Dyer suggestion I’m not so sure he is the type of character that would add value to the club at this minute in time. He has from time to time been less than virtuous both on and off the pitch and his fitness/injury record is suspect. A fully fit Dyer at the top of his game is one thing but how fit he is and how suitable his behaviour would be lends me to “swipe left” on this one (as I believe is the modern parlance).

  106. I didn’t for one minute think that there were going to be so many wholesale changes to the squad.
    I can make my mind up whether this is because we have a manager who has a predetermined plan and knows who he wants and what shape to play them in or….
    We are signing everyone and anyone because we have the money to do it so we are….
    I’m not sure we are going to smash the league with so many players not used to each other and their different styles and areas they like the ball played into
    Just hope we sign a good centre back to help keep it tight in defence along side hopefully Ben!

    1. OFB
      You have confirmed what I and a few others have been saying for a while now in that these wholesale changes are a concern.
      I think most of us expected some change including a more progressive and creative midfield coupled with a greater goal scoring threat. We appear to have got the latter but I am not convinced about the former and we still appear to be relying on wide creativity coming from the full backs.
      I am an admirer of George friend as a person and a footballer and the progress he has made but his crosses and shooting are no better than Adama’s end product and I have yet to form an opinion on Christie.
      Why can we not have a team where defenders defend, the mid field wins the ball and creates opportunities for the forwards who put the ball in the net or am I just being too simplistic?
      At present, rather than a bit of tweaking we have had a re-build and a team that needs to gel. Could be a rocky start but I hope not.
      Managed to get my MFC website login working again so looking forward to watching the match tomorrow.
      CoB. 😎

      1. Excellent, KP. I hope we see something new and learn something about Britt Assombalonga. Exciting as there is so many new players and a new manager on show. It is a friendly, but still. Up the Boro!

  108. I’m sure the club would cite a number of reasons (probably mainly to do with money) why they are letting Connor Ripley go and at the same time potentially keeping Gaston Ramirez.
    Maybe I am old- fashioned but I find it sad that a young, apparently talented, local lad who must be desperate to play for Boro is surplus to requirements (while big money is spent on another keeper) and an older, disrespectful, petulant, disruptive and disloyal midfielder who doesn’t give a toss for the club and its fans appears to be in the process of rehabilitation.

  109. Boro exile, I agree wholeheartedly. Ripley proved his ability last year. It makes no sense even if he is seen as number two keeper this year. The club thrives on that local connection.

  110. On the Ramirez thing, I’ve switched from a position of loathing the guy and wanting him out to a rather more pragmatic view. Sure, he burned his boats and upset a lot of people. Sure, his lack of loyalty stinks after Boro had resurrected his career. And yes, he’s a snake and a rat. But all that is now in the past. If Monk thinks he can turn him round and get the best out of him and if Gaston is fully prepared to give 100% for the club, then it may be worth playing him. He remains the best number 10 we have and the most creative, and I’m sure that a fully firing Ramirez would create loads of chances for our newly assembled strike force. He may be the best option in that role, rather than bringing in yet another new import.
    However, all of that is tied to all sorts of caveats. Is Monk sure Gaston will give his all for the club and not throw another hissy fit? Will his agent continue to stir things up behind the scenes? Will Adam Clayton be able to share a changing room with Gaston without punching his lights out? And how will Monk ensure that his presence doesn’t harm team morale and spirit again?
    So is it worth risking fielding Gaston? Probably. I would trust Monk on this one. It won’t stop me loathing the Uruguayan, though!

      1. I still don’t agree that any Boro player should be boood onto the pitch by Boro fans no matter what they have done
        They are wearing our shirt and our badge !

  111. I’m sorry Clive, but I can’t agree with you on this one. I hope that the pre season has been about keeping Ramirez in the shop window because I really hope GM is a good judge of character and temperament and really doesn’t want any of that poison in the dressing room this season.

  112. Looks like Claudio still after his January target ?
    #FCNantes have offered Ramirez a better deal than #Betis, however, an agreement between the clubs has yet to be reached

  113. I am in complete agreement with boro exiles post. The world of football is often a shady place where the decisions that are made do not sit comfortably.
    However, it is the nature of the beast that creates this problem. Football is a multi million pound industry an upturn in results for a new manager are expected overnight. If a manager doesn’t get them then he himself is unemployed.
    When put in that context it must be very tempting with a player of Ramirez’s undoubted ability at your disposal to use him, particularly if he’s training hard and is making all the right noises for you.
    A fully functioning Ramirez could be the difference between success and failure (either positively or negatively) and Garry monk will know this. But he’s the manager and it’s a big call but it’s his to make as ultimately his head is the one on the block even with a supportive chairman like Steve Gibson.
    The situation is no different to politics. The four year cycle of parliament means that all difficult decisions are made early doors with the hope that a couple of quiet years towards the end in parliament ends in re-election. For that reason decisions, like in football, are often short sighted and not with the long term interest of a club/country at the forefront but instead instant gratification and short term success. This also means morals and a social conscience often don’t come into decision making. More’s the pity!!

  114. Latest suggestion is that Ripley has turned down new contract because he wants first team football. If that’s true then I wish him all the best. Still it’s sad to see another academy player go. There must be some who are good enough to get a chance this season.

  115. What a crazy situation Yorkshire CCC find themselves in, for despite leading the T20 Blast North table and looking well set for a top two finish which would give them a home fixture in the quarter-final, they will be forced to play away because Headingley is unavailable because it is hosting a Test Match against the West Indies on that date.

  117. Interesting points from Phil in the EG this morning:
    ‘A new broom is sweeping through Rockliffe Park and it’s entirely conceivable that only two or three of the nine players still with the club who started the final game of the season at Liverpool will be in the Boro team on the opening day at Wolves.’
    People on this blog were saying that a major rebuild was needed for the coming season, but I don’t think any of us expected this level of turnover, or signing three strikers for a combined total of around £30 million.
    Although clearly a lot of this headline figure will only be paid dependent on performance, and the expense will be justified if we get our fingers back in the PL honey pot. And there is still the possibility of a big fee for Ben, and significant money for Ramirez and/or De Roon, following the income from Rhodes, Espinosa etc., so the net spend may not be as dramatic as it looks now.
    ‘…expect interest in centre-backs and creative midfielders in the next week or two as the search continues to build a squad capable of achieving an immediate return to the Premier League.’
    These sound like absolutely the right recruitment priorities, let’s hope it is not just Phil’s assessment of what we need, but has maybe come from a mole at MFC and is actual club policy.

    1. I’d be sorry to see Connor Ripley leave, but it does seem inevitable. I do think however I’d have given him his chance as No.1 instead of Randolph who according to Hammers fans is indecisive on crosses.
      Ripley was obviously outstanding with Oldham (good name for a goalkeeper by the way), but seriously Oldham were a poor team last season and their defence must have been under tremendous pressure in most games, yet Ripley probably saved them from relegation.
      At 23/24 years of age he has plenty of experience having also been on loan to Motherwell. Some folk are saying that the Scottish Premier League can’t be counted as it is of poor quality, and that his experience with a 1st Division team doesn’t warrant his playing in the Championship.
      Well where did Ben Gibson get his experience? I know that a goalkeeper’s position is a specialist one (one mistake for a defeat), but remember we bought Mark Schwartzer from a 1st Division Club and he didn’t do too badly, did he!

      1. Ken,
        You begin to wonder why we have an Academy when you follow that argument through. Or is it to make money? If we do sell Connor on I hope that sell-on clauses are added and a goal keepers playing life can be a long one. I don’t wish injuries on our keepers but it would be great to see him get a chance and take it making the No. 1 berth his but I fear that will ever happen.
        UTB,
        John

    1. Merchant Navy
      1939 total tonnage stood at 33% of world total.
      2012 total tonnage stood at 3% of world total.
      A ‘small’ sea faring nation.
      So, many changes. Whole NE communities dissimated. Coal industry gone, manufacturing a shadow of what it was. Food banks, poverty, suicides of mental health suffers. Young people in pitiful expensive rentals carrying heavy debt burdens. British Armed Forces almost unrecognisable from only 20 years ago. Full-time jobs with quality sickness and pension provision, gone.
      £200 million for Neymar.
      Hmmmm!

      1. I’m looking at the broader picture. What you say about the Merchant Navy is true, but we are an island and as such surrounded by the ravages of the sea. Maybe “sea faring ” is the wrong description, but we, especially on this coast, not only suffer from coast erosion but need the RNLI (most of whom are fishermen and volunteers) to save “those in peril on the sea”.

  122. Homegrown talent versus corporate success is a difficult circle to square. We would all love to see a team of Downing’s, Gibson’s, Morrison’s, Pallister’s, Mowbray’s and Ripley’s etc. We would also love to see a Boro team that is successful and playing at the highest level. My guess is that it would take considerably longer and rely on too many fortuitous coincidental factors in order to achieve greatness with a bias towards homegrown players.
    I would love to grow my own Veg, rely on Wind and Solar energy, have Hens laying fresh eggs etc. but the Good Life versus Real Life doesn’t fit for most of us in the modern world. A Keeper who has proven experience (and known foibles) over one who will probably be as good at some future point (or perhaps far better ultimately) is a short term need over longer term desire. Instant gratification if you like but if we don’t bounce back within a year or two we could face a very long time in the wilderness. My heart yearns for one thing but my head screams something else unfortunately.

  124. A few historical snippets relating to Gaston’s agent Pablo Betancourt.
    Ramirez has clashed with Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino this season and has been on the periphery for the club’s climb up the Premier League table this term, despite costing £12m when he signed from Bolgna in the summer of 2012. The Uruguay international’s agent Pablo Betancourt now believes a move is necessary ahead of the World Cup.
    The agent of Southampton’s Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Ramirez has confirmed that he is in talks with two Italian clubs over a permanent deal. “Gaston will never say it publicly, but he wants to come back to Italy, as this is his football. I am sure wherever he goes in Italy he will do very well. In my view he’s made for Serie A and any club that signs him will be getting a great deal. I don’t know if it’ll be now or in June, but as far as I am concerned Gaston is close to a comeback in Italy.”
    Betancourt is also the agent for Abel Hernandez who seems to be touted around from time to time.
    Hernandez’s agent, Pablo Betancourt, has admitted that the 23-year-old would relish a switch to the Stadium of Light however, Palermo coach Giuseppe Iachini is keen to keep a striker who scored 14 times last season as they were promoted from Serie B. Iachini said yesterday: “As of now, Hernandez remains here.”
    Betancourt was in England last week to talk to several clubs to gauge their interest in the international forward. He said: “There are clubs interested in him, but at the moment there are no concrete offers.”
    And then after Hernandez had gone to Hull this ensued
    West Brom along with Premier League rivals Everton, want Hull City’s Abel Hernandez in the summer, the striker’s agent has claimed. There were reports that Albion were considering a bid in late January, but the Birmingham Mail understands that that speculation was incorrect at the time. Pablo Betancur told Italian media, that the Baggies have enquired about former Palermo striker and Uruguay international Hernandez. He mentioned Everton too, and plenty of interest from China, namely Changchun Yatai who signed Odion Ighalo on deadline day. The Tigers are currently fighting a battle against relegation back to the Championship. Betancur said: “We brought three proposals from China, one higher than the other, to Hull City with whom he has only one year of the contract, “they would not sell him. “For the player from an economic point of view, it would be a great leap in quality, Changchun Yatai wanted Abel strongly but we have so many requests for June, from Everton to West Brom.”

  125. Ken
    May I suggest an ‘Nation of Islanders!’
    Perhaps a once proud nation of islanders, when being British was worth being proud of.
    Community spirit still exists, of course, and who’ll be hard put to find anyone quicker to cheer when Eng-er-lund score. However, the tide seems to have turned away from the time when being an Englishman meant a certain level of respect was offered when abroad. Now too many have an attitude of selfishness – a zeitgeist, as the Germans might say.

  126. Love to see us go after Charly Musonda at Chelsea , quick, direct, can play through the middle with speed, and cause opposition to foul in dangerous areas .

  127. Reading the blogs on here I can only conclude that we are in for some furious system changes as the manager tries to bring out the great team that undoubtedly lurks some where inside this group of players.
    It will not be pretty, I think that we may be disappointed at wolves. However, we should not panic but persist until we get a grip on this league, which I think we will.

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