As Boro’s search for a new manager is underway, the club are looking to begin a new era and hopefully rebuild a team capable of winning promotion and staying in the Premier League. The pressure is on chairman Steve Gibson to make the right appointment and choose someone who will galvanise the supporters and instil belief into the players. It’s now 25 years since Bryan Robson arrived on Teesside, which tried to change the mentality that the club was unfashionable and rarely a destination for glamour or even big names. Diasboro’s resident Boro historian, Ken Smith, looks back at the start of the Robson era from his arrival to the start of the Riverside revolution.
In his last season as Boro manager, Lennie Lawrence was instrumental in recommending that his successor should be Bryan Robson, a legend of the game, but with no managerial experience. Lawrence was a close friend of Alex Ferguson and a meeting was arranged and with his blessing met Robson in Wetherby, from where the two men met Keith Lamb at the ‘Little Chef’ on the A19. From there Robson was escorted to Wilton Castle where an artist’s impression and model of Boro’s proposed new stadium at Middlehaven was on display. Bryan Robson had other options, Wolverhampton Wanderers being one, but after assurances from Steve Gibson that he would be allowed to bring in his own staff and that money would be made available for incoming transfers the deal was struck. Steve Gibson later recalled how he and George Cooke were so enthusiastic about the proposed new stadium and after Robson shook hands on the deal, and whilst Cooke organised champagne, Steve excused himself where he screamed the place down with joy!
Now to events on the playing field. Robson was to be a player/manager with Viv Anderson as his assistant, and his first two signings were Nigel Pearson from Sheffield Wednesday for £750,000 and Neil Cox from Aston Villa for £1M. Goalkeeper Alan Miller joined from Arsenal for £425,000 and Welsh International Clayton Blackmore on a free transfer from Manchester United. All five including Robson made their Boro debut in the first match of the season at home to Burnley where John Hendrie scored twice in a 2-0 win before a crowd of 23,343, almost a capacity crowd for Ayresome Park in those days. Boro won their first four matches against Southend and Derby away and Bolton at home without conceding a goal. They looked like extending that to five matches when leading at Watford at half-time, but conceded their first goal in the second half and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. The big test was to come in the next match at home to Sunderland where Boro found themselves 0-2 down going into the last 10 minutes, but goals from Alan Moore and Nigel Pearson within two minutes ensured a share of the spoils. A last minute penalty converted by Craig Hignett in the home match against West Brom preserved Boro’s unbeaten record.
Craig Hignett joined Boro from Crewe a couple of seasons before Robson arrived and was soon to witness the arrival of many big namesHowever after leading at half-time at Port Vale, Boro conceded twice in the second half to lose 1-2 and dropped to second place. Remember that only the Champions would be promoted automatically at the end of the season as the First Division was to be reduced from 22 clubs to 20, so second place at the end of the season would mean merely a play-off position. Boro got back to winning ways with two 4-1 wins home and away to Scarborough in the League Cup where the little Bolivian Jaime Moreno made his debut, and League wins away to Bristol City and home to Millwall where Boro scored 3 goals for the first time seemed to have stopped the rot, but then came a surprise 0-1 home defeat to Tranmere followed by a 1-5 walloping at Luton which saw Boro drop to 4th. A goalless draw at Portsmouth and two draws against Cesana and Udinese in the Anglo-Italian Cup and elimination from the League Cup at Aston Villa meant that Boro’s winless run had stretched to 6 matches in total.
Boro did then win successive home wins over Swindon and Oldham, but lost at Grimsby before the top of the table clash at home to Wolves awaited them in late November. A John Hendrie goal was enough for Boro to win and more importantly take them back to the top of the League. That win was the start of a stretch to the end of the year of just one defeat in nine matches, and may well have been stretched further when Boro led Barnsley before the game had to be abandoned.
After gaining a 1-1 draw at Second Division Swansea in the FA Cup, typically Boro lost the replay so could concentrate on their main objective which was to win the League. However the new year didn’t start too well with defeat at lowly Swindon where Boro without striker Paul Wilkinson and Bryan Robson, lost 1-2 after having led to an early John Hendrie goal, and Jan-Aage Fjortoft scoring the equaliser on a pudding of a pitch. Boro could only draw their next home match with Grimsby and with a lack of goals tried to sign Fjortoft who despite playing for a team near the bottom of the League was a proven goal scorer. However they did manage to sign Uwe Fuchs on loan from Fortuna Cologne to make his debut in the home game against Reading, but Boro lost again and found themselves down to 3rd. Fuchs did score his first goal as Boro got back to winning ways at home to Charlton a week later, and again in the televised top of the table clash at Molineux the following Tuesday when Boro showed their promotion credentials with a 2-0 win. A goalless draw at Millwall was followed by two home wins against Bristol City, where Fuchs scored all 3 goals in a 3-0 win, and Watford when he scored another.
Just as things were starting to look promising, Boro suddenly could only gain one more point from their next 3 matches which included a home defeat to Derby in windy conditions. Marco Gabbiadini terrorised Boro’s defence with a couple of goals as the Rams led 3-0 at halftime with the wind in their favour. Fuchs and Jamie Pollock scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but to no avail as Derby scored a fourth to take the spoils 4-2. Another Jamie Pollock goal in the midweek derby at Sunderland on the first day of Spring not only saw Boro record their first win at Roker Park since 1982 but regain first position in the League since the end of January.
At last Boro managed to sign Jan-Aage Fjortoft on transfer deadline day for a record fee of £1.3m and he quickly made his debut the following day as Boro came back from a 0-1 halftime deficit at home to West Brom to win 3-1, and although they lost at Oldham in midweek they beat Stoke 2-1 at home in their next match. From then on to say that Boro limped over the line to promotion might be a slight exaggeration, but three successive 1-1 draws where Fuchs scored his 9th goal in 13 matches plus two substitute appearances, and Fjortoft scored his first two goals did create a scene of nervousness as Boro prepared to play their last League game at Ayresome Park against a Luton team that had inflicted Boro’s biggest defeat of the season in October 1-5.
Old Boro greats including Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick were paraded around the perimeter of the pitch as the biggest crowd of the season 23,903 gathered not only to take a last nostalgic look at Ayresome Park and some of their favourites who had graced the hallowed turf since the Second World War. After several near misses John Hendrie scored the all important goal on the stroke of half time, and most of us thought that would be it. Although Boro hadn’t been renowned for scoring too many goals that season, apart from that 1-5 defeat at Luton, they had been defensively sound with the concession of only 18 goals at home and only 38 in total from their 44 matches so far. So it came as quite a surprise when Luton equalised. However when Hendrie scored 20 minutes from time, I was confident that that would be the winner. Of course Boro weren’t technically sure of promotion, but when Bolton failed to beat Stoke days later, Boro’s promotion was guaranteed. Tranmere were the opposition for Boro’s final match and a draw would guarantee the Merseysiders a play-off position, and that’s how the game ended, a 1-1 draw. Reading finished second, but Bolton beat them 4-3 in the play-off final to join Boro in the top tier.
John Hendrie finished top scorer with 15 league goals from his 39 matches, but Uwe Fuchs’s contribution should not be underestimated with his 9 goals, one more than Craig Hignett. However generally speaking Boro’s lack of goal power didn’t bode well for the Premier League, so no doubt Bryan Robson would have to enhance that and the midfield as he was unlikely to play much himself at a higher level. Many of us hoped that Uwe Fuchs would become a permanent acquisition, but Robson thought differently.
Nick Barmby’s arrival from Spurs for over £5m was a signal of intent and the first English international to arrive at the club for 90 yearsThe summer saw Boro smash to smithereens their transfer record. True to his word Steve Gibson provided the finance to sign not only a striker, but an international striker at that. Nick Barmby was not a prolific goal scorer, but it was the first time for almost 90 years that Boro had signed a current English international player. The fee was reputed to be £5.25m and although the Spurs managing director Alan Sugar played hardball wanting the full agreed fee to be paid instantly rather than in instalments, the deal was agreed. I had paid a couple of visits during the summer to see how the Middlehaven stadium was progressing, and like many others was in awe of the design if not the location.
Boro started their campaign at Highbury against Arsenal, and the Sky cameras were there to see how Boro would perform against one of their former manager’s team, Bruce Rioch. Boro started rather well when Barmby scored after half an hour. Ian Wright equalised before half time, but Boro deserved the draw. Now onto the first match for Boro in their sparkling new stadium. After a few last minute adjustments, Boro got the safety certificate for the match against Chelsea to go ahead and Craig Hignett had the honour of scoring the first goal after 39 minutes. Jan-Aage Fjortoft scored in the second half, and Boro were up and running. Although Boro lost at Newcastle and struggled to get a point at newly promoted Bolton, I joined the long queue at Ayresome Park with my pal determined to get tickets for Boro’s next match, a midweek encounter with Southampton. Although the match finished goalless Boro then proceeded to win their next five matches including two 1-0 away wins against Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday either side of a 2-0 win against the Champions Blackburn Rovers when the ground record was beaten for the second time with a near capacity crowd of 29,462.
After QPR had been dispatched Boro were now in 4th position with 21 points from their first 10 matches. Although they had scored only 11 goals, 5 from Hignett including 2 penalties, 3 from Barmby and 2 from Fjortoft, they had only conceded 4. The next match was the big test, away to Manchester United where Bryan Robson received a tremendous ovation from the Old Trafford crowd, albeit a small crowd of only 36,580. Boro lost that encounter 0-2, but the perception was that Boro would not have much trouble in staying in this league. The two little midgets Hignett and Barmby playing just behind Fjortoft, although not scoring too many goals, had the pace to cause problems against most of the teams in the Premier League and defensively Boro looked solid.
Then came the signing of Brazil’s player of the year, a certain Osvaldo Giroldo Junior, better known as Juninho Paulista, or plain Juninho to Boro fans. Arsenal had had their eye on the little fella, but only Bryan Robson and Keith Lamb had followed Boro’s interest by actually flying to São Paulo to interview him. The Brazilian club were reluctant to sell their prized asset, but needed the cash. A transfer fee of £4.75M was agreed and because of Bryan Robson’s world status the little fella agreed to sign for Boro. Arsenal tried to hijack the deal, but they were too late. When Juninho arrived at Teesside Airport with Keith Lamb there were a few people to welcome him, but when he arrived at the Riverside Stadium a Brazilian Band, the whole of the English press, and thousands of Boro fans were there to greet him and his interpreter. At the time I was somewhere in Victoria-Gasteiz in the Basque region of Spain on my way to my five month winter migration to the Algarve. I stopped the car to listen to Sports Round-up on my shortwave radio, and the whole programme was devoted to the arrival and interviews of Juninho. Boro were now big news, really big news.
The signing of the Brazilian player of the year in Juninho was greeted with much excitement by supporters and he soon became a legend on TeessideJuninho made his debut in the home game with Leeds and provided the stellar pass which resulted in Fjortoft opening the score for Boro. Naturally he tired and was eventually substituted by Alan Moore as Leeds eventually equalised. Of course the ground record had been broken again – albeit by an extra 5 people. A midweek defeat at home to Spurs saw the ground record broken once more by a further 20 people, but Boro then beat Liverpool 2-1 four days later at the Riverside. Two away draws at Wimbledon and QPR, then a 4-1 home thrashing of Manchester City in which Juninho scored his first goal had Boro back in 4th position.
Boro had progressed to the 4th Round of the League Cup with a 3-1 aggregate win over Rotherham and the disposal of Crystal Palace after a replay, but disappointingly only drew with Birmingham and then lost the replay at St. Andrews. That defeat followed a 0-1 reverse in Boro’s next League match at Blackburn, but Boro seemed back on track as Christmas approached with a 4-2 home win over West Ham.
Boro were then heavily beaten at Goodison Park on Boxing Day, and that started a real slump in form when Boro only managed one more win in their next 16 matches and that was an FA Cup tie at Notts County. Wimbledon knocked Boro out of the FA Cup after a replay, but more alarmingly Boro lost 10 League matches including a 0-5 thrashing at Chelsea leaving them down to 13th. By now Boro had accumulated only 34 points from their 30 matches and there was general concern that they might be involved in a relegation battle if their poor form continued. However after two successive draws at home to Nottingham Forest and away to Aston Villa, that still left Boro 4 points short of the 40 point mark. Thankfully a Graham Kavanagh penalty in the 4th minute at Leeds saw Boro win 1-0 and a 3-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday where Chris Freestone scored his first and only league goal saw Boro safe with four matches remaining.
Boro then drew at Tottenham, but lost at home to Wimbledon and away to Liverpool before the last day visit of Manchester United. Newcastle had looked like taking the title with at one stage holding a substantial lead over Manchester United, but had slumped somewhat whilst the Red Devils won game after game. The Magpies manager lost his cool after Ferguson had wound him up, and in front of the Sky cameras stated “I’d just love it, really love it if Boro beat Manchester United”. Some hope really, as Boro were dispatched rather easily 0-3 before another record crowd of 29,922, the sixth time the ground record had been broken. Some United supporters had bought tickets from Boro fans at twice the original cost, and had thus infiltrated the Boro sections of the crowd much to the chagrin of the stewards.
However Boro had finished with 43 points, but Nick Barmby was top scorer with a mere 7 goals after his early season flourish. It was now obvious that Boro needed a proven goal scorer, though few would have expected it would come in the form of one of the most famous names in Italian football.
Although Boro’s first season at the Riverside had seen an excellent start, which disappointingly tapered off, it at least saw exciting players such as Nick Barmby and Juninho purchased and Boro finished mid table. At the time I used to watch ‘Football Italia’ presented by James Richardson on Channel 4 every Saturday morning, so was well aware of Fabrizio Ravanelli nicknamed ‘the white feather’ but never imagined in my wildest dreams that Robson would sign him or Emerson. The first match of the 1996/97 season was a home match against Liverpool when for the first time the attendance exceeded the 30,000 mark. Every time that Liverpool scored, Ravanelli equalised with his shirt pulled over his head, the first one being a penalty as the match finished 3-3. What a start!
Emerson had cost £4M with his former manager Bobby Robson describing him as the complete midfielder. I was thinking could he be another Graeme Souness, but the signing of Ravanelli for £7M had absolutely smashed the record, and on the evidence of his first match worth the money. However Boro lost 0-1 at Chelsea four days later before Juninho’s goal three days later at Nottingham Forest earned a point. However we still believed that this team had goals in them, and sure enough Boro scored 4 in each of their next two home matches, the first of which against West Ham broke the ground record again. Ravanelli added 3 more goals to his tally in those two matches against the Hammers and Coventry, so 6 goals in five matches for the Italian was a great start.
Boro shocked the footballing world when they signed Ravenelli for £7m and he was also joined by the enigmatic Brazilian midfielder EmersonBoro recorded their first away win at Everton, and then put Hereford to the sword in the League Cup as they won 7-0 with Ravanelli scoring 4 and 3-0 in the second leg. However that was followed by two disappointing defeats 0-2 at home to Arsenal and 0-4 at Southampton. Ravanelli scored his first away goal in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland where Emerson also scored with a real blockbuster in a match where Mikkel Beck was named substitute after a long protracted set of negotiations from Fortuna Cologne on a Bosnian free transfer – although he didn’t make his debut until a fortnight later. The ground record was broken again against Spurs, but Boro were suddenly in a slump at least in League matches as they lost 0-3 starting a sequence of ten winless matches culminating in a 1-5 thrashing at Liverpool.
The League Cup was different though with progress having been made to the quarter-finals after home wins against Huddersfield 5-1 and a memorable 3-1 success against Newcastle. But Boro were in trouble in the League following the Liverpool defeat as they chose to cancel their next away fixture against Blackburn because they claimed to have 23 players injured or ill. Boro club officials insisted that they had received assurances from senior Premier League representatives that they were entitled to have the match postponed, but couldn’t produce concrete evidence. Within a month they were fined £50,000 but more significantly deducted 3 points. Middlesbrough FC went to court to have the 3 point penalty rescinded, but unsuccessfully as it happened.
Back to matters on the field, Boro ended that winless League run on Boxing Day as they beat Everton 4-2 with a brace from Juninho, but three more successive defeats at Coventry and Arsenal at home, and away to Southampton had Boro bottom of the League. A 4-2 home win against Sheffield Wednesday might have been 3 points gained, but that was quickly eroded by the confirmation of the 3 point deduction. During the transfer window Boro strengthened their squad with the signings of Vladimir Kinder and Gianluca Festa.
Meanwhile the Cup runs had started with Boro disposing of Chester 6-0 in the FA Cup, then 4 days later beating Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup. Boro were then drawn away to non-league Hednesford Town in the FA Cup though the Staffordshire club were willing to forfeit home advantage for the tie to be played at the Riverside. An own goal seemed to have given Boro the advantage, but with less than 5 minutes remaining Boro were 1-2 behind and a big upset was on the cards despite fielding a team with 6 regular first-team players. However Fjortoft and Ravanelli scored and Boro scraped through, and although Hednesford were disappointed to lose, they were happy to swell their coffers by playing in front of a 27,000 plus crowd. They might have been happier still with a draw as the replay would also have taken place at the Riverside.
Boro’ League form was still a matter of concern as defeat at Sheffield Wednesday had now meant an accumulation of only eleven points (minus three for the points deduction) in the last 20 matches, yet their Cup form despite the scare against Hednesford was very good admittedly though 4 of their matches had been against lower division teams. Nevertheless home wins against Newcastle and Liverpool in the League Cup and away wins against Manchester City and Derby in the FA Cup were impressive. Suddenly Boro were in the Semifinals of both competitions. At last with on paper what seemed like easy opponents in the Cups, Boro could now concentrate on improving their League position. They did that by winning 4 successive League matches, a midweek 6-1 thrashing of Derby only 3 days before the two teams were to meet in the FA Cup, a 3-1 win at Leicester where Juninho mesmerised the Midlanders, and further home wins over Blackburn and high-flying Chelsea where Juninho scored a wonder goal, and suddenly Boro were out of a relegation position. However if Boro thought it was a foregone conclusion that they would overcome 2nd Division opposition easily in the Cup competitions they were in for a shock.
Firstly in the League Cup on a pudding of a pitch at Stockport the home team held out for over 70 minutes before goals from Beck and Ravanelli seemed to have assured Boro of one Final. However Boro lost the second leg at home 0-1 having conceding a first half goal. They may have looked in control after that, but a 2-1 aggregate score was less than what the home crowd expected. The Final on the 6th April was Boro’s first major appearance at Wembley if one discounts the Zenith Data Cup Final, and Leicester were the opponents, a team that Boro had easily beaten three weeks before. But this time Juninho was well shackled. Nevertheless as the match went into extra time Ravanelli broke the deadlock in the 95th minute, although we couldn’t relax as the match approached the 2 hour mark. Unfortunately Emil Heskey broke Boro’s hearts with an equaliser 2 minutes from time, and a replay at Hillsborough to be played ten days later and only 3 days after Boro’s FA Cup Semifinal against Chesterfield at Old Trafford.
This proved to be the most iconic and controversial in Boro’s FA Cup history, excepting maybe the game against Burnley in 1947 when a blatant ‘hand of God’ incident deprived Boro of their first FA Cup Semifinal.
Boro missed several chances to take the lead in the first half but when Vladimir Kinder was sent off for a second bookable offence in the first half, the game remained goalless at half time with Boro down to ten men. Suddenly in the second half Boro found themselves 0-2 down, the second a penalty converted by the current Burnley manager Sean Dyche. Ravanelli pulled a goal back, but then Chesterfield hit the bar with some observers claiming the ball had crossed the line. However Dyche turned from hero to villain when conceding a penalty which Craig Hignett converted to level the score soon after. The match went into extra time and Gianluca Festa seemed to have scored the winner after the ball had hit the bar, but once again Boro were thwarted by a late goal as the match finished 3-3.
So two replays both after extra time that Boro could well do without as a fixture pile-up ensued. The League Cup replay at Hillsborough came 3 days later and this time Steve Claridge scored the only goal as Boro faced Sunderland at home in a relegation match 3 days later. Boro lost 0-1 and were now still in the bottom three. Another 3 days and Boro were back at Hillsborough to face Chesterfield again, but this time had no trouble in winning 3-0. However 2 days later saw a weary Boro lose 0-1 at Tottenham with Boro remaining in the bottom three. Boro now had played 15 matches in 47 days, two of which had gone to extra time as May beckoned.
Boro played their last home match on the 3rd May, and after letting a 2-0 halftime lead slip, needed a last minute penalty from Ravanelli to secure a 3-2 win against Aston Villa. Two days later Boro were back at Old Trafford, but this time to face Manchester United. Goals from Juninho, Emerson and Hignett raised hopes that relegation might be avoided as Boro led 3-2 at halftime, but United equalised and the match finished 3-3. Three days later Boro had to fulfill the postponed match at Blackburn which finished goalless meaning Boro went into their last match on the Sunday needing to win at Elland Road against Leeds. Leeds scored first, but when Juninho equalised with just over 10 minutes remaining Boro still had hope, but it all ended in tears especially from Juninho as he sat with head bowed at the final whistle. Just one more win from those last three draws would have saved Boro and sent Coventry down with Sunderland and Forest. In fact if Boro had sent out a youth team to fulfill the postponed fixture at Ewood Park and lost heavily, they would have avoided relegation. The League season had ended with Ravanelli scoring 16 goals from 33 matches, although only 2 of them were scored away from home. He did score another 15 in Cup matches but only 3 of those were against Premier League opposition. Juninho scored 12 League goals from 34 matches and another 3 in Cup ties as Boro finished 19th with 39 points.
Some newspapers ran stories of international players that Boro had earmarked as transfer targets if Boro had escaped relegation. A case of ‘look what you could have won’ as the late Jim Bowen often remarked. In some ways the FA Cup Final against Chelsea seemed like an anticlimax. There were stories of fisticuffs between Neil Cox and Ravanelli, and also suggestions that Ravanelli shouldn’t have been picked because he wasn’t fit, as indeed he wasn’t and had to be substituted after 24 minutes by Mikkel Beck. Boro conceded a goal after 40 seconds when reserve goalkeeper Ben Roberts having possibly advanced too far, was beaten by a piledriver from Roberto Di Matteo, Eddie Newton scoring a second with seven minutes remaining.
Juninho didn’t participate in the open bus tour through the town afterwards, which was a pity really as Boro had negotiated a move to Athletico Madrid for £12M with a buy-back clause should he become available. Juninho was thinking of his career and dreaming of pursuing his dream of appearing in the World Cup for Brazil, but that also ended in tears for the little fella.
Back in Division 1 for the next season Bryan Robson wasted no time in finding a replacement for Juninho. His name was Paul Merson, a surprise reject from Arsenal for £5M. It proved to be a masterstroke. Boro knew they wouldn’t be able to hang on to Ravanelli, although he did score a last minute winner as Boro came from behind to win their first match of the season at home to Charlton. He even played in the second match at home to Stoke which Boro lost 0-1, but then he was gone. Meanwhile Emerson affirmed that he was staying although that proved to be a false dawn as he suddenly became homesick in December, was granted a short leave of absence but never returned, and Boro went for experience in buying Andy Townsend for £500,000.
After relegation, Juninho left for Spain and he was replaced by the signing of Arsenal’s Paul Merson to help power the club to promotionBoro won at Tranmere and earned two draws in consecutive away matches at Stockport and Bradford, but it wasn’t quite the start of a season that Boro fans had hoped for with the team only in mid table. However Boro made progress in the League Cup by overcoming Barnet over two legs before returning to winning ways in the League with a 3-1 home win over Birmingham and a 2-1 win at Sunderland with Emerson scoring in both matches. A disappointing 1-2 home defeat to Sheffield United followed, but that was the last time that Boro would lose at home in the League. They beat Sunderland 2-0 in the next round of the League Cup, drew at Crewe and won at Oxford, beat Port Vale 2-1 and Huddersfield 3-0 at home, and suddenly found themselves in 3rd position. A slight blip at Wolves and a home draw with Portsmouth saw Boro drop to 6th, but a 2-1 home win after extra time against Premier League club Bolton saw Boro reach the Quarter-final stage of the League Cup.
Boro marched on in the League with wins at Norwich and Swindon in a sequence of 9 unbeaten matches ending with a 4-0 home win over Reading, a brace of goals apiece from Craig Hignett and Mikkel Beck putting Boro top of the League. A defeat at Manchester City didn’t alter Boro’s League position as Boro won at Huddersfield on Boxing Day, and the year ended with a 3-1 home win over Stockport. A late Hignett goal saw Boro reach the Semifinal of the League Cup, and Boro disposed of QPR after a replay in the FA Cup. Boro lost the leadership in the League by losing 0-3 at Charlton, but the rest of January was to provide Boro with two tricky matches against Premier League opposition.
In the transfer window Boro signed two strikers, Marco Branca from Inter Milan for £1m and Alun Armstrong from Stockport for £1.6m. Neither player was available before the home FA Cup match against Arsenal which Boro lost 1-2 with Paul Merson scoring against his old club, nor for the trip to Anfield in the Semifinal of the League Cup which Boro also lost 1-2 but with the importance of an away goal. Before the second leg though Boro had 4 important League matches. They extracted revenge against Stoke for that early season home defeat by winning 2-1 with goals from Nigel Pearson and Jaime Moreno, drew at Birmingham, but beat Tranmere and Bradford at home thus regaining 1st position.
Marco Branca signed before the second leg of the League Cup match, and what an impact he made. Boro were awarded a penalty after 2 minutes which Merson put away, and 2 minutes later Branca scored a second goal. Craig Harrison then kept Liverpool’s dangerman Steve McManaman quiet for the rest of the match and Boro had reached their 3rd Wembley Cup Final in two seasons. Three days later Boro’s ground record was again broken when 30,227 witnessed a 3-1 win against Sunderland with Branca scoring twice and Alun Armstrong scoring on his debut. After beating Crewe with a Neil Maddison goal Boro then went into one of their strangest typical modes. In successive matches they lost 0-4 at Forest, 0-5 at QPR and then beat Swindon 6-0 yet still remained top of the League.
Robson brought in a troubled Gazza from Rangers in a bid help bolster Boro’s promotion bid but he looked less than match fit on arrivalBoro then drew at Portsmouth and won 3-0 at home to Norwich before their Wembley date against Chelsea once more. In the meantime Robson signed Paul Gascoigne who was giving some stirring performances for Glasgow Rangers. He went straight into Boro’s team for the showdown with Chelsea, but for the 3rd time the Pensioners were to beat Boro in a Wembley Final. Gazza magnanimously gave his losers medal to Craig Hignett, the player he’d replaced in the Boro line-up. Boro suffered some reaction following their Cup defeat as they lost at West Brom and Sheffield United to drop to 4th in the League. Having now not won any of their last 6 away matches in the League Boro seemed to be floundering.
By then Boro had signed Hamilton Ricard and he scored his first goal in a Boro shirt as they beat Bury 4-0 with Branca scoring the other 3 goals. Away wins at Reading and Port Vale, plus a home win over Manchester City all by a 1-0 scoreline saw Boro in second place going into the final two matches. Ricard scored again in the 1-1 draw at Wolves, and not for the first time Boro needed to beat Oxford at home in their final match to gain promotion. A touch of deja-vu here as Boro repeated the 4-1 scoreline of 31 years previously, but this time to regain their Premier League status. They finished 3 points behind Forest and one point ahead of Sunderland who missed out on promotion in the play-offs after a 4-4 draw with Charlton and a 6-7 loss in a penalty shootout.
Boro had won 15 and drawn 4 of their final 19 home matches and finished with 91 points. Mikkel Beck was top goalscorer with 14 League goals from his 39 appearances whilst Paul Merson scored 12 from 45 matches. Marco Branca chipped in with 9 goals in 11 matches and Alun Armstrong 7 from 11 matches. Paul Merson admitted he was down on his last legs having only missed the one fixture at Charlton midway through the season, and doubted his ability to perform at his best should Boro be engaged in the play-offs. Strangely he left Boro for Aston Villa after only playing in the first 3 matches of the following season.
By today’s standards maybe the League threw up some strange minnows in the Division maybe accounting for the fact that Sunderland failed to claim promotion with 90 points. But Stockport finished 8th, Crewe 11th, Oxford 12th, Tranmere 14th and Bury 17th, yet Manchester City, Stoke and Reading were relegated. Such is the way that power has changed in the last 20 years. Boro were to remain in the Premier League for 11 years. More about the Robson years in the future.
Thanks Ken and Werder
OFB
Once again thanks to Ken for recalling those heady days of the start of the Robson years. I can also still remember where I was (a rented house in Cardiff if you must know) when I heard in disbelief on the radio that Boro had signed Ravenelli.
I used to often go to watch the Boro games in the bar of a fitness studio off the Portobello Road in London (saw that famous 3-3 at Old Trafford there) and I remember at that time Boro seemed to be most neutrals favourite second team. Strange that I seem to remember all the good games but seem to have forgotten the bad ones – which there must have been quite a few as we were ultimately relegated. Although, I do recall that horrendous run of ten defeats the season before that saw us slide down the table – I wonder if that was down to dressing room unrest?
Still, the season after relegation and the arrival of Merson saw Boro promoted but I couldn’t believe Robson signed an extremely out of shape Gazza, who could barely run – I think I remember he even broke his arm trying to block an opponent who he couldn’t keep pace with.
Still, it was a great time to be a Boro fan – although it remains something of a point of comparison for all teams and signings that have come since then. It really was a time when Boro had the financial muscle to compete for some of the top players (probably past their peak) but in the end it created teams that were a little unbalanced but nevertheless excitingly unpredictable.
Anyway, not sure if Woodgate will have the same pulling power as Robbo for the start of the next era…
It was George Boateng with the hard head.
Werder
Believe it or not Gazza broke his arm on george boateng before George signed for Boro !
OFB
What would the Boat be worth in today’s market!
RR
BOATENG £80m ?
OFB
I remember sitting in the chair in a Barber shop at the top of Redcar High Street and hearing on the Radio that we had signed Ravanelli.
There was a momentary pause with everyone looking at one another with a quizzical look as if to say “I thought I just heard the bloke on the Radio just say Boro had signed Ravanelli, is that what you thought he said”?
Having seen him on the telly in the Champions League final it just seemed bizarre and surreal and surely had to be a wind up but it wasn’t April 1st.
Ken and Werder,
Thank you for that wonderful trip into yesteryear.
The other half and I were on our way up to Middlesbrough from Berkshire to see my mum and dad and we’d stopped at Scotch Corner for fuel, we couldn’t get onto the A19 for some reason. Anyway I had the radio on and it said that Boro had signed Juninho, I couldn’t believe it then I lost reception. I had my other half trying to find the station again practically all the way to my parents in Acklam.
When we got there I said to dad what I’d heard and he just said ‘don’t be daft, he’ll have signed for some other team, it’s just wishful thinking on your part.’
Amazing when you remember where you were when you heard the news all those years ago.
Thanks again.
UTB,
John
I remember when TLF came back the second time. My MD had flown up and I had picked him up and dropped him off at his hotel (Judges I think). I picked him up later that evening for a meeting and something to eat and he said that he had seen Juninho in the reception. He was usually the first one for a good wind up so I just laughed it off but he was absolutely adamant and so was I that there was no way I was biting and therefore wasn’t falling for it. The next day the radio announced it. Juninho was back!
Many thanks for this, Ken. And of course Werder. It’s a fabulous idea to have the history of Boro as a blog rather than a comment – and long may it continue.
Been reminiscing a little about 1997-98 myself, and how strong our squad was at the time – almost frightening compared to Southgate’s paper thin charges of 2009-10 and even AK’s class of 2014-16.
That squad – the 1997-98 unit – had the sort of savvy and experience that, Leadbitter, Downing and Nugent aside, the majority of the 2015-16 didn’t. Yet some thought a hugely commendable 89 points was too low for them*. Go figure.
Sometimes, as Big Jack proved for Ireland, a working system is a working system and if the majority are happy, why not just go with it?
*With Boro it’s always about what we didn’t do rather than what we did. A fan was brave, and correct, to state in 2003 that our 11th place finish in the Premier League was commendable, adding “no matter how much we keep telling ourselves, ‘oh yeah, but for a few more wins away from the Riverside we’d (be in Europe)’… we are fooling no one but ourselves.”
Funnily enough, the following year we were in Europe. We got that lucky break that McClaren’s team building had been building towards, and I loved it.
Addendum.
I once came to the conclusion that part of the Boro frustration is this: even when the team gets it right, there’s a nagging feeling amongst too many that “it didn’t need to be this difficult.”
Me, I’m happy to take and enjoy success when it comes because it’s underestimated just how hard getting over the line is, especially for a team who is not accustomed to getting it right.
Simon
Its labelled “Typical Boro”
I know RR. I suspect the only reason I believe that it doesn’t need to exist and we could have a more positive mindset is because the first team I fell in love with Big Jack’s Ireland. And we were happy to take success any way we could get it.
Thanks to Werdermouth for collating those first 4 years of the Bryan Robson era and also for the photographs which made the story more interesting. As folks know I’ve always been a Boro history addict and some of the thanks must go to Dave Allan, Graham Bell, Martin Walker and Harry Glasper for producing a strong base for the history of our great club.
When I started from the Northern League years of 1882 I only had a sketchy idea of Boro’s past. I spent a lot of time as a child listening to some of my grandfather’s recollections that he had heard from his father. One thing he got wrong though was about the Nops v the Washers meaning Ironopolis v Boro. From my research the Nops and the Washers were names for the same club, Ironopolis. The Boro were known as the Scabs, not very complementary, but probably a name given to them for renegading on the amalgamation of the two clubs, and the name maybe stuck with them until the Great War.
I was always fascinated by the stories of George Camsell. I remember seeing him a couple of times in the directors’ box at Ayresome Park when he was the club’s secretary. I would love to have chatted with him, but I gather he was a modest man. He had been the chief scout before then and apparently discovered Brian Clough.
My favourite periods were the post Second World War years seeing all those famous players of other clubs, the Brian Clough era, the early Rioch and Charlton years, and of course the Riverside Revolution under Bryan Robson. Obviously the 40s and 50s only have limited appeal to those not particularly interested in Boro’s history, but some of us remember Brian Clough the player, and many of us the Boro Bairns of the Rioch era, and almost all of us the Charlton era, that’s why I recorded the later in greater detail because it wasn’t just history, but nostalgia also.
I had originally decided to finish my historical review with the Lennie Lawrence period, as I thought that the Riverside Revolution was too recent to actually be historical. But I’ve since discovered that most of us witnessed that period and I hope, like to be reminded of it. Nostalgia beats History all the time. So I’m pleased that the recent blog revives memories, not all happy I have to admit, but memories none the less.
Thanks again to Werdermouth for collating those first 4 years, and if anyone has queries of individual matches, etc I’ll be pleased to answer them if I’m able. After all, in all seriousness I haven’t much else to do.
Thanks Ken and I shall be working my way through your posts on Boro history (along with a few other backlog of tasks) over the summer to pull them out of the comments and collate them into easily accessible articles – something I don’t get much time for during the season.
Thanks Ken and Werder for a great read and some amazing memories. 😎
Two moments that define the Robson years. The Juninho signing was brilliant, but the signing of Gascoigne just leaves me shaking my head. Whoever rubber stamped that one obviously knows nothing about football.
GHW, perhaps he (who approved the Gascoigne signing) knew about football but perhaps not about life, Paul’s habits and problems. A fabulous footballer but had his problems. UTB!
Was being the operative word Jarkko. He was just a puffing billy when got him.
Thanks, Ken for all your hard work in writing all those words about the Boro and bring back so many memories. And also to Werdermouth for making it so easy to read. How you two make it look so professional I can’t believe this is something you do in your spare time🤔
Thanks Borobrie – but what is this ‘spare time’ thing you speak of 🙂
Thanks Borobrie. I guess that I’ve probably got more spare time than most contributors on this forum.
I’m not a follower of American football but was interested to read that Colin Kaepernick refuses to sing the US National Anthem much to Donald Trump’s chagrin. Now I see that Cody Walker is refusing to sing the Australian National Anthem. I wonder if these decisions are based on the past history of slavery etc. or whether there is still some racial abuse prevalent in these two countries. In Cape Town I certainly got the feeling that a few South Africans would have preferred Apartheid to remain. I wonder if anyone else has experienced that.
Brilliant read Ken, and thanks also to Werder for his personal style of putting things together. I would echo Borobrie’s last comment as well.
These were memorable years on a roller coaster ride, with as many downs at times as highs, the likes of which I had never seen before and will never see again.
In my previous life the company I worked for carried out the maintenance at Ayresome Park and were honoured to continue that role at the Riverside. The season of promotion and the building of the Riverside was magic and being a little involved was fantastic seeing it all come to fruition.
As for the Ravanelli signing, my biggest recollection was the back page of the Gazette saying that it would be Patrick Kluivert signing and not the Italian.
Unfortuantely we always seemed so near yet so far. Great going forward at times and very porous at the back at other times. I think that the defence was overlooked, why, when it was so obvious until we bought Festa, a little too late.
Also agree with GHW, just why did we buy Gazza?
But overall you remember the good times, forget the bad and the memories are embedded in your mind.
On the managerial front, things are not looking promising.
JW could get the job by default as a number of touted candidates are now no longer available! 😎
The Boro Candidate list unlike the Conservative Party seems to have slowed down and running out of steam this week. It looks like Terry is staying at Villa and Reiziger has had a promotion so Woodgate aside it looks like its the usual suspects, Jokanovic, Cowley, Pearson, Hughton etc. Simon Grayson and Paul Heckingbottom seemed to have crept into the Bookies reckoning although I’d be surprised if it was either of them.
Cowley would be a bold gamble but he is already at a Club and SG hasn’t previously nicked Managers in-situ in the past. Jokanovic would be the most exciting in terms of offering something worth watching. Hughton I feel may make the most sense in terms of being able to better work with what is here. There is of course the out of the blue left field one that SG may surprise us all with but as I said before whoever it is has to have a unifying effect on the Players and Fans alike. An appointment with resentment and bad feeling is one that is ultimately doomed and by its very nature pointless in more ways than one.
The return of Karanka would be controversial but I think many who wanted him out the first time would accept it on the basis if now being older and wiser, lessons have been learned. Of course there are still many on Teesside who remain dyed in the wool full blown Karankite’s. Pearson is a worry in that he seems to have some stability issues and I don’t believe the Club can take that sort of risk right now. For me my heart says Jokanovic but my head says Hughton. but then I fully believed that TP was the man at least up until October!
How about Nigel Clough?
An interesting one but to me just falls short and too much of a gamble.
GHW
Has the surname but not in the same league as his dad and doesn’t set the world alight for me. 😎
I was thinking of using one of those unofficial streams to watch the Europa Cup final tonight and the Champions League final on Saturday. Although, I’ve just read this article that states the police are going to try and clamp down on illegal streams – especially for high-profile games.
Police are going to try to switch off free streams of the Europa League final at crucial points of the match, they have warned.
Fans have been warned that illegal streams will be hunted down during the match between Arsenal and Chelsea, and they will try and shut it down in the most frustrating possible way.
The message comes as both law enforcement agencies and TV companies attempt to put people off using illegal sites and watch paid-for, legitimate services instead.
The City of London Police said illegal streams were more popular during high-profile sporting events and said people found to be sharing paid-for content can expect to be prosecuted and fined.
Detective Chief Inspector Teresa Russell, head of the Intellectual Property Crime Unit at the force said: “By illegally streaming the match, you never know when the site is likely to be shut down.“It could be at a crucial point in the match.
“In fact, enforcement agencies and companies will aim to do just that in an attempt to dissuade people from using illegal sites in the future.”
It would be interesting to see how they would do that with a VPN?
Strangely the Match has little interest for me, perhaps the host City being so far that its become remote in more than just distance. The fact that both clubs returned many of their paltry 6,000 allocation probably best sums it up. Out of the two Arsenal need it more and I doubt a win would save Sarri.
It could all just be propaganda of course designed to scare people but rather oddly BT is advertising that you can watch both finals for free on mobiles, tablets, and selected smart TVs and games consoles via the BT Sport app, as well as online via BTSport.com or YouTube.
Maybe the police haven’t got enough to do now that all the other online crime has been solved…
It’s more to stop pubs and clubs streaming unofficial links. With the amount of countries and channels showing the games it’s impossible to block them all.
If they had their subscriptions at a reasonable price people wouldn’t use the dodgy streams.
It’s being streamed, free for all, on YouTube. As is the Champs Lge Final I believe.
I enjoy watching the NFL, I first got interesting after seeing the old movie years ago about Knute Rockne the famous Notre Dame coach.
But for the life of me I can’t get Australian Football, my relatives over there are big fans, maybe its the round field, but it seems just haphazard , two different goals ? I don’t know.
Thanks to Ken and Werder for the article. You’re Very much into my era now and it’s great to relive it. What a time to be a Boro fan it was.
Like Werder, I seem to recall the good times in that period much more easily than the bad. Strange how the mind does that.
The moments when I really felt we were starting to go places were that opening game at the brilliant, new Riverside stadium against Chelsea. Watching Gullit keeping Fjortoft in his back pocket but the movement and u set standing between Barmby and Hignett undoing them in the end. The signing of Juninho was gobsmacking. This was Brazil’s young player of the year and their hottest domestic prospect – the equivalent of when Barcelona signed Neymar – unbelievable and he didn’t disappoint. The third wow moment was the signing of Rav as others have mentioned. I think I was in Ibiza having a boys holiday at the time. If I recall, Shearer joined Newcastle a week or so later. Sadly, the Geordies got the better deal despite paying twice the price.
Amazing times. Thanks for reminding.
What is Randolph worth?
Strong info that Lossl , Huddersfield Town’s reasonable goalkeeper on £28k per week and has just signed for Everton as the number 2 to Pickford , on £53k per week.
Also what does it tell you about his ambitions? The money says that he prefers to keep the bench warm rather than play first team football every week.
Philip
Assuming he has a three year contract that’s a smidgen under £4M increase on his salary for doing probably 90% less work. I wish my lack of ambition rewarded me half as handsomely 10% of the work. Any Takers?
That additional income on top of what was already over four and a quarter million quid over a three year term means he doesn’t need to worry about school fees for the kids, two star or three star in Torremolinos in July or turning the gas fire down in later years. It just highlights how ridiculous the game has become and how unsustainable it is not to mention uncompetitive.
I saw on the news tonight that the Police in Baku were ordering Arsenal fans to take off their Henrikh Mkhitaryan shirts for causing offence. To think that the powers that be told the Player who refused to travel to Azerbaijan for his own safety was told that he would be perfectly safe as they had received assurances. Football is slowly being run into the ground by greed, corruption and stark staring incompetence. A bit like politics really.
RR, is it all really unsustainable?
This has been tales about for some years now and still it continues and the wages continue to rise.
TV Money will dry up as customers refuse to pay extortionate subscriptions as competition grows. Sky tried to hike up fees by adding more sports onto their sports packages and then had to reverse and split it again as customers voted with their feet against paying additional fees for a sport or sports they had no interest in. BT’s entry competing along with others now means that unless you spend an absolute fortune there is no way you can cover all games and competitions. The on line alternatives both in accessing and in providing alternative entertainment will continue to decrease customer numbers and the launch of 5G will only exacerbate this. The loss of major sporting events to terrestrial channels has diluted viewing figures and new generations of fans with it.
The Premiership is a predictable 6 horse race with at best only 3 or 4 of them having a chance of wining it. The remainder of the Premiership are just Cannon fodder to make up the numbers. Oil rich Sheikh’s are indulging themselves buying up clubs as toys before a greener planet eventually turns their tap off. The authorities that are entrusted to run the game have been found wanting (even borderline criminal in some cases). Last night’s empty Stadium just asks even more questions about how and why decisions are being made and cynically who really benefits? Similarly the awarding of the 2022 World Cup and the ridiculous notion of expanding it to 48 teams just devalues the competition.
We have read plenty this week about Derby, Villa and Wednesday and even ourselves and the state of finances and how they are being “managed”. Football has seismically shifted from the world of sport into the world of aggressive business. History is littered with big brands who failed, crashed and burnt and sadly I think Football could be headed in the same direction and long term for the better.
Talking of player contracts and sustainability, I heard on the radio that Villa’s promotion has triggered a clause in Ross McCormack’s contract, doubling his wages to £70k/week despite him not playing for two years!
Unbelievable – is he still trapped in his house due to faulty gates? At least he’s only got one year left on his contract.
Anyway, Villa have form on throwing money away on over-priced players… I was just reading about their record signing of Darren Bent – apparently they ended up paying Sunderland just over £24m for him and his salary package with add-ons amounted to £80 grand a week. He eventually left on a free transfer after four and a half years at the club where he only made 61 league appearances. The total cost of Bent to Villa was calculated by the Birmingham Mail as being £42.8m.
That’s one to rival Andy Carroll at West Ham, who I believe is being / has been released.
We shouldn’t mock too much as we have had a few signings of our own that have spent plenty of time injured, awol or on the bench.
Thankfully Just installed a new keyboard on my laptop after struggling for a week with a spacebar that only worked if I hit it hard on the right side, a fullstop that had become temperamental and seemed to know when I was entering a web address plus a back space that often dug its heels in so that I was forced to use the back arrow key and delete instead. Luckily it gave up after the season had finished otherwise writing articles would have been a nightmare and probably taken twice as long. Although, I blame my son’s friend who sometimes used my laptop to play computer games who seemed to hit the laptop increasingly harder as the more excited he got!
I had to replace my Laptop a few weeks back for much the same reasons, except I blamed TP for me hitting the keys repeatedly harder. Now discovering the joys of Windows 10 and wondering where half my stuff has gone with empty folders everywhere and thrice duplicated folders elsewhere in the Cloud! Now wondering is a good old fashioned HDD would have been better than this SSD malarkey along with the annual subscription fees.
I guess there always was a cloud hanging over the season but sadly it didn’t save it! Though I believe TP was a fan of solid state…
We’ve come a long way from AV’s Mosso Cloudfiles…..
Mikel Arteta is now ahead of Jokanovic in this mornings betting odds.
Perhaps “influenced” Boro fans were putting their cash on him at a party last night or the Bookies have a whiff of something developing from Rockliffe?
No doubt someone will have seen him at the Tontine by lunchtime.
Lots of links to Arsenal and City with Arteta….
Why on earth would he go to Arsenal when he could come to the Riverside!!!!!
Here’s me thinking Arsene as Director of Football with Arteta as Coach.
RR
If that happens will you get your season card ?
Love your thinking and optimism!
OFB
Links to both clubs could mean some talented youngsters on loan.
Redcar Red,
I had the same dream.
UTB,
John
After the two seasons we have just been through I’m amazed that the zero wasn’t the first thing to give up.
EG reporting that a managerial announcement is not expected this week.
Does this mean they are waiting for JW to return from holiday before holding the usual press conference?
Or does OFB’s report that he will not get the job still hold good – please? 😎
Many of us on here envy AV or PT to be able to get access to all the Boro games for free and have their travel costs paid for but spare a thought for them now. How on earth do you fill column inches during the Summer and its still May!
10 things you never knew about…….insert ex Player or Manager’s name…….. then end it with Home/Wife/Budgerigar/Poodle/Goldfish etc.
and repeat
10 Players Boro will be interested in
10 facts about Ayresome Park
10 Facts about the Riverside
10 Facts about Bernie
10 Facts about the Riverside Pitch
and on and on and on, just hoping and praying for a new Manager to drool and ingratiate over sometime soon to start a fresh list of 10 things the new man will want to change, 10 things Boro fans should expect next Season, 10 things on………..
Well one rumour in the Belgian Sports papers today is that Jelle Vossen is on his way back to Boro permanently for £13m !
So the Belgian Papers can start good rumours !
OFB
So can OFB
https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/boro-remain-patient-in-manager-search/167146?dcmp=sl_social_fb_article_bottom
According to this Woody has given his presentation to Boro management
OFB
Well any presentation can either be good, bad or less than pretty – but as we await to find the identity of the Boro manager with no name, I hope Steve Gibson has some idea of where he should be looking otherwise he may never find him. The idea that Boro are happy to take their time seems to suggest they have yet to decide on what it is they want.
Those dreaming of Arteta as the new Boro manager an article this morning says Guardiola finds it amusing that his No 2 odds have tumbled overnight the same as when Arsenal and Lyon were looking for a new manager in the past couple of summers. He expects Micheal to be in his dugout next season as his No2 and City board see him as Guardiola replacement when ever he moves on.
Come on BORO.
Most likely Chinese Whispers which started off as a news bulletin about an Artic on the A19 which after being passed on several times in Teesside liquid refreshment establishments ended up as Arteta’s on the A19 and hence the rush to the Bookies!
Redcar Red
10 pop ups you dont want
Don’t you mean 50 pop ups while you wait five minutes for the page to load!
In the address window on the left you will see……
———-
————
———-
Horizontal bars. Click there and you will be left only with the text.
RR
Probably one of the other Boro rumours regarding our next managerial position was in response to an article by our own Anthony Vickers
Jerjokinarnyervic?
GHW
Can’t see any horizontal bars mind you I would struggle to see most bars unless they have beer pumps on them!
Using Safari on iPhone
Sounds useful, but I believe that feature is only available in the mobile Safari browser on iOS 7 – it’s called ‘reader mode’. I just use Adbocker Ultimate on my laptop.
Ah, I’m using Microsoft Edge, which in fairness is the fastest browsing experience I’ve experienced to date but Trinity Mirror (and a few other sites) do like to clog things up even with an adblocker running.
I’m waiting to see Paddy Power with German Coach “Ad Blocker” at 2/1 tomorrow morning for the Boro job 🙂
I’m using iPhone X
My guess is SG has decided on his next manager, but said man is away on holiday until the end of next week…….
Just guessing like.
Nigel. any idea who is on holiday apart from Woodgate?
Or the job has been offered and the candidate is mulling it over, maybe looking at other jobs as well.
The longer it goes on the more likely we may be disappointed in who gets the job.
Ian, that’s possible, but it seems unlikely to me. If The Gazette are reporting an appointment is expected at the end of next week, there has to be a reason for that. It strikes me as unlikely that SG has made an offer to someone who is mulling it over and having a sniff around the market. If SG makes an offer I imagine he would give a time line for a response considerably less than ten days.
I’m going for Jokanovic on a salary of £1M plus a £2M promotion bonus, with Woodie as his no.2
Now where’s that foam hand, haven’t seen it for ages……………
Or the candidate has promised a decision early next week. Who knows but it is something to talk about.
It would seem a bit strange for MFC to announce our new Manager but ahem he’s not here at the moment, he’s on a beach in the Caribbean.
Where has it been reported that it will be announced next week because what I have read is that it won’t be announced this week, which is totally different.
Come on BORO.
Exmil
If you read the article in the EG on Arteta it contains the final sentence:
“Steve Gibson continues to assess his options and while no appointment will be made in the coming days, the new man in charge could be in place by the end of next week.” 😎
The important word is “could”.
Come on BORO.
If it is Jokanovic (or even Jerjokinarnyervic) he will want his own Coaching team to come in with him. Javier Pereira has usually been his Assistant Head Coach since their days at Watford and wherever Slavisa has gone Javier has followed. Marco Cesarini has usually been in charge of his Medical and Sports Science. Luca Squinzani was his Goalkeeping Coach at Fulham with Jose Sambade Carreira the one before that.
If it is Slavisa then I’m guessing there is perhaps some complexities over his preferred coaching team and where they all are presently and/or whether they are contracted or not (plus any likely negotiations). It will be fun in trying to locate them all and to discuss deals with them and their existing clubs if applicable especially at this time of year.
The Baggies are still to settle on a permanent replacement for Darren Moore, who was sacked on 9 March. So they will take their time at a new manager should be in place before the West Brom players return at end of June.
So I would be expecting an announsement fro Boro next week. Only if the happenings at the Riverside made the Baggies plans more complecated!
Up the Boro!
Well at least my rumours keep things interesting (I hope!)
OFB
Rumours.. Rumours,. Ah yes
There’s ‘Things I Don’t Want to Know’ from those and they sometimes spoil my ‘Dreams’ and make me say ‘I’m Never Going Back Again’. The trouble is they just ‘Don’t Stop’ and sometimes you just have to ‘Go Your Own Way’ to the ground, singing like a ‘Songbird’. Thank goodness it’s summer and we can watch the Grands Prix to help break ‘The Chain’ that binds us to the team we all love, especially after spending all last season trying to get TP to listen as we demanded of him ‘You Make Loving (Boro) Fun’ , but to no avail… But back to those rumours, always ‘Second Hand News’. ‘Oh Daddy’, cries Powmill-Junior, wake up you are having bad dreams again. I turned to my lovely lady at my side and said I remember the good times, just like ‘Gold Dust Woman’.
That’s all the rumours you lot will get from me this close season 😉
Aasaaaarrghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
Just woke up after a terrible nightmare that SG has given the job to that unsavoury character from Fleetwood in his grubby little Mac 🤯
We will know next week, or not!
Or the week after or the week after………….
Come on BORO.
Its a coach from Portugal?
Mourinho, perhaps? A Portuguesa version of Pulis ….
Hope not. Up the Boro!
Well another Friday Morning has come and the local Journalists all eagerly await the white smoke from the Chairman’s Riverside suite. “Is he here yet? is he here yet?” Nope nothing to see. Walkie talkie cackle and hissing from somewhere near Hurworth informs “nothing to report” while over at Teesside Metropolitan Airport that unnamed flight from a private airfield in Spain turned out to be an unplanned BUPA medical evacuation from the Costas (albeit there was a little concern or perhaps Teesside cynicism that the stretcher occupant was perhaps a new Striker).
The Baggies seem to be looking under other pots and different crevices to Boro with the unfortunately named Bruno Labbadia, the 53-year-old former Wolfsburg Manager now heavily hinted at to be the new man to take control at the Hawthorns. I’m sure Villa and Brum fans have their nicknames lined up already.
I can’t help but feel that Clubs and their Fans nowadays looking for a new Manager almost expect a fashion statement to be made in in the form of unveiling a German Manager or Portuguese as a minimum. Spanish Managers are so last year Dahhlings and as for Italian, Purleeeease don’t insult me with something from four seasons back.
In the words of Theresa May “Nothing has changed” – not even the odds at the bookies according to the Gazette. Although, I expect the club will be appointing a manger sometime after the week after the day before it was said they would to make an announcement next week.
I suspect the Gazette will announce it 20 minutes after the Official Boro website publishes the news reinforcing their place in the pecking order. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if the Echo gets to know just a little sooner to push the Gazette into third place.
Werder,
I hope ‘manger’ wasn’t a misplaced vowel and spelling mistake for ‘minger’!
When will the white smoke happen?
UTB,
John
Clearly I meant trough…
Away with you
And English – so last centenary. And never Scottish at Boeo.
Quite frankly it is the person and not the nationality that matters. Only that an Englishman would have an advantage to know local football. But who cares?
Up the Boro!
Will we be shopping in Selfridges or will it be the remnant rail at Primark? (other outlets are available, no retailer was hurt making this post))
Maybe there is a lengthy waiting list for a bespoke designer version!
#nofakelabels
Only the best for Boro!
Redcar Red
#nolablesatall
It will be from a factory outlet shopping centre!
Perhaps we should ask Mats Hummels to take over. That way our labels are aligned.
One thing that surprises me is that I haven’t read on here discussion about the free agents leaving Boro.
Hopefully Ian Mr Downing is gone and does not return
The reason they are free agents is because the club can’t afford/ want them. Therefore any discussion is immaterial.
I’m surprised that Sunderland haven’t taken Dimi on for a year or two. He’s got plenty of experience and could pass it on to the younger players but then again maybe he’s happy to retire and concentrate on his business.
The rest, well, GHW’s comment is about right. Big wages out and room for manoeuvre being built in.
This really has to be a time of change and change in club philosophy too with a decent manager.
UTB,
John
John
Actually I quite like the look of the Sunderland Keeper I think he would make a good no 2 at Boro
OFB
No wants to jinx them leaving Ian!
Ian
I suppose no one has commented on the players who have been released because we all expected it
The one player we all want to go is Gestede and also Braithwaite unless a new manager can make him play for us!
OFB
OFB, even Braithwaite at his best is not worth 40K a week to us. Better to use those wages on a couple of decent FB’s and the rest in the pot.
As far as I am concerned they can all leave with my best wishes.
Can I start a good post just for a change.
Subject; New manager.
Having read the post on the Manchester City assistant, and smiled.
I then read the outright condemnation of the very idea of him leaving by his boss, and friend Gourdiola. I new it was dead in the water.
Now I read that he is the favourite for the job, I am optimistic, the bookies are no ones foils.
Mmmm
I would go for him Plato he was responsible for the set play goal coaching last season so must know a thing or two.
Failing that I’d go for Yerjokinarnyer he seems a good choice
OFB
In the days when a manager had complete autonomy at a football club, then perhaps a Number 2 would have aspirations of assuming that role, ( and the salary that went with it). In today’s game why would someone like Arteta give up being assistant to Guardiola?
He’s working with some of the worlds best players and sharing in all the glory and accolades. He’s not going to swop that for a Parmo.
GHW
What you say makes sense, but there are other considerations.
For instance, to get access to the really big money in the game, he may wish to try out his talents for a brief spell with a nice quiet club in a respectable league. A club with some nice young players, check, access to a reasonable amount of money, check, a crowd that is longing for some football, check.
It is important to realise that the money for the right manager at the right club is now in the stratosphere, I would think about fifteen mill per season, plus bonuses.
So it is quite important for a person with serious talent to get aboard the gravey train.
That means breaking away and trying out your wings in the championship.
I should say I do not believe we will get lucky, but it is nice to hope.
Not forgetting of course that Arteta was a very successful player in the Premiership, so I would imagine he is very financially secure.
Now if the likes of Mourinho, Wenger etc wanted to test their managerial talents, then MFC would be the ideal test.
Passionate support ✅
Infrastructure ✅
Successful academy ✅
Supportive Chairman ✅
Top tier championship club ✅
All the ingredients are there to prove that you don’t need multi millions and a top four Premiership club to prove your talents as a manager. An appointment like that would make the Robson years seem small time.
So, Jose and Arsene. Come and have a go if you think you’re good enough!
Perhaps he wants to practice the job independently in a lower league team like Boro. Like we hope Woodie to test himself at Hartlepool or similar.
Just saying, like . Up the Boro!
I hope that Steve Gibson doesn’t make the same mistake he made when appointing Gareth Southgate by default when Martin O’Neill was the obvious choice at the time. It seems he has become more ruthless nowadays though in his approach for wanting to find positions for present incumbents such as Craig Hignett, Steve Agnew, et al. Yet why do I find it disturbing that he wants to find a position for Jonathan Woodgate? I reckon he should bite the bullet and appoint Slavisa Jokanovic who has the history of getting a team promoted from the Championship by playing attractive football. He won’t come cheap, and as is the norm these days, will want to bring his own staff. However if he doesn’t make that bold decision I fear Jonathan Woodgate will get the manager’s job by default just like Southgate did.
On another point, rarely does resigning ex players prove successful. Were Tony McAndrew, Juninho and Stewart Downing as successful the second time around? So if we could afford his transfer fee and wages, would the signing of Albert Adomah make any sense? Just asking!
I think Adomah is a free transfer.
The question is if he is good enough for Boro?
Some say he has lost some of his speed. He was excellent at Villa during the 2017/18 season and was my favourite when he was here. Just remember him playing against Derby at Riverside a few years back.
Up the Boro!
Coming up to 32 yrs old now. Probably looking to sign a final lucrative contract. With no resale value definitely not a good signing for MFC.
Should never have been sold unless replaced with better but at 32 now his value is only going in one direction. As a free its maybe tempting and if he fires us to promotion he will be a bargain but I think its time to look for younger and fresher with a future value.
I think Martin O’Neill wanted to bring in his own backroom staff at a time when I think Gibson wanted to maintain continuity. Harrison and Round stuck around during Gareth’s early months, only for Round to be shown the door over a “difference in philosophy and ideas”. There was not, if I remember, anywhere near the outcry shown at the time of Craig “hard done by” Hignett’s departure. (Round didn’t turn out to be such a bad assistant coach after all, as five steady years under Moyes showed.)
I think later, Gibbo swallowed his pride and let Strachan, and later Karanka, bring their own men in, although that didn’t stop him mixing things up a bit with Higgy (we know how well that went… sigh).
What do you think, Mr. Keane? Let’s look back to your time at Ipswich.
“You’re working with twenty-odd players, so you need two coaches, at least – more voices, more support.
“At the time, I just had Tony (Loughlan). I didn’t bring other people in quickly enough – straightaway. Chris Kiwomya was there, and Bryan Klug, and Steve McCall was the chief scout. They’d all played for Ipswich. It had the feel of a family club that didn’t need breaking up. But that was exactly what it needed.
“You need to bring in three or four people with you. Make your mark. And, if you want to be cynical about it, if the manager’s having a hard time, the club will stick with him longer, because it costs a lot more money to get rid of four or five people.”
The line that sticks with me is – “it had the feel of a family club that didn’t need breaking up… But that was exactly what it needed.”
Bit like at the time of Mogga and AK coming in. Pragmatism trumping sentiment. But I think what was feared at the time was the trading of a seemingly altruistic ideology with a more dubious, openly egocentric one. It sort of reminds me of this online discussion when AK was about to depart…
“Karanka is very passionate about the club…”
“The only thing Karanka is passionate about is his ego.”
Do we want a split like that again?
I think there was/is the risk of us becoming almost incestuous with our engagement of local lads. That backdrop and AK was clearly a fault line with one demanding that he had full control whilst the other “camp” (not a good sign) confident in their perceived untouchability, shielded by the invincible cloak of Teessidism.
Any job in any walk of life is difficult but if you have an individual or individuals who are blatantly undermining or quite open in their dissent then it becomes ten times harder and can only be remedied by either you or them leaving.
Under TP that Teesside Tommy psyche seemed to grow but unfortunately the results didn’t and after the contract problems with Downing early in the year I don’t think we ever got back in the saddle as a side and our season simultaneously tailspinned. Whose fault all that was I don’t know but there is a bit of a recurring theme and so ultimately the blame has to be with SG as it was all under his supreme control. That is just one of many reasons many fans were glad to see Stewy go and for Woody not becoming the next Manager. MFC need a clean slate for the new Manager to build upon and not having to break up cliques (however well intentioned they and I suspect SG believe them to be) before he even gets his feet under the desk.
Spot on RR.
I joked yesterday about “Ad Blocker” being tipped today to be the next Boro Manager. I had to do a double take when I saw Eintracht Frankfurt’s “Adi Hütter” creep into Paddy Powers reckoning today.
Barnsley Manager favourite !
OFB
Only had a short managerial career with one German and one English club (Barnsley) but has a good win ratio and got them promoted.
Played as a forward so should know something about attacking football.
If we can’t afford Jokanovic then this could be a good call and certainly preferable to JW in my view.
Got me interested OFB thank you. 😎
Had a great weekend
My niece was married on Saturday and one of her bridesmaids was the daughter of Steve Agnew who was also at the wedding .
After a few glasses of fizz at the reception I approached Steve to continue our conversation which we initiated last year at a family BBQ.
Steve is a really nice guy and I gave him my contact details for a future In2Views.
I look forward to hearing from him as he has had a lot of input into Boro for a few years
OFB
Watching the Champions League final with no league winners involved.
Like many I look askance at the European competitions but then I got thinking. We got in to Europe the second season because we finished 7th. That was because the horrid big clubs had increased the EUFA coefficient to give more places.
I cant get sniffy about the process because that is how we got in to Europe. I cant now decry it and prevent other clubs the opportunity of European football. I didn’t remember fans marching to the Riverside demanding Boro withdraw from European football?
I don’t mind that it’s a competition with the top 3 or 4 teams from national leagues but why is called the Champions League? especially when it’s not even a league either. Not sure why it couldn’t still be called the European Cup or indeed even the UEFA Cup would be a better name.
“It hasn’t been pretty but it’s been effective. It’s been clinical.”
That’s all you need to be when it comes to finals. I don’t think Liverpool fans will care a jot about the entertainment value.
Certainly NO entertainment value for 90 minutes.
“…when it comes to finals” is absolutely key to that sentence, Simon.
I know Downing has his critics over here, but AV has written a nice summary of his career.
Up until January, I think he was class and is still the best passer of the ball at Boro in my opinion.
A club legend already now.
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stewart-downing-divisive-created-magic-16360006
Up the Boro,
In fairness to Stewy, AK didn’t want or need him and every other Manager since his return didn’t play him in the role that he excelled at for West Ham. That said, his Free Kicks were terrible, his Corners woeful and whilst I can accept its difficult to play a creative ball through to a lone Striker set pieces should have definitely been his forte.
Since his return his general play was as good as many other underwhelming Boro performers and at least consistent but being paid likely double and then some of many of his team mates meant his that start stature was somewhat tarnished. Gibbo and the fans were hoping for a Merson talismanic type influence when in reality we just got a decent Championship player. He was in fairness MOM in many games but rarely if ever took a game by the scruff of the neck, made his side tick and influenced things.
His shooting was almost none existent and therefore his goals return way below what was anticipated and reasonably expected. I could never understand how someone who once had a wand of a left foot could no longer hit a Cow’s derriere with a banjo. His first spell under McClaren was very good but his return was a waste of rather a lot of Steve Gibson’s money ultimately. It was clear that there was something between himself and AK football wise which hindered (and possibly even festered), who knows tactically about anything under Monk.
With Pulis the platitudes were somewhat over the top to the extent that I think that there was something else behind it, ingratiating himself to his bessie mate Steve or maybe hoping someone would put a silly bid in to get Stewy off the wage bill? Once Stewy’s contract difficulties were sorted TP didn’t really utilise the way he once did which seemed strange but there again we also we went on that infamous six game losing streak
Stewy was however always polite and courteous and conducted himself in a manner which he and his family can be proud off. I recall being stood in the Car Park at the Riverside mid week after an afternoon Business Conference talking to a colleague from Aberdeen before he set off North and Stewy came out of the front entrance, walked past us to his Car, smiled and said hello and then got into his car. My Colleague said to me, “I know that young Man’s face from somewhere but I just can’t place it” thinking he worked in the same Industry.
I explained that he had probably seen him on the telly and who he was, my colleague was laughing that he knew he knew his face but didn’t recognise him without his kit on. Notably however he was genuinely surprised at how unassuming and friendly he came across and he would then often ask me on how he was playing when in conversation. This was prior to his move to Villa and then Liverpool and by the time he retuned to the Riverside my colleague had retired so no longer enquired but his simple politeness struck a chord with my older colleague that day which lasted for some time.
Its just a shame that his comeback was a bit like the current Spice Girls one, poor quality, something missing and frustrated fans wanting refunds. Like the Spice Girls not all of it was his fault with a lot of it out of his control but he was the one stood centre stage so he was the one that got the flack.
I think it was once written that the name UEFA Champions League is misleading. “League” because a series of group stages become a knock-out. “Champions” because teams can qualify if they finish fourth in their league. And “UEFA” because the competition is essentially in the hands of the elite clubs, whose desire for more money led to its formation. But would “Rich Clubs Runners-Up League And Cup” sound as good?
It is the very best of the very worst of Football today. Avarice, Insatiability, Greed, Covetousness, Gluttony, Lust, Infatuation, Longing and Money-Grubbing all rolled up into a tournament to satisfy the lust of the few over the needs of the many. Vive la revolution!
And a global audience of billions, Cha Ching!
Hmm, the Cha-Ching Cup has got a nice ring to it…
How about “Elite Clubs’ Cup” – Elite Cup for short? UTB!
Not forgetting of course that Arteta was a very successful player in the Premiership, so I would imagine he is very financially secure.
Now if the likes of Mourinho, Wenger etc wanted to test their managerial talents, then MFC would be the ideal test.
Passionate support ✅
Infrastructure ✅
Successful academy ✅
Supportive Chairman ✅
Top tier championship club ✅
All the ingredients are there to prove that you don’t need multi millions and a top four Premiership club to prove your talents as a manager. An appointment like that would make the Robson years seem small time.
So, Jose and Arsene. Come and have a go if you think you’re good enough!
I’ll take Carlo Ancelotti please. Assuming that Klopp or Guardiola have others things to do.
It wasn’t a great game but its been interesting watching Spurs in the semi-final and final. I remain convinced that Lloriente is close to being the best attacking player in the air in the Premier League. Spurs didn’t really use him except as a replacement bit they always looked more like scoring when he came on. If I was one of the promoted clubs, I’d take a very serious look at him as a target man with other players playing off him.
UTB
Spurs did a Boro. We played Bamford at Wembley when he was still injured. Spurs lost as they played Kane for 90 min. Just saying, like. UTB!
Robbo also bottled it and played an unfit Ravanelli.
It came as as surprise that Lucas Moura ( who must have been on a high after his semi final hat-trick) wasn’t in the starting lineup. I think Pochettino got it wrong. I would have thought Kane should perhaps have been on the bench.
Still, it was a very poor game. Hopefully all the media adulation of Klopp and Liverpool will soon die down. I’m already fed up with it.
It was an awful game but had that been Boro playing we would have no nails left and likely drank both Madrid and Boro dry. Euphoric at what we had just won and couldn’t give a stuff about the lack of quality on display.
On a side note I thought the Ref and his assistants had a good game. The penalty was disappointing for Spurs so early on but if you are going to stick your arm up like that in the box when the ball is being crossed then you deserve what you get. Had the Ref bottled it then the game could have descended into a farce with him having to try and even things up and overly justify every decision. He stood his ground and was consistent all through the game including ignoring some very theatrical “falls” as oppose to blatant “dives”. For me the Ref was my man of the match and my point is that I know last season I berated quite a few officials and just wanted to put it out there that I also appreciate when they are good and in this case very good indeed.
Chances are Pochettino might have been under pressure to play Kane because of status and image. It’s documented Fergie wanted to take Ronaldo off once because the opposition had set out to cut off his threat, but how would the manager have looked in the papers? Especially if United had lost? There’d be your ready made Scapegoat Of The Week.
Simon
Saved me the trouble of posting it. Dead right.
When we were in our Euro final, we allowed every big name player to declare themselves fit, then sit out the final game at Fulham.
Not a great idea, as was leaving out the man who scored the winner in the semi. Brought up on Euro football he was obviously a better player against same.
It was as though the Spurs Manager had a gun to his head, and he bottled it.
I do not think he will spend much time considering the matter if he gets an offer from a giant club.
But will Boro make an offer?
UTB,
John
Pochettino could have hedged his bets by naming Kane on the bench. It’s no good being touted as a great manager if he can’t make the big decisions when it matters.
Just a few snippets from ‘The Title- the Story of the First Division’ to elaborate on what I previously wrote on the History of Middlesbrough FC.
1. Oldham Athletic had joined the Second Division in 1907 and won promotion to the First Division within 3 years. By the 1914/15 season they were serious contenders for the title having won 10 of their first 14 matches. At Easter they were still the main contenders until they played Boro at Ayresome Park on Easter Saturday. Boro stormed into a 3 goal lead in the first 20 minutes, and in the second half Oldham conceded a penalty after 55 minutes when Jackie Carr had been brought down by Billy Cook. Walter Tinsley scored from the spot and Cook was sent off. However he refused to leave the field stating mistaken identity, despite his captain urging him to accept the decision. The referee then gave Cook 60 seconds to leave the pitch, but Cook was still there hands on hips after the minute had elapsed so the referee abandoned the match with Boro leading 4-1. The outcome was that the result stood, Cook was banned for a year, and Oldham finished second to Everton by one point after losing their last two matches without their mainstay in defence, Billy Cook.
2. Despite Wembley Stadium purporting to have a capacity of 127,000 the first match played there was the 1923 FA Cup Final. But it was not made an all ticket affair because supposedly football had lost its popularity with crowds dwindling up and down the country, yet an estimated crowd of 200,000 took the FA by surprise for that match. The reason why football was losing its appeal was seemingly a lack of goals, especially in the First Division where frequently a full day’s fixture list of 11 matches were producing on average of little more than a goal a game. The reason given was the offside law where three men had to be between the attacker and the goal before the ball was passed to him. What was happening was that along with the goalkeeper the two fullbacks being the last last line of defence would push up to the halfway line, and one of them would step into the opponents half before a pass could be made to an attacking forward. This generosity towards defenders was being increasingly exploited by some pairs of fullbacks, and most of the action was being playing midfield. After the law was changed to only two men between the attacker and the goal, the scoring of goals greatly increased with defenders often unable to cope.
3. The new offside law certainly benefited Boro when they scored 122 goals in the 1926/27 season, but it became not unusual for teams to finish a season with a century of goals for or against. In fact Manchester City managed to score and concede 100 goals in the same season. Jimmy Cookson of Chesterfield had scored the most goals by any player, 44 in 1925/26. By February in 1927 George Camsell had scored 45 and broken Cookson’s record within 9 months and as we all know went on to score 59 that season including 2 penalties. However away to Notts County on 23rd February he missed a penalty as Boro drew 2-2 and vowed never to take another one. Considering Boro were awarded a further 6 penalties in the remaining 14 matches it is safe to say his record would never be broken if he had continued taking them.
The following season although scoring 33 goals in the First Division he seemed to develop an inferiority complex. In the penultimate match at Derby which Boro lost 1-2 Camsell apparently missed 3 sitters, and a 0-3 home defeat to Sunderland in the final match meant Boro were relegated with 37 points along with Spurs on 38 points, whilst Derby with 44 points finished 4th. Remarkably only 6 points separated 4th from 21st.
4. Dixie Dean as a 17 year old had scored 27 goals in 30 matches for Tranmere Rovers. He signed for Everton and as an 18 year old scored 32 goals in his first season with the Toffees, only 11 short of the First Division record held by Ted Harper of Blackburn Rovers. Of course his sights were now on Camsell’s record in the season before. As like all strikers though in March he went through a barren spell scoreless in 4 successive matches. He then missed a penalty but scored 10 in his next 7 matches. Everton won the title with a game to spare beating Burnley away with Dean scoring 4 times but still 2 goals short of Camsell. Their final match was at home to Arsenal and Dean scored twice in the first half, one a penalty. But there were only 8 minutes left to play when he scored his hat trick in a 3-3 draw thus beating Camsell’s record by a solitary goal. True enough Dean’s goals were scored in the First Division whilst Camsell’s were in the Second, but if only George had continued taking penalties or not missed those 3 sitters against Derby, who knows how many he might have scored. I guess it must have almost felt like a cricket match, Dean needing 7with only 2 matches remaining. The sad part was Everton needing only one point to lift the title with 2 matches remaining, whilst Boro needed 2 points to avoid relegation. Once again the ups and downs of being a Boro supporter. Nevertheless Boro regained their First Division status the next season with Camsell scoring 30 and Billy Pease 27.
The latest from Michael Calvin and BT Sport…..
https://sport.bt.com/football/state-of-play-bt-sports-latest-film-offers-a-captivating-insight-into-the-heart-of-the-beautiful-game-S11364365449281
There is still resentment – and it’s understandable – towards AK for leaving a much loved One Of Our Own and Aggers’ nephew, incidentally our two biggest buys, on the bench for the biggest game.
But… Nugent, Stuani, goal. And Stu could have had a couple more.
That said, even the result was not enough to quell resentment. We know that. I sense, on reflection, Downing was one of the first to really look at Karanka and think, “this Spanish (insert your choice of word) is going to tell *me* what to do?”
Adomah, it appeared, followed suit at the end of August 2015.
The longer a cultist’s reign goes on, the less and less people buy into his ways.
Simon
Look at the other side of that coin.
The longer ‘locals’ have the main say at any club, then the greater the decent into the pit, and we are still defending behaviour that would be frowned on in a house of ill fame, no one has a clue who the new manager is going to be, and this is a scandal.
One would have had to be dead to any football vibes to not know the manager was gone, long gone.
To hang out your sign that you are interviewing for the post of manager, is to lay yourself open to every halfwit and fantasist, plus the abject failures, and those with such flaws of character that the Emperor Nero would have thrown a wobbler.
It is a truism that you should be prepared to pay your Manager more than your players, but then, you would be compelled to pick well, every time.
Just as a final observation, if (did he really?) Downing threw a chair at AK? Which is a persistent story on all the blogs. Every fear you had about your football club is reality. HELP!!
We were one of the preseason favourites before the start of last season: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48282643. People still trusted Pulis.
Pulis and Boro were the most successfull (biggest tally of points) team in the Champioship in the year 2018. We would have been promoted had the season run from January to December 🙂
Pity we hade such a bad sping time in 2019. But there will always be next season. Up the Boro!
This is like waiting for the Christmas as a child.
Still, how many nights left before he comes ….
Up the Boro!
I hear Netflix are making a sequel to their documentary series…. “Sunderland ‘til I die”
The working title is “Sunderland in League One ‘til I die”……..
I think we have spent two season on the third tier. Now Sunderland are starting their second successive year in there.
Have they been there before and who is the big club? Up the Boro!
Jarkko, they sure have, in season 1987/88, so next season will be their 3rd season in the third tier. Sunderland entered the First Division in 1890 and were never relegated until 1958.They have spent 90 seasons in the top flight, 26 in the second tier and next season will be their 3rd in the third tier. Boro didn’t enter the league until 1899 and that was in the Second Division where they will be spending their 47th season in August. However despite having spent only 2 seasons in the Third Division, they have only spent 61 in the top tier, 29 less than Sunderland.
Thanks, Ken. I remembered that they have played a lot in the top league but I did not remember they had been in the third tier as recently as 1987/88. So a season after us. Did they play against Darlo, too?
Up the Boro!
Jarkko. No both Darlington and Hartlepool were in the Fourth Division. Darlington were relegated the season before 1986/87, Hartlepool in season 1968/69.
One for Plato…..I see the NE are running with the rumour of Watford and Burnley being interested in Tav and Wing.
It was actually Tav and Fry – apparently Watford are interested in Tav in terms of their policy of finding cheap promising young talent that they can then sell on at big profit in the future.
Burnley are reported to be interested in an early move for Fry to beat clubs like Liverpool who are monitoring his development. Although, given Gibson only played one league game last season for Burnley it doesn’t look like a good career move.
The article has said Boro are expecting bids for the pair in the summer – whether they are prepared to sell is another matter but if a new manager arrives and needs to fund his spending plans it’s often the players you’s rather not sell that attract the highest bids.
Anyway, no rumours of bids for Gestede or Braithwaite yet…
Werder,
I know this is tricky for but why don’t Boro keep them and sell them for a big fee like Gibson and Adama, although as you say Gibson’s playing career seems to have suffered a lost year after his move to Burnley.
I would hope Boro start building a team around the promising and proven young talent they have while looking for more. Please get the new manager in as soon as possible and start getting organised. Organised?
UTB,
John
Maybe we could do a Bogof offer with a difference to Blackburn Rovers with Downing and Gestede, more of a Gofgof offer. Get one free and you get one free, should spare over £3.5M on wages at Boro over a year and hopefully be able to hang on to Fry and Tav.
RR, that makes sence. And Gestede might be a popular choice at Blackburn. I think he had his best goal-scoring run with Rhodes at Blackburn …
Up the Boro!
Pedro
The shame is, it was a death foretold, open incompetence is easily recognised, and just as easily cashed in on by the lesser bottom feeders, to our shame.
Just as bad is the gift of our young product of our academy. Young lad great season, goal scorer (plenty).
Unknown unimportant Scottish club get him for nothing.
Go figure.
To misquote the old saying. ” the dumber I get the unluckier I get”
More faffing about with the rules
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48382254
Apart from the timewasting Substitutions and leaving the pitch at the nearest point I don’t see anything that adds value or will enhance or improve the game. Still I guess if the Powers that be are sat in a 5 star Hotel for days on end quaffing copious amounts of Bollinger and fine Steaks then they better come up with something to justify their expenses. Next one will be to have 195 Countries at the 2030 World Cup Finals in a knock out competition that starts in January and finishes in July.
CHA CHING ?
Didn’t we sign him once ?
OFB
Just read a story that Villa want to replace Albert with Marcus Tavernier.
I think they would better suited to Gestede and Braithwaite plus £10m. £10m is a lot but it may be worth our while paying it in the long term.
I wonder if Villa will be treated the same way as Bournemouth and Leicester were with fines brought down on appeals to paltry figures?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7088131/Championship-clubs-fear-Aston-Villa-avoid-points-deduction-breach-FFP-rules.html
Nothing so certain GHW
Interesting read from AV about scouts and recruiting.
As he rightly says the problem is getting deals over the line with the lure of other clubs, agents, money, moving etc.
I have no qualms with the scouting, the problems I see are that if we dont get the right player we seem to bring in any player.
The stand out (for want of a better word) window in recent times was the January window in the premiership. All was going ok, not great but ok. We knew we lacked pace and/or guile and were too dependent on Ramirez. Then the toys flew out of the pram and not only did we need players as well as Gaston we needed to replace Gaston.
And what came in? Gestede, a physically and mentally unfit Bamford and a stand warming, non featuring plodder from Watford.
Those three added nothing to our survival hopes. May as well have kept the money.
The problem is the entire backroom set up including the scouting. Why were they not chasing MacGuire when he was at Sheffield United, they were far too late when they woke up to how good he was.
Why were/are we scouting/chasing players that want too much and we can’t afford them? How much time money and effort has been wasted on identifying these players 18/24 months too late?
Who on earth sanctioned the purchase of players who we didn’t need at a particular time and worse still who the Manager didn’t want like as not? Who then agreed/agrees to ridiculous wage requirements for journeymen footballers.
There has been and still is a total disconnect between the Manager/Coach, Scouting, Recruitment and Commercial common sense in the MFC business. Without joined up thinking what you get is an eclectic collection of ill fitting components at great cost.
RR, there are lots of questions but no answers from MFC, because there is egg on face.
We are just going over old ground and the fault starts at the top. The longer this manager replacement lingers on, the more concerned I get on who will ultimately walk through the door.
All this talk about, ‘near misses for young players with a future’ are, in fact just more exposure of our complete incompetence as a club.
The person who spotted McGuire as a budding talent, in a relegated team, short of money, needing to sell, must have felt very let down by this club.
To be in negotiations for a beauty, is to have crossed the line, whoever let it drop should reconsider his position. The time to strike is right then, because you are forecasting the future and it is not possible to know, you can only think you know.
When one thinks of the tried and tested veterans we have not hesitated to go the last mile over(and boy, have we been sorry)
I here that two or three of our young beauties are the target of a couple of dreadful Prem clubs.
If we sell them (that should read give them away) then I shall have to reconsider my position as a supporter of this club.
It will mean the idiot who has just been given the boot robbed me of watching them last season, and caused us to lose them this season.
What did the fool say?
“I regret not giving Tav more game time.” Yea! Not half as much as the fans did.
” I knew Wingy was a great player as soon as I saw him”. A fantasist who should have been given gardening leave well before Christmass.
As said at the time he did damage to this club that will continue long after his exit.
How did John Mcginn from Hibs escape the Boro recruitment team and sign for Villa for a pittance. Man of the match against Derby and a Scottish international.
I’m certain we were linked with him at the time. No doubt Villa paid him and/or his agent a lot more money.
Andy, I cannot remember seeing anything linking him with MFC. Of course that may be down to us chasing Besic, McNair and ultimately Saville. All not as good?? and for a lot less money.
We probably did not see him early enough. Gazette now saying the new MFC model is find them young and cheap….or something similar.
One would think it is either MFC propaganda or that they have been reading this blog.
http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/middlesbrough_latest_club_linked_with_hibs_star_john_mcginn_914332/index.shtml
Pedro
A quick google of McGinn Middlesbrough Hubs brings up a few stories though I haven’t read them.
I think Villa paid 3 million. Steve Bruce signed him and according to the player it was his influence that made the decision for him to join Villa. Celtic were also interested. As well as Boro looking at lower league players in England, they should also have a trip up to Scotland.
They did!
According to one media report Downing is waiting until it’s announced who is the new Middlesbrough manager, before deciding his next club, the same report also states that if Woodgate gets the job, he will be offering Downing a new contract.
Come on BORO.
The longer the wait goes on, the more it feels like it’s going to be Woodgate. I’m sure that will go down well!
One possible positive is that Woodgate, having broken into first team football in a very young team including Bowyer, Kewell, Alan Smith and Ian Harte, knows very well the value of youth. It’s possible that one of his selling points to Steve Gibson was that he wants to go forward with a young, attacking team similar to the one he started out in.
I hope we see the end of the ‘old-boys’ style of working, for that would be mates at work and substituting the old broom for a new one. I don’t know what goes on at the club but then does anybody?
Please let it be someone with experience and sensible.It may have worked for Liverpool with The Boot Room but I just don’t see that approach working at Boro. But then, like the rest of us, I’m a Boro fan who put up with Pulis and am desperate for something new and not so predictable.
Maybe it’s that ‘hope’ thing again.
UTB,
John
Not forgetting “Trigger’s Broom”
There are lots of reasons players once identified aren’t bought, financial being the biggest, followed by location. At least these players were on the clubs radar. For every McGinn and MacGuire who get away, there’s always the bullets dodged like Ross McCormack.
GHW
Yes but where are the glorious winners, like Wing? (who was presented to us for free)
I’m very much afraid that we are not very good at landing a good young player, Once we have located him.
If you want a good young player, playing at a modest level, who makes you long to see him in your team, then once you are talking money you must finish the talks there and then, no matter that you offer other inducements, such as sell on’s etc.
Walking away never works, never has, and never will.
On the subject of Fry and Tav. I note that the press are already implying that we do not set the price.
Can we be clear that we very much do set the price.
These are valuable players, and we should make it clear that they will leave over our dead body, and of course the fee that is on them is eyewatering.
No discussions, of course just the price, come back when you are ready to pay it.
You can always win the battle by selling the player to another big club who are prepared to meet the price.
By the way, the price for Fry is 35 mill, and no haggling, and it’s a bargain.
Football is littered with young players who impressed but failed to develop. (MFC have had their fair share) do you cash in or hold on? Sometimes it’s out of the clubs hands if a player wants to move on. Unfortunately in today’s game it’s money that talks and if a player has the chance to double or triple his salary then I’m afraid it’s a foregone conclusion.
Interesting day yesterday as I was presented with my German citizenship by the local mayor. After signing off the paperwork an hour earlier we were told we would be obliged to give a short speech at the ceremony explaining who we were and why we wanted to have German citizenship.
There were 18 of us being awarded citizenship, which was also attended by their families and some local dignitaries and even a woman from the local press. They announced they would be calling up people alphabetically by surname and Mrs Werder thought I’d be first up as my real name starts with the letter B rather than W.
Can’t say I was too keen on being the first but there were five people in the group of Muslim origin, who thankfully seem to have a penchant for surnames starting with A – most of whom were born in Germany.
I gave my speech and explained I was from England and that I have also been European citizen for the last 45 years and want to remain being a European citizen but unfortunately 52 per cent of the British people have decided otherwise. Therefore, I want to have German citizenship. It seemed to go down quite well with quite a few laughs. You then also had to read out a declaration from a card that you would promise to abide by the German laws and constitution and do no intentional harm to any other citizens.
It turned out I was not the only person from Britain in the group as others came forward to declare themselves victims of Brexit. By far the funniest was a man in his early sixties, who arrived at the mayor quite sharpish on his mobility scooter. He declared he was a Brit who had lived and worked for the last 40 years in Germany and had paid a lot of taxes in this country and wanted to make sure he was going to get some of his money back with a German pension. He then sped round on his scooter to shake the various dignitaries hands but over-cooked it a little on the last one and nearly rolled his scooter – which was greeted by a crescendo of woos from the audience of around a 100.
Next up was an odd-looking woman from Glasgow. She said she was 50 but I’d have guessed 60 if I was being gallant – I guess by Glasgow standards 50 is equivalent to 65. It wasn’t necessarily that she looked old though it was how she dressed – she wore a really short mini-skirt and very high stiletto shoes that over-accentuated a very pale blotchy legs that looked if the only previous light they’d seen was from opening the fridge door at night. The look was further added to by her long bleached blond hair that trailed all the way down her back to her mini-skirt – it was an image that might have tempted a young Wayne Rooney but only the drag-racing scooter driver seemed taken by it. Her German was spoken with a strong Glasgow accent, which made it hard to follow but it seems she was non-pleased with Brexit.
A few other UK nationals came up but they had been born in Germany and were already sounding more German than the locals. There was another good speech from a young man from Tunisia, who had been in Germany since he was a boy and felt at home living here. Also two sisters in their fifties from Holland were also getting their citizenship but not exactly sure why they felt the need unless they fear another EU exit – though I think the divisions created by Brexit will have probably put most other countries off the idea.
Anyway, we had a group photo and after a few snacks and soft drinks we all went our separate ways. All-in-all not a bad day to become a German citizen with Donald Trump being given a State visit and being greeted by the Queen in England. Although, personally I have always celebrated the 4th of July – but that’s only because it’s my birthday!
Right, all we need now is a German manager of Boro 😉
Werdermouth,
I really admire you for being able to speak to a German audience in their native tongue. Whilst my English is fairly sound and I can write fairly eloquently, though not as well as you, the thought of making a speech has always terrified me. Well done.
Thanks Ken, I was a bit apprehensive but kept it relatively simple and the key for me is to concentrate on not speaking too quickly and try to glance at just two or three people in the audience. I inadvertently started by looking at the Scottish woman and then noticed she was nodding at me so moved to someone else. I generally find a few beers improve my German but it was not possible in this instance 🙁
What would have been Wurst, Ich bin ein Frankfurter? Or, I’m a jelly doughnut?
( yes, I know it’s an urban myth)
Congratulations Werder even if it did sound like a post Brexit “Little Britain” script which had me chuckling in places.
Thanks RR – At least the computer didn’t say no when I made my application…
Congratulations Werder, a daunting task well accomplished. My birthday is July 3 and not famous for anything. I loved the Rab Nesbitt Glasgow description, that made me chuckle.
Well done,
UTB,
John
Thanks John – maybe we should be celebrating 3rd July as the last day of America being subordinate to Britain…
Maybe someone else with a W may be making a starring appearance with a dignitary and speech shortly.
Even if he changed his name to Herr Holztor I would struggle to believe he’s what Boro need next season. The club essentially have one more chance to reshuffle their resources by raising some cash in sales and spending it wisely. This is not the time to take a gamble on a complete novice and hope he can build a coaching team, put together a group of players and instruct them tactically to try and finish in the top two. Boro will possibly pay a heavy price for many years to come if the new manager is found wanting and it then becomes damage limitation season.
It’s all about expectation. If the club are forthright in their vision for the club going forward and the fans are kept informed, then they will be forgiven quite a few things.
Should the decision be to go with youth and there is a three year plan ( with the inevitable downs outweighing the ups) then so be it. But it is paramount the fans are brought onboard.
I doubt the finance is there for an established manager to bring in marquee signings. It is looking increasingly like austerity is coming through MFC. That’s fine, but a plan has to be outlined as without the fans the club are nothing.
I guess the real problem will be the wages of those we want to get rid of and those we want to sign. Boro probably need five good loan signings this year to bridge the shortfall created by the loss of parachute payments. Whether the club can do a good PR job of explaining it all to the supporters is certainly doubtful on recent experiences.
Will it be a Bridge of Sighs, or a Bridge of Highs? That’s the question.
Werder
My tongue in cheek comment was prompted by an article in the Northern Echo saying Woodie is firmly in the picture. The only Boro picture I would to see him in is the U23 photo as coach.
I am glad your day went well.
Let’s hope he is just “ photo bombing”
Congratulations Werder. A brilliantly funny account that had the whole family in stitches. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Len and glad to hear the family enjoyed the encounter of being hosted by local mayor – sadly no banquet though or even remotely a 21 gun salute!
Another excuse to post this now that parachute payments are no more, and is a stark warning of the financial predicament the club finds itself in and goes some way to explaining the brief given to TP.
http://priceoffootball.com/middlesbrough-2017-18-babylons-burning/
Doesn’t make for pleasant reading despite us all probably harbouring those fears and concerns. Seeing them in print doesn’t make it any more palatable. TP’s brief was understandable but what isn’t or wasn’t was the recruitment which was way over the top in midfield indeed even ludicrous especially given that back drop.
If MFC was my business or plaything I would have gone absolutely ballistic and exploded at all those signings most of which added zero value let alone any measurable improvement to the club. Add in the loan fees and wages of JOM, Hugill and Besic and it just did not make any sense whatsoever.
Hugill was no better than Fletcher, JOM started well and then became magnolia as his fitness presumably improved and after signing McNair and Saville we certainly did not need Besic as well. Maybe SG’s fatal flaw is an inability to say “no” but if that is the case then all the more reason why he needs people around him who will tell him what he doesn’t want to hear for his own sake and for the sake of MFC.
You can’t buy your way out of this league, the teams that came down and bounced straight back kept their Premiership sides relatively intact for a season and gambled. Our last Premiership squad let alone side was a shambolic embarrassing incoherent mess that couldn’t have stayed up in a blue pill factory. The previous relegation we sold the family jewels and put an inexperienced Manager in charge to oversee it all. As an ex footballing friend of mine north of the border has oft repeated to me “SG is a great Chairman, just not a very good one”.
The omens for this season are that money from Season Cards and other income streams will diminish even more than last season especially after the heart was tore out of the club by soulless football. Selling off Randolph, Assombalonga, Braithwaite and Co. to bring in some cash is very likely albeit at break even or more likely a loss. Moving out one or two useless lumps will again probably cost us with the only comfort being getting them off the wage bill. Rebuilding on a budget similar to Mogga’s era albeit not quite as extreme seems inevitable. To try and do that with a rookie Manager would be insanity personified.
We need a mixture of potential along with sensible and solid players at this level to replace the above big money excesses. I wouldn’t be adverse to say a Billy Sharp coming in to replace Britt or splashing/investing a bit (circa £2M each) on the likes of 19 year old David Turnbull (attacking midfielder) from Motherwell or 18 year old Luca Connell from Bolton (defender/midfielder) to replace Downing, JOM and Besic in the squad. With those two and the likes of Wing and Tav developing there is a foundation being built for the future with the opportunity still existing for the here and now. Instead of money being wasted we would be actively investing.
Whatever the plan is it needs to be communicated so the fans buy into it and not expecting automatic promotion or nothing. We need to see a team improve as the season wears on and players bed in, not fall apart and get worse. Communication from MFC however hasn’t been great of late and indeed comes across as begrudgingly or with a point to score. As I have said before this next Manager has to have a unifying effect and presence, anything less than a Boro United will end in failure.
Redcar Red,
My sentiments entirely but as for an execution of the plan should it be adopted, well, I hope none of us are holding our collective breath. Referencing your last sentence if JW is appointed I can’t see anything as positive happening however I remain optimistic that there will be a sensible appointment for the manager’s post.
The trouble is being a typical lifelong Boro supporter I keep talking myself back to pessimism.
UTB,
John
Good post RR. Hope MFC/SG are reading it! 😎
A heart warming football story:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7101065/Valencia-install-statue-Mestalla-tribute-blind-supporter.html
Nice touch and one that I am sure his family find both humbling and of great comfort.
Lovely tribute. 😎
Well done Werder. 😊 👍
We are in Vienna at the moment and although I tried to learn German at school, all the class failed miserably due to us having no Teacher for two years.
I find that Spanish appears easier than German, although the formers verbs are difficult especially the irregular ones.
As for the Boro, it does not look as though it will be a Manager from either of those countries. More and more it is looking like Woodgate and understanding him is difficult enough.
What is difficult to understand, is the wait if it is going to be JW.
Thanks Pedro – I think with any language if you don’t have call to use it regularly then it’s hard to learn or progress.
Love the talk of transfer offers for our (very good) young players.
The comments made by the various reporters say it all about the owners of our club.
” the famous Watford, would very much like to sign Tav. “in their practice of buying good young players cheap, and selling them for a lot of money later”
To do that you need to identify an idiot club, er! What am I saying.
Burnley would like to sign our very very good young ball playing centre back, because they say, they would make a lot of money when Liverpool decide to sign him.
Note. There is no suggestion that we simply chase them, by telling them the price is too much for them, and I am talking very large sums, because these clubs are essentially poor, and are not in the game of paying money for anybody.
Yes when a giant comes calling, we would then quote a price which would bring tears to their eyes, which they would pay. That is the game we are in, and it would be nice if we could learn to play it well.
Since Diasboro was formed we have been a politics free zone – a largely blessed relief but even I can’t resist todays news.
Change UK was formed to break the mould of British politics, more centralist, tolerance of others views, a co-operative culture would prevail.
The vote for a leader, Anna Soubry wins and 6 of the 11 MP’s leave the party.
You can’t make it up.
Sadly Ian we don’t need to make up anything today in UK Politics. Shooting themselves in the foot is the only thing they are believable at.
In the past you could think of three or four potential leaders within both the Conservatives or Labour parties who could step up. At the minute I can’t think of a single solitary individual from either side of the house that I would remotely consider as being a competent person to be a Party leader let alone Prime Minister.
The fringe parties are just as poorly populated with no hopers or hangers on. Things are so dire that if Woody went into politics right now he would like as not be Prime Minister in six months time and joking aside probably the best man (or Woman) for the job.
Redcar Red,
But they all get maximum coverage, because of the paucity of real candidates, and this increases their perceived value. It used to be called the best of a bad lot.
Or crap if you like like.
UTB,
John
Political opportunists who were about to be de-selected by their parties. If they had any backbone they would have resigned their seats and stood as independents. Instead they found a way to stay on the Westminster gravy train.
Beyond contempt.
Here is a worrying thought for Werder, it looks like people are getting fed up with the establishment all over Europe. You can take people out of the Brexit but you cant take Brexit out of the people. It isn’t fascism it is fed upness.
I voted remain.
I think the current situation is more complex than just an anti-establishment uprising of various degrees throughout Europe and indeed America and other democracies. Perhaps it’s also a combination of people being able to have their buttons more easily pushed through the internet and social media, which has also meant the mass media has become less relevant and more fragmented and can no longer deliver a coherent message.
Of course one of the benefits of targeted social media is that it’s now possible to deliver the ‘best’ message to any particular group that plays on their particular concerns even if they conflict. Plus we shouldn’t forget that in the absence of any real news to feed 24-hour news channels they now often resort to simply making stories from what has been trending on social media.
OK, that’s not to say that there aren’t any real concerns which people are unhappy with but it’s so easy now to play the blame game without offering any real solution other than ‘let’s see what happens if we do something else’. The Brexit Party is a good example of this as their ‘solution’ of a no-deal Brexit isn’t a plan but more of a reaction to the establishment not being able to find a plan that squares the circle of the Brexit vote.
It was interesting in the European elections that the populist right-wing parties didn’t make the expected ground they were being predicted to make. The AfD (Alternative for Deutschland) didn’t build on their German national election showing of around 12.5% and support dropped a little to 11% and came in 4th place. They actually have only around 35,000 members in population of 83 million and most of their support is in the old East Germany.
Whether the 33% that the Brexit party achieved in the European election will see them become a political force is debatable as they have no coherent policies on the wider issues that effect people other than leaving the EU. Their problem is that the more they have to talk about other issues and the more scrutiny they come under, the more support they will lose.
We saw recently that after Anne Widdecombe’s ramblings on the potential for gay people to be ‘cured’ by science, Nigel Farage’s response was to add that she was a devout Christian and Muslims say far worse things about homosexuals – which is perhaps not going to help to change the minds of those who believe they are not a mainstream party with nothing in common other than Brexit. Which it seems was the problem with Change UK too.
OK, Trump has gained support by saying whatever nonsense comes into his head and simply declaring anything that disagrees with his view is fake news – so we shouldn’t rule out that a similar style wouldn’t feed the anti-establishment converted. The question is whether populism is nothing more than a protest against the weakness of governments to solve the current problems – I suspect at some point the egos of those pretending to be men of the people will see them fall.
The Austrian led far-right government just fell after they were caught on video promising lucrative contracts in exchange for political favours. Trump promised to drain the swamp but doesn’t exactly look like he doesn’t belong there with his nepotism and his appointment of allies and only being prepared to talk to people who only agree with him. Farage has a problem with having to explain Aaron Banks donations.
There is a political void at the moment and it seems it can easily be filled by any Charlatan who promises change – whatever that may turn out to be. The people have a responsibility to look carefully before giving power to those who are vague about how they plan to wield it. We shouldn’t forget what happened the last time so-called populists were elected in Europe – they found reasons to outlaw other political parties as being in the national interest and then banning the formation of new political parties and became dictators.
Werder
I agree with all of that, the establishment have been smug and that’s what has helped create the vacuum. That was my stance before the Brexit vote and it hasn’t changed.
I voted remain.
“The people have a responsibility to look carefully before giving power to those who are vague about how they plan to wield it”, couldn’t agree more Werder but the problem in the UK right now is that those who are less vague (i.e. the main established Parties) have policies which bear no semblance of anything close to addressing the everyday needs and concerns of the everyday person trying to find work, live, educate a family, care for them and feed them.
Policing, Jobs, Employment, NHS, Prisons, Housing, Transport, Council budgets even down to Speed Cameras, wherever you look and whatever you pick up it is an absolute shambolic mess. Taxes have increased, and years of austerity have meant that Foodbanks no longer carry a mark of shame and things are getting worse, much, much worse. Politicians have been lying, cheating and fiddling for years to boost their individual wealth and cover up their incompetence. It fully extends beyond the UK and into Brussels where those who are untouchable to the common European citizen have lorded over boorish excesses in the extreme.
I believe in a European Union but not this one, it appears to me to be utterly corrupt and incompetent just like our UK Politicians. Their grasp of Management and Planning is more outdated than Tony Pulis’s Coaching manual. The standard of living and other societal norms meant that the Populations of Germany, UK, France, the Netherlands etc. didn’t up sticks en masse and suddenly emigrate when they became one. A few have lived and worked across Europe but such a negligible amount that nobody noticed or remotely cared and indeed even welcomed the differences the newcomers brought both culturally and usually in fulfilling vital roles.
As soon as nations whose GDP was less than ideal and whose opportunity and standards of living were significantly less than those of us fortunate to be in “Western Europe” were brought into the Club the scales were tipped. Large unbalanced migrations followed and the history of Europe tells us that when times are tough everyone looks for a scapegoat to blame. The EU was working reasonably well but when Eastern European nations were absorbed without prior raising of their standards first (by development, help and investment from the EU) the see-saw tipped. Countries like Poland were absorbed without too much disruption and despite knuckle dragging responses from some they have added value to the EU whilst their homeland has also seen corresponding benefits. That should have been both a warning and a test case.
Adding more nations should be a welcome and admirable objective but you can’t take Lincoln City as an example and plonk them into the Premiership and Champions league. You can’t even do it with Boro yet bizarrely Brussels thought differently. Eventually having a bigger and more encompassing EU should have been a managed and controlled affair for the benefit of all (parallels with FIFA and their incredulous logic). The way it was done was irresponsible and without control.
Greece was a financial basket case yet was admitted, pensioners committing suicide because they had no money left and no self esteem yet Greece on its backside was left to deal with a huge influx of refugees when they couldn’t afford to Police or even feed their own people. Meanwhile there is a huge building in Strasbourg sitting empty for 90% of the year (waiting for the Circus to come to town)with heating and lighting costing us millions of Euros being relieved up a Brussels pissoir.
Border controls gone as a consequence of poorly thought out and executed expansionism and all at a time when the EU and the UK in particular were/are very vulnerable to terrorism was the perfect storm. Meanwhile, Junkers and Co. fiddled, seemingly oblivious to the Calais Jungle camp and Children being trafficked just a short Limousine ride away from their power base. All Politicians from the UK and the EU are fully accountable. Jointly and equally responsible for this huge Brexit mess and all they can do is point at red Buses or anti Semitism or Mays madness, absolutely anything at all that deflects. This week its Donald Trump or Plastic waste. Deflection and avoidance of responsibility and accountability from every Politician from every walk of life. Merkel is back to clinging to power again this week, Macron seems to have gone back into his shell with his own uniquely French problems whilst Italy is in a financial mess but guess which country apart from Greece is saddled with refugees landing on their shores daily, European Union, my backside as Jim Royle would say!
Everyone can blame Cameron for starting it or the Tories for messing it up but where was the Opposition when a Gift Horse came Gift wrapped? Too busy being a professional opponent avoiding all accountability and grown up responsibility for fear of actually having to make the decisions. Boris, Farage, Gove, Corbyn, Abbot, May, Juncker, Tusk, the list that just keeps on giving and sadly growing.
A once in a lifetime opportunity literally came along to give a bloody nose to untouchable bureaucrats that had made an utter mess of things. A great opportunity to ruin and spoil things for fat cat Politicians who had spent their Careers voting on behalf of their investments rather than their constituencies. Another opportunity then at recent local elections to rub noses in it and then another opportunity to make a mockery out of the EU elections and with it the perfect opportunity of a double whammy hitting the Tories and Labour parties was just too good to be true.
Teflon shares should have rocketed over the last three years and yet the Politicians and the Press still deflect, point fingers and blame but not a single mirror in sight. Shame and disgrace on the lot of them. At least today we can have mass hysteria over Trumps NHS gaffe, it keeps the spotlight well away from those who would rather do anything but be an accountable Politician or a Diplomat right now.
Anyway talking of deflection I see Liam Rosenior is now linked to day with the Boro hot seat!
Latest link to the Boro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Simão
OFB
Interestingly, after EU enlargement in 2004, only the UK, Ireland and Sweden had no restrictions on free movement of people from the new 11 countries who had joined. In Germany, workers still needed a work permit and the Netherlands had a limit of a max of 22,000 workers per year – ironically even Poland had restrictions. OK, All restrictions on movement ended in 2011 but it was the UK’s decision to allow Eastern European workers to freely enter that probably sowed the seeds of Brexit.
The EU is a political project that has made some expedient decisions – particularly with the Euro and free movement but national governments have sometimes blamed it for things they could have prevented if they’d thought it through.
We’ve come a long way since BJ McQuade was one of the few letter writers on the Boro to the Gazette. With so many social media platforms out there it’s easy for individuals to air their views.
Take this blog for instance, there are no shortage of posters when the season is underway. I’ve mentioned before that the silent majority are starting to be “heard”. How often do you hear “ trending on Twitter, Twitter in meltdown. The sales of newspapers have tumbled, as why pay for your news when you can get it for free on the internet?
The European elections were a free vote, yet there was only a 33% turnout. Not surprising that the Brexit party did well, not that the mainstream media dropped the subject within a day. Would it be reflected in a General Election, who knows?
What is for sure is that the public have lost all confidence with their MP’s and by default the parties they represent. Trump may well be a poor politician but he’s an excellent business man and that is reflected in the performance of the US economy.
The latest scare story is the US taking over the NHS, as it stands any company in Europe can bid for NHS contracts, therefore US companies with European subsidiaries can already bid for them. Nothing new there. It used to be the “ pub bore” could regale everyone with their factual knowledge, but now with google everyone has the answers at their fingertips.
We are slowly heading to a situation where the country won’t be run by MP’s but more a board of directors, a UK PLC if you will. To truly change the way the country is run there needs to be a major change in the Civil Service, ( the real government of the UK) Get rid of the good old boy public school network and replace the mandarins with hard nosed businessmen.
To see how ridiculous MP’s have become just watch BBC Parliament for a week. A complete shower being led by the nose by a jumped up prat in the Speaker’s chair.
I’ll stop now and go for a little lie down. NURSE!!! my little pink pills please…..
GHW
I prefer the blue pills myself because they are so uplifting !
OFB
There’s some debate over Donald Trump’s actual business acumen – with possibly his only real success being in creating brand Trump. Much of his reputation as a great businessman mainly comes from himself and he has over the years been quite prone to over-exaggerating his wealth.
Trump claimed to have built a personal fortune of $10 billion but that figure include him valuing his personal brand at $3.3 billion and over-estimating the value of his assets. Bloomberg valued his wealth at closer to $2.9bn and Forbes at $4.1bn – which still sounds impressive but Business Week magazine calculated that if he had invested his then estimated wealth of $100m back in 1978 in a standard index-linked pension fund it would now be worth $6 billion without him doing anything.
Indeed, his initial wealth came from his father Fred who was also a property developer and he was able to borrow capital on his father’s credit to make some high-risk property developments in his early years that created that initial wealth. However, many Wall Street banks are reportedly reluctant to lend him capital after a series of high-risk ventures into Casinos went bankrupt which left him owing $270m to the banks – plus they also don’t want to lend to him because of his litigious nature.
Trump also worked with many companies in the 1970s and 1980s on his New York and Atlanta property developments that were controlled by the Mafia – though he claims he didn’t know at the time. He also tried to bring into America hundreds of undocumented guest workers from Romania for a Palm Beach development and a Judge had also ruled he had knowingly employed Polish workers on $5 an hour on a New York development who were paid illegally.
In fact most of his businesses outside real estate have failed – from football franchise, magazines, airlines and clothing ranges. He even set up a Trump University that charged students $35,000 for a series of mentoring and motivational courses that students believed would be held by Trump himself but instead only a cardboard cut-out of him was present. He is still facing a $40m lawsuit for defrauding students on that venture for operating an unlicensed university.
So while he could be viewed as a successful businessman, he’s perhaps only successful at marketing himself and hanging on to the wealth his father presented him with. The real estate business is essentially using your access to capital to pitch an idea for a development to make money out of selling a dream – it basically requires the ability to bullshit.
Not forgetting of course that he’s President of the United States. Whether or not that’s a reflection on him or the US electorate is open to debate but it’s still some achievement.
I am no longer interested in the financial state of MFC , or any club for that matter.if Steve Gibson and the like keep! Putting up with incompetent staff,and port player attitude,then that’s up to them,good luck.
However things can change and that is the hope, watching good players in a good team playing good football?
It’s almost 3 weeks now since Tony Pulis left Middlesbrough FC and after all the shillyshally around Jonathan Woodgate appears to be Steve Gibson’s choice of Manager by default, as it was when Gareth Southgate was appointed Manager. Or maybe Steve Gibson really intended to appoint Woodgate anyway but was just testing the water. I think it was Philip Tallentire who suggested that being the Manager of Middlesbrough FC was a plum job, but after recent events it appears not to be the case after several managers have shown no interest in taking up the reins, just paper talk about bookmakers odds. So we’re left with the choice of out of work Managers like Aitor Karanka and Nigel Pearson or someone with no experience, Jonathan Woodgate. Hobson’s choice really, or maybe Steve Gibson’s choice all along, so why take so long about it?
Ken,
The manager hunt that isn’t a manager hunt but has become a bore.
Out of those you name I’d go for Nigel Pearson, there’s a very interesting interview with him on Sky Sport and well worth a read.
Hope you are feeling better.
UTB,
John
As much as the three week search has become an embarrassment for Boro fans, the reality is that is all it is. Nothing happens in June and the eyes of Championship football are not on us. Does anyone notice we don’t have a boss? No, not really. West Brom are leaderless too and Derby may soon be.
What is fundamental is that Gibbo gets it right this time and I can understand the delay in that respect. Post Steve Mac, his judgement has been appalling and another mistake does not bear thinking about.
It doesn’t help that the Gazette seems, somehow, the default position for all Boro news. All the rumours on the next manager seem to come from its interpretation/reporting of the bookies odds. There is no input from the club or agents and it is nothing more than speculation – fuelled by a need to fill empty space and appear relevant – that really we should pay little heed to.
It is not great at all that we don’t have a boss, but not yet a disaster either. There are two months until the season starts and maybe, for a few weeks more, we should enjoy the break and chill.
The sooner a manager is in place the better. He will then have time to appraise the squad at his disposal and identify the weaknesses.
TP’s contract didn’t/doesn’t expire until the end of June. The pitchforks and flaming hay bales were being gesticulated outside the Riverside as soon as the season ended with “why is that man still here?” probably being the most common Teesside Tweet.
Had SG waited until the first of July to divorce from TP we would have seen grown men bouncing up and down Linthorpe Road screaming and wailing, blocking traffic, causing gridlock at the gates of Albert Park. Moving reasonably swiftly has meant that due hopefully to holiday season in the trade ourselves like West Brom (who have had even longer) are still browsing in the aisles.
The other alternative of course is that JW was the original intention until the backlash made him rethink his simple option. I doubt that and suspect that deliberations have been taking place but no guarantees, promises or golden tickets are going to be handed out so maybe we will have to wait until much later in the month or heaven forbid even next month.
OFB – the blue pill reminds me of when I was in hospital and they gave me the blue pill to stop me rolling out of bed in the night!!! 🙂
Here’s a new name to enter the race according to the Telegraph. “Jorge Simao is highly-rated and was most recently coach of Portuguese side Boavista, who he left earlier this year, and had previously been at Braga and Chaves”. Wonder what the bookies will make of that one!
I’m wondering why Jorge Simao would leave Sporting Braga, repeatedly the 4th best team in Portugal’s Primeira Liga to join Boavista who are at best a mid table club and then Desportivo de Chaves who have just been relegated, so has he been sacked by them? The Portuguese Primeira Liga is not of a high standard nowadays with most of Portugal’s top players playing for the top European Clubs.
RR
Sounds like putting 2+2 together and coming up with three! SG in Portugal this week attending EFL conference and Portuguese manager available = new Boro Manager.
EG reporting that club have not spoken to JS.
As the days go by it is looking more and more likely to be JW unfortunately. 😎
I doubt Simao is the answer but like some players who go under the Radar and then suddenly bloom late and sold on for Millions there are also Managers who must fit the same criteria.
Whether Boro could find one is questionable, our recruitment team seemingly struggle to pick their own noses. Still its marginally better than having a Manager that struggles to tie his shoe laces let alone have them on the correct feet.
At least we have had something to do during the close seasn as we wait for white smoke from Rockcliffe. But of course the wait is boring.
But of course it takes time to find the best possible candidate. And SkySports tweeted that Gibbo is abroad this week.
So no news will be expected this week. No hurry, there still nearly a month to go before the players return.
So waiting. Up the Boro!
I was talking to my 13 yo nearly 14 yo grandson tp night as I bought him a pair of footie boots
We were talking about his district teammates whom he played with and were very good
They’ve signed for Sunderland he said simply !
I haven’t seen a Boro scout at these games for the past two seasons why ?
This is our life blood and we are losing local lads
OFB
OFB
That really is disappointing to here and again does not reflect well on MFC. 😎
It looks like there is no shortage of clubs willing to sign Britt Assombalonga. The question is, do we hold on to one of the Championships’s most prolific scorers or let him go?
I say keep him.
GHW, depends whether Gibson really wants promotion. Also of course can we move on Braithwaite for reasonable money, plus a couple of others, like Gestede.
Well I am off to Turkey tomorrow for a two week holiday and I hope when I return MFC have not employed a turkey in the managers job.
Come on BORO.
I thought there some good posts on Europe, Brexit and Trump.
I remember when Trump was elected, many of the American press were saying he would only last 6 months. Like him or loath him, a lot of what he says makes sense, it is just they way he tells it.
Where would Germany be if they still had the Deutschmark? The Euro has certainly helped them in trading, as has the Common Agricultural Policy as it was in favouring France.
Redcar Red is so correct with his post. Politicians of all colours are so inept as to be unbelievable.
You may need to remind me of something Donald Trump said that made sense as I’m struggling with that one.
Pick anything said about Sadiq Khan.
But then you’d have to balance that with anything said about the previous London Mayor
Although I should add that you’re right that the euro has certainly benefited Germany in keeping their exports competitive – plus France was the biggest beneficiary of the Common Agricultural Policy – but at least that is now only around 40% of the EU budget now rather than the 80% it used to be.
I may be wrong Werder, but I assume that EU Budget is bigger than it was so is 40% equal to 80% or has it really been diluted over time.
The current Common Agricultural Policy budget (2014-2020) is €408 billion with France paying around €8.5bn per year but they only received about €7.5bn – so are now net contributors. The original purpose of the CAP was to give France compensation for opening up its markets to German industrial products but it’s now used to subsidise farming in the mainly new member states. I’m not sure what the budget would have equated to in real terms back in the 1970s though.
I see that Lennart Johansson has sadly passed away aged 89. He was a major influence on migrating the European Cup to the Champions League Tournament format. He was also vice president of FIFA, but lost the contest for the Presidency to Sepp Blatter in 1998. Blatter later rejected allegations of vote-buying (as if) but Johansson never trusted him again and their relationship became somewhat strained.
Whilst I’m personally not in favour of the greedy Champions League I do have to accept that it has been a roaring Commercial success and to his credit he clearly wasn’t fooled by the septic bladder. May he Rest in Peace.
As my latest meeting with my consultant at James Cook Hospital was running 2 hours late I’m glad I took something to read to while away the time, so caught up with ‘The Title, the Story of the First Division’ and one of the chapters dealt with the demise of Manchester United.
The shiny new stadium of Old Trafford was opened in 1910 and United won their second league title that year. However the debt nearly crippled the club and they were forced to sell some of their best players to the likes of Oldham Athletic. By 1922 they had finished bottom of the First Division and been relegated. They managed to get promoted within 3 years, but the rot set in in the 30’s. They were no longer a force to be reckoned with, hovering between mid table and relegation until the inevitable happened in 1931. Having conceded 86 goals the previous season they then conceded 115 the following season and were back in the Second Division. They were by then little more than a music-hall joke.
If that wasn’t bad enough 1933/34 season was infinitely worse, especially from Christmas Day onwards. They lost twice to Grimsby Town 1-3 and 3-7, followed that with a 0-3 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle, away defeats to Lincoln City 1-5 and Bolton Wanderers 1-3, then 1-3 at home to Brentford. Six successive defeats and 24 goals conceded. They had previously displayed their defensive frailties earlier in the season with a 0-4 defeat to Plymouth, a 1-5 home defeat to Bolton and a 1-5 thrashing at Bradford Park Avenue. They went into the last match of the season second from bottom away to Millwall who were one point ahead of them. Suddenly the Third Division beckoned with likely away trips to Accrington, Gateshead and New Brighton on the agenda. A draw was no use, they had to win at Millwall, even then the most intimidating of grounds. United won 2-0 and sent Millwall down instead. The average attendance at Old Trafford had dwindled to just over 18,000 with a low of 11,176 for the local derby with Bury.
Strange that with Old Trafford suffering extensive bomb damage during the Second World War that United should start their renaissance in their temporary home of Maine Road for 3 seasons when they finished runners-up each time and hold the attendance record of 83,260 for a League fixture there against Arsenal, that record only beaten by Spurs at their Wembley home this season.
Just one other strange decision resulted from what was known as the Football Pools War in 1936. In a bid to stop the increasing popular football pools from trading, the Football League decided in February to scrap all the remaining schedule of fixtures to thwart the Pools companies by not revealing the revised schedule of all fixtures only 24 hours before they were due to be played. Absolute bedlam for the clubs and their fans not having a clue who or where they were playing that weekend. This happened for two successive weeks before order was restored and almost derailed Sunderland’s title challenge. It beggars belief that such a decision should be made, and the National Press had a field day in ridiculing the Football League for its stupidity. The outcome of course was that eventually the Pools companies had to pay the Football League for the right to publish fixtures, but more of a steamroller to crack a walnut.
Going back Werder, I think you have to give some credit to Trump for his stance against China. Might not be pretty but China is a future problem I believe.
The Mogga-Aitor years were the ultimate case of what might have been, with the questions of if only One Of Our Own had had money and if only the Spaniard had learned to loosen up a little.
I’m just reminded of the quote in Fawlty Towers of O’Reilly or as Manuel called him the Orelly man “If the good Lord wanted us to worry, he’d have given us something to worry about”. A good maxim for life in general be it Health, Money or the Boro. Mind on reflection he was a crap builder.
Further to my querying about racism in America and Australia, in what is called the State of Origin, the biggest match of Rugby League in Australia, 4 players Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr from New South Wales and Will Chambers from Queensland as indigenous players all refused to sing the Australian National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’ claiming that the words ‘young and free’ is not representative of them or their culture and ignores the country’s pre-European indigenous history. A pause for thought!
They can always donate some of the large salary they receive as sportsmen to indigenous peoples causes.
Elsewhere, the search for a new manager continues, maybe search is the wrong word.
In Greece at the moment hope we don’t get a monkey as manager !!
Coming back from Turkey on Saturday hope it’s not a turkey we employ.
Where in Turkey are you, I am travelling to the Dalaman area to a hotel called Greenland, first visit to Turkey.
Come on BORO.
A place called Turunc, about 90km from Dalaman. Been coming for over 20 yrs now. I’m sure you will enjoy your stay.
Off to Jersey on sat hope he’s not a spud
Bri UTB
Only we could turn a Manager hunt into a fun fiesta.
Even when a serious contender (finally turns up at the eleventh hour) it is still a laugh fest.
Who is he?
What is his record?
How old?
Won anything?
Playing record?
Where is he right now?
Where is SG right now?
When are they going to meet?
Please do not ask any questions about the management if our club in this interregnum, or the ? Button will pack in.
Jorge Simao
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jorge-simao/profil/trainer/34559
Never managed in the EFL, never averaged 2 points per game, doesn’t stay anywhere very long. Sounds like our perfect fit! 😎😂
Have been visiting Turkey since 1988. For the last 15 years stayed in the riverside town of Dalyan. 30 mins from Dalaman airport. Ref Boro manager, it has now got ridiculous and stupid. Does SG like toying with the supporters. So many names mentioned everyone guessing who it might be. It goes on and on. A simple statement from SG would be nice for the supporters to let them know they are not forgotten.
It’s always struck me as strange that the Portuguese translation for a turkey, the fowl not the country, is ‘uma peru’.
Is it possible that the new Manager has been selected and is already making plans but officially his present contract hasn’t expired yet? That would explain the lengthy silence and seeming lack of activity. Removing all of the Coaching staff seems a bit premature if you don’t know who you are bringing in and what or who he is going to want to bring in alongside him.
If I recall there was some contractual differences with Mogga when he arrived with his former employers at Celtic even though his services were no longer required or being utilised by them. For arguments sake, lets use AK as an example, say he has agreed to return but his pay off from Forest is actually in instalments and not a finalised paid up lump sum (similar to Mogga). Announce that he is coming back and Forest will likely claim that he has now got a new job so why should they still be liable for sending him a monthly cheque?
It may very simply be that whatever contract the new incumbent has doesn’t end until the 1st of July. In which case nobody can say or announce anything. Getting rid of and paying up contracts of the first team coaching staff does seem a bit final if the new Manager is still unknown. On the positive it would imply that Woody isn’t getting the role.
RR, I trust you have hired some people away from your own organisation.
So I do not think 21 to 28 days is a long time what Boro are taking now. Even five weeks would be quite OK if no plans were done before Pulis left. And I think as long as we were there to be promoted via play-offs, no hiring process ever was started.
So let’s keep calm. I am happy that we interview a few candidates from several applicants. And time was needed to get application in. Up the Boro!
I agree RR if it is to be JW then why the delay and why dispense with all the coaching staff.
More likely that the incoming manager has issues to address before he can be announced. 😎
I enjoy Turkey, been to Marmaris, Alanya, Side, Istanbul and Izmir – Izmir was from a cruise to visit Ephesus.
I must admit I prefer Greece but that may be because ‘the Boss’ and I went on our first foreign holiday together.
As usual, I have a theory, there are many ruins in Greece, the Acropolis in Athens is said to have been destroyed when a Turkish shell landed in the magazine there.
Having enjoyed Greek hospitality, wonderful people, I believe none of the monuments were actually finished- that is said with tongue in cheek.
On our first holiday we stayed near Marathon, showers working optional. There was a local Taverna with an air force base nearby. The people were wonderful, at the end of the night we propped the owner and his brother against the wall and told him what we had spent.
They are wonderful people, We have a bucket list of places to visit and Greece.
If we had Exmil’s money we would live in Florida in winter, cruise the Greek Island’s in summer interspersed with trips elsewhere.
Ian, I prefer Boro and North Yorkshire on holiday. My first trip to abroad was to London to catch the train from there to Darlo and to Boro. I love the Dales and Moors to bits.
Of course Ayresome and Riverside are the best and I love the people of Teesside a lot. I have a lot of friends ( and a Friend in George) in Teesside and some in Halifax and one in Derby called Ian.
I can highly recommend North Yorkshire for a holiday. I think I have been to there on holiday for about 20 times.
And then they have a team called Middlesbrough FC. Who won the League Cup as Middlesborough according to the text ingraved to the trophy by the EFL.
A family club who has taken me to Rockcliffe and to see the players always with open arms. Also already at Ayresome when a chap called Terry Cochrane had a cup of tea with me. Or David Armstrong’s mother and sister had a cuppa with me.
A very, very friendly club and best people in the world at Teesside. Up the Boro.
PS. If I had a choise, I would live the summers in Finland, live Autums and Springs in Yorkshire Moors and winters in Madeira. Or in winter in South Africa where i have been twice. For business and safari.
Up the Boro!
Jarkko
We don’t know how lucky we are to live in North Yorkshire with the North York Moors and Railway on our doorstep and the longest stretch of heather heathland in Britain if not Europe, the wonderful cities of York and Ripon, the towns of Knaresborough, Thirsk, Skipton and Richmond, the spa town of Harrogate, the villages of Askrigg, Gunnerside, Leyburn, Glaisdale, Helmsley, Stokesley and Great Ayton, Farndale, the mountainous regions to Captain Cook’s Monument, Bilsdale Moor, Roseberry Topping and Eston Nab, the seaside resorts of Whitby and Scarborough, and not forgetting one of the longest stretches of beach in England stretching from South Gare to Saltburn. All this with Beverley and Flamborough Head to the south, the Yorkshire Dales, Holmfirth, Howarth, Ilkley, Otley and the Worth Valley all near at hand. No wonder the broad acres are called God’s own County, and some of us take it all for granted. It’s taken the Tour de Yorkshire Cycle Race to bring that to the rest of England. Do you know that there are more acres in Yorkshire than letters in the Bible. Keep enjoying your visits, Jarkko.
Ian, I too loved Marmaris, but Istanbul and the Bosphorous was so much more interesting.
Ken, a nice list. I have seen most places but there are some places I have yet to visit 🙂 I must keep your list for further use. Up the Boro!
VAR deprives England of a goal, will it give a decision in favour of Holland. No goal for England and no penalty to Holland.
Well, Stones is having a shocker and sloppily sets up a goal for Holland despite a brave save from Pickford.
I wonder why Stones is not a starter for Citeh?
Look, I dont to sound like a moaner, the England players are doing their best but sometimes the commentators make you laugh.
An England corner with the comment that is something that has been worked on only for the ball to be played in to a Dutch player in acres of space in his own box.
Followed by another shocking goal by Holland.
Sadly, not good enough. Debate about why we have to play it out from the back, it is the quality Who is there to pass to? Who is good enough?
Hey, ho!
Moaners on Diasboro – never! 😎😂
Another excellent commercial from Nike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hOVkEHADCg4
The power of good creative marketing in action. Really good.
I’m always surprised that MFC don’t do some kind of promo before season tickets go on sale.
Hi Friends, can you help? How do you add a photo to this blog. Thank you in advance.
I always just email a copy to Werder and he kindly does it for me
OFB
If you right click and copy the picture then just paste it in the comments box or highlight the www. address and paste the link it usually works.
E mail address for Werder Ofb….many thanks
Diasboro@outlook.com
I’m of the same opinion as RR that clearing out all the backroom staff suggests that JW will not be appointed but, this morning, the Gazette are sticking to the line that he is favourite. Is it a smokescreen to keep on the right side of MFC because they already know who it is?
The Gazette reporters all have to keep that Trinity Mirror wheel churning (or turning). Put simply what do you write abut when there actually is noting to write about?
Last week they said this week, they now say MFC have whittled down a shortlist and its next week! A shortlist of who or what exactly? Its pretty clear that they know no more than the guessing punters on the street either that or they are being drip fed and played to soften the blow if it is Woodgate (based on all the positive hype they keep mentioning after his name is printed). Maybe they just hang about with the same clique as Woody allegedly does/did and are simply doing a mate a favour.
Saying things like Pulis talked up his “credentials” is hardly a ringing endorsement. To most fans the only “credentials” he has is his 10 metres in the big pool (he failed his 15 metres because of a hamstring no doubt). One of the comments on the Gazette site has already labelled him Woodenspoon. Harsh but it shows the thinking of fans and that’s before his appointment. If it happens he is going to need an immediate 45% + win rate to keep knives from being sharpened which is a ridiculous and impossible situation for any Manager to be in.
I could write an article about how Boro executives being in Portugal for the EFL meeting has been very useful in their pursuit of their next Manager. Hints of discussions with another “club”, all 23 of them but lets think Barnsley, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Or hinting at a fresh Portuguese connection leading to the likely unveiling of both a new Manager and the captures of several exciting fresh talent. It sells Papers or its IT equivalent which is page hits to boost advertising revenue and to keep their Trinity Mirror bosses happy.
What it does show is how SG now has the Gazette in a fearful constant state of forelock tugging which is just where he wanted them. Slag off Woody and they are even more stuffed than Woody is before he begins. Sing his praises and get their nose tips right up there and if it comes to pass then they are his new Bessie mates.
Shame really for all concerned, you could see the signs very strongly last season. Bayonets were fixed when the word was given to go over the top on TP with all guns blazing after keeping schtum for so long, ignoring what the fans had been saying and even singing about for months/weeks previously. It would also indicate that they are perhaps being played and being fed a crock of the brown stuff for someone’s amusement.
There is as much likelihood that SG is holding off to see what happens with Chris Wilder as whittling down any shortlist. Mind you there are perhaps some parallels to when Southgate was eventually awarded the post which is a worry but I doubt SG would be that stupid twice. I seem to recall that El Tel allegedly talked up his “credentials” at the time.
Perhaps Gibbo is waiting if Gareth Southgate will get the chop after a defeat yesterday. You never know …
Seriously, I hope Gareth keeps his place. I will also take Mogga back any day. And I am even OK if Woody is appointed – he is more experienced that Gareth was when he took over.
But let’s hope we all will be surprised with an appointment of a young up-coming manager with some experience already.
Up the Boro!
Jarrko, I am sorry but Woodgate is not half the man Gareth is or was
The ritual is the same,
1. Go to the News Now website
2. Follow sundry links to stories
3. Brave the adds in the vain hope there is actually some news.
4. Read the bookies list on the Gazette interspersed with a few bits of journo speak.
5, Sigh and shake head
6. Repeat.
Perhaps its just me but I though she had already quit this role?
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/debbie-jevans-cbe-appointed-efl-executive-chair
She seems to be one of these individuals who are opportunistic perennial Heads of something or other that just pop up and seemingly occupy positions that no other individual is capable of performing. Is it a lack of objectivity or is it a case of a special members only club that enjoy a merry go round?
By the way I have no idea if the Lady in question is absolutely brilliant or another in a very long line of individuals who are politically astute at pressing the flesh along with an uncanny habit of popping up in the right place at the right time. It would be interesting to know what or more precisely who the alternatives where?
After Shaun Harvey and the Sky TV money debacle which was almost as embarrassing as a Tony Pulis tactics and team selection against Villa I thought Clubs were wanting a complete overhaul of the EFL’s leadership and wanting an entirely new board? I’m seriously confused and lost on what the heck is going on and who on earth is now running the Circus.
I wrote in a previous u21 tournament , how Ben Gibson kept baling John Stones out in certain games ,because Stones had at times been erratic, he made Ben look bad in the Italian game which the commentator blamed Ben, Stones got caught out committing.
On the Transfer of Ben, Swansea get £17m for a kid with a few games under his belt,we get £15m ,for a rare left footed ,central defender who had been in thge England set up for a number of years, our illustrious negotiators do their best again.
I wonder if they are selling any cars at the moment, I have fifty quid to spend ,looking for a 2019 BMW.
Too late GT they just sold two for £40!
Middlesbrough FC have had two long stretches of First Division football, both straddling World Wars and coincidentally both for 18 seasons. It had crossed my mind whether Boro would ever beat that record. In my lifetime the longest sequence had been 8 seasons under Jack Charlton, John Neal and Bobby Murdoch, but the Riverside Revolution suggested that Boro might come near that sequence of 18 seasons, and but for the unfortunate 3 point deduction in 1996/97 it might well have happened considering the World class players Bryan Robson had reportedly lined up for the next season. However Boro did well to fight back from that relegation and achieve promotion immediately afterwards
Realistically I thought Boro might challenge the run of 8 successive First Division seasons from 1974 onwards, which they did but not without a scare. Paul Merson, a self-confessed alcoholic, rather surprisingly left for Aston Villa after only 3 matches of the 1998/99 season citing his reason that there was a drinking problem at the club, but up stepped Hamilton Ricard who had struggled to score in the previous season. Merson wasn’t the only player to leave, as Craig Hignett had left for Aberdeen on a free transfer. The season started with an appetising home fixture with Leeds United under a revamped Stadium with a new capacity of 35,000. Dean Gordon signed from Crystal Palace for £900,000 made his debut in front of a new ground record of 34,162 but ended rather disappointingly in a goalless draw. After losing 1-3 at Villa Colin Cooper made his second debut for Boro following a £2.5m move from Nottingham Forest for against Derby County at home but Boro were held to a 1-1 draw, although Ricard scored. Perhaps not the start to a season that Boro fans had envisaged especially with two away matches waiting.
The first of those was at Leicester where another ex-Boro player Gary Pallister signed from Manchester United for £2.5m made his second debut, and where Paul Gascoigne scored his first goal for Boro just before halftime as Boro hung on for a 1-0 win. The next match was a televised match at White Hart Lane and Boro stunned not only Spurs, but also the TV viewers with a 3-0 win with Ricard scoring a double. The ground record was again broken for the next match against Everton as Boro fans started licking their lips about their new scoring sensation, and he duly obliged with two more goals before halftime. Unfortunately Everton scored twice in the second half and the match finished 2-2. Either side of this match Ricard scored twice more as Boro overcame 2nd Division Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup.
Although Boro then lost at Chelsea they then went on an eleven match unbeaten League run albeit except for an extra time defeat to Everton in the League Cup. During that run Boro beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 and Blackburn 2-1 with Ricard converting a late penalty and Curtis Fleming scoring a last minute winner. Ricard scored in the next match also at Wimbledon which was the first of four successive draws, one of which was a 3-3 draw at Southampton where Gianluca Festa scored a last minute equaliser. Both Dean Gordon and Ricard scored against Coventry when Boro won 2-0 to break the sequence of draws, and Brian Deane (an acquisition from Benfica) scored an early goal at Highbury in another draw before the much awaited local derby at home to Newcastle in early December. Again the ground record was broken with 34,629 spectators as Andy Townsend and Colin Cooper scored in yet another draw. Deane was to score again as Boro beat West Ham, but then came the ultimate test, a visit to Old Trafford.
Although Boro had climbed up the table to 4th position, former striker Bernie Slaven stated that Boro had no chance of winning away to Manchester United. In fact he was so confident that he would bare his rear end in Binns’s window if that were to happen. When Boro raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from Ricard, Gordon and Deane, Bernie must have been feeling the pressure, but Boro hung on after United scored twice, and true to his word Slaven almost bared all. That was the final match of Boro’s unbeaten run, as Liverpool won 3-1 and that started a winless run of 10 matches including a FA Cup loss at Manchester United in the FA Cup. Boro scored only 5 goals in those 10 matches and dropped to 13th. However the visit of Spurs saw the ground record broken again with 34,687 inside the ground but another goalless draw.
Mid-March saw Boro win at last, this time 3-0 at home to Southampton and the start of another unbeaten run, this time for 7 matches. What is it with the Boro? Eleven match unbeaten run, followed by a 10 match winless run, then another unbeaten run of 7 matches as Boro crept up to 7th. However a 1-6 home defeat to Arsenal ended that run as Boro took only one point from their last 4 matches to finish 9th with 51 points. Hamilton Ricard was easily Boro’s top scorer with 18 goals, 15 of which were in the League. Brian Deane scored 6 and Mikkel Beck 5. Nevertheless finishing 9th wasn’t a bad position to finish the season.
The next season saw Boro sign Christian Ziege from AC Milan
for £4m, Paul Ince from Liverpool for £1m and the return of Juninho who signed on a short-term contract from Atletico Madrid. Ziege made his debut in the opening fixture of the season, a home game against newly promoted Bradford City which Boro surprisingly lost 0-1. However typically Boro won their next three matches at Wimbledon 3-2 and Derby 3-1 then at home to Liverpool 1-0 with Ricard scoring 3, Deane 2 and Ziege 2 in that sequence of matches. Boro then lost the mid-week home game to Leicester 0-3 and the visit to Villa Park on the Saturday. Boro then beat Southampton 3-2 with Gary Pallister scoring his first goal on his return. Boro also started their League Cup campaign against former FA Cup foes Chesterfield winning 2-1 on aggregate.
In the League Boro lost their next 3 matches, but a Juninho goal, his first on his return, was enough to see off Watford in the League Cup. Home wins in the League against West Ham 2-0 and Everton 2-1 sandwiching a 3-1 win against Watford had Boro in 6th position going into the local derby with Sunderland when the ground record was again broken as the game ended 1-1. A 1-5 walloping at Highbury and a goalless draw at Wimbledon ensued before Boro’s League Cup tie at home to Arsenal. Ricard scored a late goal to take the match into extra time and Boro won the penalty shootout 3-1 and a Quarterfinal tie at Tranmere where Boro put in a dismal performance to lose 1-2. They also lost to Wrexham in the FA Cup as the 3rd round matches took place in December in a one season experiment. Knocked out of both Cup competitions against lower league opposition within the space of 3 days.
However Boro then beat Spurs 2-1 to go into Christmas in 8th position, but that’s as high a position as Boro were to attain. They then went on a 6 game winless run including home defeats to Derby 1-4 and Villa 0-4, and the worrying prospect of a relegation fight on their hands, but as was typical of Boro in the previous season that was a prelude to a 7 match unbeaten run including a 2-1 home win over Arsenal and a 3-2 win at Tottenham. Also for the 6th time in two seasons the ground record was broken, this time another goalless draw with Leeds as 34,800 was the attendance. The unbeaten run came to an end at home to Champions elect Manchester United. Boro actually led 1-0 at halftime with a goal from Andy Campbell but were hit by 4 second half goals before Paul Ince and Juninho scored two consolation goals to give the scoreline a more respectable look.
Boro finished the season with two away wins at West Ham and Everton, and actually one more point than the previous season although 3 places lower in 12th position. Hamilton Ricard was again top scorer with 14 goals, 12 of which were in the League. Brian Deane scored 9 and Christian Ziege chipped in with 7 one of which was in the League Cup.
The 2000/01 season had relegation written all over it as Christmas approached. Boro had signed three strikers, Joseph-Desire Job from Lens for £3m, Alen Boksic from Lazio for £2.5m and Noel Whelan from Coventry for £2.25m as well as Christian Karembeau for £2.1m whose wife Adriana was a supermodel. She later posed for the club’s Riverside Roar 2001 magazine showcasing 6 new away kit designs, and no doubt looked better in the kit than any of the players. Another signing was Paul Okon from Fiorentina on a free transfer.
But first there was the problem concerning Christian Ziege. He had become a key player with his deadly free kicks and visionary passing, but Liverpool came calling and he joined the scousers for £5.5m in September much to the chagrin of Steve Gibson and a bitter war of words. Boro started well enough with a 3-1 win at Coventry, but after 17 matches had only won one more League match at Southampton and were bottom with a mere 11 points. Boro needed help; in fact Bryan Robson needed help, but it came as a surprise to the football world that an approach to Terry Venables be made. Venables had turned his back on management to become a pundit for ITV in their Saturday night Premiership highlights programme. Steve Gibson wanted to sign Venables on a 30 month contract, but his TV commitments were a problem, so he agreed initially with the approval of Robson to help out for the rest of the season as Head Coach.
One of the problems on the pitch was the mercurial performances of Alen Boksic. Venables kept the backroom team of Viv Anderson and Gordon McQeen unchanged and only held a watching brief for his first match at Sunderland which Boro lost 0-1, so didn’t have much input until the visit of Chelsea the following week. He made one or two tactical changes, but what a transformation as Boro won 1-0. Basically though it was the tightening of the defence as Boro went on an unbeaten run of 10 matches, 7 of which were draws with only 6 goals conceded, although after the win against Chelsea, Liverpool were also dispatched 1-0 and Derby 4-0. His influence though brought out the best in Boksic also. Boro were now 17th, still in a relegation fight, but infinitely in a better position than before Venables arrived.
The two Cup competitions hardly mattered. Boro had overcome Macclesfield 5-2 on aggregate in the League Cup before losing at Wimbledon. Similarly after disposing of Bradford City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, Boro lost again at Wimbledon in the next round of the FA Cup. Boro’s 10 match unbeaten run in the League ended with a 0-1 home defeat to Southampton, but Boro won 2-1 at Newcastle with Boksic scoring both goals and although they lost at Chelsea a remarkable 3-0 win at Highbury when the Gunners conceded two own goals, Boro were reasonably safe from relegation and finished the season with a 2-1 home win over West Ham and 42 points, eight points clear of relegation in 14th position. At the end of that match Terry Venables received a rapturous applause from the 33,000 plus crowd when he reappeared on the centre circle, but sadly some of the crowd booed Bryan Robson when he appeared. Although the boos were outweighed by the cheers, Robson felt that his position was now untenable, and in the summer he left the club.
The transformation of Alen Boksic under Terry Venables had been remarkable, and he finished the season as top scorer with 12 goals, but then as now, Boro needed a new manager. Enter Steve McClaren, but more about that later.
The comments elsewhere on John Stones are so reminiscent of those made about Rio Ferdinand at a similar stage of his development. Ferdinand went on to become a fine centre-half and I believe Stones will too.
I do think Stones, for the moment, looks a lot better in a back three than four. It will be interesting to see if he becomes the next Ferdinand or the next David Luiz. My money is on the former, though he doesn’t have Ferdinand’s pace.
Not so sure Andy. Rio Ferdinand developed very quickly playing for England at 19.
By the time he joined United at 24 he was a top class player.
Stones was bought by City I believe because of his potential which has not risen as well as Ferdinand’s.
I think we will see him playing less for City as they purchase a Kompany replacement.
RR, clicked on your link to MFC and noticed that it is saying transfers AND loans end on Thursday 8 August.
That’s a different take.
Its to bring Championship Clubs in line with the Premiership rules at the start of the 2019/20 season. As you say Championship clubs have until 5pm on the Thursday, August 8 (the weekend before the start of the Premier League season) to complete all incoming permanent and loan registrations.
It makes things a bit tighter in terms of doing business but it at least will stop teams starting the season and then losing players up until the end of August or having disaffected players whose heads have been turned thinking they are leaving so aren’t bothered. It will work in reverse in that Managers will know once the season starts you are stuck with what you have got do make the most of it. It should also put the squeeze on agents to get a deal done or their client rather than dragging things out over an extended period with the season already started knowing Club “X” are desperate for Midfielder or Centre Back etc.
Tuncay and Huth come to mind for me when they were sold off after the season had started and with it I believe our hopes of returning to the Premiership.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/arpZz1mpghj5tvxu9…….
photo from my hotel in Greece ! Not sure this will work !
In the foyer large photo of Dias….just missing the Boro word !
Big large black felt tip should sort that out Braveheart 🙂
Please tell me you weren’t tempted to add Boro on the end! 😎🤣
Braveheart,
You could blame Banksy if you were caught. South Banksy that is.
UTB,
John
Hull City are now on the hunt for a new manager after Nigel Adkins decided to turn down their offer of a new contract. Adkins said in a statement that his and the club’s futures were “not aligned” after a month of talks over extending his deal, which ends on 30 June.
Hmmm?
Hmmm.
Making plans for Nigel🎵
Don’t like him
OFB
I think the Baggies and the Swans may be interested in him as well. Knows the Division, has achieved promotions with Scunthorpe and Southampton and seems to be a good Coach whilst never having huge budgets to work with plus plays decent football. Not an appointment to make great waves and more of a Chris Wilder type that will relatively go under the radar but unlike the current Bookies favourite I could at least morally give him my support with a clear conscience.
I’ve been catching up with Doug Weatherall who has been unwell all year and I’ve just received this message from him which I thought I would share with you all.
Quote
“ Still taking steroids, but a CT scan on Wednesday gave me a stomach all-clear. This means I am free to fly to Budapest on Monday with Newcastle’s Fairs Cup winners of 50 years ago. Four days of fun and a few drinks I guess…
Regards.
Doug.”
Unquote
OFB
Adkins preferable to Woodgate.
The worrying thing about JW is that all the squad like him, there is a reason they like him,
They will have their dressing gown and slippers on and sick notes every Monday.
Plus provide them with his favourite fizzy drink, coke I think it is called.
Come on BORO.
I wonder where Nigel Adkins will enter the odds for the next Boro manager. Funny Gazette predict next week will be when the next BORO manager will be announced and Nigel tells Hull he is definitely leaving at the end of the month !
Come on BORO.
Very sad news about Justin Edinburgh passing away from a heart attack at only 49 years old. Got Orient back up and now this happens just as his Management career was seemingly on an upward curve. Beyond devastating for his family, friends and club, RIP.
49 years old is far too young for anyone to die, and my sympathies go out to Justin’s family.
On another subject listening to the latest Tripe Supper, I’m not sure which is the most irritating, the fact that commercial breaks occur in mid-sentence when Philip Tallentire is speaking, or the fact that he says ‘yer know’ so many times when speaking. I gave up counting once he’d past the 100 mark. Also I’m not quite sure about his article about the 6 academy players who made it, and the 6 who didn’t. If he’s writing about recent players, I’d agree, but as he included Stuart Ripley then there must be many more such as Brian Clough, Alan Peacock, Gordon Jones, Mick McNeil, Billy Horner, etc. or didn’t Boro have an Academy then? Just asking.
I feel sorry for them. It must be tough being a reporter/columnist when your main topic is on a break for nearly three months. Their tripe suppers are reminiscent to me of Hale and Pace sketches and their obsessive fascination with Woody as the next Boro Manager is a bit disconcerting and disappointing. How many Clubs will be interested in Jokanovic, Adkins, Hughton, McClaren, Grayson, Karanka, Arteta, Neville, Pearson, Cowley etc. etc, and how many are interested in Woodgate in becoming their next Manager?
Avoiding the Elephant in the room about how divisive a Woody appointment could be in splitting the fan base seems to be an irrelevance to them.
If and I hope not but if JW was appointed then I would say that 80% of the Boro faithful would be against it. The fear of JW plus SD running the club would reduce me to a wreck.
Braveheart,
After reading your post I’m a wreck just thinking about it.
UTB,
John
Been at the daughters for the weekend.
Now where was I? That’s right,
1. Go to the News Now website…….
https://youtu.be/eCleZxHgcEw
Steve Webber with Norwich ,explaining getting promotion , and the money , is not as lucrative as you might think
On Saturday I went to see Teemu Pukki and Mo Besic live in a European Qualifier match.
I still cannot believe how much better player Pukki is now compared to three years ago. I have seen him playing for about ten years but he is totally different players than before.
After playing for Celtic, he was transformed in Denmark. He is much stronger and more confident now. And beside goals, he will also defend even he is a centre forward.
Pukki scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Hertsegovina.
Mo was quite quiet for Bosnia against Finland. He started a defending midfielder but was later moved more as an attcking midfielder.
He did not made many mistakes but contributed very little in going forward, too. Suprisingly he made only one turn-around (what I call a Balkan turn – turn around 360 degrees before passing the ball).
I know the boys from Balkan all played quite badly, but Besic was not effective. For example I would choose Glen Kamara over Mo anyday. The Finnish midfielder plays reqularly for Rangers in Scotland and is an up-coming young played. Worth watching for the future.
Also Robin Lod was good fo Finland. The right sided midfielder plays for Gihon in the Spanish Seconda Division. I have the pleasure of having followed his progress since he was about ten year old as he played agaist my son and his father is a good friend of mine from our school times.
Any news about the new manager at Boro? No, I wasn’t expecting that either. Up the Boro!
Well according to the local press this is the week where all will be revealed!
To a man they all seem to be convinced that its Woodgate which is disconcerting considering that the Club has supposedly been searching high and low for a new manager and interviewing for said position. Why sack all the backroom staff if its going to be Woody unless Steph McGovern is coming in as assistant Coach and Stewy as Goalkeeping Coach (all those perfectly weighted free kicks and corners for Keepers to pluck out of the air with ease). Of course “high” could mean the top end of Marton Road where it becomes Stokesley Road or indeed the regularly chemically induced state of mind of some from that area of the suburbs (apologies OFB) and the “low” could mean the after effects of the comedown of arriving at the northerly Boro end of that same stretch of tarmac.
Polls on twitter would suggest a huge groundswell of discontent if it is indeed our own Riverside (as oppose to Waterfront) Terry Malloy, a perma-crock CB who nearly made it everywhere he went. The way it has been dragged out would give rise to the notion that it wouldn’t be an internal appointment especially with the clear out of existing staff from which Curtis Fleming would appear to have more experience in the dug out than the bookies favourite. If it is Woody then SG will have backed himself into an unnecessary corner but one which his recent fan and press engagement would indicate that he is perhaps perversely happy to indulge in.
The Steve Gibson of old would have surprised and had the dias Boro in awe of the new appointment but those days seem long gone and now genuine wincing has replaced excitement in the anticipation stakes. “Surely he wouldn’t” has replaced “I can’t wait to see what Steve is going to announce”. This new appointment has to not only unite but recapture the imagination and hopes of the fanbase. The level of depressive, underwhelming negativity of Pulis has sapped all the positivity of all but those with the very deepest of red tints on their eyewear of choice. For most of us come May we had to wear shades.
Despite the almost reclusive evolution of SG and his recent seeming anger and distrust of fellow Teessiders I don’t think he would repeat the Southgate experiment and especially not with a much inferior version of the original. Falling out with local media is one thing, setting them up with fake news may even provide mild amusement but losing goodwill with circa 70% of the fanbase would challenge even Gerald Ratner in the foot shooting stakes.
Redcar Red.
Lack of access to News Now did not change my health and temper when I managed access last night and this morning.
Neville, Adkins, Woodie? If it was going to be Jokanovich I would have thought he would have been appointed by now.
If it is Woodie, can we have Kay Murray as trainer?
Ian
The best things in life are worth waiting for I believe (or I hope).
Rather than Kay Murray I think the Trainer role is going to Chubby Brown for his set piece routines many of which I think may be openly exclaimed if the worst does actually happen. Bob Mortimer is heavily tipped apparently to be taking up a Scouting role.
I think I would rather have Kay Murray giving me a massage than Chubby Brown! The only problem would be the fact modern footballers are so used to collapsing there would be bodies all over the pitch.
I am openminded about Woody. He was the best reader of the game when he was playing. So perhaps there is something. At least the club (and consulting Pulis) should know about him more than any other candidate.
Who would have thought that Woody’s mate, Lee Bowyer would have made such a good manager? Bowyer won promotion to the Champioship with Charlton last month.
I think Gibson have appointed some quite good up-coming managers in the past. I can recall only Gordon Strachan as a low key appointment. When Karanka was appointed we had some buzz, didn’t we.
Even Monk (or Pulis) made sense at the time of the appointment. So let’s see what happenes next. I hear Woody’s holiday is over now and he is back in Teesside now.
Up the Boro!
Just to clarify, I hope for an external appointment. UTB!
George Best was a great Player as was Gazza but neither were Management material. Bobby Charlton was a great Player and a total Gentleman on and off the pitch but not suited to Management whereas his brother Jack who didn’t enjoy the same level of limelight as Sir Bobby was an impressive Manager. Being able to play the game and having the skills to analyse, organise, manage and outwit opposition Managers is a totally different skill set.
Off field baggage is a concern. Had I a somewhat tainted past and my future plans been in Management as well as taking my badges I would have been keen to show that I’m a changed person. Showing things that I done in the past have stayed there by being overtly and openly positive in the community and thereby distancing myself from several past poor judgements. That doesn’t take a lot of endeavour or intelligence in itself but to date does seem to have been somewhat lacking.
Maybe I belong to an outdated generation but to Manage a Football Club whether it is in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance or MFC I would expect certain decorum and minimum standards of behaviour from such a role model. That’s not to say I expect an impending sainthood for them, frailties are part of everyone’s make up and from time to time all our behaviours dip but there is a limit below which I feel that it makes certain roles unsuitable for some.
“Manners maketh the Man” as my Grandmother used to say. Maybe its not fashionable anymore but the basic principle is true whatever the generation.
Redcar Red,
I couldn’t agree more. Good manners and a decent attitude come free with everyone, it’s whether they are utilised that’s the problem.
UTB,
John
And one thing more, as “a perma-crock CB” Woody is still hungry to be involved. I think he must feel he has some unfinished things to do in football as he would have been the best CB in the world had he not had the injury problems.
People with a difficult past can be the best motivated to do some hard work and succeed in the future.
Just sayong, like. Up the Boro!
Sorry Jarkko but my moral compass insists that I am out if that is where the Club now finds itself.
RR, I totally agree with you and your grandmother in that “Manners maketh the Man” . Hence I hate people like Trump and Johnson in the politics.
I have missed most of the hassle Woody and Bowyer did, but perhaps they have “grown-up” now. I have met Woody just breafly after a match in 2014 so I do not know him at all. Or his coaching.
I would still give my support to Woody. If he is good enough for Mr Gibson, he OK for me.
As said, I hope to see a new manager like Karanka, though. A new and fresh air in thinking to the club.
Or Magga again. Up the Boro!
Well, I prefered Lennon over Magga. But Mogga is the right manager for me. UTB!
Decorum in a football manager, really? Like Ferguson, Mourinho or Pearson?
I’ve met Jonathan Woodgate, he was extremely polite, well mannered and friendly and thanked my son for asking for his autograph. It was a brief but positive encounter. I wouldn’t use the experience to make a judgement, neither would I judge Woodie today on a mistake he made when a lot younger.
I think Woodie’s ‘sin’ is he played for Leeds and he’s a Teessider.
Our next prime minister is almost certainly going to be an (ex) drug taker, should they go to jail for that? Its illegal after all, should they be barred from office? We’d have a major problem on our hands if that were to be so.
It’s my strong belief that anyone who makes a mistake deserves a second chance, especially when that mistake was made in their youth.
For me the risk is his inexperience, but as jarkko has pointed out he has more experience than Robbo or Gareth had. SG clearly doesn’t see inexperience as an issue.
If JW is appointed he’ll have my full support, as have had all his predecessors.
Though no-one has explicitly said so, I don’t believe it’s a case of “if-you-back-Woodgate-you-lack-decency/morals”,
I don’t think anyone is actually backing Woodgate for the job but, unless there are a whole bunch of misdemeanours out there that I’m not aware of (and I haven’t gone searching), I think JW’s “past” was two decades ago and may not be representative of who he is today.
Woody is a similar age to me and I’ve previously known someone who went to school with him and had a very poor opinion of him. Equally, however, I’m aware that, although I haven’t got into any serious scrapes myself, my judgement as a 40-year-old is infinitely better than it was as an 18/19/20 year old. So much so you become almost a different person.
My understanding is that JW has been using that experience to help the likes of Dael Fry and others avoid the mistakes he made and presumably regrets.
None of this makes him the right choice of course and he wouldn’t be mine, as there are plenty of other candidates, shortlisted or not, with more on their CV. But if he has presented a convincing version of himself and the club that includes guiding younger players in an attacking, cost-sensitive side with the clubs’ Academy at its core, you can see some appeal, especially if the alternative is a higher cost and shorter term.
This appeal though, is to not make JW a device in judging each other. Everyone wants the best Boro we can be, none us know exactly what kind of manager and ambassador JW would be.
If you do a bit of googling Andy you will find more than one or two scrapes and unpalatable incidents which all could of course have just been a series of unfortunate coincidences. If so he does seem to have been really unlucky along with his associates.
Parking that one there and purely on a footballing basis I have seen and heard absolutely nothing to indicate to me that he would make a good Coach. Usually personalities shine through like Robbo, Gerrard, Lampard or even the equally contentious John Terry. George Friend for example comes across as an intelligent footballer that I think could make a top Coach when he retires if that’s what he wanted to do and even then its no guarantee that he would cut the mustard.
If Woody’s credentials are indeed so impressive then why hasn’t there been a long list of other perhaps, League 1 or 2 Clubs chasing him? Surely a talent capable of taking over at a top seven Championship club would have been difficult to keep hidden in the modern world of Football?
That said the fact he was recruited by the club and then brought back to the club indicates that MFC don’t have a problem with his baggage. Considering that the club has recruited other individuals who I would refer not to breath the same air as in the past doesn’t fill me with a great deal of confidence. Had someone told me that this would be the outcome I would have much preferred that Pulis had stayed, which puts my thoughts into perspective.
I have since done a bit of googling, RR, but found nothing since 2001. Maybe my keywords need a little honing. There is plenty from 1998 – 2001, though.
I too, though, have seen and heard little to indicate Woody is a top coach/manager in waiting.
No one has mentioned it here before but Woody has a longer coaching history than generally known of. I don’t know the correct word in English but he has been training hawks. Up the Boro!!
Jarkko
I think the term is falconry if you mean training birds of prey to hunt.
Elsewhere I noticed Vettel having a hissy fit about getting a five second penalty. An interesting concept that you make a mistake, slither across the grass, return to the track and cause another driver to brake whilst overtaking to prevent his car hitting the wall as the red Ferrari comes uncontrolled across the track but doesn’t expect any consequences.
Not my fault, I couldn’t do anything about it, just a racing incident.
Sorry officer, I was going too fast and lost control of my car. It’s not my fault I nearly piled someone else in to the central crash barriers.
I cant believe I got a one shot penalty for putting my golf ball in the lake, there was a gust of wind took my ball off line.
It was never a penalty, they had watered the pitch at half time, I slipped whilst I was tackling the centre forward and missed the ball.
Yes, thanks, Ian. UTB!
Could this be the statement about to be given by Steve Gibson.
“After searching the UK Europe and the rest of the world for a manager to lead us to success I regrettably announce that no such person has been found. Therefore we have turned to one of our own JW and sadly I have to announce that the supporters are now at war with the club.”
May not be far off it with that Braveheart!
I saw a post elsewhere that a Poll apparently had 70% of Boro fans saying no to Woody and 30% in favour. How accurate and indeed even credible that was I have no idea but I would guess not far from the reality of the situation. The big question is how many of the 70% would bite their lip and just sit on their hands and give the lad the benefit of the doubt. A cracking start and smashing the league would suffice but anything less than breath-taking and the knives would be out before October which is a ridiculous and irresponsible situation to put any Manager in let alone the Club.
Take Norwich last season and the start they made, if Daniel Farke’s spluttering start was repeated by Woody next season up here the time needed to turn it around wouldn’t be feasible. The toxicity towards Pulis at the end was muted because there was an outside chance that in spite of him we may scrape through. That underlying resentment and anger is still simmering.
If we believe the Pulis tales then with the state the Club is in SG can ill afford to get this next appointment wrong. The conundrum is that it seems to be the younger support who have no historical knowledge of Woody who are more open to letting him have a go but simultaneously they are also the ones that have no emotional investment to SG as ’86 was in a previous lifetime.
Still as we could have a Coke snorting PM soon then maybe I just need to chillax a bit and get with the program.
While it may be mandatory to be on drugs to want to be the next Conservative leader, I suspect Boro supporters will be looking for a manager who will avoid them having a bad trip next season. OK, some might say if you can remember Tony Pulis’s failed promotion bids then you weren’t really there – or at least they might have wished they weren’t.
Still, it sounds like we may soon find out what the Boro hierarchy have been dragging on (and it certainly has) when the white smoke appears above Hurworth this week. Let’s hope whoever they choose, Boro can break on through to the other side – though I believe someone once said nobody gets out of the Championship alive…
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on Woody, light my fire
Come on Woody, light my fire
Try to set Teesside on fire, yeah…
I think my summer break medication may be beginning to wear off 🙁
As RR has stated, 1986 is a lifetime away for probably most of the current ST holders.
From that, their allegience to Mr Gibson will not be as strong as the majority on this blog. If he gets this appointment wrong then even the “fans” may turn against him and the new Manager will be toast.
Wasnt Woodgate scouting for Liverpool before coming back to coach, he might not be the most eloquent of orators ,but maybe he does know what’s needed, he as been around some top people.
Let’s see.
People are quoting that Woodgate misdemeanours are years in the past but I have relatives that have seen Woodgate and Downing antics in places such as Dickens bar in recent years. My 16 yr old niece (admittedly looking at least 18) was in the Dickens and chatted up by an older man, after buying her a drink he asked her to accompany him to the VIP area but she declined several times before he got the idea and moved on, after he disappeared her mate said to her do you know who that was, to which she replied no and her mate told her it was Stuart Downing and my niece said who is Stuart Downing, my niece is now 18. I could say what I have been told JW and SD have allegedly been seen doing on a glass table, in certain bars in the BORO, but as it is here say I will leave it to your imagination. In my opinion if SG appoints JW, then I think SG will be on his way out of MFC.
Come on BORO.
I should just add, whilst Exmil has been quite discrete in recalling his anecdote – though I decided to add an ‘allegedly’ on something he was told – I would would like to remind fellow posters to be equally careful when recalling any rumours and gossip of footballers private lives as it is obviously something that has legal implications.
OK, Stewart Downing buying a drink for a girl in a bar a year before he was married is probably not a misdemeanour – although I suspect many would frown upon such behaviour. Personally, I’m not too interested in the personal lives of footballers as they’ve been the staple of the tabloids for many a year – minor celebrity chases after pretty girl is seemingly what many do.
Although, I would be surprised if Woodgate and Downing are currently up to these kind of antics especially given that the former is now married to the latter’s sister with a small child – that certainly could be unwise if they want to remain a happy family.
Anyway, while character is important, I’m more interested in whether there are solid footballing reason for deciding on whether Jonathan Wooodgate is a suitable appointment as manager of Boro. The only information I’ve heard on that so far is that he’s liked by the players and that he came across quite well in an interview – both of which are basically of the level that place him only as someone who thinks he may be able to do the job if given the opportunity.
I would hope that those who make the decisions will be looking for a lot more than that given what is at stake and the size and complexity of the task that lays ahead. OK, Woodgate maybe could possibly succeed as a manager but he seemingly has nothing substantial to back up his potential. Therefore to appoint him as manager would be a massive gamble and an unnecessary one – although I suspect he won’t be the next Boro manager as there is no reason if he was to be he wouldn’t have been already appointed.
All the noises seem to indicate Woodie.
Whatever else is said about him a major concern is that all the backroom staff were cleared out. Whose shoulder can he lean on, who will be the sounding board for ideas?
I dont know the skill sets but the likes of Fleming and the U23 coach would have given some semblance of continuity.
It looks difficult to get the backroom ready for pre season never mind input in to new players.
At least we have our much vaunted recruitment team in place.
.
Stewy has two shoulders, both may have chips.
Is the Gazette now becoming overladen with journalists reporting on the happenings and non-happenings at MFC? I accept that it has the weekly inputs from Eric Paylor and Bernie Slaven, but why do we need repetitive comments above the speculative odds that the bookmakers churn out on a day-to-day basis of who will be the next Boro manager? We have Anthony Vickers, who as well as a top Boro reporter, is an investigative journalist. I’m not sure what role if any that Josh Williams has and Philip Tallentire who seems to be one of the reporters on all things Boro and I agree must find it difficult to find news at the moment when there really isn’t any factual news to report, although his interviews with ex-players are quite interesting. But none of these reporters appear to have a title.
Dominic Shaw however does have a title – Advanced Content Sport Writer. Not Football Writer, but Sport Writer. Now whilst I acknowledge that the Gazette is obsessed with football and all things Boro as all of us who contribute to Diasboro are, as a titled Sport Writer surely in the height of the summer there are so many other sporting events that he could or should be reporting on such as the Cricket World Cup (even nearer at home the local cricket leagues), Wimbledon, the European Golf season,etc. I’m not suggesting he should attend all these institutional sporting events, but with the lacking of Boro news, perhaps he could give an insight from televised and journalistic sports reports of what is happening in the outside world. Surely the Gazette has enough reporters covering the Boro. Maybe his job title should be revised to Boro Football Writer. In any case we have much more interesting comments about the Boro on Diasboro. A case of leaving it to us amateurs instead of the Gazette professionals.
Ken
I sometimes wonder if they take turns writing a sentence for an article, a bit like Wickers Island on Monty Python.
suddenly lots of adverts/click bait appearing on Diasboro, has Werder sold his soul? or is it, as I suspect, WordPress finally cashing in on the blogs success. Are we to have pop ups next or surveys to complete?
Seems like everything is fair game on the internet, even a diamond like Diasboro.
No pop-ups/ads here, Old Billy. Perhaps a setting local to your device?
Mainly clickbait, no popups yet
Since Diasboro is pretty much a niche blog, the traffic it generated wouldn’t really cover the first installment on my bargain-rated soul – even if it was up for sale. The WordPress account for Diasboro is a free one so it’s possible they could display ads (you can upgrade to paid account that avoids ad) but I’ve personally never seen one. You may have some kind of cookie or malware on your browser that uses your history to displays ads in most websites but if it’s just limited to Diasboro then it may be down to WordPress. If you have an adblocker and still get ads then it may be malware so you should run a virus check.
Thanks Werder,
The adds only appear on my work computer, I dont get them at home.
Old Billy, try installing AdBlock its free and easily googled, I don’t see any adverts or pop ups on the site at all.
Pop up free here as well apart from recurring posts about Woodie getting the job.
With regards to Werders last post, I can see his reasoning as have a few others, in that if it is to be Woodgate then why the wait?
Of course as RR I think said, maybe Mr Gibson is delaying, so that ultimately he can then say we have explored all avenues and Woodgate is the best fit for our future sustainable model under FFP.
As for the roles of back room staff to be filled, we can start with Dimi as goalkeeper coach. I am sure there will be lots of local statisticians and analysts fresh out of Teeside University available. And of course we can re employ Mr Downing as assistant coach. Or will he be player / coach?
If as some posters are saying, it won’t be them, then I just don’t know who it will be.
Also the Gazette are going to look a little stupid as they continue with their story of a decision to be made this week and Woodgate continues as firm favourite.
I must say however, AV has kept in the background of this one.
That’s one of the mysteries of the managerial process – we’ve been told for weeks that the club are involved in an extensive search but other than Jokanovic, we’re told other names mentioned have not been considered. Either Woodgate is just the smokescreen that the club are using to discretely hide the identity of real candidates or the extensive search didn’t extend much beyond the end of the road. Perhaps the local press are complicit in keeping up the Woodgate ruse under strict orders on the promise of breaking the news.
However, normally it’s not possible to keep a secret once any candidate has visited the club to have a look around at the facilities. Although, then why the wait if it is Woodgate just because he’s been on holiday? Maybe there will be a surprise but if you recall the appointment of Monk was widely touted for weeks before it happened – Pulis happened quickly but that was out of necessity and opportunity. I’d like to think the club are still hammering out a deal for Jokanovic and that is the reason for the uncertainty on when the managerial position will be resolved – Woodgate is maybe the backstop that happens in the event of a no deal.
Maybe Woodgate is just a back-stop. The word that has been trending in English language for some time now. Up the Boro!
Pedro
AV is at home this week but not on holiday as he’s decided decorating!
OFB
Could it be, as some have said, that since JW’s interview he has been away on holiday and they have been awaiting his return to set up the new manager press conference?
That being said, why get rid of the complete coaching team which he has worked with for a number of years. A big gamble in my view if it is to be JW. 😎
If it is to be Woodate I think it’s a mistake but it’s not my decision. I can only presume that Pulis reported to Gibson that the rest of the staff weren’t good enough which is why there was a purge. Given the general feeling that we’ve come up short for a few years now, that’s maybe understandable. Presumably the only one of the backroom staff that Pulis rated was Woodgate.
Didn’t Woodgate take charge of the team for the first two rounds of the League cup?
Still, if it ends up being Woodgate and then a complete re-do of the support staff it feels like it will be a minor miracle if we end up in the top half next year. That much churn would be challenging for an experienced manager to deal with yet alone someone with zero experience.
There are still rumblings that things with Chris Wilder are still unsettled at Sheffield United over the ownership power battle. He hasn’t signed a new deal and if one party wins control its rumoured that despite being a local he will be off.
Realistically deep down he will know that having taken them from League one to the Premiership in three seasons next year will likely be a very tough and rough ride with fans forgetting the recent past and focussing only on the here and now. It doesn’t look like he will be afforded a war chest which makes the inevitability of them being whipping boys and sliding straight back down very likely.
Does he quit and walk away now as a local legendary South Yorkshire hero or wait until things turn unpleasant in October, nasty in December and vitriolic come March? I would guess that if available he would be right at the top of SG’s list. Calm, mature, cool headed, works within budget constraints yet still achieves objectives with his sides far greater than the sum of their parts. It is even viable that Boro fans would get what he is about and what the club can and cannot afford to do but still remain faithful and supportive in Wilder’s ability to eventually deliver and like as not utilising a few of the kids along the way saving some brass.
A lot more of Tav and Wing and maybe Wood and Walker etc. breaking through while he dispenses with the ones who have their wages delivered in a Securicor (or Group 4) van whist bringing in solid and dependable performers at this level. A £5K a week 32 year old Striker who gets 18 goals versus washed up non delivering ex Premiership has beens on ten times that amount who couldn’t hit the side netting with a banjo let alone score in the Bongo.
Maybe the Sheffied United thing is the reason for the continued delay or maybe its back and forth with contract clarifications with your Jokinarnyerovic? At this time of year it makes sense to sit tight and get the right man rather than panic and appoint someone for the sake of it. So why get rid of the coaching staff? Well maybe paying up their contracts and giving them the maximum period possible to fix themselves up elsewhere was the kindest and most gentlemanly thing to do if you know you want a clean sweep with no hangovers or ideas from last season. How many of us on here have stayed in jobs only to regret turning down opportunities in hindsight because we didn’t know what was coming?
Like your thoughts on Wilder but if EG are reporting that manager will be announced this week then I just cannot see it being Wilder.
More likely either Jokanovic or Woodgate unless they are both being used as smoke screens and its AK with Hignett! 😎😂
Given the lack of activity, I have sometimes wondered if the return of Karanka was a possible consideration but with Woodgate as his assistant – there would be no need for him to visit Boro’s facilities to check them out and may explain why the coaching staff have already been dismissed. AK claims he still has a good relationship with Gibson and it may be a case of seeing out his Forest gardening leave.
KP
After the continual reports in the Gazette about the “next Manager” for weeks but telling us absolutely nothing whatsoever that we didn’t already know, then regurgitating the same repetitive nonsense every day I don’t think they have any more of an idea than we do.
Their obsession with Woody is either because they are brown nosing and carrying out an agreed PR pre-emptive damage limitation exercise on SG’s instructions (which has failed badly) or they simply look at William Hill’s or Paddy Power’s odds every morning and repeat ad nauseum.
If it is the former and the will and minds of Teessider’s unmoved with regards to Woody then the delay in the hope of acclimatisation has imploded badly on both the Gazette and the Club judging by the comments on their own site. Sad reality is that there is actually a real investigative Manager story there in abundance but the Trinity Mirror boys seem either very reluctant for some reason (perhaps they have been warned off) or its just very lazy journalism which is not only disappointing but very dull to read or as is now the case jumped over.
“Boro remain on track to appoint their new manager in the coming days. Jonathan Woodgate is still the leading contender to replace Tony Pulis.”
Copy and paste, copy and paste, copy and paste every single day with not a single piece of questioning journalism asking why it hasn’t been announced. Again they repeat every single flipping day ” Woodgate impressed in his interview” really? says who? how and why? what about?
Every single day they ignore what is really being said and thought all over Teesside on social media on the topic and in their very own comments section beneath their repeats sorry “reports”. Having nothing to write about is indeed difficult but there is plenty of mileage in the Manager search but their needle isn’t so much stuck as superglued. I seriously wonder why that is as I generally hold them in much higher esteem?
If it is Woody then to an extent they will be redeemed. If its not they will look a very poor shoddy lot who collectively ignored the Elephant in the room. If it does transpire that it is Woody cue the PR overdrive and “ten things you didn’t know about Jonathan Woodgate” followed by “Who Woody will be keeping” followed by “Why Woody is the right man for the Job”, and just maybe “The Woodgate story and how he was destined for the Boro Role” and then come the end of July we will get “Woody and Boro a match made in heaven” or at least for those of us with a strong enough stomach for the bilious content.
Just imagine if it isn’t Woodgate and the sense of panic in Gazette Towers!
I think the problem for the EG is that they’ve committed to their daily LIVE column, which in the absence of any news whatsoever has become their ‘still no news’ column – I feel sorry for the journo who pulled out that short straw but their model now requires clicks for the advertising revenue and it’s irrelevant what they have to write about.
I don’t think they will be that bothered if Woody is not the manager as at least they will finally have something to write about – including ‘ten reason why we knew Woodgate wouldn’t be Boro manager’…
Since Nigel Adkins left Hull City, according to the Yorkshire Post they have received about 30 APPLICANTS for the post. Maybe they have a different approach to Middlesbrough FC, but it seems staggering to me considering the different reputations of the respective Chairmen.
The long wait for a managerial appointment points to one thing to me, and that is the Chairman’s choice is currently in a job. If it was going to be someone out of work and available, then it would have been announced already.
Bernie tweeting that “Manager confirmed”. No other info other than that and of course he could mean Swansea or West Brom and just being a bit of a tease. Meanwhile the Gazette claims that Leo is now in talks, could it be the return of Aitor?
Was thinking the same, too. Leo Percovich in talks with Boro over return. Is it AK?
AK will be OK, but I would have Mogga as director of football but I know that is unrealistic as he has a long contract at Blackburn.
No sooner did I think out loud the possible logic over whether Karanka could be returning… Plus EG also stating Steve Agnew keen on Boro return too. Time to get your daft quids out?
My worry is that after the deluge of collective concerns about Woody that in an effort to appease they thought lets bring Leo back that will tick a few happy boxes. If so then that smacks of desperation.
I can accept and understand the Karanka return with everyone being older and wiser after the event and having had time to reflect but if it is just simply putting Leo with Woody then MFC need to have a real long hard think about things.
If Bernie knows the man, the whole World will know the name soon.
I love Bernie to bits. A great guy and funy guy having spent some time with him in a changing room after a match.
Up the Boro!
Of course the return of Leo and Agnew would be consistent in building a coaching team around a manager with no contacts – i.e. Woodgate.
God that does not bear thinking about. Leo fine, but Agnew and Woodgate!!!!!
I would definitely be contacting MFC asking for a refund on my ST.
Though still no news on the appointment of Downing as attacking coach 😉
Ian
I think you and I are crashing the Newsnow site between us, constantly refreshing 🙂
Redcar Red
I noticed a typing error in one of your posts, you wrote ‘repeats sorry ‘reports”
Reapeats sorry reports doesn’t need the ‘ ‘, I assumed you meant they were sorry (aka very poor) reports.
Maybe I have got it wrong but it does seem to be repeated poor reporting.
Your good friend Mr P E Dant.
I’ll forgive you the “Reapeats”, due mainly to something much more worrying to be concerned with at the moment in Hurworth.
Yours faithfully Mr P Rickly
Odds on Woody have shifted in the last few minutes to 1/6 so money is being put on by somebody somewhere. Hope this doesn’t mean that its Woody with Leo as his assistant. How to deflate and simultaneously damage Leo’s legacy, if that’s the case I hope Leo walks away from it.
It would be more embarrassing for Woody if that were the case as it would mean the club know his appointment was unpalatable with supporters and needed ameliorating with the subsequent appointment of a popular figure on the coaching staff.
If we are in talks with Leo the I would think that puts an end to the Jokanovic talk?
It would seem so – I’m still beginning to lean towards the possibility of a Karanka return as ultimately Boro need a manager who knows what is required to gain promotion on a modest budget and both Woodgate and Leo have worked under him before – albeit not always in the best of relationships.
Bernie’s “Manager confirmed” tweet seems to be Bruce Rioch taking charge of a charity game for Parky!
At least I learned that 2+2 is not five. Sorry to been fouled by Bernie and the Leo news as they came out the same time. Up the Boro!
I’d like to remind Ex Mill almost every working men’s club back in the day had Sunday lunchtime strippers for their entertainment ,does that mean every father and son who attended were of low character,
Let’s stay real.
Re: Bernie is arranging a testimonial in September with Bruce Rioch attending
Is it time for Boro to organize atestimonial match at the Riverside for Parky? It is now nine years since he had his stroke that caused the damage he has been suffering ever since. And now Parky needs care 24/7 .
I would be willing to attend his testimonial match, too. Up the Boro!
Jarkko, I’m all for that, a testimonial for Gary Parkinson. Perhaps a pre-season friendly against Burnley, the club he had the second most appearances for. Or failing that Boro against an augmented team of Preston, Burnley and Blackpool, the 3 Lancashire clubs for whom he made the most appearances for.
Well I am having a lovely chill out time in Rhodes but I seriously will have to have an internet block because even the NE is now saying Woodgate will be appointed. I have another week to go here and don’t want to hear that news, it would spoil my holiday. So the test is can I keep off the net.
Even Steve Round is being touted for a return to the Riverside. I wonder who is next to be linked? Nice to see the Club are not being confined in their search and looking outside the box. Certainly can’t be accused of incest at the Boro in their search for TP’s replacement. I’m now just left wondering when Garry Monk is going to turn up, or maybe Robbo as the DOF?
RR
It’s obvious!
It’s Schteeve McClaren as Director of Football !
OFB
There again maybe the Bernie and the Parky/Bruce Rioch thing is all a smokescreen and Bruce is actually coming back to Boro? Kind of like a Spice Boys reunion tour at the moment and wondering who will be in the final line up or if Woody gets the gig then more of a Take That!
Out of all the rumours and I’m pretty sick of them to be honest !
I’d even settle for AK to come back to Boro
As for Steve Agnew he didn’t mention it last week when we were talking at my nieces wedding !
OFB
The Forest version of AK is a cautious maybe from me but not if the Nunthorpe lot are still in the background. I can’t see it happening albeit a ten thousand per cent preference over the Gazette’s love in favourite.
There is an unfounded rumour that a Senor K. A. Ranka has a table booked for 8.00pm in the Rockliffe Restaurant however?
Dinner Includes Melting Mowbray Pie 🥧
OFB
A Scottish haggis
Just so long as there’s no Welsh Rarebit on the specials board.
It would be most unusual to appoint a member of the coaching/ back room staff before a new manager which leads me to assume that a new manager has been agreed and the odds must be on Woodgate.
If so , I believe it would be an enormous gamble. What has he done/ achieved to make him the most suitable candidate?
You only have to compare him to McLaren who hadn’t managerial experience but was known throughout football to be an exceptional coach.
As for Agnew returning the facts are that in the games he was manager he did worse than Karanka who I would have back every day of the week. But there again I’d have Mowbray back.
Question: of these 3 which would be the most unlikely to be successful next season in terms of points won?
I suppose that we just want the manager to be announced so that the Club can start to make footballing decisions for next season.
Philip
Well as said, the NE are now touting Woodgate aided by Leo. If the latter is only the goalkeeper coach, is that not a step down from his current role as a no.2 in Brazil with Fluminense?
All we need now is Downing being seen pulling up at the Riverside
I dont want Mogga back for two reasons.
The first is that he is a legend and I would him to stay that way.
The second is that the way his tenure at MFC as manager was as both Celtic and Ranger fans predicted. I wont dwell on that
I really hope he makes a huge success at Blackburn, I would be over the moon.
Please leave him to get on with his life and carer.
Ian
Mogga still lives in Nunthorpe has a house he bought off the Redcar Rock and his kids go to the local school.
He can often be seen at Nunthorpe Juniors watching his son play football
He is also partial to the local takeaways and everyone respects his privacy
So why would he come back to manage Boro when he still lives here?
OFB
Sky Sports now saying Woodgate, Round and Leo to be announced soon as Head Coach, Assistant and Goalkeeper Coach.
That will probably guarantee Downing’s return and the beginning of many disgruntled fans.
You just could not make it up could you.
Leo has real passion, the others are simply anodyne. I may be wrong. I hope I am wrong. It’s a bit like Crossroads or some soap opera where you say ‘that would never happen’. But who knows.
Where does Downing fit into all this?
Time for bed and restless dreams about Boro.
UTB,
John
I think it has been very clever psychologically by SG (or his advisor) to get the EG to start and keep running with Woodgate as the favourite for the managers job, wait while the initial outcry against runs on for weeks, without disclosing who the new manager will be, then as people desperate to find out who it will be, start saying “ well let’s see what Woody can do or it might work (with a few subtle prods from EG). Then during the week it is supposed to be announced start negotiations with a firm favourite of the supporters (Leo) then drop the bombshell and hope the gullible fans accept what was always going to be the (Pulis) plan from day one.
If this proves to be the case and I never thought I would be saying this but I think it would be time for SG to sell up and move on. It is not the appointment of Woodgate, which I personally think will be a disaster for our club, but the underhand way it has been carried out, thinking that none of the supporters have the intelligence to work out “the cunning plan”.
Come on BORO.
It says something when a Club is frightened to announce the new manager and instead go about wrapping it up in tinsel in the hope that it allays the huge groundswell of negativity. If it comes to pass then it is the end of the Gibson era sadly, very reminiscent of Mogga away to Barnsley. Any supporter under 40 years old have no memory or affinity to ’86, their loyalties to SG are shallow in comparison to the over fifties. Its sad to note but there does seem to be some warped eccentricity of late from the man at the top starting with the toys out of his pram at the Gazette when “smashing the league” blew up in his face.
Hopefully something may yet change at this late hour and its not as I fear but right now I would rather endure fifty Tony Pulis’s than this circus act of a management set up. I’m not sure if I feel angry or just plain disgusted at the morality of it all and the message that it sends out to the youth of Teesside along with returning former employees tarnishing their reputation for buying into it. Shame on the lot of them if true. The problems at MFC resides higher up the chain of command and its clear that there are many with Teflon suits.
MFC have existed since 1876, SG and others saved it in 1986 and for that we will be eternally grateful. Its painful that it is now seemingly entering a period that splits Teesside and its support base. If it works in some measure SG will no doubt hail himself as a genius but it will be nothing but a Pyrrhic victory.
The toxicity is already building and that’s before even a solitary training session has taken place let alone a ball being kicked. I would go as far as to say the toxicity now is even greater than during TP’s 6 game losing streak. Maybe its Pulis’s ironic last single digit sign off to Teesside. I can imagine him reading the online furore and laughing at SG and the Boro fanbase.
For a Club that has lauded itself with the Generation Red Family Zone how it sits comfortably with appointing Woodgate as manager is sickening for me to the pit of my stomach. For Leo to be enticed back, blatantly being used to pass off something so unpalatable speaks volumes for those involved in this and shame on them for even contemplating it. For the Gazette to be so complicit and spineless in it all is even worse, selling their soul in the process, well and truly whipped into shape.
Exmil and myself are usually, in fact I will say “always” polar opposites on everything Boro and at times I am sure we have both bit our lips to avoid falling out over our opinions but for both of us to be so closely aligned is a alarming. If it is as expected announced tomorrow then its a very shameful period of Boro history and one which the likes of George Hardwick and Harold Shepherdson would I’m sure be ashamed of. As my Grandmother used to say ” you lay down with dogs and you rise up with fleas” she also used to say “as ye sow, so shall ye reap”. I will stop short of saying what I hope the future holds for MFC right now.
Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic!
Goodness me, it’s true what they say about communication voids. Time for everyone to calm down. Whoever the next manager is, then that’s the choice of upper management, nothing the fans can do except carry on supporting or turn their backs on the club.
This time next week we’ll be anticipating the publication of the fixtures for the coming season. Every team starts with a clean slate, let’s just wait and see what happens. There will be time enough for I told you so’s or slices of humble pie. It’s just another year in the history of MFC.
There was an interesting conversation going on between a couple of Nottingham Forest fans earlier this year. It was a popular belief amongst fans, and to be honest, *I* would have believed it, that AK was forced out by meddling ownership. One fan didn’t agree, highlighting that the club was in its best shape for years and still improving, and that AK wanted to leave. That was when the conversation sparked up.
“If Karanka had been left alone, we would have made the play-offs.”
“You can’t leave a manager alone. Look at what Harry Redknapp did to clubs when he was left alone. You need a team around you. Karanka threw his toys out the pram when the director of football came in (admittedly, without his knowledge – Si) and refused to work.”
“Thankfully, we left Brian Clough alone…”
“It’s not the 1970s and 1980s anymore. Football is now a business, and there’s barely a club in the top three divisions who don’t have structures in place similar to ours. Aitor pulled similar moves at Boro when he didn’t get his own way.”
PS. If you think this has been some kind of Machiavellian plan by the hierarchy at the club, then I think you are flattering them. Their recent history would indicate they’d have trouble pouring water out of a bucket with the instructions on the bottom of it!
If it is Woodgate then so be it, we need to see how he performs. Lets hope he learnt under Pulis the wrong way to win games and go’s in the opposite direction. Talk of him approaching Keane to be his number 2, with Leo goalkeeping coach. A bit of passion back on the sideline, instead of the bawling controlling taffy.
My main concern will be Woodgates appeal to new players given his lack of experience or low profile, I know players will come for the money but sometimes thats not the only factor.
“Onwards into the breach “
The combination of Woodgate, Leo and Round doesn’t really add up in terms of dugout experience – especially on the tactical front. Woodgate was not even a number two under Pulis so his matchday input will not have been his main role, Leo has been touted as either the goalkeeping coach or some kind of number two role under Woody – either way his tactical input may be limited. Steve Round hasn’t had a dugout role for over five years since ending his role as assistant to David Moyes at Man Utd – he subsequently spent nearly two years as Director of Football at Villa.
This doesn’t sound like the kind of coaching team that any Chairman would put together if he’s looking for a top two finish. On that basis, I believe there will be somebody else taking the managerial position and those three will only be part of the coaching setup. Steve Gibson surely won’t be making such a gamble given some candidates we were told were ruled out for not having managerial experience.
Fully agree Werder that SG couldn’t and surely wouldn’t but then again the untouchables around him have all escaped accountability. Unless you can actually see what is wrong, surrounding yourself with even more malleable yes men isn’t going to fix the problem. What it will do if Woody does materialise is confirm exactly where and who the problem is. Its as thought he has taken the Club full circle and after marching us up to almost the top of the hill he is now marching a raggle taggle army back down again to where he found us.
It looks like we will be put out of our misery shortly, maybe that should be put in to our misery.
If the rumours are true then the suggested management team will be a gamble. If it comes to pass will it work?
I just dont know and I am underwhelmed to say the least.
I am not impressed by the proposed trinity of Woodgate, Round and Percovich.
It is somewhat ironic that there appears to be more support for the return of an honorary “one of our own” than the appointment of “one of our own” as manager.
There has also been a report that Robbie Keane will also be added to the coaching staff. This again smacks of the old pals act as I believe he was at Leeds with JW.
Come what may, I shall continue to support my team, purchase my arm chair season ticket and wish the new management team well.
I am not, however, holding my breath in anticipation or expecting to smash the league! 😎
There is still some slim (albeit very slender hope) that as Werder suggests (oh please let it be true) that the Managerial appointment will indeed be an experienced Coach. Preferably someone with a modicum of moral standing in the community but right now I’d even sell my soul for ‘Arry rather than what the Gazette have been priming us with for weeks with SG’s right hand seemingly up their jacksie.
I would love to know why all these Coaches are working for free because apparently we couldn’t afford Jokanovic coming in with a new Coaching set up, of have I missed something?
Gazette now saying Woodgate will be announced Manager within 36 hours ……God help us.
Aaaargh.
But I may be wrong. On the other hand, no I’ll stick with ‘Aaaargh’.
UTB,
John
It would appear that the plus size lady has just popped a throat lozenge in to her mouth…..
So long as its only a throat lozenge being popped and she isn’t off her face when she starts singing!
Bringing back Leo looks entirely like a cynical stunt designed to distract and pacify supporters unsettled by what looks to be the imminent appointment of a manager of questionable character and intellect with more baggage than terminal 2.
If that is the route we are going down then surely we should think big and sign The Little Fella to do keepy uppies at half time.
That would but 5k on the gate, bring back the feel good factor that at least buy the new regime a few weeks breathing space.
At least Robbie Keane knew how to score so that would be a plus point.
It is on the BBC website now, Woodgate will be appointed manager shortly, the usual BBC caveat applies – despite Brexit.
Maybe MFC have been stockpiling employees as per the BBC comments re employment figures so the coaching staff are already on the payroll.
If it happens he will get my full support as will the coaching team.
Shakes head, sighs, deletes NewsNow from favourites. Cant be bothered to look at the Gazette, I have been reading the same article for a month and however I try I cant find the hidden message.
If Woodie is the hero I suppose Leo will be Buzz and Round the potato man.
A sign that the new football season is fast approaching.
This morning I saw my first Woodgate Out Now social media posting.
Is this a record?
It wasn’t me I promise although admit to being a bit miffed that someone beat me to it!
It’s increasingly likely that JW is to be the new manager at MFC. I would imagine his salary will be commensurate with his managerial experience. This is in line with the clubs present plan to comply with the P&S rules. If indeed Steve Round is to be his assistant I would say that is a good appointment. Some would say he was the reason for the teams success during the reign of MacClaren.
Percovich is a fan favourite and may I still the passion missing from the first team in recent times. More importantly Robbie Keane is recognised as being an extremely good and experienced striker. Something glaringly missing from the MFC coaching staff in the past, and long overdue.
JW may well have a chequered past from his early days, but if this appointment is confirmed, then his players and staff will be held accountable by results on the pitch. Once the season starts, he and the club will have my support. There’s no point harping on about the decision as it appears to have been made.
If results go well, then the fans won’t care who is holding the managerial reins, if they go badly then I’m sure the recriminations will begin. But let’s at least give them a chance.
It’s typical Boro, but to coin a phrase, it is what it is. No amount of weeping and wailing and literary angst will change things, and quite frankly will just be counter productive and serve nobody any good.
This will be my 54th season following the Boro, and I’ll start it in the usual way hoping that it will be a successful one.
I’m just glad I didn’t succumb and renew my Season Card when TP left and OFB urged me to retain my seat.
Words literally fail me on this on so many levels, it is far beyond mere football let alone MFC. At least todays weather didn’t disappoint and added an almost poignant air to proceedings.
My 53rd
54 years ago since I first stood on the Holgate end with a few mates.
I was taken to a game much earlier when I was about 8. I vaguely remember it was a night game in the FA cup I think with a young keeper playing for the opposition who was already playing for England or being tipped to. The late and great Gordon Banks.
Ken may be able to fill in the blanks re year/competition/team – Leicester or Stoke I think but not sure. 😎
The news is all but confirmed. Not what we wanted but the world hasn’t stopped turning. There is no concrete evidence that Woodgate will be a good manager. Equally, there is none that he won’t. The doubts are valid but not validated.
Round makes sense to me as an experienced head with some tactical nous. To have coached for England and Man Utd shows some respect within the game. Leo maybe the galvanising force and was hopefully requested by Woodgate rather than being included by the hierarchy as some sort of crowd-pleaser.
Robbie Keane is an interesting choice but I hope it is as coach, not Assistant, to ensure we have some experience, front and centre.
Managing a football club is a difficult job. If a vastly experienced man such as Pulis couldn’t get it right than I hold little hop for most applicants to be honest. We’re left with “you never know” as the last remaining straw at which to clutch.
(Slim) Hope over expectation. Again.
I honestly couldn’t care less if Woodgate wins the Champions League as Boro Manager in a few Season’s time.
Having him hanging around the Club in some capacity was bad enough but barely tolerable in a Marlon King just try to block it out type of emotion. Bringing Gestede into the Club after what had just occurred was tasteless and ultimately karma delivered.
This isn’t the forum to expand my views and I’m certainly no churchgoer but I do have hard won working class scruples and morals which don’t permit me to be remotely supportive of what has transpired. Dragging Leo back into this fudged up farce just makes my blood run cold.
I agree 100% with all that RR has said about the supposed probable appointment of Woodgate as the manager of MFC.
All I will add is that I have argued on this forum many times that the Chairman of the club has made a number of very poor decisions over the last three years that have wasted money, alienated a large section of the supporters, achieved nothing and demonstrated that ambition is now a thing of the past at MFC. The decision to appoint Woodgate would be the worst decision yet by far and would reinforce my belief that SG and his management team have lost the plot and are now the biggest obstacle to positive progress.
I can’t see the Woodgate regime being anything but a disaster in every respect and his appointment would show SG’s apparent total disregard for the hopes and aspirations of the fans. If he doesn’t care about the fans then I don’t see why I should continue to support his club and so if the appointment of Woodgate is confirmed I shall seriously evaluate whether I should bring my sixty two continuous years of following the Boro to an end.
It would be an almighty wrench to do so but I don’t think I can bear to remain involved in view of the unholy mess of it that the management of the club has made over the last three years.
I don’t know if the unveiling of Woodgate will see anyone attending asking any pertinent questions – such as Why? How? and even What? (no doubt followed by ‘the’ and another word that should not be normally uttered.
Although, I suspect the only way Woody will get a honeymoon is if he remains veiled rather than unveiled. I guess we’re about to find out what an extensive search for a manager using just the HR address book will look like in the coming weeks. He will certainly need a good start to placate what appears to be probably 75% of the fan base having serious doubts over his appointment.
Whilst being underwhelmed at the thought, if Woodie is appointed he and his management team will start with a clean slate as far as I am concerned.
How much will go in the plus side of the charge sheet compared to the minus side will be revealed in due course.
Fixtures out soon.
It could get worse, dare I utter the Downing word! 😎😡
AV already praising JW credentials. It is only June but the pantomime has already started with Boro.
Well, I braved the Gazette and there is Robbie Keane quoted saying he was called by Woodie a couple of weeks ago.
It all seems to have been a charade. The appointment was probably made whilst Pulis was still at the club.
Well, I was expecting something more exiting.
But I will fully support Woody. He is local and been working in the academy and a link between academy and the first team. And as a scout for Liverpool.
I just hope we will see Steve Round as a Director of Football, Woody and Keane as manager and assistant, and then a few good coaches like Leo with goalkeepers.
Generally I hope continuity – so hiring somebody internally is just good news. We do not need to start from scratch again! Also Woody knows the players we have currently and especially the young ones very well. I know Woody has talked earlier how he wants to play different kind of football than Pulis did.
So I am open minded and look forward to hearing Gibson’s verdict. Let’s see the positives and anyway Bowyer was a success at Charlton, for example.
Up the Boro! As always.
Steve Gibson doesn’t seem like a man who reads the Guardian, but maybe he should. From September 2002:
…Woodgate was popular in the Leeds dressing room but regarded as easily led and not the brightest of people. Some team-mates referred to him as Village as in village idiot.
Moreover his own attorney, David Sumner, in his closing speech at the first trial, following the events of January 2000, said: “May I make a cruel remark about my client? It is not meant to be a joke. You have heard the crown speak of planks of evidence in its case. You saw Jonathan Woodgate give evidence. There were two planks around that box. He communicated badly.”…
The flipside of course is that if man is forever damned by his past actions, then is there any point to life at all? We all have to be given that chance to shwo we have changed and Woodie is no exception.
I hope I missed it but I can’t see where he has expressed any great remorse about his affray verdict or perhaps made amends beyond his official penalty.
He should be asked about this, and more, at his first press conference. Give him a chance. Communication is not everything, but it is important and let’s hope he has learned that skill. I’d love to hear what he thinks about his low public esteem but doubt he will be asked the question. He should be.
The bottom line is that Woody does not seem cut out to be any kind of boss, has a poor personal background and is more divisive already than any Boro boss – or player arguably – has ever been.
It means that he is up against it from now on in. There is no period of grace, he has to either get results on the field or be seen to be implementing a massive upsurge through the Academy and building a collective and positive ethos. That’s really tough for anyone to do and in terms of bringing everyone together quickly, only Charlton, Rioch and Venables managed it immediately. Woody is not in that class, in any respect.
So short of doing the above from day one, the fas will by and large still support the club – I will – but it will be tempered and every mistake or faux pas will be noted, silently at first, and then held against him probably vehemently.
I am sure he has matured but wonder how much the Village nickname still applies. But we do owe him that chance to prove us wrong once he is installed.
Woody, though, is no longer the issue. Steve Gibson has sadly become a disgrace over the past year or so with what appears a contempt for public opinion and, his willing to throw money at the club notwithstanding, is no longer fit for purpose.
I used to think he was the most important thing ever – he was – but no more.
There seems a petulance as well as the stubborn – generally an asset previously -with him now. He has crushed the Gazette but seems intent also on crushing the fans and, oddly, himself too. What is going on?
When you become so close to something you can become blind and the bigger picture and other opinions disappear. I doubt he has many dissenters around him to point this out and it seems this is where Gibson is now, a man out of time.
An excellent and thought provoking post – well done Richard. 😎
A good restrained post Richard. I agree people mature and hopefully leave childish things behind them but actions and associated behaviours from long ago can and often do have long lasting effects on individuals, their families and friends which don’t diminish at the same rate.
The Press conferences and interviews should be amusing especially the Gazette questions like “What did you have for breakfast Jonny?” or “That’s a lovely perple shert Jonny did yer get it up Linthorpe Road?” and then a two part article entitled “ten things you didn’t know about Jonathan Woodgate’s shopping”. At least they are getting plenty of hits on their Teesside Live website today and counting judging by the comments.
Good post, Richard.
It’s all well and good slagging off SG, but has anyone considered an alternative? In the present climate of football, I for one am more than happy to see him continue as chairman, and hope that it will stay that way.
I think that’s part of the problem GHW, that no-one, SG included maybe, sees an alternative.
While I think he has come to the end of his tether, I really don’t know what the alternative is.
It depends which SG you are talking about. The young SG with boundless enthusiasm or the eccentric non communicative controlling one locked away making increasingly poor decisions. He was once undoubtedly the best Chairman in English football bar none who is now increasingly becoming a reclusive parody of himself. Truth is he probably held onto the Club ten years too long, it would be a shame if it all ended with vitriolic abuse from the stands. I genuinely hope it doesn’t but for many today is a tipping point in his tenure in the wrong direction.
I could counter that by saying the young SG ran the club as an ardent supporter, and although there was success, it ended up with a large debt that he ultimately had to swallow. And now we have the hard nosed businessman who is ensuring the future of the club by preparing it for S&P in the years to come.
We’ve all seen what happened to Bolton. I’m confident that SG is far and away the best person to have in the position considering the clubs present position within the changing face of football within the current financial parameters.
Just have to respectfully disagree although 48 hours ago I probably would have been more accepting of your stance. My fear is that what I am witnessing is a slide towards a Bolton or an Ipswich or a Coventry or a Sunderland. A group of individuals with previous club connections never having worked together as a unit plonked alongside a rookie manager.
A New Manager would normally bring in his own backroom team not assemble one on the hoof which is what we are witnessing today laughably prior to the announcement. Is Keane coming? is Rosenior coming or even asked? is Round the DOF or just a minion to Woodgate?
I’m still waiting on the “Official” announcement or has it to be dripped out just a little bit more for fear of even greater negativity and letting the flak die off. The Club couldn’t even announce the appointment of their new Manager in an organised and controlled manner. It speaks volumes about the still untouched administration of the club yet again.
Richard
I am at a loss as to what to say. All we can do is hope it goes well.
Just to clarify my earlier statements, no where did I state that I would not be there at the Riverside next season or the seasons thereafter. As I have said before I waited 35 years to be able to obtain my season ticket so I will be there no matter which division we are in after this season, despite my feelings about Woodgate/Downing etc.
I think I posted during the Karanka period that Woodgate was involved or behind what went on and had designs to become Boro manager, if I have time or the inclination when I get back from Turkey (sunshine and 34 degrees by the way) I will search back for my original post.
If Woodgate is successful, I will be one of the first to say I was wrong and while he is manager he will get my support, just the same as Strachen did (and we all know how that ended).
Come on BORO.
Richard
When I was very young older folks would tell me ” if Boro were playing in the backyard I would draw the curtains ”
Have you become one of them?
A very negative personal attack on people who have become successful at their chosen profession,
I’m glad its Woodgate and not say Bilic .
About woody ,there is a saying and forgive my laungage ” you can’t s…t a sh….r , and he would know certain players proclivities ,
Give him a chance , after all its football.
COB
Thanks GT,
It is negative, but I think more importantly is a realistic assessment of Woody. I’d much prefer there was something to be positive about but it is simply not there.
I have never booed the team or left any match early – there is no point – but forums like this are an excellent place to express an opinion and I feel Woody is wholly wrong for this club. For a vitriolic assessment of his alleged off field behaviour, see other well known sites such. I have not gone there.
Bilic, agreed.
I fail to see where Woody has been a success though, his playing time was full of promise only and he never really made it, a career defined by false starts and big money moves. He was particularly ungracious towards Gareth Southgate when he left Boro for Spurs, which I thought at the time was the mark of the man. I really cannot see anything to commend him and that no other club has, as far as we know, expressed any interest at all in him is damning if not surprising.
We should not forget also that he was, albeit a small cog, part of an appalling management team last season. Did he not think to confront Pulis over the truly awful football served up? I know that’s not easy to do in practice but it does not mark him out as a leader.
That said, I hope he does well because that will mean the team is doing well. But until then he is a quite appalling choice to represent the club and area.
I’d be interested to read posters viable options for a replacement Chairman and ownership of MFC.
The list of buyers for Football Clubs is not one that is freely available strangely enough. The likes of Mike Ashley, Saudi, Russian, Chinese and Thai billionaires along with a few Americans looking for playthings seem to be the most common targets for Footballing Realtors. Whether they would be foolish enough to pump millions each year into a loss making business is another thing but very few owners ever break even on their indulgent excesses.
Philanthropic millionaires do not grow on trees so we are probably stuck with what we have unless and until things change and the club is put on the market which for all we know it may already be. There was reportedly more than just alleged Chinese interest not so long ago. Once upon a time I would have been gutted if SG had sold up but over the last couple of years I feel his interest and passion has waned with ongoing setbacks which have largely gone unaddressed, Dealing with symptoms and not causes hasn’t helped matters and that doesn’t look likely to change anytime soon.
GHW
I for one do not want a new chairman.
RR
You’ll miss it!
It’s going to leave a huge void in your life and you are so good at the match reports how are we going to manage without you ?
Please renew you know it makes sense…..
OFB
OFB
Its strange, I was coming round to a fresh broom and clean slate with the arrival of a new Manager. I was reasonably open to who it might have been realising that Jokanovic would be an expensive gamble, Grayson yesterday’s news but might have one last hurrah left in him, Neville didn’t float my boat but is connected and Adkins I thought was a somewhat straight but potentially a very sensible appointment. Hell I was even warming slowly to the return of Aitor. All of them plus many more like Hughton and Cowley etc. would have brought their own backroom team that would have meant fresh thinking etc. as we went into the new season.
The spin and bull that has surrounded events up until now (with the Gazette fully on board the damage limitation exercise) I find somewhat sickening and insulting to the core. If we want to be cold we can remove attachment and refer to them as MFC’s customers with zero emotional buy in but even so no entity should treat customers or clients with such insulting contempt.
There were only two candidate caveats in that potential list for me. Two deal breakers and both for entirely non footballing reasons and it looks like we have one of them. I say “looks like” because even now we still don’t definitely know illustrating that as a Club they still can’t get the simplest things right. I’m now left wondering who else will joining MFC, Joey Barton is an obvious miscreant or Troy Deeney who apparently didn’t get on too well with students either, Nile Ranger or perhaps even Jermaine Pennant?
My conscience won’t let me countenance supporting something that I am morally and vehemently opposed to and believe me there is not a lot that I am offended by having been around a few blocks over the years the world over. With hindsight now I would rather Pulis had stayed, as much as I came to intensely hate his football he did seem like a decent bloke deep down. As did Monk, Karanka, Mogga and Southgate etc. before hand.
When it implodes I will take no pleasure but should it bizarrely work which I very much doubt I will equally take no pleasure. Some things are far more important than Football. Whether I go to watch or not I very much doubt it, old habits die hard and I struggle with the concept of supporting the team but not the Manager. I will no doubt find it difficult to not find out how they are doing but right now disaffected and divorced probably best sums it up. It may lessen in time but not until we have a new Manager.
Now that we know it’s going to be Woodgate and others we hopefully will all get behind them. If Keane comes ( decision not yet made?) then he could be a good appointment as he knows how to score and I like his enthusiasm plus he has an experienced manager to learn from in Mick McCarthy when on Ireland duties.
We need to now look forward to a few new signings.
I’d go for young players from divisions 1 and 2 who are capable of improving, played for most, or all, of last season and were stand out players for their team.
They are available and include some who have only a year left on their contracts which should reduce the price.
Philip
In answer to GHW, I also would not want another chairman.
I think that AV once wrote that there was a perception amongst some supporters that Gibbo spends a fair portion of every week fending off offers from Borocentric billionaires, when it really isn’t the case. It seems that his major failing in some eyes, more on other boards than this one, is that he simply isn’t rich enough to compete with the petrodollar playboys and we should move on to someone more capable of satisfying their ambitions for the club they deserve. Our stripey friends up the road for example appear to have been in a dalliance with some kind of Middle Eastern Walter Mitty that predictably has gone nowhere.
The game is littered with clubs of our stature who have fallen for overtures from similar characters but far from joining the elite are now suffering sellers regret.
Quite apart from the loyalty to “one of us” earned over thirty odd years, I am certain that every decision he makes is with the long term benefit of the club in mind.
That is not to say that every decision turns out to be correct, but hindsight is always 20:20. Admittedly in this case the dissenters, me included, cannot be accused of that, but right or wrong there is still nobody I would trust more at the helm of our club and you can’t put a price on that.
I’m referring to Middlesbrough FC here, but strange to me that the Cabinet is being assembled before the Prime Minister has been appointed, or am I thinking about the mad hatter’s tea party in Alice in Wonderland.
Nice one Ken.
UTB,
John
SG should not be above scrutiny or criticism but I don’t see us having anyone better. Possibly ever.
Yeah, let’s accept what is is and enjoy the ride. There are more and more sense in appointing Woody.
AV is exceted as well as I am starting to be.
Who shall we sign first? And I could imagine we keep Fry, Wing and Tavanier now. Definately.
There is a lot to like in this if one is willing to see.
Sometimes I wonder if it is not good if you are Boro born. What is wrong in beeing a Teessider when one wants to be a manager? Really?
I will support him totally. Why not? Up the Boro!
Why would we entertain Keane when he only wants to come to MFC on a part time basis, that is continuing with Mick and Ireland??
Pedro
I think it will be going to Ireland on a part time basis.
I have read the Gazette piece and Jarkko’s words above.
I am not overjoyed at the appointment but I think the club and their mouthpiece may have made a rod for Woodie;s back.
If after Pulis had left Gibbo came out and said this is the new vision. This is the way we are going then that would have given something to get behind.
The drip, drip of hints, the alleged wide reaching search for a new manager has created an atmosphere of begrudging acceptance.
It has also created the feeling they think we are idiots, that is the bit I dont like.
Whilst I may say it is a clean sheet it isn’t really because the way the process has been handled is a mark in the minus column.
I wish the new coaching team well, whoever they are!
Ian
Succinct, rational, accurate and perceptive, good post and sums things up very well.
The irony is that as a strategy it may eventually make sense when the Coaching team is fully assembled and we actually know who the “assistant” is actually assisting.
AV’s article smacks of him being briefed and brought on board in secrecy many weeks ago hence the constant pro Woody agenda and the total buy in he now enthuses.
I could have bought into it had it say been say Fleming for example and not Woodgate and had we not been taken for mugs and our intelligence insulted in the process. The plan does have some merits but unfortunately for me the core of it is rotten, wrong man, wrong time and wrong place.
OK, I’m aware as Boro are almost certain to announce Woodgate as manager in the next 24 hours, the current blog is fast approaching 500 posts and I won’t have much time in the next few days to write anything. Therefore, I’ve quickly written a new article to take us through the unveiling and announcements – with all the reaction that it will create. Although, there has been little else to talk about other than ‘Woodgate still in the frame’ for what has seemed weeks now. Anyway, here is the new discussion blog…
https://diasboro.club/2019/06/12/woodgate-set-to-become-manager/
To be perfectly honest I don’t understand any of the methodology, planning or the concept that should be underpinning this new cycle of ‘change’.
Has Mr Woodgate got or had a say in the appointments that are supposedly being made or have been made. I suppose what I am clumsily trying to say is what is the vision and purpose behind them. Leo, well, it seems he would metaphorically die for Boro and Teesside and he is a firebrand who can light up and inspire the fans, in a way he would be a roller coaster manager. But the others? Will they get on with one another? How long before there’s a personality clash or a clash about how it should be done? We just don’t know but that is down to the ‘good ideas’ generated somewhere in the club behind closed doors.
Boy, would some communication have helped with getting the fans onside, give us a timescale or a plan. Boro don’t seem to do that communication thing though do they.
UTB,
John
And that is the biggest problem in all of this.
We all know the club cannot be totally transparent and open as events unfold.
However to drip feed us snippets, that have now been rumbled as near untruths, through the lap dog that is the Gazette brings all this to shame.
Whatever the fans own thoughts on Woodgate, Mr Gibson and MFC have played him into a snooker. Maybe not the black but certainly one on the colours.
Like him or loath him, he will be staring at a disadvantage.