@werdermouth. "So just one promotion to the PL in 12 seasons when we were actually trying to get there"
That makes depressing reading but there again we have in the past spent longer periods than that outside the top flight. So is the plight of a Boro fan! 😮😎
It's OK getting younger but you do need balance especially if the older player is better than what you have and is consistently fit,and durable, I'd like to see Boro go after Stuart Armstrong at Southampton,he's 31 but played thirty odd games last season,he'd be a fantastic next to Hackney, a leader ,can tackle and a keeps things moving, last year of his contract , I doubt Southampton would let him go,but you can only enquire
We talk how difficult it is to get promoted. And I agree.
But remember it has been done by Bournemouth and Luton in the past two seasons. So Boro should be able to do that as well. Up the Boro!
@werdermouth That's a good point you’ve made - you’re probably right that I can’t have what I’d be happy with, without the club’s desire to be promoted.
Talking of transfers, I see Man Utd have released Mason Greenwood, how many on diasboro would be prepared to bring him to Boro 🤔, it’s a no from me.
Come on BORO.
@exmil - No from me as well but I guess abroad will beckon. That multi-billions Saudi League..?
Just read this article on Teesside Live...
Hayden Hackney identifies key area Middlesbrough must address against West Brom
The article uses three quotes from Hackney in successive sentences - see if you can spot the difference...
Hackney told BBC Radio Tees: "We were getting into areas. It's just about that final bit. "It's good that the chances are coming. It would be a problem if they weren't coming. We just need to start putting them away."
Hackney felt there were plenty of positives Middlesbrough could take from the clash but he has urged the team to be more clinical in the final third. "The main thing is the chances are coming so hopefully we can start putting them away," he said.
"We dominated the majority of the game and the positive thing is the chances are coming. On another day, I think we put them away. It is just a matter of time."
Talking of transfers, I see Man Utd have released Mason Greenwood, how many on diasboro would be prepared to bring him to Boro 🤔, it’s a no from me.
Come on BORO.
Definite, no, from me.
I'd rather sign Alex Greenwood from women's England team...
Boro interested in a Finnish full international midfielder? I would certainly sign Glen Kamara from Rangers in a minute. He could be the answer in finding a replacement for Howson.
He is a bit shy as a person but has always played well on the international level. He is 27 year old and has 48 full caps including one Euro Finals.
Up the Boro!
Just received an email from MFC Live to say they're giving everyone a £3 partial refund for failing to broadcast the first 20 minutes of the Huddersfield game on Saturday.
Nice gesture given it was a fault beyond their control - basically a free pint for the next game!
Cheers
@peter-surtees - Good points made there, Peter. I suppose buried there is the question "What was the coaching staff doing hiding Hayden Hackney until he was outed by Leo P in his short interregnum last season". I'm pretty sure he didn't suddenly become good the day Mr Wilder left the club. (Great goal by him against Huddersfield, by the way).
Great player done so well in the Rangers Team.
@peter-surtees. Excellent post. Well thought out and the content possibly gives us some hope.
A couple of that could propel us upwards would help.
Talking of transfers, I see Man Utd have released Mason Greenwood, how many on diasboro would be prepared to bring him to Boro 🤔, it’s a no from me.
Come on BORO.
I've not followed the case against Greenwood but only read the case against him was dropped after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation in the attempted rape and coercive behaviour charge.
Interestingly, the Man Utd internal inquiry came to the following conclusion:
"Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for."
Although, it seems Greenwood has already long since been convicted on social media with a prominent Manchester United supporter and Countdown presenter, Rachael Riley, stating she would stop supporting the club if Greenwood was reinstated.
What we don't know is why the key witnesses withdrew their cooperation and this has not been clarified by the police. So Greenwood didn't face trial so has not had the opportunity to prove his innocence - unlike Benjamin Mendy of Man City, who was recently eventually cleared of 7 rapes, one attempted rape and one sexual assault.
I've not seen any of the social media 'evidence' that convinced many of his guilt but I'm also sceptical of what appears on social media being anything other than selective.
This all comes a month after another high-profile case involving Ryan Giggs where he too was cleared of controlling or coercive behaviour and assault towards his former partner Kate Greville as well as assaulting her sister Emma.
In all three cases, the guilt of footballers appeared to be a forgone conclusion after much 'evidence' was put out into the media both digital and conventional. However, none of those charged have been convicted of a criminal offence but have nevertheless been judged by the public to have been guilty of unacceptable behavior based on what they have heard.
Trial by media it seems now outweighs criminal proceedings in determining guilt.
@werdermouth - Social media has a lot to answer for. Many use it without thought, with bad language and libellous statements and accusations bandied about. Many users fail to appreciate they may be liable in damages for untrue comments posted onto websites and blogs and the fact it is done from some lonely bedroom late at night, or under a pseudonym would offer no protection.
On the other hand comments which are perfectly legal expressions of opinion can lead to people, even famous people whose expressed views might be described as mainstream, being "cancelled" or being made the subject of an internet "pile-on" with even threats of death bring made against them.
The traditional "media" often tells stories in a way that vilify the people concerned, or mislead the public. Remember that chap several years ago (retired geography teacher from the south west of England)?) who was mentioned in reporting as being the person responsible for some sexual offences except it later became apparent it had nothing to do with him.
Sad world.
According to Tripadvisor, the average price of a pint in Middlesbrough in 2023 is £3.18 - though my preferred 0.5 litre bottle of Krombacher lager still comes in at under half of that £3 refund so it will be more than a game of two halves for me 😉
@malcolm Leeds Utd have been very strongly linked with a move to sign Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara in the last few weeks, with the 27-year-old seemingly set to depart from Ibrox.
I think Glen is a better player than Forss at the moment. But in different positions, of course. Up the Boro!
Ref to the case of Greenwood and others, could it be and I'm daring myself to say could there have been a pay off to the victims to keep them quiet etc?
@werdermouth. I suspect that MU’s internal investigation has nevertheless found that MG’s actions/mistakes, some of which he acknowledges himself, have been sufficient to terminate his contract; albeit on an agreed basis whatever that might be. 😎
If there was any evidence of that then all parties would have been charged with conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice - so we can assume there were no payments made. Likewise, if the evidence against Greenwood presented on social media was so convincing then it would have been used by the police to bring a conviction - it seems it wasn't. No doubt people will speculate on the matter and decide for themselves on guilt - it what feeds social media and truth is as always now what people believe to be true.
Greenwood had no future at a big club with a big brand like Man Utd where the income generated from merchandise and sponsorships far outweighs the value of an individual player - there is nothing in it for Man Utd to keep a tainted player and hope it will blow over - his future as a big star is over and if he's lucky he'll pick up a big pay cheque and resume his career away from the limelight without any sponsorship deals or any kind of media profile. Maybe in the USA where they go more for the whole redemption story of the bad boy becomes changed man.