any sizing could be worthwhile if it helps us pay new people.
I think Dijksteel's wages is a red herring - according to this list of Boro wages he's the 22nd highest earner on £6k a week - a 5th of what Ayling earns and nearly half of what long-term injured Smith earns - plus Borges is listed as £20k per week making him - Boro's 3rd highest earner!
Either way Dijksteel will need replacing with another right-back and if it is to be one of a higher quality then that will mean a transfer fee and any agent worth his salt would demand more than £6k a week if most recent signings have come in on between £10-15k a week.
Just for balance, here's another list of Boro wages where Dijksteel is the 17th highest earner on £13k per week - take your pick but agents will get the going rate for any new signing and it won't be near the bottom of the list.
You may well be right. I didn't know that these lists were available. Personally, I'd be surprised if we let him go on loan because we would just need to replace him which seems a bit pointless.
Yes I agree that's basically my point - why replace him now with a couple of days left in the window if there's no transfer fee and likely higher costs in getting in a player who will need time to settle in?
Looks like my tongue in cheek comment about LL suffering a “groin strain” just as the transfer window ends could be right ! He’s passed his medical ok surprise surprise,!
OFB
Just did a couple of Tweaks on this thread to make navigation easier
- I moved it to 2024-25 Forum from Middlesbrough FC
- I changed the Topic Date Modified to just before Sunderland thread...
- Then Changed the order of Recent Threads to Date Modified from Date Created so it now appears second on the list
Note:
Well that was the theory but it actually appears top of the list even though the Date Modified is after the that of the Sunderland thread - I'm sure there's some reason but can't immediately spot it so top it is 🤔
Update:
OK, I've sussed it now - the Date Modified appears to be the date of the last post made on the thread as the Sunderland thread moved back to the top when Martin made a post on it - still not a bad system as it will mean long lasting active threads stay at the top of the list.
Sorry, but I've been a bit busy so I haven't posted much here recently. As far as concerns selling/buying/loans of players, none of us on here will be privy to the discussions amongst those with the power to make decisions about player acquisition or sales. Without the information as to the preferences of the players concerned, the real state of their fitness after discussions with the medical staff and looking at the stats from the magic boxes they carry under their matchday/training shirt, and how much money the club has to play with in terms of purchase costs and wages etc, we are casting around in the dark. Making assumptions and guesses. We might be right on this one, way off beam on the next one, and completely on another planet with a third.
It must be like 3-dimensional Chess. Club A has offered us a large fee if we sell them Player U, who is one of the highest paid on our book, but that sale might open up the possibililty of buying-in Players V and W who would fill gaps in our squad at fees and salaries which would be more than matched if Player U goes. We might be able to loan out Player X if the club thinks he might well have a long term future here but who'd benefit from the experience of playing half a season in the Scottish leagues or League One, and it might be decided that Player Z hasn't come up to espectations so getting him off the books might bring in a small fee and free up a small amount on the wages bill.
The club might decide that a particular player is receiving wages which now appear far too much for the contribution that player can make, or is likely to make in the future, on the field, so a sale or even a loan out might well suit everybody. You might get an offer "the club can't refuse" right at the end of a transfer window, but if that were to mean removing a vital player from the roster, whose replacement might be impossible in the time left before the window slams shut, what does the club do? I guess that might depend on where the club lies in the promotion race.
If the club is looking a very decent bet for automatic promotion, firstly the club may think the promotion prize is worth far more than the temporary benefit of the "too good to refuse" offer, particularly if the lack of that player reduced the chance of promotion. And, of course, the player might want to remain with the club in order to play in the Premier League without the hassle of moving. Getting rid of a player who WANTS to remain in our team is very different to getting rid of a player who has been angling for a move/hasn't been deliriously happy here recently/has had friends or agents whispering in his ears. I wonder if any research has been done, or is even possible to be done, on the length of time it takes for happy, engaged and successful players to recover from knocks and injuries complared to those are unhappy, dis-engaged and who don't feel the manager really values them? How many of the various types of player declare themselves fit to play a February Tuesday night game at Millwall as opposed to a cup final or semi-final? Which would you rather have at your club?
So many variables...
I assumed the second post in a quote box was an edited version of the first so I copied over the original and deleted the second
btw If I got it the wrong way round then I've still got a copy of both originals
I just thought it was such a good post he posted it twice 😉I assumed the second post in a quote box was an edited version of the first so I copied over the original and deleted the second
btw If I got it the wrong way round then I've still got a copy of the original
This transfer business reminds me of A2+B2 -(4ac) = ?
I hope the Boro financial department are good at Algebra!
Im just going with the flow !
OFB
What has been interested in this window is how the local media has been used to present potential sales as what the club is thinking - Latte Lath will likely be sold as we have Conway and how the club are open to the sales of Jones, Clarke, Barlaser and Dijksteel - plus several others with Engel, Hoppe, Coburn and AJ Matthews. Sounds like the club have had plan for this window rather than so many players just happening to depart when offers arrived.
Boro reject Porto approach for Hackney
Latest from Sky Sports News' Keith Downie:
Middlesbrough have rejected a bid from Porto for midfielder Hayden Hackney.
The 22-year-old has worn the captain’s armband this season and has also received interest from Premier League clubs.
Porto the first club to form up their interest with an offer.
The verbal offer last week was turned down immediately as it fell way below their valuation. Boro do not want to sell. 😎
Am I right in thinking that the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday?
I believe so MartinAm I right in thinking that the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday?
Will Lankshear, the 19-year-old Spurs player who I believe was on Boro's radar at one point, has gone to WBA on loan until the end of the season, according to the Beeb.
I always thought that having a settled team that played together week in week out that was only changed when injuries, illness or an offer that really couldn’t be refused happened was a route to consistent results and performances. Constant chopping and changing of playing personnel must impact cohesion and reduce the effectiveness of the team. Periods from Boro’s history would perhaps suppprt this view when looking at the examples of Jack Charlton’s team and, more recently, Aitor Karanka's team both of which were left largely unchanged during the season except in exceptional circumstances. I would love to see that kind of team consistency at the Boro but there is not much sign of it at the moment.
Surely all the chopping and changing of players every summer and every January must be disruptive and create a hiatus in the development of a consistently successful team as new players needs to settle and the team needs to adapt. I hope that the management at the club has a clear plan of what they want to achieve in the transfer market and a detailed profile of the resources they believe they need to achieve their goal. I also hope that all the transfer activity at the moment is a step in the execution of that plan which in turn is a step towards settling on a team selection that can remain consistent for a lengthy period. If that could be achieved I believe performances and results would improve and there would be a higher chance that the club could realise its potential.
@boroexile. Good post and very pertinent points.
Is the goal to create financial stability via player trading or a is there a real desire for promotion which will only be achieved once the new operating model has been in operation for a number of seasons providing a platform which provides for both.
I have been surprised by this transfer window which has seen more movement at MFC than I expected and I just hope that the sale of LL, if it happens, does not adversely affect promotion aspirations, which I believe is a club aim but just not sure of the desired timeline. 😎
@werdermouth Capology appears to be an internet favourite on Salaries, but some of the quoted figures for Boro players seem way off the mark for me. HH and Fry on circa5/6 thousand a week and Borge and Burgzorg on 20K?
Ayling could be high because he was free, well not really, and was probably on really good money at Leeds. The one that may be right, but would be daft money, is Howson on 25K.
He was never going to play that many games at his age. Then again, McGree has not been playing many games, and even less since signing his new four year contract. Now not back for weeks according to Carrick.
I think this also in part answers BoroExile on his question of a settled side. The last two seasons have been awful for long term injuries. The question is why.
exactly the question I added to the ones that OFB raised and for which we know we will never get an adequate response from the club.... The last two seasons have been awful for long term injuries. The question is why.
Thanks werdermouth for moving the transfers and rumours as I didn’t know it existed, that’s why there has been no comments from me. Tonight I read the 8 pages and I must admit I had a number of “laughs out loud” when I read some of the posts, I suppose when a person reads posts that are up to a month old and you already know the truth of the matter, it can be amusing. With only 3 days to go all will be revealed about an hour after the Sunderland match.
Come on BORO.
This transfer business reminds me of A2+B2 -(4ac) = ?
I hope the Boro financial department are good at Algebra!
I recognise that equation after helping my son learn for a quadratic equation maths test back in December - I think I learnt more than he did 😉
I suspect the figures on salaries are based on various media reports and much will depend on when and at what age players sign contracts and if they arrived on a free and from where. Some don't make sense but Howson is club captain and maybe was rewarded accordingly but if Borges is on 20 grand a week then I must have missed something when watching him. Hackney signed his contract 2 years ago at 20 so maybe it's relatively low.
I haven't studied Boro's injuries but don't think that they were similar types of injuries but I once recall hearing a theory a while back that having indoor pitches meant players would perhaps train harder than they used to in winter - though you would think the physio team would be on top of training regimes - I also remember hearing Tavernier was always getting injuries because he wasn't following his warm-up routines properly. Obviously many injuries are unavoidable but I suspect a few players carry niggles throughout the season and some players are maybe just not capable of playing 50 games a season at the higher intensity of the modern game.
Below from the BBC, all about Spurs injury problems, but it could apply to most clubs I guess.
It is a long-ish article, but worth a read.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy08p5jlvjyo
@werdermouth if Borges is on 20,000 a week then that player's agent is a business genius and Starmer should hire him as Secretary of State for International Trade.
Interesting article and worth pointing out that both Hackney and Morris suffered injuries whilst on international duty and McGree seems also to suffer from playing for Australia and travelling long distances.
I’m not too worried that the 19 year old Spurs forward has not joined Boro. I don’t particularly want a young untried forward who hasn’t experienced men’s football whether championship or Division 1.
You only have to look at the results in the minor FA cup where Division 1 and 2 teams consistently beat the Premiership under 21 teams to realise they are physically not up to it. The exception is the Aston Villa under 21 team which was the only Premiership team to reach the last 8 of the cup competition.
So, hopefully Boro are able to get a forward - early to mid 20’s who has sufficient experience of men’s football.
No idea what Monday’s result will be. My hope is Boro play well and I’ll take whatever result that deserves.
Philip of Huddersfield 👍😂
I see Villa are attempting to get Rashford on loan for the rest of the season. I guess that makes my tongue in cheek suggestion that we take him on loan even more unlikely now .. 🙄
A couple of the early results helping Boro, especially WBA getting beat.
However, the other 3 o’clock games are not going our way at the moment.
Once more, and it now seems every game is a “must win” to keep ahead of the snarling pack behind us that is getting bigger as more hungry wolves join.
The fight for fifth and sixth place has teams down as far as Millwall (13 th) in with a shout. Even QPR in 14th are a form team battling to join the chase.
So, Sunderland’s game takes on an even more important level and so do the rest of February’s.
No LL, even if he is still a Boro player. Conway may make the bench but won’t be match fit and would be a gamble to injure himself if played and finally no new number 9, yet.
Lets hope Woodgate has been teaching the defenders how to defend and Carrick throws Travers and Whittaker straight in at the deep end.