I was a little sad to see an apparently promising young player move on like this. He was being talked up as a first team possible. Is this an inevitable result of the academy system whereby some good players just move on when they reach a certain age.
Given the time and money spent training him, do we get a fee or a sell-on clause to help cover our costs? After all, we have turned him into a Football League player going to a solid club.
UTB
Aidan Morris has finally signed. I have been trying to find out if he has been selected for the USA Olympics team. He was in the squad for their last warm up game but became unavailable. That game was on the 11th of June. I would think that they must be naming the squad soon. Apparently teams are only allowed squads of 18. If he does go he will miss a chunk of preseason as the tournament starts on July 24 and the last group game is on July 30. The US are a chance to get out of their group and the quarter finals start on August 2. The main concern is that he will miss the chance to play with his new team but of course he is match fit as he has been playing up until last week in the MLS.
@mw-in-darwin Always a problem when signing a good and international player. Not ideal for his bad in period, but he is a long term purchase, too. Young but ready and very experienced already. A superb signing.
Up the Boro!
@selwynoz. My interpretation is that this works out at approximately 4 (155/42) games per team per season will be shown internationally but clearly some are likely to be screened more than others.
The EFL website shows that on the first weekend of the new season there are 5 games across Friday to Sunday which are being shown Internationally, of which three are Championship sides - Blackburn v Derby, Oxford v Norwich and Sheffield W v Plymouth.
As I understand it, if the game is not being broadcast in your country then it will be available as before via Riverside Live and also possibly Sky in the UK.
The new deal is replacing the existing domestic streaming arrangements via club websites and iFollow, although international streaming remains.
From the above, Pitch International will distribute the games to I believe the existing EFL broadcast partners in the various countries/territories, as before.
That is how I understand it but I could be mistaken and am happy to be corrected. 😎
I have got my ticket for the pre season friendly against Heerenveen on Saturday 3 August at 1500 hrs.
Come on BORO.
Looking from the outside seems we have a big squad with the emergence of the young talent ,I hope it doesn't create problems, unless they're expecting a reset with in and outs, a lot of premiership clubs will be looking to offload some decent talent to keep within financial rules,
Will they keep Jones, Forss ,Mcgree, Lenehan, Fry , Coburn, some others happy,interesting times
Turkish midfielder Berat Özdemir is attracting interest from Middlesbrough.
Boro have made a bid for midfielder Berat Özdemir, but it has fallen short of Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq's asking price, according to Turkish publication Kuzey Ekspres.
Özdemir spent last season on loan at Trabzonspor, and represented the Türkiye national team for the first time since 2021 in a friendly against Italy in June
OFB
@original-fat-bob Bob, I saw that yesterday, too. But the Echo says this it is not true.
"Despite a report claiming otherwise yesterday, Boro - as the Northern Echo have previously reported - won't be pursuing Lewis O'Brien this summer. And Berat Özdemir, a Turkish midfielder playing in Saudi who was linked with a move to the Riverside in his homeland over the weekend, is not a player who has ever been on Boro's radar."
The Echo had a good story about Aidan Morris, too. Worth a read: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24420734.middlesbroughs-aidan-morris-transfer---inside-story/
I am excited by the signing of Morris. Up the Boro!
Have anyone seen a 22-year-old Morris in Aidansfield recently? You remember the Heartbeat with all the old cars in the show. Was the series ever screened in the USA?
Ok, I will get my coat. Up the Boro!
Whose the kid with blonde locks , in training video , big squad , needs trimming
If Gray is £40 mill , what for Hackney, Van, Lathe, Morris on the cheap for us ,
Notice on video Goalies look big guys.
Middlesbrough look set for a cash boost this summer, with academy graduate Nathan Wood said to be on the verge of a Premier League move to Southampton.
Multiple sources now claim Southampton are close sealing a deal that will see the Swansea City centre-back reunite with Russell Martin at St Mary's following their promotion to the Premier League. The exact fee the Saints will pay is not yet known, with two offers worth up to £10 million last summer turned down by the Swans.
Boro sold Wood to Swansea two years ago as then-boss Chris Wilder decided he had no place for the young centre-back in his plans. While Boro were willing to accept the judgement of Wilder at the time, with Wood himself keen to move on and start playing first-team football that wasn't going to be offered at the Riverside, they covered the fact they still felt Wood might have a bright future by inserting a future sell-on fee percentage into the agreement with Swansea.
I ALWAYS KNEW WILDER HAD MADE A HIGE MISTAKE
OFB
Nice to see Marcus Forss in the gym in the latest set of pictures of pre season, including the International four back, Finn Azaz, Latte Lath, Seny Dieng and Anfernee Dijksteel.
Come on BORO.
Boro's 16 matches already selected for live TV coverage:
- August 10 - 12.30 pm - Swansea City (home)
- August 13 - 7.45 pm - Leeds United (away) - Carabao Cup
- October 1 - 7.45 pm - West Brom (away)
- October 23 - 7.45 pm - Sheffield United (home)
- November 5 - 7.45 pm - QPR (away)
- November 27 - 7.45 pm - Blackburn Rovers (home)
- December 10 - 7.45 pm - Leeds United (away)
- December 26 - 3 pm - Sheffield Wednesday (home)
- January 1 - 3 pm - Hull City (away)
- January 21 - 7.45 pm - West Brom (home)
- February 12 - 7.45 pm - Sheffield United (away)
- March 11 - 7.45 pm - QPR (home)
- April 8 - 7.45 pm - Leeds United (home)
- April 18 - 3 pm - Plymouth Argyle (home)
- April 21 - 3 pm - Sheffield Wednesday (away)
- May 3 - 3 pm - Coventry City (away)
The above information provided courtesy of the EG.
“The full list of the 16 games currently guaranteed to be broadcast live on Sky Sports+, though, with the exception of the opening day game against Swansea City, all the dates and times of the games are subject to change depending on when Sky chooses to broadcast them”. 😎
The band is back. Very simple design. Nothing fancy.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/july/02/band-together--boro-s-2024-25-home-kit-revealed/
Up the Boro!
I try to keep the blog busy during the close season 😉.
I think the summer has been great so far. Carrick has signed a contract extension and we have seen three players bought in, too. And the injuries are easing also - in addition we have signed a new fitness expert from Tottenham.
There are still two areas that are interesting to see in development, though.
The goalkeeping department is interesting with Boro having five goalkeepers to choose from. The Teesside Live wrote:
"It seems likely that Seny Dieng will continue his role as first-choice as Boro recognise the importance of his experience and comfort in their way of playing as they approach the new season with hunger to challenge for promotion. Jamie Jones, meanwhile, appears likely to stay on as third choice, with the 35-year-old returning to Boro training despite being out of contract this summer and appearing fit after ending the season injured.
"That leaves last season's deputy Tom Glover competing with returning academy graduates Zach Hemming, 24, and Sol Brynn, 23, for the deputy spot in Michael Carrick's squad. All three are currently working hard at Rockliffe with the rest of the squad as they await developments.
"Glover feels a likely candidate to move on given how much it would suit all parties. The Aussie has international aspirations and will want to play more regularly than he did last term, which he is unlikely to be offered at the Riverside. From Boro's perspective, they can sell a player signed for free last summer while creating a spot in their squad for one of their talented academy youngsters."
Secondly, we need reinforcements in the attacking three of our midfield.
Now we have the following players for the three spots behind the striker:
McGree, Burgzorg, Azaz, Gilbert, Jones and Forss.
Delano Burgzorg joined from Mainz 05 and will boost the options. But Sammy Silvera has joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan. And Marcus Forss is still injured after tearing his hamstring in March. He came back last week but was unable to train with the rest of his team-mates.
Even though we have six players for the three positions covered, I would like to see a player signed (permanently or on loan) that can play at the number 10 position or as a striker. Alex Gilbert showed some promise in the last few matches of last season, but is he ready to play regularly? I am not so sure yet.
So in all we can except two goalkeepers to leave (either permanently or on loan) and one attacking midfielder or attacker signed. Chuba Akpom on loan from Ajax would be great, but perhaps we need to do with a cheaper option for next season. But I think we have some money left for this one position.
Looking forward to the next season. Up the Boro!
Off topic, but am I the only one who’s noticed a dearth of St George’s flags on cars and houses during the current Euro 24 tournament? Maybe it’s because of England’s performances so far (although I haven’t written off the chance of us reaching the Final) or perhaps it’s been overshadowed by tomorrow’s big competition - come on, you Reds… 😉
I’ve noticed a dearth of Diasborians proposing which games they would like to write a preview for the season !
OFB
Matin you want to come to this area of Boro, there flags galore, I counted 7 on one house alone.Off topic, but am I the only one who’s noticed a dearth of St George’s flags on cars and houses during the current Euro 24 tournament? Maybe it’s because of England’s performances so far (although I haven’t written off the chance of us reaching the Final) or perhaps it’s been overshadowed by tomorrow’s big competition - come on, you Reds… 😉
Come on BORO.
Looking at some of the rumours and speculation on Transfers , the likes of Ipswich after Hull players, £40 mill, unknown youngsters moving around for big money, l have to believe Boro are turning down some interesting offers.
Unless they are topping up , to combat exits
Following the latest announcements of matches to be broadcast, I have copied below part of the announcement on the club’s website.
“International TV Audiences
Fans outside of the UK will be able to continue watching their favourite team in all EFL competitions via Club platforms, where matches are not being broadcast exclusively.
For the latest list of international TV selections, visit EFL.com.”
This would appear to confirm that all matches will be streamed for overseas supporters to view with the exception that you will not be able to view a match if the local EFL broadcast partner opts to broadcast it.
MFC does not appear, at this stage, to have announced the cost of its streaming packages yet. 😎
Caraboa Cup match away at Leeds is confirmed as Wednesday 14 Aug at 8pm, live on Sky Sports Football.
Come on BORO.
Middlesbrough set to win the race for 16-year-old Swindon starlet Harley Hunt on a deal that could rise to £1.5million... after beating out Premier League competition for his signature (Mail Sport)
EG reporting that MFC are about to make offer for Ryan Giles and a deal could be likely! 😎
Morning everyone - the sun’s shining here in Sherburn. Welcome to a brand new dawn.
Weird about Hull signing Giles and talk of Boro now considering signing him.
Hope it doesn’t happen even as a loan deal which Giles shouldn’t accept as he’s just signed a 3 year deal.
He is a one season wonder or to be more precise he played well for two thirds of the season and then tailed off. He will never make a defender as his positioning is way off- gets stranded out of position. Can’t tackle. Doesn’t score goals.Doesn’t have pace. And just look at the number of loan deals - around 8 - what does that tell you ?
Obviously I’m not impressed by this latest rumour.
Talking of players we need someone like Whittaker of Plymouth- a goal scorer and creator of chances at Championship level .
Philip of Huddersfield
@philip-of-huddersfield Totally agree Philip, I think we should stay well away as I think it will be money wasted, especially if we include an obligation to buy 😱.
Come on BORO.
@exmil. Just catching up, after being away for awhile.
I would not touch Giles with a barge pole. The chances of 10/11 assists from him, would be low.
Philip is correct, defensively he is certainly no better than Engels and does not have Banguras pace.
Besides any fee, loan or purchase, his wages will be an issue, as he will have got decent money at Luton I assume.
Sky Sports reporting that Nathan Wood has signed a four year deal with Southampton with a reported price of £3M; so perhaps not as much in the way of sell on income as was hoped for. 😎
@k-p-in-spain And the BBC writes:
It has looked inevitable for a while that Nathan Wood would be leaving Swansea City this summer.
With the centre-back’s move to Southampton now confirmed, there may be some at Swansea wondering whether, with hindsight, they should have sold him 11 months ago.
Russell Martin’s Saints had two offers for Wood rejected last August.
At that stage, Southampton were prepared to pay about £7m rising to £10m for the England Under-21 international.
While the transfer fee is officially undisclosed, BBC Sport Wales understands Southampton have eventually got their man for just £3m, with add-ons taking the deal to a potential £4.5m.
The Swans will have to give a slice of the profit made on Wood to Middlesbrough, as a result of a sell-on clause in the deal which brought him to Wales for about £400,000 in 2022.
His signing was a success for Swansea. Despite some injury issues, Wood managed 72 appearances in his two seasons at Swansea, establishing himself as one of the brightest young defenders in the Championship.
But with Wood’s contract up next summer – and the player apparently making clear he wanted to move on – Swansea were left with little option but to sell for what looks a low price, given the player's potential.
Up the Boro!
To me this good news:
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/july/05/law-mccabe-signs-new-boro-contract/
Come on BORO.