@werdermouth - Just as all three promoted in 2024 might very well end up this season being relegated back to The Championship (though Wolves, promoted in 2018, might also be at risk, therefore reprieving one of the promoted teams), as you'll see from my post a short while ago, ALL THREE teams promoted in 2022 remain up in the EPL, and in "safe" positions. They are not being hammered week in, week out and I'll bet their supporters are in clover at present. I'd LOVE that for Boro.
@martin-bellamy From my perspective and I assume Mr Gibson’s, even the short term joy of winning at Wembley, would be worth it to the Owner
OK, baring a miracle, we will come straight back down, with may be even less points than Derby did. However for one at least, Mr Gibson could take a break if he so wished, from filling the bottomless pit that is MFC. Promotion for him must be some kind of achievement.
Yes there's always hope - interestingly both Fulham and Bournemouth were relegated in the previous 2 seasons before they gained promotion again - so something about regrouping as you also mentioned. Though Southampton are becoming the yo-yo club with looking like their second PL relegation in three years!
@forever-dormo I guess I’d take that scenario too, although if we’re planning long term (somewhere towards your 10 year option), then how important is stability of management?
I wonder how many managers have achieved promotion from the second tier, only to be jettisoned when their team is faced with potential relegation from the PL.
If teams adopt your very sensible long term plan, then it makes sense to me to give the manager a second chance in the Championship after relegation. He can build on his experience and hope to improve on players to get back up, yet the chances are it’d be a new manager again and the need for him to build his own team.
Suffice to say that we’d all agree, that the immediate goal is to finish in the top 6 this season. Who knows what might happen then?
Out in yarm today for lunch amd bumped into George.
A lovely guy and welcome to the Boro permanently !
You could have added Coventry to the list of improvers as they are currently top of the form table. They play Leeds tonight and are currently 2-0 down. If Coventry win they would be equal on points with us.
Both Leicester and Southampton have sacked their promotion achieving manager this season. In fact only 2 out of the bottom 8 teams in the Premier League haven't sacked their manager this season- Spurs and Ipswich. I think that Mckenna at Ipswich has achieved so much very quickly that he is unlikely to be sacked. The fans are still behind the team and even when they lost 6-0 at home to City there was no adverse reaction and most of the crowd were still there at the end.
Though the top 4 look beyond everyone and Burnley continue to show a ridiculous defensive capability with no goals conceded in their last 9 games now - but 5 nil-nil draws in that run so they're not really entertaining promotion just slogging their way into the PL. Perhaps enjoying watching your team have a go but keeping you on a knife edge is preferable to just admiring the table!
An analysis by the Beeb of Burnley's infuriatingly good/enviable defensive record:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjw481xln52o
which is apparently dividing the club's fans...
Just read that, Atalanta will get 10% of LL's transfer fee. Supposably, 1.8 million euros.
Brilliant picture,Bob!
@clive-hurren I believe we have a decent sell on clause with Villa for Rogers, so if he moves for £50m you won’t be so disgruntled with sell on clauses 🤔.
Come on BORO.
@exmil - Prices discussed for footballers are often ridiculous over-estimates but Morgan Rogers was a steal at the money Villa paid and, if they sell him, his current form and the upward trajectory of his career means that £50M would not be over-generous. Maybe quite a lot more than £50M.