Welcome back, Si
@simonfallaha Welcome back, Si - good to hear from you.
An excellent post akin to those most of us will remember from the past, and I agree with all of it.
Indeed, earlier in the season I made a comparison of my own between Carrick and Mowbray and how much it felt similar. Carrick hasn't yet had his Barnsley moment - and I hope he never does - but it's clearer by the day that the majority of fans now want a change. A survey on TeessideLive/Gazette confirms it.
Based on previous, the most likely outcome is that the club will undergo another overhaul over of the summer, start the season poorly as the new squad desperately tries to familiarise itself on the job, and then Michael Carrick will be sacked around October/November, to be replaced by someone not currently in a job. The local press will tell us that, although we lost 8 and signed 6 new players, the change in manager won't be disruptive because recruitment is less reliant on the manager now and we have a continuity-based manager recruitment programme - the players would have been signed anyway and the new manager fits the squad.
Then will come a shortlived manager bounce that ultimately peters out into another midtable finish, with the season described as one of transition with much better things to come next year.
How many points can I have in next season's COTS Challenge if all of that comes to pass?
The truth of the matter is much more aligned to your post, Si. The squad isn't good enough and does not compare to previous promotion-winning squads. I think I also argued that point a couple of months ago in a bit of a post-January rant.
Hopefully I'm completely wrong, Boro will have a great summer window, start the season brilliantly and Michael Carrick will guide us to at least a top six spot. Unfortunately, if the COTS Challenge was due in today, I wouldn't be predicting that or anything close to it.
I was a foam-fingered optimist once. Promise.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2025 - Semifinals results have been posted including the final rules, on the Social club page.
Come on BORO.
@andy-r Thank you for your response Andy.
And thanks to everyone else for your responses too.
A quick look at the statistics indicates that Carrick's tenure so far is one of regression...
Position. 4th > 8th > 10th
Goals scored. 84 > 71 > 64
Points. 75 > 69 > 64
Regression that I also feel in confidence and momentum as well as points, goals and position, so it isn't just the numbers.
It does seem, Andy, that you might be right about the likely manager change around October or November time - history tells us the switch from Warnock to Wilder mid-season, and later Wilder to Carrick, led to a turnaround in fortunes before long. I've read this turnaround often happens due to a combination of (a) players trying much harder and (b) a new manager getting to bring in an expensive loan signing either on arrival or within weeks, among other things. You've the case of Karanka and Given of course, but when Paul Jewell replaced Roy Keane at Ipswich, he was able to recruit Jimmy Bullard on loan, and from what I recall Bullard was on twenty or thirty thousand pounds a week. It may well be that there is trust in the new manager, or the new player... for a while.
It will certainly be a season to forget with local rivals Leeds and possibly Sunderland promoted and Newcastle winning the League Cup and likely qualifying for the Champions League.
Unfortunately Boro left in Limbo as the bar has been set much higher...
Good to hear from you again Simon with your usual thoughtful posts - Boro definitely need a reboot as Carrick's team seem neither one thing or other at the moment - struggling to score and failing to keep the opposition out has been the deterioration of a style of playing where quality is lacking in many key areas. The intentions are good but too many average players failing to raise their game and far to many errors that cost us.
Hard to know how Carrick feels inwardly but he doesn't look like he hates losing as much as a smouldering Karanka did - though probably not many would as he hated conceding goals more than he enjoyed seeing his team scoring.
We'd all like to see Carrick succeed as his football has been a joy to watch when it worked but can the club give him the players he needs? Probably not in one window so I suspect will be more square pegs and more key players moved on for offers too good to resist.
Are we building a team or are we just trying to match the budgets of the top six but with always one eye on the future and not the present?
Nice to see you back Si, and hopefully with the time to continue with your different presentation posts.
Thanks Werder.
I too have enjoyed watching Carrickball when it’s in full flow but it sadly seems to have reached the stage where intermittent creative excellence is the order of the day, rather than the greater consistency that is hoped for. Things could still change for the better, though…
I also feel the best word for Karankaball was neither defence nor attack, but “control” - his celebrations when we scored and won could be as wild as any, but “steady” and “secure” seemed the most prominent watchwords in his style of play. As if every position taken, every pass made and every attack crafted had to be as close to “certain to come off” as possible. Therefore, unpredictable mavericks were few and far between - Tomlin, Gaston, Adama and Fabbrini? - as, to my recollection, were clear cut chances, meaning that the misses tended to stick out like sore thumbs however slick and exquisite the passing appeared to be and however well organised we were.
We were a handsome, well-oiled machine for the most part in the Championship, and that’s probably why I admired that team as much as I did, but as time went by I came to understand the shortcomings. I guess when one is trying to enjoy a “winning streak”, or a team that looks like it could be the real thing “given time”, they’d rather not have to doubt.
Yes, Karanka was definitely into control and he drilled the players on how to play and move up the pitch - I seem to recall either he (or was it Pulis?) used to switch Adama from the right to the left wing depending on where the dugout was so he could coach him from the touchline.
The question is, is MFC a well run club, I don't know , if you have to charge what they do for season tickets , if you have to replace six to eight players every season, is the medical staff competent, are the fitness methods progressive,
Why doesn't the team perform to it's maximum,unless it is, can the coaching staff motivate , how do they interact with this squad, how do they deal with conflict, The team had numerous opportunities to get into the play offs and failed,Why.
Anyone happy with 18 league defeats plus 2 in the cups ,and I'm pointing at the top of the chain , then were to you go from here.
Hi Diasborians
Thanks for all the recent good wishes regarding my health and messaging Martin Bellamy yesterday he suggested I post an update.
I had a heart procedure two weeks ago first one down from the ward. Unfortunately they found that I have a blocked main artery which is too dangerous to fix using stents or to do a bypass. All the other guys in the ward had successful operations which really cheered me up (not !)
I saw the main heart consultant on Monday and I had researched laser, ultrasound and other methods of removing the blockage. Whilst not appearing to be a smart arxe it’s my life and everyone doesn’t just accept initial diagnosis.
Unfortunately none of the other methods are suitable for me other than increasing medication.
If I was twenty years younger I would have been considered for a heart transplant but I’m an old codger now so just keep buggering on!
So there you have it another old Diasborian joining the injured list. At least we’re still here !
Sorry for the long post but Martin felt it was best to share as understandably ive been a bit quiet these last few weeks.
All the best
OFB
PS
I’m not so fat now as I haven’t had a drink for nine months (doctors orders) I’m the lightest I’ve been since I got married so every cloud …..
@original-fat-bob It was good to hear from you yesterday, although distressing to hear your news.
As I said directly, the members of this Forum hold you and your contributions in such high regard that I know we will all be rooting for you. Thanks very much for sharing with us, we’re all friends here and our thoughts are with you and your wife.
@original-fat-bob. Good to hear from you OFB but sorry to learn that they can’t provide you with a permanent fit and you will need to keep taking the tablets.
At least you are still with us and able to keep posting and supporting our beloved team.
Take care and wishing you all the best. 😎
OFB,
Good to hear from you and that you are still here to cause trouble! Obviously in the nicest possible way.
If it's any consolation I'm still asking questions and I do get answers from the Consultant and his Specialist Nurse and like you I looked things up, researched things but the trouble with that is you don't always want to hear the answers. I see him again at the end of June.
Whatever you do keep the weight off, I had to put it back on. Have gone from 15.5 stone down to 11.5 after the operation and radio therapy I'm back to 12.12 and told to maintain it, no higher and no lower. So far so good. I now weigh not much more than I did when Sue and I married 55 years ago.
Why is it another pint, just one more, of Timothy Taylor's Landlord always look so good?
Anyway wrap up well in the cave and keep posting! Look after yourself.
Best wishes and UTB,
John
Thanks for the post, Bob, and for keeping in touch. Best wishes for the future. Long may we continue to benefit from your good humour, inside knowledge and generous spirit.
@original-fat-bob Thanks for sharing your news Bob and I can only echo what everyone above has already said. I pretend that I am not a religious man, but didn't someone somewhere once say "Once a Catholic, always a Cathlolic", so on that basis I will mention you in dispatches on those increasingly common occasions I find my mind trying to connect with the superior being (that is I will keep you in my prayers).
Hope your drugs will at least manage your condition and keep it stable and hopefully keep you fit enough to feel comfortable and able to continue to enjoy life.
Although, I suspect if you go online and enter in Chat GPT that you've not had a drink for nine months and have now lost weight it may diagnose you as just having had a baby 😉
Still, the summer break should at least help your blood pressure!
Take care and of course take it easy as you adjust to the next chapter of living your life to the full!
Good luck for the future OFB, I hope your medications have the desired effect and all my best for your family, as it must be a stressful time for them also.
Come on BORO.
Many thanks everyone your good wishes are appreciated
Thanks to Martin for encouraging me to post the news and not keep it to myself it was the right decision to share.
OFB
Dijksteel gone so that’s two right backs we’ve lost this season and Ayling is too slow in my opinion.
Anyone fancy somone on the transfer front or do we play VDB in that position and play Fry and our Brazilian superstar in the middle ?
OFB
@OFB
That is somewhat of a shock to hear OFB, but I think Martin's advice and ultimately your decision to share the news is the right one.
Hopefully the medication, weight loss and mental strength you have, will take you forward into the distant future.
Be good and take care.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=HIYCKhTKdt8&si=pjwgO7rbDfC9YUp7
An insight into player analysis, recruitment etc ,inside a clubs direction
Mark Travers, Ryan Giles, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Iling-Junior and Ben Doak will all return to their parent clubs and it's unlikely as things stand that Boro will pursue permanent deals for any of last season's loanees.
OFB
@original-fat-bob So good to hear from you. I hope you get yourself back to fit and to Riverside next season. Take care. Up the Boro!
maybe the club is deciding to go for demonstrable excellence or real potential rather than ‘making do’.
more importantly, good to have you back writing and we all wish you many years as our ‘inside man’.
utb and uofb
Alex Gilbert played 84 minutes as Charlton beat Wycombe 1-0 and made their way into the playoff final at Wembley. Should be great experience for him and let’s hope that he can break through next year.
@original-fat-bob. Need to get someone in else we are back to square pegs in round holes; RvDB can do a job in that position but he is better in the centre in my view. 😎