We, as supporters of our club, hold on to historical parallels. We may even dig out the records to see whether, in that difficult season (what, only one?) in the 1990s, or the 1970s (still only one?), a precedent was set which demonstrated Boro has previously achieved success from positions arguably less favourable than the one in which the team currently finds itself. Those successes may make us feel better. They may give us confidence. However if we looked carefully we could probably also find examples where golden positions were turned to their leaden alternative.
Obviously there have been 126 seasons since Boro's election to the Football League as a professional football club in May 1899. That doesn't mean that EVERY possible scenario in achieving or failing to achieve success has been worked through in those seasons but, equally obviously, a fair number of possibilities have been played out over so many seasons and so many games played. The field is so large that there are bound to be lots of rabbit holes to be found.
Sir Gareth Southgate (again, formerly of this parish in TWO previous incarnations) told the story of his time as a young player in Tier One with Crystal Palace. As the end of the season stood squarely in view, his team was "safe", 9 points from relegation with only 3 games left. Palace went on to lose all three and the team below won all three: Palace ended up relegated on goal difference. Some omens are good and some are bad!
What we can say is this: none of the footballers playing for our club, nor the Head Coach (born on 1st February 1988, since you asked), were even alive in the 1970s. None of them were playing football in 1998 (I suppose a few in the squad, then only infants, might have kicked a beachball whilst on holiday or maybe kicked a ball with older relatives in the back garden). Even 2016 is 10 years ago and that is almost the length of a professional career for most football players if they are lucky enough to escape injury. The three local players in the First Team squad would have been aware of what was going on at The Riverside in 2016 but, to other member of the squad, Boro would hardly have impinged on their 2016 minds.
Basically what has happened in the past matters to us. It matters to players who grew up or were born locally or came through Boro's youth system in the same way, I guess, that army regiments and their histories and the battle honours won matter to former members of those regiments, or the way the Battle of Trafalgar is remembered by former members of the Royal Navy even though that Victory (not an accidental pun) is now 221 years ago. We know because we care and Boro's history is almost a part of our own histories.
Obviously what happened in the distant past will not be known to most players. It will not have any effect on Boro's games played in 2026. Hopefully good players and good coaches will clear the minds of the team so that THEY can write their history now, when it matters. It might allow supporters to sleep more soundly to think of occasions when things have gone well in the past, but it's not going to convert Alan Browne, Tommy Conway or David Strelec into Harry Kane or a Bernie Slaven.
It's the sort of thing we, as supporters, do to while away the time when there are no games to play. We all need this International Break.
@forever-dormo Fantastic comment, Dormo.
One great thing about positive historical parallels is that they can indeed give us confidence, in showing us “we’ve bounced back from worse situations before, we can do it again”. But on the flip side they can also come across as a means of reassuring or quietening the doubters, so as not to burst the bubble, kill the buzz or upset the applecart.
Part of the reason I was sympathetic with AKBoro in the moment of 2014-16 was because, in a way, it often felt like they could do little right despite attaining our best results of the century in any division. It was as if, and this has happened so often this season too, we often dwelt upon what we didn’t do or what or who we didn’t have rather than what we did do and what or who we did have. I mean, okay, the game at Watford away in 2015 was a huge disappointment, but we were still two points off the top with five games left.
Time, reflection and research has taught me to think a little differently and consider other perspectives. I still don’t want to put a dampener on what can still be a great achievement, but here’s something I’ve been reminded of recently - it’s not just about points. Regardless of what we’ve achieved on the whole and where we are, which gives us more than enough reason to say “please don’t panic” the recent succession of dropped points in winnable games does not inspire confidence or belief. We can take relief from still being in a position to put it right, but bringing the momentum back is a much harder task.
It’s the whole “lifeboats sailing past while we’re treading water” metaphor again, and I get how frustrating that can be.
@forever-dormo I’ve always been surprised that all teams have their own “bogey” teams. Why does it matter that Boro predecessors have struggled to beat, say, Bristol City or Blackburn Rovers?
Both game participants will have different players, players who weren’t part of previous squads or maybe have never played against the opposition before. Why would their performances suffer because of previous results?
For me, it’s just hype from the press and supporters that maintains those myths, although that in itself could feed into players’ and manager’s minds.
“Take each game as it comes” has long been a common response from managers talking to the press - wise words, if you ask me.
Some great posts in here. Fortunately for me I had a Saturday and Sunday where I was involved in family and friends events that demanded my whole attention...well most of it. So, while being aware of results, didn't have the space to dwell on them.
Bottom line is, we are in 2nd place and the table doesn't lie. After 39 matches so far we are the second best team. I get the anxiety... as in I too am getting anxious as well as understanding why everyone else is getting anxious, I really do. But honestly, what is not to be proud of overall this season?
There is a mammoth in the room, let alone an elephant, that is no one is talking about how our, the supporters, expectations and anxieties will be getting to the players and the coaches and to everyone involved at the club. And in that mammoth lies a vicious circle: the more our anxieties transfer to the players and staff, the more anxious they become, that makes them over think and over play things and leads them to blow the opportunities they might otherwise have seized with relish, that makes us even more anxious and....well you know the rest.
The prize is still ours to lose and what is needed is a surge in our collective belief that this is our year. Never mind historical or even hysterical precedents. This is the here and now and we do have the talent enough to hold that 2nd place.
CoB. Come on everyone. There really is no such thing as Typical Boro, just our typical predilection to be convinced of the worst outcome. Maybe we all just need to learn to enjoy the moment. AV's tweet or whatever you call the things now. Is absolutely spot on. Let's keep happy and save our disappointment for when we need to be disappointed, but not before. There is still all for us to believe can happen.
P.S. personally I am hoping it will all get decided at the Watford game... but that is just me being selfish as I plan to be there that day!
@powmillnaemore - Agreed. I desperately hope we don't go into the last game at Wrexham seeking one point or three to secure automatic promotion, whilst Wrexham requires a win to qualify for the Play-Offs.
I'd be very happy for Boro's players to be suffering a communal hangover and be soundly beaten in that last game providing that Boro had won promotion in the previous game. Everyone in the tiny crowd there could legitimately enjoy post-match beers in celebration.
@powmillnaemore That’s a great attitude and one that I thoroughly agree with - let’s stay positive and not follow down the general socials cesspit of opinion where anything short of perfect is seen as a disgrace.
A win against Millwall and we’ll all be smiling again. If we can’t beat Ipswich and Millwall maybe we’re not good enough to go up, but I actually think a win and a draw could be adequate, especially if the win is against the Tractor Boys.
@martin-bellamy - I agree that a draw and a win against Millwall and Ipswich respectively should be enough to see Boro promoted in the Top Two PROVIDED we get good results in the other games. Obviously if Boro remained goal-shy in the other games, Ipswich and Millwall are unlikely both to mirror that.
@malcolm I see the logic of what KH is saying, but I wonder if someone else could fill TC’s wide left role, allowing him to replace DS centrally - who do we think is the more natural goalscorer, TC or DS?
For me, TC is too often forced to play the ball backwards when he gets it out wide (I’m not blaming him for that) and we start to recycle again. When he does get to run inside from the left he isn’t giving enough options with players in the box.
It’s not an easy one to solve but I’d trust KH and his coaching team rather than me to find a solution, that’s for sure.
21st Century football: sport or business? Discuss.
@martin-bellamy. Shameful. We are all aware of the need for football to be more business like and profitable but there are ways and means of doing it; this is not one of them. 😎
More disgusting behaviour from Radcliffe, who seeks massive government subsidies, whilst railing against those on benefits, and whose recent comments on immigrants are offensive, not least to his entire playing staff. He is not a fit person to own and run an important cultural and community resource
I see Ipswich have just signed an ageing out-of-contract right-winger but the supporters are not happy...
@werdermouth Let’s hope it is not the only own goal they concede before the end of the season.
@werdermouth It’s incredibly naive of them to not realise what would happen if they allowed them to host an event at the stadium.
I hope it has repercussions throughout the club. We don’t do politics on this Forum, but suffice to say if it had been MFC and not Ipswich I’d be very unhappy indeed.
@k-p-in-spain and martin bellamy
That’s absolutely disgraceful, and totally typical of that money-grabbing club and its vile owners, especially when you consider just how much money they rake in continuously from all their football and commercial operations.
My brother lives in Stockport and knows a number of MUFC fans. One of them told my brother that even as a season-ticket holder of several years, he is obliged to let the club know well in advance of a game if he is unable to attend, or he risks having his season ticket cancelled. It’s a threat the club intends to follow through on for a repeat ‘offence.’ Advance notification enables the club …… wait for it…… to resell his ticket for that particular game, even though that seat has already been paid for. It’s disgusting. They’re profiting twice over!
Frankly, it’s a wonder they have any true fans left. I hate them more and more.
On another matter, I am now even more desperate for Boro to go up automatically than I was before. I have cocked up seriously. I assumed the playoff semi-finals would be around the weekend of 16 May, but they’re now on the previous weekend, when I shall be away. We’ve accepted an invitation to a wedding in Scotland. There’s no way Mrs H will let me get out of it.
if Boro - heaven forfend - should finish 3rd or 6th, I’ll miss both games home and away and may not even be able to catch the games live on TV. I doubt I’d have got a ticket for the away game anyway, but even so. If we finish 4th or 5th - double forfend- I’ll only be able to make the Tuesday game.
I feel so stupid. Please, please lads, do the business and get us up automatically!
One comment I saw said that they would rather see Delia Smith at Portman Road than Farage. Apparently he booked a tour and bought a shirt at the club shop and was not invited by the club.
It is not only happening at United. This is Ipswich.
@mw-in-darwin - I remember spending a day at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester - not out of choice but to attend a Conference/Course. There were LOTS of people staying at the hotel (overnight and maybe for a couple of nights) who had come from abroad, during which time Man U would be playing a home match.
There were Japanese Reds and Swedish Reds, and so on, there in groups. They all had "good tickets" for the game which I think was being played later that evening but they had other things planned including the visit to the club Superstore and a tour of the stadium. One thing I noted later in the day when I saw some of them again was that most had enormous club bags full of club merchandise.
I don't know about you, but when I attend games on my ST, I don't first go to the club shop and come back with £500 or more worth of kit. I'm guessing if you've travelled from abroad to see the game that might not seem a ridiculous amount to spend on club merchandise for a one-off visit per season (or maybe ever). If the club can get £500 or whatever additional money from everyone of maybe 2,500 visitors from abroad every time the team plays at home, that is more than they'd get from simply having 2,500 home ST fans buying a coffee or maybe a sandwich at HT. Money! Who'd have thought Manchester United would be interested in money?
One comment I saw said that they would rather see Delia Smith at Portman Road than Farage. Apparently he booked a tour and bought a shirt at the club shop and was not invited by the club.
Sounds a bit more than a tour of the ground:
@forever-dormo My kid brother is a huge Arsenal fan. We was in London two weeks ago to see a match with his son (his birthday present for celebrating 30 years).
I think those tickets left unatended by a season ticket holders are the only ones available for foreign supporter who attend a match once a season or more seldomly. Some clubs have waiting.lists for season tickets, I think.
For Boro's home matches, it is still possible to buy a ticket in a normal way. For away matches, I have to use my local contacts to get a ticket. 😉
Up the Boro!
It’s a difficult one over reselling tickets of season ticket holders who don’t attend - I can see both sides of the argument as there’s always a risk wealthy individuals could just buy a season ticket and only use it occasionally and if grounds are sold out then many supporters could miss out.
Though who should get money from resold tickets is another matter - presumably the one-off price on resales is higher per game than that of a season ticket?
Then again if you compensate individuals if they don’t use their season ticket then it may encourage more people to buy them knowing they’ll get recompense for games they don’t attend.
I’m sure there’s a better way to handle loyal supporters without punishing them as potential opportunists - such as acknowledging regular attendance over many years.
So my brother (he, not we as I wrote) was in London with his son.
Not that any of you thought I WAS there and not Riverside. Up the Boro!
On another matter, I am now even more desperate for Boro to go up automatically than I was before. I have cocked up seriously. I assumed the playoff semi-finals would be around the weekend of 16 May, but they’re now on the previous weekend, when I shall be away. We’ve accepted an invitation to a wedding in Scotland. There’s no way Mrs H will let me get out of it.
if Boro - heaven forfend - should finish 3rd or 6th, I’ll miss both games home and away and may not even be able to catch the games live on TV. I doubt I’d have got a ticket for the away game anyway, but even so. If we finish 4th or 5th - double forfend- I’ll only be able to make the Tuesday game.
I feel so stupid. Please, please lads, do the business and get us up automatically!
I'm in Japan for the playoff final, dont think we would make it though, think Southampton will walk it
I will be in Alaska so would mean an early listen although I agree that Southampton will walk the playoffs and Finn Azaz will be proved correct in that he was joining a Premier league club. On another note I see that Ipswich are charging 39pounds 50 for our visit and some of those have a restricted view.
Some great posts in here. Fortunately for me I had a Saturday and Sunday where I was involved in family and friends events that demanded my whole attention...well most of it. So, while being aware of results, didn't have the space to dwell on them.
Bottom line is, we are in 2nd place and the table doesn't lie. After 39 matches so far we are the second best team. I get the anxiety... as in I too am getting anxious as well as understanding why everyone else is getting anxious, I really do. But honestly, what is not to be proud of overall this season?
There is a mammoth in the room, let alone an elephant, that is no one is talking about how our, the supporters, expectations and anxieties will be getting to the players and the coaches and to everyone involved at the club. And in that mammoth lies a vicious circle: the more our anxieties transfer to the players and staff, the more anxious they become, that makes them over think and over play things and leads them to blow the opportunities they might otherwise have seized with relish, that makes us even more anxious and....well you know the rest.
The prize is still ours to lose and what is needed is a surge in our collective belief that this is our year. Never mind historical or even hysterical precedents. This is the here and now and we do have the talent enough to hold that 2nd place.
CoB. Come on everyone. There really is no such thing as Typical Boro, just our typical predilection to be convinced of the worst outcome. Maybe we all just need to learn to enjoy the moment. AV's tweet or whatever you call the things now. Is absolutely spot on. Let's keep happy and save our disappointment for when we need to be disappointed, but not before. There is still all for us to believe can happen.
Powmill, I want to applaud you wholeheartedly. You are absolutely spot on in indicating how our anxiety is amplifying the fear of failure to the point where it can negatively hamper the team. We may not have signed a goalscorer either in the window or earlier in the year, like Uwe Fuchs, Marco Branca, Alun Armstrong or Jordan Rhodes, but the fact is that we still have three very capable men up top who need our positive support as fully as the rest of the team do. Especially since I've read that KH teams aren't the kind to depend on clinical strikers for goals, rather midfielders or wide forwards.
I frequently reference Andrew Cole in my writing, and I'm going to do so again because what David Strelec is going through right now echoes Cole's very early months at United. In that, you sense the miss or misses against Bristol City for Strelec and West Ham for Cole would have mattered a lot less if people didn't see it as the difference between one point or three, momentum or no momentum, or the title and no title.
I get the edginess. I get the fear. I get all that. But what I also see is a club very well placed in the division who seem weighed down by the historical precedent of being built up and let down repeatedly. And it's dawned on me that just because it happened then, and often, doesn’t mean it has to happen now.
We’ve got this.
@simonfallaha - I so much hope you are right, Si. I'd LOVE a summer break where I can bask in the joy of a successful 2025-26 campaign, and I can get on with enjoying my usual summer activities whilst, in the back of my mind, I can spend some time dreaming about the realities of The Premier League ahead next season.
@simonfallaha Thanks for some positivity, Si, albeit couched in realism too.
Whilst, in some ways, the international break has come at a good time for KH to take stock, he’ll be without DS & TC, so training won’t include two key strikers. Hopefully it’ll also be a chance to get HH fit and back for the Millwall game.
Momentum can be key at this time of the season so I’m hoping that Millwall and Ipswich will be affected negatively during the break. The hiatus around the adverse publicity at Ipswich won’t do them any favours either.
It’s still all to play for and I don’t share the view that Southampton will breeze through the playoffs, although ideally, we won’t care!