"Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard... and I suppose you feel you let everyone down... But did you notice something…?
”…The world didn’t come to an end.”
- Charles M. Schulz
I agree, Dormo. Hackney made a significant difference when he came on. Boro instantly began to move the ball forward with greater pace as he drove the team forward. He moved us up the pitch ten yards and was involved in everything. Before he came on we were laboured in the extreme - and while you could perhaps argue that some of this was about conserving energy on an extremely hot afternoon, it was nonetheless pretty uninspiring and never threatening. I agree that it would have been better to have started Hackney. I’m not sure, either, why KH didn’t use Castledine.
But the fact is we were just not good enough today. We had no punch up front and created hardly anything at all. Hull’s very negative game plan - stifle the game with a 10 man defence and hope to hit us on the break - worked to a T. We didn’t deserve to win but we did lose to the one defensive mistake we made in the whole game. I’m sorry to say we will need a better keeper next season, as well as a significant upgrade at the front end.
I think that KH knew that Hackney only had limited time and with the weather the way that it was, he decided to keep him for the last twenty minutes and extra time when his freshness could have made a huge difference. The impact that he made in the short time that he was on suggests that he could have delivered a victory in extra time.
utb
Not much to add to what others have said. Disappointed that we lost but three days ago this match wasn’t happening. The match was a microcosm of our season. Read an article earlier which asked was KH a failure. When he took over we were 12 points ahead of Ipswich. In hindsight it looks like this was our best chance of making the EPL as we were in the top two for so long then won two out of the last ten. Looking at a signing for next season Dom Ballard from Leyton Orient League 1 player of the year and young player of the year. 23 goals last season in a struggling side and age 21.
My fear having watched this season unfold is are we going to see something akin to MC’s tenure; started well in the first season but then hit the buffers at the vital time.
Second season saw a big turn over of players as we lost a lot of PL loanees and some who were just not good enough which resulted in a lot of changes coupled with inconsistency and flirted with top six but failed to make it despite a good run in.
Third season continued much as the second with MC seeming to run out of ideas on tactics/personnel and the inevitable happened.
As I see it, we are not a club which is progressing, we are treading water at best whilst the likes of Ipswich, Sunderland, Coventry and Hull surpass us; without doubt KH has his biggest challenge to come. 😎
@mw-in-darwin In hindsight it looks like this was our best chance of making the EPL as we were in the top two for so long then won two out of the last ten.
@kp in spain. As I see it, we are not a club which is progressing, we are treading water at best whilst the likes of Ipswich, Sunderland, Coventry and Hull surpass us; without doubt KH has his biggest challenge to come.
One could argue I guess that without the loss of Hackney, we would possibly have accumulated sufficient points to keep in the top two.
But KP is correct, this has all the feeling of Micheal Carrick and “Groundhog Day”
Jarkko has always railed against too many changes in the squad, which he says is unsettling. However the loss of key and loan players forces one’s hand, coupled at MFC with an unacceptable number of players that are just not at the level required for a top six place. (or top eight is it next season).
As I have posted more than once, how do you move on those failures that Kieran Scott and his Team recruited. That model of buy cheap, sell high has provided funds to improve the squad, but unfortunately the money on the attacking players has been unwisely spent.
Whats to say that won’t happen again this summer coupled with the possibility of a bloated squad using up a fair portion of our,more controlled now, wage bill.
Well the fat lady has sung and there's only the sound of glasses being collected to break the silence. In a way I'm sad we lost but justice was done, up to a point anyway.
Hull City were the last team standing and for me should have been awarded the tie anyway, well done Hull City. But that was about TV rights and, of course, money and the bonus is we get to play Wolves and Southampton next season. Who needs diluted 'pretend Derbies' against the Barcodes and Deckchairs?
So now the real job is going to be a team clean-out and rebuild. It's going to be be an interesting close season to put it mildly. I'm sure there are plans in place. I'm looking forward to it already.
OFB, I hope you got through the heat and the drama alright!
ATB everyone.
UTB,
John
In football, as in life, you are never as good as you think you are when winning; and not as bad, when you lose. Time to let the dust settle before going again next year. UTB
It has started, EG confirming MFC have completed their first signing as the deal for Sarmiento now becomes permanent; another in a long line who we were told would make an impact but has failed to deliver.
It is being suggested that things may improve if he has a full pre season but why have other clubs failed to make his loan deals permanent?
Lots of energy but like many others he has no end product; I will be the first to eat my words if we see much of an improvement from him next season.😎
@k-p-in-spain And pigs may fly over the Riverside.
An act of desperation, cleverly forced by Brighton into paying 3:5 million. An utter waste of money. Even Hansen looks better and that is saying something.
@powmillnaemore £3m subject to conditions, he has interest from abroad apparently, so could be sold, would diasboro be willing to sell at a loss or take the chance he will improve (Akpom like) with a pre season and experience from this part season.
Come on BORO.
Apart from the obvious transfer window, we all look forward to 25 June at 1200hrs, when the championship fixtures are released.
Come on BORO.
Interestingly, on Sky Sports News Breakfast, were 3 top sports journalists who discussed yesterday’s final, hardly mentioning Boro, one remark made by one of the journalists was the most relieved groups at the result, was the EFL, maybe that’s why they appointed Jarred Gillett as referee (remember him at Ipswich and the controversial late penalty for Ipswich) 🤔.
Come on BORO.
@exmil Yes, I thought during the game that the EFL would breathe a sigh of relief if Hull won.
To be fair to the Ref, I thought he had a good game, although there weren’t many controversial events to trouble him. I did wonder if VAR would check for offside of one of Hull’s players when they scored but he wasn’t interfering in any way.
@exmil If a real bid came in of say 2 million (not knowing the true purchase figure). then I would sell him
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Helberg as got three assistant coaches behind him, I noticed all of them were yacking at him at different times , it must effect your thinking, he looked drained
After an insanely busy fortnight I missed out on the blog during the Spygate and Playoff traumas.
Firstly a huge thanks to first OFB and then Clive for stepping up to deliver short notice starters - great work gents and I hope you’re feeling better, OFB.
Secondly, despite all the uncertainty, I think we have to give the EFL some real credit for the way in which they handled an extremely difficult situation with Southampton in around 12 days. I’m sure it could have been better but ultimately I think they got to the right conclusion in a relatively short period of time.
I was pretty low when that inevitable Hull goal went in yesterday but I have to say the despondency lasted for no more than an hour or so. This is Boro - you have to be pretty resilient to support the club for as long as all of us on this blog have!
Perhaps it’s too soon but I feel some positivity. I know some are querying the manager but I think we’re in excellent hands with Kim Hellberg and hopefully he will get a squad for next season that’s more suitable for his style. I think he’s generally done a very good job in producing an attacking and entertaining team with such limited attacking resources. Imagine what he might achieve with a couple of quality forwards.
We fully expect to lose the division’s best player in Hayden Hackney of course, whilst important players like Targett and Browne may not return. They - and any others who might be picked off like Morris, who’s had a stellar end to the season, and Malanda - will need replacing as well as a rebuild up front, but this is nothing new for us and I think the defensive requirements and structure of the team are nicely in place for another serious go next year.
Like Browne was at Sunderland, some good Championship players from the promoted teams may find themselves surplus to their teams requirements next season and we should be in the market for them as players who have experience of the league and come knowing the job.
Having a couple of proper strikers remains the gaping hole in the squad - that cannot have gone unnoticed in both the Recruitment room or the dugout - so I’m hopeful it will be addressed. If it is, even without the brilliant HH, I see no reason at all why we can’t have another top six finish.
@andy-r Good post Andy. I have enjoyed your posts this season.
The defeat yesterday was not of course the end of the world; it has been a notable season and the team went beyond expectations at the start of the season.
I think we should look at Leeds over the last few seasons. Relegation, then a rebuild with a play-off final defeat, then a convincing promotion the next season.
They had to sell the likes of Archie Gray just as we will sell Hackney but the overall trajectory was upward and I believe we are well placed to follow that path to promotion.
UTB