Thanks for the sell on percentage. I recall that when we sold him to Villa the fee was £8 million with another £8 million in add ons. So if Villa sold Rogers for £100 million their profit would be £84 million and 20% of that is almost £17 million. A more than useful contribution to the recruitment kitty. We shall see.
I remember Schwartzers first season . He made a few mistakes which cost goals and lost points. He was an unknown number.
What I then remember each season he made fewer and fewer mistakes and became a top goalkeeper.
i hope Brynn can do the same. Time will tell. I’d give him another chance next season.
philip of Huddersfield 👍
@andy-r I did not post that piece because I also thought we should replace him as others have said on other sites.
I think he has done OK for a first full season and hopefully he will improve during the next year.
It is easy to blame him for Saturdays defeat, but no shots on target tells another story as we all know. As good as the defence has been, the defenders have also made mistakes when the forwards have not scored again. Oxford, Bristol and a few others.
It is a team game and a few players have failed at times over the season. But if you don’t score goals, you don’t win matches, as we all know too well now.
Regarding Morgan Rogers sell-on fee, the 20% was certainly the figure mentioned at the time but I also recall that Manchester City had a sell-on fee in their deal with us. I don't know if this is limited to our deal with Villa or if it carries over into any sell-on fee that we negotiated.
Either way, we will certainly have achieved the maximum in success levels reached and sell-on to come from Rogers and, to everyone's surprise, we must have reached all of the success levels from Spence as well, I would suggest. I also wonder where we ended up on the Tavernier deal. He has had a great time but not quite at international level.
Finally, was there anything extra in the Azaz or Van Den Bergh deals?
UTB
@selwynoz Not sure about Azaz, I would assume promotion if there were add ons.
As for VDB, I am sure there would be addons, it appears all sales have them nowadays. However he has only achieved fourteen appearances this season with Koln. That’s turned out a better sell tha we probably first thought at the time.
@philip-of-huddersfield Good post.
We can blame our goalie for a mistake but the truth is the team as a whole failed to deliver.
Sol isn't perfect but I reckon he is pretty good. Give him time and he will be top tier.
Keep him on. Next season could be memorable with the right (final third) tweaks.
UTB
TalkSport running with this new rumour
West Ham are showing interest in Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott.
The Hammers are planning a boardroom restructure after being relegated from the Premier League for the first time in 14 years.
They have not had a recruitment chief since Kyle Macaulay left the club last October in the wake of Graham Potter’s sacking as manager.
Expanded article from the NE
I have been a bit busy since having a pass out to go to Wembley on Saturday and Headingley on Sunday although with the lovely weather every job seems to have taken twice as long and involved several drinks breaks!
I have caught up with all the informed comments made since Saturday and difficult to diasagree with the assessments made.
i feel that, in all honesty, not going Jo this season will prove to be a blessing in disguise as another season gives KH more time to settle into his role and have more of an influence in recruitment of new players. Hopefully we will be able to build a squad that would not need wholesale changes on promotion to the EPL which would have been required now.
How many of the squad would have been PL standard in reality? HH clearly, McGree and possibly Malander and Morris although apart from that none I would suggest. And I still don’t think SG has the inclination and/or the actual cash to put in the funds required to be really competitive in the EPL.
I am not sure how the new financial rules will work in the Championship although from I have read, clubs with larger support and greater football income will benefit so hopefully whatever we get from the play off final will be to our benefit although of course the clubs coming down will have their parachute payments.
In my opinion, the strategy of buying young players with perceived potential makes sense for the Championship although to have a real shot at promotion and then staying up, requires a different approach and the last 2 seasons have demonstrated this. The lack of goals and therefore winning games ultimately resulted in us being where we are now.
We need to maximize the sale money from HH and I would see the priority as a proven goal scorer along with a more experienced goalkeeper along with some canny loan signings similar to Browne and Targett.
Time will tell I suppose although I will be looking forward to next season with a lot more optimism than I would have been doing if we had been in the EPL.
UTB
Thanks for the link, Pedro. it's an outrageous piece of puffery, completely one-sided and lacking in balance, almost all of which could have been penned ( and possibly even was) by the man himself.
So we are asked to believe that our amateur recruitment department has been highly successful and is irreplaceable, but three professional managers, Warnock, Wilder and Carrick, lacking the knowledge , experience and expertise to get us out of the Championship were deservedly sacked.
Pull the other one.
And this just days after we were beaten for promotion by a squad unable to sign players in the last two windows and consisting of free transfers and loan players, three of which were considered to be surplus to requirements by our own recruitment team.
We were beaten by a team of hardened reliable pro's with masses of Championship experience to a squad depth that we could not match. Precisely the kind of reliable 8 out of !0 performers that Warnock Wilder, and to a lesser extent Carrick spent years crying out for, but for which they were relieved of their duties for not conforming to the club's model.
And if you want a single symbol of that whole process, consider Ollie McBurney. A reject, whom had he been our striker and Strelec, Whittaker, Hansen and Sene Hull's, then we would now be in the Premier League. And not only because of that one game.
McBurney, a striker who was actually valued by and prospered under Chris Wilder at Sheffield U and who left only because Wilder was (temporarily) sacked.
Watching Steve Gibson gamely and sportingly applauding the Hull celebrations at the very moment that he was witnessing a minimum of 250 million quid going down the drain, you felt that this was a moment which would surely lead to the most serious of post-mortems.
And most directly in the firing line would have to be the recruitment team, spending millions of Gibson's money to lesser effect than a team spending nothing.
Within this context the Echo article is best considered as a piece of self-promotion by Scott, dutifully reported by the local media, an insolent re-writing of history and a largely unblemished success story written in the direct aftermath of a failure in which the Director of Football seems most set on getting his retaliation in first.
There are harder questions to be answered about about Boro's recruitment than are aver posed by the Echo article. And they go far deeper than the comparative recent failures of the recruitment team.
During a season in which a handful of reliable Championship stalwarts have been the backbone of the Boro team, the entire philosophy of expecting undiscovered gems to get you out of the division must now surely come under review. This season has yielded only Malander (understandably not entirely consistent) alongside a whole string of duds from this and previous seasons who are totally unsuited to the unique rigours of Championship football.
It is time for change and a recognition that ,in spite of some successes ,data-driven signings from abroad have largely failed us, as has the ever-diminishing influence that professional coaching staff have over whom we actually sign.
@lenmasterman - Len, you put what i intimated above in a far better way!
Opinions on strikers is often mixed. Morgan Whittaker was our leading goalscorer and the sixth highest scorer in the league, yet many would be happy to sell him on. He started 39 games, but didn't score until game number 10, so 14 goals in 30 appearances since then. Remember he didn't score at all in the season previously under MC. Would Hull fans be saying that they shouldn't sign Geldhart who has a similar record. Looking at the leading scorers in the league this season is a reflection that other teams had much greater squad depth than us. Jack Clarke Ipswich 16 goals played every game but only started 23, Ellis Simms Coventry 13 goals, appeared in 43 games with only 15 starts. Just seen that next season the first international break lasts 3 weeks and there are no games over Easter as it coincides with the international break.
Our postings crossed so I did not see your comments, made far more crisply and incisively than I can ever manage, with which I fully agree.
Buying strikers is always a bit of a punt particularly when coming from overseas. I will compare Kally Sene to another player who came to the Championship from a a similar league to Sene's. Kally Sene was playing in the Swiss League when we signed him, he had scored 6 goals in the eight games he played before we signed him, three of those in the Europa League, so he looked good statistically and only cost 2 million. I am comparing hime to Mo Toure, the Australian , Norwich signed in January for just under 3 million. He had scored 4 goals in 17 appearances in the Danish First Division, which is probably about the same level as the Swiss equivalent. So about the same return as Sene. However, he has had the opposite effect to Kally. 11 Championship appearances and 9 goals including 2 hat tricks, and he is only 22 and going to the World Cup with the Socceroos.
@mw-in-darwin Two good posts with well researched stats. Thanks.
Len and BBD, also good posts.
At least, at last, I am not alone in my criticism of Kieran Scott and the Recruitment Team. Possibly easy targets, but too many failures not to be taken to task over.
I just do not see where will will find this proven “goalscorer” at a price we would afford, unless we hit the jackpot with another punt.
I think Boro have always spent the money a bit unwisely. During the McLaren - or even Robbo - era, we often overpaid for some huge players. They were often too old to get any money from when re-selling these players.
Or do you remember the season when we dropped from the EPL and "smashed the League" under Garry Monk?
Even the manager appointments went from defensive Karanka to attacking Monk or Tony Pullis to Woodgate. We needed totally to rebuilt our squads every time and it costed money.
What I try to say is that we have a structure at our club finally. I think the last three manager appointments have been good. Much better than before (see above when we went from an attacking to defensive manager and vise verse).
So I strongly believe we have had much more an idea what the club wants to do with players and managers long term. Especially going from manager to head coach system was a big step in forward.
So I think we must keep Kieran Scott and Kim Hellberg. And we need to build on players like Morris, Whittaker and Conway. In my dream also Hackney 😀, too.
If McGree was fit, I would add him to the above. As well as Brittain and Brynn. We just need a tweak or two in attack. We need to find a new Latte Lath (how he is doing nowadays?) or Akpom next. We need a goal scorer to become the best and most entertaining team in the Championship next season.
Let's keep it simple and make just adjustments to our club and playing squad next. And avoid TOO MANY changes.
Up the Boro!
Good article in the Independent:
Just a quick note re the COTS final standings for this year .....
I have not forgotten about this, but I am going to let the dust finish settling on all of the shenanigans of the last couple of weeks and Hull City's victory last Saturday and the odd post-mortem before publishing a summary of my findings, along with the evidence that is the final table sometime over the weekend.
From the club’s website:
“The club's retained list has been submitted at the end of the 2025/26 season.
The following players will return to their parent clubs at the end of their loan agreements:
- Alan Browne
- Matt Targett
- Joe Wildsmith
Jeremy Sarmiento’s loan from Brighton and Hove Albion to Boro will become a permanent transfer when the window opens in June.
The following players are set to depart the club when their contracts expire at the end of June:
- Dan Barlaser
- Marcus Forss
- Alex Gilbert
- Darragh Lenihan
- Jon McLaughlin
- Sammy Silvera
The club are in discussions with Dael Fry over an extension to his contract, which is also due to conclude next month. “
No real surprises or concerns from me about those being released.
Can, however, the club also move on Dieng, Burgzorg and Borges who are not at the required level, with perhaps the exception of Dieng?
I don’t understand why he suddenly became out of favour with MC. Does anyone know if they fell out or came to blows. MC was sporting a damaged cheek for a while. 😎
Thanks for that info, KP, and good to read that the club are in discussions with Dael. Perhaps they were considering letting him go if the club got promoted. Not a great way to deal with a longstanding player who clearly has the club's interests in his heart but I suppose that's the ruthlessness of modern football trading and at least they're in discussions now. I suppose it could be that Dael wanted to know what division we'd be in before agreeing his wages as well!
No surprises or concerns regarding those being released.
For Dieng, Burgzorg and Borges I think the first two would definitely be moved on if possible, though Burgzorg is arguably a bit better than some of those signed in his positions last summer.
Borges is a more interesting one. There is a vacancy at left back as it stands and if memory serves he left on loan before Hellberg arrived, so KH might want to see him up close before a final decision is made, if indeed there is a suitor out there.
ditto, I always liked Dieng and cannot see why he was "frozen" to the back ground.From the club’s website:
“The club's retained list has been submitted at the end of the 2025/26 season ....
... I don’t understand why he suddenly became out of favour with MC. Does anyone know if they fell out or came to blows. MC was sporting a damaged cheek for a while. 😎
Any info, OFB? Or anyone?
Up the Boro!
ditto, I always liked Dieng and cannot see why he was "frozen" to the back ground.From the club’s website:
“The club's retained list has been submitted at the end of the 2025/26 season ....
... I don’t understand why he suddenly became out of favour with MC. Does anyone know if they fell out or came to blows. MC was sporting a damaged cheek for a while. 😎
Any info, OFB? Or anyone?
Up the Boro!
I thought Dieng was excellent in his first season but had a very mysterious cliff-edge drop off in form in his second.
It does feel like something happened, especially given Carrick was so supportive of his players generally.
@k-p-in-spain - hard to disagree with any of those departures really although it rather confirms my view that our recruitment has been a bit iffy shall we say!
Wasnt Barlaser meant to be a great signing from Rotherham back in 2023 as a 26 year old?
LIkewise Gilbert and Forss who never fulfilled their supposed potential. I had hoped Silvera would be better than he has been.
One can only hope that we may be able to get a return on some of the others - Burgzorg, yet another one who has failed to deliver although if you look at his stats before he joined us 189 appearances 40 goals over a 8 year period, is it any wonder that his stats with us were any better?
@andy-r Deal Fry had an automatic extension if we had gained promotion.
The NE says that both parties would like to agree a new contract, however given his injuries over the last few seasons and his need for game time management, I guess, length of contract (2years perhaps), signing on fee and wages could be an issue.
Burgzorg, yes he was better than what we had on the bench and possibly would have delivered a goal or two plus assists, something the others have never looked like doing.
Borges has apparently had a decent season at Bristol and with Bangura not being reliable and Munroe not looking like he is in Hellberg’s thoughts at this time, he could be worth looking at once more. Unless City make an offer which MFC would probably accept.
At the time, there was a rumour of a big falling out with Carrick. I cannot believe there was any fisty-cuffs, as that would have been gross misconduct and grounds for dismissal. With his injury and being sent into the desert that’s been a lot of wages for no return. And still one year left.
Strange aswell, to think he almost went to Hull, but a deal could not be agreed between Dieng and MFC.
Last add on Dieng. Wages at a basic 10,000 a week apparently
Good to note that Alfie Jones is in full training with the Canadian squad. A back three of Fry Jones and Malander should provide plenty of stopping power with LA as back up.
With Brittain at right wingback we then need to find a replacement for HH to partner Aiden Morris and a left wingback.
Sort out someone to support DS and a few good back ups across the squad we should be able to make top eight; much will depend on who can be moved on and how much of HH’s fee will be reinvested. 😎
@k-p-in-spain A decent defence if we can steer clear of any long term injuries. Ayling is however the best of them all at carrying the ball forward.
Left back is an issue though if we play with a back three. Targett was good at defending, but little from an attacking perspective. If we play with a back four it is not as important, but still nice to have.
Len will know how many LB’s we have tried in the last number of years.
Andy, there were also TEN Academy players released. We does look as though we are getting much through put from them.
I’ve had a young Openreach engineer out today because we’ve had some internet issues. He was from Middlesbrough (Marton actually) so we bonded over football. He’d been to Wembley at the weekend and was obviously disappointed with the result but took the view that we didn’t deserve to be there.
He wasn’t also adamant that HH would be joining Man United (100%!) although I’ve no idea where he got his info from.
I believe Whitiker and others were not 100% fit the last eight or ten games , a couple maybe at 60% and it definitely effected them it's funny you can play over them if you have regular games , a week to ten games off can actually make them worse , especially if you don't train
Thanks for those couple of bits of extra info, Pedro.
If we’re going to play with wingbacks then I’d be tempted to throw Munroe in for the left.
He’s not a battle-hardened Championship pro that I’d prefer to have at left back but at wingback I think he looks good going forward and could share duties with Bangura to manage the load.
If that were the case then I’d also consider retaining Borges as cover on the left and left centre-back.
I think that would be absolutely fine and save some transfer funds for the most important areas of strikers and replacing HH.