Don't blame Mr Bellamy it was I who said they would shrug their shoulders, I still contend he will just move on but it is not meant in a disparaging way, because in his shoes I would do the same
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2026 - Southampton extra fixture:
I have received everyone’s predictions for the rearranged fixture except for the following:
Clive Hurren and Forever Dormo, guys the deadline is tomorrow Tuesday 14th at 1900 hrs.
Come on BORO.
@forever-dormo Re HH and his shrugless shoulders - that’s the point I was making (or trying to make).
I think sometimes we all forget that young (and old) footballers are just human beings like us, but under enormous pressure to succeed whilst always being a bad injury away from a premature end to their playing days. I’ve been made redundant during my career but I’ve always known there was as a chance to kick start things at another employer. That’s not always an option if you’ve retired from professional sport through injury
Undoubtedly, they’re well remunerated, but I think more fail to make the grade than go on to be super stars.
@exmil - Is it enough to say on here that I think the missing game will be a W for Southampton? I can't for the moment think where else I should post it!
My insight tonight is one that involves an instance of looking way back in time - as usual!
PLAYING PRETEND... AND RESURGENCES
The 1-0 loss to Portsmouth may be feared to be the ultimate confidence killer. But it may also be the ultimate blessing in disguise. It may be the moment that leads to the prime rallying call, the true reminder that this season can still be salvaged. The truth that there is only so long you can hold on to the narrative of everything either being fine or just one or two lucky breaks away from being fine again before reality really bites - and, possibly, leads to a resurgence.
A resurgence like that which began in that 4-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in January 1997. If it wasn't enough that a then winless Southampton had ended that run and given themselves a real boost by tonking us 4-0 the previous September, they'd gone on to nail their first away win of the season against us, from a Jim Magilton penalty after they received a literal helping "hand" from Clayton Blackmore. Bottom of the table, with a points deduction soon following, it was apparent no one was going to help us if we weren't. So in came Gianluca Festa, a victory and a run of just four defeats in sixteen - which was still not good enough, but also not far away from being good enough.
In those dreadful closing months of 1996 there were many opportunities, whatever the headlines about Fabrizio Ravanelli, Emerson and Juninho, to claim that there was "no crisis". For example, in October we ended a high-flying Wimbledon's winning run a mere week after Spurs clinically demolished us 3-0 at the Riverside, with a 5-1 win over Huddersfield in between. That ought to have given us a boost - except the Wimbledon game also stretched our winless run in the league to five with a mere two goals scored in that spell. It was as if expectations had reduced to the point where we would be delighted with a league clean sheet - one of just six we achieved all season! - when we could have probably won that game with more confidence. A game where we hit the woodwork twice.
It turned out to be a wasted opportunity. As well as we performed for roughly an hour against Newcastle at St James's, two relatively quick goals from Peter Beardsley and Rob Lee turned a 1-0 scoreline into a 3-0 scoreline. It was a case of what I wasn't aware of at the time but am more than aware of now, the Typical Boro vulnerability that usually follows things not falling into place. Anyway, there was no way back after those goals, even if, bizarrely, we may have reduced the deficit to 3-2 but for another instance of hitting the woodwork. Then Emerson went missing and we found ourselves 2-0 down at Derby. We rallied and hit the woodwork yet again, and again, either side of Ravanelli pulling a goal back, but for all the fine margins, good football and endeavour, the wins still weren't coming.
A 2-2 home draw against Manchester United looked a good result but contextually that United side was a much weakened one and our winless run had stretched to eight. We needed a midweek miracle... and curiously, it was forthcoming as we defeated Newcastle 3-1 in what remains one of my happiest nights as a Boro fan. Never mind that Toon were going through their own winless run in the league, we looked like we were back, and Emerson was back too... and he was missing again by the time of the weekend's game, a limp 1-0 defeat at Villa which also saw Juninho limp off. Fixtures against Leicester and Liverpool were, to my recollection, moved forward, possibly due to cup commitments - not something I approved of at the time, given our squad was increasingly depleting in numbers and confidence - but the fixtures had to be played, and we got scorelines of 0-2 and 1-5 either side of an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Leeds.
The Anfield rout in the middle of December which featured a good-as-invisible Emerson, a frustrated Ravanelli and no Juninho extended our run to twelve league games without a win. That, I think, was when one just knew we could no longer play pretend. Where we could no longer hide behind great cup victories or appearing "so close" to getting it right. A certain decision to postpone a match, three further league defeats and a points deduction later - with admittedly spirited wins over Everton and Liverpool rare bright sparks - the resurgence did begin.
Another resurgence, with the right kind of ending this time? It's certainly possible.
I might be repeating other views been away so here's my bit,
On reflection as this team actually overachieved, at the start many thought mid table , new players to bed in, a few young and inexperienced, a change of coach and philosophy, injuries in important positions, players having to play many games because the squad is not as strong as needed,
However the football as been exceptional at times, to the point the opposition new they couldn't really play their normal game.
Maybe were not ready , if promoted we don't have the financial clout needed ,to be honest we could be embarrassed, of course we will take it,
Now problem is next season I believe the three coming down will romp the league, our hope is this squad is embedded one more year , and any money coming in we spend it wisely , we are a pretty team but we need some physical players to balance it out , not kickers but are hard to knock off the ball and can take care of things on set pieces etc
I have confidence in Kim recognizing the type , and recruitment find them
Not over yet, the play offs will be interesting how will the opposition play against us knock out is different, I look forward to Wembley
COB
I don't subscribe to the "we have probably overachieved" argument.
We have achieved what this team and coaching combination is actually capable of. Kind of the table doesn't lie kind of perspective. We simply are where we are because over the 30 -odd games so far that truly reflects what we have been able to acieve.
The season has not completed yet, so we may still begin to score goals again and we may still rise in the table a bit - probably not enough to reach 2nd, but who knows.
I do agree though that if we arrive in the playoffs (almost a certainty now) then we have as good a chance as any of the other three teams that we will be joining.
Still things to look forward to this season. 🤞
Portsmouth 2 Ipswich 0 at HT.
Portsmouth 2, Ipswich Town 0. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.
Portsmouth 1, Ipswich Town 0. Conor Shaughnessy (Portsmouth) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adrian Segecic with a cross following a corner.
Interesting second half to follow. Up the Boro (and Pompay)!
More twists. More turns.
Astonishing.
Still out of our hands of course, but if we pull off an unlikely triumph at the weekend and the breaks do fall elsewhere then we really are back in the mixer.
As it stands…
2nd, Ipswich, 75 pts*
3rd, Millwall, 73 pts
4th, Saints, 72 pts
5th, BORO, 72 pts
*with a game in hand.
Fun times ahead.
So more twists and turns, if only we had won one of the last six games. Interesting to look at the teams Southampton and Ipswich put out tonight. They both made changes from winning teams on Saturday. Southampton had Scienza and Stewart on the bench tonight and were able to start Cameron Archer. Ipswich were able to put Philogene on the bench and replace him with their top scorer Jack Clarke. There subs who came on cost 40 million pounds, not including Chuba as he is on loan. Compare that to the hand KH has been dealt. Although McKenna does have a reputation for being a bit of a tinkerman and very rarely names an unchanged team.
So, Ipswich lost! If we beat them on Sunday - huge IF! - we’ll be back in the game!
Well, no, not quite. Southampton’s win tonight continues their fantastic run and puts them above us, but so far on the same number of points. I reckon they must now be favourites to go up automatically. Their home game against Ipswich is now absolutely massive. Twists and turns to the end.
Can we take advantage of any slip-ups from these two? On our current form you wouldn’t bet on it.
EXMIL CHALLENGE 2026 - Part 3
Whether you are an optimist or pessimist the fixtures for part 3 of the challenge are posted on the relevant Social section, entries are to be posted by 1900 hrs on Friday 17 April, I will endeavour to post the league table after Part 2 in the next day or so.
Good luck to everyone especially the Boro.
Come on BORO.
Portsmouth have picked up 48 points this season, 18 of those have been accrued from games against Middlesbrough, Millwall, Ipswich, Southampton and Wrexham. Remember this was the team that three weeks ago lost 6-1 at QPR, who had six touches in the opposition box. Talk about raising your game against the better teams.
Interesting article on the BBC website about Wrexham and their turnover. For 2025 it was a million more than MFC at 33. For 2026 (this season) their turnover is forecast to be between 46-50 million.
That’s some increase and leaves us behind, although nearly 60% of turnover comesfrom outside the UK, primarily North America. The Welcome to Wrexham documentary also is a contributor.
They do have higher losses though, allowed from being in League 1. Football finances at our level iare so difficult, so thank Mr Gibson.