@gt - I agree about Morris. An underrrated but very important player for BORO. All those years ago, when BORO had international stars playing for the team, little could have been achieved without the hard work and general firefighting that Robbie Mustoe provided. Worth his weight in gold.
@andy-r thanks for taking the time out to explain xG. It is, I suppose like many statistics, a little contrived.but at least I know now.essentially on its own it doesn't tell us morecthan you have created x number of chances. More interesting is the rate you turn those chances into goals. So if Boro have scored over 2 goals more than likely from the number of goal scoring opportunities created, they are not doing so badly...
It's volume AND quality of chances.
As an example, if you haven't seen the game but Boro have 20 shots against Sheff U, you might think we've been very creative but finished poorly. However, if all of those shots were from 40 yards, then we haven't been very creative. Boro's xG for the match would be something like 0.20.
So that tells a clearer story than say "shots on target" in my mind. The aim of the game is to create chances, but also to create high quality chances so that the goals are more likely to follow.
I suppose they could have told Ipswich what they have now reportedly told the Echo, that Hackney is not for sale this season - though back then they hadn't sold van den Berg or had agreed to sell Azaz - which will take the value of Boro's summer sales to potentially just over £30m including Coburn. I think either the club have changed their mind over selling Hackney or they're trying to increase the price of a deal if a PL club wants him in the last few days of the window.
Much depends on how strongly Hackney insists on leaving if an offer came or indeed how much he is valued by any interested PL club.
100% agree, it looks like financially things have changed with the Azaz sale and I guess it is all down to how Hayden reacts to that, if he insists he wants to leave to a premier league club and the offer is there then would we reluctantly sell ?
For me the £20m bid is now history and if a premier club comes calling 4 days before the window closes then the price should increase.
If Transkfermkt is to be believed, then despite the big money sale of Latte Lath, Boro made only a small profit overall last season - around £1.5m. They don't take account of any loan fees by the looks of it and obviously the wage bill is a big factor as well but it's reasonable to assume that we more or less broke even on player dealings.
This season, with £12m guaranteed for Azaz, we appear to be about £10m to the good, spending around £18m so far and receiving around £28m. Again, loan fees and wages not accounted for.
If last season is the blueprint and Boro are now looking to more or less balance the books on ins and outs, perhaps we then have around £10m more to spend?
Former Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has been linked with a shock return to Manchester United amid the latest crisis at the Old Trafford club. The ex-England midfielder left the Riverside earlier this summer after failing to take Boro to the Championship play-offs
OFB
@original-fat-bob I genuinely think Carrick will go on to be a big name in management, I am thinking west ham more realistically than Man U but who knows.
A brilliant summary of our through-the-looking-glass opening to the season, Andy, and as you rightly say it's a perspective that equally applies, though in reverse, to Sheffield United. So that what looked like the most ominous of fixtures just a few weeks ago now appears to be one that we will be devastated not to win.
I tipped us to scrape one or two points from the first four fixtures. Now I'll be disappointed if we don't get twelve. If you add the fact that the game that seemed most likely to produce a win before the second international break was the home game against Stoke, who are now top of the league, then it all adds up to the most extraordinary reversal of my own expectations that I can ever remember
I feared the worst opening to a season in my long memory. What we have produced is the best set of opening results in over 30 years. I hardly need to add that I am delighted to have been proved to be so fallible. Indeed to be so comprehensively wrong.
On Hackney, I agree with Werdermouth's original post that our season's hopes depend upon whether we can hang on to him or not. As Dormo suggests, bung the lad a huge salary increase for the season if that's what it takes. There's a prize of £150m at stake for Pete's sake.
Meanwhile the Gazette appears to have shut up shop. Craig Johns is conspicuous by his absence, Eric has been dragooned from retirement to produce the odd piece even though he has nothing much to say, and there are regular pieces from a "content provider" who reproduces snippets from other articles he has read. There appears to be no contact with the club and this blog has been a far more up-to-date source of the latest transfer information, let alone literate and informed comment on recent matches.
I haven't seen anything approaching the quality of Andy's opener (and those of many others) in the local press since AV moved on.
The Kaly Sene transfer appears to have gone quiet. Looks as though it probably will not go through in time for a branch slot on Saturday.
Unless there is an unheard of issue?
@pedro I've just seen something on the Onefootball site posted within the last hour that Paris FC are in to sign him...
Bob, the headline to that article is a case in point to my post above.
"Michael Carrick lined up for shock Manchester United Role" .
There is no evidence for this eye-catching claim. In other words it is a lie. The evidence on which the headline is based is the that the bookies have made Carrick and Southgate joint favourites to succeed Amorin should the Man U manager get the sack.
So there is no story. There is not a shred of evidence that Carrick is being "lined up", there is no shock and no vacancy (yet) at Man U. Just bookies trying to drum up a bit of business.
The only "shock" is that this stuff is being passed off as journalism- or rather "content creation", a euphemism for any old rubbish that can fill those ever-yawning gaps between the adverts.
Reference Kaly Sene, Lousanne Sport sporting director Stephane Henchoz says Kaly is not with us in Istanbul. He’s in the process of finalising a departure. We’ve reached an agreement with the club,” says former Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers defender Henchoz, Sene omitted from the travelling party for Thursday’s Conference League play-off clash with Besiktas.
“We received the amount we thought was right for Kaly. If we had received an offer that we thought was insufficient, he wouldn’t have left. Although the article doesn’t actually name Boro as the destination but “BILD” reports that Boro have got their man. Make of it what you will 🤔.
Come on BORO.
I think in recent years the club need to generate around £10m a year to cover running costs so I'm not hopeful that there's much change left from the van den Berg and Azaz sales - also the Coburn deal went through before end of June so it will be accounted for in last season.
Though much as ever depends on the length of contracts of new arrivals and how much of the contract of players sold remains before the numbers get crunched by the accountants - the good thing is that both the Rav and Azaz deals were big profits.
I'd be very surprised if both Utd ditch Amorin after spending close to a quarter of a billion this summer on players to fit his system (they obviously need more than a couple of weeks to settle in) and if he was sacked that they'd go for a manager who hasn't got a track record at the top level.
Sounds promising and while reports are a bit vague with 'the club' being referred to instead of 'Middlesbrough' it does sound like a deal is almost there. Btw the Swiss publication is Blick not Bild - Bild is the German tabloid a bit like the Sun 😉
.. except that they ditched Ten Hag quite readily last season having spent a similar amount supporting his preferences. So nothing would surprise me with regard to them.I'd be very surprised if both Utd ditch Amorin after spending close to a quarter of a billion this summer on players to fit his system (they obviously need more than a couple of weeks to settle in) and if he was sacked that they'd go for a manager who hasn't got a track record at the top level.
@powmillnaemore Hi, I have had prostate cancer and ended up with Radio Therapy. It was a very long time going through many scans etc I would advise anyone over 50 to have a PSA test every year. This is a guide to how the prostate is. I had the test and James Cook decided to investigate, resulting in the treatment.
I will be on holiday next week for 4 weeks in Turkey to relax and chill out. Kind Regard's to every one. UTB
Belatedly, I’d like to echo Len’s comments about your opener, Andy, which I agree was quite brilliant. Indeed, it’s one of your best ever, and you have a terrific back catalogue of others to choose from! Thank you so much for setting the scene for Saturday so beautifully.
As ever, I’m loving the quality of the debate on here. I’ll be disappointed to lose Azaz’s goals and assists, but I agree that some of his all-round play, especially defensively, is not particularly strong. I do think this is a good piece of business for Boro, even more so if it means that Hackney stays, which is crucial to our longer-term success this season.
And so to Sheffield United, another tough game despite our respective league positions. I’m a bit nervous about it, though I am much more confident about our defence now than I ever was under Carrick. Can we create enough and carry enough attacking threat to blunt The Blades would be my concern. No prediction from me, but it would be simply wonderful to get all 3 points.
Finally, welcome back Malcolm. I’m sorry to hear of your illness and I hope you are now fully on the road to recovery. Enjoy your holiday.
On another matter, does anyone think Boro could or should take a short-term punt on Patrick Bamford, now he’s parted company with Leeds? I think he still has something to offer. He’d bring us something different, clearly. Perhaps we could create some kind of contract related to the number of games he might play, in view of his recent history of injuries?
On another matter, does anyone think Boro could or should take a short-term punt on Patrick Bamford, now he’s parted company with Leeds? I think he still has something to offer. He’d bring us something different, clearly. Perhaps we could create some kind of contract related to the number of games he might play, in view of his recent history of injuries?
Interesting one Clive, think he could still score up to ten championship goals but at what cost, salary won't come cheap and then as you mention his injury record.
Personally, and I could be way off the mark with this, I think once the Isak to Liverpool sequel is complete we will look to bring Jayden Danns on loan - seems to be over his back problem, has bulked up and needs game time, could that be with us ?
I was previously an advocate of bringing in Jayden Danns so if he’s strengthened his body then would be an even better option - looks to be a player who has what it takes and doesn’t lack confidence - whether he’d get enough game time given all the players we’ve currently got is my only concern - plus probably Liverpool’s too!
@werdermouth very true, he certainly wouldn't be a similar loan to how the likes of Doak was given game time
@malcolm thanks for sharing your news and hopefully the treatment will have been successful. I thought that you had been in Turkey...how wrong was I?
Enjoy your trip to the sun and profit well from the break. Here is hoping that Boro can contribute a positive vibe before you go.
@clive-hurren re Patrick Bamford. I think it would be a no for me. For me he is not a player to receive and hold the ball up. Too light weight for me when I think we need a .bit of strength to complement what we have.
But what do I know...
@malcolm All the best Malcolm, hoping your holiday is relaxing and you get to watch some Boro wins.
Kaly Sene is in the UK and has today undergone his medical ahead of completing his Boro move (Dom Shaw - The Northern Echo)
Nice to see you back on the blog among friends and fellow Boro supporters.
A lot of us have been on the injury list this past -12 months but playing our way out of trouble !
Enjoy your holiday
OFB
Stromg rumours that Man Utd are considering Carrick as a replacement manager !
Got to be a wind up surely !
OFB
Have a great holiday, Malcolm. Good to have you back on here and it will be just as good to hear from you again after you have been away. Or even posting from abroad...?
@powmillnaemore Did you know that Paris FC as a football club, is a lot older than PSG.