@mw-in-darwin. I have to say, I was surprised at the size of the crowd given the ST sales. Also Swansea only had around 1K attending. 26K was excellent.
The Red Faction stand was full and boisterous. Given the walk up prices, quite a lot of people I know who were ST's have said they will chose their matches, but where there yesterday.
Millwall tickets are sold out I believe. £21
Unlike MFC overcharged prices.
"The captain’s armband at Boro was left up for grabs this summer after Jonny Howson left the club at the end of his contract to start a new player-coach role at Leeds United U21s."
This is how history gets re-written. The version of events that the club wishes to present (that Jonny left the club in order to take up a new post) is faithfully reproduced by today's Gazette.
But the truth seems to be that Jonny was not offered a new contract, and that the club chose not to announce this until many weeks later after he had been offered the Leeds post. So what was not only an unpopular decision but, to many supporters a foolish and mean spirited one, could be passed off as one that was made not by the club, but by the player himself.
Craig Johns must know the truth of the situation but he chooses to perpetuate the falsehood.
In a very short space of time that falsehood will become the truth for most supporters.
@lenmasterman - Whilst acknowledging that Father Time marches on for all of us, I'd have given Jonny Howson another year. There might have been some haggling about the salary as he was Boro's highest-paid player, but whenever he played last season he was either the best or in the best 3 of the Boro players on show. A Mr Dependable and versatile, too. A very good professional.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Swansea game. I agree earlier comments that it didn't seem like Michael Carrick tactics. Some of the football from both sides was good but clearly both sides need a cutting edge up front and maybe more creativity behind the striker. Three points is the most important stat of the day. Well done Dael Fry. And somebody mustn't have told Michael Edwards that Boro doesn't, by tradition, score from corners.
And breathe...
🚨 | Middlesbrough are interested in Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
OFB
I’d be disappointed if Boro brought in a new keeper (unless he’s potentially world class - being at Hull suggests he probably isn’t).
Most of us expect that this season isn’t going to be one with a serious promotion push. Let Brynn play and learn on he job.
Whatever funds we have would be better spent elsewhere.
@lenmasterman. The club lets go one of the most dependable and versatile players we have had in years and then we have RE stating that they are looking to recruit players who can play in more than one position!
I frequently question if any joined up thinking is taking place at MFC and also in government. 😎
Yesterday was just one game before the real patterns have fully emerged, so I don’t want to read too much into it. However, almost all of those early signs do not suggest we are executing a long term, joined up plan.
Surely the idea behind a Director of / Head of football is to lessen the impact of managerial change, creating a footballing identity as a team and recruiting managers who fit that model so that previous multi-million pound investments in players do not go to waste. Yet yesterday we saw a complete tactical overhaul with no continuity whatsoever.
Why sell Josh Coburn - the club’s most physical forward - then play a system that requires exactly that skill set?
Maybe there are financial issues at play that could explain the Coburn sale but that doesn’t seem to add up to me, especially with Danny Ings reportedly sitting alongside Steve Gibson.
It’s all a bit confusing to be honest.
None of this is the fault of Edwards and Viveash of course, who must do as they see fit and I support them. They will have their way of playing and have been employed to execute that.
I just struggle to understand the thinking.
Surely Boro can’t be seriously interested in Ings ,even more so if the rumour is right that he is currently injured having played no games. What could we expect apart from paying him an inflated salary? At best play half a season of part games as the older you get the longer it takes to recover from injury.
Would we sign McGree with his injury record over the last 2 years? Probably not and he’s young by comparison to Ings.
I have nothing against an older player who’s been there done it etc - such as a Vardy type player who despite his age was fit.
So, my wish would be that someone at Boro announce their interest in Ings is over
philip of Huddersfield 🤔.
Howson and Coburn, the two decisions I cannot rationalise or begin to understand at all. Now there may be a bizarre goalkeeping decision? Sol is doing well, we are told, let him develop. I've said before, like Len, 'joined up thinking'?
Danny Ings? That I just do not believe, only at Boro it would seem, with there policy of investing in up and coming talent like Brentford and others. We've obviously re-rationalised and prioritised.
Yesterday's result was as good as it gets. Opening day and a win, excellent. Well done Boro.
Please no Danny Ings Boro, I'd rather we gave him a cheque to stay away.
UTB,
John
@andy-r I think most people on here are on the same page with the change of Coach.
I quess we will never know the truth behind the choice of Edwards, but as said previously, it makes no sense to the model chosen a few years back.
@philip-of-huddersfield Well the PR Department at Teesside Live have not dissed it, and it has ran for sometime now.
Evening all, I’m just back from two weeks in France with our extended family (13 of us in total; 8 adults and 5 children).
We’ve had a brilliant time and whilst I’ve glanced at this Forum from time to time, I’ve not lingered for long as the general vibe remains a bit negative and very critical of certain aspects of the club, which wasn’t in tune with the way I was feeling whilst we were away.
I’m 100% of the belief that every member’s view is perfectly valid, whether negative, positive or more balanced, but I’m going to keep a low profile until we’ve played a few more games and we know the lay of the land as far as the start of the season is concerned.
I did manage to watch the second half of yesterday’s game on the Ferry to Portsmouth, getting a connection just before DF scored. I’ve also watched the highlights and it’s safe to say that I didn’t miss much in the first half.
Keep the posts coming - I’ll be lurking in the background…
HT Leicester 0 Shef Wed 1 and Leicester booed off at halftime.
Come on BORO.
Apologies if my posts have seemed a bit negative of late. I’m not someone who’s typically down on the club but, as a forum for debate, I think we’re all safe to call it how we see it.
I’ve been pretty clear on my disappointment over the summer but a few positive points for balance:
1. In Viveash, I suspect we have the best coach on the staff since Aaron Danks left.
2. Edwards strikes me as a good front man - a positive communicator and likeable guy who I expect the players will enjoy working with.
3. I’m pleased to see a couple of experienced Championship performers join the ranks in Jones and Brittain. We’ve overdone it on prospects in recent windows so a bit of ready-to-go experience is welcome to add to the younger profile recruits.
4. We won!
Leicester fight back to win 2-1.
Come on BORO.
I thought Boro played well in patches yesterday, but without creating much in the way of chances. It was very pleasing to see us playing forward with much more purpose and much quicker, but it’s clear, as we have been saying for ages, that we need reinforcements up front. Our defending, on the other hand, was particularly strong, limiting the Swans to very little, despite their having some very pacy forwards. Boro under Carrick might have lost that one, firstly because Swansea did outpace us, and secondly because we obviously wouldn’t have scored from the set-piece!!
One of the most satisfying things was how the players came out to applaud the crowd at the end and how Edwards himself went round all four sides of the ground to do the same and indeed to lead fist-pumps à la Gareth Southgate. His obvious joy and enthusiasm will have won him many friends.
So, much work to be done, but this was a positive start.
My Doncaster preview is ready to go. I’ll post it later this evening or first thing Monday morning.
On Facebook, Boro Fan TV, saying Glover going to a Saudi Pro League club, not sure if there is any truth in this.
Saudi Pro League Side Al-Kholood are finalising the signing of goalkeeper Tom Glover from Middlesbrough. (ARIYADHIAH - Saudi Arabia)
OFB
According to the Echo, Glover is not going anywhere, and we are not looking for a new keeper.
I hope we concentrate on getting in a striker or two. And also see what to do with Barlaser and Forss. Though the latter has been away for long time with an injury. He is still missing his sharpnes.
Up the Boro!
@jarkko Personally I think that both are at their maximum level and have had sufficient opportunities to break in as a first team pick.
Upgrades on both required, but then moving them on may not be easy. Likewise some of the other fringe players. The downside is replacing them with better which would require spending more money which we probably didn’t have unless we sell either or both of HH and VDB.
@jarkko - Somewhow the thought of Senny Dieng returning doesn't fill me with boundless enthusiasm and confidence. I'm quite happy with Sol Brynn between the sticks. I appreciate Boro needs an adequate back-up in the case of injuries.
I note the club announced the signing of 20yr old Owen Foster from Hull City on 1st July. A keeper, he played 13 times for Hull City, where he has been for the past 2 seasons, having been on loan at Torquay United and Hartlepool. His debut was as a 17 year old with Scunthorpe United.
@forever-dormo Owen Foster, I had forgotten him altogether.
Just shows that we do not need to spend money on a goalkeeper now. Spend the money on a striker instead. Up the Boro!
Interweb saying RVB in Koln for medical with a 13M euro deal