I sense that the majority would have liked Carrick to stay but with a solid boost to his backup staff. Having someone like Adi Viveash could have made the difference last year with some sensible input at key moments.
The suggestion is that Carrick was offered the same kind of support team as RE but turned it down because it would have seen Woodgate and his brother leaving.
I also think that the Carrick-out people were attracted by the idea of Danny Rohl and have seen it recently reported that his ‘buyout’ is down to £1 million.
All this gives a general air of dissatisfaction without anyone having any real suggestion of a better outcome to the whole process.
Personally, I’m prepared to give the new team a go and will be happily surprised if we figure in the playoff race at Christmas.
UTB
I think that the two of us do duty as the regular optimists on this blog. I prefer to look to positive outcomes and face setbacks as and when they arrive. It keeps me reasonably cheerful.
I’m hoping that this will be a season of pleasant surprises but I am a little concerned about our ability to score goals. A couple of transfers plus a breakthrough from the kids could solve this problem.
UTB
@werdermouth Whilst the club have introduced a new lower price for under 18’s, I do believe that possibly they could of done more.
The biggy for me, given the delay in releasing Michael Carrick and the appointment of the new coaching team, was the “early bird” period.
Once more MFC have shot themselves in the foot by not reading and understanding the fans frustrations. They have ignored them to a degree.
They should have been more flexible with the discounted ST’s, left the end date open until the new coaching team was in place and carried out a little PR marketing.
But no, MFC know best. So they may just reap what they have sown.
Middlesbrough are keen on a loan move for Chelsea left-back Ishé Samuels-Smith. (Football.London)
OFB
Sounds like another Ale-ing...
I'm not ruling out a top six finish this season as anything is possible but it's way too early in the summer to have any idea of what team Boro will have come the 1st of September. The key may well be whether Hackney or van den Berg are sold, for how much and when in the window and if Boro can get quality replacements in.
Though the more change the longer it takes to gel everything together and I think the first ten games appear relatively tough and Edwards won't want another bad start to a Championship season - I'm expecting perhaps a lot of draws early season and not many goals as not losing becomes the strategy.
Though it was reported that Conway has been given the number 9 shirt but I feel Boro will need to sign a genuine centre-forward in the summer if they are to win enough games this season.
I presume that in order for the early bird offer to work then they must at some point sell tickets at the non-discounted price but ultimately the objective must be to maximise sales so another offer may be needed.
Being an eternal optimist, I am certainly dreaming about top 6 but keeping it quiet for the moment.
I agree with you about Hackney being a key element.
Van Den Berg is a tremendous prospect but it is easier to cover his position in the team between Lenihan, Edmundson, Fry, Borges, Howson, Ayling and the up and coming players such as McCormick and Hunt. Subject to Bangura and any other nice surprise, we may need to spend any VDB money on top class fullbacks. (Does Engel come back to us?)
Hackney has provided the heart of this team and will be very difficult to replace although there' a sense that RE relies more on attacking full backs and a faster pace from all players. I wouldn't like to see us sell him for less than Pds20 million - ideally going up to Pds25 million plus a sell-on - and I'm not sure that we could find a like-for-like replacement. Maybe we could source top class loan players who could genuinely make a difference in the midfield - and provide support/cover for Morris - or will we finally see the breakthrough of McCabe who is supposed to be the new genius.
It's actually quite interesting to wonder how the change in style will be carried out alongside the possible sale of some star assets. In addition to the defence/midfield, the recruitment team will also have to find another goalkeeper to battle with Brynn and a magic goal scorer. They will certainly be earning their money over the coming months.
UTB
The Lukas Engel loan to Cincinnati was until the end of 2025 with an option to buy so he won't be part of Edwards plans.
I agree that selling van den Berg is not a major worry for me as his form last season wasn't great and if Boro get a decent price I don't think it will be a major loss. Hackney on the other hand is improving every season and has becoming the driving influence of the team.
However reports in the media seem to suggest he's preparing for a move after getting a new agent used to negotiating with big clubs - I'm hopeful McCabe can step up as he has similar qualities and looks to have poise, time and a good passing ability.
I’d like to join the small, but growing, team of optimists on here please. I’m happy to get behind the new manager and hope that his assistants have a positive input - let’s hope they’re all singing off the same hymn sheet.
I’d be a bit sad if HH left, but if he wants away we’d be crazy to stand in his way. A disgruntled and disappointed midfielder is the last thing we need right now.
It will be interesting to see what valuation Hayden Hackney is given as I was reading about Manchester City's young midfielder James McAtee, who captained the England U21s and played ahead of Hackney in midfield and is now entering the final year of his contract.
He is a year younger and it was suggested that City would entertain bids starting at around £25m - given he has played 18 times for City and scored 3 goals in the PL then Hackney may be valued a little less than that.
Much will depend on the market and if there's a bidding war but I suspect Boro won't accept bids less than £20m and Hackney still has 2 years left on his contract. Nevertheless, at 23 he's probably at the age where he needs to play in top-tier football if his game and career are to progress - not to mention the salary he could demand will be at least three or four times what he's getting at Boro.
As the new season approaches and the blog discusses how to balance a widespread pessimism with some degree of optimism, it may be helpful to remember the formulation of the Italian anti-fascist Antonio Gramsci. He died in prison in miserable circumstances after being incarcerated by Mussolini, so he had every reason to be overcome by pessimism and depression.
Yet his belief in "Pessimism of the Intellect, optimism of the Will' has been a sustaining motif of progressive thinking ever since.
How can one fail to be anything other than pessimistic at the present time, when one considers the state of the world: the imminence of climate catastrophe, the increased possibility of nuclear catastrophe, the most powerful office in the world occupied by an idiotic, narcissistic psychopath incapable of stringing together either two coherent words or thoughts, a world ruled by authoritarians and billionaires?
We have to use our brains to understand and analyse precisely how dire things are. A naive Pollyanna-ish optimism in these circumstances is of no use to anyone.
But we have to have optimism, faith and belief in our power to fight for something better, to change things. Giving up is not an option.
So there we have it. Not a dichotomy between pessimism and optimism, but a dialectical relationship, a balance and a synthesis between them that can give us both realism and hope.
I think that's probably applicable to the Boro at the moment: Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
@lenmasterman Beautifully put, Len. We can all learn from those wise words.
@lenmasterman Thank you for that. Well said.
I fully share your concerns about the world short (politics) and long (climate) term. Hence I will try to be happy and optoimistic about Boro. There is enough issues to be generally happy in this crazy world at the moment. So please let me enjoys and dream that we will finish in the play-offs in May 2026.
Up the Bor!
I really like the sound of that philosophy Len and very well elucidated - It's probably similar to my own conviction that most things could be better but there's always solution to be found if you can identify what the problem is. In other words, I'm always open to finding new and better ways to do things if encouraged it is possible and don't accept things have to be the way they are.
I'm repeating myself but I have optimism for the new coaching team. As well as being aligned with the Boro hierarchy, Edwards strikes me as a more pragmatic character with emotional intelligence and people management skills which the players will enjoy working under. And we'll need those skills to temper any of the players' lingering disappointment at losing Carrick.
Viveash appears to be what I'll term a "proper" assistant - experienced, tactically sound, willing to voice his opinions and in this case happiest working with a younger, developing group such as our own.
The squad is a couple of quality players short however, and will be a third short if Hackney leaves. I agree with Selwynoz that the potential loss of Rav can be more easily absorbed.
If Edwards and Viveash want to overhaul the tactics then more disruptive squad churn is likely to be required but I hope they will evolve the play over time to ensure the smoothest possible transition.
We must sign those 2-3 quality players though.
...groan 😉Middlesbrough are keen on a loan move for Chelsea left-back Ishé Samuels-Smith. (Football.London)
OFB
Sounds like another Ale-ing...
all the same, I'll have a pint of what he's having 🍺
I too throw my camp in to the glass is half full camp. The "difficult" opening 10 fixtures notwithstanding, we will have the new manager bounce to open the season with so those fixtures will not seem so difficult at all once we get underway 🙄 🤞.
I don't read the Gazette or whatever it is called these days, so I really don't have to suffer the inadequate or sycophantic drivel that is produced. All I can say is, I really am quite excited about what the next couple of months will bring in terms of squad changes and then to see how we will perform. I have no unrealistic sense of expectation, just hope that I (we) will be entertained by what is served up, home and away.
We need a proper striker, RIGHT back and Howson (or another similar) quite soon.
Possibly a goalkeeper depending when Dieng is fit (Xmas?).
Up the Boro!
I have always been optimistic about Boro, in fact many times on here I have been referred as wearing “rose tinted glasses”. My preferred choice of manager would have been Danny Rohl but the buy out price of £5m was the stumbling block, then soon as we appointed Edwards, it was reported to have been dropped to £1m, which is probably less than we would have paid Luton 😱. Saying all that Edwards will get my full support, as every Boro manager has in the past (including Strachen) with the back up team, especially Adi Viveash I am more optimistic than a couple of weeks ago. Until we see the dealings in and out I will stick with my prediction of 14 points from the first 10 games, though I reserve my right prior to the Swansea game to adjust my prediction.
To be honest it is almost impossible to predict which championship team will do what in the season, let alone the first 10 matches. Take last season for example, who had Sunderland getting promoted or Luton relegated 😱. As I have said earlier, the movement in and out will be crucial, especially the timing of the incoming, I would have liked to see 1 or 2 at least in before we went to Portugal for the training camp but that doesn’t look as though it’s going to happen.
As far as the new season ticket prices are concerned, my East Upper early bird (concession) prices was £488, the new price is £566, so I have saved £78 for my loyalty 👍, a saving of £3.39 per home game plus my free pint every match. As far as picking and choosing which home game I would attend, I just couldn’t do that as I want to be at all of them, even though I could watch every Boro game on my TV, there is nothing like being in the ground, the banter, the atmosphere, meeting up with people you only see on match days, even on a cold, wet Tuesday night in winter.
For this coming season, at the moment, I am realistically expecting a top half finish at the end of Edwards first season but building a squad capable of improving over the next season.
Come on BORO.
For this coming season, at the moment, I am realistically expecting a top half finish at the end of Edwards first season but building a squad capable of improving over the next season.
Come on BORO.
That's pretty much where I'm at at the moment as well. Keep Hackney, add a quality striker and a reliable right back in good time and I could be pushed higher.
I'm resigned to losing Hackney as I can't see how the club can fend off the apparent interest of half-a-dozen clubs who I suspect at least one will offer over £20m at some point before the window closes - hopefully the club will set a deadline as no point banking the money again and not either getting an adequate replacement and/or signing other quality players.
@werdermouth I agree, Werder.
For his own career and development, I think he really has to move now to be honest. Similar sorts of players like Brooks and Wharton have gone past him in recent years with their EPL experience. The time is now for him and we've shown no appetite to resist a decent offer in recent windows. £20m rising to £25m would seal it and I think someone will be willing to pay.
I don't think any of us will begrudge a move to a PL or major European club for Hackney. He has played his part for us and it is far from his responsibility that the Boro squads he has been a part of were not properly managed/maintained to provide a genuine promotion opportunity for him to be able to grace the top stage with us. As others have said, if (when) he goes, it is for the right price and in a time frame that enables the club to reinvest in the squad in time for the start of the coming season.
When does the transfer window reopen?
“The EFL has today confirmed the opening and closing dates for the 2025 summer transfer window.
- Open: Sunday 1 June to Tuesday 10 June (19:00)
- Close: Tuesday 10 June (19:00:01) to Monday 16 June (00:01)
- Re-open: Monday 16 June to Monday 1 September (19:00)
Due to an additional FIFA Club World Cup Registration Period introduced ahead of the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, the EFL and its Clubs have agreed that the summer transfer window shall operate for an additional ten-day period from Sunday 1 June 2025 to 19:00 on Tuesday 10 June 2025. This is due to the transfer window being unable to exceed a total of 89 days. “ 😎
@k-p-in-spain thanks. I thought the window was closed for the (is anyone interested) fifa world club competition, but I was mistaken.
As far as the new season ticket prices are concerned, my East Upper early bird (concession) prices was £488, the new price is £566, so I have saved £78 for my loyalty 👍, a saving of £3.39 per home game plus my free pint every match. As far as picking and choosing which home game I would attend, I just couldn’t do that as I want to be at all of them, even though I could watch every Boro game on my TV, there is nothing like being in the ground, the banter, the atmosphere, meeting up with people you only see on match days, even on a cold, wet Tuesday night in winter.
For this coming season, at the moment, I am realistically expecting a top half finish at the end of Edwards first season but building a squad capable of improving over the next season.
Come on BORO.
I have renewed, as ever in the East Upper. I have some good pals there, some of whom offer different (ie, local) perspectives on all things Boro. And you’re right, of course, being in the stadium is the best possible Boro watching experience. I hadn’t worked out the early bird saving, but that is quite significant. I’d like to be at all the home games, but the round trip of 400 miles is getting increasingly wearing at my age. I’ll probably have to miss a few, and especially evening games, as getting home at 2.00 or 3.00 am is not much fun. If we’ve lost, the travelling distance and time increase incrementally with my mood and that of my brother, or it often feels that way.
I agree that a top half finish might be what we should expect this season. But Edwards is an experienced manager, unlike Carrick, and he should bring a fresh dynamism. As you say, it’s all very imponderable until we know the make-up of the squad, but I for one am looking forward to a team that attacks with pace and gets in the face of the opposition.
I’ve had a roller coaster of experiences with my Boro team over the years and conclude that whatever I spent has been worth it for the excitement and pleasure the team has given me.
From the depths of despair when liquidation was threatened until the last minute and the despair of Eindhoven to the highs of Cardiff winning our first trophy and promotion under Charlton, Robson and Karanka.
Signing players like the little fella, Rav, JFH, Merse,the list goes on and on. Back,in the days never did I think I would ever see an England game played at home captained by a Boro player Sir Gareth Southgate.
From rickety stairs and smelly bogs getting your feet wet and supping Bovril and Newboulds pies to a modern stadium with Parmomin a bun and chilled white wine to quaff. The change has been magnificent (to quote McClaren!) over the years.
So do I begrudge the cost of our seats? No, not at all because if it’s cold I can miss the odd game but it’s not the same with the crowd and the craic. Women joining the men in encouraging the Boro team and roaring them on. I wouldn’t miss it for the world and it means so much to me.
I liked Carrick and if he had been willing to accept changes to his coaching team he would still be at the club. He was stubborn and wouldn’t change his ways and whilst he did I,prove a lot of the team his inability to change tactics or make substitutes until the. 73 rd minute went against him.
So on the whole I’m pleased the old coaching team has gone they failed. A simple equation Failure.
I’m impressed the way Rob Edwards talks and his body language is also positive. I’m also impressed with the other coaches too.
So come on Boro “let’s be avinyer!” Top six, playoff final and promotion !
Its all to dream isn’t it?
OFB
No pun intended but from the heart my man. Damn well said and you are bloody well right!
UTB,
John