According to Scott "Scoop" Wilson in the Echo today Boro are on the verge of signing Aboulaye Faye from Troyes. He should bring some much needed experience to the squad since according to Wikipedia Faye is a 47 year old Senegalese who played for a number of English clubs between 2005-14.
🤣 I just read that article and yes he does say Abdoulaye Faye - I guess it's hard to keep track when you're writing about a player you've never heard of!
At last we have a transfer breakthrough! Welcome Alfie Jones. He may be from the bargain basement (and Hull’s dire financial straits may have forced them into selling him), but he does seem to be an experienced Championship campaigner. And the EG says he’s ’robust,’ which, given our miserable record with injuries in recent times, must be a positive. Let’s wish him well and hope he succeeds.
when players openly say they want to leave and state the club it often happens presumably because teams don’t want to keep unhappy players.
However, that doesn’t mean you sell the player on the cheap. I can’t see Feyenoord paying top price and so I hope Boro hold out for the highest bidder and take it from there.
Van den berg had an excellent PROMISING first season and wasn’t the finished article. I don’t think he really progressed last season - certainly not as expected, plus he missed many games through injury. So, I don’t think he would be a mega loss and hopefully Alfie Jones will more than fill his boots.
philip of Huddersfield
@werdermouth And Rangers have a qualifying match against Panathinaikos in Greece on Wednesday. They will be saving their star men, but should still beat Boro, 3 nil.
£7.99, I don’t think so. Anyway, the lawns need cutting.
Can't see Boro accepting £8.5m for van den Berg given some of the numbers being touted - even if he has appears to have been tapped up by Feyenoord and is keen to go. Why would any club allow a player to dictate the terms of their transfer fee when they're under contract.
agreed. It doesn’t seem over-reaching to say that VDB is worth at least Pds15 million plus add-ons/sell-ons and we can afford to wait until the panic at the end of the transfer window for this to be achieved.
Hackney is the key. Maybe an agreement to wait until January and see where MFC are in the table?
UTB
I see that the Gazette is promoting the debate as to whether Glover or Brynne is our No.1 keeper. Apparently Edwards isn't sure and is giving each of them an opportunity to make a claim for the top spot.
Is there a single Boro supporter who believes there is a debate to be had?
I mentioned in an earlier post how Scott's projects (eg Silvera, Glover, Forss, Hamilton, Burgzorg etc) were still on our books when better players such as Jones and Coburn had been sold to create space for them. The prominence of those five in our pre-season games is one of the reasons why our prospects for the coming season look so grim. It would not be a difficult task to find better replacements were each of them to be offloaded as they should be. And supporters would shed few tears were that to happen.
The judgment being made at a senior level, and passed on to Edwards, that Silvera and Hamilton are made of the right stuff to either get us into the top six or implement Edwards' demand for a physical all-action approach, or that Forss or Burgzorg can become a high scoring mainline strikers are risible enough.
But the suggestion, on their past performances, that Glover might be a better keeper than Brynne is the clearest evidence yet that some of Scott's most disappointing signings will be given every chance in the desperate hope that they might eventually come good.
One has to feel the utmost sympathy for Edwards, whose future at the club hangs on the fragile threads of the whims and misjudgments of others.
Hackney, McGree and Bangura are not in the squad today 🤔, the latter two picked up injuries in the Bradford game, gazette trying to find out why no Hackney.
Come on BORO.
Crazily I'm beginning to think that there are dark forces at work. Maybe I simply don't understand any of the workings and manouverings at the club. If Sol Brynn was to start angling for a transfer because of discontent that would be the start of the beginning of the end. Somehow the powers that be have managed to make the start of the season, well the build up to it at any rate, into quite a depressing experience and I'm sure they have for other supporters too.
The Gazette don't help with the polls of the opinion of five mates down the pub and their efforts to make news out of nothing. If Scott is that good why isn't he a manager?
Now will we win today? I don't think so. Will we scrape a draw? Probably not. Will we lose? By how many?
I think Mr Edwards has a tough task on his hands.
UTB,
John
Boro a goal to the good after nine minutes - CJ:
Boro lead! Conway goes close after getting in behind from a Borges long ball. Boro get a corner as his effort is blocked. Fry flicks said corner on at the front post and Borges is on hand to finish inside the six-yard box.
I'm not getting my hopes up...
A second goal disallowed in the 35th minute:
Boro have the ball in the net. Whittaker played in behind before squaring across goal for Conway to tap in. Flag goes up, presummably [sic[ against Whittaker. Again, not a great replay, but he looked onside.
A good first half by Boro. We should have scored a few more and actually did. The line man flagged a nice goal off for off-side. The replay showed Whittaker was on side and the goal should have stood.
Anyway, a good half by the team in red. Up the Boro!
A pleasure to record how well the Boro have played in the first half. It's no exaggeration to say that we could easily have been 5 up by half-time, though we were ultimately lucky to go in ahead when the referee missed a blatant penalty when Ayling handled the ball high above his head.
The standout performer for the Boro has been Morris, who has been everywhere in midfield, but young McCabe has also been outstanding, along with the much improved Whittaker. Their neat and progressive inter-passing has been one of the best features of our game so far.
We have been so successful in our high pressing that most of the game has been played in their half.
So no weak links, good performances all round and a special word for Brynn who looks fully back to his best form
Also VDB did not start due to a muscle spasm in the warm up.
Managed to pick up the match and it has been end to end with both teams trying to win the game. Rangers have had a couple of chances and probably a penalty not given by the Referee.
Boro also have had their chances, better than Ranger and should be at least another goal to the good. However taking nothing away from Boro, Rangers started with their second string, with Wednesdays match in mind.
Great following by the Boro fans, with Borges goal scored in front of them.
Probably lots of changes in the second half. Possibly Alfie Jones on for Lenahin first? Whilst we know Silvera’s limitations, he has worked his socks off in the first half.
CJ agrees with you, Jarkko ;):
Albeit against Rangers' second string, but very impressive first half from Boro. Passed it well, set a really high early tempo and created plenty of good chances. Only concern for Edwards is that they didn't take any more to lead by more than one. Positive though.
Dael Fry makes it 0-2 in the 57th minute:
Boro have another. It's another from a set-piece! This time it's a wide free-kick from deep. Whittaker swing it in to the back post where Fry beats the offside trap. He lays it into the middle where Lenihan can't turn it goalwards, but did put it back on a plate for Fry to fire home.
Rangers pull one back seven minutes later: 1-2.
Jones, Hamilton & Barlaser on for Lenihan, McCabe & Whittaker in the 70th minute.
And in the 79th minute it's 2-2:
Rangers corner. Glover [on for Brynn in the 75th minute] saves the initial header but it falls to Curtis, who reacts quickest to the rebound, and prods home the equaliser.
A very different second half with Boro's energetic closing down taking its toll after an hour with the introduction of a battery of first choice Rangers subs. Our subs, by contrast, Hamilton, Forss and Barlaser, hardly affected the game at all. With Morris also running out of steam we were on the back foot throughout, and in spite of taking a 2 goal lead against the run of play we were glad to escape with a draw in the end.
My takeaways: even without Hackney and Van der Berg we have a passable first XI, but I fear that two of our key players, Conway and Morris, put their bodies on the line and show such commitment in every game that they will always be susceptible to injuries. Both took knocks today, and we will look a much poorer side whenever they are unavailable.
Big plusses were the first half displays of McCabe and Whittaker with Silvera and Burgzorg not far behind. Fry is imperious at the back and has at long last become a potent threat at set pieces. Lenahan and then Jones both looked solid with Brynn back to his best with some very capable handling. Borges scored a neat goal, but seemed as uncomfortable as ever when at left back.
I have to say that the Boro were exhilarating, against all expectations, in the first half, poor and exposed between the lines in the second. But the halo effect of that opening 45 minutes has given me more grounds for optimism than anything I have seen or heard since the departure of Michael Carrick.
We do however desperately need some solid and experienced reinforcements.
That was a very encouraging performance, despite giving a two goal lead away. I agree with Len that both McCabe and Morris played well, especially first half, and there weren’t really any weak links in the first 45. Silvera impressed again. Some very effective pressing. Both our goals came from set pieces! Fry and Lenahan looked strong.
We looked much more vulnerable once Rangers brought on several of their first teamers, but still defended well. Alfie Jones had an impressive 20 minute cameo. Nonetheless, there are still obvious areas for Edwards to work on: Whittaker disappeared second half, and Forss and Hamilton offered little. We had limited midfield control once Rangers strengthened and couldn’t make the ball stick up front.
It was interesting that VdB missed out because he suffered a back spasm in the warm-up. Or did he? Has there perhaps been a stronger offer from somewhere? And where was Hackney??
Altogether, this was an enjoyable game and a very good workout.
Only a practice or friendly but it's good to be wrong.
UTB,
John
There were you positives to take from today’s game and also some glaring weaknesses.
Whilst we did well against the Rangers second string, we struggled to contain their runners when the first string came on. I am not sure how good the Rangers squad is for comparison.
I thought Morris was our best player, but he must stop trying to beat opposition players around our box and then lose the ball. Lenahin did well and it would be great if he can stay fit and play 90 minute games. The same with Fry and his injury doubts.
However, as Edwards continues with his 3 at the back, it is obvious we lack the necessary players to play it well.
Brynn for me is the goalkeeper choice. We definitely need a right wing back. Leftwing back, I think he may persevere with Silvera.We definitely need Midfield backup, as Barlaser is not the answer Up front, I just do not see, Burgzorg, Forss or Hamilton, offering anything worthwhile in this system. Nothing to much came from the wing backs though today
One other note. I am not sure the squad we have could keep un the intensity required, especially when get to the three game in eight days period.
More players with pace and good engines needed. Oh and somebody who can also score goals if we create sufficient chances.
Glad to hear Boro had a confidence-building performance at Rangers even if they rested their big guns - it's what pre-season is all about and good to see Edwards got the full backing of the travelling Teesside support too, which will help everyone moving forward.
The other main plus for me was that Law McCabe had a good game in midfield as he could well become an important player if Hackney was lost. I can also empathise with Rav missing out with a muscle spasm as I nearly missed out on our BBQ table tennis knockabout yesterday with a few muscle aches - indeed after 2-3 hours playing I woke up twice in the night with cramp - I'm clearly not match fit (though the beer may not have helped) and will need to up the intensity (exercise not beer) - though were invited to another party today with more table tennis on the agenda so tomorrow is penciled in as a rest day!
On Hackney not traveling to Glasgow with the squad - I guess we can’t rule out Ipswich’s reported £20m bid as Boro probably wouldn’t dismiss a bid of that size and may even have an agreement with Hackney that he would be allowed to talk to any club who made bids above a certain amount.
Though I doubt Hackney would be interested in a move to the Championship at this stage of the window at least - even if they offered £35 grand a week.
Every season we have this soap opera during transfer windows, speculation here and there , people in the know etc, and every season we seem to be scrambling for signings the last week,I for one think if players are going to leave no matter who, if teams have inquired, if reasonable bids are in, do it now and then get in for any players the club have identified as upgrades, stop fannying about, get those out get those in, embedded ready for the fight.
so what you’re saying Pedro is need quite a few players before we can be a decent team. I fully agree.
philip of Huddersfield 👍
@philip-of-huddersfield Based on the system Edwards has continued to use, 3 at the back, a fair number of our "Carrick types" definately are not suitable to carry it out.
Of course changing those, that is selling them and buying replacements is easier said than done.
Just settled down with drinks and nibbles to cheer on the England ladies... looking forward to this game.