@powmillnaemore England started well, but the last 20 min were really, really difficult. I hope to see better from them in the second half.
Up the Boro!
@powmillnaemore Well apart from the Spanish chance they offered up England have been woeful. Spain have all the possession, half a yard faster, and technically superior.
England have continued on from the Italy game. Too slow and far too many hopefull balls forward in the air. Which have generally been won by the opposition.
Not sure how we are going to get back into this game. We will need more luck than we had against Italy.
Congratulations to the England Ladies. Once more they did it the hard way, rode their luck, however at the end when it mattered, they came out the winners. Great penalty from Kelly. The pressure must have been immense.
So pleased for them. It just shows, you never give up and you can do it, despite everything.
So happy for them all.
@pedro Luck? Who needs luck? I thought the Lionesses thoroughly deserved their win. Couldn’t be happier for them.
We’re still celebrating here in France.
A brilliant win for the Lionesses, wasn’t it! They just never give up, do they? I wonder how long we will have to wait before we see such spirit, drive and determination from the men’s team? I’m not holding my breath……..
Well done, England. Finland were there in the Championships, too. They drew with the Netherlands and Denmark. But lost to Switzerland and did not get through to the second round.
I also watched the Rangers vs. Boro game on Saturday. We played well until we changed the team in the second half. Some players like Morris ran out of steam, too. I think Len summarized the match well previously.
@lenmasterman How are you now, Sir? I hope you are back from the hospital and ready for the up-coming season. The Boro must improve on the tenth place finish of last season. So I hope we will get to the playoffs as a minimum.
Up the Boro!
With Bangura injured again and likely ruled out until after the transfer window closes, then Boro have a decision to make with Millwall now in advanced talks to sign Alfie Doughty from Luton - who has been touted for a number of weeks as Edward's ideal signing for left wing-back.
Given decent wing-backs appear integral to the success of Edwards preferred style, it could well be a missed opportunity given Bangura's body has so far failed to last a game in a Boro shirt - plus Borges has never looked that effective going forward in a wide attacking role.
Very kind of you to ask, Jarkko, and many thanks to everyone for their best wishes. They reached me just when I needed them most, immediately post-op when I was at a low point, bed bound and unable to move a muscle for around three weeks, so they provided me with a much needed tonic.
I had 7 weeks in hospital but am now at home and learning how to walk again, after the removal of a tumour (thankfully benign) growing from inside my spine. I'm actually perfectly healthy apart from having no feeling in my right leg, so it's a process of rehab, exercises and gym work. My aim and motivation is to be fit enough to be ready for next season's crown green bowling season, and to avoid falling over.
I also have a new-found sympathy for Riley McGree and Alex Bangura.
@lenmasterman. Good to hear your op was successful and that you are back home.
Best wishes for your ongoing recovery and will keep fingers crossed you stay upright when you get back on the bowling green. 😎
Glad to hear you’re back at home and on the road to recovery - I suspect you may be match fit before Bangura though 😏
Yes, good news Len. Glad you are back home again. Good luck with the rehab. Physios are really your friend, so do listen to them.
@lenmasterman Cheers, Sir. I am really happy to hear you are back home. Take care of your rehab. I know it might take a long time for some Boro players, but with your experience of life you will be back sooner than Bangura. Or at least sooner than Lenihan did.
Did you listen to Radio Stitches when in the hospital? I hope they had some Boro news over there. Anyway, good to hear you are back again. And maybe stronger in the end. Up the Boro!
@lenmasterman Good to hear, work with the physios and I'm sure most if not all the feeling will return to your leg. It just takes time and patience. Best wishes and thank the lord that it was benign. Take care of yourself.
Best wishes and UTB,
John
So pleased for you and your family that you are home and are on the road to recovery.
This is a tight knit group who fight for each other and are always relieved when good news is posted.
Great stuff all the best Bob
@lenmasterman Pleased to see you going in the right direction again Len. We wish you all the best as you continue your rehabilitation.
On the football front, the rumour mill has thrown up Ipswich’s interest in Dael Fry alongside Hayden Hackney. They have money to burn so fees should not be an issue.
Fry though being in his last year of his contract could prove difficult to resist if there is any truth in the story.
We have not made much progress at all in getting “Edwards Type” players in, and ia a concern that we end up panicking and sign players like Danny Ings from the bottom of the barrel.
@pedro I think bottom of the barrel is where we will be doing our shopping from now on, I suspect HH may end up at Ipswich moneney talks
Boro are to complete signing of Abdoulaye Kante from Troyes. Read more: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25348119.middlesbrough-complete-signing-abdoulaye-kante-troyes/
When I gooled the player, I found another midfielder with similar name, but playing in Finland!
Abdoulaye Kanté (born 4 March 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lahti in Ykkösliiga. Born in France, Kanté is of Malian descent. After starting in his native France, Kanté has played in the lower divisions in Portugal and Belgium, before he moved to Finland in the summer 2022.
I hope we check which midfielder we sign carefully.
Up the Boro!
Thank you all so much for your kind messages. I was really touched by them, and they definitely helped to spur me on through my exercises this morning, and will do so well into the future. Each one was greatly appreciated. Many thanks, you have big hearts.
The player Boro are to sign is a 20-year-old defensive midfielder. He was keen to move to England and test himself in the Championship, having spent last season in the French second tier with Troyes.Boro are to complete signing of Abdoulaye Kante from Troyes. Read more: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25348119.middlesbrough-complete-signing-abdoulaye-kante-troyes/
When I gooled the player, I found another midfielder with similar name, but playing in Finland!
Abdoulaye Kanté (born 4 March 2000) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lahti in Ykkösliiga. Born in France, Kanté is of Malian descent. After starting in his native France, Kanté has played in the lower divisions in Portugal and Belgium, before he moved to Finland in the summer 2022.
I hope we check which midfielder we sign carefully.
Up the Boro!
Born in the Ivory Coast, Kante developed in the youth ranks of French club Montfermil before joining Troyes’ youth set-up in the summer of 2022.
He was rapidly fast-tracked into the Ligue 2 club’s senior set-up, and was a regular in Troyes’ first-team ranks last season as they finished tenth in the French second division.
Kante has made 47 Ligue 2 appearances, scoring one goal, and also boasts five senior appearances in the Coupe de France.
Nice to see we are now signing a replacement for Howson. With the former skipper leaving, I hope we offer Hackney a new contract with salary in region what we paid to Howson. I hope HH stays for a season more.
Up the Boro!
I’d like to add my very best wishes to you, Len. You must be so glad to be out of hospital. I hope you go on now to make a full and speedy recovery.
Following Danny Rohl’s departure from Sheffield Wednesday today, the BBC are reporting that of the 18 clubs who played in the Championship last season and will continue to do so this year, only Portsmouth have not changed their manager in recent times. That really shows just how pressured being a manager in this league is. You need to have an owner as good as Steve Gibson to survive for more than a season these days.
@lenmasterman, my very best wishes for your recovery, it can be a painful path both physically and mentally but you will get there in the end. I am 10 months on from my surgery and practically 100% again, getting support from your family and friends really helps to lighten the burden, all the best to you and your family.
Come on BORO.
Boro have completed the signing of Ivory Coast midfielder Abdoulaye Kante from French club Troyes. https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/29/abdoulaye-kante-joins-the-boro/
Up the Boro!
I think it's maybe one of the reasons that manager's are now no longer prepared to bring through youngsters from academies as there's nothing to gain by bringing through players for the future if day-to-day results matter much more in keeping your job.
I think it's maybe one of the reasons that manager's are now no longer prepared to bring through youngsters from academies as there's nothing to gain by bringing through players for the future if day-to-day results matter much more in keeping your job.
If that's the case is a category A academy a waste of time and money?
Let's hope young Kante turns out to be a better prospect than Micah Hamilton since he's just signed a 5-year contract with Boro. The fee paid could be worth up to €3m but it may be worth noting that Boro also paid £3.5m for Hamilton so no guarantees at that end of the market.
As I mentioned last week, a 20-year old arriving from the french second tier will need time to settle and get used to the pace and physicality of the Championship - I suspect he's probably been signed as cover for Morris but if Hackney leaves in this window Boro will need a different type of midfielder as Morris, McCabe, Kante and possibly Barlaser sounds like a big gamble.
3 more Boro matches moved for Sky TV:
Ipswich (H) now Friday 17 Oct 8pm
Shef Wed (A) still 22 Oct now 8pm
Hull (A) now Friday 5 Dec 8pm
Come on BORO.
It's great to see you back in the outside world after your very long incarceration. I look forward to your next installment of Scott Watch.
Mmm...£3m for an unknown quantity, whom we wish well, but who, as Werder says, will certainly take some time to settle and adapt. Wrexham got Lewis O'Brien, a proven oven-ready Championship warrior, for £5m. That looks the wiser use of money to me.