@selwynoz - Hi, selwynoz. Good point made by you here (and in the earlier thread).
I'm sorry for causing the Blog to jump so quickly from the Millwall "page" (especially after such an enjoyable outcome to that game!) to the Norwich one. Normally I might have left it at least until Monday 18th or Tuesday 19th August after a game on the Saturday. On this occasion I felt I had to bash out the Norwich Match Preview sooner because Monday was my birthday (and who at that stage would know my wife's plans for the day?) and today had to be kept free for an at-the-time "secret" advance wife's birthday all-day trip out to some gardens near York. Later in the week, apart from being too late, would have clashed with the things I need to do to get ready for a Bank Holiday camping trip to Leyburn and would also have caused issues with a medical appointment I have. So I thought I'd bite the bullet early.
If anyone is interested, the garden trip was to "Breezy Knees", a garden in 20 acres of land at Warthill near York. There are many sections to walk around including a conifer garden, an annual summer meadow, a May garden, a June garden, a Raised beds garden said to be at its best in July, and other gardens planted specifically to come into best bloom in August and in September, a Rogues Gallery garden filled with with raised beds or planters to avoid the invasive species planted there running riot, a lawned garden, a couple of ponds (looking a little short of water after the very dry summer), a double-borders garden and several other areas including a nursery where it is possible to buy baby versions of some of the plants on display. There are some modern sculptures dotted around the garden. There is a cafe, and the garden is £12.50 per person for entry and could occupy the best part of a day fully to go round it.
We've had a dry summer in England and many trees have started to shed their leaves, and autumn seems to be approaching despite the fact we are still in mid-August. Given a magic wand I might have timed my vist for early July to see more of the areas in brighter full bloom, but it was still an excellent way to spend a day and at least it was dry! We have not long returned and I must have done 10,000 steps in the garden. There are plenty of splaces to sit and rest, and lots of car parking at the entrance but people are not allowed to bring picnics in. It opens only from the start of May to the end of September, six days a week but not on Monday (unless it happens to be a Bank Holiday) each week.
If any other "tourist attractions" want to sponsor me for appropriately favourable coverage in future threads of this Blog, it need only cost the price of free entry tickets. Looking at you, Kinren, Bamburgh Castle, the whisky distillery trip/tasting at Ad Gefryn in Wooler, hospitality packages at The Riverside Stadium etc....
Only Joking!
(Unless there really ARE Boro supporters/readers of this Blog out there who want the word spreading about their businesses)...
Just had a look at their website, with thoughts of a trip on Thursday, but they don’t allow dogs, so that’s scuppered our visit.
By the way, FD, how long have you been an Influencer and have you got your own TikTok page?
@ Exmil
The arrival of Sverre Nypan, although only 18 he has to be one of our registered players as all loan players are, therefore that completes our maximum 25 players. As we still need a striker and a left wing back, it means at least 2/3 players must be moved out either by sales or season long loans 🤔.
Come on BORO.
OK then, playmates. Whom should we get rid of? Whom should we send out on loan?
I’ll start the bidding with Hamilton (any offers acceptable!), Gilbert and Barlaser. I might also loan out McCabe, so he gains more experience in a competitive environment, but my understanding is that young homegrown players under 21 don’t need to be registered. Is that correct?
Did you notice whether dogs are allowed at “Breezy Knees?
Dormo, ignore my post above. I’ve just read Martin’s post confirming they are not.
@martin-bellamy - 3,000,000 views and counting for my version of "Barabara's Rhubarb Bar" on TikTok and on YouTube (the singing is great and the dance is acceptable). But I like to keep quiet about it...
@clive-hurren I forgot about player registration of the 25 allowed, excluding under 21’s but including ALL Loanees. This will be until the the next window.
Before I go to bed, something has bugged me about the Match Preview I posted on this thread. I WAS in a bit of a rush and I DID read it through after typing it and posting it. But I still missed an error. I said MICHAEL Edwards had been appointed BORO's manager in place of Michael Carrick. Too many Michaels! Liverpool supporters will be very surprised. It is, of course, ROB Edwards.
My thoughts would be Barlaser, Hamilton, Glover, Edmonson, Burgzorg, Forss they would be my immediate selection.@ Exmil
The arrival of Sverre Nypan, although only 18 he has to be one of our registered players as all loan players are, therefore that completes our maximum 25 players. As we still need a striker and a left wing back, it means at least 2/3 players must be moved out either by sales or season long loans 🤔.
Come on BORO.
OK then, playmates. Whom should we get rid of? Whom should we send out on loan?
I’ll start the bidding with Hamilton (any offers acceptable!), Gilbert and Barlaser. I might also loan out McCabe, so he gains more experience in a competitive environment, but my understanding is that young homegrown players under 21 don’t need to be registered. Is that correct?
Come on BORO.
Just realised that we are 1 0f only 2 teams in the whole of the EFL not to concede a goal this season. Charlton are the other.
At the risk of taking the Michael - Rob Edwards has now been edited back to his good self...
I think the rule is that a player's age is calculated from that on 1st January the previous season - i.e. 1 January 2024 - so Hamilton will still be regarded as under 21.
According to my list of players I made for my New Season New Squad post, I count 20 existing players over 21.
Boro have since signed 5 players (Adilson Malanda has been loaned back to Charlotte FC) - with Kante also being under 21.
So I make that currently 24 players at the moment who need to be registered - which leaves one slot.
I suspect there will be no room for Alex Gilbert in the squad and he'll go out on loan again - plus given Barlaser has barely featured then he'll be unlikely to stay at the club unless there's a slot left.
That leaves space for a striker and a possible left wing-back but you would expect Hackney is still earmarked for a sale so he may also be replaced.
inwould add Lenihan also to go as he’s one of the top earners even if we sent him on loan and paid some of his wages.
although he has leadership qualities he hasn’t played for such a long time
OFB
Here is a player list from MFC website. I may be wrong, but I have counted 23 plus Nyoman
Here is a player list from MFC website. I may be wrong, but I have counted 23 plus Nyoman
I concur, plus Lukas Engel due back at the end of December. So that leaves two spaces in the squad, one of which is now occupied by Nypan. So one space left to fill with a record breaking goal scorer 🤞
The Daily Mail is reporting that Southampton have made an offer of up to £12m for Finn Azaz, but it is also reported that Boro rate Azaz highly so they may have to up their offer.
Come on BORO.
It seems looking at the last few days of Transfer activity and told it's not over, it looks like a major overhaul, and some players we thought are set, maybe are getting moved out, if not now maybe January or next year, some are on one year contracts, some surplus to requirement as they used to say,
Interesting times, I look at at it as a positive step, you can't keep going on expecting success when it doesn't happen , with the same squad.
I also believe, and it worries me somewhat, not only Hackney, but , Morris, Azaz, maybe Conway and Fry, could have clubs sniffing, and I'm thinking decent money for them. Then what
COB
Yes that’s 26 players shown - minus McCabe, Kante and Hamilton as U21 and plus Nypan - which makes the 24 I mentioned would need to be registered.
Sounds like there's now interest in Azaz - I wonder if we'd accept his sale if it meant Hackney then stayed. I think Hackney is harder to replace - particularly in this window as we don't know how Kante, McCabe or Nypan will evolve as players. Central midfield could be key as to how the whole team performs at both ends of the pitch. Losing Azaz is less of a gamble as he doesn't always have a major influence on games.
I think the Championship is likely to be Azaz’s ceiling. He’s a good moments player - sometimes match winning moments at our level - but he’s too often anonymous and doesn’t grab hold of a game like, say, Gaston Ramirez could.
A fit (if only) Riley McGree is a better player in my opinion and I’m hoping that Nypan will be as well, despite his age.
If an offer of £12m+ came in, I’d take it.
@andy-r Your memory is better than mine if you can remember a “fit Riley McGree”.
@andy-r A fit Riley McGree, I sometimes think there's more chance of seeing a Unicorn. Or even winning the EuroMillions.
UTB,
John
When McGree is fit, he is our best player. He was fit to play for Australia in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this summer. But I know he had a knock since then.
Anyway, if we play with two more advanced attackers above Hackney and Morris (or Kanté and McCabe), we have McGree, Burgzorg, Sotje Hansen and Whittager available (sorry for the pun) in there. So selling Azaz could make sence - especially so if Hackney stays!
And even Gilbert and Forss can play there if he is not loaned out.
But again, we need a striker - and an extra £ 12 million would help in there!
Up the Boro!
For the Norwich match, I was wondering between two results.
Matchematically I could go for 5-1 win for the Boro (Millwall 0 Boro 3 + Norwich 1 Millwall 2).
But I think a 1-1 draw is more likely. Our goal scored by Tommy Conway. He must score, musn't he? So I will go with a draw and seven points from the first 3 league matches. Something like 2,33 points per match.
Up the Boro!
And naturally we also have Len's favourite, Sverre Nypan available.Anyway, if we play with two more advanced attackers above Hackney and Morris (or Kanté and McCabe), we have McGree, Burgzorg, Sotje Hansen and Whittager available (sorry for the pun) in there. So selling Azaz could make sense - especially so if Hackney stays!
And even Gilbert and Forss can play there if they are not loaned out.
Up the Boro!
Does anyone else find the signing of Adilson Malanda a bit strange? Centre back is an area where we are reasonably well stocked, especially if we include Ayling and Borges in the roster. I know he won’t join us till January, but it rather suggests we may be willing to loan out somebody, or sell them? Who, though? Lenihan? Edmondson? And when? In the January sales?
And then there’s the fee. I’ve read $8 million. That seems way over the top for a player untested at our level, given we’ve been paying much less for established Champo defenders in Brittain and Jones. If we’ve really paid that much, how will that impact our scope for signing a new striker, which is an absolute must? I thought we were drawing in our horns and spending wisely.
So I don’t yet see the signing of Malanda as a coup or even particularly advantageous. On the other hand, I am getting pretty nervous about our apparent lack of progress on adding fire power up front.
Been to see my Mum this morning and on the TalkSport 11 o’clock football news, Southampton have bid for Azaz and he is keen to go.
Time will tell, I guess.