@presidentjump. I am sure I read that Targett was on over 100K a week when Newcastle signed him from Villa. That was after a January loan, which saw him part of the signings that saved United from relegation. So just over three years ago.
Talking wages, here is (hopefully) a link to the Championship wages this season
A Happy Juninho day to everyone!
It is exactly 30 years since TLF signed for Boro and samba was heard at the Riverside.
Up the Boro!
30 years? How did that happen? What a ride we went on after he arrived. Great times.
Strange, that none of the local papers picked up the story about Juninho yesterday. Especially so as it is an International break now and there is not much to write about.
Luckily we have Si's writing to look forward to. Up the Boro!
Check out these photos - ignore the minor celebrities and look for one of our own: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/oct/08/monroe-bardot-and-a-naughty-elephant-iconic-portraits-in-pictures?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Thanks Martin. Wilf was always an accessible hero. On one occasion me and my mates, a scruffy crew of ten year olds, knocked on his door in Highbury Avenue to ask for autographs, and were invited in, offered lemonades and shown his international caps. He was then in his prime.
This photo is of the later Wilf, whom I once saw drinking in a Redcar pub. He accepted my offer of a pint and regaled me with some wonderful stories, including one in which he sold a dummy to the great Duncan Edwards, leaving him crumpled up by the perimeter wall. This in response to my question as to how he would have adapted to the modern, faster game.
A great photo that triggered some special memories.
And what about Chet Baker's iconic image? A miracle that such sensitive and exquisite sounds could be produced from such a raddled frame
@martin-bellamy Excellent photos. I love photography and black and white is always appriciated by me.
Wilf looked good in his picture. And as Len said, Chet Baker's picture is iconic. Thanks for sharing.
@Len Always nice to hear your memories. I can only envy you for being invited in by Wilf !annion. Was he called the original TLF? Up the Boro!
Born mid 60s i never got the chance to see Wilf play, but being raised in Redcar i was aware of the "celebrity" who lived in town, I am sure that story is correct ? Wilf did live in Redcar didn't he ?
Jarkko, He wasn't ever called TLF in his day, but may have been referred to as "the original" post Juninho.
PJ I assume he must have lived in Redcar, since that is where I encountered him sitting on his own, but I have no direct evidence of that
Sorry to ask this, but when do you think you dump the Brexit and join us, the rest of the Europe in the EU, again? I mean saving money by leaving was not true and Brexit did not solve the imigartion problem. They were mainly lyes. Like Trump is doing in the USA now.
Why I ask, is that I bought the Boro third kit now. And it cost me money and trouble.
The Masham shirt by Gastore ................. 60 GBP
Delivery to Finland ............................................ 10 GBP
Customs to EU .................................................. 21,36 Eur
Warehouse costs (hold up/custom) .. 3,10 Eur
So the total costs for the Masham shirt was about 91,27 GBP. Of course the delivery was 10 GBP but the rest, 22 GBP was just customs and keeping the item in a warehouse while the custom worked.
So every small business in the UK (Boro is not small!!!) must charge 30 % extra for selling to the EU. This is much more than the transport and customs than the Chinese are "paying" for selling to the EU.
And the customer needs to do the Customs as an extra effort (more work than ordering) ☹️.
Please remind what advantages you got by having Brexit. Rant over.
Up the Boro!
Ben Gannon-Doak as he likes to be called now, in the Scotland Squad for tonight's qualifying game.
The forwards are Che Adams (Torino) Keiron Bowie (Hibs) Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham) George Hirst (Ipswich) and that makes me mad!
Conway should have been in the team, as I can't see any of those front players getting a goal.
@malcolm Do you remember the days when Scotland had top quality forwards, mostly playing in the English top division?
If Conway is the best Scotland have got out of all the divisions, then I think they must be close to the bottom of the barrel. Dalglish or McCoist, he definitely isn’t!
PS. I forgot to say the Masham shirt is very, very nice. I like the sleeves, which have the Masham colours.
I love the shirt. It was worth the extra effort. But I usually try to avoid buying from the UK for all the extra trouble. Up the Boro!
I see that, according to the Gazette, when Scott was asked about the role of AI in player recruitment he said "We haven't not used it"
I suppose you could call that a not unevasive or unobscure answer
@lenmasterman - Or he can't talk proppa!
@Jarrko - Let's pause long enough to say that we didn't berate you and your countrymen for taking so long to join NATO when it must have been obviously the right thing to do since 1949 (when your Nordic neighbours Norway joined as part of the original membership group). Then after we have reflected on that, I have an idea to help you avoid paying "over the odds" in the future. If you see some Boro merchandise that you can't live without, just let me know (price, colour, size and exactly where I can see/find it etc) and I can buy the items concerned. I can hand them to you when you next visit the UK. Hopefully as the team is putting the finishing touches to a glorious 2025-26 promotion campaign.
Good news. McGree is back. This is the second week he is in full training after he has done some musle work to get stronger.
I don't expect him to start against Ipswich, but he could be on the bench. Up the Boro!
Making the most of the International break by having a week in Cumbria with most of the family to celebrate my big birthday (yes, I’m in denial!), then driving up to the Highlands to drop Ralf (🐕🦺) off at my daughters, before we head to Glasgow to get a flight to Split in Croatia as part of my celebrations.
Wish me luck!
Jarkko
As far as I’m concerned, leaving the EU was one of the most stupid decisions made by any government anywhere. What government would try to increase trade and reduce costs by opting for trade barriers that didn’t exist before? The sooner we rejoin, the better!
@clive-hurren Agreed, but I doubt we’ll rejoin in my lifetime and if/when we do, we won’t get the deal we had before. It’s probably best not to discuss it too much on here, I guess - the last thing we need is a repeat of all that happened in 2016, in terms of polarisation.
@martin-bellamy Sorry, I know this is a football forum.
But the customs for Boro merchadise are ridiculous high. And it was wanted by a UK governement.
We can leave it in there. Just wanted to tell my experince and the 130% price increase.
Up the Boro!
Sorry to ask this, but when do you think you dump the Brexit and join us, the rest of the Europe in the EU, again? I mean saving money by leaving was not true and Brexit did not solve the imigartion problem. They were mainly lyes. Like Trump is doing in the USA now.
[...]
Please remind what advantages you got by having Brexit. Rant over.
Jarkko, there aren't any! 
Have a good one Martin.Making the most of the International break by having a week in Cumbria with most of the family to celebrate my big birthday (yes, I’m in denial!), then driving up to the Highlands to drop Ralf (🐕🦺) off at my daughters, before we head to Glasgow to get a flight to Split in Croatia as part of my celebrations.
Wish me luck!
MARTIN - Clearly you will be having a busy time. I hope you enjoy yourself.
For my part, I will be going up to Perth to stay at the Scone Palace site on Saturday, and will then go on to Ullapool. Perth is approximately half way and towing a caravan at this time of year, for approx 400 miles where refuelling would be required, would probably mean either setting off or arriving in darkness. Better to break up the journey. In a car but without the caravan it would be no problem though still a tiring drive.
Enjoy a few football-less days everyone.
Snoring through the International break.
On Boro , I don't think we've peaked yet, probably at 75% ,we have goals in the team, but I would like to see a genuine winger on the bench , ready for a tactical change , maybe Hansen could do it.
@gt RE is certainly still tinkering with that front line, apart from Conway, a number of new players in that area, I guess that is to be expected.
Sene and Hansen currently seem more explosive from the bench than starting games, Strelec you can see is a class player ( reminds me of Adam Armstrong type ) who we haven't yet worked out playing to his strengths, Conway will always bring goals but is more of a hardworking than natural striker.
I like the way RE is doing things, build the house by getting the firm foundations of the defence in place first ( still best defence in the league ) then start getting the bricks of the midfield into shape before adding the quality rendering of the attack.
At least thats what I am hoping.
@forever-dormo That’s a bit harsh. I don’t think individuals had any say in whether Finland joined NATO. In the UK we all had our say, even though it appears that many have changed their mind. I’m sure many of those who voted “out” still maintain they were right, but many others seem to regret their choice.