Celtic game basically run of the mill pre season, nobody stuck out, thought their passing was slicker than ours , I've never been a fan of Britain ,his end product is poor standard too many times, and he definitely can't defend ,he backs off,
maybe some of positives, Daley tidy , Kante covered defensive areas won the ball, IBehe could turn to be a player tough , Borges good, Cartwright for me is as talented as anyone at the club, is he strong enough yet, and will he be given a chance
Early days we will see
COB
On another note is it just me or in interviews I've seen with Kim , he seems drained , as if he's on a short string, not is usual positivity , the transfer window is when people fall out , ask Wilder and Warnock
we really need some U21c Academy players to come through to the first team squad and add extra depth.
He sounds like a solid prospect
UTB
@selwynoz When you read this article from the NE, you are so right. Plus at 5 mil a year it needs to pay for itself
Just catching up. So sorry to hear about your situation, Bob. Do keep us updated and best of luck over the next few weeks.
You would have thought that any analysis of last season would have concluded that defensively and in midfield we were pretty solid with a great deal of Championship experience and know-how in our back 4/5.
So leave well alone and concentrate all our resources on getting a striker who can at least hold up the ball ( like Coburn) and a couple of wingers with pace (like Jones), together with another experienced midfielder to add to Morris and Browne.
Instead of which Fry, Targett, and Browne have all been allowed to depart along with Hackney, and will need to be replaced.
By contrast our entire faltering forward line all remain in situ.
What we are left with so far is a debilitating lack of continuity and experience, a bleeding away of our best qualities and the retention of our worst.
No wonder Hellberg looks fraught.
Our four January signings, three of them inexperienced at Championship level, contributed little or nothing to our promotion run-in. One of them has already departed on loan
Our recruitment team needs to approach the next few weeks with a completely different mind set.
Hellberg should tell them, "Bring me no more promising prospects or hidden gems. Enough with the kids"
Anyone we sign this Summer needs three qualities: Experience, Experience and Experience.
That's what Hull had last season, even with a transfer embargo. And, of course, three of their squad were players we considered surplus to our requirements over the past few seasons.
@lenmasterman. Excellent post Len.
It pains me to say it but KH’s tenure is beginning to mirror that of MC.
First year exceeded expectations but ultimately failed to be promoted. Then lost key players at the season end who were replaced with players who eventually proved not up to the task of even making the play offs, which had been made even harder to achieve when LL was sold during January.
Unless there are some major experienced additions in key positions in the next few weeks, allied to moving on some of the dead wood, then I fear KH is in for a torrid season. 😎
It feels like like another don't get your hopes up we are potless story
Whilst some of the transfer money will be paid over a number of seasons MFC can, if they wish, “invoice discount” the monies owing and receive it now by paying a fee to the Factoring company, thereby making cash immediately available should they need it.
I am not suggesting they should but can do so if they wish; they have used similar schemes in the past with the requisite charges over the funds due being registered at Companies House. 😎
EG are now saying sources at Boro have squashed this link. 😎More transfer gossip:
WOW so much early negativity, we have had one real pre season friendly and already people are nit picking 😱. We played a reasonably strong Celtic side with our own depleted squad through illness and players coming back from the world cup and injury. I personally would prefer to see players miss the first few games than play at 80%, we should know from previous seasons that the main transfer business is done in the last week or so of the window. MFC tend to keep their targets close to their chest for as long as they can but once known we can be outbid such as Lewis Dobbin.
I personally did not see anything wrong with Kim Hellberg in his interviews but then again I wasn’t looking for something wrong. Time up until the end of the window will tell and even then a “big name” (Jordan Rhodes) may not be as successful as in his previous club. Any transfer has a certain amount of risk and some can perform as a complete surprise (LL, Akpom etc) while others can nosedive (Alves).
I will leave it to those responsible who have far greater knowledge than I.
Come on BORO.
@k-p-in-spain yes, like a few other clubs, they have used the Australian Company, Macquarie.
Len, a very good post and yes KP, it is staring to look like "Groundhog Day"
If you want to be at the top end of the table, generally you need experience, and if it is in the Championship, that is better.
We are starting to look as though we will have a squad of players, with a large number either inexperienced, Castledine, Peart-Harris, Joseph (limited), Munroe (going on loan to a midtable league 1 club), Acadamy Players and those brought in from other clubs to fill the spaces.
Then we have those players that are just not good enough and will be difficult to move on. Hansen, Sene, Kante, Sarmiento, Edmundson and possibly Dieng.
To end up with a meaningful squad of 25 that includes the requisite experience and strength in depth, unlike last season, that is capable of staying fit and encompass all that is Hellberg-ball, given its demands is going to be one, big, big ask.
I am not sure MFC, Scott and Jones will be able to give Hellberg to necessary tools.
Sad news
Kevin Keegan has passed away
@exmil. I was distinctly unimpressed with Celtic. If they are Champions in Scotland then to my mind it doesn’t say much for the quality of the rest of the league. 😎
For everyone not logged in, I have just posted details about the COTS challendge for the upcoming season here:
https://diasboro.club/forum/members-lounge/the-diasboro-cots-challenge-2026-27/#post-45437
You need to be logged in to see this in the Members lounge area.
Do your observations just highlight how we are struggling to meet the new financial constraints we are forced to operate under
Not pointing at this staff , just a general observation over many years, when is it time to coach up the players you have rather than whistling in the wind for unknown prospects elsewhere, there's been more bad signings , obviously this the reason were still where we are , than those that make us stronger,v
I'm for experienced solid , consistent signings if we are going for it, however I can accept eighth place if kids from the academy are given a chance ten to fifteen games, going forward,
Not harping on about the past but Stan Anderson ,played Mills 17 years old, Maddren 18, Butler 18,
Big Jack, Stan Cummins 18, Alan Willey CF 17 years old others, to recent years Hackney, all I'm saying is we must have them
Just a view
COB
I’m not looking for negativity at this stage either. If I recall, the majority of people on here were convinced at this stage pre season last year that we were going to have a shocking year with mid table mediocrity at best. How did those predictions go?
I’ll wait to see actually competitive game performances before I pass judgement. The sun’s shining, England came third in the World Cup and Wigan Warriors are second in SuperLeague. I’ll take that for now.
@gt David Hodgson, Mark Proctor, etc. We need to give the kids a chance.
Boro spend £ 5 million a year on the academy alone. There should be at least one player coming through a year. Hackney and Br were the last ones. Who next?
Up the Boro!
Exactly, I just think is signing these unknowns,who struggle,are they in the way of our academy players, Its strange because academy players if sold at a decent profit it doesn't brake ffp rules or what ever it is now
It’s the nature of life in the Championship really - can’t afford to pay wages of any player good enough for the PL and most signings from abroad are punts and then try to catch solid championship pros towards end of their contracts and hope a few youngsters kick on and take their chances - plus hope the usual sick-notes stay fitter than last season like McGree and Bangura.
Each season sees a high turnover of players and by the time decent players arrive and get match fit ten games have gone - not to mention Championship managers rarely last 2 seasons so the prospect of building on the previous campaign is something of a lottery.
Still, it’s probably the most exciting and intriguing league in Europe as nobody can really predict what will happen - well that’s my COTS Challenge excuse in early 😏
I was listening to a Podcast and they asked the question as to which of the 17 teams not relegated from the Premiership are likely to be in danger this season. Nobody could suggest anybody and it came down to a feeling that the three going up may well be the three coming down.
I enjoyed last season as much as any season that I can remember. The competition is insane and the way Hellberg plays made for a lot of fun. I’m really looking forward to the coming season.
i want to see us go up to the premier league but, to be honest, I am not sure that I’ll enjoy the season as much as being in the Championship.
UTB
Boro agree a deal for Will Lankshear, who is due in the Northeast today for his medical.
Come on BORO.
Lankshear fee rumoured to be £10m plus £10m in add ons, also 20% sell on and the right to match the sell on fee.
Come on BORO.
Are we happy with Lankshear if he signs?
@paulinboro Yes, with him and Strelec we have two outstanding (Championship) centre forwards fighting for one starting spot in the team.
I just cannot understand how we can afford a fee like that. Up the Boro!
Apparently Sky are reporting it as £14m with performance related add ons taking it up to up to £20m in totalLankshear fee rumoured to be £10m plus £10m in add ons, also 20% sell on and the right to match the sell on fee.
Come on BORO.