Interesting to read that Kieran McKenna has left Ipswich - no doubt anticipating a stressful season trying to avoid another relegation may have sealed his decision to take a break - it certainly wouldn't have helped is future prospects to get relegated again and you can imagine come October the managerial sackings will provide better opportunities.
In truth, Ipswich were lucky to scrape second spot last season as it looked harder for Boro to finish outside the top two after going top with a third of the season left - indeed, Boro ended the season by only winning 4 of their last 15 games (19 points from 45). Whereas, Ipswich were unbeaten in their last 13 games with 30 points from 45 as they ultimately finished 4 points ahead of Boro.
Also a bit of a surprise to see Rob Edwards getting sacked by Wolves as the narrative seemed to be that he was appointed with the Championship in mind. His record in the PL was W3 D9 L15 after taking over a team that had just 2 points after 11 games. If you take away the fact his team lost their first 7 games against teams like Villa, Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool and Brentford then 18 points from their last 20 games wasn't that bad for a team already doomed.
Still no sympathy for Edwards but he'll still be smiling as he signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Wolves and will be well compensated!
Good to see Edwards has got his just deserts. 😎
Good to see Edwards has got his just deserts. 😎
O dear, how sad! As others have said, I am sure he will have a decent pay off.
The world of football is truly madness of the highest order. As I have said before, if I failed to perform in my job when working and then dismissed, I would not receive anything.
Also picking up on the transfer fee issue - it is becoming increasingly difficult to compete with the silly money being paid for young and average players.
At times I do wish that the big clubs had gone with their breakaway league and leave the rest of us to ourselves!
@jarkko. Obviously tongue in cheek there Jarkko, I assume you were having a laugh. 🤪
34 appearances for Fulham.
ONE GOAL, ONE ASSIST. Not even if he played for free. Well maybe!!!!
Yes football is now even more of a money game - especially the sham that is being dressed up as a World Cup in the US that is just blatant contempt for football fans - tickets costing $1,000 or more with the justification by Infantino being if they were cheaper they'd only be sold on the black market for more. Presumably, there's a different excuse for raising a $12.90 Metro ticket to travel to the ground to a staggering $98 (though they actually wanted to make them $150) - with the German players now offering to pay the transport of the 600 fans making the trip.
Add in barring the top African referee from entry into the country and the risk of having to listen to Trump say anything at all then what is this tournament but exploitation of sport for the whims of the rich and powerful.
I just can't get interested in actually wanting to watch it.
Me neither. It's effectively the MAGA World Cup with the hosts bombing one of the participating countries, a FIFA referee denied entry to the US because he is African ICE officials patrolling the matches to arrest anyone they deem to be undesirable, and no doubt the bombastic, narcissistic, psychopathic POTUS hogging the camera and the trophy when it is finally won. A disgusting betrayal of the world's greatest game. Its ability to bring people from different countries and cultures together here being used in the service of a philosophy of racial discrimination and cultural division.
@werdermouth - International football hasn’t interested me for a while and the World Cup, even when England are playing, doesn’t have the appeal it used to. Not sure when the rot set in.
I can recall nearly putting a hole in the ceiling of a North Wales cottage in 1990 and listening to the Argentina game whilst driving to a training course back in 86………..
@werdermouth I just can't get interested in actually wanting to watch it.
Me too. Not watched a lot of football other than Boro, for some time now. Internationals more so.
Will I watch England, not in the group stage, possibly in the KO’s, but only if the timing suits me.
This just about sums up the World Cup for me: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/omar-artan-scandal-gianni-infantino-donald-trump-world-cup?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
For an Englishman I have to say I am more interested in seeing how Scotland do, but won't be sitting up to watch games at silly'o'clock. Depending on the schedule for any knockout games, I might sit up to watch Scotland then (assuming they do qualify).
No interest at all in any of the other games, but might also be tempted to watch if England do make it to the semis.
And what is all of that nonsense about the next world cup being across 6 different countries on either side of the Atlantic Ocean? Idiocy. Although you have to pray at least one of those countries will put severe travel restrictions/bans on US team members, officials and supporters.
Just seen an article in the Mail, about Everton being sue by Burnley over the formers PSR breach and points deduction in 2022. They started the 2023/2024 season with minus six points eventually.
Burnley were still not happy, sued Burnley and have been awarded possibly around 30 million. Everton will appeal.
I wonder if this will rule out any further bid for Hackney, and narrow the field.
It's an interesting development that Burnley are able to sue Everton because they were not penalised in the season where they failed P&S - though given the financial year for clubs usually ends in June then they were never likely to be given a points penalty in that season.
I'm sure a good lawyer could argue that Everton would never be given a points deduction until the following season so Burnley's argument - i.e. 'if the six points had been deducted before the season ended then they would've avoided relegation' - is something that could never have happened.
The other factor in the 2020-21 season is that it was the Covid season played in front of empty stadiums - Everton are arguing that they had planned to offload several players to balance the books but the transfer market had stagnated as clubs lost revenue.
I suspect the case could run for some time - incidentally, here's a link to an article that looked into Everton's finances during that period and it's fair to say they were a financial basket case and an extremely badly run club with the highest operating debts in the PL.
Alfie Jones on the bench for Canada's opening match against Bosnia & Herzegovina this evening.
I can’t help thinking Rob Edwards should have stayed at a big club………
Couldn’t agree more!
I wasn’t wishing he’d stayed, just expressing my extremely unsympathetic view of his career choices!
Folarin Balogun: from Arsenal loanee at Boro to star of the show (reportedly) in the USA's opening match in the World Cup against Paraguay, emerging with two goals to his credit...
Ghastly shirts!
@stircrazy I thought Balogun looked familiar, but needed to google to find why. Yes, he did play for us but I had forgot him!
About the shirt of the USA. Theirs are favourites of my wife. 😁
Up the Boro!
Sorry, meant "forgotten". Happens when you change form in the middle of the thought.
Up the Boro!
Alfie Jones on the bench for Canada's opening match against Bosnia & Herzegovina this evening.
And Sontje Hansen in the starting line-up for Curaçao against Germany, which kicks off at 18.00 BST.
@exmil I cannot imagine how we will move him on. ☹️
Elsewhere, Hartlepool United have appointed former Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton as new assistant first team head coach.
Clayton has agreed a two-year contract at Victoria Park, with the club holding the option of a further year.
Up the Boro!
Transfer window officially opened today but I don’t see any real business happening until after the world cup, probably not until August either although we would all want players in before pre season starts in July.
Come on BORO.
So Spain draw 0-0 with Cap Verde today. A lot of possesion by the Iberians - like Boro did against the bottom teams last season. Up the Boro!
The Socceroos game was similar to a Boro game for Turkey. They had 72% possession and 30 shots, but Australia scored two breakaway goals and won the game, whilst making only 271 passes with 74% accuracy.
Apparently Hull have a £250m war chest
@mw-in-darwin Yes, even more like Boro 😆. Unfortunately, I did not see the match in full.
I like the WC while there are no Boro matches. Keeps you busy while waiting for the new season to start.
Up the Boro!
@mw-in-darwin
That first goal scored by Nestory Irankunda, who plays for Watford, was a cracker.
@jarkko
The Cabo Verde goalkeeper was fantastic. Surprisingly agile for a 40 year old.