I disagree slightly on Reece James - I actually think he is an excellent all round fullback, attacking and defending.
If we were talking about Trent Alexander Arnold I’d agree but I think James is a much better defensively. I’d go as far as to say that if it wasn’t for injuries, he’d be considered world class.
He is always injured though, same as Livramentno as you say and I think it was a mistake to take both, compounded by not replacing Livramento with another right back when he left the squad.
@andy-r and others. Thanks for the good wishes. It is nothing as serious as Bob and John and others in here have been dealing with. Just dealing with something that afflicts many the older gentleman. Hopefully just a simple ovenight stay and a few weeks discomfort for me.
NE going with strong belief of MFC signing Hull City player Kyle Joseph. Not an out and out number 9. Only made 27 starts out of 46 and did not play in the POF due to an injury picked up against Millwall.
Hull need to sell a couple of players before July 1st to comply with PSP.
I did not know that Aston Villa paid 9 million apparently for Lewis Dobbin, who has a red flag against him. For PNE, he tended to be subbed after 60 minutes or so. 33 starts, averaging 67 minutes, 10 goals, 8 assists.
Is this type of player the right profile for Hellberg’s press system that saps the legs after 60/70 minutes?
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Best wishes, Bob and Powmill. Hope things go better over the next few weeks, and that you can both look forward to the new season
I assumed that this was a Morgan Rogers type transfer a player who Villa had developed and wanted to sell on. But with them paying 9/10 million, and never playing him, you would think that they would want their money back and I would be surprised if we would commit that sort of money on a player that is not an out and out striker, with a poor injury record he only completed 90 minutes 7 times last season, although 4 of those were in the last 5 games. I think that players running out of steam is OK if you have good replacements on the bench which was our major problem last season. Some good news on the injury front, Alfie Jones on the bench for Canada on Sunday, and also with Canada progressing more money for Middlesbrough as FIFA give clubs money on a daily basis for players who are involved. We should receive at least US$375000 for Hansen and Jones' involvement. Not massive but every little helps.
@mw-in-darwin Good to see Alfie Jones back. But he will still miss the start of the Boro pre-season that will start on Thursday. The next game for Canada will be on Saturday - around the same time as the Boro squad will head for a week in Portugal.
But good to know he is fit now. Even if he would miss most of the pre-season. Up the Boro!
@mw-in-darwin Internet talking of a fee of 7 million. However if it was a Roger’s type buy, there could be lots of add ons in there that won’t be met. Still even at 5 mil, that would be too much for probably a part time player.
Very best wishes to OFB and Powmill. I hope you’re soon both feeling much better and in full recovery very soon.
I’m writing this from a hospital ward where I’m waiting for an op this morning to fix a detached retina - I currently have no sight in my right eye - and this will be followed, they say, by a few weeks of discomfort. So, to any of you who have ongoing health problems, you have my every sympathy! Incidentally, it may also mean I have to miss the start of the season, as it will depend on whether or not I can drive. 🤞🤞
On the issue of Dobbin, I don’t know anything about his injury record, but my PNE supporting mate, Mike, really rated him as one of the best young players he’d ever seen.
Best wishes, Clive. Hope it all goes well.
I have to say that I am astonished that Boro have allowed Fry's contract to run down so that he could now available free to any club who fancies him- and there will be many, including Premier League teams if they have any sense.
The sins committed by our recruitment team are not confined to their long list of hidden gems who would have been best left buried. They also include players who were allowed to leave whom we should have held on to.
@lenmasterman. Len, that assumes that a deal has not already been agreed by Dale and MFC and just not signed/announced yet.
If, however, your take on the situation is correct then I agree totally that this is a major failing/risk on MFC’s part.
We also don’t know Dale’s stance, he may think after so many years loyal service and failure to achieve his dream of playing in the EPL that now is the time to consider other options.
We may here something once the players return to training on Thursday. 😎
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Clive. I pray it goes well for you, my better half has to have injections in both eyes, over thirty five to date but they are doing the job. Keep us posted!
UTB,
John
NE running with the Headline, HH moving to Everton for 25million.
I will find it hard to believe we will get 25m guaranteed, with probably 5mil being in add ons. But who knows.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/26237111.hayden-hackney-verge-middlesbrough-exit-everton/
BBC are saying this move is also very likely now, but their take on it is as follows:
’The final figure is still being discussed with Hackney …….but sources say it will be at least £16m.’
I think they mean the final contract details are still being discussed with HH, obviously! But I shall be livid beyond words if Boro accept such a paltry fee. They must surely value him much more highly than that!
From what I've read it has been the length of contract that has been a stumbling block. With Dael's injury record it is not surprising that MFC are offering a shorter contract. This is a player who has never made 40 league appearances in a season, the most he has ever played is 36 in 2019-20. In the past two seasons he has played in 50 out of a possible 92. Most of the rumours are saying West Ham are at the front of the queue, and with their parachute payments are able to offer a higher salary, particularly to a free agent.
@mw-in-darwin Personally I would like to resign him.
However given his injury history and our poor record with players that that have constant injury issues, Bangura, McGree, Castledine? and hopefully not Jones, plus the number of others that missed chunks, Silvera and even Hackney, can we financially take a risk on a three year deal say, including a signing on fee.
West Ham could afford to, we cannot.
Do we have any inside info on the HH fee. I'm hoping for Pds25 million, maybe after some achievable add-ons plus a sell-on fee on top of that.
I'd offer Dael Fry two years with a third year at the club's option. When he plays he is wonderful.
We do also need to take some serious decisions on all of these superstar youngsters that we are supposed to have. Are there genuine candidates for the first team who can backup our acquisitions? Is there a future Hackney, or a goal-scorer, or a centre-half and a couple of fullbacks. They are all under the age limit and so don't affect the 25-man squad but its about time somebody came through.
UTB
Hackney sale to Everton now reported as £16.5m with a further £8m in add-ons.
Any idea what ‘add-ons’ means, anybody?
if it means Everton will pay the rest in instalments over a couple of seasons, I’d be very unhappy with that, as it would seriously hamper our ability to recruit the obvious quality we need this summer.
Most of the media are running with the same story now.
16.5 to be paid, possibly up front? 5 for appearances and then the biggy. 3 for Champions League and England. Unfortunately the CL is probably slim to no chance. Even England is low as there are a number of younger players ahead of him.
Disappointing really and if there is no sell on clause, even more so. I hope any money released is spent wisely and better than the last two seasons on forwards.
Expansive article from the NE on why we are signing Kyle Joseph
@mw-in-darwin. Yes I have now picked up on that the length of contract is the stumbling block and given his playing record you can understand MFC’s reluctance to agree anything long term; sorry to see him go, if he does, but it is what it is. 😎
@pedro. If he is so good then why let him go? I understand they need to raise funds but why him and not someone else?
At £5M I have concerns given we have wasted £3M on Sarmiento but I suppose I will need to wait and see if it proves to be a good investment or otherwise. 😎
@selwynoz. I think we have to question the economics and productivity of our Academy.
The projects are spoken about plenty, train with the first team, sit on the bench occasionally on match days, but however none are playing as first picks, apart from Sol Brynn, and a few on here are doubters.
We have brought a fair number in from other clubs and locals also, but none appear to be suitable back ups. Right Back for instance.
People mention McCormack, but I very much doubt he will make it at MFC. Likewise McCabe.
@k-p-in-spain Possibly the player they can sell the quickest, as today is the last day to do deals. Also as much as they like him, I would say that none of their current squad is good enough for the EPL.
To have any chance of staying up, they would have to do a “Sunderland” and splash the cash. Remember, they were I believe, the fourth highest spenders at around 150 million, although they did sell Watson for 10 and Bellingham for three times what he was worth. Hull don’t have probably any player they could sell for 10 million.
The reported £16.5 m for Hackney with additional add ons which might happen or might not happen is a poor deal for Boro when you consider some of the fees paid by other Premiership clubs teams. Surely the best player in the Championship is worth more than the reported deal.
philip of Huddersfield 👎☹️☹️
If Hackney had more than one year left on his contract then £16.5m as a starting price would be £5m+ too low for me. As is it is, I can understand it.
@andy-r I’d agree with that assessment - to get £20m/£25m we’d have needed to sell him last year.
On Wednesday Spurs agreed to sell the centre-back Luka Vuskovic to Brighton in a £50m deal. Vuskovic, part of the Croatia squad at the World Cup, was bought by Spurs for £10m from Hajduk Split last summer but has never played for the club, after being loaned to Hamburg last season.
Brighton have agreed to pay £46m plus £4m in what are regarded as easily achievable add-ons. Spurs have matching rights if Brighton agree a deal to sell Vuskovic and a 20% sell-on clause if he moves elsewhere.
Matching rights and a sell-on clause. Now that's what we should get for Hackney.
UTB