Carabao Cup
BORO v Wrexham at The Riverside
Friday August 7, 8.00pm (Sydney – Saturday August 8, 5.00am)
SLIDING DOORS or THE END OF ETERNITY.
Most readers will know the film SLIDING DOORS and the idea that a small, even insignificant, change in events can cause a complete change in the outcome. Also, as lovers of time travel will know, there is a book by Isaac Asimov called THE END OF ETERNITY. This is the story of a universal management organisation whose role is to solve observed problems by moving through time and making the smallest possible changes. However, this doesn’t quite work out because their objective is to maintain the status quo and maintaining the status quo is not always the best thing to do. It can lead to stagnation.
Anyway, let’s start by going back to Saturday, May 2, 2026. It’s somewhere around 2.15 in the afternoon at Y Cae Ras in Wrexham – The Racecourse Ground to us non-Welshies - and Boro have just drawn 2-2 against Wrexham in the last scheduled fixture of the 25/26 season.
Here in Sydney, it was 11.15 in the evening, and I didn’t really know what to feel. It had been clear for quite a long time that Ipswich were going to win their match and that meant that we were not going to get automatic promotion. In fact, that horse had bolted earlier when the Australian idiot Jarred Gillett awarded Ipswich a highly dubious penalty that enabled them to draw a match that we were looking likely to win.
My brain switched to the play-offs. I rationalised that the actual position didn’t matter and I settled in to await the usual play-off experience. What I didn’t realise was that the ‘SLIDING DOORS moment’ had already passed earlier that afternoon or evening.
Would we have beaten Southampton if the first game had been in Southampton; who knows, but now that we are about to start on a new season it is only natural to think back to that game with Wrexham and, in doing so, I realised that, for them, this was a similar ‘SLIDING DOORS moment’. The additional two points that they could have gained would have put them into the play-offs as well.
Anyway, that is all in the past, but we do find ourselves faced with the question of how much change is needed for this season to be better than the last one. Should it be a small incremental change or should we make big changes. The two clubs, Boro and Wrexham, seem to have taken quite a different approach. Looking at it from a Middlesbrough point of view, change in still very much in the air and it feels as if the new season has crept up on us very quickly. We don’t feel ready for it to start in earnest next week.
Boro are still deep into their transfer activity which, thankfully, is looking very positive. We have added six new players of whom one, Jeremy Sarmiento, is the fulfillment of an obligation attached to his loan deal. And another Jon McLaughlin, is a 38-year-old back up keeper and de facto coach. The other four are all very positive acquisitions.
First in was Myles Peart-Harris, a versatile midfielder/attacking midfielder who was available on a free transfer. He is 23 years old and known to Adi Viveash from the Chelsea academy and the Boro coaching team have clearly seen something in him that they hope to develop. He has loan experience in the Championship but, at this stage, we must see him more as a squad player than the next Morgan Rogers.
Next up is Kyle Joseph, a versatile 24 y-o forward who joined Boro from Hull City for an officially undisclosed fee, which is said online to be around Pds4 million, including any add-ons. Joseph is described as a player in the Tommy Conway mould, very willing to run wherever needed, be it in attack or in a more defensive press. He scored 8 goals last season despite some injuries and is seen very much as a ‘play-anywhere’ player who, according to Kim Hellberg, may surprise us with his goal contributions.
Next in was the first of Boro’s major coups. We beat off a crowd of other clubs to sign 21 y-o striker, Will Lankshear, from Tottenham. Lankshear is the epitome of a target man, able to play with his back to goal, battle the centre back as needed andscore goals. Yay!!. He spent last season at Oxford and, in a side that was relegated, he managed to appear in 44 games and score 11 goals. The fee is reported as Pds8 million guaranteed and another Pds8-12 million subject to add-ons, plus a sell-on percentage. Given that Boro were superb at creating chances and absolutely useless at taking them, the addition of Lankshear and Joseph is already looking like a major step forward.
The fourth of this group is another impressive piece of transfer activity, the acquisition of Sebastian Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps. Berhalter is a 25 y-o midfield dynamo who played all five games for the US national team in the World Cup, scoring once. He is a fast, box to box midfield player who is said to be a dead-ball specialist. All of this is music to the ears of any Boro supporter as we all know that Hellberg demands pace and who knows that we hardly ever score from set pieces. Another big plus is that the fee was only Pds1.5 million plus a sell-on percentage. He was six months from the end of his contract which explains the low fee. Also, on top of being a good fit for our Hackney-less midfield, he is a great friend of Aiden Morris which certainly can’t hurt his acclimatisation to MFC.
What strikes me about these acquisitions is that they are all young and not yet in their prime. They are good enough to play now but can only get better. Good for the team but good for the bottom line. The final transfer fees have the potential to be high but that would probably mean that the team has been doing really well.
Having said that, the squad still seems short of where it needs to be. Berhalter and Lankshear have only been with the club for a week or two. We are told that there are other places to be filled in - which means that people will have to be sold - and all of that will create a lot of uncertainty as the management tries to establish the final shape for the team. One thing that is clear is that all these acquisitions are ‘Hellberg’ players. They are fast and versatile, but they need integrating into the overall plan so that they are up and running, ready for the true start of the season against Lincoln City next week.
It seems likely that we will add more players during this very positive transfer window. Max Arfsten seems to be on his way to be first choice left back/left wingback. On top of that, there is talk of another goalkeeper to challenge Brynn, a centre back to cover Jones and Malanda and maybe a versatile midfield player to do the fill-in work that Browne did last year.
Also worth mentioning is the list of players not included in the Espanol squad; Conway, Jones, Strelec, Joseph, Peart-Harris and McGree to name just six who would have a reasonable shot at the first team or first team squad.
That means that potentially there could be up to 10 players to be added to the large squad which had a solid runout against Espanol. I’m writing this just after the 3-3 draw and I’ll leave it to those who attended to report in detail but it’s good to read that Lankshear and Berhalter made an impact, Berhalter delivered a corner that we actually scored from(!) and Castledine scored twice and seems ready to join the battle for a forward position. However, even with some positive signs, that is a large group of players that is still trying to learn new patterns.
The main problem for Hellberg may be that of finding the best combination of players and it’s quite possible that the Wrexham game will be merely the next step in getting the team ready for the real start against Lincoln. The club does seem to have learned the lesson that Isaac Asimov put forward. If you want large scale positive change, be brave and bold. Steve Gibson has backed the management team to do exactly that. It is very exciting, particularly if we get some of the additional players who have been mentioned.
Now a word about Wrexham and the coming match. Strange though it is to report, given their spending prowess, Wrexham seem to have taken a different approach to the season. They have only added one player, a Pds5 million defender/full-back/wingback. Instead of concentrating on players, they seem to be extremely busy delivering ‘Brand Wrexham’ to the world. This is their recent schedule
11/7 Wisla Krakow in Krakov 0-0 23,000
18/7 Man U in Helsinki 1-0 20,000
24/7 Leeds in Tampa 3-2 (no crowd published)
29/7 Liverpool in New York 0-1 42,000
To play
2/8 Sunderland in Philadelphia. (I’ll update the result tomorrow)
This might be very good for their bottom line and there may be more players to come, but only arriving back on Monday for a match on Friday after such an extensive tour hardly suggests that they are going to be primed for the game. Maybe they feel that they spent their money last year and they only need to play together to get ready for the season. Perhaps they will be completely in sync and will surprise us all – let’s not forget Doncaster last year – but there’s a good argument for saying that both squads will be looking well beyond Friday night and see this match as only the next step in getting ready for the start of the season proper.
Does this mean that the game is unimportant? Yes and no. I’d like to see us win but can see that there are still changes to be made. I don’t think that the Carabou Cup is a prime target for either team.
Finally, an amusing thought that links the two clubs. Boro may well now challenge Wrexham as the favourite overseas team for US soccer followers. We could have three members of the USMNT in our team this season and, surely, there must be a TV show in there somewhere.
Sorry for going on at such length but let’s hope for a good start, no injuries and then a chance for @werdermouth to break his duck against Lincoln.
UP THE BORO
Thanks for the intro Selwynoz
Good to get the season up and running with the League Cup game. This is a competition in which our recent record is nothing short of abysmal, particularly at home. The last time we won a knock out tie at the Riverside was in 2018, a 3-3 draw with Notts County which we won on penalties. We haven't scored a goal, except the 1-0 v Chelsea not a knock out game, since 2019, 2-2 with Crewe lost on Penalties. The last 5 League Cup games at the Riverside have an aggregate score of 1-12. Surely something must change on Friday night.
Many thanks Selwynoz for getting us up and running for the new season with that excellent preview that covers where Boro are currently at. I've read a bit of Asimov a while back (Foundation series) but missed out on the End of Eternity - which I presume was not as it sounded about waiting for Boro's return to the PL!
Hard to judge how all the new signings will gel together but the team looks to be adding more consistent fire-power in the final third - still a bit worried about the thinness of the defence as we know a few injuries could lead to fixes and square pegs. The arrival of Arsten and return of Jones should add more solidity and yes avoiding a defensive injury seems essential.
I'm looking forward to watching the Wrexham Carabao game as it will be an ideal test ahead of the league season - though August/September tends to be an erratic period for many teams as they adjust to the arrival on new players and in many cases a different league.
Hard to believe the season is already back - especially as we've got a week of 30-degree temperatures coming up over here - so hopefully cooler in the NE for football!
Excellent opener to start season 26/27, thank you Selwynoz.
As you allude to it doesn’t seem that long ago that we were coming to terms with the twists and turns of last season.
This is clearly a match to continue with the squad overhaul and to see which players can make positive contributions, in what will be an even more challenging Championship season starting against Lincoln.
Whilst in the overall scheme of things the competition may not be high priority, the team performance and result are; we need to get off to a good start and ideally a win even if that means creating less chances but taking them.
I just wonder if Wrexham might suffer from second season syndrome, as often promoted teams do and struggle to do as well as their first year when gaining promotion.
I am going for a 2-1 home win which I will have to catch up on as Friday night is “out to dinner” night and Mrs P escaping the kitchen. 😎
Another great starter to get the season off and running. Thanks Selwynoz.
We’ve got tickets for an evening event at Castle Howard so may have to record the game to watch later. Whilst a League Cup run may seem unimportant, no one can ever take 29th February 2004 in Cardiff away from us. That was some day and I’d love the next generation of supporters to be able to experience one similar.
Just to repeat what I reported on the summer transfer window thread, the match is being shown live on ITV1 from 19.30, a boon for me, as I'm not a Sky subscriber.
Selwynoz, thank you for a detailed opener, including how Wrexham have been doing pre season, on paper it looks as though they have been doing extremely well but, as in all pre season games it is not known the strength of the opposition team on the day. To travel back from a tour of the USA on Monday prior to our match on Friday night does not seem to be the best planned preparation.
Fresh from the Riverside yesterday, I am more optimistic than I was before, yes we conceded 3 goals against a very talented La Liga side, the first a “worldly” and the other two, slick fast moving passing. We also scored 3 very good goals against a decent side, so I prefer to look at the positives, especially as it is only the second (and last) proper preseason friendly. It has already been quoted that Boro don’t class the Caraboa Cup as a priority this season so maybe KH will count this as our final preseason friendly but without so many changes, also the fact that Boro have not opened the whole ground (I can’t have my usual seat in the East Upper) adds to how they are treating it.
Come on BORO.
Many thanks for your excellent opener, which has set us up really well for the forthcoming season.
As others have said, it seems to be upon us far too soon. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, as yet, as we really should be in the Prem, having blown our best chance in years last season. Perhaps I’ll dredge up some enthusiasm by Friday.
I know the Carabao isn’t important to either side, but it still is to our fans. So I want us to win and ideally go on a good Cup run. They usually bring cash into the coffers, allow fringe players some opportunities to play and, crucially, build momentum and confidence.
A summary of the last pre-season match in here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hB2gqXHOEqo?is=gJGtdmnLWBA6__r9
Please note the background, too. It is ours!
Up the Boro!
Always love your starters, Selwyn. They are so thoughtful and well composed. What is great about them is that they are so full of original takes and ideas that they stimulate us all to reflect further on the points that you raise. I'd like to respond in more detail later this week if I can, but the next few days are going to be hectic. But I'll try and get back. Thanks for such a splendid start to the season
Update as promised. Sunderland beat Wrexham 1-0. I don’t have the attendance but we can assume that Wrexham are in their way back.
UTB
Attendance 16009 according to Yahoo sports. Subaru Park in Philadelphia has a capacity of 18500.
@mw-in-darwin
The ground would have been pretty full then, so maybe it was worthwhile for both clubs?
Fantastic season opener, Selwyn. When the random number generator plucked your name out first up I knew we were in the safest of hands. So it proved and so much more. Great stuff.
I’m with Clive on this. It’s not the end of the world if we lose but I want to win and see us score some goals - though it will likely be via highlights for me as we’re away for a little while yet.
Thanks again, Selwyn.
Thanks Selwynoz, for a really good description of the complex state of mind that last year's adventure left us.
That is a great Headliner Selwynoz to get us up and running for the new season.
You delivered a thoughtful analysis of the position we are in at the moment, which has all on here wondering just how the cards will fall once MFC and Hellberg have stopped shuffling them on Tuesday 1 September at 23:00 BST.
We have managed to get a number in early and may get our usual complement of loanees at the death.
As I posted after the Espanyol game, my biggest concern is the current injury list, which contains a number of important, probably first team pick players. OK, Conway has had an op or two?, but Jones and the unfortunate (unreliable) McGree have been missing for more time than I would have expected.
It is going to be interesting to see if the club can really cut the numbers of unwanted players. I would not be surprised to see MFC cut their losses on Hamilton with a termination of contract agreement. How they deal with Hansen, Sene, Burgzorg, Edmundson and a couple of the Acadamy players could be difficult.
I do not expect the real Boro to be up and running until possibly mid September. But they may surprise me like last season, and next Friday night could be a good game to start with.
@mw-in-darwin
The ground would have been pretty full then, so maybe it was worthwhile for both clubs?
Being able to draw a crowd for these essentially meaningless pre-season matches does demonstrate the hold that English football has around the world. The Sydney Super Cup final last weekend saw Spurs beat Chelsea in front of 80,000 people after each played well-attended games against A league sides. I don’t know who took the gate money but the tickets weren’t cheap and there must have been a big piece for the two clubs.
As a result of the brilliant commercialisation of the club managed by the US owners, Wrexham are seen in the US as a high-profile underdog and the club has a substantial and lucrative US following. This enables them to stand alongside the EPL sides and generates big money to set alongside the ongoing documentary and other income.
There is an interesting opportunity that could arise for MFC later this year. In the next international break the US team will have friendlies to play and it would be quite something if Boro turned out to have three players in the squad or, even better, playing in the same team. Could we become another ‘cool’ team for US supporters who will be able to walk round with shirts highlighting Morris, Berhalter and Arfsten. There’s a lot of merchandising income potential from 300 million people.
UTB
I have been looking to see who the USMNT are scheduled to play in the next window, and the answer is, currently no one. There will some friendlies announced before the September break which starts in under seven weeks. I was mainly concerned about the travel that may be required for our trio, if picked, with a home game against Wolves 4 days after the end of the break. At least as it is not two days as last season before the Easter fixtures.
Thank you Selwynoz, a very good read.
Whilst it is very early to make predictions I think Wrexham should win this one as they are the more settled side, and had reasonable runs in both cup competitions last season.
For us a loss wouldn't be the worst result in the world. I think in a way losing to Doncaster last season was a blessing in disguise, focusing minds a bit and then succeeded by an unexpectedly strong start to the league campaign.
@selwynoz Thank you for a great opener. It is nice to notice that the season is to begin again. I just hope Dormo will notice this where ever he is now camping. He needs a reminder!
I will have my brother's funeral on Friday. So I will decide very late in the evening if I turn in to ViaPlay and watch the match live on TV. Let's see how I will feel after a tough day.
And all the best wishes to Powmill for your health. Take care and let's hope all goes well, again.
Up the Boro!
@jarkko. So sorry to learn of your brother’s passing. Sincere condolences to you and your family.
In the overall scheme of things, given your loss, Friday’s match is fairly insignificant. 😎
@jarkko So sorry to read that, Jarkko. Very sad news.
Condolences to you and your family.
Football really isn’t very important sometimes.
Max Arfsten in now, another piece of the jigsaw completed.
Come on BORO.
So sorry to hear such sad news, Jarkko. All our thoughts are with you and your family.
@jarkko
I too, am sorry to hear about your brother. My condolences to you and your family.
Just like to add my condolences on the loss of your brother and best wishes to you and your family at this difficult time.