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Blackpool v Boro
 

Blackpool v Boro

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Boro served up a Christmas cracker on Boxing Day as they convincingly felled the Tricky Trees but there’s no time to put our festive feet up as we head to Bloomfield Road on Wednesday evening to take on Blackpool in a 7.45pm kick-off.

Boro fans are in dreamland at the moment as we’ve passed, moved and pressed our way into playoff contention with a style and purpose to our work not witnessed for many a year.

‘70’s glam rockers Slade often make a reappearance at this time of year but it wasn’t Merry Christmas Everybody ringing out from the Riverside, it was Boro’s version of Cum On Feel The Noize as Andraz Sporar scored a goal for Bo-ro and we went wild, wild, wild for a much deserved 2-0 win.

When Boro take all six points from fixtures against Nottingham Forest, you know something’s going on and there’s little doubt now that – slowly yet somehow suddenly - Boro look genuine contenders.

However, with the teams around us largely having games in hand, we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves and the next challenge is Blackpool away, who deservedly beat us at The Riverside earlier in the season.

Thankfully for Boro, the Tangerines were one of the few sides who also played on Boxing Day, suffering a 3-2 reverse to fellow playoff hopefuls Huddersfield Town. The defeat leaves Blackpool in 13th place yet only six points behind Boro and it would only take a short burst of results for them to reposition themselves back into the chasing pack.

However, the form suggests they face a difficult task. With just one win in their last six, Neil Critchley’s men are 20th in the form table against Boro’s 2nd, and 21st for home form against 9th for Boro away. December has been a torrid month for Blackpool with three defeats from four against largely middling sides, conceding eight goals in the process.

With Boro in such confident mood you feel that the points are there for us so long as we apply the same energy, synergy and quality as we’re starting to become accustomed to.

There don’t appear to be any selection issues for Chris Wilder, with Duncan Watmore sensibly rested against Forest and likely to return in what could be the only change to the starting XI. Dael Fry did take a nasty looking knock towards the end of the Forest game but few will have sleepless nights about Sol Bamba or even the well-again Lee Peltier coming in if needed. Indeed, Peltier was one of the few players who came away from the previous encounter with Blackpool with any credit, as he successfully shackled Tangerine dangerman Josh Bowler from left-back. Bowler was at it again at the weekend as he assisted within the opening minute and he may fancy his chances against a slightly undercooked and possibly fatigued Neil Taylor. Bowler’s main asset is his ability to drive infield from the right with his dominant left foot and get shots off. Right-footed Peltier was the ideal match-up for Boro back in September but Boro have a different shape now that could help Bowler on this occasion.

That said, if Bowler does have some joy against Taylor, he’ll still have a dominant Paddy McNair to beat, who looks to be in career-best form, whilst bubbling Boro have now kept four consecutive clean sheets and are on-course for a December shut-out. Quite how that has happened given the chances spurned by Swansea, Stoke, Bournemouth and even Forest is a bit of a mystery but these fragments of fortune have been merited by the overall displays and goodness knows Wilder had no luck at all in his first couple of outings as Boro manager when Millwall elbows went unnoticed and Bamba made just about the only mistake of his career against Preston!

Who knows how many Championship fixtures will go ahead this time around but with Blackpool and Boro both playing on Sunday, this one doesn’t look in particular doubt and the opportunity is there for Boro to establish themselves amongst the league’s best.

As we all know, this league is all about consistency and Boro look to have found it. What a position to be in where the main concern for Wilder’s men appears to be complacency.

Keep it up Boro. Let's make the next dream a Tangerine one.

This topic was modified 2 years ago by Andy R

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Andy, 

Thank you for your Christmas tangerine and review. I've always had a soft spot for Blackpool and they're a team whose result I always look for, I don't know why but then I suppose everyone has a distant team that they follow. I always loved the seemingly unique tangerine strip.

One thought that did occur to me yesterday is that Boro must suddenly look like an attractive destination for players, particularly after yesterday's display in a packed stadium with a noisy crowd plus playing some slick, quality, passing football, that must be a better presentation and more desirable destination than hoofball.

On to Blackpool, I know the bubble must burst at some point but Boro are doing OK so far in their run against higher placed teams.

Stay safe everyone.

UTB,

John

 

PS Mogga is doing well at Blackburn, I'm pleased for him too.


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Great opener, Andy.  

This is just about the first time I can remember when the word 'optimism' doesn't necessarily have to be qualified by the adjective 'cautious' when applied to the Boro. This time it might just be  'justifiable' or even (fingers crossed) 'well- founded'.

What Wilder seems to have achieved isn't simply remarkable, but would qualify as a bleeding miracle.

Doesn't it normally take at least a season or two to change a team's DNA, a way of playing that has been drilled into them with  grinding efficiency by a succession of negatively focused managers? 

Don't you have to make incremental changes, recruit players of a different stripe, and change well-established mind-sets? 

Isn't changing a club's philosophy and establishing a new identity a long-term project- one in which with patience and a bit of luck you might begin to see some signs of progress within a couple of seasons, after the inevitable teething troubles, hiccoughs and set-backs along the way?

Of course it is.

Is it even remotely conceivable that Chris Wilder is managing to do all of these things after a handful of games in charge?

Probably not. 

But if the last two Boro performances amount to anything more than Typical Boro, then we might dare to hope that we are witnessing something approaching a footballing miracle.

The next game can't come fast enough.

 

 

 


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Thanks for the great opener Andy 

The games are coming thick and fast now and a few have been scheduled for transmission on sky sports football.

The Blackpool game is going to have a sell out following of Boro Supporters many of whom have booked up to stay the night as well to continue the partying!

Hopefully the Boro will keep the momentum going and we achieve a creditable result.

I notice that the foam hands club I started a few weeks ago with the appointment of Wilder now has a few followers !

Im going for a 0 2 win fo Boro !

Thanks again Andy 

OFB


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Topic starter  

Thanks Len, and a great point about the speed of the turnaround which I don’t think anyone thought likely.

I think, more by luck than judgement, Boro have put together a squad that was quite a good fit for Wilder. Warnock can take some credit for that, even if I’m not sure he meant it!

The January transfer window is so important now. Wilder may have already passed the test of his own ability to coach, organise and motivate but the biggest test is always recruitment. Get that right and we’re really onto something.

This post was modified 2 years ago by Andy R

jarkko
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Yes, some credit must go to Warnock, too. He has hired a big part of the players Wilder is having now.

Perhaps a bit like Karanka after Mogga or -  more importantly - Big Jack after Anderson. Perhaps, but let's not get carried away.

Up the Boro!


   
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Martin Bellamy
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I’m missing the trip to Blackpool, a ground quite close to home, but hopefully it’ll be available to watch here in Shropshire on Sky or MFC live. 
Another 3 points would be magnificent and give us so much to look forward to in 2022 - I’m assuming the price of Foam Hands will rise even more than our energy bills. 😉


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A different perspective on the Omicron variant, I have a niece that works on the COVID ward at James Cook (and has done since it all started) she was telling me, last Thursday, that there was only 7 patients in the ward (all of which had no vaccinations) and they were basically bored at work.

 I also have a daughter in law who works at a hospital near Portsmouth, who while at lunch, heard two consultants discussing Omicron and they stated Omicron has been about for at least 18 months and although it is very contagious, it is no worse than a heavy cold.

It is not expected today that Boris will announce any further restrictions in England based on today’s statistics. I can vouch for what my niece has said but cannot verify what the two consultants stated about Omicron. I am, in no way, making light of the pandemic especially for vulnerable people but I was took to James Cook by ambulance (suspected another heart attack) on 23rd Dec and the ambulance crew were telling me the things were being built out of proportion by the media and the only people they have picked up with covid have been totally unvaccinated. Fortunately my case was a false alarm and all my blood tests came back normal, so I was in my normal seat yesterday and had a very good Christmas.

 I cannot see any valid reason for the government to put football back behind closed doors again, especially as they are only allowing fully vaccinated etc through the turnstiles, individuals can also make their own choice, based on their circumstances, whether to attend games or not.

Best wishes to everyone for a prosperous and safe 2022.

Come on BORO.


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@exmil

Bloody hell, Exmil - “another suspected heart attack”?

Hope you’re feeling better and the Boro kept you in good spirits.


   
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I don't know whats worse for poor Exmil's ticker, years of Pulis and Warnock or the excitement of Wilder? Regardless get well soon.

My thoughts on the Omicron variant are similar in that the biggest risk seems to be for those who haven't been vaccinated and the sheer numbers of absentees in workforces that are impacting on services. Hopefully it will burn itself out shortly by the sheer rate of infection and with it provide further resistance in the population. Numbers I suspect will surge over the Holiday period but tail off in the New Year.

Excellent opener from Andy and as Len has intimated that word "optimism" is rising almost as fast as the sale of Bob's foam hands!

 


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Excellent discussion on here about Djed Spence.

Boro's victory over Forest adds a few more intriguing ingredients to the mix:

- If you were Jed watching yesterday's game which team would you rather play for in terms of your future career prospects, any ambitions you might have to play at the highest level, and your sheer enjoyment of the game? Jed's answer before the game would appear to have been Forest, according to all reports. After it he must surely be having second thoughts.

- Jed's stock at Forest, already high, appears to have shot through the roof after yesterday's poor showing. A classic case of a player enhancing his reputation by not playing. On the Forest forums, supporters are all too ready to equate their side's worst performance since Cooper took control with Djed's absence. And expressing the view that if Forest are to have any chance of maintaining their good form and giving themselves a chance of making the play-offs then securing Djed's loan extension should be the club's no. 1 priority.

- For a change, we hold all of the best negotiating cards. As Boro fans we are less enamoured of Djed than Forest are.  He had chances galore to establish himself here and fluffed most of them.  He was never a convincing defender as a wing back, and, whilst he had good pace, his returns in terms of goals and assists were disappointing. And as for his general attitude, motivation and body language, the least said the better. If he came back to us in the form he has shown at Forest, he might well prove to be an asset.  But, of course, the right wing-back position is already taken by a young player who has been this season's star performer.

- The consensus on here was that we should bring Djed back, and that may still be the best option.  But it seems a pity not to take advantage, if we could, of the undoubted fact that one of our stand-by players would be regarded by another club as a prize asset. 

- I don't know how much Djed would be worth on the open market, but he's probably worth around £5million and upwards to Forest right now.  Forest appear not to have that kind of money to spend, but what about an exchange deal perhaps with a cash adjustment?  I've been impressed by what I have seen of Johnson over the past few weeks.  He had a terrible first half against us , and his body language was all too reminiscent of Djed's until Forest started to get into the game. But then he turned it on, leaving even Paddy struggling in his wake, and laid on an absolute sitter that, had it been taken, would have put Forest back in the game and perhaps even scenting victory.  There are not too many other Forest players whom we might wish to poach.  Joe Worrall perhaps? As solid a centre-back as you will find in the Championship, and possibly capable of holding his own in the Premier League. He would free up Paddy to play in midfield, or offer an instant solution were a big club to come in with an offer for Fry that we could not refuse.

As Plato, RR and others frequently remind us, the club has a terrible history of negotiating deals with rival clubs, paying through the nose for journeymen whilst under-selling prize assets. 

I'd be interested to know what the blog's brains trust thinks.  Is the club capable of pulling off the kind of creative deal from which we might benefit for a change?  Or are we stuck with the safer and more banal option of having back a young man whom we value less than others?

 

 


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1.  Thanks again for the opener, Andy R.  We always had a tangerine at the bottom of our Christmas stocking, as children (maybe with a few sweets, some nuts, a small toy or two and perhaps a couple of half-crowns).  Decades later, son-and-heir had his own stocking with little presents in it, to tide him over until after breakfast when the big presents under the tree were available to open.

2. I agree with Len that the turnaround in performances, results and even luck, has come very quickly after our change of manager. As has been suggested, Chris Wilder does look like the "real deal".

3. Martin, enjoy your stay in Shropshire.  I hope you are in Absinthe but if you have that awning with its log-burner stove, that would be great for the New Year.  Get the Tilley Lamps lit early for light and warmth, too.  It gets dark VERY early at the end of December!

4. I would like to second Andy R ("Bloody hell,  Exmil -  'Another suspected heart attack.'  ....").    You keep yourself safe and well. I suspect my heartrate went up at the Riverside against Forest.  Boro will benefit from as many supporters as possible.  We can't afford to lose any, whether at the Riverside or on this Blog.


jarkko
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@lenmasterman

TransferMarkt says that Djed's Current market value is £ 2.50m (only). We as Boro fans may think it is higher but this is a realistic value 😇.

Generally speaking, we send a player on loan to make him a better player for us. If the player gets playing time and improves us, then great. It worked for Djed and we get a better player back. 

I think we should get him back to help us now. To get cover at the right wing-back position. Two good players are needed.

Secondly, if we call him back in January, it makes Forest a little bit weaker. At least short term before they can find a replacement.

And finally, if we recall Djed, as he is 21 year old, he won't take a spot in the max squad numbers allowed. Also it takes potentially one U21 spot away from Forest if his replacement happens to be over 21 year old.

But as said, very complicated. But we must always think what is best for our belowed club. Not the player nor Forest.

Up the Boro!

 

This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by jarkko

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Johnson is being talked about in Premiership circles and figures like £15M are being derided by the Trees Forums so that puts him out of our range. That said based on what I have seen of him I'd rather go for Bowler from Blackpool who seems to have a little more bite about him. Johnson to me doesn't look like the sort of player that would dig deep when the going gets tough.

With playing Wing Backs I'm not convinced that either would be an upgrade on Jones in any case under Wilder's system. In terms of Spence's value it's a difficult one but Tranfermarkt values are often way out on real fees achieved so I wouldn't put too much faith in them. At the moment they have Jones valued at £360,000 and even with another zero on that figure Boro fans would be up in arms at the thought of selling him.


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Many thanks for the festive fixture preview Andy and where better for the Boro promotion roller-coaster to head next than Blackpool. As much as I'm looking forward to Boro games these days, sadly it's a game I will more than certainly miss as we have friends arriving to stay with us until Thursday and the last time I checked with Mrs Werder, gathering around the laptop to watch football wasn't on the post-dinner entertainment schedule - you can only suggest nicely once or twice...

Anyway, hopefully it will be another three points and continued momentum up the table. Interestingly, neither of the top two have won a Championship game out the last ten they've played between them - makes everything up for grabs with still half a season left. Boro and Blackburn for automatic promotion anyone?

 


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@exmil

Glad to hear your heart has been passed match fit and I also hope your niece continues to feel bored at work for the foreseeable future. I think it's almost an impossible task for the pandemic modellers to predict with any certainty how Omicron will ultimately pan out given it's barely a month since the first UK cases. Their job is to assess the risk based on what they currently know and refine their models as data arrives. However, the early signs are looking encouraging that it may well be for most vaccinated people a much less serious proposition.

I'm not sure I'd put it down to media hype as most of Europe and other regions including now China are in various degrees of lockdown in order to prevent the virus getting out of control in the absence of any clear data overwhelming health services. I also suspect Boris Johnson is almost unable to introduce stricter measures even if he was inclined to do so given his 100 backbench Covid rebels have indicated he'll be facing those 54 letters of no confidence to provoke a leadership contest should he go further down that path.

Thankfully, it appears the Omicron variant has mutated in a way that it doesn't favour getting to the lungs. Japanese scientist have discovered that Omicron is 70 times more likely to target the bronchial tubes than previous variants, which means it will cause a less severe disease than if it attacked the lung tissues. This has shown with hospitalistions now 70% less likely than for Delta with the average stay much shorter.

Although, I'm sceptical about the overheard conversation of Omicron being around for 18 months given that it has so quickly become the dominant variant in just a few weeks - plus the first case in South Africa was only identified from a sample taken on the 9 November this year. Therefore, I've no idea how two consultants in Portsmouth can come to this conclusion as from what I've read most epidemiologists suggest late October as the earliest time it probably emerged.

Anyway, everyone should remain sensible and cautious and not take any unnecessary risks while still trying to live their lives. I've had my booster two weeks ago but it seems these booster only offer protection against infection for about three months. It may well be that plans for continual quarterly boosters are just not practical and we should perhaps accept we are now protected from serious illness but may well catch Covid at some point and feel a bit ill for a few days.


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@werdermouth

Thanks Werder.  Very informative.

What is worrying is that political considerations are weighing  more heavily upon the English situation than the advice of public health experts.  

The current situation is that if we feel like it we can all go out and get absolutely bladdered en masse on New Year's Eve or any other time. It's a matter of personal choice.

It's not a situation that at the height of a pandemic with current infection rates running at 120,000 a day makes any sense at all to pretty well everyone else that I know.

 


Martin Bellamy
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@forever-dormo We sold Absinthe earlier in the year, cashing in on the crazy prices for Campervans, so we’re at our static van, and very cosy it is too, although the rain seems to have followed us from Lancashire. 


   
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Ken Smith
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I’d take Joe Worrall in exchange for Djed Spence any time.


   
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Folks I am fine but thanks for your words of support. I read Forest supporters tweets after the match and one individual tweeted “let them have Spence back and buy that young Jones, who tore us apart” in my opinion “no chance”.

Come on BORO.


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@ken: Worrall is reported to be involved in a January transfer tussle between Everton and Newcastle and Forest value him at £10m.

Come on BORO.

 


   
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Selwynoz
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Greetings everyone. 

After the excitement of recent matches and the prospect of a huge New Years Day trip to Sheffield United, there has to be a risk that the balloon will deflate a bit for the trip to Blackpool and it will be a test for CW to make sure that they are all up for the match. I saw Ken above saying that he would be happy with 4 points and I just hope that we are not getting carried away because we have - FINALLY - had a bit of luck with other teams missing chances. Of course, winning would be wonderful but three points or maybe even a couple of draws wouldn't be a disaster as the postponed games are going to stack up for other teams.

One topic that had occurred to me and has now been aired a bit on the blog is the ability of CW and his team to turn things round so quickly and what this says for the underlying quality of the squad and our recruitment process. I should start by saying that the way that we helped out first Watmore and then Bamba says a lot for the club even if there was very limited downside and the fact that we ended up with two really good players is the best possible outcome.

Anyway, I had always felt that we had a good quality first 12/13/14 with some good youngsters, a number of whom are out on loan. Summer recruitment was pretty solid this year with Crooks and Sporar being the standout signings and Bamba and Peltier being excellent examples of the quality that is out there if you look and Jones was the great discovery. Payero and Saliki remain question marks but they could still come through in the last three or four months of the season. Wilder and the team has taken this group and, by the quality of coaching and maybe a touch of fitness work, made it substantially better than anything that we have seen for quite a while. Quite how this is possible in a game where everybody analyses everybody else is an interesting question. Any tactical insights would be welcome.

I sense that Wilder wants at least one more striker - maybe two - to cover for Sporar and free up Watmore/Hernandez and we need to have a plan for cover at wingback on both sides. Taylor looks to be another sensible pickup but we are only an injury away from a major problem. CW did say that he wouldn't buy to cover Bola and so he must have other players in mind. We should also remember that Nathan Wood is back available from Jan 1 (I assume) as extra defensive cover.

This obviously raises the question of Spence and I have a couple of thoughts to add. Firstly, we have to remember that a lot of us had given up on Spence because he was a poor defender and he wasn't really delivering the goals or opportunities that should have come from the chances that he had on the ball. Now, we have to ask what exactly has changed at Forest. Is he being given a different role or is he just deciding to try harder. Anyway, it seems very unlikely to me that we will sell him this window because Forest are the only team who would bid for him as he isn't able to play for another team this season. Thus, it leaves two options :-

a) bring him back and use him as cover for the wingback position on either side. This doesn't use up a squad number which is another plus.

b) leave him at Forest in the hope that he will increase in value and we can then sell him in the summer when there will be a proper auction amongst a wider selection of clubs.

Either way, I would suggest that we will keep our options open right up until the end of the window. This will enable us to see whether other recruitment or injuries helps with the decision and it will also screw with Forest a bit because they won't know if they have him for the rest of the season.

A final question that I'll throw in is to ask how it is that we seem to be able to develop so many good young goalkeepers who do brilliantly when out on loan and then never make it through into the first team. Anybody have any thoughts?

All the best everyone. I hope that you all keep well.

UTB

 

 


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Topic starter  

When it comes to Djed Spence or any other player, I’m inclined to write off anything I’ve previously seen of them until they turn out for WilderBoro.

 


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@werdermouth

Thanks for the observations on the Covid Variations.

I like a lot on this site am considered at risk due to age, underlying health conditions and of course a recent heart pacemaker operation.

I regularly get texts from NHS advising me to be socially aware and I haven’t been to a football match or restaurant or indoor event or party for two years. 

Whilst this may seem to be a very insular life style and has restricted our social activities it has also meant that we are still COVID free and have enjoyed walking in the countryside and living and eating a healthy lifestyle. My two sons, a daughter in law and three of my six grandchildren have all had the Virus some within the last three weeks. 

It is still out there and whilst it appears not to affect the young teenager human my sons who are in their fourties’ were badly affected.

Jabs will have to be regularly upgraded and whilst I amd my wife have had 2 plus booster because we have had the booster over two months ago it is not as effective and we have been advised we will require a 4th.

Oral medications are being developed to prevent the spread of the disease and hopefully this will result in a larger take up by the population and the anti Vaxxers some of whom don’t like needles !

I expect this to be a normal part of life for at least another two years and don’t expect to go to a professional football game again which is a great shame. I of course can watch my grandsons play local league outdoors at a safe distance so can get my football fix that way.

So the motto is stay safe Diasborians we want to see promotion this season !

 

OFB


jarkko
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@selwynoz A good post in there.

The goalkeeping position is interesting as there is room for only one keeper in the first team. And you hardly get on as a substitute.

Yes, we have had some good young ones in recent years but none has made to the first team as a regular. But I cannot remember a long term keeper coming through the academy.

Where is Pears junior now? Ansley is not a regular at Blackburn, then there was one in rhe beginning of Karanka era ...

Jim Platt was bought in as a young keeper and he kept the shirt for a long time. Let's hope we will get a long-term solution from one of the current youngters on loan.

Up the Boro!


   
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Site Creator
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@original-fat-bob

I think that the main worry for many, especial those like yourself and others more at risk from complications, is that they have no idea if catching Covid after being boosted will be just a few days feeling ill or something altogether worse. It can be something of a lottery so by far the best policy is the precautionary principle that you are following.

While quarterly boosters may not be given to the general population, those at risk have as yet no alternative. Things may improve once there is a traditional style Covid vaccine (like the flu ones) available but the nature of mRNA ones like Pfizer is that they only offer short-term protection against catching the virus.

Covid will likely become a seasonal virus in the next few years but until then it's better to keep a lid on infections as it protects the spread to the vulnerable and equally importantly prevents the rise of another mutation that may create another problem.

As Len said, allowing 120,000 infections a day and currently 8,500 hospitalisations in the UK is a gamble that could very quickly become a problem that is hard to control. Let's not forget there's still nearly 7 million cancelled hospital appointments to reschedule and that won't be possible until the numbers are trending downwards again - plus I know some members of my family have found it more or impossible to see a GP in the last year.


Ken Smith
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Wise words from OFB. Some older people have become completely disabled by Covid. I too am high risk but have yet to have the booster jab having fallen at Redcar Primary Hospital during my allotted appointment. I am now  housebound and am on a waiting list for having the jab at home sometime in the new year. In some ways I’m fortunate that I have monthly blood tests at home as well as a visit from the urology team every eight weeks to insert a fresh catheter tube. I get support from a lovely couple from Aged UK who live close by to do my shopping, the lady particularly who visits me once a week for a couple of hours and we have a good chat full of humour. She reckons I’m a good raconteur as I talk about my life as a child and my happy times with my wife. I also have a chiropractor to cut my toe nails every eight weeks and a cleaner once a fortnight. I don’t want to go into an old people’s home as I’m capable of cooking for myself and doing the ironing but am aware of my limitations. I also have a gardener now, but it’s the one thing I miss as I loved gardening except for the monotonous chores of giving the conifers and heathers a ‘haircut’ now and then but thankfully got rid of my three lawns once my wife and I started to spend 3 to 5 months in the Algarve every winter and spring.

I never thought though that I would outlive my wife for almost 13 years now, however although I’m alone with no family I’m never lonely but just wish I could get to bed before 1.00 am every night. It’s a habit from allowing my late wife to enjoy her favourite TV programmes, whilst I recorded mine after she went to bed at 10 pm. I’ve never had flu in my life and last year was the first time I decided to have the flu jab and of course the two Covid jabs. However I’ve had prostate cancer for 11 years, but that’s not been too much of a problem, but a tortuous colon certainly is as sometimes my ablutions and showering can take up to two hours because of the affect of plantar fasciitis which has left my left leg weak, hence the occasional fall but more prevalent as I’ve become older and weaker. So all in all I’m lucky to be alive at 84 next month. 

So living a solitary life, I might not even need the covid booster jab, but I’m taking no chances as it can be a horrible way to end one’s life for us old folk.


Powmill-Naemore
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Posts: 1326
 

Living in Scotland as I do, I look on in horror at how political the Covid decision making [or lack of it] appears to be down south. Informing decisions that will impact on the community you are making those decisions on behalf of in so many ways (economic, health-wise, societal, cultural)  by internal party political imperatives is more than just gambling things will not get too bad , but is quite arguably morally corrupt. I hope for us all that the gamble will pay off, because if it doesn't,  it will cause a lot of unnecessary damage to all of those thing (the economy, public health, society, culture) not only in England, but in Wales and Scotland and NI too as there will be very little chance of containing the worst impacts solely to England.

The waves of this pandemic are not political and would be best addressed through genuine consensus. However we live in the (selfish) times we do, so sadly that will never be.

The Covid ward in James Cook might be quiet now. I pray it stays that way  but fear it will be anything but quiet through January. Let's hope I am wrong and that the decision makers will get away with the large and self-interested wager they are taking to hold on to power.

All this nonsense about freedom and liberty really infuriates me. We [choose to] live in a society. By definition, society has rules and conventions we all subscribe to, because that is in the best interests of each and everyone of us within that society. These "libertarians" fail to grasp the basic principle that, paradoxically, in order to be free in our society we deny ourselves the freedom to act in ways that harm our society. The rules are there so that no one's own individual rights can ever be allowed supremacy over the collective rights of us all.


jarkko
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2154
 

@powmillnaemore I second to all that you wrote.

Especially the last paragraph. The ethics and humanity to others. There is too  much selfiness in the world now. 

Up the Boro!


Powmill-Naemore
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1326
 

Phew. That got that off my chest, but I didn't want to conflate that diatribe with comments on the football.

The Boro, my Boro, our Boro, were simply brilliant on Sunday. That is how I want to see my team play. 

My highlight of the game though has to be seeing Chris Wilder leap onto Leo Perkovich when Sporar scored our second. This collective clearly is going somewhere and the only way is up.

Re Djed Spence. Bring him back. Like Jarkko said, he is young and will not take up a sqad number. Better he is available to us if we need him than to our rivals.

Great results for us at Derby and QPR last night. So we stay in 5th place going into the Blackpool game. No game is easy and it had to be won on the pitch, but I do believe this squad  now has belief it can win any fixture. The Tangerines will be no push over, but we can win this.

2-1 to Boro. 🥳 

This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by Powmill-Naemore

   
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