As well as Payero get some game time in the U23 game, I see Jeremy Sivi was also back in action after his injury and scored the first goal - I wonder if he'll make the bench in the coming months or has the arrival of Hernandez and Olusanya meant he's out of the picture now.
I think the glass has the potential to overflow but I think at the moment Boro have been guilty of spilling their opportunity to sit at the top table after dropping pints (sorry points).
It looks like Warnock may be stumbling into finding a way to keep Jones on the pitch and play with a back three - plus finding a more influential role for Tav. Though when Ikpeazu returns or indeed Sporar arrives then it could be tricky selection problems with Hernandez ready to go. I also suspect Payero may ultimately replace Morsy - he looks strong and likes a tackle but unlike the Egyptian has more in his locker in terms of ability and striking the ball.
I'd also agree Dijksteel has shown his adaptability in several positions now and is actually quite a decent footballer and hasn't let the team down when playing in different roles - not sure what has happened to Spence though as he didn't even make the bench - is he injured?
Hopefully Boro kick on after the break and start making their dominance convert into points - unfortunately those at the top won't be waiting for us to get into gear - but at least there's plenty of time to go on a run!
Ok, someone put their hand, what have they done with diasboro, there seems to a breakout of optimism.
Come on BORO.
Yes, if true that would be a reason. But the fact that a long break is now with us, And there were 15 mins. Left, and Jones had tortured them, seemed a Good reason to leave him on.
We’ll all this talk about glass half full has made me thirsty !
🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
OFB
Maybe the theory of realism is like relativity and can often be seen as both optimism and pessimism when being observed from outside of that space from which it was viewed.
i think that the viewer brings their inbuilt predilection for one position or the other and adapts the facts to fit this. I tend to the optimistic and so have a reasonably full glass at the moment despite the points thrown away. However, we do need to have a solid win over somebody just to settle things down.
im also a bit confused over Morsy. He might not be the most creative player but, should Howson be injured who else is going to play there. Maybe he sees it as a way of solving the McNair conundrum but that seems unlikely. Maybe it depends how much Ipswich will pay. At 29 there’s no point in doing a loan deal.
utb
im also a bit confused over Morsy. ... Maybe it depends how much Ipswich will pay.
I guess that we're not actually looking to sell but that if they make an approach we would consider it. In theory we have Morsy, Howson, McNair, Payero, Crooks and Tav who play centre midfield and the first three can all play as a deep sitting midfielder.
Morsy has been largely OK though I do think he's been played further forward than he likes.
Such is the nature of relativity, I wonder if optimism for someone with a pessimistic predilection is just a less pessimistic outlook?
Though seriously, I think for many just watching Boro playing in a more positive fashion after what seems like has been a long time of disfunctional negative performances is probably enough to inspire optimism.
Not surprising that people are feeling better about Boro as the football since January was dismal, which has come on the back of Woodgate's non-attacking expansive football, expressionless Pulisball and Monk's expensive directionless folly.
That we are showing signs of excitement and optimism when we are sat in thirteenth position in the Championship tells it's own story of just how far we have fallen.
After Woodgate, Pulis, Monk, Millions wasted and our best talent (Gibson, Traore, Bamford) sold off a few crumbs seems like a veritable feast.
Just watched Traore and listened to the comentators expressing their wonder and admiration at his attributes and what he brings to the game. He was devastating the opposition, laying on easy chances, leaving them for dead, they being top of the Prem. Followed that by watching Bamford getting ready to play for England. Our opinion of those in charge of our club (I'll keep it to one word, rubbish!) is being proved correct on a daily basis. No idea is the true state of affairs, and i see no change, an easy opening run and complete dull conformity, they might as well have a banner over the entrance, "I knows my place" would say it all.
On the other hand, £15m for Gibson looks like it was good business as from what I've seen he has looked a bit out of his depth playing in the Premier League with Norwich. Dael Fry looks far better equipped and more suited as a modern top-flight central defender - I wonder if Arsenal are getting ready for a few panic buys given their plight at the foot of the table...
Has anyone noticed that Hartlepool have now won 15 and drawn 1 of their last 17 home games? No side has beaten than record in the Premier League or the EFL in the last 12 months. Boro were always noted for their strong home record especially from 1968 to 1972 when they lost only 6 matches at home in 84 matches in the Second Division but even they didn’t quite reach such a long successful run as Pools have just achieved even under Jack Charlton in 1973/74. What’s more 6,112 attended Saturday’s win against Carlisle the largest crowd at the Vic since the playoff against Sheffield Wednesday in 2005. What’s more Dave Challinor has already made 10 new signings during the current transfer window. For the record Boro’s last successfull home season was under Aitor Karanka in 2015/16 when Boro won 16 and drew 5 of their 23 fixtures.
However the team of the week must be the English cricket team for their win over India at Headingley which has a history of providing sensational results and occasions going backwards from Ben Stokes heroics in 2019, Ian Botham and Bob Willis in 1981, Geoff Boycott’s 100th century in 1977, and Fred Trueman’s England debut in 1952 when in their second innings India were nought for 4 wickets and frightened to death of his pace, recently reprised in the Yorkshire Post. They sometimes refer to Old Trafford as being the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ but in my opinion it doesn’t come near to Yorkshire’s Headingley ground. Too much emphasis these days about football especially the Premier League when most football clubs evolved from cricketers wanting something to keep them fit during the winter anyway, so they chose football. Cricket is still the king of all sports, but don’t mention that to the Gazette or Diasborians who don’t even give it a mention. Well, that’s my opinion for what’s it worth.
I'd be tempted to go for Dave Challinor after Warnock next Summer. I know it would be regarded as a shock appointment but for me his managerial style and nous is what stands out.
Make no mistake the renaissance at Hartlepool is 100% down to him. As we know at Boro providing a steady structure and stabilising the Club which the new owners have done counts for nothing if the Manager cannot make it count where it matters, out on the pitch.
@ken I am sure to see a Dormo reply to that comment of Cricket there. White roses but up the Boro!
@ken I’m not sure cricket is king. Prince maybe, but it would be hard to place it ahead of football for popularity. I used to love playing cricket and football but was much better at cricket. Watching, though, can be a tough ask - few people have four or five days free to attend every day of a Test Match, nor the finances to afford it, so for excitement and appeal I’ve got to say football is king*
* other non elected heads of state from a privileged unqualified family are available**
** actually they aren’t are they? 😉
I agree I thought Ben Gibson looked poor in yesterday’s game.
He looked happy enough in Nunthorpe last week though when he drove past in his Bentley Convertible after leaving his £2million house !
OFB
The season that we sold Traore, Bamford and Gibson to allegedly fund the original Mrs Gibsons share in the club was the final season for Mrs OFB who lost her interest in what has been over 50 years supporting them.
OFB
It would be a strange move by the club if Morsy were to leave. We may have a number of alternative centre-midfielders but none really do the job he does. Even Howson, who’s most often deployed as a holding midfielder for us, spent most of his career as a box-to-box player. McNair is not disciplined enough in that role in my view - maybe not nasty enough either - and you certainly wouldn’t play Crooks or Tav that deep. I assume Payero is more of a passer than a tackler.
I can only think that at 29, maybe this is the last opportunity to get some money in for Morsy but he’s only been here a year so presumably that wasn’t a concern when we bought him.
It would be a strange move by the club if Morsy were to leave. We may have a number of alternative centre-midfielders but none really do the job he does. Even Howson, who’s most often deployed as a holding midfielder for us, spent most of his career as a box-to-box player. McNair is not disciplined enough in that role in my view - maybe not nasty enough either - and you certainly wouldn’t play Crooks or Tav that deep. I assume Payero is more of a passer than a tackler.
I can only think that at 29, maybe this is the last opportunity to get some money in for Morsy but he’s only been here a year so presumably that wasn’t a concern when we bought him.
The link to James Lea Siliki seems to still have legs and at 25 seems a much better long term investment than Morsy plus he is a far better player so that would represent both an upgrade and a ROI at some future point. At 29 and almost 30 getting something for Morsy makes sense plus lets be honest he wears his heart on his sleeve and gives 100% but he is probably only 30% the player that Siliki is.
Another interesting twist is that apparently the Blades are interested in him and some "deal" could be structured in a swap of sorts for Burke although Burke's wages I believe are a stumbling block of the brick wall variety so I would be surprised. What does surprise me is that they still have a Manager. It seems to be a real mess of a Club and now clear why Wilder walked, with owners who didn't want to splash the cash in the Prem and now seemingly don't want to in the Championship either. Their fall from grace could get a lot worse very quickly despite their Manager. As the old saying goes "you can't make a silk purse from a Pig's ear".
The Blackburn match was the first time I have been out of my house this year apart from local shopping and medical visits.
Considering how much I want to see the Boro winning every game I was surprised that at the end I was thinking it had been entertaining. I didn't know fast attacking wing play was part of NW's repertoire. It was unfortunate that Ikpeazu was ill and without him nothing came of the crosses. Our ground shots seem to have a consistency in hitting defenders and not many even require a goalkeeping save. It was unfortunate that a McNair slip led to a good shot for Blackburn's goal but our equaliser was well made and taken by Howson. We need to get the new arrivals into the squad and to get the right formation quickly before there is a significant gap (and I return to pessimism).
I didn't like the journeys to/from Middlesbrough. Though I wore a face mask for about 4 hours each way on platforms and trains, I was very much in a minority, especially on the way to Newcastle as the train filled up along the way with their supporters and on the way home with shoppers heading to the city/Metro Centre. At least my rapid Lateral Flow Test this morning was negative!
I have booked my hotel for the matches on 18 and 28 September though the prices seem to be staying much higher than in previous years.
Saliki has just posted on Twitter from an aeroplane (video shot) that he’s off to join his new club!
OFB
just saw this online. Hope that it’s not true
“…..the latest in a string of Rennes players set to leave the club according to Ouest-France, with James Léa-Siliki flying out to England to complete a move to Nottingham Forest,
Middlesbrough are close to completing a deal to sign St Mirren’s Jamie McGrath, according to The Scottish Sun.
Middlesbrough have already made 10 signings so far this summer but aren’t stopping there. Manager Neil Warnock is eyeing further deals before this evening’s deadline, with a move for McGrath looking increasingly likely.
The 24-year-old is a goalscoring midfielder and has found the net 19 times across the past two seasons. Middlesbrough are hoping to get more goals after being one of the lowest scorers in the top half in the last campaign and so McGrath fits the bill.
OFB
#Boro hopeful of finalising a deal to bring in Sumtwatu Neverherdov from Rubovia Premier League side FC Madeupname before the transfer window slams shut tonight
OFB