Discussion Forum

Boro's squad starts...
 

Boro's squad starts to shape up

460 Posts
21 Users
1559 Likes
8,062 Views
jarkko
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2161
 

Not news I wanted to hear concerning Lewis Wing. I was hoping he would come back stronger after the loan at Rotherham. He needed to play games, though.

Wing has scored 14 goals in almost 100 games since making his debut for the Boro. With his contract up after this season, I am worried we won't see him anymore.

Gutted  but hoping we will have a better midfield this season. We need to create more chances to score goals. 

Up the Boro! 

 


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 903
 

I guess I'm happy for Wing in that he should get game time and be a star performer in League One. He is also at a high profile Club so has a great opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

I always felt that we never saw the best of him given that his time here was marred by a series of Managers all tinkering to find their best team, shuffling the pack (and failing in the main). 


Philip of Huddersfield
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 442
 

Sorry to see Lewis Wing depart on loan to Sheffield. It seems as though NW and the previous manager didn’t rate him despite him being the only midfielder likely to get a goal out of nothing. Whenever he got within 25 -30 yards from goal he was looking to shoot and opposition players were looking to close him down. Is there a more accurate or cleaner  hitter of the ball at MFC?
Philip of Huddersfield 


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 632
 

@redcarredg id

Do we laugh or cry at the news of Wing being loaned out. A team that has no idea in front of goal,  a man  


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 632
 

@philip-of-huddersfield

Yes, a


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2630
 

Well I for one am disappointed that Wing has departed to Sheff Wed on a season long loan.

I think he will do a good job for them 

OFB


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2244
 

At least it is only a loan deal and leaves the door open for him to return.  If we have a new manager next season then he may take a different view on Wing's attributes.

Something had to give in the midfield area as we were in danger of being overloaded in this area, as in the past, but still short in other key areas. 😎

This post was modified 3 years ago by K P in Spain

   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

I can only assume that Warnock has decided Wing's best position was also Tav's best position, which it seems is also Payero's best position and even Crooks' preferred position too - on that basis, he never really had a chance of impressing enough to alter the new pecking order. Not sure why he wasn't cashed in rather than just left to exit via the backdoor in 12 months time.

Probably also why he wasn't loaned to a Championship team in case it became a source to beat the club if he proved to be performing better than who we had acquired instead. The fact he's gone from potential PL target to a League One career restarter in less than two seasons just shows how fickle football is.

I think Pulis argued that his non-league football education meant his was too rough around the edges as he had learned bad habits that academy graduates had already been coached out of - maybe that's also why Warnock has his doubts - though perhaps it's more that he didn't have either of those physical attributes of speed or height that seem to impress more than just having football ability. Let's hope he proves his doubters wrong and makes a good career from these setbacks - he has the talent, desire and the attitude but just needs some luck now.


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 643
 

This is disappointing. There was a brief, glorious few weeks under Woodgate when we had Pears, Spence, Fry, Coulson, Tav, Wing and Fletcher and I thought this could be great. 

You think of players like Bamford, Harrison and so on, shunted from manager to manager who doesn't trust them until they find one who does. I can't help feeling that Wing would take flight under a manager who trusted him.


Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

Just reading that Djed Spence is apparently a target for West Ham according to the Telegraph - with Norwich and Everton also interested. The Telegraph says he could be available for £5m but don't think he's worth that amount - perhaps he's the funding for the reported Muniz deal that some reports suggest will see his future sorted in the coming days. Spence appears to be another player not quite fancied by Warnock so he may well be heading for the exit if any of that trio of suitors makes an offer closer to the £4m that Flamenco are wanting for their young Brazilian striker. Maybe our own Coburn should change his name to Joshinho and grab his managers attention!


   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

Just watched the last 25 mins of the first half of the game against York City, who sadly lead 2-1 at the interval. Can't say from what I saw York didn't deserve to be in front - I missed Fry's opening goal but Boro have not looked sharp. Ikpeazu impressed though with his contribution and Morsy also looked up for the game. As for Paterson, he looked well off the pace and doesn't look like he'll add anything to the team - Crooks also didn't appear to be convincing and will need to show much more. Interesting to see Spence playing as left wing-back and he certainly has pace to spare but the defence appeared out of sorts and not particularly solid looking. From that I think Boro are looking like plenty of work needed in the coming weeks - OK no Tav or Watmore but not looking like much of an improvement on last season with little dynamism in the midfield that will worry too many teams in the Championship. Let's see what the second half brings...


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2244
 

@werdermouth.  You beat me to the punch.  

That was reminiscent of displays in the second half of last season and does nothing to convince me so far that NW's recruits or methodology are going to achieve anything better than we have already seen under his stewardship; I base those comments not only on the first half but also on how the team played in previous pre-season games. 😎


   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

Well bad news I'm afraid, Ikpeazu has just hobbled off the pitch injured and can barely walk with what looks like an ankle injury, which he acquired winning Boro a penalty that McNair missed badly.


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2244
 

I can here the spin from NW already if we go on to lose this game.  He will say it's not about the result at this stage of the season but about getting hard yards into players legs and game time.

The result does matter as winning begets winning and teams who have promotional aspirations should be putting teams who are four leagues below them to the sword!

We have one more game before the season starts and from what I have seen we are far from a cohesive unit, the same old problems of conceding sloppy goals and failing to score enough persist.  

We seem to be a bunch of players rather than a team and at times York have been better organised and have passed the ball well.  We lack a play maker but have just sent one to Sheffield where he has an assist to his name already!

On the displays so far, we have a long hard season ahead in my opinion; I hope I am proved wrong but doubt I will be. 😎🙁

This post was modified 3 years ago by K P in Spain

   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

Have to agree with KP, on that showing Boro will not be challenging for promotion this season - York were easily the better side from start to finish and they're in the sixth tier of English football. The main plus for me was the performance of Ikpeazu but that second-half injury to what looks like his ankle didn't look promising as he hobbled off the pitch. Also thought Morsy looked sharp and Djed Spence impressed in bursts but he be off soon if reports are true. Crooks didn't do much other than run around the pitch chasing the ball - plenty of energy but not much else - I suspect the game is up for Paterson though.

OK, there was no Tav or Watmore and of course Payero is possibly on his way at some point but probably won't feature until the end of August - Ameobi also yet to play while he recovers from a niggle. Still, this doesn't look like a team ready to face a newly relegated PL team in 10 days - lots of work needed before then and watching the game tonight didn't give me much confidence that Boro are on the right track - more off the rails if I'm being honest!


Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

Just to add, The Northern Echo thought Boro's best player was Matt Crooks - perhaps he did most of his best work in that opening quarter that I missed as I didn't recall seeing too much from him as described in the report...

Middlesbrough’s best player for most of last night’s game was summer signing Matt Crooks, whose driving runs into the area provided the kind of goalscoring threat that was missing on countless occasions last season.

I should add the Gazette match report didn't appear to mention much of Crooks and thought Isaiah Jones was the player who caught the eye when he came on. 


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 642
 

Perhaps in a summer of transfers and the potential arrival of foreign exotica the answer to the return of inconsistency and of the inept is staring Mr Warnock in the face. A barbecue before every game, just mini-bites or maybe a pint of Bass.

I do hope that display was just a short intermission and normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Whatever normal service is with Boro.

UTB,

John


   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

@john-richardson

I hope somebody gets a grilling after that undercooked performance last night...

btw I see that Lewis Wing got good reviews in the South Yorkshire press after making his debut for the Owls last night...

Rating 7: Brilliant corner for Iorfa's header. His set piece delivery caught the eye throughout. Showed some lovely touches. A very encouraging outing

It didn't take him long to make a telling contribution. His well-flighted corner was powerfully nodded in by Iorfa. Wing looked assured on the ball and kept things ticking over nicely in the centre.

Sounds like something our midfield was missing last night.


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 643
 

That was very much a greatest hits of all last season's failings: slow, predictable, rudderless. 

Crooks and Ikpeazu were our best players for the first 20 minutes but then went off the boil.

We played McNair on the left of the three and Fry on the right, like last season. Suited Fry better but meant McNair struggled instead.

Dijksteel is still a long way off his best. Spence obviously can't play at left wing back but was one of the few bright sparks in the second half when he switched to the right. 

Howson and Morsy brought out the worst in each other. Howson is maybe a few weeks behind in match sharpness.

Lumley continues to look uncertain. I actually thought Stojanovic looked a cut above him. Quietly confident and competent.

In the second half, Coburn offered more than Akpom but that was a low bar.

Woods is either not match sharp or needs to go on loan.

Bamba may be as rusty as a freshly risen shipwreck but he added some dynamic brutality and leadership. He could do a job.

Isiah Jones was our best player in the second half. Pacey, direct and brave on the ball. He is more of a winger than a wing back but if you're playing with 2 defensive midfielders and 3 at the back then I think you ought to be playing with wingers.

Malley continues to look a different class. 

Overall, we were missing 3 of our presumable front 4 in Watmore, Tav and Ameobi and still don't have a functioning left side of defence. We still don't have anyone on the pitch who will try to change a game when we go into our shell; Bamba at least showed some intent in that area.


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2630
 

Warnock said after the match “we have no left sided players”

So why did he get rid of Johnson when he knew we were short in that area?

OFB


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 642
 

@werdermouth

The business with Lewis Wing is a mystery to me, he gets good reviews pre-season, then he's gone on a year's loan for the last year of his contract after which he can walk away. Why didn't we just sell the player?

deleriad, I just love the phrase 'dynamic brutality', well done!

UTB,

John


Ken Smith
Mr
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2132
 

Should we be worried about this season following last night’s defeat at York? After all it was only a friendly and it was the 4th game in just over a week although no Boro player played in all 4 matches. Yes one would expect Boro to beat a side in the sixth tier of English football, but all these matches are not to be taken seriously as far as results are concerned. Just to remind folks that 13 year’s ago Hartlepool beat Manchester United 6-0 in a pre-season friendly, but the Red Devils went on to win the Premier League that season.


Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

@original-fat-bob

I said before the summer that Boro would be lucky to find someone to replace Johnson who had his quality - he's a bit like Wing in that he didn't fit what Warnock wanted even if before the January window he was looking one of our best players but ended up as a peripheral figure. He was probably our only genuine wing-back - left or right but we'll probably end up splashing out cash on a transfer fee to replace him now. Left-footed Adam Reach is currently a free agent and is still only 28 - used to play wing-back when previously at Boro I seem to recall - though I think Mogga is eyeing him up for Blackburn.


Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 643
 
Posted by: @ken

Should we be worried about this season following last night’s defeat at York? 

I don't think so. Although you can argue that winning is a habit and, if McNair had scored his penalty that might have led to a victory, at this point it is still, really, a mixture of training game and audition.

From what I have seen so far it feels like we should be in a position to challenge for the playoffs but it is finely balanced. We're probably just 1 or 2 injuries away from a mediocre season and 1 or 2 players hitting the heights from a really good one.


   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

@john-richardson

Just read that Boro hold an option to extend Lewis Wing's contract by 12 months once his current contract expires next summer - so he may yet get another chance on Teesside should he show what Boro are missing at Wednesday.


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 642
 

@werdermouth

Hooray! Some forward thinking, no pun intended.

UTB,

John


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 954

   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

@malcolm

Interesting article in the Sheffield Star that confirms Wing has had his contract extended by a year - though you have to wonder why according to Warnock he pleaded to leave Boro and join the Owls in League One on loan - even though the Boro manager said he wanted him to stay. It doesn't sound like he sees his future at Boro and the extension seems more about avoid him leaving on a free next summer. We shall see. 


   
ReplyQuote
Site Creator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2230
Topic starter  

I wonder what kind of laugh Steve Gibson made in reply to this quote from Neil Warnock as he described the cost of his recent signing...

"We've got real value for money with the players we've brought in. I said to Steve we've signed five players and it's less than Britt's wages! He laughed at that.

Perhaps he was jamming his fingers in the desk draw at the time to avoid going hysterical as he remembered giving Garry Monk his cheque book...


   
ReplyQuote
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1249
 

Argentina out of the Olympics, so we will see what happens with Payero.

Come on BORO.


   
ReplyQuote
Page 5 / 16
Share: