Doesn't seem like it was a sobering summary for John as he had to hit the San Miguel early!
Unfortunately, it seems the game tonight will not be streamed as Rotherham have stated 'Please note our friendlies will not be streamed live' - not sure why if York could manage to but some people suggest there may be some unofficial streams on YouTube but most are not confident.
As for the team tonight, it looks like a back three with Dijksteel and Jones as 'wing-backs' - Tav is not even in the squad, which is a worry, but Ikpeazu is at least on the bench but that could be more be about appearances to avoid being held to ransom on any striker deal if everyone thought we were desperate.
So Josh Coburn starts up top with probably Watmore as a front two in what looks like 5-3-2. If this was the line-up for Fulham then I'd be very worried as it's quite a paper-thin first XI
Lumley, Dijksteel, Fry, Hall, McNair, Jones, Morsy, Howson, Crooks, Watmore, Coburn - other than the potential outgoing Spence and Akpom, plus the not quite fit Ikpeazu, the bench is academy graduates.
I’m still in favour of wingbacks on the basis that to my mind we still consistently look a better side in that setup. My slight problem is that both Fry and Hall need to be in the centre of the back three really. It’s quite possible that Bamba will be our left-sided centre-back but Peltier can also play there. Regardless, it would be more like a back 5 than a back 3 against Fulham.
Stretching it to one or two youngsters, we still have two players for each position. It’s unfortunate that both left wingback options appear to be injured but it’s just an opportunity for an U23. Plenty have come though over the years and shone, for a brief spell at least which is hopefully all we need.
I’m really disappointed that Wing has gone as he’d make my XI but there we are. It’s too early to judge Crooks and I haven’t seen enough of him but everything I’m reading (great engine, hard worker, scores goals from midfield) sounds a lot like Saville when he arrived. At least Crooks isn’t a multi-million pound signing and I’m sure his height will have some benefit.
Tav, Watmore and Ikpeazu have looked a decent combination up front so far and I do like Morsy in an out-and-out destroyer role that keeps the game simple for him. The squad seriously lacks depth but I don’t think the first XI is out of its depth by any means.
In the end it all comes down to expectations. Not for a minute have I thought this was a promotion squad, though in the Championship almost any side has some kind of playoff chance.
Midtable with a chance at the playoffs. That’s where we are and given the turmoil of recent seasons as well as the fact some clubs have parachute payments etc, it’s not a surprise really. Nothing a bit of Warnock magic can’t solve.
Unfortunately, it seems the game tonight will not be streamed as Rotherham have stated 'Please note our friendlies will not be streamed live' - not sure why if York could manage to but some people suggest there may be some unofficial streams on YouTube but most are not confident.
As for the team tonight, it looks like a back three with Dijksteel and Jones as 'wing-backs' - Tav is not even in the squad, which is a worry, but Ikpeazu is at least on the bench but that could be more be about appearances to avoid being held to ransom on any striker deal if everyone thought we were desperate.
So Josh Coburn starts up top with probably Watmore as a front two in what looks like 5-3-2. If this was the line-up for Fulham then I'd be very worried as it's quite a paper-thin first XI
Lumley, Dijksteel, Fry, Hall, McNair, Jones, Morsy, Howson, Crooks, Watmore, Coburn - other than the potential outgoing Spence and Akpom, plus the not quite fit Ikpeazu, the bench is academy graduates.
Boro won by a goal to nil & Ikpeazu seems to have played the whole of the second half ( 🙂 ):
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/match-report-rotherham-united-0-boro-1
Sorry, I haven't watched it yet. We watch news and sports mainly from the TV. But I will keep it in mind when they will run the series again.
Up the Boro!
It was a double bluff then - though thank god he's not injured as there seems to be enough players struggling to be fit. News that Tav has "nicked" his hamstring and will probably miss Fulham is not good - Warnock said: "I've had to give him a bit of a roasting because his warm-ups have not been so good. When I've watched him on video training, he hasn't warmed up properly then he's exploding into games." - so they've had a chat and apparently Tav has taken it on board.
Also still missing is new signing Sammy Ameobi as his 'niggle' has been upgraded to a knee injury - plus Isaiah Jones may have a suspected fractured eye-socket after the incident at Rotherham that saw him come off. I also noted another new signing, Lee Peltier was also not in the squad yesterday but no news on why.
In addition, Bola is still not fit and Coulson is also still absent - though he looks to be heading to Ipswich on loan. So let's hope the club's medical team can get everyone back to fitness quickly and nobody else does something in training next week!
So Martin Payero is on Teesside and Boro are hopeful of concluding the deal in the next 24 hours. Also the club are hoping to sign another striker this week, which according to the Gazette...
The striker has been playing in Europe and has been described to Teesside Live as somebody who would 'shock' supporters if they do manage to pull it off.
I'm presuming they mean 'shock' in good way - though I suspect nothing much tends to shock us hardened Boro followers - i just hope whoever it is they've locked away their agent somewhere safe until the deal is concluded so he can't 'alert' other clubs like with the Muniz deal.
@exmil. Perhaps you would like to put forward what you see as the positives so far and perhaps alleviate some of the problems many of us are fearing. 😎
KP, It is too early to be either positive or negative as we have seen in many seasons the league is not won in even the first 10 games. The Muniz transfer was always lost when his agent told Fulham he was available and what would the reaction be if we spent £9/10m on an untried 20 yr old striker let alone no championship experience, yes he may turn out to be a star but we financially could not take the gamble.
Maybe this article will give you a little hope and as one “Dads Army corporal “ would often say “ Don’t panic, Mr Mainwaring”.
Come on BORO.
@werdermouth. "The striker has been playing in Europe and has been described to Teesside Live as somebody who would 'shock' supporters if they do manage to pull it off."
Diego Costa? 😎
His name certainly fits the financial profile - Payero, Muniz (Monies), Costa...
According to the Tees Live / the Gazette, Payero is officially a Boro player now.
He is self-isolating on Teesside now for a week so he is very unlikely to appear at Fulham on next Sunday.
Up the Boro!
Good news - I shall remove his asterisk from the player list!
Though, I thought it was only strikers that tended to self isolate at Boro...
Sheffield Wednesday are edging closer to completing the signing of Marvin Johnson.
Yorkshire Live understands the Owls have agreed personal terms with the former Middlesbrough player. The free agent has undergone a medical and is poised to be unveiled as a Wednesday player in the next 24 to 48 hours.
OFB
Elsewhere, Swansea City have appointed Russell Martin as successor to Steve Cooper in the Liberty Stadium hotseat.
At his unveiling, Martin appreciated the big shoes he had to fill, telling the club website: “I know the fanbase and what they expect in terms of the modern Swansea Way, that started under Roberto Martinez and continued under Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup and people like that.
“I am familiar with that, and I played against most of those teams throughout the years and we, as a coaching team, are very much aligned with that. It excites me.
“We really believe in it, and I hope that is an immediate connection and something we can enjoy.
“There is a lot of work to be done, but I feel immensely exciexcited."
Looks like the Swans have a plan how they want to play. By appointing managers with a similar philosophy they do not need to sell a lot of players when a new manager starts.
Unlike Boro who go from an attacking-minded manager to a defending-minded next and wise versa. From Mogga to Karanka, then from Monk to Pulis. And again to Woodgate who wanted to play three strikers at a time ...
Just saying, like. Up the Boro!
Scott agrees to join Middlesbrough from Norwich City
Norwich City head of recruitment Kieran Scott has agreed to join Middlesbrough as their new sporting director.
The talent-spotter has been targeted after playing a key role in the Canaries’ shrewd transfer drive.
A Boro source says that terms agreed with Scott and he will start his new role at the Riverside at the end of the transfer window.
Scott currently works under sporting director Stuart Webber at Carrow Road.
He has been vital in the club’s recruitment work and helped bring in Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia.
Pukki has scored 67 goals in 126 games for the club while Buendia joined Aston Villa for an initial £33million fee this summer.
Scott revealed in February that he had ambitions to become a sporting director and Webber was teaching him about the role.
While Webber will leave Norwich City at the end of his current contract in 2022 Scott will not succeed him.
Instead, he is heading to the north-east with Boro.
OFB
I was just starting to get excited thinking we’d signed a player, hopefully a forward , from Norwich!! - only to find out he’s a talent spotter - he’s got his work cut out to get some players in for the start of the season.
Philip of Huddersfield
@philip-of-huddersfield. Not starting until the end of the transfer window so little impact this time around but hopefully in January.
It is good to see that we appear to be following a structure which has paid dividends at Norwich. Align him with the right manager and we may see some positive progress. 😎
With regards to the European striker Boro are interested in, it is reported that it is Midtjylland Sory Kaba who is also attracting interest from Swansea and Watford, although Watford have already brought in 3 new strikers.
Come on BORO.
By the way the 3 new Watford strikers are Josh King, Ashley Fletcher and (reported as exciting) Emmanuel Dennis.
Come on BORO.
@original-fat-bob. It will be interesting to hear how this role compares with that previously undertaken by Adrian Beavington; perhaps more importantly why he left in such mysterious circumstances. Interference from above or lack of adherence to agreed strategy perhaps? 😎
With regards to the European striker Boro are interested in, it is reported that it is Midtjylland Sory Kaba who is also attracting interest from Swansea and Watford, although Watford have already brought in 3 new strikers.
Come on BORO.
Well, that would 'shock' me if they do manage to pull it off ...
Up the Boro!
I heard Scott's last words as he left Norwich were: "I'm just going off to Teesside to help Boro recruit a promotion-winning team - I may be some time"...
was it snowing !
Breaking News !
Beşiktaş have agreed a €2.5m fee with Middlesbrough for Chuba Akpom.
OFB
There appear to be some mixed views about Sory Kaba, he seems to be a bit of a Marmite player and there is a reason why he is available.
He certainly appears to be a decent Striker on paper but I would be worried about his general attitude having seemingly thrown his toys out of the Pram with Bo Henriksen the new Midtjylland Manager. Allegedly he stormed out of a training session and has been told that he won’t play again unless his attitude dramatically improves.
Clearly there are two sides to every story but "exercise caution" comes to mind. The last thing we want is yet another Striker with baggage.
Somehow I do not think he is the striker we are after. Hence I am in a shock. Not excited.
Up the Boro!
I hope it wasn't snowing in August but these days the weather is unpredictable - btw before I get corrected, Scott was actually quoting those famous last words said by Captain Oates in his diary - though Scott himself said "We shall stick it out till the end, but we are getting weaker" - so no comparisons to be made with our current squad there...
Somehow I do not think he is the striker we are after. Hence I am in a shock. Not excited.
Up the Boro!
Could this be what you are looking for?
According to Wikipedia (therefore it must be true) there has been some 'editing'...
Aaron Salem Boupendza Pozzi (born 7 August 1996) is a Gabonese professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Not Middlesbrough and the Gabon national team.
It also lists his current club as...
Marton Hall Drive Under 17’s
RR, apparently Celtic wanted him but now Watford sniffing.