Middlesbrough hope to keep Jonathan Woodgate at the club, despite Neil Warnock replacing him as manager.The hierarchy are still understood to see Woodgate as a real asset to the club, though at this stage it's not clear what that means...
Just reading that quote in the Gazette nearly made me choke until I realised the sentence actually continued...
...for the Teessider moving forward and the issue is likely to be addressed at the end of the season.
I'm not a big Warnock fan, but in the current circumstances a good appointment. He's a man with a strong reputation in the Championship and hopefully the players will respond to that. I assume team selection will be based simply on height, so line the squad up and select the tallest eleven. Simple enough.
If he keeps us up i'll be happy.
feel sorry for Woody, I suspect an inexperienced rookie given a job which involved cost cutting and a playing style change along with bad recruitment last summer was too much.
That shouldn't have come as a shock and yet it really has - a bit like when Southgate went, when he wants to be Gibbo can be ruthless.
I wonder if it was a case of waiting for Warnock to become available, like when a Keith Lamb chat with Strachan led to them putting him in charge as soon as possible. No fan of his (who is?) but there's absolutely no doubt a change had to be made, the only query being that it took them this long to make it.
That shouldn't have come as a shock and yet it really has - a bit like when Southgate went, when he wants to be Gibbo can be ruthless.
I've heard rumours that Gibson was forced to act after the 3-0 Riverside defeat after he was told that Woodgate had lost the crowd...
Woodgate was always a big gamble. I am sure we all hoped it would work but it was soon apparent that it wouldn’t.
Because of his lack of experience when things were not going well he didn’t know how to change it and Saturday was a prime example. Three nil down at half-time and an experienced manager would have got a response and possibly a goal or two in the second half but with Woodgate it didn’t happen.
Regrettably it would be better if Woodgate was not around as he could be an embarrassment if around the players even doing a different job.
I am sure that Warnock would have been the fans choice to turn things around in the last eight matches.
I feel much more confident of surviving relegation with Warnock as boss.
Philip of Huddersfield
That shouldn't have come as a shock and yet it really has - a bit like when Southgate went, when he wants to be Gibbo can be ruthless.
I've heard rumours that Gibson was forced to act after the 3-0 Riverside defeat after he was told that Woodgate had lost the crowd...
That's quite a feat given the state of stadia right now 😉
Woodgate's statement:
"Today was a day that I hoped would never come, but I’ve been in football long enough to know that these things happen. To be given the chance to manage my hometown club - the club that I love - is something I will never forget and I will always be grateful to Steve Gibson for the opportunity. There is no one more disappointed than me at how things have gone, and believe me, there hasn’t been one moment when I’ve ever stopped thinking about the job and how to improve and make things better. I’d like to thank the players for their efforts, in very difficult circumstances at times, and I’d like to thank all the staff at the football club, many of who will remain good friends. I’d like to thank the fans for your backing. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but the support you have shown and the backing you have given is something I will never forget, and has meant so much to me. I’d also like to wish Neil Warnock every success. I’ll always be a Boro fan, it’s my football club, and I hope Neil and the players can finish the job this season and keep the club in the Championship. I have every belief that will happen. Thank you"
I'd just like to add a quick welcome to the new site to Nigel and good to see him posting again.
@Werdermouth Seconded. Also a welcome back to @ForeverDormo, who posted earlier.
I'm not going to say the obvious because there are no winners in this and no point whatsoever. I would rather have been far wrong than right for the sake of Boro. So another day has dawned for Boro and I hope its the foundation stone to building whatever type of club SG is comfortable financing. It has to be both sustainable and realistic and that means recruiting the right people for the right roles but most important of all there has to be a plan. Not just any old plan but a viable and affordable one with realistic expectations and one which is implemented in stages but to do that you need a modicum of stability which hopefully Warnock and his wisdom can provide.
Last Summer was ridiculous in the extreme it fooled nobody except SG and despite my reservations what unfolded was unfair on Woodgate, certainly not the sacking which was both inevitable and too late but the Job requirements were way beyond the remit of any Rookie from the start. It was doomed to fail before a ball was even kicked but what really annoys is the total senselessness and avoidability of it all and so here we have another year wasted at Boro.
I suspect Warnock will stick with experienced old hands in a somewhat uninspiring and negative set up. That's OK, at this stage its about stopping the leaks before the boat sinks, the shiny new coat of varnish can wait for now. For Woodgate perhaps he can take some inspiration from Southgate, go away somewhere, take some time out and come back elsewhere well away from the Teesside spotlight. Hanging around the club won't be good for his ego or morale.
If Woodgate is still at the club, then all bets are off.
He has assisted in the removal of people far above his station in every regard, damaging this club very seriously in the process.
We are done with him, and no advice would be required or acceptable.
When he is gone, plus his mate, the the new man will see soon enough that he has several young keen hard
Running players who wish to play football, and that, is all that is required.
The attempt to free the mind of unhappy thoughts means that it is hard to enumerate the disasters he has supervised, but two unforgettable occasions were the cup replay against the Welch team away in a downpour.
The team actually set up their lip to the supporters afterwards, (they had not tried an inch)
The other one was away to Spurs, another non try occasion.
werdermouth, yes I agree but my idea of posting on here was to pick up those who have not visited the Challenge thread, especially those who did not enter (20+) and maybe it would encourage them to try next season, call it advertising.
Come on BORO.
That shouldn't have come as a shock and yet it really has - a bit like when Southgate went, when he wants to be Gibbo can be ruthless.
I've heard rumours that Gibson was forced to act after the 3-0 Riverside defeat after he was told that Woodgate had lost the crowd...
That's quite a feat given the state of stadia right now 😉
The "virtual" crowd reacted very badly before kick off to the team selection. What followed confirmed what most had thought and the weekend then saw a lot of vitriol and anger directed at SG rather than at Woodgate. My take on things was that Woodgate had lost the players based on that confused and disconnected display. Not only had Woodgate lost the players he had also lost the fans but they actually bypassed him on the way up to losing Steve Gibson and that I think will have been a tipping point. The "Elephant in the room" and the Emperor's new clothes" were certainly trending (I think thats the modern technical parlance) and the local paper were getting pelters for having splinters despite being more critical than of late.
I would think the decision was probably up SG's sleeve before the Covid break and maybe social distancing plus the slender win at Charlton delayed the execution but come three o'clock on Saturday it was impossible to carry on any longer. The small positive is that the crowd turning was done at a distance. I shudder to think what would have been chanted from the South and North stands on Saturday at the direction of those comfy seats.
Well here is my stab at Saturday's team based upon my perception of NW:
Stojanovic
Fry Mokoudi Friend
Spence Howson McNair Saville Coulson
Roberts
Assombalonga
CoB. 😎
Warnock needs to manage a team for another 12 matches to reach the milestone of 1,500 games as a manager and as there are only 8 games left this season, therefore I would presume he will carry on into next season to achieve it.
Come on BORO.
werdermouth, yes I agree but my idea of posting on here was to pick up those who have not visited the Challenge thread, especially those who did not enter (20+) and maybe it would encourage them to try next season, call it advertising.
Come on BORO.
I thought it may be better to tease them to go and see the standings table in the Exmil Challenge forum. I suppose you could always do an X-Factor style intro...
The contestants in the bottom two who will be predicting for their lives are...
@werdermouth Thanks, appreciated. I initially dropped in to see what the general view was on Woodys departure & Warnocks arrival.
To be honest I was preparing myself for a trip down memory lane a la '86 when I had some great days out at Southend, Rotherham, Swindon etc.
I hope and believe Warnock can keep us up and at this stage belief is everything, if Warnock can give that to the players we will be okay. Bit concerned about more long ball football next season though if he stays
i saw the stamens and the Gazette comment and couldn’t really tell what the position was. I agree that for him to stay would make things difficult for all concerned and his own statement appears to indicate that he will not play any part.
That makes sense to me - what happens at the end of the season is anyone’s guess.
The reality of the situation is that JW should not have been appointed and maybe, with hindsight, JW should have had the sense to recognize that it was too early for him. Easy to say, I know, when you have an opportunity Like that presented to you.
The big concern for me is whether NW has enough time with the players to make a difference for Saturday in a game which is yet another must not lose game.
I suspect that the formation will be a 5 3 2 with the back 5 being very defensively minded so I wouldn’t expect to see Spence and Coulson there
Stojavinic
Howson Shotton Fry Mokoudi Friend
Clayton McNair Wing
Roberts Fletcher
A few of Warnock's thoughts on his appointment & news that his former assistants at Cardiff, Blackwell & Jepson, will join him at Boro:
No shortage of experience there & almost a whole week to prepare for the Stoke match! 😉
Not sure what Mr Warnock's thoughts will be when he sees Saturdays replay, assuming he did not watch it live. Hopefully he will have a few ideas to improve things during the week during training and practice games.
Initially I think flair will be out, so no Wing or Roberts even? Fletcher is the most mobile forward that we have, so I expect him to start. After that, who knows. Hopefully not George, Friend that is. We need as much pace as possible in midfield, but have little choice there, so experience maybe.
What a fine mess we have got ourselves in. 🙁
Remember that Warnock got the best out of Abel Taraabt at QPR and I think it must have been him that signed Tomlin for Cardiff. I don’t see him as 100% anti-flair. I do, however, expect him to prioritise organisation and solidity.
@andy-r: Very kind of you and the others who have so graciously welcomed me back like the Prodigal Son I have been.
The Echo's assessment of the change of personality at the helm:
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18535738.went-wrong-jonathan-woodgate-middlesbrough/
Interesting paragraph:
Middlesbrough’s chairman had toyed with the idea of changing manager in December, but results improved, Boro’s league position altered and it was decided to hold firm. Six months on, and with the Teessiders back to within a place of the relegation zone with eight games to go, it was quickly decided that inaction was no longer an option.
The Echo's assessment of the change of personality at the helm:
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18535738.went-wrong-jonathan-woodgate-middlesbrough/
Interesting paragraph:
Middlesbrough’s chairman had toyed with the idea of changing manager in December, but results improved, Boro’s league position altered and it was decided to hold firm. Six months on, and with the Teessiders back to within a place of the relegation zone with eight games to go, it was quickly decided that inaction was no longer an option.
Should have stuck to the original plan then. What was it that they said in Laurel and Hardy? “That’s another fine mess you’ve got us into”
@stircrazy Another interesting paragraph:
“Was Woodgate found wanting or was he placed in an impossible situation? As ever with these things, it was probably a bit of both”
My not to be trusted memory of Warnock's Cardiff promotion side is one which was solid, direct and fast. But at his age he's likely to be a stopgap manager.
Also, a previous poster touched on the playing staff contracts - sorry but haven't time to check whom it was - and it's worth asking, if Warnock is only to be here for 8 games, then who will be choosing to let players stay or go?
I have just watched NW first interview on MFC Website and I must admit I enjoyed it, saying that he never gave anything away, I think he is a very shrewd manager and I am glad he has come with his two trusted lieutenants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson, a wealth of experience at last.
Come on BORO.
Neil Warnock has certainly shown courage to take on such a big challenge at this stage of his managerial career. I hope he can quickly reverse the chaos that JW left us with on Saturday. I was already thinking that Stoke would get the 3 points they needed to pull away from relegation and in a typical Boro performance Hull would end their dreadful run. I was also wondering about Barnsley and Luton catching us if JW was still in charge.
@chris-hunneysett with regard to which contracted players will be leaving Chris I would assume that decision has already been made.
@forever-dormo Glad you took notice of my request on Twitter.
Great to have you back, mate. Up the Boro!