There may be reasoned discussions about Boro's best signings but the discussions about Boro's WORST signings are passionate and outspoken affairs during which the pitiful characters are paraded for public shame. "You think X was bad - well, what about Y?" "I'll see your Y and raise you Z; he was MUCH worse"...
The club has had some absolute shockers over the years. Footballers who wouldn't recognise a football if it hit them on the forehead, or whose nearest approach to a tackle came on the riverbank. The equivalent of a medic operating to relieve a painful ingrowing toenail and the patient leaving the hospital with an arm missing but the offending toenail still resident and hurtful as ever on its greatly inflamed toe.
I won’t have a bad word said against The Gook! I saw him score twice for Boro. Yes, twice! Once, when he tapped in from 5 yards in a Cup win at lowly Mansfield, much to the delight of the Boro faithful, who chanted ‘The Gook, the Gook, the Gook is on fire!’ (He wasn’t); and once when he scored a penalty at The Riverside in a penalty shoot-out - I can’t recall the opposition, but Boro won. Was it Bristol City? Clearly, he was a great striker ………. 🤭🫣🤣 Wasn’t he known as the Lion, or something similar, back in S Korea? Turned out to be more of a scraggy moggy!
In response to your bid of Dong Gook, I raise you Kieron Dyer. No, wait, I can do better than that - Marcus Bent. No wait, even better - Sammy Ameobi!
And just to complete a fine set of absolute stinkers, I offer you a) Kevin Thompson, whose ability to float a pass beyond the touchline was matched only by his skill at injuring himself on his home running machine, and b) Kris Boyd. Say no more!
Happy Christmas!
@clive-hurren I do not remember seeing Sammy Ameobi to play a bad game. Never lost the ball or made a bad pass. We never lost a game when he was involved. Never ... UBT!
Could this be one for MFC to take a punt on?
https://www.football365.com/news/boro-sign-national-league-haaland-next-vardy-langstaff 😎
The Coburn conundrum: should he stay at Bristol Rovers until the end of the season or should he be recalled next month?
He scored again this afternoon, though finished on the losing side at Wycombe.
I won’t have a bad word said against The Gook! I saw him score twice for Boro. Yes, twice! Once, when he tapped in from 5 yards in a Cup win at lowly Mansfield, much to the delight of the Boro faithful, who chanted ‘The Gook, the Gook, the Gook is on fire!’ (He wasn’t); and once when he scored a penalty at The Riverside in a penalty shoot-out - I can’t recall the opposition, but Boro won. Was it Bristol City? Clearly, he was a great striker ………. 🤭🫣🤣 Wasn’t he known as the Lion, or something similar, back in S Korea? Turned out to be more of a scraggy moggy!
In response to your bid of Dong Gook, I raise you Kieron Dyer. No, wait, I can do better than that - Marcus Bent. No wait, even better - Sammy Ameobi!
And just to complete a fine set of absolute stinkers, I offer you a) Kevin Thompson, whose ability to float a pass beyond the touchline was matched only by his skill at injuring himself on his home running machine, and b) Kris Boyd. Say no more!
Happy Christmas!
Can I throw the name of Michael Ricketts into the mix?
Boro have signed so many players in 2022, that I can hardly remember half of them by name. Especially in the summer, there were about dozen new arrivals. No wonder the season started slowly.
I was thinking who we signed in January 2022. I can remember Folarin Balogun, Aaron Connolly and Riley McGree. And also Caolan Boyd-Munce. I think these players arrived quite soon after the transfer window opened.
Were there more who arrived in January?
I hope we sign fewer and especially better players this time around. Up the Boro!
@jarkko, I don’t think Riley McGree was a bad signing and Boyd-Munce may come good yet, the other two were loan signings and a club always takes a chance with loans, some work out such as Giles.
Come on BORO.
@exmil yes, I agree. McGree has been excellent. I was more thinking about the two strikers we signed in January.
And Boyd-Munce (like Hoppe) are there for the future.
One or two signings with quality will do for in next month. Up the Boro!
Another name with which to conjure - in more ways than one!
https://the72.co.uk/2022/12/30/middlesbrough-monitoring-australian-international-ahead-of-january/
Anyone heard of Keanu Baccus?
"Uncle Eric" on Boro players who could attract unwelcome "outside interest" during the January window:
The comments on Isaiah Jones are hardly new...
Joey Barton again waxing lyrical about Josh Coburn:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-believes-bristol-rovers-7983660
Includes further comment on the likelihood of a recall next month.
What a brilliant concept the Christmas Truce Project was and sincere congratulations to Middlesbrough FC and indeed all the other 24 football clubs whose under 12 year old players who took part in the exercise. When I was a child history consisted mainly about the Romans and Normans, and whilst important at the time had little effect on most of the children of my generation. However learning about the two World Wars is more relevant to today’s children as many of us had great grandfathers who were caught up in the tragedy of especially the Great War. I think it is so important to learn about the conditions that our forefathers endured. Whilst historical interest about our football clubs is interesting to some of us, the diaries and photographs of the conditions that our war heroes endured is hard to imagine.
Having visited the war graves of the Second World War in France several times, and laid flowers and wreaths on graves of unnamed soldiers brings to life the futility of war. Many of our lads signed up because of unemployment and, dare I say, it the adventure of battle only to discover that it was a case of misadventure once they enlisted.
I learnt more about the conditions passed down to my grandfather by his grandfather during my adolescence than anything that was taught at school. Also football clubs including Middlesbrough FC are pillars of the community and have at least third-hand knowledge of the conditions and atrocities which occurred. I am proud to support a football club which cares for its community; there’s much more than football here, as football is merely a by-product of our region. Some might say that we shouldn’t glorify war, and I agree because there’s no glory to be made from war. The Green Howards have an excellent museum in Richmond. The award of 13 VCs to this regiment during the First World War were not about glory, but about bravery and courage.
I am reminded of the poem entitled LEISURE written by W H Davies in which he wrote “What is this life, if full of care, we have no need to stand and stare?” It obviously talks about LEISURE, but could also describe admiration and fortitude ‘lest we forget’.
Whilst only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored more goals than Boro this season and the Championship Forecast Provider has forecast that Boro will finish 3rd with 70 points at the end of the season, only 8 teams have conceded more goals than Boro at this moment in time. Bazball may be working for England’s cricket Test team, but I doubt that it will work for Boro’s defenders. Perhaps a few 1-0 wins might do the trick, so that would be my forecast for tomorrow.
Joey Barton again waxing lyrical about Josh Coburn:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/joey-barton-believes-bristol-rovers-7983660
Includes further comment on the likelihood of a recall next month.
Bristol Rovers won again yesterday, by 2-1, one of which was scored by "our" Josh, who picked up an 8 in the player ratings:
"Uncle Eric" on Boro players who could attract unwelcome "outside interest" during the January window:
The comments on Isaiah Jones are hardly new...
Further comment on a possible bid for Akpom:
Possible move on loan to Derby for Darnell Fisher (one of the forgotten ones?!!):
I wouldn’t mind this loan deal:
Come on BORO.
A deal done.
Carlisle United have signed defender Jack Robinson on loan from Championship side Middlesbrough until the end of the 2022-23 season.
The 21-year-old came through Boro's academy and has so far made two first-team appearances for the club.
If I remember correctly, we made the moves for new players quite early in January 2022. So far there have not yet been any moves for new players. I do not think we need many, though.
Nothing more about Barlaser yet. There is hope, though. Up the Boro!
Further comment on a possible bid for Akpom:
Why would Chuba want to go to Everton, where Frank Lampard is probably on his way out of the door after Brighton did a number on his team at Goodison Park earlier (1-4)?
I wouldn’t mind this loan deal:
Come on BORO.
Looks as though a loan deal is definitely on. Interesting final paragraph...
https://the72.co.uk/2023/01/04/middlesbrough-agree-to-sign-aston-villa-starlet-on-loan/
I wouldn’t mind this loan deal:
Come on BORO.
Looks as though a loan deal is definitely on. Interesting final paragraph...
https://the72.co.uk/2023/01/04/middlesbrough-agree-to-sign-aston-villa-starlet-on-loan/
Yes, the whole article seems worryingly sensible. Loan because he should make an immediate impact and not saddling us with an expensive striker who blocks Coburn's pathway. Not chasing Stewart because we don't feel it's a real prospect.
Obviously nothing is guaranteed in football but this was my first preference for upgrading our forward line this season so I am happy.
Notable as well that our results and performances plus Carrick's reputation in the game suddenly makes us a very desirable Championship club to play for.
I can’t get as excited as other supporters about the possible loan signing of a 21 year old squad player from Aston Villa. So far this season he’s made only 7 short substitute appearances with no goals. So he’s hardly match fit. Plus he was , I understand, on loan last season at Preston and only scored 7 goals.
Why wasn’t he loaned out again this season? Or did Villa think he could step up this season and make his mark? If so, you could conclude that this season hasn’t worked as planned and so he’s been shunted out on loan again.
I just hope he’s not as good , or is that not as bad as the 2 young forwards from Premiership teams last year.
Presumably Muniz will be on his way- when he first came I thought he looked promising but as the season has progressed he’s just disappeared.
The final thought to me about the new player is - is he any better than Coburn who’s scoring goals and getting good reviews. Ok , I accept it’s one division lower.
Philip of Huddersfield
@deleriad Now the Gazette (or what ever they are called now) is confirming the move. Archer is expected on Teesside today to complete the formalities of the move and to undergo his medical, before the deal will be announced at some point this week.
Boro tried a permanent move but Villa was unwilling to sell now. So Boro might be back with an offer in the summer. Looks like Muniz was not considered good enough.
Up the Boro!
I have to agree with you Philip. I am wholly unenthused by the prospect of this and wonder why there is felt to be any need to bring in another striker.
CA has hit a rich vein of form and Forss is also coming good. Crooks and Watmore provide more than ample and quality options. All of these have been playing together all season (more or less) and know how the team plays and (by now) what MC expects. To bring in someone new could tip the apple cart a little.
One worry could be that the club is planning to cash in on Akpom and so wants to get a replacement lined up....... but lets not contemplate that one please.
A solid left back would be higher up my list of priorities and a creative midfield player not only to provide cover for Hackney in the event of loss of form or injury, but also to introduce a little competition for the starting line up to encourage Hackney to contiinue his development/improvement.
have to agree with you Philip. I am wholly unenthused by the prospect of this and wonder why there is felt to be any need to bring in another striker.
I disagree. Archer's track record at this point in his career is roughly the same as Bamford when we took him on loan.
Bamford had 1/2 a season at Derby, played 23 scored 8, assists 4. Archer, 1/2 season at PNE played 20, scored 7, 1 assist. Villa kept hold of him this season in case they needed him and handed him a new 5 year contract. Turns out they didn't so he's available. PNE fans are gutted he's not going back to them; he was one of their players of the season last year.
Muniz hasn't worked and Coburn's going great guns at Bristol Rovers. Archer can play wide or central so gives us plenty of flexibility. Plus, in this case, a loan is probably in our favour. If he does well and we get promoted then we can decide whether we want to try and buy. If he does poorly and/or we don't get promoted then Coburn comes back and we aren't stuck with him.
Nothing in football is guaranteed but this feels like a really positive loan to me.