Thank you OFB for the Headliner and PNE analysis. Great stuff.
Well I have to say that I do wish MC and his team the very best with lots of luck thrown in .
However, three weeks to negóciate Mr Carrick and Mr Woodgate. That has to be either a bad dream or a bad joke. I do not believe for one minute that JW is MC’s choice and it will be interesting to see if somebody more experienced comes in. If not this could end up with another change in January.
We finally get some words from Mr Gibson, and it’s MC was the best fit for this club of all the people interviewed. Better than who? We will never know obviously.
Am I happy, how could I be. The whole episode from the sacking of Wilder to today has been a farce. You just could not make it up.
Wow, there’s a lot of negativity on the blog towards anything that happens at the club. I don’t agree with everything that they do but always expecting the worst means that one is either proved right and disappointed at the outcome or proved wrong which must take the edge off any success.
Objectively, the new appointment is a calculated throw of the dice bringing in a highly respected player who has playing and coaching experience under top class managers. Can we all at least agree that it follows a pattern that has had some success before at the club. As to the return of Woodgate, has everybody forgotten that he started very well at Boro and then did well at Bournemouth. I’m not near enough to know what went wrong on the management side but he was an attack minded coach and I’m choosing to look forward to what might happen.
Finally, it’s quite possible that the ‘missing’ coach is Rene Meulensteen who is currently working with the Australian national team. It makes perfect sense that he would want to experience a World Cup before moving back.
UTB
@selwynoz The internet rumours have the missing coach as Mike Phelan, currently on gardening leave with Man U.
OFB
Fair comment. I like Dana Malt. She talks a lot of sense on Boro Breakdown and Red Alert podcasts. She’s not frightened to point out when things aren’t working and has a good tactical awareness.
fair enough. Mine was just a guess based on circumstance.
utb
It’s a strange world. I just realised that Phelan is on gardening leave and, in theory, available for MFC because he was kicked out of Man U to be replaced by Steve McClaren. Steve McClaren was brought back in by Ten Haag after he worked under McClaren at Twente when they won the Eerste Divisie in Holland.
Given how much better Man U are playing, isn’t it possible that McClaren is actually a very good coach even if he has screwed things up a bit along the way. Would he have been a candidate to work under Carrick? An experienced head? Maybe not but I’m not sure what it says about Phelan.
UTB
Wow, there’s a lot of negativity on the blog towards anything that happens at the club. I don’t agree with everything that they do but always expecting the worst means that one is either proved right and disappointed at the outcome or proved wrong which must take the edge off any success.
Objectively, the new appointment is a calculated throw of the dice bringing in a highly respected player who has playing and coaching experience under top class managers. Can we all at least agree that it follows a pattern that has had some success before at the club. As to the return of Woodgate, has everybody forgotten that he started very well at Boro and then did well at Bournemouth. I’m not near enough to know what went wrong on the management side but he was an attack minded coach and I’m choosing to look forward to what might happen.
Finally, it’s quite possible that the ‘missing’ coach is Rene Meulensteen who is currently working with the Australian national team. It makes perfect sense that he would want to experience a World Cup before moving back.
UTB
Yes, I do not understand how some are so negative. How can we know more than the job interviewers?
Seriously, let's respect the club and the new structure we have been hoping to be installed. Here is some info on the recruitment process. And not just opinions:
I am hoping to see some winning mentality and a midfield working better. And a more confident players. As I heard during my recent visit to Teesside, a player mentioned that he has never played under a manager more "angry" than Wilder. He had not seen him smiling ever even once.
Up the Boro!
As I heard during my recent visit to Teesside, a player mentioned that he has never played under a manager more "angry" than Wilder. He had not seen him smiling ever even once.
Things definitely turned after Christmas. One thing I noticed is that he really piled on the weight. Speaking as someone who is prone to doing the same thing; I put on weight when I'm in a low place and I don't have control over my life. It does really feel that Wilder absolutely lost the plot at an early stage. Whether he always planned to jump ship at the first opportunity or something happened to make him feel he had to get out, I don't know.
I'm very much hoping that Carrick coming in can clear the stench. Although he wouldn't have been my choice, he's definitely a viable choice. Woodgate's return is a surprise but it's a new role and he seems highly thought of in football circles.
I think the key thing right now is that the whole club needs to get behind Carrick and start moving in the same direction. It feels like we've had a long period of the club being at war with itself and that needs to end now.
@deleriad I think your last paragraph is so important. MC has to initially get the players believing that as a team they can all go forward and hopefully upwards.
If that can be achieved then the cloud is somewhat lifted from everybody.
I’m with our Finnish correspondent on this one. This forum has turned right at negativity corner at the moment (not for the first time I might add) - we’ve been crying out for an announcement of a new manager and when it comes we’re still sure that we know better than the owner and some seem to think that we should be told the entire candidate list.
Maybe we should have access to recordings of the interviews or better yet we’ll be present on Zoom next time.
From comments that the appointments are more ”jobs for the boys” to a continued scream into the darkness that Josh Coburn is the missing Messiah, there are days when I have to read the comments through my fingers in front of my face, and yet, despite it all. I continue to read them all. 😉
Martin
On the whole I think we’re all pretty positive on this blog.
Let’s face it we have had a lot to put up with over the past few years when we see teams like Bournemouth and Brentford in the Premiership and we’ve been languishing in the Championship.
Yes we’ve had a few managers but this appointment excites me. I have said over the past few weeks (check my posts!) that I wanted Carrick as the head coach.
I must confess that it was a surprise to see Woodgate return but he seems to be well though of in football circles and it will help Carrick ease into the club and get to know the politics!
There is another coach set to join the club and if it is Phelan or another I’m sure the team will be given funds in the January transfer window to sign players either permanently, or more likely on loan from Manchester United!
Let’s all be positive and hopefully we will enjoy the ride for the rest of the season because as the song says
🎵things can only get better🎶
OFB
Tuesday afternoon (3pm) will see Michael Carrick meet the media for the first time since taking over as the club's new Head Coach.
Michael will be joined by the club's CEO Neil Bausor and Head of Football Kieran Scott at the Rockliffe press conference.
You can watch the broadcast section of the press conference live from 3pm on our official YouTube channel.
OFB
It would be a strange world if we all thought the same and all believed that everything in the garden is rosy or will be.
I, for one, was and am in favour of the MC appointment as I felt we needed a fresh and new perspective and that youth should now be given a chance. After all, three of the most experienced managers have tried and failed.
I was conscious however that appointing a relatively inexperienced candidate was not without risk, as of course are any appointments, but comforted by the indications that he would be bringing experienced back room staff with him (Plan A) to at least, in part, mitigate the level of risk.
Clearly, as has been disclosed, plan A ran into problems and Plan B has resulted in the appointment of JW which does not fill me with delight or necessarily reduce the level of risk.
JW was obviously not MC’s first choice and it sounds as if his name may have been suggested by SG when Plan A began to fail. Hopefully, the addition of a further experienced coach in due course will bolster the experience levels and alleviate my concerns.
The recruitment structure and personnel are remaining the same as when CW was in place. I just hope that what has been agreed with MC is delivered as despite CW being aware of and presumably buying into the modus operandi, something went wrong which should not be allowed to recur.
I truly hope that the new team are successful and that over time we will reap the benefits.
I do however feel that those that have differing views and concerns should be able to freely express them without being criticised by those with opposing views. We are after all entitled to our own opinions. 😎
Boro have confirmed that Neil Bausor and Kieran Scott will be at today's Michael Carrick unveiling press conference.
Starts at 3 and is being put out live on the club's Youtube.
Up the Boro!
Well - we have a new Leader after a period of turmoil. Much anguish has been expressed in the last few years as to our direction of travel, with many feeling that we had lost our way and that a slow steady decline in our fortunes was inevitable.
We HAD thought that some older hands who know their way around the shark-infested waters surrounding us would see stability restored, and a return to better days ahead. That quickly proved to have been a forlorn hope. The sharks were still there and the waters more stormy.
Then, to the jubilation of the "True believers" who thought that maybe, just maybe, The Messiah had arrived, a new era of hope and expectation was entered into. It might not be an immediate return to the High Table but Acolytes of the Leader celebrated and dreamed of glory in the future. Spirits were high and, it's fair to say, some of the most enthusiastic Disciples behaved as if those good times were all but assured, even already here rather than a target to be achieved.
Pestilence and war are, of course, cruel enemies. Their debilitating effect makes it much harder to meet the challenges surrounding us. But equally debilitatating is the slowly mounting feeling that a Leader in whom True Believers staked all their faith, was a false prophet whose words could not be trusted, whose actions were not well-considered - someone following a path that could only result in division and eventual destruction for all those "of the Faith" as well as those who never truly believed. The road to promotion may have seemed paved with good intentions but a steady decline appeared destined to leave us all in a much lower place. It was no surprise that as the ship lurched towards the rocks, the crew mutinied and the Leader was forced to walk the plank followed by some of his loyal supporters, in the hope that the ship could be piloted to safety by those remaining aboard.
We then entered an Interregnum. A short and chaotic period in which the Charts were mislaid, and the Caretaker captain directed the Helmsman to plot a course due north. Almost instantly an loud clamour arose as the rocks loomed dangerously ahead so the poor man at the wheel was thrown overboard and the ship was directed due south. The moneylenders outside the Temple may have been happy but the shepherds in the fields, the farmers and the innkeepers realised they were unilkely now to be able to feed their stock, buy food or heat the rooms they had to let. Interregnums, by their nature, tend to be brief but eventful and it was therefore no surprise that, perhaps to general relief, the caretaker Captain decided enough was enough and that, perhaps just before the plank was made ready again, it was time to reliquish control of the vessel.
After a number of changes in command in quick order, many in the crew hoped a proper appointments procedure would follow, and that someone fully qualified would be appointed: someone who knew how to read a chart and had some idea where the most dangerous rocks lurked just under the water's surface, and where the sharks hunt. There may even have been a fear that followers of the previous false prophet may plan the return of their master following his previous Fall, but that fizzled out, to the relief of a majority of the remaining faithful who had been worried about the bloodletting that might have entailed if the return had been pursued.
We are now in times when a new hand is being given sight of the Charts. He has a local link, too. People hope he can rescue what appeared certain to be an inevitable shipwreck as yet another storm loomed. But people's faith has been tested in recent times. It is unlikely that the new Leader will be given the blind support some of his predessors had, and many will need to be persuaded, but the most important immediate target is to direct the ship away from the rocks into calmer waters. After a period of refitting and an overhaul of the training and composition of the crew, protected from the storm, it may be that thoughts will turn back to the earlier plans of restoring and increasing trade with Europe and the wider world. But to do that, we will need a well built ship, a professional crew which can work together (some may need to be replaced) and a Leader whose right to command is respected. All new Leaders have things they need to learn, however well they studied and however many courses they have passed. Let's give this one a chance. It MIGHT work....
Coventry play Rotherham tonight and a win for Coventry will put us back into the bottom three. 😎🙁
I do however feel that those that have differing views and concerns should be able to freely express them without being criticised by those with opposing views. We are after all entitled to our own opinions. 😎
Thank you KP spot on.
Just wanted to say that the "pending" appointment of Michael Carrick was greeted with joy on the Twelth Man bus to Wigan on Wednesday. And the fans started to sing new songs for Carrick at Wigan on half time.
Based on my visit to Teesside, there is much more negativity on Carrick's appointment on this blog than on the stands. Just saying like.
But I am really excited. This is my club. Up the Boro!
I agree with Selwynoz and Martin Bellamy (and others) there is a certain amount of negativity reappearing in this blog, which in my opinion, has reduced this site to 20 (if we are lucky) or less, compared to the old days of 50+. I agree that people are entitled to their own opinion, even if it differs from our own but there are certain posters who see nothing but bad in everything MFC does (We are doomed Mr Waring doomed).
Our last three managers have been experienced but failed to deliver the goods so now we are moving into a new model with a young team at the helm, yet some say we need someone with more experience (wait a minute, didn’t we just say that failed 3 times over, what’s one of the favourite sayings on here “Only an idiot does the same thing over and over again and expect different results”).
Unlike others I don’t expect Boro to suddenly shoot up the table an have the league won by April (other months are available) as many have said on here even Klopp or Pep would struggle with this bunch of players to achieve anything above mid table. January windows are usually poor and expensive and the transfer kitty will not be that great (Imho save it for summer) please don’t say but look at the money we got for Spence/Tavernier, get realistic how much does anyone know for a fact we got “up front” and please tell me anyone, when do you think Spence will earn any of the add ons, without even thinking about balancing the books for FFP.
I think it will take at least 2/3 years (realistically) to build a team capable of challenging for promotion with a chance of surviving one season in the Premiership and I am prepared for that while still willing to give positive support to the Boro.
Come on BORO.
I don’t disagree with your view that “there are certain posters who see nothing but bad in everything MFC does (We are doomed Mr Waring doomed).”
That is my point, they and others yourself included should be able to express their views as they see fit without being criticised. Similarly there are those that see everything through rose tinted spectacles and are also entitled to do so without being criticised.
I gave thumbs up to virtually ever post on here as an indication that I have read the post but not necessarily as an indication that I have agreed or disagreed with it.
If I regard a post as particularly well written or argued then I tend to post a comment to that effect or if I disagree then post a counter view.
I would prefer if we could get away from this negative/positive argument as I do not believe it serves any purpose and could be counter productive.
A post is a post and make of it what you will but please don’t give it a label. But there again someone may have a different view! 😎
What’s not to like about the new appointments! I agree that some people have different views and respect their right to be heard, but I don’t agree about all this negativity. I’m with Jarkko, exMill, OFB, Martin Bellamy and a few more on Diasboro even the appointment of Jonathan Woodgate, although admittedly a surprise, yet thrown in at the deep end at Bournemouth. Is Scott Parker any better than Woodgate? Sometimes regarded as thick, but so was Wilf Mannion academically but not on the field of play where certainly Woodgate was a good organiser of his defence, and Mannion was just a genius and ahead of his time.
When the likes of Bryan Robson, Gareth Southgate, and especially Sir Alex Ferguson talk football, like him or not one listens. Even Paul McGinley had him talk to his Ryder Cup team in 2014 and everyone listened. It’s not all about football or golf, it’s a question of mind over matter.
What I like about the new coaching line up at Boro is the willingness to give youth its chance. Let’s not kid ourselves if by some fluke Boro had been promoted this season or even next season they would have come straight back down. The Manchester United connection may also see a couple of players on loan to Boro after the January transfer window. There’s no way Boro will be relegated this season even if they lose to both Preston and Blackpool in the next week, just inside the playoffs next season, and Champions the year after that is the aim and I for one can almost guarantee it. Not that I’ll be around to see it of course, but I’m convinced it will happen and that’s my legacy to all Boro supporters.
Come on the Boro, you know it makes sense!
I like to post on Dias Boro and to put things on that might be of interest to fellow subscribers.
Also everyone has an opinion and Dias Boro for me is there for us, to make comment's either negative or proactive. It's the way I feel at the time and I have no regrets about anything that I have posted. I mostly like every post by our subscribers, some I don't agree with and some I do passionately. But I respect all the contributions that's what we are here for. We can't all have the same thoughts.
I'm not from this area originally but brought up in the Scottish Borders. Moved to Redcar 1965 (now living in Skelton) and in 1966 became a Middlesbrough Supporter because it is my local team. I will always support them but that is not to say you can't make a comment good or bad.
Yes, I agree that M.C. Is the sort of coach I would like to see at our club. When he was in the last two seasons as a member of the all conquering team. I was surprised to learn that he was used by Fergy? To assist with the coaching. These are the players who move over to coaching, and, of course, are very successful in general. An example is the great player of African descent who is spreading his wings with Cristal Palace? This pool is where we should be fishing if we wish to get out of our present rut.
Thanks for your posts KP and also for your reply exmil, giving a balanced view.
I would also agree that yes I do fall into the negative camp at times.
However after so many false dawns and also seeing clubs such as those pointed out by KP plus others, Burnley, I believe that one has the right to get frustrated with our football club and the continued mistakes.
But, what I will say is that I do not try to pick an argument with another poster over differing opinions. We all have the right to our own thoughts on matters and in hindsight I do get them wrong.
On a brighter note, I have just watched Michael Carrick’s press conference, courtesy of OFB’s link, and I have to say he came over very well. I was pleased how he conducted himself.
What came out, a contract of two and a half years. I would say that Woodgate was Mr Gibsons idea and we will get another first team coach in the near future.
He is excited to be at MFC, I hope he is successful over his tenure and is here longer than his initial contract. That would probably mean promotion.
After watching the presser, I am slightly disappointed at only thirty months contract. I hope he settles here, we get our coaching straightened out, and he is so successful that he stays a while. I liked him!
Can anyone help me get to grips with what Kieran Scott’s job responsibilities are as Director of Football? When he was appointed he said that his job was “to control the future of the club” which I would have thought is the Chairman’s job. So I’m not clear on what “control the future” means in terms of the specific business areas and tasks for which he is responsible, the objectives he has been given and how his performance is judged and measured. Perhaps OFB or someone else who is close to the Club can throw some light on this for me (and maybe others) please?
Pedro I have been on MFC site to watch MC’s first media press conference with Bauser and Scott but it will not play, anyone else having this problem, I also went on YouTube but the same problem 🤔
Come on BORO.
Found out from stepson that the video starts 10/12 minutes before the group come in so fast forward and it will start properly.
Come on BORO.
I have just googled MFC YouTube and the video is there and working.