Alan Shearer was discussing the difference between strikers and centre forwards who of course wear the number 9 shirt. It’s the pride and passion of wearing that number 9 shirt. Just recently many teams have been playing rather successfully it has to be said but not having a recognised centre forward, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs, but somehow that number 9 is now making a comeback. Dixie Dean 383 goals and George Camsell 345 are the only English players to have scored over 300 goals for one club in the top two tiers of English football, yet Jimmy Greaves although scoring 469 goals in his career never wore the number 9 shirt nor scored 300 goals for Spurs. Neither did Nat Lofthouse for Bolton although always wearing that coveted number 9 shirt, so it is only right and proper that Middlesbrough FC should acknowledge George Camsell’s achievements by having a statue erected outside the Riverside Stadium next month.
I wonder what Brian Clough would have thought if he had not been allocated the number 9 shirt; he’d probably have immediately put in for a transfer request. He once remarked that it was his responsibility to score goals and had that selfishness to do so. So Boro have kept the number 9 shirt free until the appointment of Rodrigo Muniz. It’s a number to wear with pride and a lot to live up to. Of course there’s no way he’ll emulate the success of Camsell, Fenton, Clough or Alan Peacock who took over the number 9 shirt once Clough had left for Sunderland. But maybe having played second fiddle to Alexsander Mitrovic at Fulham perhaps wearing that number 9 shirt for Boro may be the fillip he requires to relaunch his career. Let’s hope so!
Incidentally finance must be a great concern now at Middlesbrough FC as I’ve just been informed that the free meals package I received this morning will be the last this year. Apparently the club are unable to fund the service anymore in the foreseeable future. Not that I’m complaining as it’s been a most welcome addition to how much Steve Gibson cares about the local community and much appreciated by all I’m sure, but there are many especially in East Cleveland who are not as financially stable as yours truly. So I’d just wish to say a big thank you to Steve Gibson for keeping these meals going throughout Covid as well as the occasional books about our great club. The man’s a Saint and surely worth a knighthood.
Good post Nigel, good to see you back. 😎
I second to that.
Of course Reading were no better and eventhough our tempo and performance was low in speed, we had enough chances to make it 1-1.
But it was miles apart from the Stoke performance when the team was clapped off the pitch. The swagger - I think AV used that word - was missing.
Certainly work in progress. Up to twelve new players and several departures (Tavernier especially) could be seen. Up the Boro!
Yes, Welcome back, Nigel. Hope you're well