Just to reduce the number of posts on the Watford game which are no longer relevant I thought I would add this topic to include posts on reflections of the last season amd transfer rumours
OFB
Former Germany boss Hansi Flick is interested in becoming the new Man Utd manager, while the Red Devils have been advised to appoint Michael Carrick.
Man Utd were embarrassed on Monday night as Crystal Palace beat Erik ten Hag’s side 4-0 as a Michael Olise brace helped Oliver Glasner’s side dominate the Red Devils
That result is their 13th league defeat of the season and leaves Man Utd in eighth place in the table and on course for their lowest ever Premier League finish.
Ten Hag is now under immense pressure to turn around results before the end of the season with their FA Cup final against Man City later this month their last chance of success.
There are reports that there is already a feeling in the Man Utd dressing room that the Dutchman will be sacked at the end of the season and there are a number of potential successors being linked.
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Tuchel and England’s Gareth Southgate have been the main ones in recent days, while the Daily Mirror insist that former Germany boss Hansi Flick is interested.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara thinks the Red Devils’ loss to Crystal Palace on Monday was a “sackable offence” from Ten Hag and wants to see Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick take over until the end of the season.
O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport: “Against Crystal Palace on Monday night, Manchester United were terrible. It was a sackable offence. I can’t believe how bad Ten Hag is, how bad it’s got and that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is actually sticking by him.
“They should get someone new in for the final to give themselves a chance. You can’t have Ten Hag in the dugout.
He’s leaving at the end of the season. The players have stopped running for him. They’re going into that game in a bad vein of form, in a bad frame of mind.
“I would change it and try and get a lift by getting in Michael Carrick. Just a couple of games, then he can go back to Middlesbrough.”
On the Tuchel rumours, O’Hara added: “I really liked Tuchel at Chelsea. I thought he created a team that was really hard to beat and nobody wanted to play against them but I don’t know if it works at Manchester United.
So MC to United ?
what do the Diasborians think ?
OFB
I’d allow it for £50m.
Good initiative.
Boro have "let it be known" that they won't be pursuing O'Brien, Thomas or Greenwood after their loans end but are very much hoping to re-sign Ayling.
Early days yet but strong rumours that Hackney will be off this summer. He was supposedly tapped up in January and his head has been turned(tm). If that's the case, I can see us wanting to get him sold early so we can plan properly. We don't want another Tav or Akpom situation.
Conflicting reports about whether McGree wants to stay or go. He's into the last 12 months of his contract so he's someone I can see us trying to sell early. Also some rumours that Forss may want out. Forss is half way through his 4 year contract so he'll be hitting his peak value in 24/25.
Rumours that Dieng is wanted by Newcastle or other Prem teams as a back-up keeper.
Lots of rumours surrounding Archer with talk of us trying to cobble some sort of deal where we write-off some of the Rogers' add-ons. I can't see it myself. I don't believe in "smokescreens" but it might suit our purposes to let the rumours keep our preferred targets out of sight.
Something that really does occur to me is that next season is both a big opportunity and threat. Opportunity because it looks like it might be the weakest Championship for a while. The relegated Prem teams look poor and even the promoted Championship teams don't look all that. Plus, we can't lose to Rotherham again.
A threat because if we don't get promoted we may be looking at losing our best players with Rav, Latte Lath, Hackney (if he's still here), Dieng all wanting out.
Going to be an interesting summer.
Hi everyone. I am sorry not to have posted the COTS challenge results yet. I had rather thought that I would get to do that this week, but I underestimated the impact of having my left knee replaced last Monday morning and the effect of the essential but strong opioids gladly received to ease me through the first week. Sitting here now 5 days later I have a more realistic expectation to write up and publish the results for the middle of next week., so I will keep you all in suspense until then 😉.
I do know who has has come out on top and I am sure that person will be surprised.. teaser over.
Lots of great posts as always. My only contribution so far is that I am relieved that we have sent Mr Greenwood back to Leeds. I wish him well and hope that he does find a level that he can compete in consistently, but sadly for him I don't see that being in a team that wants to challenge at the top of the Championship, at least not at this time.
me too...but make that £75m if you can !I’d allow it for £50m.
@powmillnaemore Good to hear you are recovering. I had both of my knees replaced following years of football, squash and then running and the last was done in 1998, it hits but what difference afterwards. Don't forget to do your physiology religiously when you are out and home. I think I'm a hospital season ticket holder now, they'll probably name a ward after me!
All the best everyone.
UTB,
John
@powmillnaemore. Good to hear your op appears to have gone well. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.
We can all wait for the COTS challenge results, there are more important things in life, especially ones health. 😎
That should have been 'hurts' and 'physio'. Why does the computer have to interfere?
UTB, John
@powmillnaemore Take your time, mate. And keep fit. I have a friend from school time who had his both knees replaced two years ago. He is very happy with the results and lack of pain finally. Up the Boro!
There remains a little uncertainty around the exact time that Tommy Smith, Riley McGree and Marcus Forss will be able to resume full training after lengthy injuries, but it is expected that the rest of Boro's players should be good to go when the players reconvene at Rockliffe at the end of June/start of July for pre-season.
So Hayden Hackney and Josh Coburn are fit now and looking forward to the start of the pre-season.
I also fully expect McGree and Hackney to stay at Boro . Where else they would get play time and have a chance of promotion to the EPL? I think the players like to play under Michael Carrick and for Boro.
Plenty to be positive for next season. Up the Boro!
Boro have "let it be known" that they won't be pursuing O'Brien, Thomas or Greenwood after their loans end but are very much hoping to re-sign Ayling.
Only just noticed this new thread. Excellent idea. 👍
I'm aware of the reports that O'Brien, Thomas & Greenwood are being allowed to return to their respective parent clubs, but that fact makes this FLW offering all the more intriguing:
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/middlesbrough-backed-to-win-lewis-obrien-transfer-chase/
After yesterday's results, it looks as though the Tricky Trees are going to hang on to their PL status by the skin of their teeth...
Anyone else watching the Norwich v Leeds playoff game today?
Watching both teams I would fancy a Boro team to win against them over two games.
If MC can keep his squad together and add a striker I think we may have a good chance of promotion next season.
OFB
@original-fat-bob. I saw a large proportion of the game and was distinctly unimpressed by both sides; current Boro would have beaten either team over two legs as you say.
If we retain our key players and add two/three then I agree, provided the injury hoodoo does not strike again, we should be strong promotion contenders. 😎
two very cagey games. Both away teams were looking forward to the second leg and the home teams couldn’t break them down. It’s all down to the second leg and interesting to note from the lower leagues that the second legs produced a surprising number of away wins. Not quite sure why.
It all reminded me a bit of the Coventry v Boro first leg. Not a great game and Akpom missed the one good chance that could have made such a difference. Then we couldn’t get over the line at home.
No reason to fear any of these teams but it’s a long way from the new season. It’s hard to know what to make of the relegated clubs. Burnley could be strong and the other two are anybody’s guess.
UTB
At least there would have been more goals had Boro been in the playoffs. And in both ends, I am afraid.
But sure a goal or three as OFB would have said. Up the Boro!
I was away from the Blog for a few days as I went to Lockside (Ripon) with the caravan last Thursday and spent a long weekend in a field under the sun. This coming weekend it is a planned trip to Pexton Moor next to Dalby Forest in the NY Moors. Caravan life is REAL life. Can't wait.
I doubt I will spend all summer fretting about the football transfer market. The idea of sending Michael Carrick to Manchester United for the last games of their season, in return for £50M (or £75M) had me smiling. Firstly we might see several "injured" ManU players make a miraculous recovery in order to make a stab at winning the FA Cup and also to stake a place in the team for next season under New Management. Secondly, what would happen if, say, he led ManU to victory over Newcastle on Wednesday then led ManU to an unexpected victory over City at Wembley on 25th May? Would Carrick come back to BORO...?
@forever-dormo “This coming weekend it is a planned trip to Pexton Moor next to Dalby Forest in the NY Moors. Caravan life is REAL life. Can't wait.”
We’ll be passing by as we head to Whitby on Saturday to pick up my daughter’s 40th birthday present from the Art Cafe Gallery. I went to school with the proprietor and his extremely talented wife has done a piece of textile art for her. I think Diasborans might recognise the location.
Not strictly "on topic" but what was the Aurora Borealis like in Finland over the past weekend? It was glorious in the UK, even in the south, due to massive solar flare activity, but I wasn't able to see it in Ripon. A friend had a camera and took photos which were much better than I could see with the naked eye, and there were some cracking photos taken by a photographer in Whitby.
@forever-dormo We thought we’d have a good chance on Harris, but nothing doing. Meanwhile, all our neighbours in the village witnessed a brilliant display, as did our former neighbours in Leyland. We’ve got a friend in his van on Shetland atm and he didn’t see anything either.
@martin-bellamy - There is a chap called @Borochubster who posts on X (formerly Twitter). Two days ago he posted: "£3,000 on a Norwegian Fjords cruise to see the Northern Lights and (saw) diddly squat; £35 camping at Beadnall and....." - followed by a set of 4 excellent photos showing the night sky with clearly visible bands of gold, purple, red, green etc.
He was obviously at the Camping & Caravan Club Site at Beadnell on the Northumberland Coast where in July/August for 23 nights there will be a Temporary Holiday Site set up two fields away from the Club's commercial site and where people can take their caravan, motorhome, campervan, trailer tent or tent for £10 per unit per night. Lots of drinking water taps all around the site, which is, if I might say so, expertly set up by engineers/building tradesmen etc the weekend before, and there is somewhere to empty the cassette toilet (an Elsan point), bins from which the waste is collected - but they must bring their own sanitation.
On the other hand the Club Site - funny really because all who stay on our THS are Camping Club members - is clearly £35 a night this season, and it may be there are extra fees if you are putting up an awning, or if you have a dog or more than 2 adults etc, or if you need an electric hook-up. We are on good terms with the Club site, though, and as it is nearly always fully booked up in advance, they often send people to our THS. If they have friends on the Club site, they often go back and tell them they'd be saving a load of money staying with us. Literally over the road from the beach and only 2 miles to Seahouses and 5 or 6 to Bamburgh! No booking required for Club members - just turn up as we've never yet had to turn anyone away, since we have two large fields all neatly set up in which the units can be sited along roads (from A to W was, I think, the record) with plenty of space to get in and out. We are our farmer's favourite crop of the year!
Sorry, I missed the Aurora Borealis. I knew they were very active (because of the bursts in the sun) and it was mentioned on the news in here, too. The problem for us in here is that the dark time is so short already. The sun rises already before 5 o'clock in the morning and it was nearly as "bad" in the evening. So we should have woken up in the middle of the night to see them.Not strictly "on topic" but what was the Aurora Borealis like in Finland over the past weekend? It was glorious in the UK, even in the south, due to massive solar flare activity, but I wasn't able to see it in Ripon. A friend had a camera and took photos which were much better than I could see with the naked eye, and there were some cracking photos taken by a photographer in Whitby.
In the Northern part of Finland (our contry is 1 100 km long from the South to the North) the Aurora Borealis are more seen in the winter - when the sun sets down in the early afternoon and rises after 10 AM. And they can be seen regularly in the North, too.
So sorry to disappoint you. I just slept. My bad.
Up the Boro and!
Take a look at some of the facts and figures behind Boro's 2023/24 season that you might not have seen. Quite an extraordinary season, then!
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/12/the-stats-behind-boro-s-season/
up the Boro!
@forever-dormo We stayed at the Beadnell site when our friends were assistant managers.
@martin-bellamy - Brilliant. I recogniose, of course, all the places featured in your blog piece. And, no doubt, I will re-acquaint myself with them all again in about 10 weeks.
I have read some people saying that Fry is past it and not an important player for Boro anymore.
Therefore it was interesting to see that he played actually 3,067 minutes in total. Only Jonny Howson, Rav van den Berg and Seny Dieng played more minutes last season. The minutes are listed in here: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gallery/transfer-hints-hope-future-completed-29158674
This is what the Tresside Live wrote about Fry:
"Given that Fry’s season ended in February, it says a lot that he still comes fourth on the list. As far as form is concerned, it wasn’t Fry’s most consistent season, but the minutes he played in the early part of the season highlight how important he remains to Boro. Given how well Van den Berg and Matt Clarke played in the final two months, there will be interesting competition at centre-back next season."
After two season of injuries, I hope to see a fit again Fry next season. He is a good player but he needs a injury-free season. A good pre-season would also help him in preparing for the next season.
I rate him highly.
Up the Boro!
🚨 | Middlesbrough are keen on signing Tottenham striker Will Lankshear on loan.
[Football League World]
OFB