Thanks Andy, great idea to start a post mortem/planning for next season thread - there's certain plently of work needed to reshape the squad to take Boro to the next level. In terms of player of the season, I think Dijksteel just edged it for me ahead of Jonny Howson as he's gone up a level this season and has improved year on year. Jones is probably young player of the year but he's only actually a year younger than Tavernier, who arguably over the season was more influential. Perhaps many supporters are more prepared to give Jones more slack over Tav as they think he's much younger.

Interestingly, I think I would have prefered those four strikers of Watmore, Ikpeazu, Akpom and Coburn over what we finished the season with - which was a seemingly, disinterested Sporar, a low on confidence Connolly and a inexperienced Balogun. Maybe those four might have scored a few more than the others did and edged us into the top six.

Nevertheless, Boro probably need a couple of strikers who know what the Championship is about and are more composed - though strikers never come cheap (especially to Boro) and many are somewhat of a punt. Interestingly, I was just checking out what had happened to Ashley Fletcher since he joined Watford on a five-year deal - he's now playing on loan for New York Red Bulls but has only made 4 appearances and hasn't scored. To think Boro paid over £6m for him as a 22-year old and that was the only time anyone has paid money for him - Watford are hoping to offload him to New York as his loan has an option to buy but doesn't look like he'll be offered a deal.

Not sure if any of the out of contract players (btw I added the red for you as it didn't come through) other than Howson will be offered new deals - Bamba could continue in some coaching role with an option to play but he may be getting to that age where he will struggle with another season.

Incidentally, as I previously mention, this next season is going to be a tough one even by Championship standards give the winter break for the Qatar world cup - it's going to mean two games a week as standard, which will also mean the need for a stronger squad in depth if players aren't going to suffer burn out.

In terms of raising cash through sales, there's a few players out of contract in 2023, including I think both Tav and Dale Fry - which means the club may have to decide either to extend their deals or look to cash in. It may be hard to raise funds on those players who perhaps Boro would be happy to move on but could struggle to secure a fee.

Defence-wise Boro have quite a few options but I wonder if the left-footed Bola could be converted to an overlapping left-sided central defender over the summer - apparently he's nearly an inch taller than McNair! 

Anyway, plently of speculation ahead on who's in and who can come in but while Boro's current midfielders and defenders look strong on paper, they've not as a unit performed well enough on the pitch. The strikers and keeper are an obvious weakness but it looks to me like strength in every department is needed.

Thanks for editing that, Werder - I lost my colouring in somewhere.

Here's another way of looking at the squad, assuming Uche and Akpom will be sold and Bamba, Peltier and Taylor are not retained:

Possible first XI

???

Djiksteel Fry McNair

Jones Crooks Howson McGree Tavernier

??? ???

Possible second XI

Daniels

Wood Hall ???

Fisher Payero ??? Boyd-Munce Bola

Coburn Watmore

So perhaps three players needed for the first XI just to bring the team up to standard, then at least another two needed for the squad and competition - a centre-back and a holding midfielder?

It could be that signing a left-sided centre back releases McNair to become a midfielder or back-up centre-back. It could be that Boro sign that elusive midfield general to take over from Howson (did we ever really find out why the club let Morsy go?). Payero may kick-on and that might mean shifting Crooks' position.

I'd be keen to keep Peltier around if he's up for it. It's an uncomplicated way of bolstering the squad with a reliable back-up.

Equally, it would be very helpful if Hayden Coulson rediscovered his form from his breakthrough season, now in a position at wingback that really suits him. That could allow Bola to potentially be that back-up left centre-back.

The summary of this for me is that the squad may not need the overhaul many are predicting. Can Payero step up? Can Coulson become a useful squad member for us? Can Uche? Will Peltier or Bamba stick around? If so, we can concentrate on 2-3 key signings for the first team which I'd like to think could be afforded by the release of a few from the wage bill and the sale of Spence at a good price.

Just thought I'd re-post for information the link to a possible addition to the squad which I put up on the PNE thread yesterday:

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/will-be-a-major-coup-middlesbrough-eye-20-goal-league-one-player-the-verdict/

According to Wiki (yes, I know!), he's only 5'9", but "has a reputation for scoring long range goals from both open play and free-kicks. Primarily a number ten throughout his career to date, Twine can also operate as a left-winger or striker."

He's involved in the League One play-off SF against Wycombe, but the Dons are currently trailing 1-2 on aggregate.  No idea whether that will affect his plans for next season.

I think it's the problem of while everyone may look good on paper, there have been some issues with the current midfield both creating chances and shielding the defence. Boro have at times look too easy to break through this season and while we have bemoaned the quality of our strikers, they haven't exactly been missing a shed-load of chances.

I'm of the view that Boro are lacking competition in key areas and players like Jones and Crooks are good when they're are on it but when they're are not they are ineffective and as a result of Boro relying on them the team as whole is ineffective.

I would like to see Boro have a bench that gives options with players who could make a difference when they come on the pitch - nothing wrong with having Jones and Crooks ready to come on and impress and give the opposition something to worry about. This is not something wilder had during the run-in as Payero was barely match fit and Siliki was never at the party. Our bench was mostly the cover of Bamba and Peltier, the ineffective Balogun and Connolly, plus occasionally Payero needing minutes on the pitch.

I also think Boro need a left-footed central defender as clever teams knew McNair could be boxed in and he rarely linked up down the left side with his wing-back like Dijksteel did. OK he was good at winning fouls but often ended up on the right of the pitch when going forward.

Next season is really make or break for Payero, either he's going to be the creative midfielder we need to unlock defences or he'll be destined to be a squad player lacking minutes on the pitch. McNair may yet be a better option in midfield as he can drive forward with the ball.

I also see Watmore and Coburn has bench options given they haven't scored that many goals - we certainly need a striker who should be a one-in-three and not a one-in-five or less as we've been managing with.

Further to my post above, extract from the Beeb's commeentary on the MK Dons/Wycombe match, which Wycombe eventually won:

Boro Strikers 2021-22 - goals/games

Sporar - 8/37 (1 in 5)

Watmore - 7/44 (1 in 6)

Coburn - 5/22 (1 in 4)

Balogun - 3/21 (1 in 7)

Ikpeazu - 3/22 (1 in 7)

Connolly - 2/21 (1 in 10)

All goal-scorers: BBC - Middlesbrough Top Scorers

Posted by: @stircrazy

Just thought I'd re-post for information the link to a possible addition to the squad which I put up on the PNE thread yesterday:

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/will-be-a-major-coup-middlesbrough-eye-20-goal-league-one-player-the-verdict/

According to Wiki (yes, I know!), he's only 5'9", but "has a reputation for scoring long range goals from both open play and free-kicks. Primarily a number ten throughout his career to date, Twine can also operate as a left-winger or striker."

He's involved in the League One play-off SF against Wycombe, but the Dons are currently trailing 1-2 on aggregate.  No idea whether that will affect his plans for next season.

I watched the whole match and was impressed by Scott Twine, rarely (if ever) gave the ball away, very good on dead ball situations, took all corners and most free kicks and can hit the target with a free kick from the edge of the box, every good move seemed to come through Scott, yes, he is not tall but gets into great positions in and around the box. Another who impressed me was Troy Parrot (on loan from Spurs) who was Scot’s strike partner, just a thought, if anyone else who watched the match, has their thoughts, they would like to share.

Come on BORO.

EXMIL CHALLENGE 2022 - Playoff Semi Finals 

The rules and deadline time/date for entries from the four semi finalists are on the challenge site, please note, werdermouth, KP in Spain, Norfolk and Boro, jarkko.

Good Luck to you all.

Come on BORO.

Thanks @Andy  R

very helpful to have this thought starter.

I would add a couple of names in Sol Brynn and particularly Zack Hemming. Brynn was brought back from a full season loan as cover but Hemming stayed the full season at Kilmarnock where they won the Championship and he was voted into the Scottish Championship team of the year and the club’s young player of the year. Assuming Lumley and Stojanovic are offloaded, I can see Daniels, Brynn and Hemming battling for number two spot at worst with one other keeper to come in and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hemming start as number one. He’s proved that he can do it in a proper men’s league.

My other question involves the U23s. Are there other players who could break through next year. It’s always good to know the names to look out for. Do we have an U23s expert in our midst?

Other than that, I too would put in a word for Ikpeazu. He’s a tireless worker and it would seem to me that he would occupy the opposing centre halves in a way that none of our forwards have managed. Even as a plan B I think that he’s worth a look. I have no idea what Ukpom has been up to. Is he a serious candidate to come back and do a job?

It seems that we have the makings of a team but next year could be too soon unless we nail our summer signings. It will be a tough league with the three relegated clubs and the losers from the playoffs to add to the other clubs who are on the up.

Personally, I have my doubts about McNair. He looks vulnerable as a left centre back - a left footed replacement for him and two top strikers are absolutely vital summer acquisitions - and we don’t really need him on the right as Dijksteel is better. Does he become the cover for the back three plus Howson? 

utb

I think Wilder mentioned mentality over ability as a key for recruitment in his interview with BBC. And there will be some surprises among those who will be leaving, too.

So we need to be looking for a player like Leadbitter next. I think it was Warnock already who said the team has no leaders really. Bamba is one but we cannot rely on him as he is 37 already.

Tavanier is another but he is just 23 and also a bit of moaner. 

Howson in a kind of a leader but not noisy enough. We need a Leadbitter in our midfield. Or a Southgate in defence. You know what I mean.

Could Ben Gibson be the missing link, I do not know? We need a left-footed centre-back and he is Boro through and through. But has he ever been a captain before? He is back in the Championship again. 

So I suspect there will be more people leaving that we think at the moment. Which is good long term but too many short term. So I have some mixed feelings about the next season if we bring in too many new players at once.

But we have some good players and a good manager now. We need some organisation on the field. Let's hope we have something to play for already next season. Up the Boro! 

Wilder said:

“There will be some stern conversations with boys that do stay that we need to get more out of as well. There are certainly some that have got talent, but in a way are under-performing.

“The likes of (Paddy) McNair and (Isaiah) Jones, who on the face of it have had good seasons, there is loads more to come from them. There is loads more to come from Dael Fry.

“There are players like Riley McGree, who has shown his ability in glimpses, but I need to get more out of him. Tav (Marcus Tavernier) has had a decent season, but I need to get more.

“But there are boys who aren’t on the (next) journey and that’s part and parcel of this ruthless game that we’re in. Sentiment and loyalty goes out the window because the job is to bring back success to this football club.”

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-fc/middlesbrough-prepare-for-summer-of-change-as-chris-wilder-hopes-to-repay-fans-faith-3685391

Up the Boro! 

Perhaps one place to start is to recognise that this year we finished 7th on 70 points. This is the second season of improvement in a row.

19/20 - 17th 53pts

20/21 - 10th, 64pts

21/22 - 7th, 70pts

I see a lot of people shouting to sell everyone, claiming that our players are useless and no one is good enough. Fry is a "fanny", Tav is "useless", Crooks is a "liability", McNair's "not good enough", Jones has been found out and we can sell them all for 60 million quid and buy improvements.

If the table doesn't lie, then we're almost good enough for a promotion push next season. Clearly the squad suffers from both being narrow and lacking depth but ripping it all up and starting again isn't needed. As it is, two strikers, a keeper and left-sided centre back is asking for a lot especially as buying in players good enough for a top 6 team without spending a fortune is going to require us getting everyone we recruit right first time. That seems unlikely to happen so Wilder & Knill are going to have to earn their corn by getting the best out of a group of players that will have plenty of weaknesses.

Wilder is on record of wanting 2 first choice options for each position and then needing cover for those two. It's going to be difficult enough to do that without selling multiple first choice players from the current squad. For what it's worth my analysis is:

Keeper. New - Daniels/Lumley - Hemmings

RCB: Dijksteel - McNair - Wood

CB: Fry - New - [U23/Wood]

LCB: New - McNair - Bilongo

RWB: Jones - McNair - Gibson

LWB: Tav - New - [U23?]

RM: Crooks - Payero - Gibson

CM: Howson - McNair - Crooks

LM: McGree - Tav - Boyd-Munce

CF: New - Coburn - [U23]

CF: New - Watmore - [U23]

Just by itself that's 4 new 1st teamers and 2 to provide cover. Doing that on the proceeds from selling Spence is challenging and Wilder is going to have to show his ability to develop U23 players into players who can step into the first time when required. 

Wilder is also, possibly, going to have to consider whether he needs to move on from 3-5-2 and how to adapt to teams that have figured out how to play against us but that's a whole other topic.

Good post Deleriad.

As well as generating funds from sale of Spence we can also raise a few pennies from disposing of Akpom, Uche and  Coulson who I do not believe will feature in CW’s plans; easier said than done in the current financial climate as none of them will attract PL interest. 😎

Well, Bamba, Peltier and Taylor have not been retained and CW has admitted that the four loanees did t work either. That’s seven off the books already!

The three experienced defenders certainly leave with their heads held high and our best wishes I’m sure. All did a very steady job and more at times.

The less said about the others the better really.

The club can announce its retained list for the 2022/23 season.

Boro boss Chris Wilder met with his first team players on Monday for individual discussions when he outlined his plans and vision for the future shape of the squad.

New contract to be offered

Jonny Howson

Not offered new contract

Sol Bamba
Lee Peltier
Neil Taylor

Loan expired

Folarin Balogun
Aaron Connolly
James Lea Siliki
Andraz Sporar
‌
(MFC Offical)

OFB

Well scuttlebutt is that all of the obvious players who are surplus to requirements are welcome to leave plus Payero, Bola and Wood. It's a particular shame about Payero but he was part of an incoherent recruitment policy. Wood may still make it but clearly he'll need to work his way back up. Wilder seems to have a particular issue with Bola. If everyone on the rumoured list does leave, we have a lot of recruiting to do.

The currently registered first team players who are left appear to be as follows: U23s who play with 1st team in []

Keepers: none, [Brynn]

Defenders: Dijksteel, Fry, McNair

Wingbacks: Jones

Midfielders: Crooks, Howson, McGree, Tav, [Boyd-Munce]

Forwards: Watmore, [Coburn], [Olusanya - unclear]

If the list is right then it will be absolute carnage if we manage to move them all on. 

Off Boro topic for a moment but well done to Sunderland tonight on beating Sheff Wed 2-1 on aggregate to reach the next stage of the playoffs. Winning goal scored by Patrick Roberts. Watched the game and impressed by the Sunderland players.Managed by Alex Neil. 

Thanks Andy for the thought provoking Headliner. Some good following posts by Werder and deleriad.

My first comment is that I believe we will have great difficulty in moving on those who have no place in the Managers future plans.

When one thinks of Akpom, Coulson, possibly three goalkeepers, Payero and some of the fringe players, there is some work to do and more than a little luck will be needed.

I also believe that to get to the numbers we need, assuming we move on the majority of those we do not need, then some Loan Players may be required.

Some of the Championship clubs have loaned well this season. We may need to match those next season. 

Middlesbrough are open to offers for both Joe Lumley and Luke Daniels.

A new first-choice goalkeeper is one of Chris Wilder’s top priorities. (Football Insider)

OFB

I think in reality we will be open to offers for anybody OFB.

However who we get enquiries / offers for is the important issue. 

Posted by: @deleriad

Well scuttlebutt is that all of the obvious players who are surplus to requirements are welcome to leave plus Payero, Bola and Wood. It's a particular shame about Payero but he was part of an incoherent recruitment policy. Wood may still make it but clearly he'll need to work his way back up. Wilder seems to have a particular issue with Bola. If everyone on the rumoured list does leave, we have a lot of recruiting to do.

The currently registered first team players who are left appear to be as follows: U23s who play with 1st team in []

Keepers: none, [Brynn]

Defenders: Dijksteel, Fry, McNair

Wingbacks: Jones

Midfielders: Crooks, Howson, McGree, Tav, [Boyd-Munce]

Forwards: Watmore, [Coburn], [Olusanya - unclear]

 

If the list is right then it will be absolute carnage if we manage to move them all on. 

I suspect as others have said that if the right offer comes in then all players are available and it might be necessary to try to move at least one of the bigger names, in addition to Spence, to free up funds for re-investment.

If true, I am surprised that Payero is welcome to leave as I thought that he had been identified by Leo/Scott and was purchased with a view to development and then onward sale to a PL club as was the case with Buendia at Norwich; he was not to my knowledge a NW acquisition. 

It will be a shame if he does leave as he has been unlucky with illness and injury and not had a run in the team to really show what he is capable of; if it turns out to be correct then it may be that the reasons for his departure are not just purely on footballing grounds but that personal factors are playing a part. 😎

Posted by: @malcolm

Off Boro topic for a moment but well done to Sunderland tonight on beating Sheff Wed 2-1 on aggregate to reach the next stage of the playoffs. Winning goal scored by Patrick Roberts. Watched the game and impressed by the Sunderland players.Managed by Alex Neil. 

Malcolm, I think Patrick Roberts has finally found his footballing level!  Puts on tin helmet and retreats behind the sofa.  🤣🤣🤣😎

On the subject of loan players, I am far from convinced that the system works and I am struggling to remember any players that Boro have taken on loan in recent seasons who have made a significant impact.  Gaston Ramirez was perhaps one but that is some while ago and we all know how that ended! 

We seem to have had a number of vanity projects such as JOM, Bolasie and Roberts but they were really only looking to put themselves in the shop window, enabling parent clubs to reduce costs and perhaps find a buyer for them; in the case of Roberts he was not trusted by NW and has had a number of loan spells at varying clubs with little success following his departure from Celtic.  This may all change for him if Sunderland win at Wembley but I still would not bank on him setting the Championship alight next season.

I take the view we should be avoiding taking players on loan if at all possible and only on the basis that it is a buy option and a case of "try before you buy" as per Spora.  😎

I think it's still possible to get a few good loan deals in the summer so that the players can have a proper pre-season and be match fit . Though I'm not keen on January loan deals as they tend to players who have barely kicked a ball up until then and spend several months getting match fit - if they actually even get selected!

I'm sure there are good young players on the books of the better PL teams who have something extra and could add a bit of quality - maybe with pace or even one that can score goals - remember Patrick Bamford when he joined from Chelsea? Perhaps even Balogun could have done better if he's joined in the summer instead of a January addition needing minutes on the pitch.

Still, loans overall tend to be more miss than hit - though that could also be said of Boro's permanent signings too - maybe given our budget we'll find another striker like Kike, a George Friend to play at left centre-back or even a Darren Randolph on loan to play in goal. I suspect most arrivals will not be the proven article and some will fail - hopefully a few will be inspired.

On Martin Payero, not sure if he's actually had enough games to even judge him yet - I think only six starts since joined with his stop-start career - whether Wilder can't see him being a starter is the issue or even whether he's progressed enough with his English given he's had little else to do.

On the subject of strikers our leading striker scored around 7 goals .

Even teams much lower in the League had better scoring strikers - surely some of them are worth a punt - it can only be an improvement.

I am wondering which teams in the Championship had a leading striker who scored less than 7 goals.

Philip of Huddersfield 

Here is a link   https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/championship-loan-signings-premier-league-26691783        from early April in the Daily Mirror about “Loan Signings.

It is not comprehensive but gives you a flavour of the difficulty of choosing the correct player from the apparently bottomless bucket.

Somehave been outstanding and made a significant contribution to their Team.

https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/mfc-retained-list-summer-2022

Having read some of the comments above, I just wonder why people read into things that are not there. The above article by MFC is not a “retained list” more of who has been released from loans and short term contracts.

EFL clubs have until 21 May to inform players they are not being retained, clubs involved in the playoffs have 4 days after their last match extra, the EFL will publish a full list on 11 June 22.

I don’t know why people have unfounded speculation about players being released, such as Payero, Crooks etc, just publish the link that informs a player has been told or the club/manager have said the player is not being retained.

Come on BORO.

Posted by: @pedro

Here is a link   https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/championship-loan-signings-premier-league-26691783        from early April in the Daily Mirror about “Loan Signings.

It is not comprehensive but gives you a flavour of the difficulty of choosing the correct player from the apparently bottomless bucket.

Somehave been outstanding and made a significant contribution to their Team.

Pedro, I notice in your article that Benik Afobe was the highest loanee in the championship with 10 goals, Sporar scored 8 so not far behind, which shows how hard it is to get a prolific striker on loan.

Come on BORO.