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Season Reflections & Planning Ahead

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Ken Smith
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Congratulations to Sunderland! What a wonderful sight to see a sea of red shirts at Wembley, maybe this time next year we’ll see Boro enjoying a repeat performance. I know what it feels like having seen a sea of yellow when Cas won the Rugby League Challenge Cup in 1969, 1970 and 1986. Happy memories!

This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by Ken Smith

   
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That's two full-house games next season. Well done Sunderland.

UTB,

John


   
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Ken Smith
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John Richardson 

No congratulations from anyone but you and I for Sunderland yet. Are some Diasborians a little worried that the Black Cats might steal Boro’s thunder next season? Or just a tad jealous of all the attention that they have received this afternoon? I would welcome a stronger Championship next season with the likes of Leeds/Burnley, Norwich, Sheffield United, Forest/Huddersfield, Cardiff, Swansea, Luton, Blackburn, West Brom, Stoke,  Sunderland, Boro, et al - more like a Premier League 2 that I certainly would like to come to fruition.

Bring it on I say!

This post was modified 2 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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Ken,

I like to see any North East club doing well: Boro, Pools, Darlington, Sunderland, Carlisle, (I know more North West than North East) and lastly perhaps Newcastle although they think they are The North East.

Anyway, well done Sunderland and as long as they don't take six points off Boro all is well.

UTB,

John


   
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20 Players linked with Boro

Player - Current club - Position - Source/Link - Journalist

1. Ross Sykes - Accrington Stanley - CB - The Sun - Alan Nixon
2. Toby Savin - Accrington Stanley - GK - The Sun - Alan Nixon
3. Cameron Carter-Vickers - Tottenham - CB TEAMTalk - N/A
4. Josh Stones - Guiseley - ST - TEAMTalk - N/A
5. Jamal Lewis - Newcastle - LWB - TEAMTalk - Graeme Bailey
6. Sean Longstaff - Newcastle - CM - TEAMTalk - Graeme Bailey
7. Kabongo Tshimanga - Chesterfield - ST - Football League World - George Dagless
8. Dean Henderson - Manchester United - GK - The Sun - Alan Nixon
9. Rhys Healey - Toulouse - ST - TEAMTalk - Matthew Briggs
10. Elliot Anderson - Newcastle United - CAM - TEAMTalk - Graeme Bailey
11. Karl Darlow - Newcastle United - GK - The Sun - Alan Nixon
12. Daniel Iversen - Leicester - GK - The Sun - Alan Nixon
13. Malik Wilks - Hull City - ST - Twitter - David Burns (BBC Humberside)
14. Jean-Paul Boetius - FSV Mainz - CAM/LW - The Telegraph (Pink Un) - N/A
15. Scott Twine - MK Dons - LW/ST/CAM - TEAMTalk - Graeme Bailey
16. Harry Toffolo - Huddersfield - LB/LWB - TEAMTalk - Graeme Bailey
17. Darragh Lenihan - Blackburn - CB - The Sun (via Patreon) - Alan Nixon
18. Lee Gregory - Sheffield Wednesday - ST - Daily Mail - Simon Jones
19. Kai Wagner - Philadephia Union - LB - Transfermarkt - Manuel Veth
20. Jordan Rhodes - Huddersfield - ST - The Sun (via Patreon) - Alan Nixon

OFB

🔴 The links weren't working so I've edited them and removed the google search parts and the site session variables - werdermouth

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Ken Smith
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Posted by: @john-richardson

Ken,

I like to see any North East club doing well: Boro, Pools, Darlington, Sunderland, Carlisle, (I know more North West than North East) and lastly perhaps Newcastle although they think they are The North East.

Anyway, well done Sunderland and as long as they don't take six points off Boro all is well.

UTB,

John

What about Marske United, Scarborough Athletic, York City and Gateshead all promoted this season. Perhaps Boro, Stockton Town and Whitby Town will follow them next season? Things are looking up for the North East and North Yorkshire too.

This post was modified 2 years ago 3 times by Ken Smith

   
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Ken Smith
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OFB

I see the silly season has started by the press. Thanks for your hard work, but until any of them are signed, sealed and delivered at this moment I’m sceptical about Boro signing any of them.

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Martin Bellamy
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Posted by: @ken

John Richardson 

No congratulations from anyone but you and I for Sunderland yet. Are some Diasborians a little worried that the Black Cats might steal Boro’s thunder next season? Or just a tad jealous of all the attention that they have received this afternoon? I would welcome a stronger Championship next season with the likes of Leeds/Burnley, Norwich, Sheffield United, Forest/Huddersfield, Cardiff, Swansea, Luton, Blackburn, West Brom, Stoke,  Sunderland, Boro, et al - more like a Premier League 2 that I certainly would like to come to fruition.

Bring it on I say!

Maybe I’ll buy a scarf with Boro and Sunderland on it. 


   
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Ken Smith
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46,000 Sunderland fans at Wembley yesterday out of a total attendance of 72,332. I wonder if the Championship playoff final will exceed that.


   
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Ken Smith
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Martin 

If you buy a red and white scarf with no names on it you could also use it for Saturday’s Rugby League Challenge Cup Final as well.


   
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Martin Bellamy
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Posted by: @ken

Martin 

If you buy a red and white scarf with no names on it you could also use it for Saturday’s Rugby League Challenge Cup Final as well.

Good idea. 


   
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Nice football weekend for me. Sunderland won and so pleased for them. I watched the game and was very impressed with their players. Great goalkeeping from Patterson and a magic show from Patrick Roberts. With Ross Stewart scoring his 26th goal of the season and great performances from all the players it was a great day for the magnificient supporters and especially manager Alex Neil who took over from Lee Johnson (now appointed manager of Hibs)

So we will look forward to have some great rivarly once again with Mackem's.

 

Happy to see Glasgow Rangers win the Scottish Cup after losing out on

penalties in the Europa League Final.

Finally, great to see  Leeds get a great win today to stay in the Premiership.

All I want now is Forest to beat Huddersfield for a place in the Premier league.

Just saying. 😀 


   
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Posted by: @ken

John Richardson 

No congratulations from anyone but you and I for Sunderland yet. Are some Diasborians a little worried that the Black Cats might steal Boro’s thunder next season? Or just a tad jealous of all the attention that they have received this afternoon? I would welcome a stronger Championship next season with the likes of Leeds/Burnley, Norwich, Sheffield United, Forest/Huddersfield, Cardiff, Swansea, Luton, Blackburn, West Brom, Stoke,  Sunderland, Boro, et al - more like a Premier League 2 that I certainly would like to come to fruition.

Bring it on I say!

Sorry Ken don't like them think they should get points based on attendance, they may be on the up, they are not quite as bad as the black & white further up the road, the only good thing is we may get 6 points off them next season 


   
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Ken Smith
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Posted by: @paulinboro
Posted by: @ken

John Richardson 

No congratulations from anyone but you and I for Sunderland yet. Are some Diasborians a little worried that the Black Cats might steal Boro’s thunder next season? Or just a tad jealous of all the attention that they have received this afternoon? I would welcome a stronger Championship next season with the likes of Leeds/Burnley, Norwich, Sheffield United, Forest/Huddersfield, Cardiff, Swansea, Luton, Blackburn, West Brom, Stoke,  Sunderland, Boro, et al - more like a Premier League 2 that I certainly would like to come to fruition.

Bring it on I say!

Sorry Ken don't like them think they should get points based on attendance, they may be on the up, they are not quite as bad as the black & white further up the road, the only good thing is we may get 6 points off them next season 

 


   
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Ken Smith
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I can’t see what’s not to like about them or Newcastle, they’re part of the great North East. Now if it was the overwhelming number of London clubs in the Premier League, I could understand. I’m a Boro fan foremost, but still like all our neighbours to do well. I’ve never understood this animosity towards neighbouring clubs. I sure as hell want Boro to beat both Sunderland and Newcastle, as a healthy rivalry is good for the game, but when either is playing against a London club I’m wanting the North East team to win. It’s the same with cricket, I’m a Yorkshire fan foremost, but want Durham and Lancashire to do well except when they’re playing against Yorkshire. Local derbies are the lifeblood of any sport in my opinion and have that extra spice and atmosphere.

This post was modified 2 years ago 4 times by Ken Smith

   
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Ken Smith
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What a fantastic end to the Premier League season and what sportsmanship shown by Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to each other. I recorded last night’s BBC Match of the Day programme not knowing the outcome of all the results. I must say that Guardiola’s record of 10 League titles in 13 years with 3 DIFFERENT clubs,  3 each with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and now 4 with Manchester City is outstanding.Of course he  has had untold millions of Euros and Pounds to spend but his record is only second to Sir Alex Ferguson, but he has earned his with far more dignity than Fergie ever showed in my opinion. 

This has been one of the most tit-for-tat seasons since Arsenal won the old First Division title over Liverpool in 1989 by winning the final match of the season at Anfield 2-0 when a 1-0 defeat for Liverpool would still have given the Scoucers the title on goals difference. Dramatic results also at Brentford for Leeds United and at Turf Moor where Newcastle United beat Burnley 2-1 following a ridiculous hand ball by Nathan Collins gave the Magpies a penalty. That penalty might not have been decisive in the end (who knows?) but what was the young Irishman thinking about with such a blatant hand ball? Nevertheless it added to the drama as Leeds’s winning goal came 4 minutes into added time, and the Clarets may well have drawn their match late on. I also question the sacking of Sean Dyche at the time, but that’s another matter.

I enjoyed the drama of the BBC production of Match of the Day, but was astounded that over the season it takes 272 staff including presenters, commentators, cameramen, production staff, and ancillary workers to stage Match of the Day, and why not a retitle to Matches of the Day?


   
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According to talkSPORT Boro Are Reportedly Making A Move For Bournemouth Pair Jack Stacey & Gavin Kilkenny

OFB


   
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 There is a massive game on Wednesday 1st June at Hampden Park. It's Scotland v Ukraine. The winner will meet Wales for a place in the World Cup.

Around the world, I would think fans will be shouting for Ukraine, apart from Scotland of course and Scots around the universe.

I for one will be be rooting for Scotland of course. 😉 (probably the only one on Dias Boro!) 😉 😉 


   
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

According to talkSPORT Boro Are Reportedly Making A Move For Bournemouth Pair Jack Stacey & Gavin Kilkenny

OFB

OFB how many players does that take your list of players linked to Boro, do you think that Steve Gibson was really the person who won the Euro millions 😂

Come on BORO.


   
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Martin Bellamy
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

According to talkSPORT Boro Are Reportedly Making A Move For Bournemouth Pair Jack Stacey & Gavin Kilkenny

OFB

Gavin and Stacey? No offer to Uncle Bryn?


   
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Not so sure about Lancashire, Ken, but I'm OK with Durham as my 2nd Team.


   
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Mrs Dormo is a Scot so I will support them (though clearly I'm generally well-disposed to Ukraine for obvious reasons over the last 3 months or so). But if Scotland should come through against Ukraine I must support the Land of My Fathers (literally) in the final play-off match.

Whether it is a good idea to be playing a World Cup in the winter, in the middle of our football season, and in a country with no football heritage in the Persian Gulf is another thing...!  Next season will no doubt start early, and finish late again, to accommodate the World Cup. So many brown envelopes pass between delegates in order to facilitate such ridiculous decisions as chosing the venue for the last 2 World Cups (or maybe these days it's a simple BACS transfer to a nominated account at a Swiss Bank?).


   
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Ken Smith
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Malcolm 

After supporting Frankfurt against your Glasgow Rangers and despite my sympathies for Ukraine, I feel I ought to redress the balance and support Scotland this time. After all I was christened Kenneth which has Scottish origins that the Scots even named a loch after me (Loch Ken) in Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway. Well not really but I do follow Queen of the South.

Ken Smith 

This post was modified 2 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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jarkko
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Julian Schwarzer, the son of great goalkeeper Mark, has been released by Fulham after their promotion to the Premier League.

Here is Mark Schwartzer talking about his son:

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/not-tall-enough-mark-schwarzers-son-julian-set-for-asian-move-after-european-snub/1cuoyni7ntbag1q9p39zgti703

Up the Boro!


   
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How valuations vary as The Daily Star and

https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-tottenham-open-preliminary-talks-to-sign-10m-valued-wing-back/

state that Spurs are 99% sure that they will sign Spence for £10m after Boro have stated they value him at £15m, only time will tell.

Come on BORO.


   
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Posted by: @exmil

How valuations vary as The Daily Star and

https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-tottenham-open-preliminary-talks-to-sign-10m-valued-wing-back/

state that Spurs are 99% sure that they will sign Spence for £10m after Boro have stated they value him at £15m, only time will tell.

Come on BORO.

I have always been of the view that £10M would be good and anything north of that figure a real bonus.

I don’t believe he is worth £10M and will be found out at the higher level but as long as we make good money from his departure then all well and good, provided the cash is invested sensibly! 😎


   
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Ken Smith
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It’s now time for my end of season report on the 7 major European Leagues, but firstly I’m taking a look at Northern Ireland where Linfield have recorded their 54th title, but only by one point ahead of Cliftonville 83-82 this season, the latter having only won the Championship 4 times in their history plus one shared with Distillery. Linfield’s main rivals through the years have been Glentoran who however have only won the Championship on 24 occasions and this season finished 3rd but with only 71 points having taken only 2 point from their final 5 matches after looking like Champions for much of the season. South of the border in the Republic the League became a summer sport in 2003 and after 18 matches Shamrock Rovers lead Derry City by 7 points.

Now onto the big 7 where the tightest finish has occurred in ITALY where AC Milan have won their first Scudetto since 2011 finishing a mere 2 points ahead of their neighbours Internazionale and have thus won the same number of Championships 19 as their neighbours, but a long way behind Juventus who have recorded 36 Scudettos. The 3 clubs relegated this season are the Sicilian club of Cagliari, Genoa and Venezia to be replaced by Lecce, Cremonese who were last in Serie A in 1996 and either Pisa or Monza. The former were last in Serie A in 1969, but Monza despite gallant efforts in 1960 and 1970 have never reached those dizzy heights. 

I expect our Spanish Diasborians are well aware that Real Madrid finished well ahead of Barcelona this season, 13 points in fact. This was Real Madrid’s 35th League title, now 9 ahead of Barcelona. The Basque club of Deportivo Alaves have been relegated to be replaced by Rayo Vallecano who’s last appearance in the first tier was in 2019.

Now to GERMANY where Bayern Munich march on with their 10th successive Bundesliga title finishing 8 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s former club Borussia Dortmund. Bayern have now won the League title including the Bundesliga 32 times with Nuremberg 9 and Dortmund 8. However in the past it was a very competitive League with a total of 29 former Champions, that’s 6 more than the English top tier. As Werdermouth explained both Schalke and Werder Bremen were promoted, though Armenia Bielefeld and Greuther Furth were relegated, but SV Hamburg who finished 3rd in Bundesliga 2 and had already won 1-0 away to Hertha Berlin 16th in Bundesliga 1 couldn’t repeat that performance before an estimated crowd of 57,000 on their own ground and lost 0-2 to lose 1-2 on aggregate.  Bremen were relegated last season and have bounced straight back with promotion this season. Since at least from 1995 they had always been in the top tier until this season, and in fact had been Champions 4 times in 1965, 1988, 1993 and 2004, and runners up on 7 occasions.

Now on to FRANCE where Paris St Germain won their 8th title in 10 years although Lille won it last season. PSG have now won 10 titles, the same number as Olympique Marseille and St Étienne who unfortunately maybe relegated this season unless they can beat Auxerre in a two leg playoff later this month. At the moment Toulouse and the Corsican club of Ajaccio have been promoted whilst six times Champions Bordeaux and Metz have been relegated.

In HOLLAND Ajax Amsterdam have won the Eredivisie by 2 points over PSV Eindhoven with Feyenoord Rotterdam 10 points adrift. This was Ajax’s 36th title, whilst PSV have won 24 and Feyenoord 15. Promoted from the Second Division are FC Emmen and FC Volendam, along with 6th placed Excelsior Rotterdam who beat 16th placed Heracles Almelo in the Eredvisie 6-1 over two legs. The two other relegated clubs are Willem Tilburg and FC Zwolle.

The BELGIUM Champions are recently promoted Union St Gilloise


   
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Ken Smith
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Posted by: @ken

It’s now time for my end of season report on the 7 major European Leagues, but firstly I’m taking a look at Northern Ireland where Linfield have recorded their 54th title, but only by one point ahead of Cliftonville 83-82 this season, the latter having only won the Championship 4 times in their history plus one shared with Distillery. Linfield’s main rivals through the years have been Glentoran who however have only won the Championship on 24 occasions and this season finished 3rd but with only 71 points having taken only 2 point from their final 5 matches after looking like Champions for much of the season. South of the border in the Republic the League became a summer sport in 2003 and after 18 matches Shamrock Rovers lead Derry City by 7 points.

Now onto the big 7 where the tightest finish has occurred in ITALY where AC Milan have won their first Scudetto since 2011 finishing a mere 2 points ahead of their neighbours Internazionale and have thus won the same number of Championships 19 as their neighbours, but a long way behind Juventus who have recorded 36 Scudettos. The 3 clubs relegated this season are the Sicilian club of Cagliari, Genoa and Venezia to be replaced by Lecce, Cremonese who were last in Serie A in 1996 and either Pisa or Monza. The former were last in Serie A in 1969, but Monza despite gallant efforts in 1960 and 1970 have never reached those dizzy heights. 

I expect our Spanish Diasborians are well aware that Real Madrid finished well ahead of Barcelona this season, 13 points in fact. This was Real Madrid’s 35th League title, now 9 ahead of Barcelona. The Basque club of Deportivo Alaves have been relegated to be replaced by Rayo Vallecano who’s last appearance in the first tier was in 2019.

Now to GERMANY where Bayern Munich march on with their 10th successive Bundesliga title finishing 8 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s former club Borussia Dortmund. Bayern have now won the League title including the Bundesliga 32 times with Nuremberg 9 and Dortmund 8. However in the past it was a very competitive League with a total of 29 former Champions, that’s 6 more than the English top tier. As Werdermouth explained both Schalke and Werder Bremen were promoted, though Armenia Bielefeld and Greuther Furth were relegated, but SV Hamburg who finished 3rd in Bundesliga 2 and had already won 1-0 away to Hertha Berlin 16th in Bundesliga 1 couldn’t repeat that performance before an estimated crowd of 57,000 on their own ground and lost 0-2 to lose 1-2 on aggregate.  Bremen were relegated last season and have bounced straight back with promotion this season. Since at least from 1995 they had always been in the top tier until this season, and in fact had been Champions 4 times in 1965, 1988, 1993 and 2004, and runners up on 7 occasions.

Now on to FRANCE where Paris St Germain won their 8th title in 10 years although Lille won it last season. PSG have now won 10 titles, the same number as Olympique Marseille and St Étienne who unfortunately maybe relegated this season unless they can beat Auxerre in a two leg playoff later this month. At the moment Toulouse and the Corsican club of Ajaccio have been promoted whilst six times Champions Bordeaux and Metz have been relegated.

In HOLLAND Ajax Amsterdam have won the Eredivisie by 2 points over PSV Eindhoven with Feyenoord Rotterdam 10 points adrift. This was Ajax’s 36th title, whilst PSV have won 24 and Feyenoord 15. Promoted from the Second Division are FC Emmen and FC Volendam, along with 6th placed Excelsior Rotterdam who beat 16th placed Heracles Almelo in the Eredvisie 6-1 over two legs. The two other relegated clubs are Willem Tilburg and FC Zwolle.

The BELGIUM Champions are recently promoted Royals St Germain Gilloise who won all their 11 previous Championships between 1904 and 1935 but have spent the last 48 years in the lower leagues. However they are the first Belgian club to win the Juliper League following promotion in the previous season. RSC Anderlecht from Brussels have won the League on 34 occasions whilst Club Brugge have won it 18 times. This season their final match against already relegated Beerschot was abandoned after 83 minutes when fans from the Antwerp club threw flares onto the pitch, but Gilloise were awarded the 3 points. Meanwhile Second bottom Seraing preserved their Juliper League status by winning their play off against Second Division runners up Molenbeek.

Finally in PORTUGAL FC Porto won their 30th League title with 91 points and only one defeat away to 4th placed Sporting Braga, and finished 6 points ahead of last season’s Champions Sporting Lisbon with Benfica finishing with a paltry 74 points. Only five clubs have ever won the Portuguese First Division. Benfica lead the way with 37 Championship wins, whilst Sporting Lisbon have won 19. Boavista the other club from the city of Porto have won it once in 2001, and Belenenses the third club from Lisbon also have won it once in 1946, but this season have finished bottom and along with Tondela have been relegated. At the moment Deportivo Chaves from the Second Division hold a 2-0 lead over the First Division club Moreirense with the Second Leg due to be played later this week.

Sorry about the duplication, but I inadvertently pressed SAVE too early.

 

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jarkko
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A report claims that Boro will ask for £20 million for Spence but that is unlikely to be as a lump sum.

All along the fee has been mentioned at around £15 million and with some add-ons that could be enough to seal a deal.

This is a view from Nottingham press. It could be quite accurate estimation, me thinks. 

Up the Boro!

 


   
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As I said on Twitter, where it was suggested Boro might sell Spence to Spurs for £10M, I HOPE that would be with a sell-on clause (50% of any profits the buying club makes from any subsequent sale would be good).  But £15M would be better.  Bearing in mind some of the overpriced players we have brought into Boro recently....


   
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