...Keep safe everyone and to everyone in here, a very happy new year. I'll raise my glass to you all later.
I can't recall if I did raise my glass last night... a sign that we clearly had a good evening at Chateau Naemore. One that lasted till 3 am for me 🥳
So. I am raising my glass now (metaphorically).
A very Happy New Year to you all and here is to us all enjoying a successful second half to the season. Never mind Wembley, however unlikely it might be, automatic promotion is still possible ... Boro and Blackburn together (to keep Jarkko doubly happy) ...
CoB
Good Post Martin
For the first time ever we never made it to 12 o clock and went to bed at 10 after sampling the Sancerre and Sherry (not mixed) To ensure peace and quiet switched our mobile phones off. All the messages were waiting for us when we surfaced at 8 this morning.
I did wake up a few times during the night and wondered what was wrong and of course it was the EFL fiasco when they were trying to enforce the Boro to get all their loan players back to ensure a game for Skys benefit went ahead today.
The rapid deterioration of the players coaches and training staff who are at the peak of fitness shows that old timers like myself have to take care and I won’t be going to any football matches in the near future.
I’m coming up to 74 in February and considering my father died at the relatively young age of 56 I do think that perhaps I should count every day as a bonus.
I retired when I was 61 and whilst it took a few years to get used to not working I’m pretty content now.
I do enjoy the comradeship and stories of the various raconteurs on this blog and like today when we don’t have a game to comment on we can still exchange views.
Just think, this is the first Xmas holiday period when the Boro have remained unbeaten ! So we have lived through a milestone in the Boro’s history.
All the best for all Diasborians for 2022 let’s hope it’s a good one.
OFB
After all the furore of the postponement of today’s match I don’t think the EFL were entirely to blame. I think it was more likely that the pressure was coming from Sky as they hadn’t a suitable replacement. Football is becoming a slave to Sky who don’t care a jot about fans. It’s been the same in Rugby League especially for Thursday night matches where cross-Pennine matches are a nightmare for people with children as the kids sometimes don’t get to bed before midnight with school the following day.
Boro have agreed a deal to leave Spence at Forest for the remainder of the season.
Come on BORO.
If that was the case, or even is the case, the entire senior management of the Football League should resign. Right now. That would be a an utterly shambolic situation that would make their position absolutely untenable.
One day, if your proposition was proved to be true, a major enquiry would be needed. I hesitate to say at Parliamentary level because they are no better. Based on that proposition who runs what and for whom? Conspiracy theories continue to grow.
Personally I prefer that they all just hate Middlesbrough then we know where we stand.
If there was any justice we'd get automatic promotion and win the FA Cup. Followed by a European cup run.
We almost did that before didn't we?
Not that you'd know it.
Happy New Year.
UTB,
John
Now that the transfer window is open I’d like to see a number of players shipped out to allow newcomers.
I am thinking of Siliki (done nothing and now disappearing for a month although I do think there’s a footballer somewhere in him), Olisanya ( bought as a gamble which hasn’t paid off , send him on loan), Grant ( just can’t guarantee staying fit), Browne ( expecting too much to make an impact at this level when been injured for so long- attempt to send on loan if anyone will take the gamble ), Coburn send on loan particularly if a second new striker is signed) Probably a couple of younger players on the fringe of the team but never play.
I see that Spence is staying at Forest. No doubt there’s things we don’t know about which has led to this decision. I just hope it doesn’t backfire if young Jones gets injured. He’s our main outlet and we’re relying too much on him. Opposition teams will eventually ‘ double up’ on him to nullify his impact and then we’ve a real problem as we don’t have a ready replacement (Spence was the obvious answer)
Philip from Huddersfield
With Covid shouldn’t the rules be a little more flexible? After the Munich air disaster I seem to remember that Manchester United were given dispensation to sign players who were already cuptied to play in the FA Cup. I seem to remember that Maurice Setters, Albert Quixall, Noel Cantwell, Ernie Taylor and possibly Stan Crowther were already cuptied having played for their former clubs in earlier rounds. Also didn’t Bishop Auckland loan several of their players including Bob Hardisty and Harry Sharratt to play as amateurs in league matches for United? At the time I was in Singapore on National Service duties so information was sparse, so I might not be correct in my thoughts. Of course the Munich Air Disaster affected only one club unlike Covid, but several journalists including ex England goalkeeper Frank Swift also lost their lives.
My point is that rules can be broken in exceptional circumstances regarding only playing for no more than two clubs in a season for example, but broadcasters didn’t determine when matches should be played, etc.
but today Sky’s and BT Sport seem to be in control of which matches are televised and when to the detriment of the fans.
On another subject is it good or even realistic to think that Manchester City have already won the Premier League at the half way point of the season? Commentators and analysts are already speculating which team can beat them, or in the modern parlance where will City drop points. The one trophy that City haven’t won and apparently yearn for is the misnamed Champions League, so why isn’t it impossible that City might unexpectedly lose the occasional match they might be expected to win? If the Premier League is purported to be the best league in the world, then how can that be when money dictates who will be Champions? Until there is some form of salary capping I fear that a lot of football fans will eventually become bored with all this hype and become disillusioned with the sport excepting the real fans such as we have at Middlesbrough FC.
@exmil. If correct then it will be interesting to learn (if we ever do) of the reasons for leaving him at Forest. Until we do know the reasons it is difficult to assess how good a decision it is if it turns out to be true. 😎
@exmil. If correct then it will be interesting to learn (if we ever do) of the reasons for leaving him at Forest. Until we do know the reasons it is difficult to assess how good a decision it is if it turns out to be true. 😎
I haven't seen this officially declared anywhere other than a sensational headline and story in the local Nottingham paper which seemed to pick up on Wilder's comments about the now postponed Sheffield United game when he ridiculed the suggestion of recalling Loanee's to fulfill one fixture but then to have the Club and the Players tied up for the rest of the season. I think their Journo put two and two together and got five. A few other Football "copy and paste" (The 72 as an example) websites have picked up on the same story.
I don't think Djed covered himself in glory when he was here so I would be surprised if he did come back. That and I don't see an advantage for Boro by playing their hand early with Forest even if it's just to play mind games in the hope of unsettling them. The other scenario is if Jones got injured in training and is out for a few games or worse, as it stands we could still recall Spence until the end of January. There has been Official confirmation on Connolly arriving from Boro but nothing at all on Spence from either Forest or Boro which makes me suspicious.
Ken, I don’t wholly disagree with your comments but I’m sure City fans would point out that they are not the biggest spenders in the Premier League over the past five seasons - that’s Man Utd.
Boro links with Riley McGree (Birmingham/Charlotte), Matt O’Riley (MK Dons) and Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) are all interesting considering that they seem to be possible replacements for Tav who has been linked with both Newcastle and Leeds.
All just speculation at this stage but it looks like there may be a Plan B should we receive an offer too good to refuse for Tav.
Blackburn moved into the automatic promotion places for the first time this season despite a goalless draw with Huddersfield at Ewood Park.
I wish we hab bought Mogga back for a second stint at Boro. Nicest guy in football. I like him to bits.
Let's hope Boro and Blackburn will go up. Up the Boro!
Blackburn moved into the automatic promotion places for the first time this season despite a goalless draw with Huddersfield at Ewood Park.
I wish we hab bought Mogga back for a second stint at Boro. Nicest guy in football. I like him to bits.
Let's hope Boro and Blackburn will go up. Up the Boro!
I really like Mogga but he totally lost the plot when he was at Celtic and then he seemed to self destruct here in the second half of his final season. Maybe he has learned from those experiences, he was the ideal fit for the Club yet spectacularly crashed and burned which was a real shame as until the Christmas he was flying. Very bizarre whatever it was that happened. There was going to be a root and branch review from SG that Summer with no stone left unturned but nothing was ever revealed. Having a squad full of players he had previously got rid off at Celtic probably didn't help with Teambuilding.
Blackburn moved into the automatic promotion places for the first time this season despite a goalless draw with Huddersfield at Ewood Park.
I wish we hab bought Mogga back for a second stint at Boro. Nicest guy in football. I like him to bits.
Let's hope Boro and Blackburn will go up. Up the Boro!
Yes but Fulham 1 point behind and two games in hand until outstanding games are played the table is untrue, Boro moved to 7th and teams still have games in hand on us.
Come on BORO.
Olusanyo out injured for “months” ? Another place in the 25 tied up.
@redcarred there has been so many root and branch investigations by the club I'm surprised there is anything left? Or maybe they are similar to govt investigations into breaches of ministerial code
I expect we will get a Boro Covid update tomorrow and find out if there are enough fit players for the Mansfield match. Sky have switched the Blackburn v Boro match to Monday 24 January though this is not yet shown on the Boro website.
Today I've tempted fate so I take full responsibility for the consequences.
It's sunny outside but dry and somewhat cold and I've taken down the lights on the two trees by the front door.
Christmas decorations coming down? Me? I'm not superstitious, or am I?
UTB,
John
I previously mentioned about how after the Munich Air Disaster several cuptied players were allowed to play for Manchester United in the FA Cup. Well the sequel to that was that United reached the final and that both Stan Crowther and Ernie Taylor played against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. I recall that the whole country excepting Bolton fans, were willing the Red Devils to win. Sadly though the England centre forward Nat Lofthouse scored twice as Wanderers won 2-0, although one of his goals was controversial as he bundled Harry Gregg and the ball into the net. Although I didn’t see the match I was able to listen to it on the BBC World Service in Singapore, but most analysts insisted it was a foul. Lofthouse had succeeded Tommy Lawton as England’s centre forward and had earned the title of the ‘Lion of Vienna’ in 1952 after being tackled from behind, elbowed in the face, and brought down by the Austrian goalkeeper whilst scoring twice in a 3-2 win. Indeed their is a pub in Bolton called ‘The Lion of Vienna’ named after him, so he was some tough cookie.
I also mentioned that two Bishop Auckland players (Bob Hardisty and goalkeeper Harry Sharratt) were loaned out to Man United although neither played for the first team. But Bishop Auckland were such a strong side in those days that several of their players represented Great Britain in the 1948 Olympic team that was obviously made up of amateur players. However another star player for the Bishops was Seamus O’Connell who despite his Irish name was born in Carlisle. On Christmas Day 1953 Boro lost 2-3 at home to Newcastle but Wilf was injured during the match and was unavailable for the return fixture on Boxing Day, so quickly Boro manager Walter Rowley signed O’Connell as an amateur in Wilf’s place. Boro won that match at St James’s Park 3-2 thus avenging the previous day’s defeat against the Magpies, and O’Connell scored the winning goal. Whilst Mannion was fit for the next match at home to Spurs, O’Connell retained his place and scored again in a 3-0 win, but then returned to Bishop Auckland. Two goals in his only two matches probably make him percentage wise as Boro’s leading scorer.
He was certainly a prolific scorer for the Bishops, but then signed as a professional for Chelsea and scored 7 times in 10 appearances thus helping the Pensioners to their first ever League title, before reverting to his amateur status. As for Boro they were relegated that season despite winning away to the eventual Champions Wolves in the shock result of the season, whilst Wilf Mannion didn’t play for Boro again.
MRS OFB took all ours down Sunday morning and all safely put away in the loft. Every year we look at the boxes and boxes of decorations garlands and trees and think we must get rid of some of them. However we seem to amass more and more! Definitely next year !!!
OFB
I thought the 5th January was the twelfth night of Christmas, when decorations were due to come down, just saying like 😂
Come on BORO.
MRS OFB took all ours down Sunday morning and all safely put away in the loft. Every year we look at the boxes and boxes of decorations garlands and trees and think we must get rid of some of them. However we seem to amass more and more! Definitely next year !!!
OFB
Ditto that OFB, Mrs Red was determined to have a root and branch overhaul of our Christmas decorations with the intention of reducing them to a more manageable amount. Needless to say they all went out and were all packed up and put back in the loft yesterday morning. Maybe next year!
It's quite disconcerting getting to an age when you start looking downwards rather than up and like most of us on here start planning for the last quarter of the match.
Ours will be coming down today or tomorrow, I think. I’ve never understood the 12th night thing but maybe I’ll have an epiphany this year.
@martin-bellamy:
Nice "Epiphany" reference there! (For those not so au fait with the Church, Epiphany Eve is 5th January hence the common practice of taking down the decorations that evening before 6th January). In my old house, when we lived in Dormo, we never put the decorations up until Christmas Eve or shortly before that, and therefore left them up until 5/6th January "to get our money's worth". This year, no longer being at work nor living in Dormo, they went up earlier!
Incidentally English Heritage is now suggesting that, after the horrible year we've had, the Christmas decorations might be left up longer this year rather than follow the more recent tradition of removing them for Epiphany. EH now suggests leaving them up until Candlemas (or Candlemass) which is 2nd February. Some churches in some countries have it as the nearerst Sunday after 2nd February. Some view the Christmas "season" as ending on Candlemas.
@exmil Exactly. What are people thinking when they take them down before that.
We still have the habit as mentioned above by Dormo. We never put the decorations up until Christmas Eve or shortly before that, and therefore leave them up until 5/6th January.
When I was a kid in 1960's, my parents had a mini Xmas tree about two feet tall at the beginning of the December. That was there on a table. The bigger tree was bought in on Xmas Eve morning. But that habit of a mini tree has disappeared in Finland, now.
And of couse we all had an Advent calendar. But is started from Dec 1st but it should have started from last weekend of November, like in my parents' childhood!
But experiencing the same loft problems in here, too. Never any less decorations than in previous Xmas. A tradition to keep up?
Up the Boro!
There was me thinking and worrying about Boro coming dow with the Christmas decorations! Now it's a movable feast so it can happen anytime within a month or five weeks or so.
As an historical note, which is utterly irrelevant, my mother and her mother too always insisted they came down on or before twelfth night. However with the amount we have stored in the loft you'd have to start taking them down two days after you put them up. At least I seem to have started a distraction debate to counter transfers and other speculation.
UTB,
John
Played golf on Monday 27th December whilst Mrs P was at home with her mum. Spent the whole round thinking about a roast pork and stuffing roll I would have when I got home.
Arrived home and Mrs P asked if I would like a cup of soup to which I replied no thank you I would like a pork and stuffing roll. Mrs P said you can’t have one because the pork is now in the freezer! To which I responded so Christmas is over already and the decorations are not even down! 😎
When I was a child my father improvised with any old newspapers he could find to make Christmas decorations and paper hats after making sure we had enough to be used as toilet paper as it was during the war and toilet paper was hard to find. In later years after the war he managed to buy some decorations and one year even managed to buy a small tree on Christmas Eve and about a dozen baubles. A far cry from today with fairy lights and tinsel!
0f course by the 50s we were able to buy a Christmas tree and baubles but it was always 12th night when they were put away. After I married Enid I took my old white artificial tree to work and the girls decorated it in Housing Benefits Section in Eston whilst I bought a new artificial one for home. After Enid died I took it and all the tree, fairy lights, baubles, musical Father Christmases, etc to Social Sevices in Redcar and since then haven’t adorned the house at Christmas except for putting Christmas cards on display.