Boro and Cardiff are interested in......
Boro competing with Forest for......
Boro Birmingham and Swansea chasing.....
Norwich to pip Boro for......
NW must be realising its not as easy as he thought, and why the recruitment department attitude was
" f_@k it, lets just buy Bola"
I might add that I loved playing the game and would have hated to be on the bench while my playing days we receeding. And I didnt get paid.
That's the key thing isn't. Perhaps 10 years to make the money you and your family will live on for the rest of your life knowing that every game could be your last. Plus, if you're playing in the Championship you're probably in what, top 1000 players in the world. You don't get that far without the belief you can go higher.
Who is going to turn down a chance to double or treble their money and get a crack at the top? Most won't succeed but everyone thinks they'll be the next Jamie Vardy.
I wonder if AV still has the occasional peek in here, particularly during the silly season. His most recent piece on football's new economics covers exactly the same ground discussed here a few days ago.
The new situation will throw up numerous examples of what I think of as the Downing effect.
When Stewie came back to us on an inflated fee and wage deal and having Steve Gibson's back, he played with an indifference and sense of entitlement that eventually alienated not only many fans who had previously been admirers, but also his manager.
And in the final confrontation it was the manager and not the player who had to fall on his sword.
One of the reasons for the favourable impression initially made by Gary Monk was that he seemed determined to tackle the dressing-room toxicity that had bedevilled Karanka's final days and contributed to our relegation. In particular he took no nonsense from Downing who before long found himself training with the youth team and placed on the transfer list.
It seemed like a long overdue clearing out of the stables, and must have come as a shock to the player. But even this must have been nothing compared to the utter indifference and lack of interest shown by the rest of the football world to Downing's availability. No one wanted him, particularly at the kind of salary he was being guaranteed for the next few years at the Riverside.
Harry Redknapp, then at Birmingham, was the only manager to express even a modicum of interest. He did, of course expect us to continue to pay almost all of the player's wages.
The effect upon the player's confidence and sense of self-worth must have been profound. The descent from blue-eyed boy to unwanted spare-part would be traumatic for anyone. To his credit Downing buckled down with a renewed determination to prove his worth.
I remember seeing the fine victory at Sheffield Wednesday, a game notable both as the best display by the team under Monk, and as the last match before his sacking.
Downing was outstanding that day and I remember saying to some friends that, unlikely as it seemed, I could swear that I saw Stewie perspiring. In December. No one thought that remotely credible.
Downing's performance that day was symptomatic of a new attitude which continued, albeit with the odd aberration (the failure to track the run of Bryan at Bristol for example), for the rest of his time here. He continued to have his critics, but under Pulis he was a regular choice and one of our most consistently reliable attacking players.
When he finally became available again, Mogga was only too ready to extend his career in a team that performed markedly better lat season than our own.
Downing's trajectory is one that will be followed by almost every player from the Championship downwards in the coming season. It will be out with the over-priced and over-paid prima donnas, and in with reality-checked pros who recognise how privileged they are in recession and plague-hit post-Brexit Britain to earn a living playing the game that they love.
The Downing effect. On steroids.
I was happy when Pulis was appointed, probably more due to the failings of the previous manager, and was looking
forward to pragmatic team selections and formations, boring but effective football that put points on the board.
First sign that Pulis may not be all that was his statement that he wished for a team of 11 Downings.
I might add that I loved playing the game and would have hated to be on the bench while my playing days we receeding. And I didnt get paid.
That's the key thing isn't. Perhaps 10 years to make the money you and your family will live on for the rest of your life knowing that every game could be your last. Plus, if you're playing in the Championship you're probably in what, top 1000 players in the world. You don't get that far without the belief you can go higher.
Who is going to turn down a chance to double or treble their money and get a crack at the top? Most won't succeed but everyone thinks they'll be the next Jamie Vardy.
Agree to a point but what is the point of being a footballer for such a short career and not playing, goalkeepers are the biggest victims of the massive squads, many dont play competitively for years.
Do you tell you grand kids you didnt play much but paid cash for the house they live in. They will be really impressed with that.
The majority in the top two divisions earn far more than us mortals, a short 12 year career in the championship on average 10k a week playing regular footall and videos to show grand kids would set you up for life.
Unless you are P Gascoigne
Good luck to Lee Cattermole who has decided to hang up the Boots and concentrate on coaching.
Didnt realise he played 271 times in the premier league.
I see that Transport Minister, Grant Shapps announced that quarantine arrangements for France will begin on Sunday.
He caused chaos and confusion some hours later by announcing that in fact these arrangements would begin from 4am on Saturday.
It appears that the poor chap originally thought that 4am on Saturday was actually Sunday morning.
Has there ever been a more hapless collection of incompetents and fools governing us ? Not in my lifetime.
I see that Transport Minister, Grant Shapps announced that quarantine arrangements for France will begin on Sunday.
He caused chaos and confusion some hours later by announcing that in fact these arrangements would begin from 4am on Saturday.
It appears that the poor chap originally thought that 4am on Saturday was actually Sunday morning.
Has there ever been a more hapless collection of incompetents and fools governing us ? Not in my lifetime.
On behalf of hapless, incompetent fools and idiots everywhere I have to object to that statement Ken because at least they have enough intelligence to realise that they haven't the ability to become a Politician. Politicians these days however are seemingly not graced with that level of intellect and actually believe they know what they are doing, probably because they collectively pat each other on the back.
As Charles Darwin exclaimed in his book The Descent of Man, "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." Its worrying how the Dunning-Kruger effect is so visible in World leaders and their hangers on today. I'm not sure which is worse, the blatant self serving corrupt attitudes or incredible ignorance and stupidity. I can't remember a time in my life when it was so bad, widespread and unfortunately across all political divides.
Just in case anyone is reading this and for the benefit of any doubt whatsoever. If anyone out there wants to pay me four times my current salary and give me a four year contract for the trouble of doing so I am readily available and contactable via Diasboro. 🙂
Just in case anyone is reading this and for the benefit of any doubt whatsoever. If anyone out there wants to pay me four times my current salary and give me a four year contract for the trouble of doing so I am readily available and contactable via Diasboro. 🙂
And as RR's agent I shall of course be taking my 20% cut of his increased earnings! 😎
I see that Transport Minister, Grant Shapps announced that quarantine arrangements for France will begin on Sunday.
He caused chaos and confusion some hours later by announcing that in fact these arrangements would begin from 4am on Saturday.
It appears that the poor chap originally thought that 4am on Saturday was actually Sunday morning.
Has there ever been a more hapless collection of incompetents and fools governing us ? Not in my lifetime.
On behalf of hapless, incompetent fools and idiots everywhere I have to object to that statement Ken because at least they have enough intelligence to realise that they haven't the ability to become a Politician. Politicians these days however are seemingly not graced with that level of intellect and actually believe they know what they are doing, probably because they collectively pat each other on the back.
As Charles Darwin exclaimed in his book The Descent of Man, "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." Its worrying how the Dunning-Kruger effect is so visible in World leaders and their hangers on today. I'm not sure which is worse, the blatant self serving corrupt attitudes or incredible ignorance and stupidity. I can't remember a time in my life when it was so bad, widespread and unfortunately across all political divides.
We may not be politically aligned but I totally agree with that post RR
@redcarred if your employer farmed you out to a smaller company we're you could make your mark because you weren't cutting the mustard with them and you we're earning 4 x the guy in the opposite chair, the loan company sent you back coz you didnt set the world alight, you then saw out your contract making tea and sweeping the floor while your colleges were getting back slapped by the boss
How satisfied would you be
GF joining up with Karanka at Birmingham, I dont know whether to laugh or cry.
I was beginning to think I had strayed onto the political forum by mistake, thanks billy. 😁
Come on BORO.
@billy I have recently watched Northern League footballers training for the new season and been impressed with their ability.
A lot of them choose to play part time football and get paid for it but also have full time jobs for which they get well paid
The recent wage cap imposed on the lower levels of professional football will probably mean a lot of players will drop into part time semi-professional football now and still enjoy it
OFB
Good luck to George if he joins AK. I think his best days are past, but he has been a terrific buy for the Boro, and very nice person it appears.
So we will have to definitely add another left side player for squad cover at least.
it will be interesting to see how the transfer market unfolds. Some clubs have bigger squads than we do, but not many splashing the cash yet, even the relegated three.
I also see Derby have taken out a loan against their Stadium. Wonder how that works within their finances.
@pedro. I must say that of the two GF & MJ I would have preferred to have retained GF but it is what it is.
He was an excellent purchase and has been a consummate professional both on and off the field. I wish him all the best for the remainder of his career and whatever he turns his hand to afterwards.
I believe he has undertaken a media degree so if I was in charge of the EG I would be making approaches now in the hope they could entice him to join when he retires. It would be a good way of rebuilding bridges with MFC and good to have someone with inside knowledge and contacts. 😎
@redcarred if your employer farmed you out to a smaller company we're you could make your mark because you weren't cutting the mustard with them and you we're earning 4 x the guy in the opposite chair, the loan company sent you back coz you didnt set the world alight, you then saw out your contract making tea and sweeping the floor while your colleges were getting back slapped by the boss
How satisfied would you be
It would be frustrating but looking at my Bank Account would ease the pain.
@pedro. I must say that of the two GF & MJ I would have preferred to have retained GF but it is what it is.
He was an excellent purchase and has been a consummate professional both on and off the field. I wish him all the best for the remainder of his career and whatever he turns his hand to afterwards.
I believe he has undertaken a media degree so if I was in charge of the EG I would be making approaches now in the hope they could entice him to join when he retires. It would be a good way of rebuilding bridges with MFC and good to have someone with inside knowledge and contacts. 😎
I suspect that when George completes his media studies he will more likely end up with Sky than the Gazette.
Its the end of an era with George departing, just a shame we couldn't give him a send off. I wish him well in his remaining career and future ventures and who knows we may see him back at Boro in some future capacity.
@deleriad: I'm not sure that, being a Championship player you'd be in, say, the 1,000 players in the world. SOME (a very tiny
minority) might be in the top 1,000. If there are 26 clubs in the Championship, and they have an average squad of (for ease of calculation), 30 players, that alone would be 780 players. Add that to the (maybe larger?) squads in the 20 Premier League Clubs and we are well beyond 1,000 players already. And, of course, there are the players in the top leagues in Spain, Germany, Italy....many in Holland, Portugal and other European countries. Without even thinking of Brazil and Argentina and the "emerging" football leagues in Eastern Asia.
Maybe in the best 20,000 in the world? Still a lot better than I would have been but not in the best 1,000.
Am I the only one reading speculation on whom Boro might sign as a little tedious? Hardly any news since last season finished. My ears tend to prick up when there is something concrete to report. It’s the height of the summer at the moment, though it doesn’t feel like it sometimes with low cloud converging in from the North Sea and little sunshine at the moment. But as much as I love the Boro there have been some exciting moments in other sports taking place. For example I’ve just reported on a wonderful USPGA on this website, and a couple of cricket articles on the Forum section of this website. Jarkko seems one of the few that seems to have found these items on the discussion section that Werdermouth has kindly set up. Surely folks some of you have other interests than football and the Boro in the close season.
If and when crowds are allowed into the Riverside it’s going to be a strange environment with no more than 9,000 fans strategically placed all wearing face masks and not allowed to make too much noise, a body of almost tight lipped observers rather than a voluminous set of spectators. How will self distancing be administered? Maybe pairs of cardboard cutouts of fans, the atmosphere provided by canned roars of approval. Let’s face it, if the volume of that was the same as Mark Page’s music it would scare the living daylights out of Boro’s opposition; it may even be a good way of improving Boro’s dismal home form.
Nevertheless for the moment I’ll enjoy the cricket, the weekend of Rugby League never mind if Cas lose, and the two hour recorded highlights of the weekend’s golf, forgetting all about football save from finishing my statistical record of Boro’s famous Cup runs and my recollections of what I considered to be the most remarkable 20 seasons in the history of our great club which I finished recently as a lasting memory for those interested in Boro’s history also to be found on the Forum Section of this website.
Where is Ian Gill when you need him?
@redcarred; I think George Friend cost us £100,000. So for 1 Britt Assombalonga we could have bought, what, 120 to 160 George Friends? Or for Rudi Gestede, maybe 65 Georges? I know who will have contributed most to Boro's cause over the years......
A loyal and seemingly very decent and intelligent man. George Friend is the sort of player you could warm to. And may thousands did, during his time with the club. The old, overused word, "Legend" applies. But even for Legends, Old Father Time comes in the end. He will be fondly thought of by many Boro supporters, wherever he decides to go.
Boro are apparently in negotiations to sign Tel Aviv Israeli Striker Dan Glazer
OFB
Good luck and an injury free future to George, a true professional in every sense of the word; on the pitch, off the pitch and he embraced Teesside too. A top man who had some real dignity.
UTB,
John
Its the end of an era with George departing, just a shame we couldn't give him a send off. I wish him well in his remaining career and future ventures and who knows we may see him back at Boro in some future capacity.
It is indeed the end of an era - unless I’ve forgotten someone, George was the last of Mowbray’s bargain signings still at the club.
I know, I know, Mowbray signed (and particularly loaned) some rubbish too but you get that when you’re rooting around in the discount bin.
Friend was arguably Mowbray’s best value For money signing, given his longevity and, I would imagine, low wages when he first joined.
A brilliant signing and fantastic professional. All the best to him.
@ken I'm sorry but anything that takes 5 days to complete and can still end in a draw doesn't sound like Sport to me. I've never had even a remote interest in Cricket, in school I could wallop the ball almost Baseball style for a six but still wouldn't play for the school as even playing it bored me. My "walloping" of the ball was in frustration rather than enjoyment. I guess it's an acquired taste.
A report says Barcelona are going after the Leeds manager, could be interesting.
Come on BORO.