Just seen on twitter that Morrison has also left, dont shoot the messenger, so the staff cull is ongoing, I must admit I still fear we may get relegated I know I am a typical boro pessimist. Watched the match on saturday and couldnt believe the clown defending, the 2nd goal reminded me of the goal Wilkinson scored against the mags at sid james park, boxing day I think Ken will keep me straight, those were the days stood in the away end. How have we come to the position where we haven't won at home for 10 matches.
As someone who appreciates exmil's contributions to this blog, and in particular all of the hard work he has put into his challenge for our enjoyment, as well as his generally positive take on events when pessimism and despondency seem to be the order of the day, I was saddened by the recent turn of events.
I think it's important to say that exmils general point is a good one. This is not a blog which has ever had any truck with unsubstantiated rumours whose sole source is "a friend of my window cleaner's next-door neighbour" type. Nor should it ever do so.
The problem is that this perfectly valid stricture cannot be applied to Bob's insights which have illuminated the blog for many years. I think most of us recognise that Bob' has vast experience and an enviable range of contacts within and close to the club, reliable sources which ,for obvious reasons, have to remain confidential. Indeed, Bob must sometimes have been in some danger of compromising those sources in order to provide the service he does in keeping us all so well informed. Because that is what Bob has done. His brief hints are generally spot on or at least very close to the mark. The trust that most of us have in Bob has been well-earned over many years.
In truth what seems to be involved here is less a disagreement than a misunderstanding, or, if I may say so, the misapplication of a perfectly valid general point to a specific case to which it emphatically does not apply.
As someone who has enjoyed and valued both exmil's and Bob's contributions to this blog I would be immensely saddened if either of them did not continue to contribute to it to everyone else's benefit. I hope than on mature reflection both gentlemen will continue to do so.
Here here. Great post.
It is not 'just getting the best out of our players. If only it was. It is our club in the hands of ignorant buffoons, who, for instance, refused point blank, to play Tav. during one of the most sickening runs ever in the clubs history, and told this manager not to play him, which cost us several defeats before he realised he had been misinformed.
If you want an illustration of the ( quite frankly dire) situation the club is in, take a look at this link. And bear in mind this list is in the process of being culled and will get worse.
Frightening!
When you look at that list and start with Goalkeepers its not exactly convincing, then look at defenders and they are all kids apart from Friend with Shotton already gone. The midfield has one operating as a stand in LB but at least has some quantity (but questionable suitable quality) in terms of numbers. The Strikers have two experienced Championship Strikers including Fletcher plus Nmecha.
Overall I'd say at a push there are maybe 11 or 12 players at the very most to be retained as part of next seasons first team squad and out of that entire squad there are only four Players I would actually want or be remotely bothered about leaving the club.
To think that not so long ago the likes of Christie and Bamford were being pushed out who would easily walk into the side now blindfolded and with a leg amputated.
We need a new Keeper, two RB's, three CB's, two LB's, an Attacking Midfielder, a Winger or two and a Striker. That's twelve incoming players, eight of which will probably be first choice starters! How on earth any Manager is going to get them to gel, develop an understanding and knit together will take some doing.
It is being reported today that scientists have come up with a vaccine to prevent people becoming infected with the Borona Virus. Bovid20 as it has become known has been widespread amongst fans this season resulting in scenes of unrest and questioning of the hierarchy at MFC.
It is being reported today that scientists have come up with a vaccine to prevent people becoming infected with the Borona Virus. Bovid20 as it has become known has been widespread amongst fans this season resulting in scenes of unrest and questioning of the hierarchy at MFC.
In a startling survey released by SLY NEWS today it has been revealed that a large proportion of fans have indicated that they will refuse the vaccine. The “ Anti Vaxxers” have been labelled by “ club insiders” as swivel eyed loons and a sign that the fans are trying to take control of the asylum.At a hastily arranged presser, club officials were asked if this was an insidious move to try and win over support for the new Season Card offer. “Absolutely not” was the reply.When shown a grainy video of replica shirted and blindfolded individuals being loaded onto trains at Cargo Fleet Station a club spokesman responded with, “ rumours of forced vaccination are totally false and the usual attack on the club by the southern based media”More to follow on this breaking news...
What I find disturbing is that the UK Government have signed deals for 90 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine from BioNtech, Pfizer and Valneva. This apparently is in addition to 100 million doses from Oxford University and AstraZeneca for a similar vaccine. That's 190 miliion doses for a UK population of around 70 million people and yet absolutely nothing from Rockliffe on Bovid-20?
Sounds to me like an act of good faith on the part of NW and his team in the hope of securing a longer term contract.
A bit like Pulis's claim that he was here mainly to curate Steve Gibson's money.
Two old pros, unconvincing in their roles as wide-eyed innocents.
If I were Gibbo I would be counting the spoons.
If you want an illustration of the ( quite frankly dire) situation the club is in, take a look at this link. And bear in mind this list is in the process of being culled and will get worse.
Frightening!
We need a new Keeper, two RB's, three CB's, two LB's, an Attacking Midfielder, a Winger or two and a Striker. That's twelve incoming players, eight of which will probably be first choice starters! How on earth any Manager is going to get them to gel, develop an understanding and knit together will take some doing.
That is a lot, RR. As I have always said one club should sign a maximum of four new players per a window as otherwise it will take far too long for the team to gel.
I was hoping we only need one RB, three CBs, two LBs, an Attacking Midfielder, a Winger and a Striker but still this would make seven new players.
What is worrying is the short close season of possibly five weeks. Are all the needed players found and are they physically fit to start in early September? There are big question marks on players from lower leagues or who did not extend their contracts beyond end of June.
And anyway, can we bring in so many players through in such a short period?
Re: Warnock, I always presumed he had no contract in place as there were two matches a week and he loves to help Steve Gibson out. They will sit down after the two Wednesdays (match and date).
Up the Boro!
@redcarred. I'm not convinced about this Bovid-20 report I think it might be fake news! 😎🤣
Warnock has yet to agree a financial deal with SG. He has already admitted this on air. With the club at one of its all time lows and a player base startling in its lack of numbers the chairman has a major decision to make.
He’s like a gambler standing in a casino at dawn. Disheveled, tie loosened and bleary eyed. Does he reach into his pocket and try to double down or admit defeat and head for the exit door......
If it’s the latter, then that will be the true tragedy for Middlesbrough Football Club.
I think it makes nine players not seven. That is a huge amount to bed in. RR's scenario was twelve. However you look at it, it takes a minimum of two seasons to be in play-offs.
Only good point is that we can move all the high earners this summer and start from clear table. I just hope we keep Steve Gibson in helm.
Up the Boro!
@grovehillwallah. Hence one of my previous posts when I questioned if this is really the job for NW. Yes he has a lot of experience and would sort the wheat from the chaff but I believe this is now a medium to long term project and not one of a quick fix.
In my view we need someone with experience and who can commit to three/four years rather than someone who may do 1/2 and then we have to start all over again.
We certainly do not have a nucleus of a promotion winning side and to build one with the large number of replacements required, of the right caliber, will take some time assuming that we can generate the funds to do so. 😎
@k-p-in-spain totally agree with sentiment that we dont have the nucleus of a promotion winning team and I bet there will be teams casting covetous eyes over the players that we would like to keep Spence, Tav, Coulsen etc
Piece in the times today, laying out battle lines at Huddersfield. Seems that the Manager wanted to lay out a path forward which would cut out the errors and set backs by playing in a defined method and buying players suited to that method and having a sell on value. The owner was having none of it, and it was good by, don't ring me, I'll ring you.
I understand he was on a monster bonus for keeping them up, they are in a safe slot at the moment with two to go, one of them is a London club so I would think that will clinch safety. They have made it clear that they will not pay the bonus. The great white shark has nothing on these people. They were 6 points from safety when he took over. I can hardly believe that last stat.
Can I just second your remarks about Bob, how on earth has the blogger missed the fact that Bob really does know some serious people within the club, we have known that for seasons and when Bob suggests that your favourite player is leaving, then you had better abandon hope cos he will be on his way.
In my view we need someone with experience and who can commit to three/four years rather than someone who may do 1/2 and then we have to start all over again.
There's not many Managers in all four divisions with three years service let alone four,
take a look:
https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/managers-table/
This imaginary dream we all have of a Manager/Coach putting down foundations and building doesn't usually last once results start to kick in. The only way that can happen is with a DOF who will survive several Managerial appointments but maintain a steady hand on the tiller. In actual fact it's not a Manager or Coach we need to commit to for three/four years but a DOF.
The Gazette ran a piece previously about why a DOF wouldn't work for Boro. Cutting through all the baloney the bottom line (although not brazenly expressed) was that SG wouldn't relinquish control which is why he has yes men surrounding him.
The last time SG tried anything remotely similar to a DOF was with Victor Orta. I think the problem was that nothing was really clear about who was supposed to be doing what and certainly bringing in Valdes and Barragan for example didn't help and then that fateful January came along when we landed Gestede and Guedioura. We also of course had some very expensive "gifts" from the Chairman. Who was to blame is probably open to debate but from an outside looking in perspective it appeared to me that there wasn't any joined up thinking and common agreement between SG, Orta and Karanka, despite the latter two both being Spanish.
Appointing a DOF is a massive appointment and I would have little confidence in MFC recruiting the right one in any case. They would probably have to be shortlisted and interviewed by Gary Gill and Neil Bausor and once they didn't feel threatened or undermined SG would then have to be happy that the DOF candidate would be acquiescent enough to still let him tinker and control his train set.
This is why I think Warnock's diplomacy would be as good a fit as we can get right now especially with the scale of the task, the limited funds and time frame of less than two months.
@redcarred Thanks for the great post RR 8.58 this morning,
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
No Russian involvement in the appointment of Jonathan Woodgate as manager of MFC........
I doubt that Nigel Pearson will be on the Chairman’s list.....
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
No Russian involvement in the appointment of Jonathan Woodgate as manager of MFC........
I always suspected Woodgate was possibly a sock puppet...
I doubt that Nigel Pearson will be on the Chairman’s list.....
Sounds like Troy Deeney has remembered the first rule of fight club...
Its interesting this ffp crap can punish you , if you want to invest in your club moving forward,
However during a period of no income , your expected to prop it up , its hypocritical ,
There was not the slightest chance of involvement by our friends from Moscow in that debacle, they are used to success when they apply the boot.
Is everyone blaming Woodgate for all of diabolic signings of the last ten years,
He was at Liverpool scouting before coming back
Head of recruitment means scouting and evaluating possible players we can afford ,which now is small, then Gibson decides .
Good luck Jonathan,your going to need it.
I doubt that Nigel Pearson will be on the Chairman’s list.....
Why? Because he might shake things up and rattle the cage of the management? Just what the club needs in my view.
Apparently Woodgate is to be made head of recruitment for the Boro !
You couldn’t make it up could you ?
OFB
OFB would you mind posting the link where you got this information as I cannot find anything anywhere to substantiate this comment. We all hear rumours from “a friend of a friend who lives down the street of the tea lady” but on this blog I thought we only posted credible reports or rumours that are in print.
Come on BORO.
OFB.
1. Where exactly did I “play the man”, you made a statement and I asked where it came from as I could not find reference to it anywhere, so how is that questioning your integrity.