Stircrazy
What I liked about the Sunday Times report was a more balanced view of the players ratings although I’d have given Stojanovic an 8 as I thought he was outstanding. Without criticising our local reporters, I do think they sometimes go over the top with their ratings, understanding to a certain degree as Boro fans they perhaps need to show allegiance or bias to their local clubs, and considering recent performances by the Boro yesterday’s performance was far better than any others we’ve had to endure certainly since the win at Preston.
I’ve never had a problem with Neil Warnock when he’s managed teams against the Boro. He’s blunt, but as a true Yorkshireman calls a shovel a spade. He sometimes gets under the skins of fans of the opposition, but so did Fergie in my opinion. He is as pragmatic as Tony Pulis, but in my eyes a nicer character. All of the 15 previous clubs he has managed loved him, which cannot be said about all of Pulis’s clubs. He took an average Cardiff side from mid-table to automatic promotion in the following season, and when this season is over and Boro are safely ensconced in the Championship, I’d welcome an extension of his contract for another season. He gives average players confidence, which I don’t think Pulis ever did, and I’m sure if Boro reached the playoffs next season he’d set them up far better than Pulis did. In fact you never know, but he could be the right man to get Boro automatic promotion.
Redcar Red
Thank you for the match report so good I read it twice !
Nice One
OFB
Thanks RR for a great report. So glad you are back.
Thanks for another excellent report RR and pleased that you had something positive to write about. Can't argue with your MOTM choice. 😎
Good to learn that Jonny Howson has signed a one year contract extension and will be with us next season.
I know JW was confident that he'd sign an extension, but I wonder whether that would actually have been the case after the Swansea débâcle. Was NW's arrival the clincher?
@stircrazy. Not sure, it may be the reason but there again there is no certainty at this stage that NW will be with us next season.
I am not sure at his age he can manage a full season which I believe was something he alluded to towards the end of his time at Cardiff.
I suppose he/we need to get this season finished and Championship survival confirmed before both sides can take stock. 😎
Thanks Redcar Red for your alternative take, that must have been a little more pleasurable the write.Well not one for the purists, but certainly one for the Boro fans. Could have been 4-2 or so, however we rode our luck at times and fully deserved the three points.
The biggest single note for me was the work ethic......tremendous, I cannot think of the last time Boro players put in that amount of effort. Also stuck rigidly to Mr Warnock's set up.
I wonder just how many training sessions NW had the players in for. From that performance I would have thought, all day every day. Well done instilling discipline that had disappeared.
Still lots to do given the other results, but it keeps our heads above water.
So Howson has signed a contract extension. The way the news is worded, it sounds like an additional year on his current terms. If so, I imagine that it a larger financial commitment than the club were initially preparing for but perhaps with Ayala and Gestede gone, there is a little more leeway and it is only one year.
it will be interesting to see what happens with Friend, and perhaps to a lesser extent Johnson and Shotton.
I’m certainly happy to have Howson settled in for another year. There will be a big turnover whatever happens so a bit of stability with one of the experienced pro’s is a good thing so long as the finances stack up.
That performance was unrecognisable from the one against Swansea the week before. And very welcome, too. I agree something said by a few others: that it seemed everyone had a decent game. They all loooked "up for it" as well (though that really is a minimum requirement in a sportsman, isn't it?).
If pushed, I might have given MoM to the keeper, but couldn't argue with other choices.
I had forgotten what it felt like after a Boro win. I hope to experience the same feeling again. I know that one swallow doesn't make a summer, but at least it gives hope that better days are around the corner. Well done, Neil Warnock and the players. Phew!
I do not think that there is any mystery as to why the players could not do it for the previous Manager.
Throughout the history of football, people land managerial jobs that they are ill equipped for, more than we can count.
The requirements for the job are a mystery wrapped up in an enigma, so who knows, but we were the sufferers as it fell apart big time. As to the particular fault lines?
Personality, selection, attitude, selection of staff, all played a part, but one must take note that his habit of keeping on keeping on with disastrous selections as it fell apart, do not bode well for him.
I cannot think that he can stay at our club, it would be a first in football as far as I know, and would surely lead to grave consequences all round.
i agree 100% but I don’t believe there is any danger that Woodgate will stay at the club because I can’t see Warnock tolerating any interference or nepotism, particularly if he Is hoping to agree a contract to manage the team next season (which I hope he will). He will want a free hand to run the team as he sees fit supported by people he has worked with before and he can trust.
At least one result down at the bottom has gone Boro's way, with the Tricky Trees seeing off the Terriers by 3-1.
Thanks Redcar Red for that better report on the Boro players, sorry that Woody had to go but we needed some one to put some Boro steel into their backbones. On another subject I would like to thank Werdermouth for his time and work he has put into this new layout. I found it a bit confusing at first I guess it’s age thing but I will work it out eventually 👍 👍 👍
Thanks Redcar Red for that better report on the Boro players, sorry that Woody had to go but we needed some one to put some Boro steel into their backbones.
I rather think it's Sheffield steel, bb! 😉
i agree 100% but I don’t believe there is any danger that Woodgate will stay at the club because I can’t see Warnock tolerating any interference or nepotism, particularly if he Is hoping to agree a contract to manage the team next season (which I hope he will). He will want a free hand to run the team as he sees fit supported by people he has worked with before and he can trust.
just a rumour but I heard that a scouting role was the level being offered (or thought about) to Woodgate.
I would think that a clean break would be best for all parties to be honest.
@stircrazy
I guess you are right how I could forget that save our steel banner in the south stand I can only apologise to the lads who lost their jobs
And now the remaining four who were out of conract have signed waivers to continue playing until season’s end:
Perhaps the change of manager made up the minds either way of some individuals?
Some interesting fixtures this week to keep an eye on.
Tuesday
Barnsley v Blackburn
Cardiff v Charlton
Leeds v Luton
Wigan v Stoke
Wednesday
Birmingham v Huddersfield
Thursday
Hull v Boro
Friday
Charlton v Millwall
If Huddersfield and Stoke win Hull could find themselves in the bottom three come Thursday with Boro just above them fourth from bottom. Of course if they all lose and we win on Thursday then we could be getting used to this winning malarkey 🙂
Perhaps the change of manager made up the minds either way of some individuals?
Good to see some commitment and that Howson signed for another year. It will be interesting to see which, if any, of the 4 are offered/accept another contract.
I would like to think that we can retain Friend and Clayton as experienced players who can cover as required.
I strongly believe that there should be a clean break and Woodgate should leave the club but if that is something Steve Gibson can’t bring himself to do (bottling it?) then a scouting role could be the least worst option. The first assignment could be a very lengthy trip to Mongolia to check out the footballing talent there.
@ken I think you still believe in the Boro don’t you? “Automatic Promotion next season to the Premier League?”
I’ll drink to that ‘🍷🍷🍷
Andy, appears as though it was an option, however it would be interesting to know if the option was both ways. I would also assume on the same terms which is expensive given the finances at the moment and worse if we got relagated.
There have been a few departures amongst the youth including Enes Mahmutovic which surprised me as I thought the lad looked promising from the brief cameos I saw.
https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/retained-list-july-extensions-and-departures
@redcarred I liked him as well but apparently his agent thought he was worth a huge contract
Re Mahmutovic
seems a bit of a shame to waste all of the development effort but we have Stubbs, Wood and a few others coming through for the defensive positions. The academy seems to be doing a really solid job.
The Echo wrote today that Rudi Gestede cost £6m when he signed from Blackburn Rovers in January 2017, and at a conservative estimate, has picked up more than £5.5m in wages during his time on Boro’s books. He scored six goals in the league and two in the FA Cup during that three-and-a-half year period.
That is nearly 2 million per a league goal. Well, that was not money well spent for a striker.
But I suppose these things happen in football. But somehow it is crazy way of burning money. The salaries are too high.
Up the Boro!
If - and I hope NW will supply it - we retain the status of Champioship football next season, I think Boro will be more prepared for the up-coming season. We can choose the players we want to keep as many expensive players are out of contract after July.
We have more room to bring in better but younger players. And I think relatively speaking we are stronger than most Champioship clubs after the COVID-19 difficulties.
We still have Steve Gibson to support the new manager who ever it will be next season.
But the tricky thing is finishing the season above the drop zone. So there is a lot of pressure on Warnock to succeed in the next seven games. If that happens I feel positive for 2020/21 season.
Up the Boro!