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Warnock set to take...
 

Warnock set to take charge for next season

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Despite as yet no official announcement from the club, it seems Neil Warnock has undertaken the old-school contract of shaking hands with Steve Gibson on becoming Boro manager next season – of course due to the risks of Corona virus they probably avoided the cast-iron guarantee by first spitting in their palms.

OK, it's not exactly the most surprising piece of news as there had been more hints that Warnock would extend his time on Teesside than from an over-attention-seeking Microsoft Office paperclip in need of work. The season-rescuing temporary manager had long since been using 'we' when referring to next season so most Boro followers had already been expecting he'd already more or less made the decision to stay.

Just how long that extended time on Teesside will be for a man who will be 72 in December and has bought essentially a family retirement property in Cornwall earlier this year is a matter for conjecture. OK, he's still four months younger than Roy Hodgson, though he appears considerably younger thanks mainly to never having managed England but is now as old as Sir Alex Ferguson when he finally decided to call it a day.

So we can perhaps assume that this is not intended to be a long-term appointment and is possibly instead one that will be viewed as a critical one that will reshape the squad for the next three years. However, unlike the previous three-year plan to reshape the squad last season under the king of presentations that was Jonathan Woodgate, it will be overseen by a man with 50 years experience under his belt. Warnock has been involved in management since before any of the players were born and indeed involved in football before even many of their fathers were remotely a twinkle in their grandfathers eyes.

In the end it seems an appointment that makes sense given that Warnock has passed the interview and delivered Championship football for next season. Also given that there are only around six weeks before we're off again it would have probably been something of a missed opportunity to spend a month securing someone new, who would then need time to get up to speed.

At least those players who remain know who they are dealing with and that could be a crucial factor in persuading some of those promising youngsters that they should remain at Boro for another season. Warnock has even previously suggested that 2020-21 could be a promotion campaign, which while may sound a little far-fetched given the club only just avoided the drop, it may be worth pointing out that Boro were in the end only six wins away from making the play-offs – not beyond repair for a team that hasn't won a game at the Riverside in 2020.

So is Neil Warnock the right appointment or was he just in the right place at the right time? Chances are Boro will become harder to beat under the old hand and it's now a question of whether the club can recruit the right players or “right tools” as he apparently phrased it – though hopefully there is also a shake-up in that department as given the tight budget, the last thing Boro need is to sign some right tools...


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Thanks Werder - had a good old chuckle at your piece! 

As I have said before, NW would not be my ideal choice in an ideal world but we are not in an ideal world right now. Given the circumstances, to do anything else would have been evidence of further madness from SG.

Looking forward through hands across my eyes, ready to cover them quickly as  required,(Like watching a scary movie!) to next season.

 

i suspect that it will be functional football and it will be interesting who stays and who comes in before September and how the team starts the season.

 

UTB


   
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Ken Smith
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Whilst grateful that Neil Warnock kept Boro up, what is the point of regularly changing the style of Boro’s performances from one season to another? I’d have preferred that Boro had appointed Chris Hughton, a manager with a vast experience and ten years younger than Warnock and who had success in getting Brighton promoted to the Premier League and what is more important keeping them there. Warnock won’t want to stay at Boro beyond one season, and the chances of reaching the playoffs next season are quite frankly remote, never mind re-establishing Boro as a Premier League club.

Obviously Boro need to strengthen their defence, and Ben Gibson would be a good signing probably on loan, but if he is so homesick and itching to play for his beloved Boro he would have to take a massive pay cut as Sean Dyche will play hardball in wanting to pay a high percentage of his wages if he were to come to Boro on loan, and at the moment Boro just cannot justify his high wages or indeed the transfer fee to make him a permanent signing. Also why would Dael Fry wish to spend most of his time sitting on the bench of a Premier League club? 

Another conundrum is what is the position of Leo Percovich at the moment? It’s very sad about his losing his two daughters in a car crash, but sentiment has no place in football, unless of course your name is Steve Gibson. Leo might be a rebel rouser, but he should have been released at the same time as  Woodgate was relieved of his duties. If it’s a rebel rouser Boro need, they may as well have signed Brian Blessed.

This post was modified 4 years ago by Ken Smith

   
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jarkko
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A sensible appointment in these circumtances, me thinks. With just over six weeks to the beginning of the next season, there were very few other options.

I think we should be there or thereabouts for a place in the play-offs next season. We gained 1,5 points per match during NW's stay at the Boro and than should be OK for a place similar to Milllwall during the season that just ended.

But to do that we need a good centre back or two. A real leader. Perhaps Ben Gibson on loan, I do not know.

I hope we keep both Fletcher and Assombalonga.  There is hardly time to buy a new striker and they are always costly. Buying a couple of centre backs is a lot easier. 

I hope we can found a number ten but we have Wing and Tavanier, too. And we need a winger or two. How about Marcus Browne from Oxford? He had a good season there and would not cost anything ...

So I will be positive. I hope NW will play 4-3-3 as with Cardiff. I believe the season will be much better than this one that just finished was.

As always, up the Boro! 

This post was modified 4 years ago 3 times by jarkko

   
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Thanks Werder.

I think most people agree that Warnock was the sensible short-term choice - maybe the only choice in truth - in these very challenging set of circumstances.

Whilst he's performed minor miracles at other clubs I just can't see a genuine play-off push for the Boro next season. Too much to improve in too little time with too few resources.

The remit for Warnock then, may be to do a Pulis but more successfully. The financial cull has largely already happened, so can he leave the on-field side of the club in a state where it can really go forward after he leaves? Pulis failed miserably on that side of things, if indeed it was even part of the plan.

What I'm most keen to avoid, is Warnock using his chance to revamp the squad to bring players in who won't be much use to the next manager. Warnock needs the chance to shape the squad in such a way that we can progress but we must also break the cycle of assembling a squad for one playing style, then changing tack.

This post was modified 4 years ago by Andy R

   
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Pedro de Espana
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Thanks Werder for the intro to effectively “the season starts now” Again Nice article to bring a smile to my face after the bitter disappointments of the season past.

I would agree with Andy, that given the circumstances and the short turn around, NW is the safe choice, however possibly not the best way forward. 

I am confident we will not be trying to avoid relegation, but thought that under Woodgate!!! But top six, maybe a wish too far. Top ten hopefully at least, with some home wins.

What will probably be the biggest single defining action taken, is being able to sell a couple of players for fees to reinvest. Depending on the phone calls of course asking about whom........I would try and off load McNair, Britt (because of his wages and fee). I would add in Saville, but I doubt if you will find any club willing to pay even 4mill. It may even have to be Wing reluctantly if we got a decent offer.

I am sure NW will find CB’s in his image at a reasonable price. Ben Gibson just does not compute, certainly economically and now as too big a risk as a player. 

So plenty to talk about, speculate on and scour the internet looking for rumours linking the Boro. So good luck to Mr Warnock, he will need more than a little to achieve what the fans are hoping for.

 


   
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SG just been interviewed on BBC Tees from the SSI Steelworks site confirming that Warnock is the new Manager but that he has gone down to Cornwall for a week's break and switched his phone off. Except that he is ringing SG every ten minutes including during the interview. 

There's life in the old dog yet!


   
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We're a fickle lot aren't we, football fans?

If NW had been a serious contender for the Boro managers job a year ago I suspect there would have been a lot of angst floating about.

Its not that long ago that the Gazette described him as 'football's nutter on the bus'.

Personally I wouldn't have been too keen on him becoming Boro's manager a year ago, but now that he's performed something close to a miracle in keeping us up I have a somewhat different view.

Its also true that I thought he played Pulis/Karanka ball where no more than two Boro players are allowed in the attacking half at anyone time. But from what I've seen that's not the case, one opposing manager described one period of play against Boro as being like the Alamo. Well that works for me, corner after corner, free kick after free kick, throw after throw being launched into the opposition box is exciting to watch, that's what I want.

His teams play the ball out of defence fast, most often by a long ball, 50/50's are fought over and players break fast and in numbers when attacking, what's not to like?

It could be an exciting season to come, god knows there hasn't been one of those since Eindhoven.

In my dreams he's the new Jackie Charlton, there's hope...... 

 


   
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Thanks Werder for your new manager article, which has become a regular feature in recent seasons!

I think NW did a very good job in keeping us up during difficult circumstances and probably deserves the chance to hold the reins for at least a full season.  

Whether it is the right decision in the longer term remains to be seen.  My concern is that it turns out to be more of the same with another managerial change after the 20/21 season and change of personnel/playing style yet again.

At least in the coming season we should be much more combative and have a recognisable playing style.  Given the large number of changes in playing staff and the need to recruit at a time of severe financial constraints then I feel top six is a bridge too far. I will be content if he can make us into a top ten side which still has the capability to improve further and challenge for the top spots the following year.

There is one thing that is certain, it can't be any worse than it has been this year! CoB 😎


   
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At least there aren’t many dissenting voices to this appointment so hopefully with the fans onboard there’ll be a new found confidence in the management.

 

All eyes now will be on who Warnock can attract to the club as it would appear those he felt surplus to requirements have already left. The only ones who may still leave will be those who can command a decent offer ( in the case of the high earners) and those who the club would like to keep but can’t say no to an above market value offer.

 

It will certainly be very revealing as to what strategy NW is going to employ by the players he goes after. The centre forward at Huddersfield  perhaps? Karlan Grant can play right across a front three and has 19 goals and 4 assists. Not a bad return despite being in a struggling team. And only 22.

 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/karlan-grant/profil/spieler/314183

This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by grovehillwallah

   
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I think this was really the only viable appointment. If it hadn't happened and we had to go looking for someone else I think that would have been disastrous. 

In some respects it's only a short-term appointment but pretty much every manager is. You can't build long-term plans when you're failing short term.

Next season is going to be very strange. I expect there'll be more action in the courts with clubs going under on a frequent basis and suing the EFL. If we can keep our heads down, play to a consistent standard and not go bust, we probably have as good a chance of promotion as anyone in the league.


   
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We haven't had a manager for longer than 18 month since Karanka so I don't get this long term thinking.

If results aren't forthcoming, any new manager will be hounded out once he loses the Riverside and the dressing room  we've seen it so many times before.

Whoever takes over would need to be a success to last longer than that and NW is more than qualified.

He is less of a risk than other realistic candidates and I cannot think of a better option in the circumstances.

People compare him to Pulis, as I used to, but he does seem more genuine, this may change of course if he doesn't get results. ATM I like what I have seen.

I wish him and his team every success and hope he is agreeing to an extension this time next year.

He could even move the misses up and rent out the Cornwall pad.


   
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@nigelreeve I would have had him last year over Woodgate. My thoughts then we're "anyone but JW"


   
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@grovehillwallah I would imagine that the only clubs who can afford an above market value offer for one of our players would be PL clubs or those recently relegated with parachute payments.

I don't think we have anyone who would really interest a PL club at the moment, so we are down to a very small handful of possible suitors.


   
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The other problem with long term managers, if they are on a 4 year contract and lose the plot (no pun intended), they have to do lots of gardening at SG,s expense 


   
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Please no Ben Gibson.

We cannot afford him, don't know if he has still "got it" and I shudder to think of the dressing room marale as the squad snap every sinew trying to see his payslip.

Jobs for the boys must end.

Downing negotiating a new contract at BR.

At least that's one potentially  off the nepotism list


   
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Congrads to Tony Mowbray, just read that he is the longest serving manager in the Championship.

Eddie Howe will take that crown if he stays with the Cherries.


   
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Cannot understand the rationale for trying to sign Gibson when we have spent the last twelve months letting the high earners contracts run down and not offering new. Even talk of ditching Britt to re-invest his fee and wages. 

Surely this must be a non starter in the present financial climate


   
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@billy I would think the whole thing is indeed a non-starter unless Ben agrees to taking a wage that fits our circumstances (i.e. probably no more than £15k/week) AND Burnley are happy to sell cheap or loan for a low fee.

I can’t see it.

However, if the stars somehow align and if he’s fit and ready, I think he would be a great addition to the squad:

A left-sided centre back with leadership skills, who actually wants to play for us more than taking the money where he is, would have no issues with moving the family up or settling in and was previously good enough to earn an England call-up? Well, we’d be silly not to ask the question.

i know he hasn’t played much at all since moving to Burnley but we don’t get the chance to sign players of that quality and fit without there being caveats.


   
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@andy-r agree with most of that but cannot see Burnley selling for 2-3m, Ben accepting 10k a week and who pays the remainder of his 40k contract.

Plus the fact he hasnt played a game for two years, unless he turned out for his local pub team, I deem him a risk.

They may be other options out there


   
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I’m struggling to understand why Gibson is so intent at keeping Woodgate at the club. He proved nothing as a manager and if he was involved in any of the recent recruitment, that doesn’t augur well either.

If its just a sense of misguided loyalty or assuaging a guilty conscience, I fear he’s making a mistake. It should be a clean break.


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On the Ben Gibson situation; wherever he goes he may well have to take a wage cut and I am not sure if any PL or ex PL teams would be interested in laying out money on someone who has not played for two seasons. 

What might work is if Burnley still owes us part of the transfer fee (usually paid in instalments over the length of the contract) and an agreement could be reached whereby we forgo the remainder of the fee in return for BG being transferred back to us. 

Assuming that he accepts that he will have to take a wage cut come what may to obtain a release from Burnley, then he may take the view of better the devil you know.  He is probably more likely to get regular game time with us (injuries permitting) than trying to force his way into a team elsewhere.  Just a thought..... 😎 


   
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@k-p-in-spain That’s a good point KP. Presumably if Burnley are paying us £15m over four seasons then still owe us £7.5m, which surely is the most he’s worth after two more or less absent seasons.

That said, we probably need that kind of money and I’m not sure he’s worth £7.5m to us, given that we could potentially buy 3 or 4 players with that.

I’m a big fan of Ben but whichever way we cut the numbers, it doesn’t seem to work out.


   
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On Ben Gibson’s situation at Burnley, there has to be a lot more to the story than meets the eye. Despite PL clubs being allowed 9 substitutes he hasn’t even warranted a place on the bench. With Dyche being adamant he shouldn’t feature in the first team squad, it points to a deeper reason for his absence.

 

Why would you refuse to have one of your record signings not playing and languishing away from the club? With regard to his personal position, he is only 27 so plenty more seasons in him as a CB. Time enough to re-establish his career and get his market value back up again. Perhaps he would be prepared to take a cut in wages in order to achieve that aim. If some agreement can be agreed with Burnley regarding a fee, I think it could be an agreeable deal for all parties concerned.

This post was modified 4 years ago by grovehillwallah

   
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@k-p-in-spain Burnley do owe Boro A large part of the transfer fee apparently 

 

OFB


   
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I can't see any scenario where Boro forego their remaining £7.5m on Ben Gibson being anything other than crazy financial management - especially if you consider the club's total Championship prize money now that parachute payments have ended is only £6.8m.

If you also add to that the reduced income from gate receipts due to covid-19 then why would any sensible person blow the transfer budget on a centre-back who has only played one league game in two years? Boro would not ordinarily be in the market for a £7.5m CB this season so it would be purely sentiment on the club's behalf - plus a costly one at that.

Gibson I'm afraid is damaged goods and Burnley will be keen to sell him even for less than £5m as he also will cost them £5m in wages for the next two years - he's essentially a poor man's Gareth Bale who sits in the stands for Madrid knowing he's getting rich doing nothing.

OK, Gibson could decided he will only move to Boro and in which case he may ultimately leave on a free in 12 months time with another £2.5m in his pocket.

Gibson clearly didn't buy into the Burnley culture and fell out with assistant Ian Woan and basically went on strike after his move to Watford fell through - perhaps the Hornets with their parachute payments will rekindle their interest but this is not move Boro should contemplate if they are serious about providing Neil Warnock with funds to rebuild.


   
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jarkko
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@werdermouth At least Boro should know all about the case Ben Gibson and his current form. He has been on "test" here at Rockcliffe  for months now. So if - I think it must be a loan of six months or a season -  the finances match, we know what we will get. That way the risk is reasonably low. But as said, the money is the problem.

Up the Boro! 


   
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I agree that it doesn't make financial sense if Burnley still owe us £7.5k but we don't know the exact terms of how the deal was structured.

It could possibly be that less is outstanding (assuming a payment structure of £7.5k, £2.5k, £2.5k +£2.5k) meaning that £5k is outstanding albeit OFB has indicated that a large part is still owing in which case it would appear to be a non starter, except we all know who BG's uncle is!  

As has been seen in the past, loyalty and being one of our own has meant that recruitment of former players has taken place when it flies in the face of commercial/team sense! 😎

This post was modified 4 years ago by K P in Spain

   
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I'd be surprised to see any Championship club without parachute payments paying anything other than nominal transfer fees this season. Most clubs in this Covid-19 landscape may indeed be looking to offload many of their higher earners and reduce their outgoings.

The market will surely be a buyer's market with a downward pressure on fees and wages - indeed you could argue £7.5m cash probably easily has a relative spending power in excess of £10m.

So whatever the outstanding sums due from Burnley, Ben Gibson would not be anything but out of our price range so the club should just move on and not get distracted from the important business of making some good signings. Besides, if sellers think Boro are able to spend these kinds of sums then we'll be held to ransom on other deals.

Of course, knowing Steve Gibson he'll probably do a deal with Burnley where he re-signs his nephew for something like £3-4m plus an add-on clause of £5m if Boro are promoted in the next fours years of Ben's contract.

This post was modified 4 years ago by werdermouth

   
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