Selwynoz
Yes, just read that piece in the Gazette saying Connor Malley was released in the summer and is now on trial at Huddersfield for their B Team - there's still nothing mentioned on the MFC website about his exit but it sounds pretty definitive so I've amended the table.
Deleriad
Yes, it's a bit of concern that Dijksteel appears to be getting relegated down the pecking order - Wilder has already said he will switch McNair to Right Centre-back, plus since Lenihan can also play there, any new arrival in that position would appear to cast doubt on Wilder's faith in him. Pity, because I thought Dijksteel was often one of the most consistent performers last season and has improved season on season at Boro.
Not disappointed to hear David McGoldrick has opted for a move to Derby as Boro can't really afford to risk another dubious striker - Wilder would be better off keeping Ikpeazu if he wanted a different option on the bench.
Selwynoz
Yes, just read that piece in the Gazette saying Connor Malley was released in the summer and is now on trial at Huddersfield for their B Team - there's still nothing mentioned on the MFC website about his exit but it sounds pretty definitive so I've amended the table.
Werder
It was announced on the club website on 30/03/22 under the heading “ Youngsters Set To Depart This Summer”. 😎
Deleriad
Yes, it's a bit of concern that Dijksteel appears to be getting relegated down the pecking order - Wilder has already said he will switch McNair to Right Centre-back, plus since Lenihan can also play there, any new arrival in that position would appear to cast doubt on Wilder's faith in him. Pity, because I thought Dijksteel was often one of the most consistent performers last season and has improved season on season at Boro.
i very much agree. Dijksteel is a really solid defender who perhaps needs to improve his attacking options. It may be thought by the club that he will generate a reasonable transfer fee if MFC put him for sale. Having said that, Wilder is supposed to have said that he is in the battle for the right CB spot with McNair and there will always be injuries and suspensions e.g. McNair in week 1 of the season.
Not disappointed to hear David McGoldrick has opted for a move to Derby as Boro can't really afford to risk another dubious striker - Wilder would be better off keeping Ikpeazu if he wanted a different option on the bench.
I thought that McGoldrick might be seen as a reliable 'out' ball for the defence. When I've seen him it looks as if he was able to hold up the play until the rest of the team came up in support. I've always thought that Ikpeazu could do that as well but clearly Wilder just doesn't want him.
UTB
KP
Yes just spotted it - I originally did a search on Connor Malley on the MFC website but didn't see that March article as it was off the page with half-a-dozen more recent articles about him above it with nothing mentioned that he's now left.
Mixed messages again on the DS transfer to Spurs.
Daily Mail reporter Lewis Blain apparently revealed on the “Last Word on Spurs” podcast that the two clubs are not close to agreeing a deal, which comes after an earlier report in the Telegraph suggesting Spurs were about to sign for £15M.
So the wait goes on! 😎
From Wilder's comments, Lenihan will be a direct alternative to Fry rather than Djiksteel, though I take the point that he could play on the right.
Looking at the squad in terms of two players for each position, I think we have the following:
GK: ??? | Roberts
RCB: Djiksteel | McNair
CB: Fry | Lenihan
LCB: ??? | ???
RWB: Jones | ???
RCM: Crooks | Payero
CM: Howson | ???
LCM: Tavernier | McGree
LWB: Giles | Bola
ST: ??? | Watmore
ST: ??? | Coburn
We have some players who can of course cover more than one position, such as McNair, Lenihan, Bola and Tavernier, and some youngsters like Gibson who might make the step up. Then we also have some players who aren't fancied but haven't yet left who may end up plugging one or two of the gaps.
However, there are still key areas that we need to bring players in for:
- Roberts may or may not be enough for the GK role, I haven't seen him.
- McNair filled in pretty admirably at LCB and may have to do so again - not ideal but not the end of the world.
- Payero's best position may end up being in Howson's role as Howson so often starts the attacks, receiving the ball from the back or keeper. Payero's range of passing may suit that position in time, whilst Crooks could fill in there too, as could McNair. Again, not ideal especially given Howson's age, but not the end of the world.
- Up front we clearly have a large gap, though I do still hold out some hope for Ikpeazu as a back-up option.
Nyambe might be seen as a back-up for both Jones and RCB to allow McNair or Lenihan to fill in on the left but the priority remains strikers I think, whilst the left side of central defence could do with a first choice option.
Still, at least we're recruiting to a plan, rather than just picking players up who the manager has a feeling about, as NW did.
Reading between the lines on the comments about DS in the EG, it appears it’s a game of who blinks first between MFC and Spurs.
Sadly, this is all holding up our recruitment plans and I just hope we don’t lose out on incomings as a consequence. 😎
KP
Regarding the Spence deal - it's not unusual that during negotiations that if for example Boro and Spurs are agreed on say a basic fee of £15m, then it's a matter of establishing how Spence would be worth that extra £5m to them. Perhaps if he played 25 games then it would be worth another £3m and maybe if Djed made a certain number of assists or scored goals it would trigger more add-ons and indeed if they qualified for the Champions League. Sounds like all parties want a deal so I'd be surprised if either club allowed it to fall through by digging in over a million or two.
Andy
It's hard to say how many of the current players are planned to be Wilder's starters - though it sounds like he's a fan of McNair and wants a new Left Centre-back, which leaves Dijksteel as cover.
As for the midfield, I'm not sure Wilder is entirely convinced he can rely on injury-prone Payero or even Crooks given his disciplinary record. Personally, I'd expect to see both Tav and McGree starting ahead of those two and we would also normally expect to see Howson too. I'm expecting maybe Boro may look for a more complete midfielder and it may mean Crooks becomes more of an impact player - though he did link up well with Jones.
Finding decent strikers may be harder but I doubt Wilder sees either Watmore or Coburn as first choice starters and may also see them as impact players - though you never know if one of them makes themselves hard to drop if they get off to a good start.
I'm not expecting to see one of the so-called marquee signings in the next three weeks before the season starts, so Boro will likely kicking off the season with a largely recognisable team - plus the longer the new signings take to arrive, the longer it will take them to be match fit if they miss the whole pre-season.
Werder,
I agree re Watmore and Coburn. I see them both as alternatives rather than first choice in the ideal transfer window.
Central midfield I think has just about enough options. I’m sure Wilder will have had a stern word with Crooks, whilst both Payero and McGree should be more settled into their surroundings. Both are potentially very good players in my eyes.
I thought Djiksteel was excellent last season - the pick of our back three overall - and he’d be my first choice. He does tend to miss a few games through injury however and McNair is a very capable utility man to have around.
That said, PM is likely to be one of the club’s highest earners now and I’m not sure that his importance to the team quite justifies that.
The right strikers have always been the key to our prospects for this coming season and it would be great to get them in asap. I think everything else, whilst far from perfect, is good enough for a strong season. It’s not like there are any perfect teams at Championship level for obvious reasons.
KP
Regarding the Spence deal - it's not unusual that during negotiations that if for example Boro and Spurs are agreed on say a basic fee of £15m, then it's a matter of establishing how Spence would be worth that extra £5m to them. Perhaps if he played 25 games then it would be worth another £3m and maybe if Djed made a certain number of assists or scored goals it would trigger more add-ons and indeed if they qualified for the Champions League. Sounds like all parties want a deal so I'd be surprised if either club allowed it to fall through by digging in over a million or two.
Werder
Reading reports in the Northern Echo and Football League World about the DS saga, it sounds as if the impasse is not only about the add ons but the overall cost of the deal.
In the absence of other interested parties, Spurs can afford to wait this one out longer than we can given we need the cash to fund other deals and with our season starting in just three weeks time.
If DS goes with the squad to Portugal then that to me indicates they are still some way apart from agreeing a deal and as I said previously, risks us losing some acquisitions. I hope not but only time will tell. 😎
Southampton have given Adam Armstrong the green light to head out on loan.
OFB
It’s difficult to know what’s happening to the potential transfer of Spence with both Clubs saying nothing. Clearly Spurs are in the driving seat as their need for Spence is less imperative than Boro’s need to sell as Spurs can always go elsewhere for a new player.
In the meantime, there’s little actual transfer activity but more paper talk including Boro’s rumoured interest in ex player Rhodes - he’s been a natural goal scorer but is is now on the decline and rarely played last year for Huddersfield.
Whilst we all know that a new first team goalkeeper and 2 decent forwards are needed, I still think Boro are lacking creative mid field players.
So, it’s back to the tennis whilst football seems a long way off.
Philip of Huddersfield
I’d be delighted if Boro could get Armstrong.
There’ll be lots of interest
Philip of Huddersfield
I’d be delighted if Boro could get Armstrong.
There’ll be lots of interest
Philip of Huddersfield
Agreed. Rather him than Gale. 😎
Warm weather training? Should be hot weather training as forecast for Lagos during the next week is 30 degrees maximum, could be worse though it’s 39 degrees in Lisbon.
Philip
The Hartlepool Mail has apparently said Boro have been priced out of a move for Jordan Rhodes - which presumably means that Huddersfield wanted money for him!
At 32 and just 3 goals in 21 appearances last season, he doesn't sound like the solution to our lack of goals even if one of them was against Boro.
As for Adam Armstrong, well his £15m move to Southampton hasn't really worked out with just a couple of goals in 23 appearances - but he proved himself in Championship at Blackburn with 55 goals in three seasons.
Perhaps another Blackburn-associated player being linked appears to indicate agent Mowbray is supplying the intel at the moment!
Adam Armstrong scored 29 goals for Blackburn in 2020/21 season, but only twice in 20 matches for Southampton. Just shows the difference between the Premier League and the Championship.
KP
Maybe Spence's wage demands are too ambitious but who knows when it comes to the crunch if all parties will reach a compromise - it's still early in the window so Boro may be prepared to wait at least until the end of the month before giving ground on the fee - I'm sure other clubs will be monitoring the situation to see if the deal stalls and test the water. While Spence may have hid heart set on Spurs he won't want to stay in the Championship if it doesn't progress.
Well the striker saga goes on, time is running out, maybe the only striker we will get, will be a railway one. 😀
As for the recruitment team and since the Gordon Strachan era they don't seem to be interested in scouting Scottish players.
There is over 30 playing in the Premier League and as many more in the Championship.
There is a lot of young talent in Scotland at the moment and Liverpool have snapped up a couple.
About 3 years ago I mentioned on here about a player at Hibernian that would be worth a punt. We definitley missed out on him. Went for 3 million to Aston Villa and plays every game. Likewise for Scotland. Midfielder John Mcginn. Makes P Mcnair look light weight!
So I think I might mention to the Recruitment team that Nicola Sturgeon hasn't got independence yet and is quite safe to go over the border. Just Saying. 😉
“Well the striker saga goes on, time is running out, maybe the only striker we will get, will be a railway one. 😀 “
Excellent, a person prepared to take a principled stand and back all his team mates for the benefit of his peers. Sounds like a perfect signing to me.
Anyone got a link for the York match please.
Come on BORO.
KP
Maybe Spence's wage demands are too ambitious but who knows when it comes to the crunch if all parties will reach a compromise - it's still early in the window so Boro may be prepared to wait at least until the end of the month before giving ground on the fee - I'm sure other clubs will be monitoring the situation to see if the deal stalls and test the water. While Spence may have hid heart set on Spurs he won't want to stay in the Championship if it doesn't progress.
It will be interesting to see if he is taken to Portugal.
utb
Same old story, the Boro aren’t clinical enough in front of goal. The one positive is that the Boro lost at York last season but drew their opening league match at Watford. The negatives are that we’re no nearer to offloading Spence to Spurs than they were a few weeks ago. My take on the situation is that the Boro have overpriced Spence and that Spurs will soon lose interest. If the roles were reversed, no way would the Boro offer anywhere near the asking price of £20M for a Championship player no matter how good a season he’s just purported to have had.
Same old story, the Boro aren’t clinical enough in front of goal. The one positive is that the Boro lost at York last season but drew their opening league match at Watford. The negatives are that we’re no nearer to offloading Spence to Spurs than they were a few weeks ago. My take on the situation is that the Boro have overpriced Spence and that Spurs will soon lose interest. If the roles were reversed, no way would the Boro offer anywhere near the asking price of £20M for a Championship player no matter how good a season he’s just purported to have had.
Am I missing something? Didn’t we score 3 against York? Sounds relatively clinical to me, although letting them score 2 could be less than perfect, I guess.
Same old story, the Boro aren’t clinical enough in front of goal. The one positive is that the Boro lost at York last season but drew their opening league match at Watford. The negatives are that we’re no nearer to offloading Spence to Spurs than they were a few weeks ago. My take on the situation is that the Boro have overpriced Spence and that Spurs will soon lose interest. If the roles were reversed, no way would the Boro offer anywhere near the asking price of £20M for a Championship player no matter how good a season he’s just purported to have had.
Am I missing something? Didn’t we score 3 against York? Sounds relatively clinical to me, although letting them score 2 could be less than perfect, I guess.
Ok, I’ve just watched the highlights and understand now, Ken. You and I could have stuck a few of those chances away.*
*Tbh, we probably couldn’t have!
That's the conundrum of the Championship - clinical strikers tend to play at a higher level unless a club is lucky enough accidentally discover one. At which point they are generally sold for big bucks to clubs with cash desperate for a goal scorer like Boro and often they then lose that clinical streak - as Boro supporters have regularly found out!
It's the difference between finding a striker in a temporary rich vein of form and one who is a genuine goalscorer and doesn't panic at the sight of goal. We need a Bernie Slaven or even a Patrick Bamford and not another Britt Assombalonga or any list of recent arrivals who suddenly appeared to forget where to find the back of the net.
Competition to sign a decent striker in the Championship will be fierce with anything up to a dozen clubs or more able to match or better Boro's budget or ambitions for promotion - though not the facilities as that is something of a Hurworth trump card that may help offset the perceived geographic handicap of being in the North East.
In the end, whoever arrives will be something of a punt - likely a once decent striker who has been short of games due to either injury or lack of opportunity - or possibly another up-and-coming young striker not yet proven at the top level. Whether Boro can discover another foreign striker like Kike Garcia or Stuani, who looked class acts in a team that weren't built for attacking.