No Dael Fry last night is he injured?
Wilder said that it was precautionary and he would have played if it had been a championship game.
utb
I can’t see any reason why apart from the Premier League why there should be a 4 week break for the World Cup or indeed any international breaks at all. We didn’t need them in the 50s and 60s when the home internationals were played on Saturdays without any postponements even in the First Division. I remember when Manchester United lost 3 or 4 players to England as they were playing Northern Ireland, and a young Bobby Charlton made his debut for United because Tommy Taylor was playing in Belfast for England because I was there as I was stationed at nearby RAF Padgate at the time.
I realise that we now have so many international breaks today, but football clubs nowadays don’t necessarily have a first XI, it’s now a squad system. He All 4 divisions comprised of 22 clubs in those days, but surely that is 2 too many for the EFL clubs. I would much prefer a Premier League of 18 clubs with a Premier League 2 of 20 clubs and 3 EFL divisions of 24 clubs, 100 clubs in total. There are certainly at least 8 Conference clubs who are worthy of EFL status. But then I am of the opinion that there is too much football anyway today.
I have just finished reading ‘The Title’ , the story of the First Division by Scott Murray, and I must say football seemed much more competitive and exciting in those days when all matches kicked off at the same time.
I wouldn’t completely rule out Chuba Akpom, assuming he’s up for the fight.
He was poor previously (though arguably better than Connolly and not far behind Balogun) but that was a very different Boro.
Under Warnock, Akpom played as a lone striker in a side that played a lot of long balls and aimed to put in high crosses. Utterly useless for someone like Akpom and a blatant display of how muddled our recruitment thinking was at the time.
Now he would play with a strike partner as we were told suits him best and - crucially - in a passing team that often slides in low crosses. That should be much more up his street.
As an Arsenal academy graduate, I imagine that the way we play under Wilder is much more intuitive for someone like Akpom.
I’m not suggesting he’s the answer for us. However, I would expect him to be considerably improved on what we’ve previously seen from him if he’s willing.
Andy
In reality, Akpom probably only played because Wilder had so few options - looking at the others on the bench Smith, Bilongo, Finch, Gibson, Coulson, Coburn, Boyd-Munce, Kavanagh - it's basically academy players and young prospects plus on-trial Smith. Boro are at the moment one injury or exit away from having to play one of those unless Wilder gets players in during the next week.
MFC have confirmed that Grant Hall has joined Rotherham on a loan deal of 12 months; I think his contract ends next year so he has probably played his last game for us. 😎
Personally, I thought it was a little petty of Mr Wilder not to take Akpom and Uche to Portugal or to include them in pre-season.
Whilst we are looking to move them on, if they are reasonably game fit they will be a better option to sell than someone who has had no or little pre-season. Remember Connolly and Balogun and how long it took them to get somewhere near the required fitness levels.
It is now looking inevitable that we will lose Tav, may be this week, and if not, he may not be included against WBA for fear of injury and scuppering any transfer if serious discussions are taking place.
CW will have been aware of the reality of the situation and not to have made use of the two outcasts as back up is arguably negligent. Watmore struggles to last 90 minutes and certainly not playing 3 games every 8 days.
As far as I am concerned we have a sure and certain striker who we should be glad to start in every match, and fully expect to become a fixture, and yes I am speaking of josh coburn. Very tall, good in the air, good movement, Great movement in the box, Great shot on him, he should be playing! The man who did not play him last season, played Connolly, boy, did he play Connolly! To say he was a waste of space would be the understatement of the year. To return to josh, watching his winner in the Cuptie, his movement in the box when we made and scored the winner was great, he touched the ball to a team mate, moved, watched the team mate, moved again, onto the ball, knew it had to be a rocket shot or nothing (a Good keeper was covering both sides) delivered said rocket into far corner, and it was not an accident. I think our 'Manager' said he is, and I quote, 'a Young lad'. Where do we get these Managers? Is there a special production line churning them out just for us.
I just don’t see the player that you see in JC, Plato. I’d love him to turn into a regular, clinical striker but there’s something about him that still looks like a boy amongst men to me.*
I definitely wouldn’t pit my footballing knowledge against CW’s and I guess he’s seen more of him than us two (although tbf he’d seen more of Connolly too and he was hopeless and still played).
*if truth be told he reminds me of me at that age - big, tall, fast but lacking footballing drive and aggression.
Martin
I've yet to see any young footballer that reminded me of me at that age but I was definitely lacking drive and determination - not to mention general footballing ability. Though as a goth I wasn't really in the realm of looking at athleticism and those who had a healthy glow as my role models...
Watched the highlights. You can't learn a lot but things I did notice. Both of OM's first-half chances came from Jones getting caught out of position. Towards the end of the game, we also almost concede and that is started by Jones losing the ball in attack (then Lenihan mis-controlling a long ball).
On the Jones theme, he would never score that goal in the championship because the defender would bring him down outside the area. However it is a really good finish and, crucially, Jones stays on his feet. Last season he was guilty of going to ground too easily so it was good to see him challenge.
Zak Steffen actually looks like he knows how to play as a sweeper keeper. That is going to make a huge difference to us.
The second goal is really encouraging because it comes from us breaking a press. Last season we really struggled when we were pressed in the middle of the pitch but this time we managed to play around it, taking something like three attempts before we succeeded. That's massively important if we can keep it up. It was a scruffy goal in some ways which is also a good thing. Both Tav and Akpom were following up looking for a break and Tav got it.
Akpom added a couple of clips to his YouTube highlight reel.
If I were playing this on Football Manager, I would offer Tav an upgrade to Premier league wages and a non-promotion release clause in exchange for a 1 year extension. I think if he stays, he'll score double figures for us this season.
The win, and the performance, were important because this has been a problematic pre-season and I can well believe that we won't have anyone new, except possibly Smith, in place before the WBA game. If Tav goes before then as well it's going to feel that we're looking down more than up. Yesterday's match though gives a little encouragement and may well bring in another 1-2,000 on the opening night. Nothing breed success like success.
Checking out the WBA forums, they expect a tough game and most would settle for a draw. Not a lot of faith in Bruce and a general feeling that Wilder has his number.
Good post, Deleriad. Agree with that.
I’d give Jones some slack though. You take the downside with him for the serious upside and I love that Wilder prioritises attacking potential over cautious solidity. We’ve had too much of the latter with Pulis and Warnock among others.
Rumour !!!?
According to Sky Sports, Boro Are Interested in a Loan Move for Manchester United Attacking Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
OFB
Replacement for somebody perhaps?
While discussing Josh Coburn, it is well to remember he is only 19 yrs old and with still a lot to learn, I personally do not think he is ready yet and needs to go out on loan to div 2, then div 1.
Also in my opinion, Akpom didn’t do to bad when he came on last night and maybe Wilders style of play might suit him, compared to Warnocks.
Come on BORO.
Hannibal Mejbri. 19 year old midfielder. High expectations from Man U staff.
No First team experience to speak of prior to this season games when involved with squad and playing minutes in recent games.
One for the future, but would he be robust enough for the Chaampionship?
Replacement for somebody perhaps?
Back up to Howson. And we need somebody to cover Crooks after Martin Payero left. A lot of holes in the team. We have about 13 or 14 first team players. Rest are just kids we cannot play if not in emergency.
The first eleven look OK except we need strikers. And we need a lot of cover. About 6 to 7 players needed. So we cannot lose Tavernier.
Up the Boro!
While discussing Josh Coburn, it is well to remember he is only 19 yrs old and with still a lot to learn, I personally do not think he is ready yet and needs to go out on loan to div 2, then div 1.
Also in my opinion, Akpom didn’t do to bad when he came on last night and maybe Wilders style of play might suit him, compared to Warnocks.
Come on BORO.
I agree entirely with you comments on Coburn, he still has a lot of development needs and a loan move as you suggest would be ideal. 😎
Hannibal sounds like the kind of young hungry player that could add some bite to the midfield - though will he have the appetite for the Championship...
Reports suggest Muniz will arrive on Teesside for a loan move to Boro once Fulham have signed a replacement striker - probably a player in the Balogun bracket who needs games and a chance to develop. Therefore, would be surprised if Boro will be also involved in signing young Parrot from Spurs and having Coburn as three of our strikers plus Watmore and one other.
The bigger Premiership clubs such as United, Chelsea and Arsenal will have anywhere between 10 and 20 young players showing “lots of promise “ with a clamour by lower division Clubs taking them on loan. But very few of these players are a hit whilst on loan.
They are very good at playing what I call “ tippy tappy football “ passing the ball, keeping possession, avoiding physical contact and having coaches on the touch line telling them what to do, where to run etc.
When they move from youth football to the man’s game they aren’t physically strong enough, don’t get “ stuck in”, lack positional play and rarely shine for 90 minutes. Yes, they’ll show nice touches when playing say half a game but that’s not good enough for teams wanting to get promoted.
So, I’m not keen for Boro to be chasing eg the 19 year old from United who has no experience of man’s foootball. I’d much rather they pursue a mixture of experienced older players who’ve performed well at this or a higher level and promising younger players from a lower division who have a season or two’s experience and are keen to move up to a higher division.
In the meantime, we’ll all be checking the latest rumours hoping Boro can sign enough talented players to improve the squad which is woefully lacking in forwards.
Philip from Huddersfield
I often wonder why it’s wrong to applaud a player when he scores a wonder goal against the Boro. I’ve always cheered when Boro score, not so much nowadays as cheering alone on television seems a little naff to me, but when I used to watch the Boro live if the opposition scored a real stunner I’d applaud with a handclap but never a cheer. Maybe it’s because to view all these great players in real life such as Jackie Milburn, Tom Finney, etc was the only experience I had of seeing them play as apart from England internationals and FA Cup Finals little football was available on television.
It seemed that in the 1950s every club seemed to have a star British player. I remember Ted Sagar the Everton goalkeeper making some fantastic saves against the Boro and I just had to applaud him. Also of course I saw a lot of Manchester United and Everton during my RAF days before setting sail to Singapore. Then later with my father I became a big Wolves fan along with most of the country during their exploits on television in beating Spartak Moscow 4-0 and then the great Hungarian side of Honved 3-2 which included Ferenc Puskas who had destroyed England 6-3 at Wembley and 7-1 in Budapest.
After all when a star opposing batsman scores a century against England everyone claps his heroics as he returns to the pavilion, and if a foreign golfer holes his tee-shot everyone cheers. Why are football fans so biased, although as I say I would clap any fabulous goal scored or save made against the Boro, but cheer ALL Boro goals. I can’t quite get my head around the animosity shown against Sunderland and Newcastle from Boro fans, as after all they are our neighbours as much as Hartlepool and Darlington are.
I never liked playing rugby at school, but at the end of the match each captain would ask for three cheers for the opposition. It’s not only the Boro of course, but football has become so tribal nowadays amongst the fans, and that saddens me. It wasn’t always like that. I recall getting some hassle from Spurs fans after an FA Cup match and was grateful when a pack of Geordies (older than my 16 years old) who were down town for a match against Fulham shooing them off and taking me under their wing as we walked together to Kings Cross station.
From the reports I have read and the brief highlights of the friendly games Boro have played, Ryan Giles looks to be an excellent loan.
He has a great left foot, can see and pick a pass and can cross the ball with precision and in a variety of ways.
On my brief observations so far I would put him alongside Stuart Downing and David (Spike) Armstrong as our best left sided crossers of a ball with Spike as the best of the bunch.
I wonder if there is any chance of us prising him away from Wolves! 😎
Message to the recruitment team. Everton want to send young Nathan Patterson out on loan. He is currently picked in every Scotland team and was sold by Rangers to Everton for 12 million. He is a He is a wonderful attacking left back. I have seen him play many times for Rangers and Scotland. He is exciting to watch. Come on Middlesbrough get on the phone to Frank Lampard.
Message to the recruitment team. Everton want to send young Nathan Patterson out on loan. He is currently picked in every Scotland team and was sold by Rangers to Everton for 12 million. He is a He is a wonderful attacking left back. I have seen him play many times for Rangers and Scotland. He is exciting to watch. Come on Middlesbrough get on the phone to Frank Lampard.
Malcolm.
How do we play him when we already have Bola and Giles? Can he play LCB because that’s what we need? 😎
Hannibal Mejbri. 19 year old midfielder. High expectations from Man U staff.
No First team experience to speak of prior to this season games when involved with squad and playing minutes in recent games.
One for the future, but would he be robust enough for the Chaampionship?
I've seen him come off the bench for Man U last season. Robust he certainly is!
Message to the recruitment team. Everton want to send young Nathan Patterson out on loan. He is currently picked in every Scotland team and was sold by Rangers to Everton for 12 million. He is a He is a wonderful attacking left back. I have seen him play many times for Rangers and Scotland. He is exciting to watch. Come on Middlesbrough get on the phone to Frank Lampard.
He's right back, Malcolm. I'd be surprised if he was loaned out as I believe Seamus Coleman is injured (and ageing) and Patterson was seen as his successor and likely to start the season for Everton I read.
Andy, I did notice his previous yellows and a red card. 🤣
Message to the recruitment team. Everton want to send young Nathan Patterson out on loan. He is currently picked in every Scotland team and was sold by Rangers to Everton for 12 million. He is a He is a wonderful attacking left back. I have seen him play many times for Rangers and Scotland. He is exciting to watch. Come on Middlesbrough get on the phone to Frank Lampard.
He's right back, Malcolm. I'd be surprised if he was loaned out as I believe Seamus Coleman is injured (and ageing) and Patterson was seen as his successor and likely to start the season for Everton I read.
Thanks Andy. He can play left back as well as centre midfield.
Patterson is almost more effective when faced up by two defenders. He is clever at using the uncertainty in these moments to his advantage, exploiting the gap between defenders as an exit route. He will move as if to continue steadily down the outside, then shift direction quickly to cut inside, through the gap, and accelerate away.
Off-the-ball work is arguably just as important as dribbling skill for modern full-backs. Andrew Robertson – another Scotland international – is one example of a full-back who attacks space brilliantly. Patterson is in a similar mould.
His movement, especially when he chooses to attack the channel between centre-back and full-back, can be effective in dragging defenders out and creating more space for team-mates centrally. It can also get him into good positions of his own, to cross low and hard, cut back or finish.
It’s a concern that Middlesbrough FC are having difficulty in getting the two or three strikers needed before the season starts as it always needs a period of bedding-in time to get new players acclimatised to how Chris Wilder and his coaches want them to play. Let’s hope that they have more success than Yorkshire CCC have had this year on finding strikers, by that I mean fast bowling wicket takers. Already down to the bare bones with injuries to last year’s star bowlers Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher plus Middlesbrough born Dom Leech, the Tykes have disappointed with Darren Gough’s appointments this year.
The latest one Shannon Gabriel who came with a great reputation having won 83 caps for the West Indies and taken 197 wickets hasn’t been able to get his rhythm right. He has bowled almost 46 overs for the Tykes but conceded 222 runs and taken only 5 wickets, what’s more he has bowled a total of 28 no-balls also. He’s not the only failure either with Haris Rauf’s 15 wickets going for 473 runs. The all rounder Shahdab Khan has leaked 9 runs per over and even his batting has fallen short of expectations with only 190 runs scored in 9 innings with a highest score of 48, whilst the Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has only scored 89 runs in 4 innings.
To think that in the past Yorkshire have had the services of Sachin Tendulkar, Darren Lehmann, Jason Gillespie and Kane Williamson to call upon, this season has been a huge disappointment for the Tykes with only one County Championship win this year.
I was expecting some silverware from Yorkshire this year but poor recruitment has potentially placed the Tykes in a relegation battle this season, as they still have to play the top 4 this year and were lucky that the weather helped them to a draw in their last match at Northampton.
As for the Boro let’s hope that they can make a fast start as concerns over the Tavernier situation and still no goalscoring striker doesn’t fill me with much confidence.
Malcolm,
Yes, I read that he's very highly thought of at Everton and they obviously paid a big fee for a young player untested at Premier League level - pretty much the same as Spurs have paid for Spence.
What is it with Scottish fullbacks at the moment? Top class ones everywhere!