Discussion Forum

Thanks Powmill for a very polished and thoughtful opener. Couldn't disagree with your main line of argument, and I appreciated the background on Birmi...

Never in doubt

No confidence in this selection. Leicester are out of form, but they have dangerous wingers, a solid midfield and will start strongly I fear another 3...

Really sad news. Stuart was a great centre-half and the backbone of a great team.From his persona on the pitch I always assumed that he might be a dou...

Thanks for the excellent opener Martin, which was very entertaining. As I said you are not capable of writing anything which is not interesting and in...

@clive-hurren Good post Clive. My feelings precisely. We started off in control and finished up playing like a pub team with no coherence or plan. ...

We've not played badly and if we can get the next goal I would still fancy us. Watford have had two chances and have taken them both. Burgzorg has ...

I don't think I have ever seen a Boro side going into a game with nothing even faintly resembling what we used to call a forward line

@martin-bellamy Thanks for the link, Martin. The extracts attached about Brian Clough also kept me happily entertained for most of the morning, eve...

@andy-r Where are you in the NW, Andy ? I'm in the quiet Wirral backwater of Heswall.

@clive-hurren Whenever anyone pontificates about what a great manager Ferguson was I always want to show them the disgraceful scenes when Andy D'Ur...

@andy-r ... make that a minority of two, Andy. Carrick continually called for the recruitment of "quality over quantity", something that the club...

The Watford game opens up some intriguing comparisons with last season's match, played at around the same time of year. Boro came to it on the back ...

Don't worry Martin. Everything you contribute is always of interest, and it's important that leader writers don't think of their task as homework, but...

Before I forget, all credit to PJ for expressing his doubts about Boro's team selection before last Saturday's match. It takes some courage to commit ...

As Pedro rightly suggests, the quality of your typically incisive and well crafted headliner, Andy, is very well illustrated by the responses it has p...

@presidentjump Thanks PJ. I was somewhat taken aback by your reference to 87. On checking I'd mistyped I'm afraid. I'm a mere 85yo stripling, so it...

Btw Excellent response by everyone to Andy's spot on post. A really high quality debate that is a credit to this blog. Pres Jump has been a really imp...

@forever-dormo We all know that the hand of God can be a useful ally in football, but would you be prepared to shake the hand of Mephistopheles for...

I thought Browne made a big difference in the second half by linking play, always making himself available, pushing forward and playing progressively ...

What is missing for me is something that has been gradually eroded over the past few weeks- Ipswich game excepted- and that is our crisp midfield pass...

I looked again at the live coverage of the Conway penalty claim. After the incident there was no instinctive reaction from the commentary team that ...

Sad news that Mick McNeil has passed away this week, though you wouldn't know it if you read the Gazette. Mick was a great footballer and a thorough...

@philip-of-huddersfield Excellent post, Philip and an interesting take

Absolutely brilliant, Dormo, with another classically executed extended metaphor following Clive's agricultural tour de force opener for the Ipswich g...

Many congratulations, Jarkko, on all of the skill and hard work that went into producing such a detailed and interesting opener. You show how and wh...

Thanks exmil. Good to know that I am vying for top spot in being wrong in my pre-season predictions. Like KP I stand by my predictions because all of ...

Weird team selection with Ayling, outstanding this season, on the bench as we revert to a back four, and places found for serial under-performers, Wh...

@clive-hurren Enjoy your break, Clive

Selwyn and MW Brilliant updates, gentlemen. Thanks for keeping us all informed, right down to flight availability What a fantastic blog this is !