Can Slim Squad Blunt The Blades?
WOULD the bubbling Boro side that battered mighty Dumbarton 5-0 be good enough to make a mark in the Championship? We must hope so - because it could well be the team that kick offs off the new campaign against Sheffield United.
The side that Southgate started the game against the Scottish second division outfit with was minus Tuncay, Mido and Alves as the three big name stars were back at Hurworth sat strapped into the escape pod. Tuncay didn't travel as he reportedly had a back tweak while Alves was said to have an Achilles niggle and Mido was generously said to be ten days behind the rest on fitness.
But more ominously - or honestly - the boss revealed on the record for the first time that the trio wanted out and that more importantly, that if they were not "proud to wear the shirt" then he didn't really want them involved.
Tuncay is keen for an exit but while there is some interest it has not yet been made concrete with a bid while the flop forwards - who cost a painful ã18.7m between them - both went AWOL at the start of pre-season training in what was seen by many as an opening gambit in their own negotiations for a move.
Asked if that could be a distraction Southgate said:
"If we allow it to, it will but we said at the start of pre-season we have to accept we have players at the club who don't necessarily want to be here and how we deal with that is important. The focus of the group who do want to be here, and are up for the challenge we've got, has to be spot on."The first two-and-a-half weeks of pre-season have gone exactly as we would have hoped. We've managed to steer clear of serious injuries and we're working with a group of players - the 22 who are here at the moment - who are embracing everything we are trying to do.
"We want players who are proud to wear the shirt and our spirit and character this season is going to be as important as our ability".
That will ruffle the feathers of those who believe that Tuncay encapsulates pride and spirit and prefer to concentrate on his wholehearted tendency to charge 60 yards chasing a lost cause rather than the crucial three months he went missing.
It also suggests that Southgate will continue his build up without the wantaway trio and by extension is ready to kick-off without them. They did not feature at Macclesfield and did not travel to Scotland so missed Dumbarton and will also miss Saturday's stop off at Carlisle as the charabanc heads back while the planned fourth and final friendly at Darlington has been scrapped as the injury ravaged Quakers can't get a team out.
If Boro can't find a replacement at short notice that would leave the three woefully short of match fitness come the big kick-off, not to mention estranged from the rest of the squad who have done pre-season together, have the right levels of focus, have embraced what the boss is trying to do and are 'up for the challenge'.
Their isolated wait by the out door causes another problem. It seems that until they leave and free up some space on the wage bill and/or generate some transfer funds Boro can't bring in the two or three key, influential first team players that are clearly needed to under-pin a promotion charge. And it could be some wait.
With luck there could be swift resolution but don't count on it. The teams who have sniffed around the trio know that Boro are desperate to sell and will be happy to wait to see if anxiety and proximity to the deadline will force the prices down. That could mean a tense last few days of transfer window nail-biting brinkmanship.
But it could also mean Boro playing their first five league games under that shadow of uncertainty and, in a cut your nose off to spite your face scenario, without the three. And without reinforcements.
So Boro's opening day line-up could be very close to that fielded at Dumbarton:
Brad Jones in goal; Justin Hoyte and Jonathan Grounds as full-backs flanking Robert Huth and Matthew Bates; a midfield with Mark Yeates on the left wing and Gary O'Neil on the right with Didier Digard and Julio Arca in the engine room; and Marvin Emnes and Jeremie Aliadiere up front.
Presumably a fully-fit David Wheater, a sub in Scotland, would come into the centre of defence and there could yet be some tweaking - say Adam Johnson on the left and Yeates on the right with O'Neil moving into the middle in place of Arca to add some pace - but the basic template could well already be set.
Arguably the defence is sound. Jones scares some people - I'll put my hand up and say I watch balls into the Boro box through my fingers - but there will not be many better in that league while Huth is a German international and Wheater has dented the England squad. Then in reserve there are bates, Rhys Williams and Tony McMahon who both have had rave reviews after loan spells in the Championship and Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor to return.
Similarly that first choice midfield should be more than a match for anything else in the division so long as they all stay fit, especially if you throw Bates and Josh Walker into the mix - although it is still one tough-tackling cynical old warhorse with good engines and a mean streak short and also a probably a silky schemer to add the creativity to unlock organised defences.
If there is an obvious flaw it is up front. You would wonder if that team has many goals in it. Emnes looked lively at times but failed to score in his Premiership cameos, although he did net against Championship leaders Wolves in the FA Cup last year, while Aliadiere's three goals in 32 games last term (and just 10 in the league in his entire career) does not inspire confidence.
Cynics might say that even if Southgate relented and threw Alves and Mido into the mix the team would still be short on firepower as one is a lightweight missed sitter machine and would not get many goals in a far more physical league and the other may be stronger but would not get many games in before the niggles began.
So that squad may be able to busk it in the first few games - providing they are indeed focused, motivated and up for the challenge - but as it stands Boro remain blunt up front and very short on numbers, experience and options.
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I'm going to be an optimist and hope that this season we'll get a chance to blood some of our younger fringe players like Porrit, Franks, Grounds, Walker, Williams etc. I think the model for our future success is a team based on a solid Teeside backbone because we clearly cannot rely on foreigners when the going gets tough.
AV:
I am saddened that Gibson has apparently not learned the lesson of relegation - that a policy of "you must sell before you can buy" is a recipe for a net loss of money and failure for the club.
In January, that policy caused Boro to miss out on transfer opportunities that might have saved the club from relegation, and so would have cost Gibson less money than he ended up losing by being relegated.
The exact same thing will occur if Boro use the same short sighted policy and thereby lose out on promotion, costing Gibson more money.
It does not take a rocket scientist to calculate that it will be no problem to sell Tuncay by the end of August. It is obvious that the top leagues have a shortage of players of his calibre. So, Gibbo just give Southgate the dosh now when a new striker will be able to train with the team, instead of paying more on August 31st after having already lost matches...
AV
You will be accused of being a chicken runner and super negative by looking at facts and linking them together into a coherent comment.
The striking situation was my concern after the Macclesfield game. Emails between John Powls and myself have discussed the problem.
It will be greater if players dont leave until the end of the window and even worse if they are still with us.
We would be hampered if we couldn't strengthen the squad before the window closes but like last season we may get points on the board before people sussed us out. It is after those early games lack of strengthening may bite.
The Hulse rumours resurfaced in Derby the other day, who knows who will be coming to the club in the near future. We may have to be delighted if Webber came.
I saw some words about us having a young, hungry, attacking squad. I remember reading similar words somewhere before.
Luckily the rest of the world wont have noticed that we are desperate to sell.
When you put it like that AV....
It makes you wonder whether Gibson has done similar number crunching. It would appear that Gareth has taken the, I think correct, approach of pushing those who aren't interested to the fringes. However, as you say, that leaves us with two strikers who scored less than 6 goals between them last season - which is shocking.
I am probably not alone in hoping that although money is tight - Gibson will at least fund one new striker before the first game. Rob Hulse is starting to look more and more needed the closer we get. Failing that, Gareth needs to ring round every Premierleague club and ask them who they've got available for loan - even if only until Janaury or for three months, it would cover us until we can shift our big wage earners.
I'm feeling slightly more nervous now.
Mido is an obvious problem - he wants and must be shifted away. Not by free transfer - let him rot in the reserves or train with juniors. Is two million too much to ask for?
I wouldn't mind having Tuncay until January. We need to get nearly ã10m for him. As World Cup is coming he needs to play at higher level but we shouldn't let him go cheaply. So perhaps he needs to wait January to prevent going too cheaply. Of course the risk is a injury to him! Or a year's loan to PL?
Alves is a difficult question. After investing over ã12m but scoring so few in the PL he will be difficult to shift. So this is a real dilemma - don't envy GS/SG in here. Perhaps a loan to PL or Portugal here, too?
I totally agree with AV here - the basic squad OK but we need to solve the front line. Also an experienced middfielder and a creater there could be added, too.
Some great and funny posts yesterday in the 'Boro Must Make Downing Dividend Pay'. Hope a nice holiday to Nigel!
Weren't we being linked with Lita earlier in the week? He for me would be a good signing, he is of course free, relatively proven at this level and pretty hungry to prove himself again after being frozen out at Reading before being released. Surely with the Downing money we can afford at least one free transfer?
For sure the team that played against Dumbarton plus Wheater and Taylor are good enough for the Championship - afterall, with the exception of Yeates and Coyne, they were all either bought or developed to play in the Premier League.
In fact most of these players played very well for more than five games in the PL last season. The issue seems to be whether Southgate and Co can motivate and organise them to win games - which so far in preseason seems to be the case.
As for the Fun Boy Three - someone will pick up Tuncay but his price seems to fall by the week and now ã5m seems to be widely quoted . As for Alves, I can't see anyone offering a fee that is judged acceptable to Boro (ã3m is the highest to date!) - I guess Mido will either be given a free or loaned to some desperate outfit.
Though it sounds like Southgate's latest attempts at spin may have knocked a few million off their pricetags - unless he already has some takers behind the scenes.
On the striker front it seems crazy given the Downing cash that we're not getting one in asap - especially as we know at least two of the ones we have are extremely unlikey to play for Boro again.
I would be happy to see Tuncay, Alves and Mido leave. Tuncay should generate some cash but are Boro prepared to lose most of the ã12.7m they spent on Alves? I'm sure they would be happy to sell Mido at a cut price - any moeny for him would be better than him staying.
I think that the midfield needs an athletic creative player. Arca is poor and will never convince me, even if he eventually passes/moves forwards. Aliadiere is also poor and will not score goals in the conference let a lone the championship. It leaves us with one striker in Emnes but he isn't an 'out and out' striker.
To mount a serious challenge we need at least 2 strikers and a midfielder - all of them need to be quality and not of the webber/hulse type.
I have bad feeling we will go into the first game of the season as you have stated AV with the team that played against Dumbarton.
There is also a question mark over the goalkeeping as Coyne is accomplished I doubt he will be given the nod ahead of Jones. We will fail this season if players like Jones, Arca and Aliadiere are chosen to play in the first team.
If it were simple I would bite somebodies hand off for Alves and free the wages for ã3m but we probably still owe the seller money.
Mido, well if he plays in a Boro shirt again i would think twice about watching again. He cost ã6m. If we get ã2.5m jump at it and save the wages again and most importantly get him away from the other players as quickly as possible. The Turk I am sure will leave before the season starts but for less than ã6mil.
The worry is Mido in the current situation is catching up on his fitness and I would assume when ready will be training with the squad that should not be allowed to happen. That will probably be too late for any of our main targets.
Hope i am wrong but very much doubt it.
Can't see it with that lighhtweight attack against a route one team of bruisers. Still, there's only one Paddy Kenny.
An excellent snapshot of where the Boro team are at present AV.
What it doesn't do is look at the other side of the coin i.e. Sheff. Utd are also in a state of flux selling a number of key players and even if they bring in Chad Evans with others, two weeks is not long enough to settle.
So even with a goal shy attack Boro should put in a good performance for the 15,000 or so who turn up. The worry is the other four matches before the window shuts.
That team is more than a match for anyone in the division - which is why we have to be positive.
Like you say, the attack is clearly the weak point, Aliadere and Emnes could hit it off in the Championship, but there is no guarantee. Hopefully, some or all of the three will leave and we can bring in reinforcements - or some or all of the three will decide that maybe they do want to be involved after all.
Lets not cut our noses off to spite our faces here - any of them would be a good addition to a Championship squad (though to be perfectly honest I wouldn't be very comfortable seeing Mido in a Boro shirt again after what has gone on).
Is Gary O'Neil likely to stay now? That would be a massive bonus - if he stays fit, he could score 10+ goals from central midfield in the championship.
We pay the price for a slim squad when the clocks go back, not in the first match. We looked great in the last pre-season and should have been top six without the daft errors, all with the same lightweight squad.
But players get knackered and without Boat and Catt we couldn't grind out the away draws in the winter that would have kept us up.
The Championship is even harder as teams work out how to stop you playing, it's four mini-seasons in one - if you don't have options you get left in a rut. That's when you need more striking options - or for Paul Kerr to start banging them in from midfield!
Can't see a PK in this team...
If Boro can keep their best 11 fit then they are capable of challenging for promotion. However, what are the chances of Boro doing this?
They tried it in the PL with a small squad and we all know the result of that.
We were told that we going to have competitive, if not better transfer funds and wages than most Championship teams. Unfortunately this looks like another ploy to sell season tickets that seems to have failed.
The current squad is not big enough to last the season and new players need to be brought in ASAP
C'Mon Boro!
Alves's attitude is particularly odd. Does he have delusions of grandeur or has he lost so much confidence he just wants to be away?
The Championship is still a bigger league than one he is likely to end up in and he has only committed one year to the club. I am aghast. We knew what Mido was like (by no means excusing his actions) and rightly or wrongly I find it hard to knock Tuncay - he was one of the few blessings last year, albeit with inconsistency.
However, Alves does not have the market value he must think he has and it will be devalued further if he begins a Mido-esque hopscotch across Europe.
I don't want to bang on about the modern player but the actions of these type of players is leaving a increasingly sour taste in the mouth - this must be now be a watershed in Boro transfer history: no longer will the fans uncritically accept supposedly superstar foreign players. I do think the majority have had enough now and it does feel, especially in this instance, that people are not just looking out for their own careers (most people understand that) but really taking liberties with the club.
Or is it just bad man-management? Sorry to do an about turn but is it possible to have sympathy with such players if they feel the structure and direction of the club is flawed (as many have posted on here)??
Perhaps it is a bit of both...
Spot on AV
The team has scored a few in the friendlies, but against weak opposition. The squad still looks to have weaknesses up front. Perhaps all we can pray for is that the Emnes "project" is ready for implementation and is going to take everyone by surprise and be the miricle we have been looking for!!!!
Its all so depressing. To not use Alves etc is just plain stupid. Emnes and Aliadiere is not a strike force to get us promoted we all know that. Ali would do well to get five goals and we'd lack any presence up there on top.
Alves is worth a gamble on given we'll lose a fortune on him if we sell him, Mido would be good if first choice but clearly his and Southgate relationship is beyond repair. All we are achieving by this mismanagement is as you say lowering their sale prices.
Southgate is getting worse and worse and I'm utterly fed up of listening to his drivel. He's fast becoming as much a joke figure as Robson was in his last days.
A sound analysis, based upon what we know of the state of the squad at the moment. Without going into the realms of speculation too much it appears that Southgate has cut Mido and Alves adrift, would secretly aspire to Tuncay staying (wouldn't we all).
We simply cannot go forward as a club with Aliadiere leading the attack, in fact, he personfies the limpness, the timidity of our attacking style. This league does not offer a sophisticated level of football, hence, the urgent need of a battering -ram style centre forward.
Hulse might be an option but if you think of ex player Geoff Horsfield and his ilk, that would be nearer the mark. Unless we combine strength with skill, aggression and some finesse,add in experience then those are the hallmarks we need.
We need from the club now a signing which signifies that statement of intent. Muddling along as a coaching strategy is not a viable option for Southgate
I sincerely hope that is not the team Southgate is going to put out. Aliadiere has a heart the size of a pea! Brad Jones couldn't catch a cold. Positionally Grounds is all over the place. Arca hasn't had a good game in a year. Gary O Neil wants out and showed it in just about every perfrormance or lack of it he put in last year.
Call me overly negative but what happened to having a stronger squad at the start of this season compared to the end of last season? All spin to try and improve season ticket sales. Appalling.
And to make it worse they then alienate the hard core season ticket holding fans even more by massively reducing ticket prices for those who haven't bought a season ticket. I am so disillusioned at the moment!!
Alves owes us and his goals [ this division should be more suited to his calibre ] could get us back up.
If the players are genuinly injured then thats fine , ooh me back ! but otherwise they should get involved. I would love to see Tuncay stay.
Does the "proud" statement mean that GON is back on board? I certainly hope so.
Agree with your comments about midfield and up front.The re-emergence of Arca is particularly worrying, and Aliadiere won't last 5 mins against Sheff Utd. A centre forward is an absolute priority.
So where has the tv money and the parachute money gone to? We need some one like Beckford who will score goals in this league... and don't play JONES. Play the old man in goal. Give Gate his P45 and get a new boss in.
Can't wait
Well it looks that the Chairman's comments about having a "war chest" available to strengthen the squad this summer & not needing to sell players first, was a politician's promise (to put it politely).
Even after the sale of our most valuable asset, it appears that the club are still relying on their overdraft facility. If the manager "expects" at least two of his forwards to depart in the next month, surely it would be prudent to bring in at least one replacement ASAP.
While AV believes clubs currently interested in our wantaway forwards might be waiting, in the hope any asking price drops, there might be a chink of light. While the Boro fans are screaming about a lack of transfer activity, do we think it will be any different at other clubs?
Hopefully, the pressure will be increased on the boards of these clubs, not just by the fans, but also their managers keen to integrate new additions into their squad sooner rather than later. Let's face it, if any club can get a proven PL performer like Tuncay, currently captain of his country, for less than half the price of a mediocre player like Darren Bent, surely that is a good deal.
I would have imagined there would be a lot of interest in Alves from the Dutch League. If he was available for ã7 or ã8m pounds, you would have thought managers over there would be lining up to bring back a player they know to be prolific in that particular arena.
Mido on the other hand will be a tricky sale to say the least. Like trying to sell on an old banger with a rusty body & blown head gasket. Does anyone really need that hassle, let alone want to pay for the "privilege" ?
I do however have a suggestion that the club might like to take up. How about announcing that Mido will definitely be appearing at some point during the Sheff Utd game. I would imagine the gate would be swelled considerably by fans wishing to turn up just to let him know their feelings!
Of course, should they be particularly worried about income from the fans, they could also try a radical policy of signing a couple of top notch players, who might actually excite the people of Teesside & in turn lead to an increase in season ticket sales. A crazy notion I know, but it just might work !!
One thing that has been concerning me, is the contract situation with Adam Johnson. I saw an interview (with the count I believe) a while ago, where it was stated that negotiations were continuing. He did not seem particularly concerned & stated that the main sticking point was that the player wanted regular first team action. With the departure of Downing, that barrier has been removed & it can be assumed that he is now first choice on the left.
I expected a new contract to be signed soon after the confirmation of Downings Aston Villa deal. Can you shed any light on that one for us AV ?
**AV writes: Johnno is just entering the last year of his deal and so the maths changes. If he won't sign a deal the club will be tempted to cash in now rather than let him go for a pittance next summer while the player will be thinking that a move will bring a big signing on fee elsewhere.
"BoroPhil said:
That team is more than a match for anyone in the division - which is why we have to be positive."
But sadly MFC's management isn't. That's why people are realistic. As has been posted many times, Southgate has developed an uncanny knack of turning silk purses into sows ears. Why should next season be any different?
AV wrote:
Tuncay is keen for an exit .......
Asked if that could be a distraction Southgate said:
"If we allow it to, it will but we said at the start of pre-season we have to accept we have players at the club who don't necessarily want to be here and how we deal with that is important. The focus of the group who do want to be here, and are up for the challenge we've got, has to be spot on.
"The first two-and-a-half weeks of pre-season have gone exactly as we would have hoped. We've managed to steer clear of serious injuries and we're working with a group of players - the 22 who are here at the moment - who are embracing everything we are trying to do.
"We want players who are proud to wear the shirt and our spirit and character this season is going to be as important as our ability".
Given our shortage of strikers and the fact that that we are still paying their wages, we should play anyone who can help us win football matches. The fact Tuncay and Alves are currently out of the picture seems to be an admission by Southgate that they should be added to list of players he is/was unable to motivate or manage.
After Mido, Alves and Tuncay leave I am expecting GS to say that he has a tight group of players and has no reason to add to the squad.
I think this is more likely to happen if we do well in August.
I really hope we do start the season well, but fear GS will think that he has got a strong enough squad for the sseason when he clearly has not.
C'Mon Boro
BoroPhil
I know you are a glass half full person but even you are 'stretching' credulity at the thought of Mido in a Boro shirt. It could work out if Adidas have more generous sizing than Errea.
On to the squad, I think we are all agreed that there are good players in there who can play the ball around. Clean sheets and goals scored never go amiss.
Definitely question marks over goalscoring and in midfield.
We should be wary of writing off the Championship, there are several good clubs in the league and several bruisers to boot. They will be far stronger than Macclesfield and Dumbarton. Cardiff drew against Celtic for example.
One concern is we may end up losing players from our current favoured 22. Spurs, Villa are looking for centre backs, O'Neill may end up going back to the south, someone may offer good money for Jinky. Even worse we could end up with the wrong players staying and no one coming in.
When Lita cropped up again I asked John Powls about him and the view was that he is another troubled soul. If super patient Coppell cast him adrift that is a comment in itself.
A couple of weeks to go and I hope there is plenty going on behind the scenes, someone with presence up front would give an impetus to the squad and fans.
Went to Macclesfield and although we looked a bit one-paced at times, some of the young lads looked bright and might be very useful next year. Walker works hard and is vocal, but maybe needs a bit more about his passing. Franks gets himself into good positions and took his goal well.
Aliadiere, however, has got to go. He won't score any goals or win any friends by collapsing in a heap every time a defender comes near him. Emnes looks like our best source of goals at the minute but he'll need a foil. Someone to keep the cloggers busy or he'll get booted all over the park.
Arca's past it, Digard looks injury prone and Bates is distinctly average, so central midfield needs addressing quickly.
80,000 Geordies meet in Sid James Park for a "Geordies Are Not Stupid"
Convention. The Chairman says, "We are all here today to prove to the world that Geordies are not stupid. Can I have a volunteer?" A Geordie works his way through the crowd and steps up to the stage.
The Chairman asks him, "What is 15 plus 15?" After 15 or 20 seconds he says, "Eighteen!" Obviously everyone is a little disappointed. Then 80,000 Geordies start cheering, "Give him another chance! Give him another chance!"
The Chairman says, "Well since we've gone to the trouble of getting 80,000
of you in one place and we have the world-wide press and global broadcast
media here, gee, uh, I guess we can give him another chance."
So he asks, "What is 5 plus 5?" After nearly 30 seconds he eventually says, "Ninety?" The Chairman is quite perplexed, looks down and just lets out a dejected sigh -- everyone is disheartened - the Geordie starts crying and the 80,000 men begin to yell and wave their hands shouting, "GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE! GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE!"
The Chairman, unsure whether or not he is doing more harm than damage,
eventually says, "Ok! Ok! Just one more chance-- What is 2 plus 2?" The man closes his eyes, and after a whole minute eventually says, "Four?"
Throughout the stadium pandemonium breaks out as all 80,000 Geordies jump
to their feet, wave their arms, stomp their feet and scream...
"GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE! GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE!"
**AV writes: The old ones are the best....
Nailed on transfer rumour - Gary Neville. Sent home injured from ManU tour. Certainty.
As we await the away shirt, news from Toon that the launch of their custard cream, away shirt resulted in a queue of three! I wonder if ours is a nifty number in black and white stripes?
"Ian Gill said:
BoroPhil
I know you are a glass half full person but even you are 'stretching' credulity at the thought of Mido in a Boro shirt."
Now Ian, for once I find myself disagreeing with you. I strongly believe that Southgate should announce that, whatever state he is in, Mido WILL play at some point during the Shef. Utd game. As an Aunt Sally it would be a terrific draw (5000 on the gate??) and might even force Mido's hand. Certainly would be fun.
John Bowman,
Gareth has had two good seasons and one abysmal one. Clean slate as far as I'm concerned, so no reason why we can't do well. If we start badly then Gibson has already made it clear that won't be acceptable and I think we all know the reaction of the fans to a bad start would make it impossible for him to stay.
I hope Jinky isnt out the exit door too after not being able to get him to sign and then selling him - the purchase of Yates makes more sense now.
We need to get a decent big lad up front now! too much has been left to chance over he last few summer transfer windows with some late departures which have forced our hand a bit.
It was hard to get players to come to Boro unless you pay loads and now we are not even in the Prem. Its gonna be an interesting season but we just dont have the funds to go for it anymore and we all have to get used to it. Surely though there must be a bustling forward out there who can come and do a job for us. We need him now really to get him bedded in.
Paul , I dont agree with you about Gary O'Neil , I think it would be a huge mistake to sell him. He will score goals to get us back up.
The way people say the championship is too physical makes it sounds that Alves will find it harder against championship defences than Premier league defences which is just an incorrect statement. If it was the case then every central defender in the championship last year would have been signed up by every Premier league team.
Just watch the old 97/98 season to see how easy it is to find space and unlock the inferior defences. All it took was a flick from Beck or Merson and we had one on ones regularly.
Chris Morgan or Rio Ferdinand, somehow I think Alves will get more out of Morgan even if he is thrown to the ground a few times that will be made up with Morgan forgetting to mark him and Alves pounces (or something to that extent).
I hope Alves stays, firstly it will give Southgate himself a chance to prove that he didnt just waste ã12m on a bad player and also because i think he has a good player in him somewhere that could absolutely kill some of these teams. He will be the next Van Hoojidonk, average in premier league but scoring goals for fun in the old money div 1
Keep the three of 'em! Sanli, Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid and Alves, who finished our season as our first choice striker, but with a haul of just four league goals and we were relegated to the Championship.
I say - "...make 'em play make' make 'em pay - with guts and determination to get us out of the mess THEY have helped put us in!" - "Who the hell do they think they are?" - DON'T SELL - DO NOT LET THESE GUYS OFF THE HOOK TO EASILY!
Stewey D - bless 'im 'e did try!
Yes Gibbo, Lamby and GS are to balme for signing these Gravy Train passengers in the first place but Alan Smith ain't the answer!
Alan Smith and GS?
I keep harping back to David O'Leary - am I missing something?
John Bowman
The clue was in the 'stretching' and the next sentance discussing adidas sizing, he probably wont fit in a shirt.
You are right about him being an attraction, a bit like the Sphinx without travelling to Cairo.
Hi borophil,
I've just read your last posting and would be interested to understand the basis on which you believe Southgate had 'two good seasons'.
From my perspective he flirted with relegation on both occasions, presided over the abomination that was Cardiff and laid the foundations for the team and staff which eventually got us relegated.
Sadly I read similar messages coming out of MFC to those that I read this time last year. However I suppose one could reasonably expect that that squad would be good enough to do well in the Championship.
But I somehow feel that this will not be the case. The team has no obvious hardness about it, particularly up front and in the middle, where some of the established sides in the Championship, Sheffield Utd being one, are well set in these departments to give Boro a good old fashioned doing.
So in answer to your question AV, no I do not think we have enough to blunt The Blades or anyone else quite frankly. I would love to be proved wrong, and see Boro play their way out of this league playing great attacking football, scoring goals and conceding few, but I just cannot see it.
In fact I fancy us to lose on the opening day playing pretty football, dominating possession, not finding the net, and leaking a daft goal from a set piece.
AV
Just re read your article. Has Pogotetz been declared a non person or ignored because of his injury?
Apart from the three Amigos any thoughts on other potential leavers?
**AV writes: Blimey. Yes, you're right. I've forgotten das Pogmeister.
Lets face it, Gibson should have sold the club two years ago. If he has no money, what use is he? I look at Sunderland and Man City with ther mega rich owners with envy. It is Gibson's fault the club are in this mess.
We should have been a well established PL club now. All Southgate is doing is carrying out Gibson's instructions. A good manager would not have tolerated the selling good players policy.
"...Lets face it, Gibson should have sold the club two years ago. If he has no money, what use is he?..."
If ever a statement summed up the sad way football is headed, then this is it.
AV,
why do we consider this a slim squad? We have pretty much 2 players for every position and as it stands a very strong squad. Granted we will lose some of those players and how we replace them will be key to our success.
But I don't think we have a slim squad. We could use a few more seasoned pros which is fine. But slim? Try looking at Villa who, with our own Stewie Downing, have just 20 outfield players including young players who hardly feature for them. Everton don't have as large a squad as us. Even the Chelsea first team squad is not as big as ours.
Now granted some of the players we have making up that squad were not good enough to cut it in the Premier League, but others who were fringe players for us last season have experience in the Championship and came back with solid reviews.
If you take a look at all of the players available to us and hope that anyone who leaves is replaced, or stays and plays, then we have a squad that will challenge.
I'd like to see a few more additions, central midfield and up front. But it sounds to me that you're giving up on our lads long before the season starts.
And all this stuff about the Championship and tough defenders and what have you... rubbish. Chris Morgan might try to rough up our players but most of the defenders are nowhere near the quality of the Premier League and the likes of Alves will find space and score more goals than last season.
See if they can catch Emnes who I think will be like a new signing for us this season.
Let's get some decent discussions going instead of 'Boro are rubbish' comments.
**AV writes: We have about a lot of players in the squad but a lot of them - Emnes, Grounds, Williams, Walker - have started less than a dozen first team games and another bunch have played less than 50. We are thin because right now we would struggle to put out a team that is balanced and experienced in every department.
This time last season we thought our team was a match for anyone outside the top 4, now we hear the same message that we are equal to anyone in the championship.
I just hope we can compete, and if not I pray that Gibson finally deals with our management problems by getting rid of Southgate and Lamb.
John,
Gareth did what he was asked for those first two seasons, reduced the wage bill, stabilised our position and we were never seriously threatened by relegation. The third season was where it was all supposed to come together, and unfortunately it didn't. Gareth obviously has to take responsibility for that.
Now he has a chance to rectify it, and if he doesn't, he'll be gone and deservedly so.
A bid for Mido is accepted! This is confirmed by GS on MFC home page. Any info from which club, AV?
Up the Boro!
**AV writes: I haven't a clue but I hope it is Sunderland.
A quick snippet of info, Rob Hulse had a minor groin opp on Friday and is doubtful for the start of the season.
We havent got a big enough squad for 38 games never mind 50 plus including cups.
I agree with Eddie Fletcher, keep Alves , Tuncay and Mido and make em play!
I know pre season games are mostly about fitness and working on tactics, but I do think it worthy in this instance to mention the Williams run and goal against Carlisle.
Lets hope GS gives him a game when the serious stuff starts,particularly because by all accounts he proved himself in this league last season at Burnley.
I note that the club have now received an acceptable offer for Mido..thank goodness.
ps Nice feeling to say something a bit positive for a change. Hope thats not it for the season!
News today that Arsenal may be interested in moving for Lee Cattermole with a ã10 million pound bid. The Boro will therefore surely be in for a windfall from the sell-on clause so professionally inserted into the contract by Lamby when he was sold to Wigan - We hope!!!
I am convinced that the reason Alves didnâÂÂt make it in the PL is that it proved too physical for him. Many times his body language spoke volumes, looking like he was hating the experience and wishing he was back in cushy Holland.
So, having been told that the Championship is MORE physical than the PL he obviously doesnâÂÂt want to know. That said, if he is still at the club come August 7th I would play him given the choice.
Nick (Hill), the football in the Championship is more physical in it's approach and therefore it could be said to be more difficult to play in, but ultimately it is of inferior quality, therefore the defenders are not necessarily good enough for the PL.
Having watched the Rhys Williams classic today against Carlisle I hope GS can find a regular slot for this lad, he is going to be top notch. Maybe as a striker!
I watched Williams play a couple of games early last season and he does look the real business.
I am by nature an optimistic type but to be quite honest I havenâÂÂt got a clue what may happen next season. The expectations should be high as we have a squad with plenty of PL and Championship experience though this is Boro we are talking about and therefore we could either lose all first four games or win them all.
The first game is key; win that, get the confidence sky high and kick start a good run. On the other handâÂÅ .
Yeah, because of course sell-on clauses are inserted into every transfer deal.
It really is pathetic how people will go to any length to try and find a stick to beat the club with.
On a lighter note, we had a great day at Marske United on Sunday as Marske (late stand-ins for the Emmerdale superstars who decided to pull out 2hrs before kickoff) beat Bernie's Boro oldies 7-2, all in aid of motor neurone disease.
My daughter had the pleasure of meeting Curtis Fleming (she ran away crying) and almost being eaten by Ali Brownlee's huge dog. By the way - if you are totally disillusioned with Boro, you can get a Marske season ticket for a 'credit-crunch busting' ã78.
Hopefully we can now see some players coming in as more interest is being shown in Mido, Tuncay and Alves.
C'Mon Boro!
I'm starting to feel a bit more relaxed about the new season in the realisation that having a nicely gelled team with a good spirit is far more important than hanging on to so called want-away stars.
Just look what happened to Newcastle at the weekend - thrashed 6-1 by League 1 Orient after an embargo on selling players until the club is sold has probably left them with a first choice team that can't wait to leave.
Defensively, Despite Jones in goal, we should be the best in the league - the midfield is probably in need of a few new faces but Jinky, Digard, Bates and Yeates should be good enough to cause most teams problems.
However the attack looks weak and uncertain - Will Abject Alves object to staying or will he try to prove he's not Boro's worst buy ever? Will Project Emnes manage to come good? Will Blind Ali find the net or sneak out whilst nobody is looking?
I think we need to get a couple of proven strikers if we are to avoid becoming bridesmaids - perhaps two from the following: someone old, someone new, someone borrowed, someone blue (I hear Shevchenko is available on a free and would be worth it just for Alves to feel he's not the most expensive flop to play in the PL!).
BTW, I don't think Wheater was persuaded to stay so that we could convert him to a striker - then again you never know with Southgate.
Sad news about Matt Bates whose injury sustained at Carlisle turned out to be every bit as bad as the lad had feared when he left the field and went straight down the tunnel without even talking to anyone.
Another cruciate. His fourth serious knee injury and another long term lay off â at the very least.
Of course itâÂÂs a huge blow to the lad for whom you have to be so sorry, and, possibly, to Gate who clearly had him in the same category of personal favourites as The Corporal and set great store by re-signing him. But I donâÂÂt see it as anything like that bad for the Boro squad.
He wasnâÂÂt anywhere near my first choice at centre-back â aside from anything else, he lacks the physical attributes. His forays into midfield â at least in the Prem â showed him to be, largely, square-pegged there. His best position, for me, was at right back and in Williams, McMahon and Hoyte Boro are far from short there.
Although much was made about him becoming more of a âÂÂleader on the fieldâÂÂ, I have seen little to indicate that this was a real prospect.
So, a personal tragedy for the player but not a huge blow for Boro - so let them not present it as such.
Unless there's a sudden exodus of defenders, the gaps we have in the squad are not in defence but, as we know, in the centre and right side of midfield and - particularly - up front a couple of big, strong, line leading 'centre-forwards' are needed to compliment the more lightweight, hold the ball up and get on the end of the sort of service that Johnno and Yeates look like they can provide.
The lack of such becomes more and more pointed with every pre-season game that goes by, despite the welcome goals from elsewhere.
I see a good front man is up for grabs - ROSS McCORMACK - 28 goals last season. Go and get him SG. Swap him for Aliadiere and some cash. We can pay more than HULL CITY.
I believe it is Hull who have made a bid for Mido.
Apparently Kingston Rovers require more weight in the front row.
What a nightmare for Matthew Bates and Boro. It certainly doesn't sound like a quick fix injury. Bates is by no means a world beater but he would have offered a little bit of steel into our weak midfield (if that's where he was destined to play).
Bates's injury may however be the making of Walker if he get's the call, or conversely open the door a little wider for Arca to come back and stake a more permanent claim (oh dear!).
I am still totally underwhelmed by MFC's failure to boost our ailing midfield and forward line with less than two weeks to go to KO, so surely this blow will galvanise someone into action?
Let's nail this mindless 'blind faith' optimism quickly.
* ONeill will go as soon as Portsmouth situation is clarified.
* Johnson will be off pronto.
* Macmahon will be snapped up for nothing,leave and play for England one day.
* Wheater - nice lad but needs some common sense and will leave as soon as his family give him the proper advice.
* Huth & Poggatez ? 'Alf Fiedersan Pet'
They are good players who would be mental to let Souhtgate ruin their careers.
Apparantly Southgate is going marshall the troops for the Championship campaign? Hmmm. We will be down by November.
The training ground will be renamed the Purple Elephant and rented out to football teams who fancy a mid season-bonding- get away from it all break.
Let's get this over with quickly and reduce the pain. There is only one thing for it... "COME ON YOU BLADES !!!!!!!!!"
**AV writes: That's the spirit.
Poor Matt Bates, no sooner does he commit himself to the Boro than he suffers yet another injury.
It should make Mido feel embarassed.
I think everyone should stop getting their knickers in a twist about new signings. From what I understand, you can loan players both from here and abroad, for basically the whole season, so, if our so called scouting network is doing its job finding decent players should not be a problem (not Hulse please).
How about these loanees: Reo Coker,Bale,Bentdner,Gibson (MU) and many others
Good post re Bates, John Powls. Correct spelling is Auf wiedersehen.
Bendtner we have no chance at. Arsenal need and love him. Bale - now that would be a step in the right direction. Great at set pieces.
Any striker but the dutch boy from celtic please. A poor mans Alan Kernaghen.....God no!
Some rumors are saying the Mido bid was from Wigan. He was there on loan but the manager has changed... Hull sounds more logical to me, though. But Sunderland will do, also.
If GS gets Mido sold (after injured Downing) then he should be congratulated for selling the two high earners. But still two to go!
I hope we will see somebody coming in asap Mido will be gone.
Up the Boro!
Gareth was absolutely fantastic on Tees tonight. Anyone want to re-consider their view that all calls would be vetted?
Is there a transcipt of "Gareth on Tees" anywhere Vic?
**AV writes: Not yet but there is a 'play again' feature on Tees that I'll stick a link up to.
"Gareth was absolutely fantastic on Tees tonight"
Can we have a hyperbole filter installed on this blog please, AV?
BoroPhil
If only he was absolutely fantastic in the dug out!
Hopefully he will prove me wrong lead the team back to the PL.
C'Mon Boro!
This should set the tongues wagging.... isnt Viduka still living up North and out of contract? Pay for play basis shop window for a permanent move to another club.
That would give us time to realy look for the right striker instead of rushing through.
He is not really my cup of tea but if fit would give any championship defence the side step and score goals for fun and set up Emmes. Maybe Darlo are in for him.
**AV writes: That sounds like the last desperate act of a madman. Hull it is then.
sick as a parrot,
if he doesn't, he'll be gone. he said as much last night.
BoroPhil
Applying the hyperbole filter, I think that Gate did do well in the circumstances of last night's interview.
Whilst I believe that callers hadn't been vetted for content, I think there was management applied to the order of the questions and the balance of type of their content. That's not a criticism.
I think there was little new but there were items of interest. I've just posted a piece to Boro Banter about what I think those were.
But - to paraphrase 'sick as a parrot' above - it's not about talking the talk it's about walking the walk. And, as you've said previously, if he doesn't - and in pretty short order - he's gone.
So, whilst we can carp (I hope it's not necessary) about performance deficiencies to come, continued carping about the disasters of last season is redundant.
Applying the 'hyperbole filter' I did think that Gate did well yesterday evening.
I tried to post a longer piece on here earlier - but it got swallowed by the gubbins and seems to have disapeared so I've posted a piece to Boro Banter.
It don't matter if Boro win against Sheff U or not, or if they don't do very well in the championship as long as we do better than the jawdees. Nothing else matters.
Yes - but can the squad blunt the leaugue over a season?