New Shirt Deal: Made From Girders?
TIME to get shirty. Boro are deep in talks with prospective sponsors ready for the big unveiling of Teesside's prime site for national televised product placement.
The slick suits will be examining the weighty matters of brand identity, unique selling points, over-lapping market demographics, shared core values, contra-synergistic recognition strategies and all manner of mystical things that excite PR men armed with flip charts and Blackberries. That and dosh of course.
Up to now Boro are struggling to find the right shirt sponsor. Call off the search Mr Bausor... I've found you the perfect partner to forge a new deal with.
It's been a bad few months for Teesside as two major employers have tumbled before the growing global crisis of capitalism: first the last remnant of our manufacting legacy - Corus - fell foul of the international steel market glut/behind the scenes dealing/carbon credit trading crossover then call centre powerhouse Garlands collapsed. That's two possible local logos wiped from the list of shirt sponsor possibles.
And the next biggest names are all public sector employers braced for cuts and very unwilling to put themselves in the daily Mail's frenzied firing line with such visible frivolous spending. It would be hard for James Cook University Hospital or Middlesbrough Council (we'll leave Stockton out of the equation) or the rapidly expanding Teesside University to justify any such outlay at a time when cleaners and nurses are being axed, care homes and rubbish collections are being squeezed and lecturers are telling debt laden students textbooks must be shared primary school style one between two.
Whispers were circulating last month of a tie-up with luxury motor marque Jaguar but given that Boro are now chugging along in football's slow lane in a battered old Nova it seems an unlikely alliance, and given that Steve Gibson has made strident public statements about the great betrayal of our Ironopolis heritage it seems inconceivable he would get into bed with Tata, who own the car firm and the mothballed steelworks.
Meanwhile Jeff the Chef isn't a big enough player yet even if the rest of the world is ready to know about the parmo. And cognescenti fashion brand Psyche probably wouldn't want to put their name on something as mass market as a football shirt.
So we need to look outside the public sector, outside Teesside and we need to find a big brand with a decent advertising budget looking to expand their foothold into new markets with a product that chimes with the core values of the new look Boro: gritty, affordable and with an unashamedly tinge of unreconstructed industrial and urban roots. Oh, and maybe unashamedly Scottish too.
So here's my suggestion: Irn Bru.
No, listen: It ticks all the boxes. Barrs are looking to expand from Scotland - where they are neck-in-neck in sales with Coca Cola - and Teesside is just the kind of inner city area that guzzles carbonated drinks by the gallon. It could give them a foothold this side of the Tartan Curtain and of course they have a batch of ready made brand ambassadors here who could endorse it. Robbo and Big Mick were probably weaned on it. Willo looks like he still lives on a diet of Irn Bru and crisps. The e-numbers may explain his buzzing around, the lad's in a perpetual sugar rush.
Irn Bru and Teesside is a good mix. In fact, it is so integrated into the iron and steel making process that it is said that during the steel strike of 1981 mischevous flying pickets from Lackenby blockaded the Lowcocks factorty for a laugh one morning explaining to exasperated Dandylion & Burdock bosses that they were also bottling Irn Bru under licence and the Scottish parent company had been boasting in its TV commercials that the bright Titian fizzy liquid was "made in Scotland from girders" and so was a legitimate target for secondary industrial action.
Irn-Bru was launched in Falkirk in 1901, spookily enough under the name "Strachan's brew." I can see a synergy emerging. It used to be brewed in the Parkhead district of Glasgow too, and we have a strong recent history in purchasing quality merchandise from that area... although production has recently been largely switched to Mansfield where no doubt we are also doing scouting work now.
This dream marketing link-up wasn't plucked out of the air y'know. No way. It was the result of literally minutes of research and brain-storming that saw possible bids from rival contenders Scottish Power fizzle out and Tennents Super (or "tramp juice" as I believe it is known affectionately on the park benches of Govan and Leith ) rejected on the grounds that the sales pitch was an indecypherable slur.
So get onto it Lambie and Bausor. But if it comes off I'll be whacking in my invoice.
**********
MEANWHILE in a counterpoint to all the global glitzy hype of the coming South Africa shindig let's hark back to a gentler age of the beautiful game when "World Cup" meant Dennis Waterman going a 12 hour shift down the pit before leading mighty minnows West Auckland to a famous victory over upstart Eyeties Juventus.
A chance google threw up this handy collection of YouTube snippets welded together to give you another chance to see The Captain's Tale, the classic Tyne Tees costume drama in which Minder masterminds plucky pit part-timers West to a famous victory in the first two 'World Cup' tournaments.
It's worth a watch while you try to figure out how to spend the £1m Jonno Jackpot.
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How about a link-up with the Glenlossie distillery, from Speyside? Established in 1876 by John Duff & Co it clearly is "of an age" with the Boro. It used to contribute some of the backbone into Haig's whisky blends.
There is a 14 year old bottling by Cadenhead that would warm the cockles of the heart on a cold, misty winter's evening.
Or Macsween's Haggis? (I've got a packet of haggis flavour crisps to eat later, but maybe I am taking the Scottishness of our club too far?).
**AV writes: I would have to investigate the product further to check suitability.
I like it .... there is of course the Mansfield connection with our legendary centre back and captain, Stuart Boam.
AV: is Scotty Mac being Easy Jetted to Spain to join in with the week of intense fun the lads are having out there. Could not be better news for Boro, him not being selected. More rest, more fitness, desire to prove people wrong, no Christmas burn out as the games catch up with him. Its all good news.
As for the outburst on GS2 from the Wally manager, was Williams picked in spite? How is the pelvic injury at the moment?
Also Ipswich bid for Chopra and a bid comes in for Ambrose. Surely 2 players Boro should be looking at?
**AV writes: It sounds like Scott McD was dropped for tactical reasons rather than fitness but as you say, it is good for us. Williams has been included and looks set to be a regualr starter at right back.
If you print those IRN BRU bad boys up I will buy one!!!! Make it happen AV
"Steve Gibson has made strident public statements about the great betrayal of our Ironopolis heritage it seems inconceivable he would get into bed with Tata, who own the car firm and the mothballed steelworks."
You havent noticed the Jaguar signs plastered all over the south stand then??
**AV writes: I think the stakes have been raised quite a bit since that relatively minor deal was agreed.
Now Midough may be back how about Greggs?
"But if it comes off I'll be whacking in my invoice."
You may want to rephrase that, AV.
AV:
I'm surprised to hear you admit that you'd be happy to be behind Barrs! The idea gives a new twist (or should that be a ring-pull) to Boro's team of CANny Scots!
But maybe some might say, unkindly of course, that Red Bull (take that any way you want) would be more in keeping with the ethos of the current manager?
Personally, I think your proposal has a lot of merit and it would be hilarious if "Glasgow Kissing" vending machines were to be deployed in the Riverside south stand concourses!
Dear AV
At the moment I am mulling over the England squad! Who would you take too South Africa? I think Adam Johnson and Milner Is a must. Would you stick with the old guard of England or go with The Young Guns who have no fear?
Personally the golden oldies haven't pulled the magnificent coup off yet and I really think It's time for a change. Remember we havent won the World Cup yet with these Golden Oldies of the noughties and personally I really think It could be curtains In the Group Stage this time round ... U.S.A(THE DARK HORSES)!GOOD LUCK TOO RHYS WILLIAMS
**AV writes: To be perfectly honest.... I'm not bothered. I don't do England and I think these tournaments bring out the worst in our hysterical agenda ridden short-sighted media, a dark under-current in our supporters and cynical cack-handed money grabbing chancers of every sort. I tend to enjoy the football and the coverage a lot more once England have gone out.
Leon Britton's agent told SkySport about the 27-year-old playmaker.
"It would not be right for me to talk about specific clubs, but there are two in the Premier League and two in the Championship as well as Swansea," he added. "Leon has some options and he has a decision to make. Football, finances and his family will all come into it, but I don't think it will be about geography."
He added: "Everyone might be saying that Leon is sure to go to the Premier League, but he has got to be sure he will play because he would not be happy as a bit-part player or a squad player."
To me it sounds he might be considering Boro if he can play here. We should know more in two weeks' time. Up the Boro!
One of the locals in the "Flattened Ferret" has already put bets on:
(1) that Leeds will be promoted next season and
(2) that they will finish above Boro.
I crept out to avoid violence, but if we finish second next season, I would be happy for him to be correct.
In the meantime I understand deep-fried Pizza and battered Mars bars are going down well in Paisley. Maybe Mido would be welcome back, after all? Then again....perhaps sarcasm doesn't cross the Med these days, let alone crawl up the North Sea coast.
Forever Dormo
Keep this to yourself but I am greatly concerned about the attitude to cricket on this blog. I was finding it difficult to understand how a sport I have played since I was a kid in the fifties could be frowned upon – after all, I saw players such as Freddie Trueman and Brian Close who were clearly working class. I played rugby Saturday mornings and went to Ayresome Park in the afternoon.
The penny dropped with Vic being clearly anti cricket and then he was off to watch his young lad perform in Gymnastics. Nothing wrong with that until you remember, as those of my generation would, the oppressive repression of young children for the benefit of state glory.
You could just imagine Vic’s lad saying ‘can I play twenty20 with my mates’ only to be informed that it was not beneficial to the glory of the state. When you throw in Vic’s support for The Peoples Republic of Teesside, a dislike of anything Murdoch and the wish for people power within the club, it all starts to make sense.
No doubt he would be happier with a state army team where all good players were conscripted for the benefit of ‘all’. Of course this would mean the overthrow of the current lap dogs to be replaced by suitable members of the party.
On a personal note I am concerned by the likely effect upon Comrade Powls. He has a genuine love for all things Boro and is a true free thinker. A true believer in supporters trusts. We all know what happened to intelligentsia such as John under previous Stalinist regimes and not only in the USSR.
Richard is in nearly as much danger as a likely architect of five year plans. The first one not to work would result in exile into Gulag Stockton. GHW reminds me of the type of journalist who worked for Pravda who was fine with his allegorical work until it didn’t fit in with the views of the Supreme Soviet thence a disappearance to who knows where.
There are already many people who would be happy to work under such a totalitarian regime at the Riverside. Sue Watson, Stewards, Safety Committee, Keith Lamb. You can see that Bernie Slaven has already been marginalised. Did you see him at the last meeting of the Talking Boro Supreme Soviet? Precisely!
Please keep diligent, I will make notes for my short story ‘A day in the life of Alex Gillisovitch’ describing my time incarcerated at Rockcliffe.
Be vigilent
**AV writes: Pah! The typical deluded Bothamite-Flintoffist rantings of a duped lackey of the evil imperialist MCC. Come the glorious round ball revolution your overgrown shinpads, pathetic jokes about "the bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey" and a confusing proliferation of day/night and one, two, three, four, five day 20/40/50/unlimited overs formats will not save you.
Remember to keep taking the tablets AV
Its a pity we are all joking about Scottish imports to the Boro, and anticipating how the £1 million Jonno money can be spent North of the border, when we have consistently produced top class players locally.
I spent some years in Babylon, where the locals all acknowledged that the youngsters in the North East could play a bit - even compared with their beloved Hammers academy. Morrison, Parnaby, Downing, Cattermole, Johnson - loads more.We let them go and spend fortunes on foreign rubbish. We all know who.
Management's responsibility. No one else. Now we look to spend money on average Scots when we should be looking closer to home.
Chris
Ian Gill at 9.43pm -
I share your fears. Despite anything he might say to the contrary you can be sure AV will be spending his holidays in Cuba. He'll not be taking his laptop because of the lack of internet connectivity in the "Workers' Paradise".
There is, however, an inconsistency within his class warfare. In Cuba and Moscow (his spiritual homes) ballet, classical music and opera are all welcomed as artforms for all the people. But when did we hear their virtues extolled by AV? Or sculpture or the playing of polo?
Sadly the inner torment of our Chief Blogger results in anti-cricket and rugby sentiments pouring out into the ether.
Detailed analysis suggests his mind might have been turned as a result of a certain boating accident suffered by a newspaper magnate who is no longer with us, and the losses said to have been sustained to a pension fund in which AV might (some have alleged) have had a financial interest. In fact efforts are currently underway to look again at AV's alibi for that date.
I'd like to say more, but the internet link seems to be wobbly and I can hear what sounds like ladders being placed against the wall outside. I'll just go and check whether.....
**AV writes: Sadly Comrade Dormo could not finish these crazed and paranoid drunken scribblings of a disturbed mind and may not be seen for 14 years or so. He is suffering from Duckworth Lewis Syndrome, a mathematical way of setting targets for sanity, a measure he sadly now falls far short of. But fear not, he will be get the best mental health care possible in the Arthur Scargill Institute.
The phrase "Hasn't got a Barrs Irn Bru" as in clue comes to mind. I can hear it shouted out from the stands already.
I have always wondered when a bit of self advertising would come in and "Bulkhaul" would be the sponsor. But maybe the wrong name to put on Midos' shirt.
"Toyota" would be a good sponsor which could fit in with all the on loan players getting recalled after six months. Or how about "BUPA" as so many players get crocked.
AV
The only surprise was the fact there was no reference to the 'old farts' at Twickers.
I am of Teesside stock and will prove it by wearing my MFC tie at Henley. Anyone for Pimms?
As for the famous cricket phrase you mentioned it appears it may not have been said. But it is a good line to put alongside the Coleman 'he opened his legs and showed his class'. For that matter throw in 'Blind Faith' closer to home.
Sorry for no coments AV but getting ready for the big kick off here in sunny SA. I know its not your cup of tea but its starting to buzz around here.
Will be taking in a few games first England v Slovenia on 23/06. Hope we have some more bodies in by then enjoy the summer.
**AV writes: It's not that its not my cup of tea. I love watching the football. It is just that I hate the cynical and stupid media juggernaut being driven blindfold and hurtling towards a foaming frenzy of xenophobic nationalism. Horrible. You'd think England was the only nation that had ever had a war.
You can be our World Cup correspondent.
Let me out! Let me out!
**AV writes: Prepares syringe.....
Scargill is an apt name. It probably represents what would happen to me in one of the institutions so beloved by oppressive leaders who would suppress the sound of leather on willow.
The virtual stand is named after one east european, wonder what plans are being hatched in Gazette towers for the Riverside. Maybe when all the bricks have been laid on the ground there will be subscriptions to build a wall to protect Middlesbrough from the Mackem horde in Stockton.
Next away match I am going early to see Vic sweep into the ground in his armoured Завод имени Лихачёва with darkened windows.
**AV writes: Hmmm. I can feel a column coming on....
Dormo, are you there? Dormo...............
No one can hear you scream on the internet.
Anyway... I thought what’s the point of not posting just so someone who doesn’t want to read it, won’t have to read it?
How much can the club expect to get for shirt sponsor ship in this division? £500k a season? If it is in that ball park then that is the same as a £1 increase on every ticket sold, based on last seasons average.
I would happily pay a £1 extra per game if we could have a fans ballot on what image/slogan we could have on our shirts.
Yer jokin aren’t ya?
The Transporter bridge
A parmo?
**AV writes: Er, Peoples Republic of Teesside?
I know (I think) this is a joke but actually it isn't a bad shout. Boro could do worse. Decent sized brand, a bit tongue in cheek, lots of PR tie in possibilities.
I also like the idea of NO sponsor. Why not give the shirt space to the FANS. TheRed Faction or Twl12th Man (are they still going). Why not Untypical Boro?
**AV writes: Hmmm. I can feel a column coming on....
That wouldn't be a fifth column would it AV?
Why not do what Barca and Villa have done and put a charity on the shirt
Twe12th Man made those East Stand banners during last season so they are definitely still on the go.
How about Chupa Chups as our shirt sponsor. Now that would take some licking
They already have a charity on the shirt, its called the BORO!
How about the Gazette AV?
Posting quietly for fear of drawing too much attention from the Stasi ..... maybe we could follow Yorkshire CCC's lead and get sponsored by COSTCUTTER .....
sick as a parrot
It may be something to do with the fact we are brassic.
"Next away match I am going early to see Vic sweep into the ground in his armoured Завод имени Лихачёва with darkened windows.
**AV writes: Hmmm. I can feel a column coming on"
Thats just sick that is, get out and talk to people, spend some time with the wife!
I agree with the rugby/Cricket indifference, but even a petrol head like me wouldn't admit to mechanically induced launch sequences!
No feasible local sponsor? What about Newboulds?
Roll on the world cup.
jiffy
I'm not sure I can countenance Newboulds just yet.
Since the fire, the scotch eggs aren't back up to snuff - the replacement batch of lard/oil mix they're cooked off in hasn't yet acquired the depth of flavour of ages of re-use the original lot had - though the midget pork pies and pease puddin' are getting there.
Haven't sampled their parmos yet - but if they were good enough I might be persuaded!
A clincher might be free samples to Untypical posters!! Yes, our support can be bought (too).....
Ian
Maybe the good deed of putting a local charity on the shirt will be rewarded by him upstairs. We may need a bit of divine intervention to help us get promoted to the promised land.
C'Mon Boro!
On the Scott McDonald thing, I can see an upside and a downside.
I agree that - since it's Boro first and any International side nowhere - the avoidance of more activity than Strachan would envisage and reduced chance of injury is a good thing.
This presumes, however, that McDonald doesn't do a 'pet lip' because of his exclusion and it effects his attitude negatively.
We can only assume that the move from Celtic to Boro hasn't swayed Verbeek since The Corporal and Rhys Williams are likely to be in the final twenty three.
I'm not sure that I buy the Verbeek 'it's tactics' argument, though. In a group that has only two recognised strikers and Harry Kewell (!!) my bet is that had McDonald been banging them in for Boro and in his sixteen games for his country - where he's got zero - he'd have been in the squad for sure.
If he'd made the case for his inclusion unanswerable then you'd change the tactics to include him - if not from the start, then as a Plan B or you'd ask him to play a slightly different role than the lone striker they seem to favour.
Verbeek is either announcing to the world that he has no Plan B (not clever) or that McDonald's not good enough at that level, even as a back up, however he's tarting it up.
If it's the latter that's a problem, either because it's true or - even if Verbeek wants his bumps feeling - it damages the lad's confidence and skews others' views of him.
Either way, the positive way to deal with the issue from Boro's point of view and get the way forward that Boro Doug talks about is - as BD enquires about above - to get him to La Manga, back in the fold, back to where he's wanted and work him hard with the rest so as not to let him dwell on it and make him glad of the rest!
How about sponsorship by a Union or the Labour Party? Once Campo & Cleggy get into 2nd gear with their 'privatisations' of education and health there will need to be some form 'resistance'
Can't see there being many objections to this marvelous idea of mine because I have yet to meet anyone in Teesside willing to say, in public they are Tory supporters. In a matter of weeks nobody in the British Isles will admit to voting for Nick (Trident, Uni Fees, Mansion Tax .... ) Clegg
It's not uncommon for clubs to be associated politically. In some ways football is the ideal platform to show that we can achieve more as a team than as individuals.
We could then adopt 'Keep the Red Flag ..' .
May I just finish with this: "Cricket is for indolent fops and those with obsessive personalty traits"
Me and 50 million others could have told the cricket authorities 20 years ago that 20/20 knock hell out of it is better than 5 days of grinding inactivity played in an atmosphere similar to that of an old peoples home.
**AV writes: I welcome any more sponsorship suggestions for Spartak Boro but I'm losing the will to live with all these leg glance singles off the cricketists.
Why not tap Richard Branson's "Virgin" empire? then there would be no need for a banner .... just wear it on the shirt..... "Virgin Championship Trophiests"
.... I know.
Given the playing performances last season I reckon Ratners would be an appropriate choice for shirt sponsors for the Boro.
Scoredraw -
'Me and 50 million others could have told the cricket authorities 20 years ago that 20/20 knock hell out of it is better than 5 days of grinding inactivity played in an atmosphere similar to that of an old peoples home.'
The grinding inactivity sounds awfully like 23 home games in the championship to me. Same goes for most of the premiership home games for that matter.
The main difference is that you do not have that much foul mouthed yobbish behaviour at cricket, nor rugby for that matter. And you can mix with other fans. And you do not have MFC stewarding.
".....Vic sweep into the ground in his armoured Завод имени Лихачёва with darkened windows."
That's a Mini Cooper Sport to you and I. Very classy, AV but you wouldn't be able to park it at Lords, eh what?
scoredraw said:
"How about sponsorship by a Union or the Labour Party? "
What about UNITE, reflecting the solidarity of the club, the team and the fans (and the posters on this blog) ?
The labour party would be ideal as, like the last government, we have so many Scots telling us English what to do.
There is also a local security firm - you can see them at the Navi on match days. They already sponsor the one player who should not be allowed near our box because he loses everything. The odd thing is their name is not on the front but the back of our Argentinean Land Crabs shirt. A delicious irony.
Lipo fatty, lipo fatty
He’s coming home, he’s coming home
He’s coming
Mido’s coming home.
Hurray. He’s coming back to help us back to the premier league. Or so he says. I’m surprised that no one wants him after his 0 goals for West Ham and 1 penalty miss.
Anyone else notice the players that QPR are quietly amassing? Two forwards from relegated clubs. If they do open the cheque book they could do very well next year.
My too early to have any relevance prediction at next years top six
1 Boro
2. Cardiff – with Craig Bellamy scoring a record 50 goals
3. QPR
4. Ipswich
5. Sheff Utd
6. Unmentionables
It's an interesting idea to have the name of a union on the shirt, though given the news this morning that Mido is planning to see out the last year of his contract with Boro then perhaps ACAS would be more appropriate.
I think I'd actually pay to watch Strachan and Mido lock horns in the dressing room - Fight Club II - sounds like one for GHW me thinks...
Pompey owe £120m, offer to pay back 20p in every pound or £24m over 5 years. In the last couple of years they have sold Diarra £20m, Johnson £19m, Defoe £9m, Crouch £8m, Krancjaer, Muntari Begovic for approx £10m.
If these payments are staggered which I understand most transfer payments are then they will probably recoup £24m in the next 5 years in transfer receipts alone.
So the players sold this summer will not be to pay off the debt but just to get them off the wage bill. So if they bring in £20m in player sales next year, and remember we brought in over £30m, should that be given direct to the creditors or are they free to bring in new players?
**AV writes: I think it is more complex than that. The Crouch and Defoe fees for instance they will receive nothing because they hadn't finished paying for Defoe's original move and the balance was written off.
I think they still owe out more on previous transfers, wages and bonuses to players (who are football creditors and so must be paid in full) than they are due to receive plus they are carrying a £50m+ wage bill, far gigher than we had.
Finally, who have they got left to sell that will raise more than peanuts?
scoredraw -
cricket is a great game and as Ian Gill pointed out the perfect antidote to football. Its a completely different environment but still a great day out whether its a test match or a 20/20 game.
Personally by the end of the seaon I'm suffering from footie overload and welcomethe chance to watch a bit of cricket. Diversity is the spice of life.
"My too early to have any relevance prediction at next years top six
1 Boro
2. Cardiff – with Craig Bellamy scoring a record 50 goals
3. QPR
4. Ipswich
5. Sheff Utd
6. Unmentionables "
.....I thought Newcastle got premated
So, where are we?
AV, are you able to shed any light on the financial situation at the club?
By my guestimation we still have Hoyte, Wheater, O'Neil and Arca on "Premier League wages", with Mido and Digard also on the way back. I would presume that McDonald and Robson also earn good wages.
With the reduced parachute payments, taking into account the removal of Aliadiere and Riggott (as well as, to some extent, Pogatetz and Emnes), can the club continue with the current wage bill without selling on any of the higher earners?
**AV writes: To add to your list I think you can add Jones, Lita, Bates and Taylor as those on wages higher than can realistically be sustained. The debts have been largely restructured. Some have been written off and some absorbed elsewhere within BUlkhaul and over overall exposure is smaller and over a more manageable timescale but they haven't gone away and the situation is far from ideal - and next summer when the parachute payments end another crisis is looming.
I think effectively that means transfer cash is limited, wages levels are under a pronounced downward pressure and that everyone apart from those that Strachan has personally brought in are available for sale if they get a realistic off - and that includes the likes of O'Neil and Wheater who ideally he would keep.
The sad part about Midough and Digsoft is that when fit and focussed they are as good as anybody in this division. I would go as far as to say that if both of them performed as they could over a season we would be out of this league by Easter.
The difficulty we have is getting one out of these two attributes from either of them so if we relied on them we would still be out the league but in the wrong direction.
Gary Hooper is an interesting prospect, he certainly has a knack of scoring and is one of the main reasons for the Irons success the last couple of seasons.
The obligatory Wigan are also on the case but they cant spend their lives chasing our targets. Should we let it leak out that Dong Gook is in line for a Riverside return?
Gordon will be pleased that fresh from his brush with the plod Taylor is off to Las Vegas with 15 lads in the break between La Manga and reporting back for pre season training.
**AV writes: Tayls is certainly taking a gamble.
AV
To add to your 'AV writes' to Andy R at 2:10 above, I'm beginning to get the usual sinking feeling over potential incoming transfers.
Every 'potential' is more or less swiftly followed by confirmation that they've gone elsewhere or aren't now available or we haven't met the asking price (followed by silence/inactivity from Boro) or Wigan are interested (can't the pathetic beggars find someone else to copy or have they got a mole in our camp?).
There's even less news on any more of the dead or dying weight moving on. And I worry that Strachan will want to hang on to Miller simply because he won't admit he made a mistake.
I'm also concerned for Andy Halliday too. As 'one for the future' (but not, I hope, a project) he might find himself carrying far too much weight of expectation as a kid from the Scottish Third Division if he turns out to be one of a very few and limited quality additions.
If what you say is true then - despite the repeated blandishments of The Count about being one of the best resourced clubs in the division - the prospects of us getting the significant numbers of the right quality that are needed into the squad and team are slim, to say the least.
They get slimmer beyond this season too, as you've pointed out.
If we don't get the right quality in the right numbers and we're stuck with the expensive disaffected that we can't move on then there's nothing to look forward to next season other than a repeat of the one just gone or worse.
If the only way to free this logjam up is to engineer 'a realistic offer' for GON & Wheats then it has to be done - and quickly.
Sifting through bin ends at the end of August when someone nips in and makes us an offer we can't refuse with no time left to do anything sensible with it and aleady five or six games into a make or break season should be a lesson we have learned and bear the scars of.
Or are we simply doomed to repeat that history - in which case we will be, simply, doomed.
I don't expect MFC to reveal the number of SC renewals/purchases when the next deadline is reached on 4 June because I think it is likely to confirm that there are even fewer prepared to go 'Blind Faith' this time round than last and I see no sign of any incoming signings that will encourage anyone to change their minds.
I sincerely hope I'm wrong on all of this.
John
I think we are in for a period of austerity and the remnant box will be the norm but that will be the way we have to go unless something dramatic changes in the finances.
I wouldnt worry about Halliday, I think the people around him will be able to guide him. There are players at the club who will help and guide him unlike we have had under the previous 'soft play' regime. That may also benefit the developing crop of kids at MFC.
I hope there is a new realism at the club, not finances, not blind faith but a realisation that we need some here and now to set alongside projects.
I have no evidence to support any of this but I suspect someone like Morrison might have blossomed under the current regime.
I do not believe that Strachan and co will have us playing poor football unless finances dictate it. Strachan and McAlister are football players so their teams should reflect that.
If finances mean it is austerity then that is our fate. If it means high earners leaving the club then we may just have to accept that fact. Truth is that there are not many that will result in mass mutinies by the Riverside.
All the above does not mean that I am putting your pension fund on Strachan getting it right. Nor does it mean I believe beyond all reasonable doubt we will go up next season.
It is wait and see time.
John Powls at 3:41 PM
Sadly, you're right.
However, this cheered me up a bit!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8709871.stm
Vive La Revolution!
latest from Scotland:
GORDON STRACHAN has held talks with new Dundee United boss Peter Houston - and warned him he's going after a clutch of the Tannadice club's Hampden heroes.
Record Sport revealed earlier this month that Middlesbrough manager Strachan had placed Craig Conway and Garry Kenneth on his summer shopping list, along with priority target Kevin Thomson of Rangers.
Strachan is also an admirer of United's Scottish Cup winning midfielder Morgaro Gomis and could move for the Senegalese international if the Ibrox club knock back his bid for Thomson.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has warned his Boro counterpart Keith Lamb that Thomson is not for sale. However, the Riverside club are still likely to test the strength of Rangers' resolve by tabling an offer of around £2.5million.
If that bid is booted out by Bain then Strachan could order a three-pronged swoop on Tayside and last night Houston was bracing himself for the bad news.
A United source said: "Gordon has been on the phone to our manager and said he is interested in some of our players. We are expecting to be contacted by Keith Lamb but at this moment there has been no further contact.
"Obviously we don't want our Cup Final team to be broken up but understand that there is interest in our players."
Welcome from SA very dangerous snakes around England training camp. Guys dont worry they go to ground in winter.
Anyone coming this way bring some warm cloths It can get very cold in Rustenberg this time of year at night but its nice during the day.
P.E. should be nice beers cold all the time.
Judging by the photo of the Boro players training in La Manga, it seems Gary O'Neil is soaking up all rays of sun that have been reflected off the brilliant white bodies of our scottish contingent - please Gordon give that man some SP50 before he slow-cooks to death.
John Powls said:
"If the only way to free this logjam up is to engineer 'a realistic offer' for GON & Wheats then it has to be done - and quickly."
I agree. If the club cannot afford it's current wage bill and therefore cannot go after Strachan's summer transfer targets then we should try to sell one or two of our salable assets as soon as possible, even if it has a damaging impact on SC sales.
The attendances will rise again if the management get the squad / results / performances right.
The focus must now be solely on providing Strachan with the squad he needs to mount a promotion challenge within a budget affordable to the club.
I think the last time I was genuinely shocked by the transfer season (before they turned it into a window) was Merse arriving, I think those days have gone for us and I can't see anyone that would be the same sort of signing, but I do think we need to get in early and get some movement with the squad.
We are a consistent target misser as a club (sadly reflected on the pitch in recent times) so if GS2 can reverse this trend I think it would make people sit up and take notice. A good squad overhaul done early doors would give everyone a lift, however I dont think it will happen, season ticket receipts will bring an even grimmer reality to the coffins door of the count, the guy needs to brave the sunlight and come into the real world.
Well the window opens up on Tuesday, I hope to read of many NEW news stories on these pages soon, otherwise pre-season may well be a reflection of how the future may pan out, we dont want to be nearly men again do we?
AV Noticed the banter going around for Hooper. Why not n try n snatch Franko, the 32 yr old Mexicali who scored against England on monday and has been released from West Ham. He could be a bit of a coup and bring the merchandise In with his name. The only thing Is could be wages.
I think he could shoot us back In the Prem,We have had the Brazilians now lets go with the Mexicans. We could even start having Mexican Waves and dishes at The Riverside,be worth looking at think.
I should of been a scout what do you think AV? Up The Boro
Braveheart... I must confess to wry smile... a Boro supporter with a subscription to the Daily Record! Enough said, me thinks!
Tim SA... you can add another couple of dangerous snakes to the England camp when the team arrives... Mr Terry and Mr Cole. As long as these two morons are wearing the jersey I, for one, will not be watching. I am praying for these two low lifes to be injured v Japan on Sunday, shipped back to cockney land, never to represent our country again.
Re sun block...for those with a bluish tinge to the skin.
SP 1000 (Scottish Protection). That would be a Greatcoat and a Balaclava!
Wheater and GON saleable assets?
They hardly set the league on fire last season, especially as they were in a very poor side. They should have stood out as being a lot better than those around them, and not just blending in as they did.
Brian you never used to work for Cummins in Darlo did you?
Yes agree 100% and a few others too. As i am an England supporter through and through cannot help but think that so many overseas players in the prem are going to be our downfall.
But anyway Columbian players who played SA last night nearly lost some money, hotel staff involved. Welcome to SA.
Seriously guys anybody coming out you need info my email is starqt@eci.co.za always there to help.
Lord of the Boro
Elrond: Strangers from distant lands, friends of old you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mediocrity. Middle Boro stands upon the brink of destruction, none can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each fan is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Transfer Budget, Frodo.
[Frodo puts the transfer budget on a stand for all to see]
Boromir: So it is true. In a dream, I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. But in the West, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, "The doom is near at hand, Strachan's Bane is found."
[Reaches for the transfer budget]
Boromir: Strachan's Bane...
Aragorn: Boromir!
Gandalf: [speaking the words engraved on the transfer budget] David Goodwillie, Adam Boyd, and Chris Maynard
[the light darkens and the air rumbles; Boromir backs away from the transfer budget]
Elrond: Never before has anyone dared utter words of that tongue here, in Lackenby.
Gandalf: I do not ask for pardon, master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mediocrity may yet be heard in every corner of the West Stand Upper! The Transfer Budget is altogether evil.
Boromir: It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mediocrity. Why not use this budget? Long has my father, the Steward of Gibson, kept the forces of Mediocrity at bay? By the blood of our fans are your lands kept safe. Give Strachan the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him.
Aragorn: You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Budget answers to Lamb alone. It has no other master.
Boromir: And what would a Stockton Mackem know of this matter?
Legolas: This is no mere mackem. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.
Boromir: Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?
Legolas: And heir to the throne of Doggie.
Aragorn: [Elvish] Sit down, Legolas.
Boromir: Doggie has no King. Doggie needs no King.
Gandalf: Aragorn is right. We cannot use it.
Elrond: You have only one choice. The budget must be destroyed.
Gimli: Then what are we waiting for?
[He strikes the budget with his axe; the axe breaks, leaving the budget intact]
Elrond: The budget cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The budget was made in the fires of Mount Desperation. Only there can it be unmade. The budget must be taken deep into The Conference League and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this.
Boromir: One does not simply walk into The Bongo Club. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash, and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly.
Legolas: Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The budget must be destroyed!
Gimli: And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?
Boromir: And if we fail what then? What happens when Strachan takes back what is his?
Gimli: I will be dead before I see the budget in the hands of an Elf! Never trust an Elf!
**AV writes: There is scene crying out to be written for Willo The Flood.
Cheers for the advice Tim from SA, I'll drop you an email.
Scoredraw, I can't see any ex Corus or Garlands workers lining up to buy their Labour sponsored Boro shirts, can you?
Why do Boro's transfer windows dribble away to nothing?
From the Daily Record:
'A (Dundee) United source said: "Gordon Strachan has been on the phone to our manager and said he is interested in some of our players.
"We are expecting to be contacted by Keith Lamb but at this moment there has been no further contact."
**AV writes: To be fair, the window isn't even open yet.
Gollamb: MY PRECIOUS!!!!!
Strachan: Maybe so, but without it we are doomed to another season of mediocrity.
Gollamb: Oh! You think it is so easy. I travelled to the Nether Land and brought back a work in progress and the warrior they called Alves.
Strachan: Warrior? Warrior! The Cows here were strolling around waving their backsides and offering Banjo’s to him. No, you must hand the transfer budget to me.
Gollamb: What! Give you MY PRECIOUS!!! Never!
Strachan: Look Gollamb, your time has come. Soon we will face the Orcs of the Championship again, without that budget we will be overpowered again.
Gollamb: But I’ve already descended into the Isthmian League, there are untold treasures there.
Strachan: Admittedly that is better than the SPL, but we need quality, not quantity.
Gollamb: I’ll do a deal with you, give me until September the 1st, and then we will talk again.
Strachan: But then the window will be closed! We will be 6 or 7 games into the season at that point.
Gollamb: Exactly! It is MY PRECIOUS!!!!........
brian hewitson said: Braveheart... I must confess to wry smile... a Boro supporter with a subscription to the Daily Record! Enough said, me thinks!
Why the need for personal attacks, Brian?
Gary Hooper Wikipedia - "He has passed a medical at the Riverside and is expected to sign for Middlesbrough in the coming days." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hooper
Also been mentioned on Talksport. Any truth AV?
**AV writes: My understanding is that Boro have had a bid of over £2m accepted and he has certainly been up here to look around Hurworth... but there are other clubs keen too - our transfer market Nemesis Wigan and Wolves - and he may well be talking to them. But who are we to argue with Wikapedia?
Good news on Hooper if true but Caldwell passed a medical with us to.
Will wait for the ink to dry first.
**AV writes: To be fair, the window isn't even open yet.
Oh? Doesn't seem to be stopping other people, does it? Doesn't even seem to be stopping The Count with Hooper and didn't with Halliday.
To be fair, maybe he can only work on one thing at once.
Not a bad day for supporters of many sports.
Turkish Grand Prix, Japan v England (losing 1-0), England V Bangladesh, England v Barbarians of rugby. Sadly for Johnno it looks as if the closest he will get to South Africa will be a visit to Curry's for a new HD TV.
I suppose the transfer window opens tomorrow (Tuesday). How boring the close season has been!
I hope to hear some news soon like McManus coming back, a striker like Hooper signed and a couple of midfielders like Leon Britton. Any hope for some quick signings? At least we have some room for wages but ofcourse there is Mido and Digard coming back.
Daily Mail recons that Ex-England team-mates Gareth Southgate and Paul Ince are contenders for the vacancies at Portsmouth and Notts County. How many of our former captains are unemployed in football management? These two chaps and Tony Mowbray - others?
Up the Boro!
There isnt much movement in the transfer market and the problem will be made worse by our position in the food chain.
It was bad enough when we were a mid table premiership team, we had to wait until the last minute to get players in once clubs couldnt extract any more money. We would pick up players who looked to be uncertain of a game after the season had started.
None of this has improved with our failure to mount a promotion challenge. Halliday coming in and going to La Manga was good news. McManus going held out some hope he may stay.
Hooper and Dale bids are moving in the right direction but I still bellieve it will be after the season has started that we will see most movement.
On a positive note it was good to see three Boro players involved in the U17 tournament win. If we can get 2-3 new players involved in the first team squad each year and selling some to raise funds that is good for the future of the club.
Missed a lot of the sport yesterday but a crash between an Aussie and a German allowing an English 1-2 caused a little chuckle.
Saw the first half of England v Japan and that was truly appalling. Reminded me of many a Riverside match over the last three seasons. Went out to do some gardening at that point. Apparently Joe Cole did very well, he is a good player and seems best suited to playing higher up the pitch than performing step overs and drag backs on the half way line.
As he is looking for a new contract maybe Lambie is talking about the benefits of moving to live in Acklam.
**AV writes: There's a story - with quotes! - floating around today suggesting that Rangers may move for LEE MILLER as a replacement for Kris Boyd... and that he would be flattered by such a move and would be faced with "the toughest decision of his life." How bad must Rangers be (and in how much of a financial mess) that they think Miller is the replacement for their top scorer?
AV said: "How bad must Rangers be (and in how much of a financial mess) that they think Miller is the replacement for their top scorer?"
Perhaps we are not so terribly positioned in the food chain after all. Or it means Miller is much better player than we think. At least GS2 liked him so much that he bought the player from Aberdeen.
I hope to see two deals done before the World Cup starts. Then a couple more after that will do for me. Up the Boro!
AV
If Rangers want Miller then I think that we would all agree that he would go with our enormous gratitude!!!!!
Part-ex for Thompson? Or would that be disrespectful?
Here's hoping that this preseason will be unlike earlier ones. If we can sign a few players early, then I might start believing that Strachan is the man for us.
But the season ended with too much deja vu for me. All I kept reading was "if we win this game and [insert rival team] loses this game...". Like last year, our rivals often played their part, stumbling across the Championship finish line, but we ended poorly and deservedly finished mid-table.
If we can bring a few players in and flog Miller to anyone, I'll be a happy man.
I'm interested to see the type of side Strachan produces with another transfer window ahead of him, and I'm hoping that last season's performance was nothing more than the result of an early season managerial change that created more short term problems than it solved. Long term, I think replacing Southgate will prove to be the correct decision, but we need to have a good next season.
I haven't posted for a while simply because as a team and as a set of supporters, we seem to have spent a year spinning our wheels, but I've still been avidly reading some funny and astute observations as well as some impressive screenplays by our resident centurion.
Spare a thought for us statesiders. When England plays the US,we are expected to win, so nothing short of a comprehensive victory will spare us from a nation that will suddenly become interested in football again.
Up the Boro!
Cant we do a player swap Miller for Boyd? Oh well, keep dreaming.
News from SA - watch out for R200 notes they are busy changing from old to new so try and stay clear of them as the old ones are no longer legal tender after 31/05/2010.
Sun City and Pilansberg reserve close to Rustenberg well worth the visit for golf, gambling and very good game viewing enjoy.
AV, as I think you were a Downing admirer I think it's just as well you 'don't do England' as I reckon unless he rediscovers what got him his cap chances in the first place, his international day is over - at what, 24?
He has been completetly airbrushed from the press corp chatter and when the likes of Walcott who may be fast but has little skill and can hardly cross his legs get in, it's goodbye to 'playmakers' like SD. You'd better concentrate on a good club career Stewie
John Aus
**AV writes: At Boro he was just about the only English player in the country who did what he did... find a bit of space and whip a fantastic cross into the danger area from any angle on the left. At Villa he has been converted into an orthadox wide midfielder who swaps flanks and cuts in to the middle or plays it square. There are loads of people who do that better (including two in his own team).
AV and John Gibson
I seem to recall that O'Neill talked about Downing playing the Barry type role even before he recovered from injury.
His best games for England were when both Lampard and Gerrard were not playing. The most noticeable was away against Germany in the 2-1 win when he was simply outstanding. That had a balanced line up with real width and pace.
He rarely played in a formation that suited him but you could argue good players should adapt. When Gerrard kept appearing on the left wing outside both Cole and Downing there was little chance of any space to play.
Johnno might have more chance because he has a trick but will probably only ever be an impact sub.
**AV writes: It also helped when he was the main man at Boro and given the ball and the freedom to be creative. At Villa and with England his first task is ball retention and looking to play it inside.
Ian Gill Said:
"I seem to recall that O'Neill talked about Downing playing the Barry type role even before he recovered from injury.
His best games for England were when both Lampard and Gerrard were not playing. The most noticeable was away against Germany in the 2-1 win when he was simply outstanding. That had a balanced line up with real width and pace."
Germany certainly was Downing's best game for England, but I reckon the difference wasn't the absence of Lampard and Gerrard, but the absence of Ashley Cole (Wayne Bridge played in that game).
I have a theory about Ashley Cole - that he doesn't like playing with a wide man in front of him. He seems to prefer a left midfielder who likes to come inside, hence his successful partnerships with Pires and Joe Cole, and his failed partnerships with the "touchline-hugging" Downing and Malouda (until recently).
I think Downing's England career has suffered from playing with a full back who doesn't know what to do with him.
**AV writes: I agree completely about Cole. He didn't look like he wanted to pass to Stewie at all and seemed to be picking out fellow Chelsea players even if they were in a far worse position.
Andy R and AV
Fair call on Cole. It probably compounded the problems with Gerrard on the left wing and Cole passing to anyone from Chelsea.