Boro Fail To Spark ... (Again)
IS A point away at Leicester a good one? I think so. They were very quick going forward, used both flanks well and got a lot of crosses into the box but Boro put in a fantastic battling display with David Wheater magnificent: tackling, blocking, heading and generally creating a one man wall across the face of goal.
Jason Steele made an assured league debut and the teenager made one outstanding first half save from a DJ Campbell free-kick and a couple of other good ones - although he needed his crossbar to block the best chance from a first half header.
Good points.... those two individual displays, Gary O'Neil's return injected some urgency and he almost scored with his first touch (his free-kick was the only save their man had to make), Luke Williams first half weaving run and shot that grazed the post, the touch and movement from Scott McDonald, some good spells of ball retention and passing.
Bad points.... being ravaged down the flanks by blistering pace (again), watching the opposition have a dozen good chances (again), failing to supply Kris Boyd with any balls in the box (again), seeing a player stretchered off (again) and a pedestrian midfield that laboured away but couldn't find a spark (again).
One goal and one point from two games. A slow start. Time to step up a gear lads.
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I think you're being a little unkind AV. Although I only saw the second half I thought it was a well played game by two commited teams. Only criticism I can give, is we defended too deep at times. I would like us to press further up the field. I know one thing, last years club would have lost that game easily.
On the plus side we are only 3 points off a play off position.
I think a point away at Leicester is a good result. I thought we were OK, certainly fairly strong in defence and midfield. As you say, Wheater was excellent, and Steele also. Nice to see Bates back on the field. He was also good for 75 minutes, and then desperately bad for 15, almost gave them the game.
Was good to see us hang on at the end, last couple of years we would have lost that to a late goal. Defensively I thought Bailey was good, with some important blocks and tackles, but he didn't offer much going forward.
Up front we battled away but didn't really create anything, with speed and width the problem. Wide (fast) midfielders and attacking full backs would make a huge difference. There was one point where McDonald played a nice little ball to the supporting Bates on the right wing. He had room and momentum and needed to bomb on, pushing it past their full back and getting behind him. He didn't, he slowed down and played in a 45 degree ball into the box that was easily cleared.
It was frustrating and a good example of why we aren't stretching teams. Still, we're on the board, and a clean sheet...it's been a long time since we had one of them! Let's see where we can go from here.
You're not being unkind, AV. You are right in every respect.
The thing I like about Thomson is his ability to give the ball immediately to someone who is in a slightly better position than him - not dwelling on it while he has a good think. He seems to have the awareness of who's where and what the options are as he receives the ball: Merson and Souness both benefited from this kind of awareness. He could be the something we have missed for many years - and I hope we are not going to have to miss him for too long.
For him to be as effective as he could be, we do need speed though, and Emnes should be considered as a project again. We are one-paced AND too deep, and that is much easier to defend against.
Another thing that marked Leicester out from us was that their pacy midfield made darting runs in diagonals across and through our lines: our lot seemed as if they were scared of disobeying instructions and kept their shape comparatively rigid (except for Scott, who turned up in surprising areas at times.)
And we need to feed Boyd from the bylines: he doesn't look too clever with his back to goal so far. Arca's header and our few corners are the only occasions I can recall a cross of any sort from the by-line this season.
I thought that it was an excellent performance from the Boro yesterday and that we were unfortunate not to win. GS2 got his tactics spot on and Boyd was unlucky not to score at least a hat trick.
The midfield looks immense and strong as does the defence and its only a matter of time before things all click into place. Ithink automatic promotion is an absolute certainty this season.
(wakes up from nice dream)
Dour, drab and clueless. I wish they hadn't put it on the telly as it ruined my evening.
It's been a slow start, but yesterday has to be a good point.
Last season we got nothing at Leicester.
Now is the time to start stepping up a gear.
AV
Having been at the game, agree absolutely with you comments. gt is also right that we would have lost the game last season. The clean sheet is welcome.
But we need more - more width and pace to come in before the end of the month plus a goalie and cover for Big Mick & Wheats - and more from those who have already arrived and the retained squad.
The current offering - is mid-table, at best.
Promotion favorites? Yer having a laugh!!
I was really disappointed yesterday, no pace or attacking endeavor. Boyd knocked the ball down well a few times but I wanna see him in the box feeding on crosses, McDonald didn't stop working and looked the only true live wire in our side. Williams looked good going forward but got caught too many times in dangerous areas and that's why O'neil came on I think.
I would have liked to have seen Tarmo take the field earlier than he did to see if he could inject pace, width, and life into the team. Bates is the most over-rated player in the Boro set-up, not a championship player in my opinion!
Praise for Wheater, Mcmanus, and Steele - it look like Teesside really do have the best Steele in the land, however I don't know who coaches goalkeepers kicking at Boro but he seems to suffer from Schwarzer syndrome but with worse goal kicks, I think only one stayed in play.
I also didn't see any evidence of us being any fitter than Leicester!
We should put a cheeky bid in for DJ Campbell, I was relieved to see him go off.
A point is a point and it is good to get off the mark.
The problems that have been highlighted are no surprise to any of us. We know we need a left back who can bomb on and another wide player.
Jones leaving would also mean we need a keeper though I am firmly in the camp that believed we needed one anyway. It would also give us the money to bring in other players.
Another centre back would be fine but the priority is playing further up the pitch. To do that we need pace and width.
Once we have addressed those issues (or not) then we will get a realistic picture of where we are. The longer we have people like Robson on the right of a midfield four then the longer it will take for us to get going.
The business we have done so far is sound but it is only part of the job.
We need to use the remaining transfer window wisely, but I was happy with what I saw at yesterday's battling display. It's a minor step forward but a point at Leicester is a good point in my book. Good Boro backing from Boro's travelling army too.
How things change in 3 months.
Last game of the season away at Leicester ã25 and a gate of 30,000. A few months down the line the tickets cost ã30 and a gate of just over 21,000. Not sure how they can justify a ã5 hike in prices, but it affected their attendance, as the fans (al-a Boro) stayed away in their droves.
We were talking to Leicester fans in the Counting House pub, who told us some of their mates actually went to purchase match day tickets and when they found out the price, told the ticket office to shove them where the sun don't shine.
I suppose that is the difference between a chairman like Steve Gibson compared with a Maverick like Mandaric.
Some good points raised AV about the match. It was good to see Gary O'Neil make a return, we seemed more assured after his introduction. We have got the best Steele in the world just about summed it up.
UTB
Bad Times!! Thomson Fractured FIbula Confirmed
SUMMER signing Kevin Thomson fractured the fibula in his right leg in Saturday's goalless draw at Leicester City, Boro have confirmed.
http://www.mfc.co.uk/articles/20100815/thomson-fractured-fibula-confirmed-_70638_2123585
Stubbsy -
Gotta be honest I could only remember Boro ripping Leicester apart at Filbert St before the CC Final '97, possibly one of the worst things we did, because of that performance they put the shackles on the little fella at Wembley and Hillsbrough, previous to that I could only remember us beating them 6-0 at Ayresome Park.
However having looked it up and found a great site we beat them;
02.03.2002 Middlesbrough 1-0 Leicester City
17.09.2001 Leicester City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Info From & now bookmarked
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/leicester-city/head-to-head
Just wanted to make an observation (my opinion only) based on this weekends games, PL league and Championship.
I had the chance to see about eight games via the box, plus all leagues highlights. Let me just say some of the Prem games were outstanding to watch but the usual bottom 12 teams where awful.
In fact Id say, based on what Ive been seeing for a while now, at least 10 clubs in the Champ are as good if not better than most of those, at least on team basic units to watch, talking about value for your ticket. Boro v Leicester, Forest v Leeds, both good competitive games to watch ,and a fair amount of skill involved. So what is my point?
Have you ever wondered which club has the least knowledgable fans in the country based on watching your team playing football at the level they are up against and the resources they have at their disposal?
At the end of the day no matter how much you love your team you have to sometimes hold your hand up and say I cant watch that anymore. So Ive come up with who it is,and I have to say having seen them enough in the last 4 seasons,and I watched their game on Saturday....
SUNDERLAND have 38/40.000 fans who are brainwashed into believing their team actually plays football,if kicking the ball as far as you can and chasing it for ninety minutes ,hoping you get a lucky knock on ,or mistake from the other team,or someone has a shot and it goes in,then Im sorry,you can keep it.
So all you Boro fans who think our team isnt good,go watch that lot,it is abysmal
Stoke in for Wheater with Andrew Davies returning as aprt of the deal?
Doesnt seem likely to me, I suspect Jones going to Liverpool will ease the pressures in the Smithy. Hopefully new supplies are on the way shortly.
Not so good news about Thomson. Not that he's actually up to speed yet and contributing but this just delays the time when he will be.
Assuming we can hang on to GON and he can stay fit there can just be the same one for one swap as there was on Saturday after Thomson was carried off.
What this doubly underlines now - and even before this the underscoring was stand out enough - is that the right wing width and pace has to be secured this week.
The only way to buy some time beyond that is to move away from Strachan's 4-4-2 with a flat midfield four. But that's just delaying what is desirable and inevitable - if we want to seriously push on from here.
Other priorities:-
New goalie when Jones is gone; a left footed left back with some pace and cover for centre back - an injury to either Wheats or Big Mick would put a big hole in things, though I'd rather see Matt Bates filling in for them than I would have him continuing at full back.
Time to get the machinery in gear again.
Will be interesting to see how many teams come away from Leicester with a point or more this season. Thought we played well and will play a lot better and get beaten in the future. The injury a worry but that should mean O'Neil will stay put at least until the next window.
Stoke doing the dirty again coming after Boro players with little time left to replace as with Huth and the Turk last season? Remember three squad numbers to fill but if Jones and Wheater goes that will be five
Spot on comments AV.
I think your observation that O'Neils free kick was the only time the goalkeeper was tested is the most concerning thing about the season so far. That would makes it two games and only twice have we caused the opposing goalkeeper any problem, one of which we have scored!!!
If we don't start to creat chances, I think even John Powls mid-table prediction could prove to be optomistic!!!!!
Enjoy looking at stats as they more often than not, paint a truer picture than just observation. Some stats to mull over :
GS2's win percentage as manager of Celtic was around 67%. In the more competitive English leagues at Coventy it was approx 32%, and at Southampton 35%, At the Boro? currently around the 28% mark. So a slightly below average perfeomance so far, but one mighty improvement on his average in England would be required to gain promotion.
Is he really the man to lead us back to the PL??
Is a point at Leicester a good one? Well we got thumped there last year, their first home game of the season, new manger, high expectations from last year and they finished above us last year so yes a good point.
Was it a good performance? Well it was better than last week's. Signs of slow progress in the hard to beat department, but it only takes one bad bounce, bad decision or piece of brilliance from the opposition and we are one goal down. Do we look like scoring goals, a goal? Not yet.
Still 44 games to go but the Smogonthetyne promotion predictor ⢠é is giving the following:
Promotion Prediction = Possible Play offs
Chance to improve our chances next week against a team we only drew with at home last year.
Re ticket prices. I think Leicester alter their ticket prices in accordance with opposition. We are obviously seen as the big drawâŠâŠâŠâŠâÂÅ sniggers.
No Thomson for a couple of months will certainly provide some impetus in our transfer dealings if any were needed.
There are some factors that we need to bear in mind.
Parmo has barely featured in any of our games thus far, I guess he may get a run out next Sunday. We could also do with a right sided equivalent.
Robbo may revert to centre mid and stay there.
We may see a change in style prompted by Thommos absence with Parmo and McDonald playing either side of Boyd though as many have commented, Boyd seems to prefer a more traditional 442 type approach but he would probaly settle for someone to create a chance for him. If you have a goalpoacher you have to give him opportunities.
Will O'Neill stay? I would be happy if he did. A midfield three of Bailey, Robson and O'Neill could be very effective if Bailey settles in.
At left back I think Bennett has to play unless we bring another player in. We are getting torm apart down the flanks possibly in part because other teams wide players dont have to worry about us keeping them occupied with pace and adventure.
Thinking back to the horrible 0-0 draw against Blackburn with Wheater and Pogo at full back, we should have been comfortably beaten even though we had Jinkie and Downing on the flanks. Our full backs never got forward so our flying wingers always had two men on them and were receiving the ball in their own half. They would get mugged and Blackburn would be behind them attacking the space left by Wheater and Pogo sitting deep or they would give away a free kick 50 yards out for their defence to gobble up the long ball.
I think we are still a work in progress but it is up to Gordon and his merry men to marshall current resources to get a result sooner rather than later.
A key thing, as I posted before the Ipswich game is some stability in team selection and style of play though two stretcher injuries do not help. The problem is that if what you are doing does not and is unlikely to work then you have to try something else.
No panic as yet but we could do with a win against Sheff Utd.
PS Bellamy to Cardiff would pose a huge threat to the division, by all accounts they were far too good for Derby.
Only 21 comments. It seems the sluggish start to the season has been reproduced here. Even the "AV Writes:" are conspicuous by their absence.
I feel like Kris Boyd... where's the service? Do I have to come back deep into the thread? I much prefer hanging around in the box. Come on Jarkko 400, let's have some of your quality build up play. Ian,John, Smog. Where's your midfield artistry?
I'm sorry if I appear cynical (Boro fan, c'est la vie) but I fail to see how grimly hanging on to scrap a nil-nil draw with a team we are supposed to be competing with for promotion can be seen as a good point.
Installing us as pre-season favourites has got to be one of the biggest practical jokes of all time, and yet we fell for it. Boro are never favourites, we should know this by now. We wouldn't even be favourites if we were playing Guisborough Town.
We are currently in 20th place in the league and are 5 points and 9 goals behind the leaders.
I'm starting to think we may have to, you know, start actually winning games sooner or later for us to be in contention for promotion at the end of the season.
GHW -
I'm prepared to accept any critcism on the 'craft' front or maybe playing too defensively or with too little width in my posting - though it feels like I'm still doing more attacking than I'd like to for my essentially holding, pivot role on the blog.
I can't buy your 'graft' - or lack of it - assertion, though.
Two postings on this thread already and ten articles on Boro Banter since pre-season means my workrate surely can't be faulted!
GHW -
I have been away so unavailable to do the Robbie Mustoe blog to blog posting.
Alex -
Bookies are generally pretty accurate with their odds so I am concerned but not worried yet. If we get to the end of the window without addressing some of our weaknesses I will be bothered.
If we have no width and still play right backs on the left then I will be seriously bothered. A point a game at the ten game point is navel gazing time.
This is copied straight from SkySports website and is a story about Celtic
''A statement on the club's official website read: "Gary Hooper, who sustained a tear in his left calf against Blackburn, could be out the team for up to six weeks."
Whiplash
Lennon's front pair at Inverness, Georgios Samaras and Shaun Maloney, both performed well but passed up a host of chances to make the 1-0 victory more convincing.
Celtic had to rely on Paddy McCourt's wonderful solo effort but the winger is a doubt for the first leg against Utrecht at Parkhead on Thursday.
McCourt suffered a whiplash injury when Maloney ran in to celebrate and Celtic's medical staff are monitoring his progress ahead of the visit of the Dutch side.
Meanwhile, defender Thomas Rogne is out for up to three weeks with a strain in his left thigh picked up while playing for Norway Under-21s last week.
Winger Niall McGinn is progressing well in his rehab from a fractured metatarsal and should have another two weeks to go while Mark Wilson, who suffered a right adductor injury, will remain in rehab for 10 days to two weeks.
Former Motherwell winger Paul Slane ruptured his cruciate ligament in pre-season and has had a successful reconstruction performed in London, but will be out for about nine months.''
So it isnt just us
Has this season started yet?
Having been dragged from pillar to post for weddings, birthday parties and naming ceremonies (no? me neither) I havenâÂÂt got to a game this season or even heard it on the radio. There was brief burst of action on the match day blog against Ipswich but that faded in to a red wine blur.
I just donâÂÂt feel as if it has started yet. I bet poor Willo and Thommo wish it hadnâÂÂt. Maybe we should play Mido on Sunday but the good people at St Johns ambulance may veto the game on health and safety grounds.
IâÂÂm really looking forward to Sunday; itâÂÂs been far too long since IâÂÂve sat motionless, dumbstruck at someone elseâÂÂs ineptitude.
Sheff Utd look like appointing a new boss in Gary Speed in time for Sunday. And we all know what happens in a managers first game in chargeâŠâŠâŠâÂÅ .., you get beat at home by Plymouth, or down at Reading or walloped by Arsenal âŠâŠâŠâÂÅ
AV, after this start whatâÂÂs your predicted finish for the boro?
**AV writes: I still think we are going up automatically and I am not in any way about to panic ... although I am always optimistic in August.
I may have had a quiff whiff of the foam fingers but I just think the team are solid if not spectacular, will become hard to beat and will grind it out most weeks, will gel and get better going forward and start to use Boyd effectively, that new people will come in to resolve the obvious problems (LB, RW, probably GK as well now) and crucially, that if we are just short or wobbling in December that Gibbo will spend again to ensure promotion.
Hi Mr GHW -
Sorry, been absent for much of the last two weeks in a technology free zone in the East Neuk of Fife and when I've escaped to the office, I've actually been expected to do some work. Dreadful state of affairs really, but I've not been able to help pad the blog out for those with far more elegant play and those with far sharper finishing to work around.
Bad news about Thomson, but GON came through well for us by accounts. Another fine display from young Jason in between the sticks ..... like me and others have said before, if you are good enough, you are old enough.
AV , is there any news on the Conway front, or generally on how the proceeds from the Brad Jones windfall might be put to good use? Wide right midfield, left (and right for me) full backs and I think we will be OK. I'm still with the bookies favorite for this season.
**AV writes: I think the bid for Conway remains on the table and his club suits are starting to sweat a bit. They want cash to rebuild at the back and he has told them he wants to go. Still two weeks for them to crack yet. Maybe the Jones money will enable Boro to throw another ã100k in to swing it. Ditto Dawson.
97 season we had a shaky start. Undeserved late win in the opening game at home to Charlton, lost at home to Stoke and at home to Sheff Utd. We looked rank bad. But didnâÂÂt lose an away game until November and the home form started to pick up to.
Nobody gets promoted in August. Mid Table mediocrity may be hinted at but nothingâÂÂs for sure yet. Would we swap our squad for MillwallâÂÂs?
AV
I still share your August optimism in your response to Smog at 2:34 and for the reasons you say - so long as the second and third phases of the transfer strategy (dead wood out; RW,LB & GK in - and now with DW & GON retained) and that we move beyond just 'grinding out' to winning convincingly every now and again as Strachs shows that he can use the resource he's got to the best advantage.
On Steele, I just feel that we've got to think about the whole of the trajectory of his development not just respond to a couple of decent first team performances.
Handle it right at this stage, make him clearly No. 2 to, say, Speroni and when he steps up to No. 1 at the right time he could be first choice at Boro for a decade or more - unless we're marooned in this division when he'll make a first choice keeper slot his own at a Prem club and we'll get a decent fee.
Get it wrong now and rush him and we're risking setting him back significantly, maybe having to withdraw him from the firing line with his confidence knocked and getting past the end of August with only Danny, Danny Coyne. No disrespect to Danny - but I don't think that will do if we really want to go up.
The kid may be a little disappointed right now to see a new No. 1 come in but he sounds sensible enough about himself and his career to understand - as he said himself - that he's 'only a baby' in goalkeeping terms and that if he - and the club - do the right things his time will come.
One thing he has done already is to set the bar high for whoever comes in. With him at No. 2 they'll have to be a keeper of experience and quality coming in and they'll need to keep their standards up when they're here to keep him out.
Here is a scenario for debate if Jones goes to Liverpool.
Ideally we need a keeper whilst Steele matures. If we need a first choice starter for the role then it looks as if it wont be Coyne.
Chelsea have Cech understudied by Hilario and look to have made a bid for Begovic. I cannot see them spending good money to put a keeper behind Hilario and Turnbull in the pecking order.
So how about a season long loan for Turnbull?
We can pay him a wage topped up by Chelsea, he will get a fair crack of the whip unlike under Gate and we get time for Steele to continue to develop without the outlay of a transfer fee. Simples!
It may sound daft but it could work.
Finally, if Jones does go to Liverpool I genuinely hope it works out for him and he proves to be a great success. I am not convinced by him as a keeper but that doesnt mean I want him to fail, he will be better off away from the club.
AV - I agree with your comment to Smogonthetyne now in Nunthorpe.
Strachan's hope of providing a team that wins playing open attacking football is a tad optimistic. I think we will be promoted winning games 1 - 0, and that we do me nicely.
C'Mon Boro!
Adam Johnson was good enough a long time before he was in the team, as was Downing - it took a loan spell at Sunderland for the club to open their eyes. Good enough, old enough and all that!
Look at Germany in the World Cup full of young lads, look at our team of 87-88, and how old was Pele when he was playing for Brazil. This is just another trait of the football mentality in this country.
Steele's confidence must be buzzing at the moment and we always hear how important confidence is with players. He's got a great rapture with the fans and he's putting a shift in. Keep him in the team (but work on his kicking).
I would also like a look at Bruno, maybe in the CC.
sick as a parrot said:
"Strachan's hope of providing a team that wins playing open attacking football is a tad optimistic. I think we will be promoted winning games 1 - 0, and that we do me nicely."
Under Big Jack we were far from open and attack minded as the promotion season got underway... neither were the Barcodes last season for that matter. What is most important is to get the results that matter now and grind out the results. Then as winter turns to spring and spring to early summer we should see more and more convincing and entertaining wins ... just like in Big Jack's promotion year.
Totally agree with John Powls with regard to Jason Steele. He must be allowed to learn without being overly exposed in the knowledge that, as long as he keeps working hard, he is the future.
If you're good enough then you ARE old enough to play but you must also be mature enough to deal with setbacks. Ability is one asset to becoming a top player but mental strength is at least as important.
The club have a duty to develop both in Steele and this must be done responsibly, without taking unnecessary risks. His future, and that of several other prospects in the ranks, are tightly linked with the club's.
That said, I think the squad-gaps at RW & LB should take priority over a new GK, whatever the Brad Jones situation. At this point, I think the lack of width and pace in the squad is likely to be a bigger obstacle to promotion than Danny Coyne in goal, backed up by Steele.
A draw away from home is a decent result at anytime of the season, and given that we didn't concede either a good if unspectacular days work. Bit of a blow with Thomson's injury but the squad is big enough to cope.
Once the team starts to settle into a rhythm the results will follow.
Defence is the best form of attack...get some more Wheats in...left n right...in Craggs/Jones mould...!
Yay, who gives a toss about the Boro coz the Jawdeez got hammered.
What's all this balance and looking at the positives AND the negatives. Come on Vickers, this is Boro. It's one or the other.
Although it's still early days and we shouldn't start getting too worried - I believe the Sheff Utd game is already in the 'must win' category in order to avoid pre-season optimism evaporating and falling back into the pattern of last season (ie can't score, can't win at home).
Despite the signings, the team still has a last season feel to it - Boyd is still waiting for service, Kink is not ready to replace Jinky and now Thomson despite showing promise has become the latest glass-legged midfielder to arrive.
Last season's problem of creating chances still remains a problem - we need supply on the right (and left) and full-backs who get forward (and can then also get back to defend).
So plenty more incoming looks like being required - though would an late offer for O'Neil be also accepted? probably not given the rate of attrition. Also now that Jones is the latest to understudy at one of the big clubs, should we stick or twist? maybe we should see how it goes with Steele and Coyne until January and use the cash elsewhere.
In the meantime, hopefully Boro can muddle through and keep up with the early pace-setters - I'd settle for 17-19pts after 10 games at the moment.
So, the Corporal is to sign for Liverpool tomorrow! Who'd'a thought it? LMAO! Wouldn't have wished him on my worst enemy... Well, maybe on the Deckchairs & the Mags, but I suspect Mrs Doubtfire & Chris Hughton aren't as desperate to import home-grown "talent" as RH! Good luck on Merseyside, Bad... sorry, Brad...
P.S. Why's it taking the EG so long to correct the spelling of "Anfield"? *rolls eyes*
**AV writes: The template can't be accessed from our end. It was a geeky technical explanation. I think it means the page is knacked. They are working on it.
I think it's way too early to be talking about "must-win" games. How can the third game of the season be must win? Anyway, I hope not as I can't see us winning it, I'd settle for a draw which I think is the best we're likely to get from the game.
Well Jones has gone but based on the loss of midfielders ...... = 1 per match maybe we need more in the middle of the park rather than a number 3?
Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and Spain was 18 years and 4 months old when he made his debut for Real Madrid. And he was made the number one at the club just before he was 19!
Of course every player is different. And especially so concerning goalkeepers. But as always if you are good eneough you old enough.
I like Steele. I think we could go until Xmas with just Coyne and Steele in the team but who is playing for the reserves then? Also there is the possibility for emergency loan for goal keepers. Interesting to see but perhaps we could loan somebody in until Xmas?
Up the Boro!
I like Thomson's resilience and positivity in respect to his unfortunate injury - 'After what I've been through (with knee injuries) this is like getting a rip in my tights' - though not sure the analogy will do him much good in the dressing room!
The prognosis for his recovery sounds as positive as it could be in the circumstances too. A bit better than I feared when we saw him motionless on the Walkers' Stadium turf.
Any news about Mido to Ajax this week? And Digard to Nice and their second offer? Or Emnes to ... anywhere soon?
If Jones departs soon (as anticipated by www.mfc.co.uk) we should be able to afford some good reinforcements on left back and right wing positions. And possibly bring in CB cover like Dawson from Rochdale.
I think if we out load a few we are able to strength the squad for better service to Boyd as well as for promotion in May.
Up the Boro!
**AV writes: We are saying today that there has been a tentative inquiry for Jon Walters (that should give Dundee something to think about). Also Swansea have asked about Leroy Lita, see you isnnit?
Why is British international football in a mess?
Following the introduction of the new rules concerning home grown players here is an extract from Arsenals current squad showing players classed as home grown and U21.
SENIOR HOME-GROWN: Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Denilson, Johan Djourou, Cesc Fabregas, Vito Mannone, Alex Song.
SELECTED UNDER-21s: Emmanuel Frimpong, Kieron Gibbs, Aaron Ramsay, Wojciech Szczesny, Armand Traore, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Carlos Vela.
Only picked on Arsenal because they were the first on the list in alphabetical order.
Anyone spot any clues?
AV, I seem to remember you mentioning raiding cash stricken Cardiff about Whittingham /Burke a while back so anything concrete in the rumour about the former? We do need some creativity in there and his obvious eye for goal would be welcomed.
Still would like a left back though, not overly comfortable with Hoyte over there!
**AV writes: Whittingham was mentioned a while back then went quiet but the name has been thrown in again over the past few days. It seems that with the deadline looming, the Jones money coming in and a few edging towards the exit door the club are gearing up for another flurry of recruitment.
There's also something wafting around about Strachan being interested in Whittingham.
This may well be just reviving an old rumour and, of course, Whittingham's a decent player - though he's not started this season in as sparkling form as last.
But - another left footed midfielder? If we're sniffing around Cardiff, Chris Burke their right winger would be a better bet.
AV can I get a request in nice and early for a live tranny deadline day blog like earlier this year.
I think this transfer window could see farcical scenes with premier league clubs having to off load some players to keep within the 25 man squad rule. Clubs will be reluctant to loan players within the EPL so some chimpship clubs could be handily placed to pick up a few cracking deals. Just looking at the long list of full backs at Spurs, and if they add to the squad they will have to off load quite a few.
If Mido, Digo, Joneso and M&So leave that freeâÂÂs up a lot of space.
Could there be a marquee loan signing or two or is GS2 not wanting the upheaval of loan players again?
**AV writes: Yeah, lets go for Stewy Downing, Ross Turnbull and Wayne Bridge.
We need a 3rd goalie for the first team squad. Sods law being what it is, one keeper will be suspended while the other is injured. It's too big a risk.
So, I hope that we are considering bringing in someone who is good enough to support the 2 main men.
Unless of course, we have another good young prospect. Are either of the two academy keepers - Adam Smith or Connor Ripley (Stuart's son?)- ready to act as emergency cover in the first team?
I stand to be corrected but i thought we can still loan players from EPL after the deadline, just cant buy them? Either way it will be exciting to see what happens with this 25 rule, esp at likes of Man City. Who would have believed Bellamy would sign for Cardiff! Does that make whittingham / Burke more or less likely I wonder....
I see the Gazette decided against running with the headline 'Thomson in transvestite revelation' and instead went with 'Kevin Thomson targeting a speedy recovery' - what kind of journo doesn't follow up a remark about a man ripping his tights?
Perhaps it's just what scottish players wear to keep warm in the deep winter when they're knocking lumps out of each other - or handbags at five paces as it's called north of the border.
Chris D -
The most depressing part is the fact clubs are filling the youth squads with overseas players.
We also have new money going in to Blackburn and the potential owner saying it is his money to waste and he doesnt mind losing it. How does the saying go? If you want to make a small fortune out of football you have to start with a big one.
On to the Championship. Interesting that cash strapped Cardiff have Bellamy on loan. That will stretch Bates hamstrings! I wonder how many defenders will 'develop' ailments as the Cardiff fixture looms?
Chris D -
You might be surprised to learn that those Arsenal players mentioned can play for England now provided they haven't represented their 'own' country.
Even dafter eh? Hence Steven Gerard stating that he'd love to see that other local Scouse, Arteta picked for England.
Mido upsets Kayserispor
Kayserispor spokesman Suleyman Hurma: 'Mido might be a good player but he is arrogant and has serious attitude problems. We are not going to sign a player with such attitude. I hope this will be a lesson for him.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1303800/Mido-upsets-Turkish-club-rocking-invitation.html#ixzz0wraeLl1p
I am suprised that Kayserispor did not know what a waste of space Mido was.
C'Mon Boro!
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1303800/Mido-upsets-Turkish-club-rocking-invitation.html#ixzz0wraaIViY
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1303800/Mido-upsets-Turkish-club-rocking-invitation.html
Sunday's line-up in midfield and attack?
Boyd - McDonald
Kink-Bailey-Robson-O'Neil
Then change formation if needed to:
Lita
Kink - McDonald
Bailey-Robson-O'Neill
And of course Luke Williams will do a job if needed. Arca's a sub.
Jarkko
If we have no new wide men in before Sunday then I'd like to see a virtue made of the 'necessity' of Boro's lack of midfield width and pace and go 4-3-3.
So (L to R):-
Bailey, Robson and O'Neil in midfield with Kink, Boyd and McDonald up front.
Kink's used to that from his Hungarian club and Estonia and has got goals in that role too. I think we'd get more supply to Boyd that way and McDonald showed what he could do in that role against Chesterfield.
It means that the graft/craft balance is skewed more to craft in the front three and more to graft in the middle - but that suits what we've got available better, I think.
We need to move the whole assembly ten metres up the pitch too, get the midfield closer to the attackers and ensure we are pressing higher up the field so that when we get a foot in and turnover possession we can be on their back four before they're set - that way, the lack of midfield pace is less of an issue too.
I'm sure the focus on the training ground this week needs to be on addressing the dynamics too - passing and moving etc.
When we're defending we can move to 4-5-1 and if the team, for whatever reason, aren't happy with the set out you can go back to 4-4-2 with the same personnel.
Ideally, it would be good if the full backs on both sides could overlap too - so, I'd look to have Hoyte on the right and Bennett on the left. But I think Strachan wouldn't agree - so I'd expect him to 'man up' and go the same again in defence from last Saturday - Hoyte, Big Mick, Redcar Rock and 'Knees' Bates.
But then I think he'd probably agree with you and go 4-4-2 from the start.
It would be helpful, if he does, to get GON to get at least some chalk from the right hand touchline in The Blades' half on his boots.
I agree with John, no great surprise as we are in regular contact!
The most important aspect on Saturday is to be on the front foot. A narrow 4-4-2 will have Sheff U marauding down the flanks and exposing our full backs to attacking width. perish the thought of Yeates coming on to torment us.
The tricky part is what line up Speed will adopt. Will he plump for a Bolton style approach or be more attacking? Their fans have been complaining about poor football but that wont worry him away from Bramall Lane.
But will we go for width and pace? will we go for the comfort blanket that can be thrown over our midfield players.
Does Brad keep dropping the pen at Liverpool? He's taking an age to sign!!
Just to register MY vote on Jason Steele. I think he should retain incumbency.
The arguments about "being ready" are subjective. Any objectivity in the discussion points to him being ready.
Is he technically competent? Yes, he appears to be.
Is he mature enough to shoulder the responsibility? So far he appears to be.
If he makes a mistake and the crowd react badly, how will he react? We don't know until he's tried. How do we find out? By trying him - giving him the opportunity.
You don't nurture talent by hiding it away. The young Nevilles, Beckhams, Scholes and Giggs weren't hidden away and wrapped in cotton wool. They were expected to bear the responsibility at an early age. And what rewards were reaped by Manchester United AND the players.
There are guys his age in Afghanistan taking a lot more on their shoulders and dealing with stuff a lot more consequential than a Championship goalkeeper.
The ONLY concern I would have so far, seeing what he's done, would be on his behalf. If he was given the senior position, how would his ego and behaviours react? In that sense, how mature is he?
That is a judgment for Gordon Strachan and Jim Blyth. But I think they'll see it in the same light as I do and be inclined to give the guy his chance. I hope they do.
The other matter is then, do we need the additional cover of a third, named, proven goalkeeper in the squad. But THAT is a different question. However, Jason Steele's current status impacts on how that need may be addressed.
That we've "discovered" he's ready, gives the suits the opportunity to save a few quid on a fully-established and higher salaried replacement for Jones. It widens the potential market beyond the likes of Speroni.
Mido upsets a football club - is there any news value in that? Would that revelation cause a stampede around the newspaper sellers in central MIddlesbrough?
Now if the story was "Club and fans voice their heartfelt thanks as Mido finishes his contract in the manner he has operated throughout its length - honest, hardworking endeavour and a flurry of goals. Team-mates jostle to lay praise on the way he bonded the dressing room, and thanks were given by several of the younger players whose help to them has been invaluable to their careers. It is intended that the player will have the North Stand named in his honour. There are moves to retire the shirt"...
Forgive me as I duck - a pig has just flown by.
The Jones transfer is not yet sure but he is giving interviews already at L'pool's official home page.
Jones walking out at Anfield will also be a proud moment for his Liverpudlian mum.
"Mum's over the moon, as is my granddad," said Australia international. "It's nice. I have family round here, so it's nice to be in a familiar area. It's 50/50 in the family between Liverpool and Everton, but I'm sticking to the red side.
"Obviously rumours fly around but I heard of the interest a couple of weeks ago. Growing up with a mum who's a Scouser, Liverpool was drilled into me and Liverpool's my team.
"It didn't take too long to think coming here through!"
I wish Brad all the best at his mum's home town. We can do with Steele and use the money on a right winger. UTB!
Well said Richard!
Joey Barton says he won't shave off his daft soft porn tash until Newcastle win. By then he'll look like a Viking. Doyletash the Untalented.
Who was the last Boro player to have a tash? Not GON bumfluff but a real one. I've been racking my brains and I can't remember? David Currie? Peter Beagrie? One of the joeys? What about a beard? I can't ever remember a Boro player with a beard. Did Trapper have one for a while?
In 1995 Jean Marc Bosman won a ruling that changed the power base in football throughout Europe. It left players in the driving position and enabled them to leave clubs when they were out of contact, without a transfer fee being involved. This meant they could negotiate a much higher basic salary.
At the same time this signalled an end to the âÂÂ3 foreignersâ quota for clubs. Since then wages have spiralled to the point where even average player like Jimmy Bullard can command ã50.000 plus per week. Ya Ya Toure is reported to be earning ã200.000 a week at Man City. It would appear that the new 25 man squad ruling is beginning to try and reverse that trend.
Today Craig Bellamy finds himself surplus to requirements at City and has moved on loan to Cardiff. Admittedly City will be paying the lionâÂÂs share of his salary but with the financial resources at the club, they may consider it money well spent to remove what they see as a disruptive influence. A lot of players will find themselves outside their clubs âÂÂ25â and will have to consider either being transferred or going out on loan. In future clubs may think twice about giving players long term contracts on high wages thereby tying them to the club.
In effect the market is going to shrink, 20 premiership clubs x 17 vacancies (less the 8 home grown players) means 340 job opportunities. Considering the large squadâÂÂs at most premier clubs, this will result in a lot of players looking for jobs.
At first they will just sit it out, training with the kids, collecting their wages, but eventually after a few seasons when their contracts run out the power will be back with the clubs. Even a relatively small club like ourselves has suffered, notably with the Mido affair. The days of the long contracts, except for the really top players may be on the way out.
I notice our free transfer signing Kris Boyd only has a 2 year contract. In the future players who donâÂÂt sign for the âÂÂBig Fourâ may find themselves being offered take it or leave it wages by the rest. The relative calm in this transfer window may just be the beginning of the clubs wresting the power back from the players.
PS Gordon. Please sign David Goodwillie.
Beards?
I seem to remember Billy Ashcroft doing a fair impersonation of The Hair Bear Bunch.
Craig B.
Answers are
1. Graeme Souness - who went for the Magnum PI look for a while.
2. Billy Ashcroft - we really do buy some right plods sometimes don't we ?
On the Brad Jones move. Brad definitely wasn't the worst keeper we've had here, not even close. Except for Schwarzer (I never spell his name right) and Stephen Pears we really haven't had many decent keepers in 40 years.
Jim Platt had one good game at Liverpool once - someone prodded him with a stick from behind the goal, Pat Cuff - say no more, honestly the number of lousy keepers we've had goes on and on.
Brad's first mistake was being the backup for Schwartzer (see above) and making a couple of mistakes early on when all eyes were on him and that made the crowd nervous and he was never forgiven for it. People never remembered his good days, just the days when things went wrong and 25,000 people groaning or waiting for a mistake must have added pressure we'll never know.
The second mistake was getting more and more games when our defence became more and more fragile the last couple of years. Basically he was on a hiding to nothing. I wish him luck elsewhere, maybe he'll get a better break from the fans at Liverpool then he ever got here.
In my mind it shows lack of judgement moving to Liverpool since he's really not going to get more than a few games a year unless they sell Pepe and then Liverpool will look for a replacement.
Sorry Brad, you either should have stayed and toughed it out and got regular first team games or moved to a smaller club as their first choice. Beats sitting on the bench, although probably not the same pay.
The money Liverpool have paid shows old Lambie has got his negotiator hat back on properly again.
Steele? he's showed he's good enough now he needs to prove it week in week out. If you look at Joe Hart and Paul Robinson, they were first choice very early in their careers so I don't see why Jason shouldn't stay in the team.
Craig B -
Last tashed players from my memory are Viv Anderson, John Wark, and my first Boro hero Gary Hamilton!!
Dormo - more no news.
Daily Mail report that Middlesbrough striker Mido has wrecked a possible loan move to Turkish side Kayserispor after he made an unannounced visit to inspect their training facilities.
More worrying news from the Netherlands:
Ajax financial director Jeroen Slop has admitted that the club may have to sell stars such as striker Luis Suarez, centre-back Jan Vertonghen and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to balance the books. All three have been linked with moves to the Premier League. (Sport.co.uk)
Will they spend they cash on the Egyptian striker we want to get rid of?
Up the Boro!
Curtis Fleming - a trendy goatee but that qualifies as a beard right?
Last one I remember with a tache (aside from Curtis) is Pears...
Forever Dormo
... retire the shirt. I thought we had undersoil heating and didnt need a pitch cover anymore.
Of more interest are Arsenal's plans for fan involvement buy allowing fans to invest small sums to get a 'share' in the club allowing some part in decision making at the club.
I am not going to get involved in the details but surely a similar idea would be perfect in the Gibson Republic of MFC. It is purported to be a custodianship for the fans, what a great way to get more involvement in the Boro tinged world we live in.
Steve -
I admit I was not Jones no1 fan but, like Schwarzer, he got some unfair stick.
At times we would have ten players behind the penalty spot at set pieces just asking for trouble. One of my much used sayings, and I can hear the virtual groans of here he goes again, is that I have never seen zonal on the score sheet.
We had players standing trying to defend against unmarked players with twenty yard runs to jump for the ball. People dont win field events at the Olympics with standing jumps.
The keeper is on a hiding to nothing if he tries to come out through ten red shirts and looks an idiot stuck on the line if he dooesnt.
That doesnt however condone his failure to boss his defence and penalty area. Nor does it stop him having Corporal moments.
It was best for him to move and maybe get a chance if Reina is rested, injured or suspended. I hope he does well. Even more important is that I hope his young lad is ok.
Ian, AV -
On the Arsenal plans for fans investment, David Conn's Guardian Blog is very interesting.
Not the least because the words that various Arsenal senior club officials use to describe the offering are precisely the same terms that Gibbo & The Count have often used to describe their role - and that of Boro fans and the town - in MFC.
Of course, the business model of Arsenal is different to that at MFC and, who knows, there might be a different economic demographic to Gooners but most that I know are just ordinary working folk - but there would seem to be no practical reason why a similar scheme couldn't work with Boro fans, tailored to meet the business model at MFC.
Supporters Direct - the umbrella organisation for Supporters Trusts - has many examples of how these arrangements can work well at clubs of all sizes and backgrounds.
Goodness knows, MFC surely should be examining any idea that both brings in investment and engages fans. But I know from personal experience of discussing this at the club that they have remained implaccably opposed to such notions.
Maybe with MFC it is just words whereas Arsenal - and others - mean what they say and have backed the rhetoric with action.
Considering Steve Gibson's previous comments about football agents, the following makes interesting reading......
Football League clubs paid out ã12.7million in agents' fees last season - a rise of ã3.9million from the previous year.
The League have been publishing the figures since September 2003 as part of their bid for transparency and the latest report released this morning shows that out of 2,392 transactions between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, an agent was paid 396 times.
Fourteen of the 72 clubs did not pay anything to agents, while a further 23 clubs only paid less than ã10,000.
The bulk of the ã12,739,867 outlay came from Championship clubs who paid ã10,131,314, while ã2,241,771 came from League One clubs and ã366,781 in League Two.
Middlesbrough spent the most individually, with ã1,464,200 being spent across a total of 29 transactions, while Newcastle were the only other club to spend over seven figures, with the St James' Park outfit paying ã1,073,076 over 39 transactions.
Southampton (ã401,248) spent the most in League One, while Notts County (ã246,483) accounted for over two-thirds of the money spent by League Two clubs.
New Football League chairman Greg Clarke has voiced his concern over the rise, saying: "Given the current economic climate, it is worrying to see such a significant amount leaking from the game.
"This year's figures demonstrate a considerable increase on those of last season and it is essential that clubs work to reduce this liability over the coming campaign."
The 14 clubs not to pay anything to agents were Accrington, Barnet, Bournemouth, Chesterfield, Crewe, Dagenham, Darlington, Exeter, Hereford, Lincoln, Macclesfield, Port Vale, Stockport and Tranmere.
C'Mon Boro!
John -
Maybe it is that famous version of the Red Flag. 'The working class can kiss my ass, I've got the Foremans job at last!'
Or like when the Shadow Employment Minister becomes Employment Minister the 'Yes Minister' effect takes over.
There is as much chance of a cure for 'Post Xmas Slump' as there is for 'Not Invented Here Syndrome'
From today's 'Echo':
"Boro chase Naylor as Kilgallon deal stalls....
MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to pull off a move for former Celtic full-back Lee Naylor after dropping their interest in Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon. Boro have been seeking reassurances over the fitness of Kilgallon since last week, when Steve Bruce, the Black Cast [sic! :)] boss, revealed the centre-back was on the verge of a loan to the Riverside Stadium.
"But back problems have failed to clear and now Middlesbrough are looking at alternatives. Rochdale centre-back Craig Dawson remains a target, with the Spotland club still angling for substantially more than the ã400,000 offered earlier this summer. Gordon Strachan remains keen on adding a new left-back to his squad and Kilgallon would have provided short-term competition for that role.
"The Boro boss has earmarked his former full-back at Celtic, Naylor, as the man he now wants to fill the vacant number three shirt. The 30-year-old has been training with Cardiff City after being released from Parkhead at the end of last season. Strachan has moved for the former Wolves defender after already playing Matthew Bates, Justin Hoyte and Joe Bennett at left-back in the absence of Andrew Taylor. Taylor returned to action for the reserves in yesterdayâÂÂs win over Scunthorpe, but Strachan has been intent on adding another left-back to his ranks before the transfer window shuts.
"After failing to win either of his opening Championship fixtures, Strachan wants to reinvest the finance raised from Brad Jonesâ ã2.3m sale to Liverpool back into a squad that still lacks pace and creativity. A couple of new defenders would not provide him with that, but he continues to pursue Dundee UnitedâÂÂs winger Craig Conway in the hope the Scottish Premier League club will lower their ã1.2m asking price. It was suggested yesterday Strachan â aware of interest from Swansea in striker Leroy Lita â is also considering a move for ConwayâÂÂs team-mate Dusan Pernis, a Slovakian international goalkeeper, as a replacement for Jones. Crystal PalaceâÂÂs Julian Speroni and HamiltonâÂÂs Tomas Cerny remain options. [...]"
Anyone know anything else about Naylor?
**AV writes: He was mentioned earlier in the summer but interest seemed to have faded. He has been training at Cardiff but has not been offered a deal there. So who knows, if that shirt isn't filled in a week...
Was our spend on agents also to get players off our books ala Alves and other assorted wastes of space?
By the way Kris Boyd has told me personally he is going to find the back of the net on sunday. It will start a run of 'goalscoring brutality'
his words not mine
**AV writes: Of the 29 transactions, five were contract terminations. I think they may well turn out to have been the most expensive to conclude.
Craig B -
I may have a winner!! Emerson sported a cracker.......
http://www.fussballautogramme.de/Emerson.html
Lads an LassieâÂÂs
IâÂÂve no been ah my best yet, but dina fret. IâÂÂll be ramminâ the wee baal intae tha back oâÂÂtha net on sundae. So yee can gans out an enjoy a swallee.
Mon the burra
Just watched the highlights of the reserve match against Scunthorpe at mfc.co.uk. Seb Hines played well and all 90 min. If we just knew he and Bates have all the injuries behind them now and that they would stay fit - do need then cover at CB?
Secondly the Project Emnes looked good yesterday. I just wonder if he still can make it at Boro. He has now played at reserves and was a sub at the League Cup, too. At least he is nearer the first team than Mido or Digard ever under GS2.
Perhaps we should put all the money received for Brad Jones and buy a right winger. And loan a LB and goalie as cover.
Up the Boro!
A few questions to ponder....
*Did anyone ever know until the Anfield press conference that Brad Jones was a diehard Scouser who felt all tingly when he played in front of the Kop?
*And how many games will he play for Liverpool? In almost a decade at Boro and on loan he has played 91 league games. Will he ever make 100?
*The arrival of Craig Bellamy has seen the title odds on administration candidates Cardiff slashed from 20/1 outsiders to 9/1 joint third favourites alongside drifting Boro. Is that fair? Will he fire them to glory or cause chaos in the changies and hit Michale Chopra with a gold club for not having a shot on the karaoke?
*Should Cardiff be allowed to sign players whil ethey still have outstanding football debts - ie a due instalment of transfer cash owed to Motherwell?
*Gary Speed... Sheffield United... new boss. How often does that happen to Boro?
*Almost ã1.5m to agents for 29 transactions over a year when the club are belt tightening... money for old rope?
Brad Jones? I don't care, he is a third rate keeper. He will play in one or two Carling cup matches and pocket more money in a season than I will in ten years.
Bellamy and Chopra are going to set the division alight, however, they should pay Motherwell the money owed to them right now and if they cannot, then disclose just how much of Bellamy's wages they are contributing to. I have a sneaking suspicion they are paying nothing.
The new manager syndrome will once again prove to be our downfall on Sunday, why does it always happen to us?
Most agents are in my opinion leeches, bloodsucking and vile. just what do they do to justify enormous sums of money? Ah! That's right, drop rumours to newspapers their player is unsettled, bleed clubs dry with demands for their under talented over valued player. the more they negotiate for the player, the bigger their cut.
Come the revolution they are the first against the wall, and they can negotiate the price of the bullet.
Don't know what the rules say about what Cardiff can or can't do - but, surely, they've had so much scrutiny from every authority going in recent times - and it's still happening - that it's not likely they've done anything they could get done for, either by the footballing hierarchy, the taxman or Companies House?
If they have then they deserve to get caught and hammered.
The way I read Dave Jones's fulsome statement's about 'couldn't have been done without Citeh - in every way you can think of' is that most, if not all, of Bellamy's wages are still being paid by the Sheik.
If Cardiff have done that deal - good luck to them.
The problem for Boro - or most teams - chucking stones about deals of one sort or another is that they're all, to a greater or lesser extent, inside the same greenhouse.
I wonder how much scrutiny ã1.5m to agents - plus all the rest of the finance etc involved - in 29 deals over a year MFC would welcome? And the Pie Pharaoh isn't the only one to cry foul over what MFC owe to whom. And, for what it's worth, I believe MFC's hands will be cleaner than most.
Doesn't someone we know live, tax efficiently, in Jersey?
I can understand the sudden interest in Cardiff's chances - just as you could understand the interest in Boro's when we made a few decent signings.
From a Boro point of view, the interest might be in whether we could now lever Chris Burke out of Cardiff.
Chances are they will go 4-3-3 now with Chopra and Bellamy either side of Bothroyd. They won't want to leave Whittingham out so Burke might be the one to give way. Worth a punt - he's very good and just what we need.
Skippy The Scouser? Isn't that just another version of the 'hold the shirt/scarf up for the photo and give us a quote' stuff so beloved of hackneyed hacks?
I suppose you could say he learned from The Sniper's Dream and didn't give it the 'biggest club' line.
At least Reina made his five yearly mistake just before The Corporal arrived to make him feel better and now that The Spanish Waiter has gone he doesn't have to flap behind a zonal defence at corners!
'Under new Speedo management' only matters if Boro let it. We're at home and, according the Strachan, finding our feet. We should illustrate why they're the side whose shoddy defending and disorganisation got Blackwell the push.
And, oh, who was the assistant working to Blackie and responsible with him for that mess?
Precious Prince moves to Genoa but moves instantly to AC Milan on loan with a view to a permanent move... something not quite right there.
Finally back at my home base after a long weekend barnstorming around Nevada and California. Dodgy hotel wi-fi prevented participation in the virtual stand during 12 hazy hours at Andrew Taylor's summer playground, Las Vegas.
Then, some Hunter S. Thompson-style tomfoolery on the way to Reno and Tahoe, limiting all communication to the outside world except for short, infrequent bursts of the Blackberry demanding an end to the nonsense and terse pleas for lawyers, guns, and money.
Fortunately I wangled space on a flight back to the Sonoran desert...the 112F heat is still busy recharging my sapped battery. Let me just say Smog that I share some of your sentiments regarding the flaccidity of the campaign thus far...
Saw/read how Wheats was stellar and Jason Steele sharp...shame about Tommo, but judging by his accounts of the injury it's merely a blip and he should be back pretty soon. Still a bit of time to remedy the issues on the flanks, as well as finding a way to consistently get service to Kris Boyd. Confidence in Gordo and the braintrust to sort those issues out remains very high, but let's revisit that come Sept/Oct...
As for some of the talking points:
Jones was targeted to fulfill the homegrown quota, though the motives were cloaked nicely by Woy's relationship w/ MS who surely put in the good words...plus the training exercises with the aussie coaches mentioned before in preparation for the WC...he'll play as much as Iker Casillas's deputy does...
Bellamy could very well tear this league apart...as for the malfeasance with the wages, Cit-eh is paying nearly all of it for the season...how convenient? He'll blow up inevitably, though I reckon Bothroyd will be his target...little men want to cut down tall trees...
What's worse than facing a brand new gaffer bent on pumping up his side? Doing it on the box for all to see on a Sunday when yours is the only match in the division...
Agents? Blanking blanks!!
Brandon, that is by far the most intense post yet. Whatever you are on drop some in julio's pre match cuppa and he'll run sheff utd ragged.
Anyone know who are penalty taker is? Wee boydy?
I reckon this will be no 100 and the car is all mine!!
On a more serious note, with Jones gone we are left with a worse situation as the back four will not be able to settle and we will end up playing deep again. With the lack of imagination up front this is going to be a drab, dour unimaginative season of 1-0 and if we make it to the play offs I will be very surprised.
Viz my earlier comments about clubs all being in the same greenhouse re agents and deals - Owen Oyston's statements on the reasons for him stepping down at Blackpool are interesting on the collusive 'that's just the way it is' culture around The Prem clubs (and others) in terms of agents etc.
Back of Gill its all mine!!!
Not bad prize AV - I think my wife might be interested in a pair of the imaginary industrial curtains - what colour are they?
**AV writes: Ooh I don't know. I imagine some kind of grey.
I was there at Pride park too when Mustinho scored that cracking volley. And wasn't it at the end of the spurs game when Me Mark Page broke the news of the Queen mother passing?
Boro 1 Spurs 1. Quedrue freekick for us, S Ivesson tap in for them.
What's this about Jlloyd Samuel AV?
Its gone very quiet on the transfer front any thing new in the news.
Still need the wide man not Mido.
AV
I was not after prizes, as I have said before such pointless posting is a waste of time. The last occasion we had Sir Henry Waffle-Tripe on the board litigation lasted months and was only ended when we were each threatened with Mido's food bill on a week about basis unless we settled out of court.
Not sure how real the rumour is that we're after out of contract Richard Wright to add to the goalkeeping resource.
Nor am I sure where he is with fitness following the knee injury that ruled him out of the second half of last season. He's certainly got experience but his form's been up and down spectacularly over his career.
If he's fit and this is about more experienced cover - with no fee - for Jason Steele, then OK-ish. We definitely need three senior keepers - the only issue then is the batting order.
I think that Wright coming in should make young Steele firmly Boro's number one and I don't think the ex-Ipswich man will push him for his place like, say, a Cerny or Persnis might.
The 'no fee' bit might be important, though. That might leave the bulk of the Brad Jones fee to cover Chris Burke or Craig Conway and, maybe, Dawson coming in since the targets for left back now seem to be 'out of contract' or loaners.
so who gets the hundred and the imaginary prize?
So........ THAT's what's been wrong so far this season: wrong sponsor!
Ever since Deepdale Solutions became the shirt front adornment it's been curtains for Boro! We should have twigged earlier!
Therefore, why don't we try to get Winalot or Champion Sparkplugs to sponsor us for the rest of the season?
AV's prizes may not have any greater appeal, unless your name is Buster, Spot or Fang, but surely that'd be a small price to pay for the almost inevitable sporting glory that would result?
SIGNING NEWS:
Central defender Matt Kilgallon has just signed on a season long loan from Sunderland.
John -
Near the Wright story is one that cardiff are likely to sign Naylor.
It has gone rather quiet on the transfer front and it looks as if we may be sat watching SkySports News. Did I read somewhere that it was a 5.00pm close?
Do those who posted saying we will lose on Sunday because Sheff U have a new manager, also think that if he plays Kilgallon will score as he is playing against his former club?
C'Mon Boro!
AV
That appeared just after I had posted it had gone quiet on the transfer front.
Any chance of a post saying we have got a right winger and full back as well?
AV
Well, presumably that means the end of interest in Dawson.
And Kilgallon has often played at left back too - does that mean the search has ended for that position too?
Ah cheers AV! These Imaginary Curtains will look the biz. IâÂÂll have to invite all my imaginary friends round to appreciate them. IâÂÂll give Sir Henry a call nowâŠâŠâÂÅ .
AV is the Jones sale a Brucie bonus and allows GS to tie up Dawson (is he needed with Bionic Bates fit?) and Conway. Or do we still have to shift a few before we can bring others in?
Will David Craig be standing outside the smithy on tranny deadline day?
Ian Gill, âÂÂsuch pointless posting is a waste of timeâ is that a thinly veiled attack on my ramblings over the past year. Huff!! IâÂÂve never been so insulted all my life.
Now what shall I get claddedâÂÅ .âÂÂoh mrs smogâŠâŠâŠâÂÅ
**AV writes: I still think there will be a few ins and outs. As far as I understand the offers remain on the table for Conway and Dawson while I presume they are also looking for a keeper - and is Kilgallon considered the blank "No 3" or is he just cover at CB?
Probably just me, but I really don't like being confronted with a Sunderland strip on the homepage of mfc.co.uk. Even if it is for a new signing, head and shoulders shot would suffice.
So long as he isn't a 'paperback' then Kilgallon's a decent signing, probably.
And, being on loan, if his back goes - so can he! But that'll leave us short again.
Strachan's coded message on the MFC website surely means he's going to play him at left back on Sunday - unless he's completely off his chump and wants to put him at right back or some other such nonsense.
He's an experienced back up for Big Mick which was always a worry if injury/suspension struck the Scot.
But, there's no point for him in him being here (as opposed to the Old Firm, for example) if he doesn't play - so, I assume he's going to be the usual left back and we stop chasing Naylor or Jlloyd Samuel etc. The only drawback to that is that he won't be quite as pacy as those two (or some others) in overlapping etc.
He's on loan - so no fee to get in the way of people we may need to spend on like Conway or Burke, for example.
The only issues (other than the goalie that I won't repeat myself about) now are - will Strachan still pursue Dawson as a back up for Wheats or does he rely on Bates & Hines and can they get Tayls shipped out somewhere?
OK, throw Stones at me, wanted to wait but can't.
I believe Robson and Boyd could turn out to be luxury players we cant afford to have in the team in this division. If you are going to play Robson on the right,other teams will exploit the fact he is too slow. Hoyte cant defend so we will always be on the back foot in that area of the field.
If you are going to play Boyd as a target he's not mobile enough, consequently the ball will keep coming back. You really cant afford passengers in this league. I'm not saying they couldnt be succesfull in the right teams or league but I have my doubts with us ,I hope Im wrong.
Kilgallon for me is a top player at this level,although I prefer him at CB, can read the game and is very quick. Why not play three stoppers at the back with wing backs joining in going forward? Target man Boyd, and McDonald in the hole behind, who has recently shown there is more to his game than just a poacher.
Kilgallon has gone from loan signing on mfc.co.uk to "in talks with". Guessing it's a done deal though.
The MFC website now appears to have rowed back slightly on their earlier announcement that Kilgallon had arrived. Now we're 'in negotiations'. Hmmmm.
**AV writes: Maybe it isn't quite finished yet. Boro didn't want the story out earlier today but there was a presser at Hurworth this afternoon and when scott McDonald was answering questions about other things he let the cat out of the bag. Strachan confirmed it. Bruce has confirmed it too. Kilgallon trained with the squad today and everything has been agreed in principle.
Smog -
It wasnt thinly veiled, it was fully clad like your present. It was aimed at blatant attempts to get prizes and invoking sundry legal eagles to pursue someone of impecable character such as myself.
And as for feeling insulted I thought you were like me, no sense no feelings. If you are not careful I might have to mention a place close to a certain river that runs through a large conurbation in the East Midlands.
On to the football, I have one concern over Kilgallon. My understanding is that he is really a centre back and wonder what mobility he will bring if he is given the left back role - I trust he is left footed or is comfortable on the left. I am just bothered he will be a little wooden in the position in the same way as Pogo was.
I do hope that we push on and get a right winger in. When I saw we were considering Wright I was hoping we were going to get SWP from city in a deal simlar to Cardiff's for Bellamy only to be disappointed to see it was an out of contract keeper.
Digard to Nice on loan according to Sky.
Smithy building a head of steam again....
I'm not so sure about Kilgallon - according to my metric conversion tables, 1 Kilgallon is equivalent to 4 dead Lita's.
BTW, good luck with the imaginary curtains Smog - though just as well I didn't win as I don't think grey would have worked with my imitation leopard skin leather sofa - or is that just my imagination?
Sorry, chaps, but sometimes Life gets in the way of the Blog (and big 100's).
On the other hand, football sometimes gets in the way of Life. On Sunday, for the Sheffield United fun-fest, I will be taking Mrs Dormo to her first game for a while. Football versus Marriage.... I hope this doesn't go wrong.
AV
Was that the same presser where Strachan confirmed that he was in the market for a new goalie, that GON hadn't trained all week and that he was after a loaner for central midfield?
I can understand the loaner for central midfield - but there appeared to be no mention of Conway, or indeed any right sided midfielder/winger which has to be the most burning need.
Was that mentioned too - or is it just taken as read? The MFC website doesn't suggest that anything other than a goalie or central midfielder is on the cards but, then again, I'm aware that Strachs can be economical with the verite in these circumstances.
No mention on Dawson either?
**AV writes: Yes, it was a lively presser (although the nationals were more concerned with the Strachan/Mac/Speed Leeds reunion line). The CM is probably just until Xmas and is cover for Thomson and O'Neil, who has "runners knee" and could have intermitent problems for a while (see tonight's Gazette for details). Our understanding is that the offers remain on the table for Dawson and Conway and they will be given an extra push this week with Conway being the priority.
They are also working on a couple of "outs" and it could be busy in the Smithy over the next few days. They had some inquiries for a couple of players.
I know theirs a big age gap but Arsenals ã2mil bid for our old Aussie just makes what we got for the Coropral mind boggling.
Reckon Conway could be the last piece of the jigsaw for now. If Dawson comes i think it will have to be the price thats on the table or slightly more or no deal.
Then there is the fat man maybe we can loan him to the town council to collect the refuse.
Dormo,
You raise a good point. With us not playing until Sunday, what do I do with Saturday? Do I immerse my self head first in to SSN, and Radio 5 live and draw up an ever changing League table on Smog jnrs blackboard. Or do I volunteer to help the pregnant Mrs Smog round Ikea looking for new furnishings to fit the imaginary cladding and curtains.
Mrs Smog has requested could the next monthâÂÂs prize be virtual Cots, change mats, Breast pumps, and three wheel pushchairs? If so she has threatened to start posting on here herself.
God Forbid.
**AV writes: This is football. Doesn't she know "you never win anything for kids"
And another thing about Kilgallon, I read somewhere he is nursing an injury.
Come to that has he actually signed yet, I listened to McDonald on BoroWorld saying he had come. Was that the pressie you were on about AV?
Dundee look to be in trouble losing 1-0 in the 'cup for anyone who cant get onto the Champions League gravy train' so maybe the Conway move is more likely. I didnt see the game, if anyone did, any info on how he played?
Finally Vic, is the Smithy stoking up again?
**AV writes: There was a dirty, sweaty bloke going in there this morning with a hundredweight of coke and a bloody bog pair of bellows.
Another gem from the Boro's leading funny man:
"The most important thing in a team is to have players who can pass the ball."
At least this shows that Gordon is beginning to grasp the fundamentals of the game. What next? actually passing the ball to a team mate.
Dont like the news that O'Neill may not be playing.
That leaves us very short in midfield and that short may have to be Land Crab. Other alternatives may be Josh Who? or Bates being moved forward.
Maybe we will get a 433/451 with Bailey, Robbo and Walker as the middle three.
Here is a thought, get Mido into the team and tell him he can feed on McDonald and Parmo. Maybe Boyd is a better option
Werdermouth you have undersold Kilgallon, it is 4.54 Lita's. Would be different if Kilgallon was American but he comes from our York.
AV, I think the Smithy had better get going. At the moment a draw on Sunday is starting to look attractive.
I too will be taking Mrs Borocol to her first game in a few seasons.
She is normally bad luck, sits there moaning she is cold, fed up, miserable.
So i finish my pint and take her to the ground...
Vic -
I think posts are not getting on to the board. I did a post earlier at 121 and when I submitted it later posts came up on the right. When I went back in they didnt appear and it was still 121.
**AV writes: Yes, there has been a problem today. What I don't know because I haven't been in the office but it appears to be working now so someone must have hit the wotsit with a bloody big spanner.
Just how much longer are we going to give Strachan? His record since arriving nine months ago is not mujch better then relegation form. DO we let him waste millions or wait and see then if he fails to deliver let someone else have a go?
His tactics seems a bit out of date and the game moved on since he last managed in england. He has never managed in the championship either. Maybe we need a manager who has experience of getting a team promoted in this league
Strachan says we're short in midfield and that he wants players who can pass the ball well then lets Josh Walker (who i thought had a great game against Chesterfield) go on a free to Watford?
AV has Walker done something wrong at the club? Does he like a good night out? Just can't see any obvious reason for shipping him out?
**AV writes: I don't think he's done anything wrong but the gaffer doesn't think he 's quite good enough for this level. We haven't really seen enough to judge.
Oh dear, early pre season training in Spain and statements about hitting the ground running had my glass looking half full.Suddenly it's looking half empty again.
I know it's early days..of course it is..but I'm beginning to sense the dark cloud forming again and feeling a bit despondent about the season. Please, please Boro, prove me wrong, starting on Sunday.God it doesn't get any easier following the Boro, even from the other side of the country.
Hang on a minute...
Flood long term injury
thomson rips his tights
Williams has got shaggers hip
O'Neil has got joggers nipple
Julio struggles on manfully with his debilatating illness
and we let young josh walker go on a free!
Have I missed something or are those bloody 'bog' bellows about to produce Edgar Davids?
Josh Walker has gone to Watford on a two year contract. Just for information after someone said he is an option for Sunday against SheffU.
Even less players available in midfield? Digard for Nice most probably. KL is over working me thinks.
Hope to see a right winger. Also interesting to see that the number 3 shirt is still free! So a left back still coming.
And the big guy hopefully to Ajax. So certainly busy times ahead next week.
Up the Boro!
**AV writes: Them two out.... two in next week. At least.
Just read a craking Boro Banter piece. I whole heartedly recommend it.
Cheque in the post JP?
**AV writes: John Powls latest ....
http://borobanter.gazettelive.co.uk/2010/08/let-the-goalscoring-brutality.html
Some talk about new funding to drive us forward but it is tricky.
Huang has hung up on Liverpool and Oyston cant find any pearls at Blackpool.
Ashley, I said Ashley, wants to sell Toon but cant so doesnt but has a dog of an audience, Shepherd and Hall probably have already put the shirts on their backs.
Randy was a slow Lerner about O'Neill who then walked.
ManU called in some Glazers but found out that the upstaris free with the downstairs turned into a bit of a pane and is proving an Everest to climb.
It is all a mess.
AV, apologies for hijaking the best blog in the world, but Mrs Smog has surprised me with a ã15 itod voucher. After some horific musical escapades recently I could do with some suggestions to help me spend my winfall. AV you get first dibs.
Music to get promoted by... coming to an itod near you.
**AV writes: I'm heavily into reggae so I recommend the top, top dub sounds of Kings Tubby's "Champion Version." If not how about the Cyril Stapleton Orchestra and Jack Charlton's team singing "Up The Boro?"
I wish Boro had a real unique stirring anthem.
And now Josh Who? is precisely that.
My lad said we would do well to get a win in the next six matches. I must admit that a win on Sunday would be well received, at this stage I wouldnt be upset with a point and the prosepct of new players coming in very soon.
The one bonus about O'Neils injury is that he stays here, the worry is he gets fit in time for January.
As John Powls says it is half full at the moment, tempus fugit.
Friday night. Got no friends? Desperate for Boro news? Local journo drip feeding tantalising titbits?
Two in next week! At least. Ha'way man av man. Two which two? Do you have names? At least titivate with the positions the Friday night two might fill? I'm going to go to bed dreaming of the Honduran brothers who play in centre mid Mitch and Harry Positione
**AV writes: We understand wide right (with Conway the first choice) and/or a midfielder (probably loanee until Januray) who can play in the centre and the flank (at this point can I would throw the name of Ross McCormack in), and a keeper. At least.
**AV writes: We understand wide right (with Conway the first choice) and/or a midfielder (probably loanee until January) who can play in the centre and the flank (at this point can I would throw the name of Ross McCormack in), and a keeper. At least.
At least? So most probably a left back to fit the shirt nr. 3 then?
Up the Boro!
smog
Yup, like AV' centurian's prize the imaginary cheque's in the imaginary post!
Thanks for the quotes that gave me the way in to the piece.
But what's 'craking'? If there's a letter missing it could be cranking, creaking, croaking, crap-king or cracking - happy with any of those.