Operation Arch: Wembley Here We Come?
WHAT I want is a trip to Wembley in the play-off final. We can do that. We should be aiming for that. It would be something different, something new for the club. It would be fantastic. It would be a concrete achievement. It would show that that the slide had stopped and that there was forward momentum again. It would build on the feel good factor of the Mogganaut and it would be a fantastic pay-off for the supporters after three years of soul-sapping grind and down-sizing. And it is possible.
Let's go for it. This season should be Operation Arch.
I'm not high on foam finger fumes or carried away by the solid and morale boosting finish to last term - one defeat in 12, four wins on the bounce at the end and a few impressive away wins against play-off hopefuls - but don't think that is out of the question. Under Tony Mowbray Boro looked a better organised, tactical more astute and well motivated side that showed they could dig in, come from behind and play enterprising football with zest. They looked for the first time since relegation a side that ticked the Championship boxes.
The back end of last season was one of foundation building. The chaos and fragility of the ill-fated and relegation-bound Strachan regime was replaced with a unity and resilience and a new confidence was fostered as results and performances improved.
After hitting rock bottom and battling back players who looked lost and limp under the old regime were rehabilitated and energised. Youngsters who had been discounted were blooded, trusted and liberated. We learned there was little to be scared of in what is generally a poor division populated by limited but hard-working sides and that the players we had, if organised and motivated, were good enough to take points from most of them.
It was also an important spell culturally and politically for the club: for most Boro supporters the penny dropped with a loud metallic thud of recognition. The kitty is empty. The Strachan folly had been an expensive gamble that failed and that an austere and sharp financial recalibration was urgently needed. When the promotion that was budgeted for was not delivered a painful period of belt tightening became inevitable and in a summer of marked deep wage cutting and stingent cost control on and off the pitch a lot of good people behind the scenes have lost their jobs, sacrificed to pay the toxic debt accumulated through the wasted wages of Mido, Alves and an army of unproductive prima donna millstones.
Most fans understand the limitatations that Mowbray is working under. He has made clear repeatedly and honestly in his dealing with the press and more vividly in his off the record address to the supporters' club exactly how run down the club has become since being booted off the Premier League gravy train: the scouting network has fallen into disrepair with no comprehensive system in place; the fitness, physio and sports science department has been dismantled and there is nothing in the coffers to offer a quick fix. We all know that there is a lot of work to be done to completely rebuild the club.
But most fans also buy into the Mowbray vision of how Boro should be playing - a spirited high tempo passing game with the emphasis on attractive and entertaining football - and how the club needs to function. Most support the manager and are prepared to give him time to get it right in the short term and in the medium to longer term too.
They understand that the short term task is building a sustainable, affordable and sustainable club from scratch by balancing the books and putting the emphasis on the current squad, on academy graduates and on a few value for money signings when circumstances allow. We won't be buying immediate success.
With that background absorbed and understood there are now very few expectations abroad that we will power our way to promotion. Especially not after being collectively left red faced by the enthusiastic impotent empty bluster of the sterile Strachan project.
But few people expect a repeat of the relegation battle either. Most feel guilty at tentatively suggestion mid-table. Even the wild-eyed ra-ra fringe only soberly suggest the team can finish vaguely in the top half. That new realism is a good place to be starting the season.
But there are some reasons for cautious hope. The squad we finished last term with proved it was good enough to live with the play-off contenders. We have lost the frustrating but generally effective Leroy Lita, Andrew Taylor and Julio Arca from that squad (Boyd and Digard were expensive exiles who can't really be factored in other than in the number-crunching). In their place we have brought in Malaury Martin and have yet to see a fully fit Merouane Zemmama plus we have a couple of youngsters in Luke Williams and Jonathan Franks who were crocked last term and who may feature more. It is not the decimation we may have feared when the book balancing loomed. Mowbray has done well.
We kick off with a decent first team. Against PSV (in the first 45 before the circus started) Marvin Emnes and Scott McDonald looked a lively pairing and linked up well with invenrtive Zemmama and as a first choice pairing they will be more than a match for most. We need a striker to replace Lita but it is clear that Mowbray knows that, has a little list and is working on it. The right man, even on loan, could make Boro a potent force.
The midfield has plenty of bodies and options - Bailey, Smallwood, Zemmama, Robson, Williams and Martin are a decent core - and at the back we are maybe short on numbers but adequate for now. Cover at left back and a monster in the middle would be nice and the keeping situation needs to be resolved but then, that has been the case at this stage of every one of the last five seasons.
Meanwhile the kids - principally Richie Smallwood and Joe Bennett - are a year older and wiser after an impressive liberation under Mowbray while Rhys Williams, potentially the key player, will go into the season fully fit. If they deliver on their collective promise there is no reason they can not be big players and Boro can not pick up where we left off.
The squad is thin compared to the bloated army we have grown used to, yes, but it appears united and motivated and if Boro can get a first choice 11 or 14 out on the pitch often enough it is at least the equal of all but the top six or eight in the division.
Financially we are close to stability and the pressure to sell that was overpowering in May has eased a bit, although not completely. There is always the possibility that one - or more - of the remaining big earners could be eased out of the door before the deadline but that would be no disaster. It would give Mowbray some wriggle room to reinforce in key areas, bring in the people he wants with an eye to the future and tweak the squad a little bit.
And even if there are changes Mowbray has proved adept at reorganising, reshaping and getting the best out of what he has. And that should give us confidence. This team can be more than the sum of its parts. And its parts are at least good enough for mid-table.
So that said I am nailing my colours to the mast and saying Boro can make the play-offs. Plenty of teams with limited resources have done it over the years based on work-rate and spirit plus a shrewd management getting the best out of the talent on offer. And Mowbray has done it in this division, getting West Brom to the play-offs one year - and losing - only to cruise to the title the following season. Mogga knows what it takes.
We can do it. It may not be a smooth ride and fans will need to be patient because it won't always be pretty either. A times we will lack consistency and show the folly of youth. I don't expect to end up dumped into the play-offs from above after a long nip-and-tuck title battle, more that we will beaver away, get into the pack, weather some sticky patches and have enough in the tank for a late surge into sixth. I'd take that.
Then beat Cardiff in the semis and it's Wembley here we come. I don't know if we'd win, or if going up "would be too soon" (pah!). That's a discussion for another time.
This is a time for predictions. So, I'm going for Boro to finish sixth. With Scott McDonald to be top scorer, Rhys Williams to be player of the season, Richie Smallwood young player and Nicky Bailey unsung hero. And what the hell, the average gate to be 17,882. It's going to be a slow burner. Although we'll take 35,000 to Wembley.
*****
NOW it's your turn. How will the season pan out? Will the Mogganaut roll unstoppable to promotion glory or get derailed and shunted iton the sidings? Am I deranged for thinking the play-offs are possible? Is the squad to thin and limited to sustain a challenge? Or are we in with a shout? Who will be the stand out players? Where are the weak links?
And, while you are have your predicting head on, why not try your hand at beating the pundits in the Gazette's easy, free on-line Score competition. Simply forecast the results in batches of six games and sit back and watch it all unravel. Get your mates involved too. They are probably worse than you.
I've put my head above the parapet and predicted the first six results. Incredibly, despite being ever the August optimist somehow my scorecasts give Boro a worse early return than the tips of arch-negativist Bernie Slaven Teesside's Pied Piper of Doom.
You can have a go here.
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Anthony Vickers
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I was asked this afternoon what I thought about next season. My view then was 7th.
At times I feel the optmistic surge of enthusiasm for the change Mogga has made to the outlook for our club. But I feel shy about sticking my head above the parapet.
We COULD go up automatically. We COULD go up via the play-offs. And the difference between automatic promotion and the play-offs might only be a poor result against a competitor for the automatic spot.
We COULD get into the play-offs but fail to qualify. That could be down to a single poor patch in the home semi-final (having the keeper sent off after conceding a penalty and then going "to pot") or down to bad luck (playing quite well in the play-off final, but going down to another team that, on the day, played inspired football).
We COULD finish in the high mid-reaches of the table, outside the play-off positions, and that would be an improvement on last season.
To predict what WILL happen is very difficult even if you were certain NOW that the squad will at the end of this month be the same as it is on 2nd August. If prediction were easy, the bookies would be out of business and the Football Pools would have to close down.
I hope we will go up, but wouldn't want anyone to overhear me say it. I'm not sure whether that is superstition, or shame if I were to be wrong.
However I do not think we will be going down this year. That will be a relief as it was a real possibility for much of last season. The boat might well hit a few big waves this coming season, but I'm sure the pilot knows the best route for our safety.
And, no, it's NEVER a season too early for promotion. If you get the points you go up. If you miss out, there is no guarrantee you would go up the next season - players may be sold or the club might suffer grievous injuries to weaken next year's squad, the bank might call in some debts so that the belt has to be tightened, or you might just be unlucky next season.
Worry about how you would stay there AFTER you get there. Get there as soon as you can. Money (including parachute money) will find its way into the club's coffers, even if the team were to be relegated immediately back down again. Judicously applied, that money could strenghten the squad for next time, or even to stay up!
Give me those foam hands.....!
....but if you could arrange for certain to win at Wembley, that really would be the most exciting way to go up. The celebrations would last for ages. And it would be nice to leave the new ground as winners.
I think your being overly optimistic AV.
I dont think right now we have squad that can compete physically over a 46 game season in this league. Infact I think it could be a fight against relagation,(I hope Im wrong)
In previous seasons you could probably name the teams that would struggle but as of now I can't. It seems everyone has strenghened, we havent and we are brutal at the back.,
In my opinion R.Williams is not a Centre Back and in-fact is wasted there. Bates has lost something in his game,and Ive never seen a Centre Back (Mcmanus) pulled out of position like he allows himself to be.
The only hope I see, is everyone beats everyone and no one runs away with it, however that could mean you get promoted on 75 pts,but could get relagated on 55 pts
Im hoping for the best. We will see after the first eight games,
Any chance of GMC legal relaxing the residency restrictions for the picks comp? Will anyone notice if I use the address to one of those dodgy Chinese takeaway places?
Boro finish: 8th
Top scorer: Emnes
Player of the season: Robbo
Young player: Joe Bennett
Unsung hero: Dead Ball Specialist Tony McMahon
Avg gate: 15563
We still need a right-sided attacking midfielder - a biggish striker - and one or two additions to the pool of defenders - plus a reliable deputy keeper. My optimism isn't as high or misguided as the last two years. If we're stuck in the playoff mix at Christmas I'll be happy...
Well I believe in Mowbray for one. The back end of last season convinced me he knows what it takes and how to motivate whatever team he selects because more importantly the players we have now believe in him and his system.
Strachen!! don't get me started....
Rhys Williams player of the season all things going well a certainty. I'm a big fan.
We can make the play offs, I have had doubts as I have read of the other teams spending but deep down I see a top six fnnish. Be in the pack and take them in the last 10 metres....
Just like Cavendish.
AV agree with what you say. But the squad has had three major problems over the past few seasons:
1.Lack of motivation.
2.Too many injuries.
3.Too much dead wood.
I think no 1 has been addressesd since TM has arrived. Also no 3 has also been sorted out. Our biggest problem going into the new season is we have a smaller squad and a lot of players with history of injuries ie Bates,Thompson,Williams,Martin just to name a few. Add our first choice keeper to this and we can be left very short if we have anywhere near the same spate of injuries we have had recently.
That has got to be our biggest draw back to getting to the playoffs.
I agree when the first 11 is on the pitch we can beat most in this league but when they start falling down we will struggle.
Prediction top half of table on the fringe of playoffs and that i will be happy with and i will see it as progress.
That is my prediction not my dream. Two or three experinced Championship players in would make all the differerence.
Sat here gazing over a cloudless Med sky basking in the sun I feel optimistic about finishing 4th,( typical Boro losing out automatically). I would love another Wemboroly experience. Not brave enough to predict yet, ( back after six games).
Can't wait for the season kick off, its been too long. Red Army. UP
Excellent 'Glass half full' assessment of where the Boro currently are.
We definately need a big man up front. Miller wandered around like a lost soul in his brief cameo appearance on Friday and needs to be moved on to a Scottish or first division team. If we get another striker I think top half is a real possibility as long as the squad we have now is the same after September 1st.
We will have a very outside chance the playoffs, if we are lucky and steer clear of injuries, which for Boro would be a miracle and we don't lose one of our young stars at the end of August and the club come out with the old cherry 'it was too late to replace him' and the money disappears into the ether(don't forget the envious eyes of Sunderland - Bennett, Bolton - Williams, as well as Swansea - Emnes, they haven't gone away).
What worries me is how our rivals have been strengthening while Gibbo (Not Mogga) has beeen weakening the squad. Look at Leicester, Burnley, Forest, Derby, Ipswich not to mention the relegated clubs such as West Ham and Blackpool and promoted clubs such as Southamton, as well as the clubs recently relegated such as Hull.
I think when Boro are allowed to play football they will do well, it's when they come up against the bullies of the division that I am concerned. So, not sitting on the fence, I think 8th place this year with a big gap in points between us and the teams above us and a real good go for the playoffs the season after after a summer of rebuilding.
Rob
If we don't recruit some new faces, then I'm afraid it will be another long hard struggle, with a view of the wrong end of the table.
Interesting thoughts AV. I have a typical Teesside mentality, scarred by repeated Boro let-downs. My mind occasionally wanders towards the "will we make the play offs?", only to come to my senses and remind myself that hope and optimism will lead to disappointment. Better to hope for 8th or 9th and then be pleasantly surprised if we sneak a 6th place.
Having said that, I do think we have a chance. We looked very solid towards the end of last year, and the core of that team is untouched. Of the players that left Taylor was obviously quite a big part of that end of season run, and Arca played his part too - so that leaves us a little unbalanced, but perhaps, perhaps, they can be replaced from within.
The key, as it always is with Boro, and as it always proves with this division, is keeping that core group of 14 players fully fit throughout. We need 14 players to be available to play 30+ games. Our problem, the perennial problem, is that our core group of 14 includes such invincibles as:
Bates
R Williams
McManus
Thomson
Robson
McMahon
Who, like it or not, have rarely threatened to play 30 games a season in their entire time at the club. Bates will inevitably suffer knee knack at least once, the key will be for how long, McManus and Robson similar knee-knack strains, Rhys seems to have very sensitive joints and ligaments and Thomson only has to think about exercising to strain something. Add in Zemmama and Malaury Martin (both having suffered serious ligament knack in the past) and we're starting to look like Crocks United.
I've got my fingers crossed that either Robson or Thomson will manage 30 games this season, because I think we'll need one or the other too in order to generate some consistency in the middle.
Who is the patron saint of strong legs?
I notice Anthony you left Kevin Thomson out of the midfield list. Is that because you don't rate him or because he's been injured so much you'd forgotten he was there?
I personally think he's a very good player, and his return to the team last season was one of the catalysts that fired our revival. For me, a fit Kevin Thomson in the dressing room would be a huge bonus.
But will we get one? Hmmmmm....
A very balanced article (again) AV.
I'm still uncertain about the coming season, don't get me wrong, I believe we will do ok but I'll keep my powder dry until I see the actual finished squad.
I don't think somehow we'll know what's what until right up to the transfer deadline and I have an uneasy feeling that somebody will come in for Bates.
Fortunately Mogga knows how to use the market, he'll probably bring a couple more in, hopefully one of those will be a big centre back as I still have concerns about 'The Rolls' playing there especially if Bates moves on.
To be honest, I think almost anyone in this division is capable of doing anything. A lot of it will depend on how well you start, injuries, and a lot of luck.
It feels to me like this will be a season of consolidation and we'll finish top half mid-table, probably flirting with the play-offs all season and including a dismal spell at some point where everyone panics and calls for Gibson's head.
However, for the sake of positive predictions, I will go for 5th.
I don't actually think our squad is that light, it was massively bloated last season and while we have lost some good players we desperately needed to trim the squad and it gives players like Reach, Park, L Williams, Franks, Smallwood a real chance to establish themselves.
We definitely could do with another striker though, unless Lee Miller is about to become an important part of the squad.
Player of the season: 25-goal Scott McDonald
Young player: Richie Smallwood
Av. Attendance: 20,003
I've entered the prediction thingy:
Pompey 2-1
Leeds 1-1
Barnsley 1-2
Brum 0-0
Coventry 2-0
Burnley 1-1
Would be quite happy with 9pts from the first 6. We have a pretty tough September and October (Reading, Forest, Saints, Burnley away) and what looks like an easier November and December, so we probably shouldn't worry if we have a slow start.
Smoggy in Exile at 08.41 today asked who the patron saint of strong legs was. The straight answer, according to this site:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron00.htm#k ,
is that there isn't one as such, though it does list St Servatus for leg & foot problems & - especially for Matt Bates &, perhaps, Thommo - St Roch (pronounced something like "rosh", by the way) for knee diseases or trouble. Then there's St Werenfridus for stiff joints...
The facetious answer is no more than a suggestion: St Tib & Fib? ;)
Pedant alert:
"They understand that the short term task is building a sustainable, affordable and sustainable club"
I think you missed out sustainanble.
Keeping players fit, dont know what you are on about. There is nothing wrong at Rockcliffe and we have no more injuries than anyone else.
A quick look at appearance stats across the teams from last season disproves any of this injury tosh.
Should we have the unlikely prospect of a full starting eleven plus sub goalie in the treatment room that would hinder our chances. But that is highly unlikely to happen, I am sure it has never happened before.
Any talk of such things is anecdotal, or so I was told by an award winning journalist.
If we keep injuries to the historically low levels of the last few seasons there is no reason why we cant be in the upper half of the table. A tilt at the play offs would be possible if we get a good run.
The caveat is that should we suffer injuries to ever presents such as McManus, Thomson, Robson, Williams, Williams, Bates, McMahon, Bailey, Steele, Coyne, Hines, Franks, Zemmama, Martin, Hoyte then that could hamper our chances.
But I am going for finishing just below the play offs with a chance of glory.
Average attendance 20,132
My prediction? Top 10 and more chance of a flirt with the top six than the bottom three. And some footy to enjoy along the way.
But - as my pre-season Boro Banter article says - I'd be more confident in that prediction had we been able to free up enough resource to strengthen right up the spine of the side; a decent loan goalie (i.e. NOT Ikeme) to replace Steele, another Mogga-like centre back, a grizzled centre midfield cynic and a 'centre forward'.
I'd also be happier if we were going 4-3-3 rather than 4-4-2 as well and, given Mogga's history and preferences, I'm rather surprised he's not. It actually suits the resources we've got better - the only reason that I can think that he isn't is that he's short of confidence in what he's got currently, too.
We'll all have a better idea by the start of September when the window closes and we've got a few results and performances to go by.
Knee-d a Saint? Try St Rocco. Google him and check out his pose - always pointing his left hand at a wound on his leg.
"NOW it's your turn. How will the season pan out?"
I bet you wish you never asked.
Ok, we suffer in the beginning getting progressively worse and disappointment sets in by October in typical Boro fashion.
Then, four wins on the trot and we are within striking distance of the top three and our hopes are cruelly raised just before the winter comes.
We get knocked out of the FA Cup reply at home (after drawing against Man city ) at Eastlands by a fluke own goal in the first minute, sell three of our best players get hit by injury and don't win again until first week of March.
To crowds of under 10,000 we fight back with some lucky back to back wins and only need a draw in our last game to secure the playoff place, which we lose.
mmmmm - A true supporter!!
AJ
AV mate, love yer optimism, however despite a really positive end to last season, not sure if we have a strong enough squad to go all of the way, hence will sit on the fence on this one.
If we start the season well and stay away from injuries to the squad, scrape a couple of bob from the tea lady's biccie tin and bring in a couple of never get injured journeymen, then we may have a big say in who goes up at the end of the season.
My gut feeling tells me we need to stabilise now we are on an even financial keel, balance the books and get some real dosh in the biccie tin, thus giving us a bit of clout in the transfer market.
Smoggy in Exile -
This was the best I could do. Some are still with us, others have moved on.
Saint Abel (Xavier) - patron of the blind and the lame
Saint (Ze)Mammes - protector of sufferers from broken bones and hernias
Saint Martin - soldiers, beggars and alcoholics
Saint (Redcar) Roch - Invoked against cholera, epidemics, knee problems, plague, skin diseases
None of them seem to have done us any good, I suspcet there is a brooding presence that has reduced their effectiveness.
So:
8th
McDonald -Top scorer
Zemmama - Player of season
Williams - Young player
Steele - unsung hero
18750 - av gate
Taking 0 to Wembley
I've done these prediction things before and there is never an incentive. I have fond memories of the "Top shops" in Marton from my childhood: how about sending the winner either a years supply of Chewits or a single Texan bar (if they are still made) as one bar would last a year. Or as I live in Oz you could just send me any of the following : Twiglets , Marmite , Revels , Finger of Fudge ...... sorry I've gone off on one ........
I'm not at despondent about the coming season. I don't think there's a fan anywhere in football thinks their set of boys aren't perma crocks. Fortunately we have a manager who can round any head problems, so watch out for Lee Miller as dark horse (not cart horse) for the season.
My prediction is 8th....but of we bring in a leader outfield, we could do more. Older readers might remember the difference Don Mackay made to Derby.
Good to be home, if people ever think the UK is bad they ought to try the Philippines.....constant threat of robbery, kidnap, earthquake and typhoon. If you think the A19 flyover is bad, the Manila equivalent is still showing the scars from the 1990 earthquake......looking forward to being back home on Teesside for the weekend!
I hope AV is right, but would settle for us been out the bottom 8. It is a marathon this championship malarkey and that needs strength in depth. One thing we all can agree on is outside the first 11-14 we are in trouble.
My key point is the momentum of the Mogganaut has yet to be questioned. When St Mogga returned there was ( in lots of ways ) only one way - up. Even my Nan could have done no worse than GS2. I am interested in how he, we, the fans, the press, this blog.. respond when things go wrong, when we have that dip. Will our faith hold, will we still believe that HE has returned to save us? I will, but not this year.
Anyway - for the record.
Highest place will be 5th,lowest will be 17th but we will end up 12th. With Scott McDonald leaving in Jan, Rhys Williams to be player of the season first half of the season and on treatment table the second half. Eight out of the 1st 11 been young player and Nicky Bailey unsung hero. And the average gate to be 14,323. It's going to be a fast start with a big wobble and then crawl into mid table safety.
And I would settle for that !
I'm looking forward to a trip to Wembley next May. Come on Boro!
Hmmm, if a week is a long time in politcs then a month in football is an eternity. I don't think the 'summer sales' are over but so far the club have been good to their word and the young lads have remained.
Teams who finished above us have strengthened so it's hard to see how we can get into to top six. We will have to rely on youth and we will have to expect inconsistent performances. But also expect some brilliant passages of play. Fast, free flowing football, goals and hopefully the continuation of the resiliance we saw at the end of last year.
Final posistion 12th, again. The FA to retire the position and all teams finishing mid-table will be know as doing a Boro with 11a to take 12ths place
Fat Sam and Thin Swed go be sacked by Christmas. Reading and Ipswich for auto and Mill - wall to win in the play offs
Emnes top score with 11
av Att 16,345
Top three with two or three astute loan signings. Two or three new kids coming through the ranks and 20,000 plus crowds. We have a very good manager now who knows how to get us up again. Back him with everything you have got
Greetings all, hope you had a great summer. Our winter's been cold, wet & miserable, but the footie season's been good and looking forward to the finals.
After being caught up with everyone else in last years pre-season optimism, I'm afraid I'm a bit pessimistic about the upcoming season. Personally I'll be happy if we're still playing in Division 2 in 2012/13.
The improvement we saw in the second half of the season last year was encouraging, but there's a case to be made for this being the result of Strachan's brutal pre-season fitness training as much as Mowbray's inspirational management.
Perhaps we were just fitter and stronger than our opponents at the end of a long hard season. Personally I think it was a bit of both. Fitness was important, but there's no doubt the players enjoyed the greater freedom Mowbray's gave them.
I'll go for 15th after flirting with relegation for a while. I don't think we'll get within shouting distance of the playoffs all season. Player to watch - Jonathan Franks.
Back on the subject of injuries I would agree we are no worse than average when it comes to them. However thats an average over the whole league.
Only three teams go up and they are normaly the ones that dont have to tinker too much with the team or a player coming into the team is equaly as good as the player being replaced. I think we are going to fail there at this stage.
But as i said earlier two or three new or loan players could make the diff
Position 7th
Best player Williams
Best young player Smallwood
Av crowd 18000
Caught bits and pieces from the radio 5 championship preview but nothing about Boro.
Anybody listen to the whole programme and if so was there anything about us?
I feel our chances are based on our injury record. If we can keep the bulk of our players injury free then I think small gaps can be filled by our young, up and coming stars. If we get the usual injury list then I just can't see us being strong enough with too many of the inexperienced players called upon at the same time.
I expect the likes of Franks to step up this season, but also think players like Luke Williams and Cameron Park can play a big part in select games if Mowbray uses them wisely. Playing some of these lads in the right games at the right time will give some of our first teamers the chance for a rest.
Somebody mentioned somewhere that we might well be waiting for the Premier League teams to declare their squad of 25 and then see who is there for a season long loan.
But I also think Mowbray may well hold back on splashing out unnecessarily and simple have a back-up list of emergency loan players and if one of our important players gets injured, we'll then go and replace them using the emergency loan system. Why pay a player to sit on the bench?
Bottom 5 for Boro. Club has been ruined by the Chairman. He quite obviously doesn't want and can't afford Premier League football again.
Booooooooooooo.
I think we'll crack the top ten this year, but probably not make the playoffs.
Considering that we've had to sell/release a fair bit of experience from the squad, any advance on the last two years would be real progress, and I think we should settle for that.
That said, I believe we've got some good players at the club, players who haven't yet shown us how good they can be in this division. And now I believe we have a manager who will get the best out of them. Injuries will be crucial, but almost everyone in the division can say that.
I'll go for:
Finishing Position: 8th
Top scorer: McDonald
Player of the Season: R Williams
Young Playerof the Season: L Williams
Unsung Hero: Smallwood
Average Gate: 15500
Emnes signs new contract - great, and unexpected, news.
I think if Boro make three quality loan signings (a proven goal scorer, a promising pacey youngster as back-up plus a decent centre-half) then potentially we should be looking at a top two finish - otherwise we'll be part of the playoff pack.
The good (bad?) thing about this league is that it's pretty mediocre - anyone who has proven PL ability generally abandons ship and goes back there - therefore our first XI should be a match for any other on offer.
So in the absence of quality the Championship is all about playing as team with consistency and knowing how to get a result - remember Newcastle hit the front with endless 1-0 wins and then relaxed into a relatively straight-forward promotion.
And that's also the good thing about Mogga - he knows how to succeed in this league, which he also proved in the last quarter of last season.
But our main problem will be dealing with injuries and suspensions if we don't beef up the squad - though in theory we're only really missing Lita and Arca - however, if we lose some of the main men like McDonald and to some extent Bates then we may struggle to score and defend.
So I just hope we have a good start to build up the belief amongst the players and crowd to avoid a fourth disappointing season in a row.
Ian -
I listened to the whole of the Radio 5 thing last evening - Boro weren't mentioned at all. Well, there was one mention when Dave Jones listed a few clubs outside the obvious 'favourites' who thought they'd have a chance at play offs and he included us in his list. But that was it.
I take that to mean that their surmise was that we were going to be mid-table - no better, no worse - this term.
Good news - if a little surprising given the wage thing - that M&S has signed an extended contract.
**AV writes: Boro aren't "a story" anymore. We came down and had our one year as "relegated side looking to bounce straight back" phase with some mandatory if begrudged media attention then a brief flurry of interest year when the focus was on the Strachan experiment but that fizzled out quickly. This year we are just another makeweight. It is down to us to force our way back into the spotlight again. If that's what we want. Make the #mogganaut the story.
To be honest I think my other (second) club, Wigan [I was born there], have more of a chance of finishing in the second half of the PL this season - after their amazing last day escape earlier this year, than Boro have of making the play-offs at the third attempt.....
The best we can realistically hope for is mid-table yet again, simply because we always lack depth - unless the squad is bolstered soon we're going to be going through the same old motions as we have done every season ever since GS1 was at the helm......
When the Boro homepage comes up and I see a picture of a player I always wonder what the banner will say.
Has someone made a bid or has he been injured and sometimes a pleasant surprise. Today's falls into that category with M&S signing a new deal.
I hope he continues to develop, it wasnt his fault we spent hard earned money on the wrong player at the time and that is no criticism of Marvin. We got a laid back, attacking project when we needed a solid, reliable midfield enforcer.
AV, I sent two posts yesterday morning - both went missing ...
Great news that Emnes has signed a new contract. He and SuperMac are very, very good strikers on this level (of course we need cover in that department, too).
We might need a right winger, but Thommo is one of the best in cetral MD in this division. Interesting to see Zemmama to play fully fit and we can always trust Robbo to have a good season (last season he was often injured). And then Rhys - our RR engine. With Smallwood we have quolity in midfield!
Also defense looks good when we play the first four there. Bates should be PL quality and Big Mick is one of the best in this division again. A left back is still needed to cover that position.
All in all we need a few more bodies but if we avoid injuries we will finish as Sir Vickers said - 6th. I really cannot see it as negatively as Smogon. Definitely in top ten but most probably 6th as AV said.
Up the Boro!
John -
Thanks for the update, the only mention I heard was when they were talking about Cardiff's failure and the effect the Boro game had on their non promotion push.
I think the Dave Jones summation sounds about right, with a following wind we could get in to the play offs but so can another 17 teams in the division.
The telling comment I heard was that there were no glaringly obvious teams who didnt belong in the division and that was at either end of the table.
Once the season starts we will know better. When Toon went up they spent the first half of the season getting spawny wins and draws from poor situations, as they season progressed they picked up steam and powered their way to promotion.
Come September the squad will be settled and we will have several games under our belts.
Nice read AV...
I booked my flights home the day after the fixture list was released, as I really wanted to see this first game...I knew then it would be with a 'reduced' squad, but importantly it would still be a Moggaesque side.
I didn't know who would go, but we all guessed who was on the list, and Mogga has pulled most of them off...replacing where he can with these fringe, smaller, but possibly hidden gem quality players.
This is where our faith in him has to be strongest, as we know he can fashion a team from whatever he has available, that importantly, can compete on the day... hell,we've seen him do it, so why should that change. He does his research, he takes their key players out of the equation as much as he can, and will change the game plan if things aren't working out.
So, all this talk of a 'thin' squad (? we have enough players for over two and half teams), or injury worries etc etc just form another part of his equation for success on any given match day.
So, I am confident he will get us high in this league...no matter the list of premier league dropouts, 'strengthened' teams, 'big' names or whatever.
I am going for third, for the simple reason that I would also like to go Wembley, and savour another atmosphere (and hopefully result) like that of Cardiff.
If the mogganaut can take us all on that particular journey, then this would be the season to end them all.
Reading your article AV, most of which I agree, set me thinking that much of the restructuring needed this season should have been done or perhaps was, but mishandled through the inexperience of Southgate and then compounded by Strachan.
That is now water under the bridge and I see plenty of reasons to be optimistic.Why?
Mowbray has, or is instilling the right footballing values on the pitch, passing, possession, being comfortable on the ball and being intelligent without it. We have a nucleus of good technical players who are united and motivated. The supporters feel better about the club and have bought into Mowbray's vision.
This league is going to be interesting mainly because it will be competitive.Any one of twelve teams have a decent chance of being promoted. Most importantly is the return of trust from the supporters to a manager who knows what he has to do.
Yes we need another striker, a full back and so on, but at long last we have the precious asset of a football manager who can manage players, think creatively, and is a shrewd judge of a footballer. I am hitched up for the ride and looking forward to it, starting with a win on Saturday
Great news that Emnes has signed a new contract At least the Boro will be able to flog him for a few bob.
AV: your six match prediction looks about right to me but it doesn't add up to us then going on to finish sixth.
If you were looking objectively at Boro, the drop from the Premiership, the wasted investment, that we're on our third championship manager and finally the sell off of anyone, anybody would buy, and you would have to say we'll struggle to avoid relegation.
And yet the first 45 minutes against PSV? We looked okay. If we still have a chance of reaching the play offs until, say, the end of March but then finish 10th, that will be a good season and without having to launch another fire sale we can build on that.
McDonald will be player of the season and Miller will get a few goals.
I've just seen that boro propaganda video and decided to change my tip....
We're going up as champions...
http://vimeo.com/27254492
Sky Sports sources understand West Bromwich Albion have accepted £2million bids from Leicester City and Nottingham Forest for Ishmael Miller. The striker is on the periphery at West Brom and turned down the chance to join Millwall on a season-long loan last month.
If he is costing £ 2 million we cannot afford him. And we won't get him on loan now if there are two offers accepted. Even we have Mogga who knows the striker well.
But I trust Mogga will find a big fella to cover SuperMac and Emnes upfront. How about a bid for Goodwillie with Miller going the opposite way?
Up the Boro!
Following the post from steveh at 6.24pm - I have just watched the video. I hope they show that to the players - the ones who have been here some time or came through the academy must feel the same way about it as we do.
I'm sure that glass was half-empty when I last looked. There is MORE in the glass, now I come to think of it.
And the renewals e-mail of thanks just sent out by the club. Doesn't take a great deal of effort or forethought by the powers that be, but it is appreciated. Better to be thanked than ignored.
The only way is up..... (OK. I'll get my coat).
Don't you think you are being a touch negative? Who are your top 6/8 we mightn't be equal to? I'm not sure I've seen any great strengthening of teams, apart from Leicester, and I'm yet to be convinced about Sven as are most of the Foxes fans. The gates will be higher than your prediction think 20,000+
http://vimeo.com/27254492
Unbelievably powerful propaganda.
Cold shivers running up and down me back.
Another midfielder on the horizon, if Sky to be believed - Belgian international Faris Haroun. Presumably this is the signal that Arca is definitely not coming back - or at least the alternative, with a "make your mind up now" call to Julio?.
I know losing Thomson was a blow, but I would think most fans are more worried about strikers than midfield. All it needs it a bit of bad luck with injuries and we could be faced with Miller as only striker up front.
I assume now that TMs target Miller's namesake is off elsewhere if West Brom are demanding a £2m fee. It just shows what we are up against with no money to spend. Maybe things will pan out by end of month with transfer deadline closing and clubs more realistic about trimming excess from budgets by making loans etc. - but by that time 10% of season has gone and we risk being left with also rans.
Playoffs and a trip back to England for the final will do me. Of course its going to be a season of ups and down but what else would we expect or want.
World Cup Qualifiers will be a factor for me on how Boro cope with a wafer thin squad as Rhys and Scott get dragged around the Middle East and Asia every month or so in the coming season. Throw the Morroccan lad into that mix , Robson for Scotland and we lose four very good players on a regular basis who will suffer with the travel - apart from Robbo of course !
Look forward to seeing the Rhys and Scott and the other ex Boro players in Brisbane on Sept 2nd when Australia play Thailand in the opening World Cup fixture. I'm sure the Boro supporters club will be there- with and without their Thai brides !
Exceptional video.
Whoever made it is a talent that MFC should sign up immediately. He/she could could transform marketing with that passion and insight.
Top stuff. Even made me think of making the long commute from Aberdeen again.
AV - Are we twittering tomorrow?
If so, any chance of a guide to how we do it?
**AV writes: I think we will use the hashtag #borolive so we can pick it up again the next week and build up a habit without needing to remind people of a new tag every game. So, do whatever you would usually do, listening on-line or follow the BBC or whatever, then open a new window on the lappy and log in to Twitter.
In the search box at the top of your timeline search for #borolive and then that will open a separate feed and you will see every comment made by anyone else using that tag, not just people you are following. You can read and comment in real time and so long as you use the tag it will be visible to a potential Bosco Jankovic Stand audience of billions. If you want a private chat with someone just hit the reply button but don't use the #borolive tag.
It should be easy enough. It will be easier to access than CiLive and more people can use it. No adverts. No waiting for someone to authorise you. People can upload pictures, of the teamsheet for instance, or EIOing. The debate can go on while I am in the tunnel or in the car or wherever. You're in charge.
Back from an extended leave and just finished catching up with the blog…lots of reading.
I don’t buy the so many teams have strengthened argument. It takes weeks for rebuilt teams to gel, by which time confidence starts to be a factor. We are coming into the season on the back of a storming finish to last season with minimal disruption to the squad. Watch us go from the start.
Once the first two or three months are over, we will be established as one of a handful of front runners. Come the winter transfer window, TM will be able to bring in two or three new faces to bolster the attack and provide essential cover at the back that will see us keep the pressure up to end of the season when a home win over Southampton and a point away at a Watford with nothing left to play for sees us clinch the second automatic promotion place.
McDonald becomes the first Boro player to hit 21 for many a long year, as Moroccan star Zemmama scoops the player of the year award with young Richie Smallwood justifying TM’s judgement by clinching the young player of the year award.
Average attendances buck the economic trend as the feel good factor generated by Boro’s young guns win back the hearts of many with the 34,327 packing the ground against Southampton tipping the season average to an impressive 20,746.
I love the smell of foam …..
AV - I will try and give it a go though I may be painting and listening to Ali.
Powmill -
You have prompted a great new marketing idea for Boro. Mens toiletries.
Shaving foam, foaming shower gel, foaming hair gel, foaming sun tan lotion, foaming body lotion, foaming mouth wash. There could be ladies and kid ranges as well. Then there will be the spin off cleaning products. Foaming oven cleaner, foaming washing up liquid, foaming surface cleaner, foaming toilet cleaner.
The possibilities are endless.
Foaming Boro Beer. Sorry darling, just doing my bit for the club!
How creative is that?
All we need is a foamometer!
Top 6 from:
West Ham
Cardiff
Leeds
Leicester
Reading
Forest
Blackpool
Burnley
Boro to be around 9th. That'll do to build on!
Well we've got to aim to finish top, if you aim for the play-offs you'll get mid-table.
I'm always optimistic at this stage of the season with no games played.
Boro finish: 2nd
Top scorer: McDonald
Player of the season: Zemmama
Young player: Richie Smallwood
Unsung hero: New Loan keeper who comes in around October
Avg gate: 19876
just for the record the video http://vimeo.com/27254492 was a piece of course work from a post production module by a student within the School of Computing at the University of Teesside. Alas it is not for me to release the students name. He passed the module btw !
Ian Gill, great idea. There could even be a market north of the border here for Cremola Foam !
Wow, a good video - audio makes video and less is more in this case was very effective.
They should show this before every game.
Well the day is finaly upon us a tough game against Pompey.They should bring a good following so expect crowd to be about 19000. Depending on who is fit we should be very close to our strongest eleven bar Thompson.
Think we will score three but let in two. Two goals for Mac and one for Williams.
Will be trying the new twit today. All the fans that are going give them a big roar and lets get the Riversie buzzing and make it a place no team wants to come to.
AV any news on ST sales? I always ask as i feel it will be a big pointer as to what public think of the TM project.
**AV writes: I haven't heard a final figure but I'll ask.
AV, go to www.mfc.co.uk/page/news/latest/0,,1~2411577,00.html and you will see your photo there (with your better side towards the camera). But who is the third fellow beside Mogga?
I hope for a narrow win today but it's always tricky on the first day. So 2-1 with SuperMac and Robbo scoring.
Up the Boro!
**AV writes: Why, that is Teesside's Mr Football, Eric Paylor!
Well thanks steve gibson, for taking the club full circle, from oblivion to succes and media hype, back to oblivion. Well done,you haven't a clue how to run a football club. Please sell up and GO GO GO !!!!!!.Stick to you golf and spa.
**AV writes: You two need a new act.
Oh, it was that Mr Paylor! I thought he was looking so familiar but my face memory is terrible ...
Seriously, is he twitting with his mobile from Riverside today?
Up, up the Boro!
I suppose Dave Kitson to score the opener is a knocking bet.
Right...My twitter name is Triquertum. Now what do i do? Do I follow mogganaut ? Or you at Untypicalboro? Christ on a bike....bring back Radio Ayresome.
**AV writes: Did you get there in the end?
When are we going to learn how to kill the game using our substitutes?
paul bell -
There are several heroes at Boro. Juninho, Mowbray, Mannion, Hardwick, Clough and Charlton just to name a few.
But the biggest hero of all is Steve Gibson for me. Nobody has ever done more for the club. It is just my personal view after starting to support the club in the mid 1970's. But of course you can disagree.
Up the Boro!
I don't think we were unlucky, we missed chances, sat back towards the end and for the goal didn't close their man down. Even if it takes ten deflections before it ends up in the net we are still culpable.
If this division is as tight as we expect we can't afford to drop sloppy points like that, however we did play very well at times and it is only the first game. We are above West Ham and Forest who I would expect to be the top two, so if we can maintain that for the rest of the season, we'll do alright.
Nicky Bailey was excellent, should have scored with that header first half (I think it was him anyway). If he can add goals (which we know he is capable of) to his game he could be massive for us.
Spot on about Rhys' first touch, I'm not sure how he does it, but it always seems to give him so much time on the ball.
Bates had a great game at the back, and the two forwards combined well. Hoyte did very well at left back as well, and if Bennett had done that run and shot in the first half, everyone would have been raving about it.
The only major criticism of course, was the lack of substiutions. It was surely crying out for an extra midfielder for Emnes in the last 15, especially after Kanu started getting a lot of the ball deep.
Mogga doesn't seem to really be one for substitutions though when the team is winning.
Not bad. Better than last season's first game anyway!