A Team Shaped In Mogga's Image Is Finally Starting To Emerge
OUT OF the mists of misfiring mediocrity that shrouded the Riverside last term, the shape of a new look Boro side is starting to emerge.
Two wins in a week have seen a bundles of positives heave into view as we get the first glimpse of a team shaped in Tony Mowbray's image.
Last season's stuttering and frustrating home form was the stumbling block that cost Boro a place in the play-offs - and possibly, at a push, beyond that - and it also undermined the fragile confidence of a jittery crowd that only saw them on home turf when they were so often routinely shackled.
Tony Mowbray's unbalanced inherited team had the skill set to hit on the break away and had a superb record on the road. Awayday stats were of the order that would normally secure promotion.
Yet the crucial lack of a bit of lock-picking creativity, a bit of nous and a cutting edge showed on Teesside when well drilled but limited sides regularly came to the Riverside, set out with two rigid banks of four and shut up shop.
They lacked the pace and width to get behind teams who dug in deep and lacked the ingenuity to cut them open with a killer ball.
Usually the visitors got a point and sometimes three and while Boro's record at home wasn't woeful - they only lost five all term and not at all until November to West Ham, and that their first defeat in 19 - they drew far too many games and the leaden scripted predictability of proceedings sapping the spirit of supporters and drained the momentum of the early promotion surge.
But Mowbray - more aware of the pressing problem than anyone - has spent the summer engineering a radical structural change in his squad in a bid to build a team that more accurately reflects his football philosophy.
Ten new signings and the promotion of a raft of talented teenagers to the first team squad have given Boro a new look: faster, sharper, more hungry and with a flash of teeth but still committed to and capable of playing a patient passing game on the deck and using space and width.
From day one Mowbray has talked of his ambition to play like Barcelona and at times that has seemed far-fetched.
But while we may not have arrived at a birth of a Teesside tiki-taka, the last two home games have at least seen the faint outline of an eye-catching and exciting style start to loom into view.
Two home games in a row have served up some polished and pulsating football that has encouraged and entertained. What more can you ask for as a supporter than to go home buzzing from the result and from the performance?
In the space of a few days we have seen two wins and five goals - a quarter of last season's tally for both. Boro won eight games and scored just 22 goals in 23 laboured games. We have already seen more memorable net-busters so far at home this term than in the whole of a largely anonymous previous campaign.
The midweek clash with Burnley served up three cracking goals. Or one very good one and two mouth-watering strikes to liven up what was for long spells a scrappy and tense Championship slugfest.
But, perhaps more importantly, we have also seen some genuine signs of a new progressive approach evolving. Passing; probing; crisp interchanging; neat interchanging; width; pace; tempo; sustained pressure; shots flying in from all angles... it has been a pleasure to watch.
Against Crystal Palace, for an hour we got a glimpse of the side Mowbray is building.
The exhilarating first half display was as good a 45 minute spell as I can remember at the Riverside for many a year. There was some exquisite high-tempo passing, fluid movement on and off the ball and enterprising attacking football utilising both flanks.
Both full-backs pushed forward quickly and confidently to add real width and numbers to the attack and while last year the progress would have halted 30 yards out, the new assertive outfit repeatedly broke beyond the defensive trenches to get to the by-line and fire in inviting crosses high and low towards a posse of team-mates making penetrating runs into the box. It was fantastic to watch.
And the shots rained in - especially from instant hero Adam Reach who as he showed against Burnley is not scared to have a crack from anywhere.
Twice the perky pink-booted prodigy sent in stinging rifled drives from distance that were fumbled behind. He has the look of a player who will hit double figures given his head.
There were some excellent individual performances from the new signings.
George Friend had a storming first half in his best game yet. After a jittery start at Bury and Barnsley he has grown into the team and he looked far more solid at the back against Burnley then showed a more attacking bent in the Palace game with a series of penetrating bursts down the left to play telling crosses and neat short balls in. It was his run and cut inside that earned a free-kick for Zemmama to squeezed home the second.
Josh McEachran was again impressive, He had a fantastic debut and showed against Palace it was no fluke as he again linked up well and showed an impressive range of perfectly weighted passes into feet. He gave away the penalty but we'll forgive him that.
It won't go down well with the #haters but Justin Hoyte - a kind of new signing - was superb again. He was solid and determined at the back and put in a masterclass of attacking full-back play, always offering an outlet and putting in some killer crosses.
Of the old boys, Jason Steele was also impeccable and despite being a spectator for almost an hour made two great saves when the pressure was on and deserves some credit too while the central pairing of Seb Hines and Rhys Williams largely did well to cope with the blistering pace of Zaha... although the skipper was at fault as he failed to cut out the ball into the box that led to the spot-kick.
There was a lot of attention on another new boy Ishmael Miller. He had come in for some heavy pre-emptive chuntering from the Chickenrun but he did well. Not brilliant in any game-changing way but he was a handful. Certainly he showed signs of being exactly the kind of physical presence that does damage in this league.
Obviously he lacked match sharpness after a season spent bench-warming and his two best chances in the box went begging as defenders got their tackles in a fraction before he could pull the trigger but he added a robust presence in the box and a few times showed a turn of pace. He will add something to the mix.
Of course, it wasn't all good news. The familiar late jitters and the psychological retreat after Palace clawed one back with a cheaply conceded penalty were a worry. That involuntary shrinking back to the 18 yard line is a dark self-destructive shadow of doubt that needs to be addressed swiftly if the full exciting potential of this season and this team is to be realised.
But this is the Championship. That is what you get. Teams are not ruthless or dominant for the full 90 minutes. Especially at this stage when they are still bedding in.
And ,crucially, this time that germ of fragility wasn't punished. Last term Palace you just know would have got a stoppage time leveller. Or worse. Boro holding on for the win is a major step forward.
So, two home wins in a row and the angst and frustration of the still-born season opener at Barnsley, if not forgotten has been mitigated and put into context. It has been a decent start with goals and performances to encourage.
If this fledgling team continues to make progress and take shape as it has this week then this can be a fantastic season.
Bring it on.
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Anthony Vickers
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Really enjoyed the two home games this week. Not all pretty and nail-biting ends to both but some good spells of excellent football by Boro and five goals in five days - a month's worth at the Riverside last season.
I have to put my hand up and admit I was dismayed at signing a defender from a relegated side but George Friend has been fantastic in both games - and what on earth has happened to Hoyte? He is defending well, getting forward, showing teeth and getting crosses and shots in. Early days yet but I think he could win the idiot haters over this year.
Not convinced by Mogga's interview on Emnes. He dismissed the 'rumour mill' but didnt deny the Swansea story. Yes Emnes is smiling - but that could be because he knows he is going to have his wages doubled this week!
I went to Gillingham last time we played them in Bruce Rioch Division 3 season when I worked down there. We got battered by them but we escaped with a nil-nil because Pearsy put in a wonder display even though he got knacked early on by former Boro 'goal machine' David Sheaerer.
Just curious, as a non-Boro fan who watch the televised football on Saturday night.
It looked like there was hardly anyone in the ground. The stands behind the two goals were almost empty, and even the stand along the touchline had loads of gaps.
I remember a few years ago going to Ayresome Park a couple of times to follow my team, and being dead impressed by the throbbing atmosphere. Has that all gone now? From the TV it looked and sounded like a few diehards rattling around in a big empty box.
It made me rather sad.
**AV writes: After relegation from the Prem we are down to our historical norm in division two which is about 16,000. That could look and sound a lot at Ayresome but looks a bit sparse in a big all seater stadium. It isn't helped by the positioning of the cameras - especially as the vast swaths of emptiness behind one goal is "the away end" and is deserted bar the odd visit of Sunderland, Leeds etc. As you say, sad.
Two home wins on the trot, that's a bit of a rarity. Well done to all the lads.
I'm really pleased for Hoyte in particular who finally seems to be getting some recognition. Perhaps allowing fans favorite McMahon to move on has helped him as the crowd don't have an obvious replacement. I never quite understood the clamour for McMahon over Hoyte...and clearly neither did the management...three managers on the trot generally picked Hoyte ahead of McMahon.
It's also great to see Seb Hines back in the side again, last seasons best centre back by a long chalk. He developed a habit of notching the odd goal last year too, I hope he keeps his place.
Nice to see some goals at the Riverside too. Last season we scored 22 goals in 23 games at home, we're almost a quarter of the way to that milestone already. That will be the key.
Finally, not too fussed if Emnes goes, if there is an offer on the table I'd take it. I would like Mowbray to ditch his ridiculous stubborn approach to MacDonald though. Playing him in most of the pre-season games (in most of which he scored) and then dropping him just as the season starts is just plain silly.
Even if the objective is to sell him, he's not going to attract any bids sat in the stands. He's still our best forward, still has a record of roughly 1 in 3 which is up there with John Hickton and the very short list of other great Boro forwards of the modern era. Unfortunately that's what you get with Mr Mowbray.
Onwards and upwards. A tough couple of weeks coming up.
A wobble at 2-0 up is better than at 0-0 so that is progress.
The team are still in the settling in stage so six points and 6th is a decent start to the season.
It will be interesting to see the line up after the window closes because no clear formation or line up is apparent as yet. Absences whether real or political make it diffcult to predict what happens next.
But any three points is a good three points as Mogga said. WE were superb in the first hour or so. And more importantly we got the second successive home win. Who says it's boring at the Riverside?
We had many experienced players missing for a niggle or two. In two weeks' time we should even have Juke back, so we can get only stronger. Nice to see the youngsters - like Reach and Steele - doing well but we need experience in the team, too.
All we need now is consistency as Woody said earlier. Really I'm looking forward to the season now.
So after Miller, we have had 11 new players signed since May. Interesting to see if we can out-load McDonald and sign another centre forward or striker next week. What are the odds on a dirty dozen, AV?
I think we should see Carayol and Reach on the flanks on Tuesday. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Ginger Messi Williams starting, too. So I think it could be Miller and Williams starting as I don't see us risking Emnes there with the long traveling either.
I think the McDonald saga must be solved by the time the window closes end of next week. And that we keep on holding to Emnes. Otherwise the season is looking good so far.
A nice League Cup run, too? Up the Boro!
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday we couldn't put two passes together again; this week we have had two home games of one touch, fluid accurate passing.
The young kids, Reach,Williams and Smallwood stepped in producing two cracking goals, played well and gave Mowbray a selection headache now.
Friend, who looked very shaky at Barnsley, has improved immensely in the two home games and has looked very impressive and as for Justin Hoyte,a player transformed,getting forward,shooting at goal,100% improvement from last season.
The young kid from Chelsea looks great too,could prove very important to us this season.
Wasn't that fussed on the loan signing of Miller but yesterday was pleasantly surprised by him,he's bigger than I thought,and looks very physical and strong,I' m sure when he gets 100% fit the half chances he got yesterday will turn into goals. He won and laid the ball off well yesterday.
At least this season we have a lot more options, plan A B and C and players will be fighting harder for their places. Yesterday we had Woodgate, Bailey, Bennett, Carayol, Thompson, Arca, Emnes, Ledesma missing who would all expect to be playing. Should encourage them to play better when they do start and want to stay in the team.
Was a bit worried when we conceded the penalty yesterday. We reverted back to the nervy play of last season when really we should have been out of sight at the end of the first half. But overall it looks very promising and as the team gels things can only get better I hope. Blackpool away in a few weeks will be a good test!
Bob -
Strachan preferred McMahon to Hoyte but that is all history and Hoyte apears to be No 1 so we should all be delighted that he is starting to display some form. I dont think the McMahon issue was the reason because it is only recently that Macca has regularly been fit.
Like Emnes, I suspect the problem is in himself. The fact he has got over the halfway nosebleeds is a huge boost, that was the main reason I preferred McMahon. You just couldnt see Hoyte taking a free kick, corner or getting a shot remotely inside the 18 yard box never mind the posts. And as for crossing that was hardly a strong point.
The fact he is playing well now provides an outlet that wasnt their before. Good Luck to him, lets hope he doesnt have to play left back as that could knock his confidence.
Well done Boro. I said after Barnsley that we could win the next two and all would be forgotten. Job done.
Ian Gill said: "It will be interesting to see the line up after the window closes because no clear formation or line up is apparent as yet."
I'm not sure that a clear line-up or set of tactics will ever be apparent under Mowbray. A general feel perhaps, but not the specifics. That's not a criticism of him, I just think that that's the type of manager he is - a strategist.
I don't think Mowbray believes in an old-fashioned "Best XI". He looks at the next game, formulates a plan and picks a team accordingly. To some that will make his selections seem inconsistent. To others that will make him seem versatile.
Now that he has a squad more capable of implementing his plans, we should get a better idea of how often he gets it right. My suspicion is that he gets it right more often than not.
I reckon that football managers can be broadly divided into two groups: Strategists and Motivators.
Strategists are thinkers. They are concerned with tactics and take particular interest in the opposition, seeking weaknesses to exploit and strengths to nullify. To the Strategist, preparation is all. The positives around this approach might be that these managers can out-think their opposite number, they are tactically flexible and that the whole squad is utilised over the course of a season. The negatives might that with an ever changing plan, consistency of performance is more difficult to achieve.
Motivators are people-managers, rousing tub-thumpers. They are more concerned with their own team, instilling confidence and belief. They are, perhaps, more inclined to stick with the same tactics and team selection whilst it is winning. The major positive of this approach is that when the team gets on a winning run it can become a juggernaut. The negatives might be that they can be out-thought in tight situations, and when things go wrong they are unable to turn it around. Keegan would be an obvious example.
Of course, all managers will have a balance of both approaches (the best, perhaps Mourinho, may be perfectly balanced as well as strong in both areas) but I would certainly put Mowbray in the Strategist group.
It may be that Boro fans have disagree about what Mowbray does with his selections and tactics because our own ideas reflect our preference for a Strategist or a Motivator. Whatever, the bottom line is that I'm not expecting the same XI week on week whatever the results.
Whichever way - as others have said - the 'Scott McDonald in the Gulag' situation needs sorting v. soon. Time to move on from Teesside stubborn to pragmatism.
Mind you, when one hears the stories of the Stricken-era wages that the Aussie and Big Mick are alleged to be on, it's no wonder it's tough to unload and why they're not keen to go. But if they're here and being paid - assuming they're not disruptive to the dressing room (and I don't believe Big Mick is) - then we should be looking to get some value from them.
And if, as many suspect, it's Emnes for The Swans and the other suspiciously 'nearly' man - Joe Bennett - for Villa or Norwich, let's hope MFC can contrive to get the deals done in time for Mogga to be able to deploy whatever of the fees he's allowed to bring players in.
After so long needing big lads up front, we've now got three in Jukebox, Main-o and Miller, so now it's a quick & clever goal-poacher, or give Luke Williams his head there. Even then, the lad will need a break every now and again and consistency won't come straight away either, so we need back up.
I think Ian's right about the line up and shape emerging after the end of the window - I don't expect to see it at Millwall next Saturday, but maybe after the international break. It certainly hasn't emerged yet - except in bits and the performances of some individuals. When it does emerge, Boro look very good - but it all too easily falls to bits.
Leaving out any of the more 'adventurous' ways of setting out, I think we've got the core of a very good 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield.
Leadbitter and Reach/Carayol side to side with Thomo (if Mogga really must and he's ever fit) or Bails/Smallwood at the base and McEachran (or Luke Williams) at the really sharp end. We've got good cover for those roles and to give 'change of shape' options from the bench.
Like 4-3-3, that gives a solid but mobile three in the middle when you need it - as we did yesterday, but didn't have - with space on the flanks for the full backs to get forward. It was good to see encouraging performances from both Friend and Hoyte in that regard yesterday and last Tuesday.
That - and the move of Joe Bennett (??) is presumably why Halliday is being groomed for that slot with Parns (now that he's re-appeared) on the right.
The other bit of Teesside stubborn that needs to be got off is around the new Tippy-Tappy Twins, Zemmama and Ledesma. Neither is better, certainly for now, than 'impact from the bench when the other side is tiring' and it certainly doesn't need both of them on the bench - or either with Arca.
Ledesma was bought - as Mogga was at pains to remind us when he arrived - from Walsall as a young-ish 'project' to be developed. Fine - but he's not a nailed on 'one off the one up' striker. I was glad to see that reflected yesterday - but not with him being replaced by Zemmama.
But, as AV says, it's good to see the makings emerge - and that last term, we'd have drawn or lost the two games we've just won! And, I think, in terms of raw talent we're better off than last term too - assuming that if we lose Emnes and Bennett (and McDonald) we replace sensibly and the Academy lads continue to be given their chance.
Tuesday at Gillingham is, surely, for letting the bench players have a run out and get some more game time, rather than risking those most likely to start next Saturday lunchtime, except from the bench - if needed.
A quick dash home from Holiday from the airport meant I missed the first 15 minutes and Faris's sitter but when I settled into my seat what I saw (after only hearing about Tuesday nights extravanganza) was both entertaining and promising.
The Football was good, composed, controlled, disciplined with a tasty zest of pace in the form of Reach and Hoyte stretching defenders.
MOM was Friend, his defending was superb and his blocks decisive including a clearance off the line but his attacking play opened up new options and indeed a foul on him just outside the box led to Zemmama's goal from the ensuing free kick.
Adam Reach looks to have come of age and any Premiership scouts watching Zaha will not fail to have made a note of his name. He had the energy and confidence to actually run with the ball and to run at his opponents causing them to lunge at him despairingly.
Miller looked a real handfull and couldn't be pushed or barged off the ball but his pairing with Zemmama didn't pay off and despite the Morroccan's goal I think that Main or Williams (L) would have been a more productive pairing or dare I say it McDonald? Our inability to be more than 1-0 up at half time was testimony to Zemmama's waywardness and was obviously addressed during the half time Team talk.
The silly penalty tipped the game in a way that you just couldn't see coming. After our second goal Palace obviously figured they had nothing to lose so went for it and a moment of youthful exhuberance gave the Eagles a lifeline. Rhys and Seb looked OK until that point but then got a bit desperate as Palace sensed a point or more within their grasp. At this stage of the game Bails was sorely missed or perhaps the Tommo yet to be seen would have marshalled things and got a grip on the middle.
Jason Steele put in a masterclass in goalkeeping to keep the three points underlining that despite missing some of the more experienced squad members this team looks to have more battling qualities than last season.
It wasn't pretty at the end but effective if messy and chaotic and the table say another three points. Five goals at home in two games is nosebleed territory compared to last season.
I missed midweek but got along to the Riverside yesterday for my first game of the season.
As has been said by most already, we cruised for an hour and could easily have been four up by the time of our second. There was the usual woodwork clattering by Haroun. How many times has he hit the woodwork in his Boro career ? He must be getting on for double figures now. Miller looked very good with his back to goal but even being kind, he was a little off the pace - literally. He seemed pretty slow to react on a few occasions and one shot nearly hit the corner flag. I do hope he improves with a little match fitness, but I can see why his goal scoring record is so poor.
I did notice that AV gave Zemmama one of his star ratings for his performance yesterday. I would have to disagree with that, as bar his free kick he was pretty poor. In the first hour he was the oppositions best player, with nearly every one of our attacks breaking down due to his incompetence. Like others, I was very impressed by my first look at George Friend. He did brilliantly going forwards or backwards, so Bennett will have a lot to do to displace him when fully fit.
Overall though, you have to be impressed with that performance. Some lovely passing and the willingness to have a shot when within range was refreshing. Just think, Emnes, Bailey, Woodgate, Bennett, Thomson and Carayol were all out, but a very young (or Championship inexperienced) side did well.
The Emnes rumours continue this morning, with Sky reporting that a bid is being readied for tomorrow. I suspect a big (£4 - 6M) bid would be accepted by the club. Any idea who might be on the list to come in should the cash be available after a sale AV ?
I'm enjoying the telly as a football free zone, now that old misery guts is still locked in the shed (last shout heard was, ("Ishmael bloody Miller, aarrgghhh!)
I've often wondered about the term "Deluded Geordies", but having watched The X Factor auditions last night, all I can say is...if the cap fits!
Andy R -
I think you can have a basic formation and line up and be flexible in your approach to games. Decent players can be flexible and give the strategist room to move. You dont have to square peg to tweak between a 442, 4231 etc.
The back five look after themselves with injury and the need to rest the likes of Woodie.
The likes of Bails, Leadbitter and Thommo can work as a one shielding the back four or blend as a two. Width from Carayol and Reach, midfield passer or point man in Josh Mc.
You can see the same group of 17 or 18 covering the vast majority of situations with maybe 8 or 9 as the main starters.
"what on earth has happened to Hoyte? He is defending well, getting forward, showing teeth and getting crosses and shots in."
He was doing that most of the time last year, people just refused to notice.
Ian -
I don't disagree with your comments, just as I wouldn't say that either of the Strategist and Motivator approaches is correct or incorrect.
I believe, however, that TM will chop and change, with regularity, regardless of results. It's in his make-up as a manager.
As an aside, talk of "square-pegging" is anti-strategist language. A strategist may decide that a right-footed fullback like Hoyte, for instance, may be best deployed at left back on occasions such as when the opposing right winger is the sort who likes to cut inside. There is a balance to be struck between what is best for your team, and what is best to stop the opposition, and which is more important for any one game.
This is precisely what I'm talking about when I say that Boro fans will disagree about TM's selections and tactics based on their own preferences of what a manager ought to be. One man's shrewd tactician is another's tinkerman, one man's square-peggism is another's tactical flexibility.
Whilst I don't disagree with your comments, I suspect that you and I come from different sides of this particular debate.
Without wishing to put words into your mouth, I sense from your posts that you err towards the Motivator side - pick your best players, play them in their best positions and let the opposition worry about us.
I like that approach for when I think we are the better side, but I worry about it when we're not. This division is so tight that I'm happy to have a manager who takes a good look at the opposition before each game, trusting that by and large he will get it right. But I understand the other view as well. There is probably not a right answer.
Andy R -
I am in neither camp to be honest. For example I remember when Arsenal were in their pomp and teams like Bolton, ManU and Chelski coped by matching them up and filling the midfield. At the time they were basically playing without a traditional striker and Arsene whinged if you didint play proper 442 so they could pass you to death.
On the ancient message board I posted we should do the same. I was disabused about the idea but oddly when we matched up we drew or won and when we played 442 we got battered - dont mention 7-0 to Mr Powls.
I am perfectly happy for the manager to chamge players but I tell you what, if we had gone out and used the talent we had available at home I bet we would have finished at least in the play offs. I cant prove it but our poor form at home would not have been worse if we just sent them out and said play.
At this level we should be imposing ourselves at home. Many of ManU's titles were won without being the best versus the top four. What they did do was put lower ranked teams to the sword.
Going back to your original point I am not a 'pick the best 11 and never change'. If you remember the old comeonboro website I wrote a weekly article called talking tactics. That focussed on exactly what it said, what happened before and what to do the next match. John Powls does the same each week on Boro Banter.
Moving on from the debate with Andy R.
The absence from Joe Bennett prompted me to look at the U21's report in case he was there to get match fitness. A ten minute sub appearance made that unlikely.
My thoughts then jurned to Jimi Hendrix's debut single and the words 'Hey Joe, where you going to go?'
With stories about Emnes bubbling away maybe we will be receiving some money before the window closes. Then there are the wages of McManus and McDonald.
That lot would provide some serious wriggle room. But if we have money to spend we dont want bench warming retreads or players who have to play but are no better than we already have. Well I dont anyway but I dont run the club.
My feet are so firmly on the ground I find it difficult to move.
Palace were poor, very poor. They have had a bad start and looked S-L-0-W and cumbersome. So relative to them we looked like a team full of Spanish Internationals in a practice match.
In the first 60 mins it was Boro v Speroni. From 60 to 80, I have no idea what the hell Mogga was up to, 4-5-1 with the one looking lost and clueless. Then 80 through to 90 some form of order was restored and a the 3 points was ours.
Things I like, before Palace turned up every Boro player ( well except for for Miller ) looked like they loved having the ball, moved around as if one ice skates and had smiles on their faces. Things I did not like, they all panicked like Mr Manering when they equalised and suddenly looked like the children they are and Mogga please keep it simple for then especially when simple is best. This is a top 12 team that have yet to show top 6 spine of steel.
AV - any idea why three the four changes? Is he still experimenting?
Another three points in the bag.
Strange situation with McDonald. Would imagine if he does not leave in the window we will see more of him then.
A nice fixture in midweek to get some of our other players on the pitch. Still hoping for a good run in the cup: a couple of home ties with Prem opposition should at least bring some gate money in.
Was Woody injured or just rested?
**AV writes: just rested up, getting a hose down and a massage. Probably left out for Gillingham too.
If the speculation is true then I think that Emnes to The Swans for Stephen Dobbie plus cash (and maybe some of his wages!) coming the other way is far from bad business for Boro - particularly since Mogga seems keen on a 'one up, one off' approach to his front two this season and Dobbie is very good at that role at Championship level.
Still wonder about Joe Bennett - whose Tweets are interestingly circumspect - Scott McD out in the Gulag and Big Mick too.
An interesting few days ahead. The selection for tonight will be pored over for signs about who is going and who is staying. Or is it just Mogga mixing it up?
Maybe he will fool us all and play Big Mc and Little Mc.
Maybe it will be a chance to give a run out to some and rest for others?.
Will we see Bennett or Emnes? Will we see them again?
I think we will see Leutwiler, Parnaby, Hines, Smallwood, Main and Williams L.
I dont thik we will see Woodie or Rhys.
May see Friend at centre back and Haliday at left back.
Find myself agreeing with Fat Sam but cant help it. He says it is a good time to give people game time.
Throw in the transfer window and it is a bit like an episode of Poirot but even he would struggle unravelling Mogga's plots.
So with transfer deadline looming Mogga is doing his sales talk pronouncing 'every player has his price' - though I suspect McDonald has no price tag at all - Scottish PL goal machine available free to the first club to pick up the phone (Hurry while his stock lasts).
Will Emnes finally head back to Swansea? Probably not at the price some people are hoping for - would he even get a game at the welsh barca? Maybe he will even discover the cupboard where they're keeping Leroy Lita - perhaps he'll come back as part of the deal?
As for Bennett to Villa - maybe it sounds good on paper to them but I also can't see him being the solution to their defensive problems as he's barely our solution - but you never know in football when the panic button gets pressed.
Surely Big Mick has to go - he must know he's only a spare part at Boro - though probably will have trouble getting his wages matched.
As for incoming, would be nice to get a goal scorer rather than just a 'forward' - we've got plenty of those kind now who can lay it off for someone to bang it in the net.
Perhaps we need another centerback as come November we may be looking a bit thin at the back.
Though having said all that We'll probably see no outgoings or incoming as usual - bar a possible surprise loan.
Just read the full thread for the first time.
Things look to be settling, get through to the next round of the cup and something from Millwall and we will be ahead of the curve as far as I was concerned.
Getting so many players in early was good news.
Well done Boro things are looking better. If Emnes goes the money we get will be invested wisely by the club and Mogga. A better feel about this season.
Will have to be careful, Gillingham have started well this season. Should be a tough one. No replays though so 1-0 will be good enough.
Would like to see Reach continue and Main maybe to share a half with Miller.
Enjoyed saturdays game, tried a different tack from last season, got me pie and hot chocolate before the game, so result all round.
Agree with others that in the middle of the game after their subs we looked overun, but that came back with our subsequent subs.
Mr Friend stood out for me, Miller I will hope makes more of an impact when fitter and bedded in, the young Chelsea lad is a class above, but I still despise his empl
oyers.
Very encouraging and if the expected departures happen we may yet have some other new faces to help us push on, Marvin going for anywhere near £6m has to be good business and a nice surprise that could not have been factored into the sums this time last year. If he stays I still think he will be our top scorer, but this season maybe only just?
Bennett to Villa... so the rumours appear to be true assuming they are willing to pay Mogga's price.
I'm slightly more relaxed about the possibility than I would have been a day or two ago having seen Friend play. He seems very capable, alhough he was playing against League two opposition.
Again having seen Carayol last night and being very impressed I'm slightly more relaxed about Emnes moving to Swansea, we seem to have decent players in most positions now. It will be fascinating as always to see who Mogga brings in to replace emnes and Bennett assuming they both go.
Can we run a sweep now on the transfer fees? How about £4,5m for Emnes and £3m for Bennett?
If Williams is out for a stretch does that mean big Mick will stay I wonder, again he looked solid last night.
AV
In view of the comments about our empty stands and so called 16,000 attendances, I too am embarrassed by them.
Please use your influence to get the camera locations changed. Looking towards the west stand might help
I'm with David of Redcar in looking to keep firmly anchored. I know I'm infamous for avoiding over-expectation through rampant pessimism but I really don't think we've beaten anything or proven anything yet.
Lots of people said that Barnsley were useful. The results say otherwise: we were comfortably beaten by one of the weakest teams. Palace were dreadful and it's no surprise that they have zero points. Nevertheless they had us hanging on. Nothing there on which to base a judgement.
I, for one, refuse to get excited until we see how we do against the better teams that are coming up, like Blackpool, Blackburn, Brighton and Bolton
Yes, there are some promising signs. We've gained a much-needed injection of pace with the introduction of Carayol and Reach. There are indications of more flair and sustained passing, especially from McEachran.
But, hey, I've seen nothing yet to match last year's game at Barnsley. For much of the early stages of last season, we played some of the best football I've seen in ages from Boro. Nothing so far this season matches that.
Perhaps the big difference is that we're now producing it at the Riverside. If we can replicate at home what we've often seen away over the last 15 months then we'll have something. Our home form has been a drag-anchor on our progress so if we can make the Riverside a fortress we'll have a chance.