The No Gong Show
IT IS that stage of the season when thoughts must begrudgingly turn to the thorny question of Boro's Player of the Year. Yes, incredibly someone is going to walk away from this smoldering twisted wreckage of a campaign clutching a tainted trophy and with their name engraved among the list of the greats.
That provocative notion may smash unwanted into your consciousness like a Molotov into a firework factory, smouldering with the potential to ignite an explosive anger that will rip the flimsy joint apart, but it must be considered.
It was the vexed question that prompted an in-depth, expletive peppered debate on the way back from the bruising at Bolton, and although it didn't lessen the sting of humiliation it did take minds off the horrific flashbacks to the goals.
Normally predicting which way the players, supporters and writers votes will go is a tricky task of comparing the cases of two or three obvious candidates; about weighing up the obvious headline grabbing glamour of schemers and scorers against the more mundane but equally important work at the back; or about contrasting a big money established star with the spectacular arrival of a prodigy.
This time it could be a case of rummaging through the debris of broken dreams looking for shards of silver lining, a flawed process weighed down by dashed expectations, anger and cries of anguish.
The debate was at least cathartic. Compiling desperate pleas of mitigation helped absolve some of the least useless of blame for the shambles that has unfolded this term. But it also helped sharpen the focus on some legitimate targets for spleen-venting.
The simple fact is that right now - with Boro poised above the trapdoor and looking to slip meekly and voluntarily, through it when the call comes - there is not a single player who honestly deserves to carry away an accolade that has previously been dished out to the likes of Wilf Mannion, Graeme Souness, John Hickton, Juninho and Gareth Southgate, the player.
There is not one player who can honestly say they have put in a sparkling season of consistent performances that commands popular acclaim and universal respect and that should be recognised. It is a tainted trophy that is ticking, placed on a podium slap bang in the middle of a political minefield.
Whoever the votes go will immediately provoke anguished howls of complaint that the winner wants to leave, or only stood out for a few bright weeks before fading back into the mire or mediocrity, or that somewhere along the line they have cheated the supporters and the manager with displays that lacked consistency, skill, grit, steel, workrate, sweat and the 100% dedication to the cause that the honour implies.
Maybe the whole thing should be scrapped as a mark of respect for the fans' favourites who are about to have their achievements cheapened? Relegation isn't the issue. Last Boro went down Juninho won all the trophies but other players - Robbie Mustoe, Nigel Pearson, Craig Hignett - all had advocates to argue a strong case. Who is going to canvass for the various contenders in the voted for trophies this time?
For the Evening Gazette it is fairly straightforward as we don't have the tricky task of unravelling a vote for the least undeserving. We have the star man charts decided by totting up the coveted three, two, one rating dished out by Uncle Eric or his proxy which at least has the merit of being a transparent, accumulative and fairly objective measure.
But even that has the potential for a political backlash.
Currently leading the ratings on 23 stars apiece are Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil - two players who were sat by the exit door in January and who are only still at the club because Steve Gibson put his foot down over departures.
Both have had patchy terms marred by off the field distractions before stuttering into post-window revivals and both still seem set to leave as soon as the final whistle goes at West Ham. They probably won't even be back for the official club open topped bus parade, much less to collect the player of the year trophy.
Downing was top scorer with ten last term but has fallen well below his own high standards and it would speak volumes if he was to still win despite long spells as a pale imitation of the player we know he can be. And O'Neil, never really a fans' favourite, has raised eyebrows and hackles with some ill-timed injury absences and indifferent displays.
And just behind them with 20 stars is Ross Turnbull, the early season shot-stopping sensation, dropped after declining the club's offer of a new deal. He was the talk of the town and the find of the season - but he hasn't played since January and barring an injury to Brad Jones looks out in the cold and possibly out of the club.
In the chasing pack we have injury dogged Chris Riggott, this week's sadly misquoted scapegoat Emanuel Pogatetz, Adam Johnson who is explosive from the bench but rarely dominates when he starts, injury hit card collector Didier Digard, David Wheater, who with the best will in the world has fallen well short of the exceptional form of last year and Tuncay, a potential murcurial matchwinner and magician - but one that hibernated between November and February. Which of these players would have the brass neck to argue they should win any of the awards that are up for grabs?
There are others who have not really disappointed - Matthew Bates, Tony McMahon, Josh Walker - but have just not played enough games to justify a gong without it being a calculated kick in the teeth to their team-mates.
Bizarrely, despite being the top scorer, seven goal Afonso Alves, is right at the back with four stars - even behind maverick Mido - which sums up his frustrating season.
So as it stands no one deserves any awards - but there is still time for that to change.
There is still time for a hero to swoop in and save the day. Most fans would willingly hand over every award going including their own prized 100m backstroke certificate and darts trophy from the Dormans - plus their first born and keys to the car - to anyone that now can do whatever it takes to save our season and preserve Premiership status.
There are seven games left: seven blistering performances, seven sizzling goals and 21 stars should steal it. Is there anyone at the club who still has it within them to turn in a blistering spell that would earn the trophy, our gratitude and a place in folklore?
If a hero could emerge now, a player who can galvnise the game against Hull, engineer wins over Fulham and a derby drubbing of newcastle before netting a last gasp status salvaging winner at West Ham they would be a shoe-in.
So come on Afonso, come on Stewie, come on Wheats - start knocking the goals in and clear a space on the mantelpiece. Someone, anyone - earn it!
**This piece is a remix of today's Big Picture column, not normally available on-line. As well as the chance to respond with a comment there is also a comprehensive legion of the damned Player of the Year poll over on Surveymonkey and a smaller slate of would-be winners to choose from in today's gazettelive poll. So get clicking.
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AV
Agree entirely with the analysis and the conclusion, except for the exhortation to vote for someone now.
Either someone steps up to the mark over the next seven games, as you suggest, - and it doesn't need to be a goalscorer; leadership on the pitch will be every bit as important - or I think that the choices alongside the buttons in the various Gazette polls must include 'None of the above' as a choice so that we could register what would be richly deserved.
My guess is that that choice would be just as popular as the 77% on the latest Gazette poll who think that Boro have no chance of staying up.
**AV writes: I just wanted a snapshot of feeling now when I think we are pretty much at rock bottom emotionally but when the end is still an unknown rather than at the end when it will inevitably be coloured by the final outcome. I never thought about 'none of the above'. I thought the protest would come with Eurovision style tactical block votes for Josh Walker. Or Mido.
Easy one this the trophy should be given to our 12th Man, the fans.
They have been the only ones this season that have done what they have been asked. They were asked to create a wall of noise at the Riverside and to give the team lots of encouragement and they have.
They have been asked to stick by the players the management and the board through these rough times and they have. They have never given up on the team all season and will no doubt stick it out till the last game.
The fans have basically been superb and therefore deserve the trophy not the players.
Because of a lack of skills or match-winners or anything like a consistent performer, it should really go on effort I suppose.
In which case it would be Pog.
I think it must go to Julio Arca. The effort he has displayed in ensuring the ball never enters the opposing half has left me astounded. The excellent negative triangle formations inside our own box before a weak back pass to a terrified keeper have filled me with pride. Is there anyone more deserving after proving that legs can completely collapse over a pre-season, to show that you spend the next campaign flapping like a cartoon character held back by elastic?
I firmly believe a special award should go to the all round Mr Nice Guy, GS.
Has he not through it all, thick and thin remained ´nice´? While the criticism has been crashing at the doors of his office and around his head like breakers against the sea-wall at Redcar on a Spring-tide, he´s stayed nice. That is of course until now.
Perhaps the disaster that looks unavoidable has broken the nice persona and now at long last we might get the opposite. My advice to GS is to go get himself a pair of steel toe capped working boots and squarely put his right foot up the rear ends of all and sundry in the team until they get the message that you dont come off the pitch against Hull unless you are sweating blood or have broken legs.
If they/we dont win I also suggest he locks the dressing room doors at full-time and has the designer wear thrown into the road near the Bongo. If he cant put a spark amongst this shambles of a team then he himself should join the designer gear in the self same road and SG can get stright on the phone to Graham Souness so that he can bring his working boots with him and do the job correctly.
If you're going for a protest vote step forward.... "Starvin" Marvin Emnes.
Starvin in terms of minutes on the pitch that is! How many has he scored, 2 or 3, in practically zero playing time? If you look at his time on his pitch vs his performances, he's easily the best performer.
If I vote, I'll vote for him, purely to make a point to GS and his team of 11 "stars" that they've let us all down this season.
Although I genuinely think that someone like the Gazette should stand up and say that you're not doing a "player of the year" this season - give the club both barrels about the pathetic performances.
That would say more than any protest vote. Don't bother with it AV!
**AV writes: I've added Emnes to the list for you... cast your protest vote with pride.
I pick Alan Foggon. He didnt play in any of the games this season but he was no worse than the rest of them
I cannot see how we could possibly award a player of the year - and anyway whoever gets it will no doubt be off to pastures new - but read mfc.co.uk or listen to bbc tees and there will be no end of contenders.
Give it to Marvin Emnes, that lad has had poor treatment and deserves better. How about player we most want rid of?
Can I pick the crossbar at the new Holgate End please? What a save from Downing's Penalty vs Stoke. Tremendous athleticism and an unwillingness to be bustled out of the way unlike some of our players (Arca you can sit down son!!!)
It showed courage under pressure, it had its chance to be a match winner and stood up to the challenge however on most occasions it had very little to do when Boro attacked that end but when it was called upon oh my.......
Well done crossbar you get my vote!!!!!!
AV - I don't think there's a debate here...
What's more interesting to me is who will (should) go and where they'll go to. The same players who underperformed so consistently for us will play much better in a different Premier League (or European) team next season
Good managers weld the different pieces together, organise, motivate, and inject tactical direction that taken together produces performances greater than the collective ability of the individual players. I for one just don't accept that the performances of the team are a fair reflection of the ability of the individual players and I think we'll see the evidence of that next season.
All in all, watching the whole thing fall apart at the seams, in slow motion, cut by cut, has been hugely frustrating. The manner of the demise though is far worse than the loss of Premier League status itself - actually, what is so great about treading water season after season, struggling with an increasing number of other teams to stay afloat as fodder for the 'big four'?
I wish Downing all the best - I hope Johnson stays. I hope Digard stays; I think under a different manager Alves will score lots of goals. I hope Wheater stays, we'll need Riggott. Huth can go - Pog would be an asset if he wants to stay but I don't think he does. Tuncay has always been a class above and I hope he gets a good move...
One thing that puzzles me: if GS was confident enough in our two keepers (absolutely key position) to risk our Premier League status on them why didn't we get them signed-up on long-term contracts well before the season began? If he wasn't sure about them, then that's one almighty gamble he took...
Never mind the player of the season, I think once the end of season assessment has been done SG will remove GS. GS may then go on to become a decent manager after having learnt his trade in the lower leagues. It's sad that he was asked to do this job because he has always had the club at heart, he's been passionate and loyal, both as a player and a manager, whatever his shortfalls over the last three years. It would be a tragedy if all that was lost sight of.
We should all vote for Alves in the hope that someone somewhere is duped into shelling out decent money to take the fans player of the season off our hands.
Failing that would voting for Cattemole be allowed under a relaxing of the rules?
I don't see Marvin Protest Vote Emnes available to pick when I look...
As a point of principle I really do think the right thing to do would be to refuse to award a player of the year this season. Nobody deserves it & its about time everyone at the club realised how far the gulf between the club & the fans is getting & we aren't willing to accept it anymore.
The fans have been let down badly & the time to paper over cracks is long gone. Hard home truths are what is needed now for the long term future of the club, they are on a knife edge, people are ready to walk away in their thousands & once gone they will not be back!
Who is this Emnes people keep mentioning? I have never seen him!
My vote would be for either Ross Turnbull for the fantastic early season form (he cant be blamed for all the mistakes - just look at the defence in front of him!) Or believe it or not Mido! He scored goals, was passionate for the club when playing regularly and only rocked the boat when not being picked when no hopers were!
Being a good footballer is far more than just doing a few fancy tricks when the cameras or your international manager are there or because you fancy playing against a big club like Liverpool.
Being a good footballers is about digging in, working hard, showing professionalism, discipline, integrity and fighting spirit even when things are going against you, it is about playing for the team not just yourself and it is about pride and respect for the shirt, the club, the manager and for the supporters.
I don't think more than handful of this shower can truthfully say they have done that this season. Whoever "wins" should decline it on principle.
My vote for Player of the Year would go to Steve Gibson. Shrewd poker player that he is,he has gambled with our premier league status and lost.
This is a pointless exercise but if anyone should get then it has to be the departing Downing as he remains our best and most consistent player and as a gesture of thanks for his efforts over the last few seasons.
Didier Digard gets my vote. At least he looks like he is up for a fight everytime he plays. I appreciate he can be over the top at times, but he is a battler.
I hope he is not involved in any mass stage left exit if we are relegated. In my opinion the club would need his bite in midfield to get us back up again at the first time of asking.
No Gong Show!?
We should have Alec Dane stood behind GS at every media interview. Each time he says the word "Lessons", the gong should be struck with a force that would have Bombardier Billy Wells casting admiring glances! Mind you, J Arthur would be proud of the bunch currently masquerading in Boro shirts.
Boro's player of the Year: Tom Craddock.
Never given a chance despite Dong Gook Lee last season and Alves this season and left to take up an impossible challenge with Luton Town. His goal at the weekend topped it off for me. Well done lad you showed your love of the game is above glory and glamour and in doing so displayed genuine courage, enthusiasm, passion and self belief.
I was stood looking at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and text John to let me know the score from the Bolton match. The tower has a lean something like our survival prospects but unlike them has stopped listing.
The sun shone on a Tuscan afternoon but there was a one little rain cloud settled over a Boro fan in the crowds in the square of miracles.
It was hoped that my absence would be the cause of our revival, more chance of Lord Lucan riding Shergar on Redcar Beach.
As for gongs, fat chance of anyone desreving one at this rate.
At the risk of making AV vomit, having reflected, I'll give it to Juninho - in a search for solace I trawled through YouTube relived the Basel and Steau epics, and then submerged myself in a haze of Juninho clips: there was entertainment, brazilliance and unadulterated passion - if nothing else these memories have added more to this season than anything else
I would go for Matthew Bates, with McMahon a close second, on the basis that every game they have played they never let the side down as our so called stars have done many times this season.
Bates was played in midfield to everyone's initial horror, but never once let the team down (apart from his fairy dive against Pompey).
He was thrown right in the deep end away at Chelsea against Lampard, Ballack, Mikel and Deco but didn't look at all out of place. He played very well that night.
Despite being out of the game for so long with injuries and being played out of position the lad came through it all commendably, Matthew Bates has my vote.
I like the shout for Emnes though!!
My prediction for Boro's player of the year next season? : Rhys Williams, class act for those who have never seen him play.
Of couse a difficult choice! My favourite is Tuncay but he's had quite a bad spell after Christmas. So not eve him deserves the merit here.
I agree that Bates is a good candidate but he has not been a regular all season.
My final verdict - over the whole season - is Downing. He has been our best player and definately most consistent. And he became an England regular, too.
Nice to read in the Gazette that the Boro players have given up one of their days off in an attempt to beat relegation - all we need now is for them to give up their other day off on Saturdays!
If I was going for the protest vote then yes, Emnes would get my vote. Alternatively I'd give it to Downing as a 'leaving present' and a thank you for the good times.
If I believed in miracles I'd vote for Alves on the basis that he's about to score a shed load in the next seven and keeps up, but I don't
If I was simply sticking to the principle of voting for the player of the season I would simply not bother, just like the majority of the squad haven't bothered this season.
Wheaters war cry- blah blah blah,
Downing - push for Europe is on, blah blah blah
Pogatetz - survival rests on my shoulders, blah blah blah
All talk no action these modern day Boro gadgys.
I think that all gongs of the said description should be cancelled especially the official club one.
After going down, to have an evening of self-congratulatory back slapping would be a complete embarrassment. I can almost hear GS words... "Its been a disappointing season, but if we galvanize learn from our mistakes play like we did for 75 minutes of matches during the first half of the season we should be ok"
UTTER NONSENSE!!
Digard for me for exceeding his potential in what was to be, as with Emnes, a development year for him.
He should also get the 'Unluckiest Red Card Award' for 'that' sending off, and the Cattermole Award for services above and beyond the call of duty.
For the benefit of our overseas members
Remaining fixtures:
Weekend starting April 11th
Liverpool v Blackburn
BORO v Hull
Portsmouth v West Brom
Stoke v Newcastle
Sunderland v Man Utd
Weekend starting April 18th
Man City v West Brom
BORO v Fulham
Portsmouth v Bolton
Stoke v Blackburn
Sunderland v Hull
Tottenham v Newcastle
Wednesday April 22nd
Man Utd v Portsmouth
Weekend starting April 25th
Arsenal v BORO
Blackburn v Wigan
Fulham v Stoke
Hull v Liverpool
Newcastle v Portsmouth
West Brom v Sunderland
Weekend starting May 2nd
Aston Villa v Hull
Liverpool v Newcastle
Man City v Blackburn
BORO v Man Utd
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Stoke v West Ham
Sunderland v Everton
Tottenham v West Brom
Weekend starting May 9th
Blackburn v Portsmouth
Bolton v Sunderland
Hull v Stoke
Newcastle v BORO
West Brom v Wigan
Weekend starting May 16th
Bolton v Hull
Chelsea v Blackburn
BORO v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Fulham
Portsmouth v Sunderland
Stoke v Wigan
West Brom v Liverpool
Sunday May 24th
Arsenal v Stoke
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Blackburn v West Brom
Hull v Man Utd
Sunderland v Chelsea
West Ham v BORO
Wigan v Portsmouth
Just a reminder to all you Venables slappers... he was the one who recommended Southgate to Gibson and told him his answer was right in front of him.
For me, there are only two players who come close to deserving the award, and that's Tuncay and Digard.
At times this season it has seemed like there really only was one player on the pitch, such was the effort put in by everybody's favourite Turk. However, a long dip, or should that be chasm, in form over the Christmas period cannot be ignored.
Digard has been the epitome of the mundane but important work you mentioned. With relatively consistent performances throughout the season, from the first match up until his untimely injury. It is this injury that casts doubt on his claim though, can you be player of the season having played in less than two thirds of the games?
Personally I would forgo handing out the award this year, I fear it would only induce added loathing instead of admiration.
gt - If you're right and Venables 'recommended' GS to Steve Gibson, then that is further proof that football managers at all levels no matter how good they are at football management itself have not grasped the reality that it is folly to place a completely inexperienced man into a senior management position no matter how great his potential or how strong his personal attributes are.
I still have a lot of respect for GS, I also believe he could be a good manager, but it is probable that he was the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That isn't to say though that he wouldn't be the right man in the right place for next season onward.
Another day, another battlecry.
Yawn, yawn - heard it all before on numerous occasions!
Does this guarantee another feeble, toothless display?
Any Boro player that wins a gong this year should have the decency to decline it.
However,should this not be the case - and lets face it, the egos of these players would prevent them from considering themselves to have performed less than at premiership standard - then my vote would go to the young keeper Turnbull.
He came into the team when just about everyone was unanimous that the club needed to sign a proven keeper and he suprised us all with some strong performances and given the chance may well have gone onto establish himself as a top keeper, unlike Jones who is as good as he will ever get.
However,like Oliver Twist, he dared ask for more, only to be shunned before finally coming good (probably at another club).
Ian Gill
You have obviously never had a walk along Redcar seafront on a barmy summer evening. You might just be suprised.
Someone beat me to the joke about their days off! Well done werdermouth.
Coming in on their day off is the least they can do. I'd have them running up Roseberry Topping!
I see more crap coming from the club. They really need to prove it now and stop talking about it. If it was the talking about it league, we'd be at the top!
Who gets the Gong?
Shawky, quite obviously! A breathtaking contribution this season, earning us simply minus-tons of points, and all allied to several attempts to get away, sadly none of them successful as yet.
Today's alleged quote to an Egyptian paper that Toon are after him and that they are a good club is a little belter. He must be as deluded as most of the poor Barcodes are! And what better way to raise the spirits and boost team morale just prior to what might be the biggest game in Boro's recent history?
It seems highly unlikely that Toon will come in for him - even they are not that daft, surely? - but I would let him go to them with open arms, then die laughing.
David Tomassetti
Of course I have been on Redcar beach on a balmy summer evening. By summer I mean between 29th July and 3rd August before watching Nice at Redcar Jazz Club.
I suppose it is my fault being on holiday but I take no reponsibility for the result at Bolton.
Just seen Chelsea score the second against Liverpool in the first leg of the 'non winning the championship Champions League for teams that have to have the income from playing matches against each other without winning their own league run by UEFA' competition. It was zonal marking at its best and pathetic.
Now 3-1 and the Spanish waiter looks fed up. He should consider trips around the championship.
I have nothing against Matthew Bates. He always gives his all and does his best for the team. But player of the season? You are having a laugh.
I actually think he's been really poor in central midfield. Granted it's not his true position and is only playing there due to the managers ineptitude in the transfer market, but to consider him as our best player this season is ridiculous.
Yes the competition isn't great and it is easier to rule people out rather than actually award it to someone but I'm still adamant Bates has not been our best player. To prove my point if Boro were playing their first choice midfield would Bates be in the team? Definitely not. Hence he can not be considered to be our best player.
I'd give it to Digard. Injury prone yes and had a very slow start. But when he did find his feet was imperative to Boro saving themselves from the drop. Unfortunately when Cattermole did his (fair?) lunge it condemned us to relegation. As no fit decent central midfielders means it's impossible to even compete at this level. Playing players out of position to try to rectify this has and never will work when the standard is as high as it is now.
On a last note our only other option was to play Tuncay in this position with 2 strikers. Southgate chose to continue to play the misfiring Turk up front with his back to goal nullifying his main ability, to create chances and to play facing the goal. See the goal against Bolton.
The scores on the doors so far:
Marvin Emnes 23.8%
Ross Turnbull 19%
Didier Digard 11.9%
Stewart Downing 9.5%
Tuncay 9.5%
Mido 7.1%
Most of the rest have a vote or two. The following have had NO votes so far:
Gary O'Neil (the joint leader of the Gazette star ratings!)
Adam Johnson (a former icon by absence)
Robert Huth
Brad Jones
Julio Arca
Andrew Taylor
Justin Hoyte
Can that be right? This snapshot suggests a player who has not started a Premier League game should be player of the season?
On a related issue, in his exclusive Evening Gazette column today Bernie, Bernie Slaven calls for all the awards to be scrapped this season and the trophies presented to the supporters for their passion and patience.
The sad thing is that all the probable winners - Downing, Tuncay, Turnbull - are all leaving the club anyway.
You can't blame them because it just the survival instinct to get away from a club that is falling apart but it sends out another loud and clear signal.
I would give it to one of the young lads who we know will be here next year... except, we don't even know that do we?
OMG! McClaren backing us to stay up! Boateng fit to play us on saturday. Southgate sticking by Pogatez.... add to that i will be there on saturday - I promise if we lose I will never attend the Riverside again! That should solve our problems :)
Richard Foy's article on Boro Banter is excellent.
**AV writes: It is. Anyone who hasn't already should go and read it immediately.
Hello my friends on the board been on holiday for two weeks and just back in Kazakhstan. The Player of the year - NO ONE DESERVES IT AT ALL. In fact the players should chip in and give something to the supporters, even a bag of sweeties on saturday.
Just looked at the remaining fixtures and all I can realistically see is a maximum of 6 points, so even though I said some time ago we were playing like a team with no chance of survival, now there is NONE.
Mr Southgate was never qualified for the position he holds and he has taken this team down, he only just survived last season. He has no tactical sense, no man-management sense, he has even suceeded in making decent players into bad players, he distroyed Wheater, the lad was playing out of his skin at centre half and on the verge of the England team, so what does the man do, play him at right back and gradually distroy him.
I still dony understand why he dropped Turnbull the lad was having a very good season, but no he then puts Jones in and after a couple of decent performances he has gone back to the way he was playing in previous season - RUBBISH.
Also many other players out of position only one person to blame SOUTHGATE,if he had any sense of decency himself he would have resigned. Mr Gibson cant lose out really there is a £30m parachute payment for relegation. The one thing I do know for sure is that if the BORO go down with this squad of players, they are not good enough to get us back up. ALL WE CAN DO IS HOPE AND PRAY.
I've just read Richard Foy's piece on Boro Banter and suggest eveyone else looks it up. Excellent. Does he work for the Guardian?
Talking of awards, I think the Boro players should applauded for giving up their day off. What heroes they are.
Just remember if we win our next two and two out of the three teams above lose their next two we will be out of the relegation zone. Doesnt sound to wild does it? Or have I just forgotten what I have said over the last few days? :)
No awards full stop. It would be embarassing.
Looking at the club's situation generally I've started to get very worried. It has been stated in another place that the accounts have been restructured so the " interest free" loans from Bulkhaul now appear fully as debts owed by MFC putting our debt around £90m.
Obviously player sales in the summer will presumably keep the bank happy in the next 12 months but if we dont come back up within the two years of parachute payments I can foresee huge problems. Southampton and Charlton are buckling under £25m debts now.
I would guess that Steve Gibson is a very worried man. Bulkhaul has to be suffering in an economic global recession and his other project at Hurworth of an up market golf facility and Hotel is hardly likely to start making money in a downturn.
I have some uncomfortable reading for you fellow posters.
I suggest you go and look at the MFC website. Take a gander at the results of the reserve and academy teams. They are no better than the first team squad.
If we go down we expect the better players to disappear stage left and then blend in some hardened pros with our conveyor belt of young talent. Here is a question to ponder.
If our reserve and academy teams cannot beat those of Derby, Sheff Utd, Barnlsey etc, how do we expect them to step up to the plate and get promotion against those clubs first teams? Just a sobering thought.
I will hold on to the memory that Gate played for a Palace team that was nine points clear with three matches left and went down. I am looking for some magic dust to sprinkle on the players.
I see the revolution has started already. The people of Teesside have spoken & we can only hope that the club take notice of the message being sent loud & clear. They ARE NOT HAPPY.
These "protest" votes for Emnes should be heeded. Of course this is the Boro, so I will expect to see the count & Sir Steve smiling proudly at a lavish player of the season awards dinner in a couple of months time, pleading ignorance of the fans feelings.
Smoggy in exile calls for eternal benchwarmer Emnes to be added to the list, & barely 48 hours later we are informed by AV that he is the current leader! I wasn't aware that you commanded that sort of influence Smoggy. Smoggy for mayor anyone?
Having mulled this over for a while, I have concluded that I am in the "none of the above" camp I'm afraid. I cannot think of one player, who has performed consistently well enough this season to warrant any kind of recognition.
On early season form, Turnbull would have been a leading contender. Then of course, he went & ruined by not signing for what was offered. What is it with these young players? The lad starts less than 20 games, then thinks he should be earning as much as the full internationals. Incredible!
Talking of which, I heard the other day that Alves is earning somewhere near 2.5 Million per annum. I only hope it's in rupees, not sterling.
**AV writes: That's only £50 grand a week. Before tax. You are so harsh!
Seriously, I think it will be on a sliding scale up to that and to land the jackpot Boro would probably need to be in the top six and maybe he has a goal target and appearance money plus win and goal bonuses built in too. You never know, he may be struggling along on just the £30k or so.
Julio is obviously your best player by a country mile. You lot dont know a class player when you see one.
Cant wait for 7.30 Saturday evening when we are six points above the Skunks and eight points in front of you dopey lot. Haha.
FT Maxwell, I take it that by 'Julio' you mean the left back in the second worst defence in Prem history? The only thing that can be said about that is that your lot knew what they were doing when they let the Argentinian Land Crab leave.
Ian Gill's point about the ressies and the Academy lads (1.45 9 April above) is a telling one and not one I'd yet considered.
You must be on the Boro payroll. Why are you even asking this Question???
AV, it seems I've found a magic subject that keeps making my posts disappear - I won't bother with a third attempt as you're probably looking for a stress free Easter.
Talking of which, I heard the Boro players are planning to hand out easter eggs to fans before the Hull games - though I suspect the ones Alves tries to hand out will end up hitting the Hull keeper - besides I'm not sure if this is such a good idea as they may be returned more forcibly if the game slips away.
Personally, when it comes to Easter I'm a bit more old school and would have preferred to see Southgate crucified before the game - that would certainly have taught him a lesson!
Anyway, I'm hoping Boro rise from the dead this weekend and produce a miracle - Is 4-0 to much to ask for?
**AV writes: Hey, don't be using all the cliches. What about my match report?
Ah, people slagging off the players again for daring to be positive. How dare they issue a battle cry eh?
The MFC 'Beware the spin' machine has clearly been in full flight this week putting a campaign for the current hierarchy into the nationals.
Martin Samuels has evidently lost some of his critical edge since his transfer to the Daily Mail. He produced the usual Gate/Gibbo 'everyone's second favourite team' puff piece.
But Patrick Barclay in The Times has produced a real humdinger - one of those clever and incisive articles that you learn a lot from and that gives you a new perspective on something you think you know well.
It's deceptive gentleness gradually reveals a eulogy for the death of the Gibbo dream that mirrors the job that Marc Anthony did for Julius Caesar with Gate as Cassius (not Brutus).
Brilliant.
**AV writes: I'll be deconstructing the state of the nation interviews later, probably in my column on Tuesday. It deserves a lengthy analysis.
"Mullett Mourinho" Comes up trumps to mastermind Boro win.
So finally, after 32 games we play a big burly striker up front alongside Alves, and we are a different team.
COME ON BORO.
Apart from Toon's equaliser I will happily take those set of results. At last some grit, roll on Fulham.
....Jose Mourinho was smuggled into the Riverside via a laundry basket. Donning a ridiculous Mullett wig,he delivered the teamtalk and tactics. He then proceeded to prowl the touchline. His masterstroke of playing all of the attacking players at his disposal at once paid huge dividends.
After the game he silently slipped out of the ground, and into a waiting taxi.
Gareth Southgate conducted the aftermatch interviews, his mullett looking suspiciously askew.
Altogether now....
Mullett Mourinho....Mullett Mourinho...
Great to see Gareth Southgate smiling again. His interview after the match when asked if he was still enjoying the job was brilliant. I am a massive fan of Southgate and think the majority of Teeside are behind him. I am behind him 100%, although recently he seemed a different man, as if he had almost accepted defeat. I am glad to see him back smiling and full of confidece again. I have faith that he can turn it around, and maybe, just maybe we have turned the corner today. COME ON BORO.
FT Maxwell said:
Julio is obviously your best player by a country mile. You lot dont know a class player when you see one.
Cant wait for 7.30 Saturday evening when we are six points above the Skunks and eight points in front of you dopey lot. Haha.
oh dear.
hahahahahahahahaha
When we do Hull and WBA in the next two games ,we will be at least five points above you and you lot will be just about dead and buried along with the Mags. Happy days.
Dur dur dur, dur dur dur durr.