[Profit and Sustainability Rules/FFP and Accounts]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:51 AM, Rob said:

I do love a good loophole tho

mad how they seemed to spot they can ignore the stipulations to get accounts in early due to past performance because they went down to avoid a deduction this season. just shows how there really needs to be more solidarity with these ffp rules between the bpl and efl. just because you go up or down you should not be free of penalties until you come back to the league again. they should have to honour each others points deductions and sanctions. 

sure I read that both sides had changed the rules to close that option out for teams. but for LC it won't do them any good at all, if anything they may well get additional points taken off them now due to the lack of co-operation, epically if its found they still had a duty to comply and the their potential loophole was not true and just them disobeying them. seemed fairly cheeky interpretation of the rules as far as loop holes go, very ballsy, but may pay off if they go up 

Aren’t Villa still due a points deduction if they come back down.

[The Transfer Window]

Don’t know what Ayling is on at Leeds but I suspect he’s on decent money. I would be happy to do the deal if he wasn’t on stupid money. 

[Ipswich V Boro 1-1 (Latte Lath)]

3 minutes ago, Downsouth said:

Stated many times that next season will be the chance to shine really feel that as long as we keep certain players and introduce beter players than those who will be leaving

We also need to get off to a decent start.

We’ve played catch up all season and ultimately despite some great form haven’t caught up. 

it will be an interesting summer. 
 

[Hull v Boro 2-2 (Latte Lath, Azaz)]

Grimsby chip spice (which is better) was always garlic salt, onion salt and paprika. 

[Boro v Swansea City 2-0 (Latte Lath (2) )]

6 hours ago, Changing Times said:

Yeah, that's akin to what I'm talking about.  Our upturn in form is in part down to our goals for and against getting closer to our xG and XGA figures.  We're not conceding goals from dumb mistakes on this run, and we're getting goals from worse opportunities than we've screwed up earlier in the season.

We managed to get away with a few bits of silly defending yesterday that previously were going in. 

[Boro v Swansea City 2-0 (Latte Lath (2) )]

Will be watching what goes elsewhere as much as our match today. Sadly travelling so will have to be relegated to national radio. Cheering Ipswich and Leeds on. 

If things go our way today despite everything we are right back in it. 3 points off the play offs. A couple of teams will have a game in hand but we aren’t then relying on team to loose 2 out of 5 games. 

Time to raise the roof and create a big match atmosphere today.

@Downsouth I really think we need the phrase “biggest…….”

[Just two places up for grabs?]

I think this weekend is make or break. Norwich and Coventry have big games. If they get beat and we pick up three points we are back in it. 

There’s no room for slip ups as we are running out of games.

[Southampton V Boro 1-1 (Latte Lath)]

8 minutes ago, Hammy legend said:

I didn't get to see the game yesterday with the grandkids being round,  so only seen highlights but looks like we had a few chances Azaz hitting the post, Latte Lath's run and poor shot, Jones being put clear. Yeah, we got the breaks but it didn't seem completely one sided. For a smallish lad, Latte Lath is decent in the air.

Latte Lath seems to be a really good finisher when he isn’t given time to think. 

[The Transfer Window]

2 hours ago, Changing Times said:

I'd just be surprised if a European Conference league appearance led to extra money for us that's all.  It doesn't seem like much of an achievement tbh.  Look at some of the players who got European appearances with us, and where they were in their careers at that point.  It's not difficult for youngsters to get games in those competitions really.

And they were already in Europe when they signed him.

[The Transfer Window]

It was reported in a few places that he was on 30k a week at Leeds. Assuming they had a 50% drop on relegation that still 15k a week. 

Looking at a lot of the comments and reporting when they came down it doesn’t look like many of them had relegation clauses.

If he has a 50% increase in his contract 22.5k is still too much for me. 

[Non-Boro Football]

14 hours ago, wilsoncgp said:

Pundits, commentators and fans will continue to moan about referees regardless. 

Not specifically to do with law changes but I would have every pundit and commentator go on a refereeing course. It’s amazing how many of them don’t know the Laws of the game they are the supposed expert in. 

Whilst I don’t like VAR and never had I think some of the issue is a perception issue. “Experts” are making uninformed decisions which the general public pick up on. 

I would like to see the anti-ref bias taken out of the media. Comments like 

being clever

if you are going to abide by the letter of the law

we don’t want to see people sent off 

these things are all said with a negative slant against the ref. Notice they don’t say things like we want cheaters sent off for ruining the game.

I think this would have a knock on effect at grass root level as well.

 

 

[The Transfer Window]

52 minutes ago, Snowblind said:

The stories of McGree wanting to move on seem to fit with his performances and mannerisms on the pitch. He just doesn't seem to be enjoying it here as much as he was in recent years. He's done well for us though - more than many expected - so I'd be happy to let him move for a tidy profit and look for a replacement with similar opportunity for profitability. 

Also, for this mentioning Ben Johnson from West Ham as a Free Agent RB option - Tottenham are apparently in for him. Think some.of us on here are being over ambitious with the names being bandied about. Jayden Bogle would perhaps be more realistic, but reckon he could end up staying on at Sheff Utd.

How much do you think we would get for McGree? I like him but not really sure what his next move is.

i don’t think he is prem quality so maybe a move to abroad. 

[BORO v Blackburn Rovers 0-0]

6 hours ago, macapes said:

Yeah, be gutted if we sign any more like Rav or Rogers or even ELL.

Rav unquestionably looks a case above but he will fall victim to Project Hoyte either this summer or the next. 

Roger's already gone and not been replaced - which is unsurprising because I don’t think he did much for us in the league. 

ELL in a coin flip on what happens to him. I suspect he improves and goes - but at this point he’s not a raging obvious success.

That’s three selected players from a list of how many? 

I noticed you didn’t mention Boyd Munce, Conteh, Hoppe, Gilbert, Glover, Jones,  Barlaser, Bangura, Silvera who all are short of being championship quality let alone top 6.

We assembled a team last season that wasn’t good enough and have considerably weakened it this. I suspect the same will happen again next this summer.  

[BORO v Blackburn Rovers 0-0]

6 hours ago, LinoJo3 said:

Based on what? Do you really think Gibson would overhauled the recruiting and hired Carrick just to over see an asset stripping period?

I don’t think it’s asset stripping as such but the reality we are in. We are selling club.

This summer McGree and/or Hackney will leave.

A small amount of the money raised will be invested and that will have to find half a dozen or so players. These will likely be gambles and generally inferior to the people that have left. 

as far as I can see that’s where we are now as a club. 

[BORO v Blackburn Rovers 0-0]

2 hours ago, Erimus74 said:

Im hoping for an exciting summer, renewed hope for next season

It shows you how you speed is so vital to the game

I hope Ipswich go up in one of the auto spot, after years stuck in the 3rd division (old money) & the season they've had they deserve to see it through

I’m on the flip side I am dreading the summer. Project Hoyte will continue and the few players we have with anything about them will be gone.

 

[BORO v Blackburn Rovers 0-0]

32 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

I doubt it's because it's Middlesbrough.

They've won 1 in their last 16, they'd probably dread playing Rotherham right now.

With that record the one team you would want to play is Boro add a striker who hasn’t scored in ages and a bookie wouldn’t lay bets.

blackburn at 3/1 looks like printing money.

[The Transfer Window]

8 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

Be interesting to see what happens when Jones is fully fit.

Forss is scoring fairly regularly, and he won't play them both.

I bet Forss is up there with goals per minute.  I think with the right strike partner he could be a real asset up top. 

[BORO v Norwich 3-1 (Forss, Latte Lath, Engel)]

Just now, RiseAgainst said:

Genuine question - have the players given up on Carrick?

Just too many aren’t very good.

[Do we need a new manager?]

1 hour ago, Redcar Rioja said:

Going back in time I remember watching Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and how every player had instructions on where to position themselves in possession. As soon as an Arsenal shirt had the ball there were four options to pick out, right, left, ahead and behind. When closed or pressed quickly they could almost pass it blindly into an area of the pitch knowing that 8 times out of 10 there would be a team mate there or about to run into there to collect the ball. Of course it's easier with the calibre of player he had to work with but over the years he bought and sold players and kept the vibe going season after season. 

I think this is similar to what Carrick is trying to instil but player intelligence as well as ability plays a huge part in being alert, reading the game, instinctively understanding everyone's role and their part in it. Having footballing ability in terms of dribbling, tackling, shooting etc. are the obvious pre requisites but the intelligence required to take it to that level is critical and watching some players it's pretty clear that it isn't there. Running into congested areas, not picking up players not making those runs and instead standing still being marked out of the game.

Needing to take three touches can be either a control ability thing or an inability to be constantly aware of who and what is around them. As soon as the ball is being played to them they need to be already aware of their next move/pass, to who and to where as do their colleagues. At times watching us, some players need to have a diagram drawn out and handed to them to know what to do with the ball and many of their team mates look clueless on where they should be positioned in anticipation and providing options hence the slow passing out, build up and inevitable loss of possession by being picked off. 

Mutual understanding, familiarity does play a part and injuries and reshuffling doesn't help but the team including reserves are supposed to be playing to a blueprint so that they can all infill as and when required. I'm seeing zero evidence of that this season which is so disappointing after last seasons false dawn.

Pep is the master of this. His sides are so well drilled that it looks like free flowing football. It’s all about trusting your team mate to be in the right position. He does this for 2/3’s or 3/4 of the pitch and allows freedom in the final third. 

[How disappointing]

To be honest the season has largely gone as I expected. We’ve downgraded in a number of areas and haven’t address the issues on the pitch. 

Cup run was a highlight in an otherwise predictable season. 
 

i think Sunderland was quite predictable as well. Selling Stewart and loosing Sims always going to make it a challenge. Loosing Mogga wasn’t unexpected really just surprised the bosses did act in the summer. Awful decision to appoint Beale. 
 

I can’t see next season being much fun for either of us as we both sell out better players and shop on wish for replacements.

 

[BORO v Norwich 3-1 (Forss, Latte Lath, Engel)]

3 minutes ago, Bruce said:

Started 9 games under Carrick. Sent off twice, conceded a penalty, substituted once at half-time for being atrocious and it takes a lot to make Carrick act that early.

But other than that 

[Stoke v Boro 2-0]

11 minutes ago, LinoJo3 said:

I agree with that last bit, I’m hoping supporters don’t start crying to get a defensive guy in bc the attacking guy didn’t work because that would make us just as bad as the clubs been playing ver the past few years. If Carrick did leave then someone in the same vein is a must otherwise there’s just no point.

I think the issue I have is that fans take a binary approach. It’s as though you can’t be attacking and still know how to defend and vice versa. You look at most league tables and you will see the top performing teams score the most and concede the least.

If you wanted to be binary then we have a big issue because we aren’t doing it at either end. We aren’t loosing games 4-3 we are largely being easily beaten.

I think at this point there’s a strong argument to tighten things up. Give us a platform to build on.

For me it’s about shape, positioning and probability a bit on the mental side of the game. 

[Next manager? Who does Gibson turn to?]

2 hours ago, estonpidge said:

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. If the club are thinking of sacking him rather than backing him in the summer, they wouldn't be talking about an extension to his contract.

Our budget was spread to thinly last summer, hopefully a bigger budget this year and less places to cover will mean we can bring in better quality.

I think it’s going to be spread quite thin again this summer.

We need a right back (Djik isn’t good enough, Ayling surely won’t be offered a contract and Smith is a permacrock).

Two or three centre midfielders. We are already short here especially of quality but Howson and O’Brien will leave. Barlaser is league one standard and that’s before whatever happens with Hackney.

2 strikers. I said in the summer you need three strikers and I stand by it. ELL has a lot to prove but I would stick with him. Add two for competition and cover and let Josh go out on loan.

Thats just a start. I would also want upgrades on Silvera, Glover and Engel but it won’t happen. 

[Do we need a new manager?]

1 hour ago, macapes said:

Genuine question, why?

He’s assembled a bunch of league one players. Barlaser, Hoppe, Gilbert. Silvera, Glover, Jones, Engel and more.

Window on window our squad and first team gets worse.

We haven’t addressed serious issues over multiple windows. How many windows have we been looking for a striker - this one will be what the 4 or 5th. We went into the start of this season with an untested striker, an injured youngster and Hoppe.

Not absolving Carrick of all blame there’s obvious weakness iin how he sets up. I’m not sure that any other manager would get much more out of this squad. It’s upper midtable at its very best.

[Do we need a new manager?]

Get rid of Scott first.