Boro Badger

A rare gift from the FA! Big Rudy is now available for Saturday. Hurrah.

We have cleared some deadwood, but it's come at a tremendous financial loss. Thinking of the lack of strategy and fees wasted is painful and makes me sick. What a massive glaring missed opportunity to strengthen what should have been out top priority, the left wing. I just can't stress this enough. Traore, Downing, Bamford and Harrison all favour the right. We have no-one who can play effectively on the left. What the hell is wrong with us. Tavernier was a young Academy prospect that could actually play there, but he's been sent out on loan. Johnson may as well have had his contract p

Who's that BillyWoof? Have I missed something!

It's not the worst decision to take now. If he's not part of our plans going forward then he's better off somewhere else, hopefully accruing value. If it means Younousse Sankhare coming in the other direction, I'm all for it. Have you seen Younousse Sankhare play a lot then? What's he like and where does he play? The papers say left side, either wing or left-back, but someone earlier in the threads said they'd looked at his stats and he hasn't played on the left at all. He plays centre midfield from what I've seen of him at Lille/Bordeaux. Strong and a lot more mobile than Lea

Bloody hell, more money wasted. It's like we go out of our way to do it. My take on this is that the mistake was buying in the first place, not what we do with Braithwaite now. He's not a bad player, it was just bad management/planning with our incoherent buying strategy. Hopefully Pulis will kick the club into shape.

Isn’t Karanka supposed to have fallen out with Tomlin? Yes. Tomlin was boasting about Bournemouth being interested so Kranky sent him home with a 'stomach bug' then he left. Being reunited would be interesting if true.

It's not the worst decision to take now. If he's not part of our plans going forward then he's better off somewhere else, hopefully accruing value. If it means Younousse Sankhare coming in the other direction, I'm all for it.

If it's true, I hope it's a success! He's a right footed predominantly left winger, which in my opinion suits us more than the left footed right winger we just acquired.

Sky reporting Fulham will target Cyrus Christie if they lose Ryan Fredericks today...

Me too aside from Britt! Damn. We go again. I like the team, sticking with 2-0. UTB

It's a long shot, but if West Brom do manage to land Andre Schurrle from Dortmund, then surely McClean or Phillips are surplus to requirements... I'd have either here in a heartbeat.

Or perhaps he just doesn't rate him. it happens. id actually be interested to hear ds justification for not rating Clayton if he actually doesn't. DS has been pretty clear and consistent over the years! The 'trusty trio' being slow to move the ball forward from midfield etc

2-0 Boro (Traore, Howson) -------------------- Randolph ------------------ -- Shotton --- Ayala -- Gibson --- Friend -- ---------- Leadbitter -------- Howson ----------- -- Traore ------- Downing ----- Bamford -- -------------------- Gestede ----------------- My best guess based on: - If there's interest in Clayton, he might be wrapped in cotton wool - There's not much in it, but Bamford might just get the nod over Braithwaite - Gestede just to edge out Assombalonga (with Bamford told to get in the box)

Agreeing with all that gilburtgtr. I think we're one player away from finishing comfortably in the top 6 and having a really good chance in the playoffs. I think the club (manager included) are crazy not to address this. Surely it's got to be worth the relatively small risk with the rewards so massive.

Yep This ^ For me this signing has got MFC 'scouting department' written all over it. I imagine Pulis just hasn't said no. I guess it can't hurt but it's not the answer.

I don't think it's a lack of ambition. Probably more like a lack of options so signing for the sake of signing. It has been done before, just last January. There must be a left winger somewhere in the world! I am officially throwing my toys out of the pram. We need a bloody left winger and we should move heaven and earth to bloody well sign one. I know I'm not the only one fed up of square pegs in round holes - our squad of midfielders/attackers is all over the place!

Sorry to be a party pooper, but this lad aint the answer to anything! We need a left winger, and Harrison plays on the right in a league that's roughly the same quality as League 1 or 2. If this is 'the solution' for our left wing problems, it shows a real lack of ambition by the club.

With a little over 48 hours to go, what's your realistic hopes for incomings/outgoings?

With the left side being such a problem, maybe we should change the system: -------------------- Randolph ------------------ -- Shotton --- Ayala -- Gibson --- Friend -- ------------ Clayton -------- Howson --------- -- Traore ------------------------- Downing -- ----------- Gestede --- Assombalonga ------ Or give Johnson 90 minutes (controversial) but seeing how Pulis has improved Traore so much there could be some hope. Him playing can't be too much worse than Braithwaite/Bamford/Fletcher out there, can it? -------------------- Randolph ------------------ -- Shotton --- Ayala

Daily Mail say we're interested in QPR midfielder Jordan Cousins. "The 23 year old has had nightly injuries this season but could be available for around £1m as QPR look to offset financial concerns." He's only 5 ft 10 in though so not sure if this could be right... He has been capped by England at under-16, 17, 18 and 20 levels and can play anywhere in midfield, though usually in the centre.

Clayton you'd think is nailed on to be one of the two new starters, having come off the bench in the last two matches. Looking at Pulis' selections so far, the other could be: Johnson (sub every match, aside from Pulis' first match, two substitute appearances) Fletcher (sub every match, one substitute appearances) Dimi (didn't play in the last cup game) Fry (hasn't made the bench yet) Fabio (hasn't made the bench yet) Baker (hasn't made the bench since 1st Jan) (remember that Christie/Guedioura started against Preston, so it can't be them) So based on previous match day squads, I thi

Today I've read suggestions of Christie right wing and Fabio left wing - what's going on! -------------------- Randolph ------------------ -- Shotton --- Ayala -- Gibson --- Friend -- ---------- Clayton -------- Howson ----------- -- Traore ------- Gestede ----- Downing-- ---------------- Assombalonga ----------------- The seagulls have only scored 17 goals in 24 league matches this year - I say let them attack us, we can soak it up and let Traore fly and have Britt on big Rudy's knockdowns.

I don't think TP will change the back four - maybe he'll give Clayton a run but every time I've said that he's not had a sniff! He might just have another look at Bamford, after that tidy finish at the weekend - then give Fletcher 30 minutes. I think he's seen enough of Braithwaite already to know what he's about.

Fabio won't even play left back for us again, never mind left wing! Hopefully Pulis' comments are just 'posturing' by the club, so we don't get a reputation as 'big spenders' to help keep prices down. The proof is in Tony's team selections, the back four and midfield are settled but he keeps trying different combinations behind the striker. He seems very happy with Downing/Traore, so for sure he's identified that left side as a weak spot. Would love to see a quality loan signing (Lookman) or permanent for that left hand side. Come on Gibbo, surprise us all! You usually do in Januar

Yes, odd all round. When through on goal, Britt was unlucky to hit the bar whereas Big Rudy just kind of fell over the ball. Hope Britt gets a chance now the side has settled a bit.