AnglianRed

I think the bulk of the unhappiness stems from our wildly varying performances. Some games we CAN look great and like deserving promotion candidates. Other games we struggle to draw against Plymouth...and all the other well-below-par performances. Not to mention the astonishingly soft goals we concede. So while we may be in the play-offs, I don't think there are many who genuinely believe (like, if you put a gun to their heads) would say we can actually win them. Our lack of consistency is infuriating and we're just as capable of putting in crap performances as good ones. So there is a fair but to be unhappy about. Agree I would rather we didn't sell ELL. I was just making a point that if we need money & squad spaces for other signings, he could help pave the way for strengthening the squad.

Boro have been a paradox this season. Capable of brilliant, breath-taking football, banging in goals for fun, combined with really dull, sleep-inducing performances where we look like we could play all week and not score. Its been a weird one for sure. We're doing some things well, but are horribly deficient in other areas (notably defensively). For me this Summer is Carrick's last chance to show he can put together a squad that can really stand out and challenge for promotion. If we're in the same position this time next season, serious questions need to be asked.

That thought crossed my mind too. Transfer deals aren't always just about the amount offered. The timing, perceived value / form of the player and other things can come into it. Including the ability to spend the money received. 👍

But we only get that £200m WHEN we get promoted. Which isn't going to be this season...and may not be next, unless we can significantly strengthen the squad (I point once again to the gap between Boro and the top 4). Selling our less important players for £3-5m and bringing in new players of similar value is basically just treading water. Also bearing in mind our limited squad places and that we need to sell in order to buy, it might just be that we have to sell one of our more valuable assets, in order to bring in a couple of substantially better players. Just my take, of course...I'd much rather ELL stayed too. 🤷‍♂️

Why not? Some of the biggest names in world football have gone there...albeit usually as they're winding down their careers.

They bid £20m IIRC. But it could be the timing of the bid or any conditions attached to it, as much as the headline fee. We'd likely have seen him as a key player and while he's not replicated his form from last season, he's still been one of our more reliable performers. Now though, with Boro looking destined to remain in the Championship for another season, its at least possible we may be looking to cash in on a few saleable assets to rebuild. Quite honestly I don't see anyone, except a very desperate, relegation-threatened PL club paying £25m, even though he can be an absolute goal-machine at his best. Plus I think his value will have fallen a bit over this season. Clubs only tend to pay over the odds for British players...for some reason...

Have we had any PL clubs come in for him though (since Ipswich)? Also, if they did, would he get first-team football, or would he end up warming the bench most of the time? I'd definitely see a MLS team getting him as one of their star players, one of the few they can pay big money for. Better wages and guaranteed first team action - why wouldn't he go?

Holy crap! £15m plus add-ons? If true I see Gibson snapping their hand off. Will be very sorry to see ELL go but I guess we can't ignore offers like that. ELL won't if they're offering him a bigger wage.

"New Player Bounce" is a real thing, apparently.

Crikey! Its like which is more credible...The Sun or The Daily Mail? 😆

I think what OMG was getting at is that if we worked on specific things, such as improving defensive co-ordination, set pieces, wide play / crossing etc. we'd see these things during matches. Instead we seem to keep making similar mistakes match after match. Your other point about being able to change things during a game is another, much-lamented, failure of Carrick's. While there are probably a few exceptions, I've lost count of the number games where things haven't been working and the only thing he's done is make like-for-like subs midway through the 2nd half.

Well that was a big pile of poo. While I'm not hugely upset at an early Cup exit, this was a winnable home tie. I don't think Rovers were a significantly better team. IMO it was more a case of Boro being too passive and giving them confidence to come at us (after a pretty drab first half). Rovers found some extra impetus second half and they began creating some really good chances (after hitting the woodwork in the first 45). I still don't know how Weimann failed to convert that gift when he robbed Glover and had an open goal to aim at. Made amends with a perfectly-timed run to pick up a deflected cross. Had all the time and space he needed to thump it home, courtesy of Boro's AWOL midfield. Both teams were disappointing first half, but Blackburn were the better team second half. Think they sussed that Boro weren't really up for the game and decided to take us on. Think we suffered from Hamilton's lack of attacking play and Burgzorg being used as a striker. Other than that though, no real excuses. Thought Dijksteel and McCabe had very good games. Barlaser tried hard but to no avail. McGree had Boro's 2 best goal attempts (until Hackney's late on-target effort) but was far below his string-pulling, play-making best. Looking at the big picture, I'm not that bothered about going out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. But I am disappointed with the manner we went out in. I've no issues with Carrick changing the team, but he really needs to learn to put square pegs in square holes.

Don't think Carrick saw this as a free hit to prioritise the play-offs. I just think its another case where his tactical limitations have been exposed by a better manager. Don't think player for player Blackburn are a much better team. Its just about getting your tactics right...and MC didn't.

Dunno about Eustace but Blackburn certainly do. This will be 11 games at the Riverside unbeaten. They definitely have the hex on us at home.

Glover thinks he's a defender now! Managed to shepherd the ball out of play...just...