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Snowblind

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Posts posted by Snowblind

  1. I think we all have to look at this window in terms of the bigger picture.

    The squad we own is stronger than it was at the back end of last season. Aye, we lost Chuba. But overall? There's more depth - and more young potential in players that are actually ours than in the side which was in the Play Offs at the end of last season. 

    And so... With Carrick at the helm, can we progress? Absolutely. Archer and Ramsey were key last season, but both only joined in January. If we can be competitive come Christmas, I have faith in our recruitment team and Carrick to add who/what we need to push on in the back end of the season.

    Do I think we'll end top 2? No. Do I think we can make top 6? Yes.

    More importantly, do I think this approach makes the club more sustainable and add stability to our long term future? Absolutely.

    • Like 8
  2. 1 minute ago, TheHolgate said:

    I like Merson and he was great for us, but I've seen Merson say that a few times about when he joined us - he wish he stayed at Arsenal. He forgets Wenger wanted rid of him.

    I don't think Wenger did want rid? I believe it was that Arsenal couldn't turn down the sum we offered, and that Merson couldn't turn down the money we offered.

    I seem to remember Arsenal offered him a new deal, we offered "double the wages" and Wenger sat him down and said "we can't match that..." So he came here.

    Mercenary or no, he was incredible for us. He was instrumental in that promotion campaign, so the deal worked well all round. 

    • Like 4
  3. Birmingham have done some canny business...

    I said to mates down here in the West Midlands that I fancied them to surprise a few people. Eustace has done a good job under difficult circumstances, and now the shackles have been loosened with the new ownership they certainly seem to be kicking on. 

    • Like 1
  4. 11 minutes ago, Boro_Hero said:

    Listening to the media conference with Sam Greenwood and Lewis O’Brian, Sam describes himself as a striker who can play 10. 
     

    Could this be something our scouts have identified as our backup striker or to challenge LL primarily vs the 10 spot or out wide. 

    I imagine he's come in as competition for both the #9 and #10 roles. Greenwood to play as a Support Striker when we're wanting to attack teams more, or with Rogers playing #10 when we want to pick our way through tighter defences. 

    I imagine Latte Lath is our Number One in the Striker role. 

    • Like 1
  5. 6 hours ago, Boro-on-Avon said:

    Im half welsh but been to wales once in my life and feel no allegiance to them whatsover. Was born in Boro and feel English. Id feel a fraud representing wales.

    Unfortunately my lineage is like a Nigel Farage wet dream... All English, working class, workhouses, miners...

    Would kill for some Irish heritage and an EU passport. 😂

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
  6. Screenshot_2023-09-01-09-04-34-21_e4424258c8b8649f6e67d283a50a2cbc.thumb.jpg.2dc35f2aef34cd9612d0239cf3cdc405.jpg

    Assuming Bangura signs, and obviously with a lot of fluidity in the positions of the 3 behind the striker, this is what we have going into Deadline Day.

    Striker and a Right Back would seem the weakest positions in terms of depth and/or quality, so you'd imagine those are the positions we'll leave the door ajar to. 

    EDIT: Forgot Crooksy!!! Stick him in for Gilbert, who I reckon goes out on loan. 

  7. 13 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

    Jonson Clarke-Harris.

    A bit on the old side at 29, but prolific in League One.

    Not somebody I'd be buzzing with, but he's available and he's experienced.

    Having watched him quite a bit over the last few seasons, I'd take him for sure.

    Even at 29, he's a natural goal scorer, and would offer something very different. 

  8. Everyone going on about "not got the quality" and "not a good enough 11"...

    Last season, on paper - did Luton have the quality? Or Sheff Utd? Or Coventry? Or even Sunderland?

    No. None of them did. On paper. Perhaps with individuals, but certainly not in the squad. But each ended up in the Top 6, with one in the autos. 

    It sounds ridiculous "on paper" - but this league isn't simply about quality. We've seen that time and time again throughout our many years at this level.

    And some Boro fans really need to get a bloody hobby...

    • Like 8
  9. 15 minutes ago, sanddancer said:

    I have no issue Saudi or there money it’s legal and as good as any other that flows around. Saudi is no different than a lot of other foreign owners reputations. If referring to a country history you don’t understand the Middle East and we can’t hold our head high either but like others we changed and developed overtime.
    There are billions poured into sports especially here in football because it’s watched globally. Sports washing is simply advertising and Dubai was the first Middle East country to use it, golf, power boat racing, rugby, horse racing etc. It then went further and built a famous airline and hospitality industry copied by others. 
    Newcastle so far are doing quit well with signings and may be competing in the top five for years. Good luck to them. 
    It’s not about what others do but what you achieve so it’s no good standing on a chair looking over the garden wall. As a contractor who has worked all over Asia I was paid for what I do and achieve and then dumped when no longer required. So basically I took the shilling it paid my mortgage, utility and food bills while providing for my family.
    That’s the circle of life, power shifts and it will continue so embrace it and make the most of it. I may well be off to work in Qatar so will make inquiries and who knows maybe there is a rich Arab willing to invest on Teesside. 

    My point wasn't about the country, simply the money. Any discussion about the political and moral aspects of the Saudi money is a much bigger and important discussion, but not one I'm going to derail this thread with.

    Yes, there's always been people willing to plough millions into football clubs. But never before have we had so many clubs in world football bankrolled by entire nations, and intrinsically linked with other clubs owned by those same nations.

    The point is, trickle down economics has never worked. In football, it will.be no different. All these multi million pound deals making veteran players suddenly worth 3-5 times more is only benefitting the big clubs, and the rich clubs. The vast majority of that money will only cycle through a select number of sides bank accounts regularly, with others picking up the spoils periodically - but clubs like us? We'll benefit once in a blue moon, and we'll be left behind.

    I may also be in the minority, but I don't want Boro to be bought by some multi millionaire oligarch. Morality is far more important than football. The overwhelming pride and joy at winning the League Cup and making the UEFA Cup final were tinged with that sense of pride at the way we did it - with a local owner, building a solid club base honestly and with wise spending of money. I'd sooner us be winning the EFL Trophy than selling our souls to an oligarch.

    • Like 6
  10. The whole market is absolutely skewed beyond recognition this summer... The Saudi money - not just in the country, but with Chelsea in particularly and, on a lesser extent, Newcastle - has meant insane amounts of money has changed hands, and the usual flow of players through leagues just hasn't happened.

    It's chaotic. It's unsustainable. It's a *** show, and it's genuinely concerning for the global game. 

    • Like 4
  11. Will we bring in any new players before the deadline?

    I reckon 2. A permeant and a loan with an option, but not going to guess which positions.

    Obviously Dieng comes in for Glover, but how many more changes would you make to the team that beat Bolton?

    IMG_20230830_092249.thumb.jpg.7d3b5a859054eb2d2e7b24848c64072a.jpg

    Play McGree as an Inside Forward and give Engels the 'Giles-esque' freedom to overlap and bomb forward, with McNair doing the Smith role of playing inside as a sort of 3rd CB/Full Back role. Jones on the right so he can balance that as a hybrid RW/RWB to keep the fluidity balanced. 

    What crisps does Gareth Ainsworth like? 

    He's a rocker/metal head. I reckon he likes them spicy. So I'm going for a more niche response with these bad boys:

    7955088c-f505-4576-9585-c05f6c7053c2_884579430.jpeg.5aaf0207a17d848f6145bea76104e47e.jpeg

    • Like 1
  12. Either Newcastle at home, or give a decent pay day to a smaller side - ideally one we've not played before/in years.

    Salford stand out. Would be an interesting game after how they did yesterday. Or Harrogate, if they get through. Boro vs. Harrogate would be a nice tie.

    Pretty much the top teams or bottom teams for me. Just please not a bland all-Championship affair. 

    • Like 1
  13. I brought my Latvian GF to Middlesbrough... Her verdict? "It's not that bad..."

    Granted she grew up in absolute poverty in a post-Soviet country... But still. One for the billboards! 😂

    She loves Saltburn and Whitby though. And quite likes the Transporter. I think for those reasons she'd prefer Boro to Leeds...

    Not been able to get her to try a Parmo yet though!

    • Like 5
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