edinboro

I love Boro but how often do they promise to engage more and then just not do it? We are not a club with great fan involvement, that's just a fact. We ar every old fashioned in how we are run. We pay our money, turn up and they genuinely expect us to. Really they know it matters so much we will put up with pretty much anything. So, I don't imagine anything significant will change in terms of prices or deadlines. Gibson will have shown them his spreadsheets like he did with Rob from FMTTM. And probs asked what they would not want money spending on.

Hugely worried that Hackney will miss Saturday. It was a bad knock he took. Fry injury doesn't sound like a quick one to recover from either. I would not be surprised to see this line up on Saturday Dieng Engel Clarke VDB Dijksteel Howson O'Brien McGree Azaz Forss Lath

So tonight is a repeat of Carrick's first game in charge, a 2-1 defeat, just over a year ago. A lot has changed. Only 4 players from that day likely to start tonight. Heck of turnover of players. Ideally we will have more stability going forward. We cannot keep on with that level of new players.

I'm actually looking forward to a stress free away day. Reminds me of Wigan under Leo last season. No expectation, small away crowd. Just go and cheer on the Boro. We don't have many like this so will be quite a change.

After that today, you can see the shape of very good team. Very fine margins to us winning today. We have to hope that one of Lath or Coburn can get and stay fit enough. We are sorely lacking that killer instinct in front of goal. Defensively we are pretty good. I think Dieng will take us back up another notch. Midfield looks blessed with options. Lots still to come with Azaz and McGree likely to add to the chances we create. Next week will probably be much the same as today I guess. Maybe McGree if fit will come in, possibly for Azaz. Greenwood really does need to play in

If it's true I like the 3 amigos in midfield. Makes the most of what we have. Would be chuffed if McGree made the bench. Him and Dieng coming back will be real boosts. No slight meant to others but they are different class in my opinion.

Surely we must be bringing someone in - he's been on the bench most weeks recently from memory.

I don't see any meltdown coming. Folk would like us to buy a striker but everyone now understands the world we live in. We are building and growing. We might make the play offs, we might not. But we beat Chelsea at home, have signed some really good players, have some good games coming up with a more complete squad than pretty much all season. So, be nice to sign someone today, but no drama if we don't.

So I'm wondering if lack of any formal confirmation on Rogers might maybe linked to us having a deal to confirm too. Getting all the ducks lined up and ready to go. I hope so, it would be nice to sign a striker before Sunday.

That's a bit rich to be fair. Anyhoo let's see.

It wasn't Newy. It was someone who has got stuff spot on recently.

Would £16m be out record transfer if we get all the add-ons? Seems crazy given how little he has played for us.

We absolutely need to do. I'm sure everything is in hand. It always seem to work out these days.

The next Bernie Slaven obvs, that is where we got him from.

By mad, typing my joke too quick.

Did he go very far . . . .

Tell me more, tell me more (to the tune from Greece).

To be honest the Gazette play down deals until 2 hours after they have been announced. I would guess it will get done today or tomorrow.

It reads like they tried but Villa blew them out of the water. Which if true sounds like the deal is done. Hopefully that allows us to get some business done ourselves before the end of the window. If the club think we have a chance of the play offs they have to find a deal for a striker. It really is that simple I think. But whether there is a deal to be done in another matter.

I really hope we can get a striker in before Sunderland. I worry about the pressure we are putting on Coburn's body. Forss is obviously not yet ready for a full game. I also wonder how long Dieng is going to be out. There's been no word on that at all. Anyone have any idea? Team for Mackems at the moment might be Glover Ayling Fry Rav Thomas Hackney Howson Azaz. Rogers. Greenwood Coburn We have options now in Dijksteel, O'Brien, Forss, Engel, Barlaser who could easily be in that team. Seriously short u

I was saying last night I really hope all the Boro players, coaches etc have gone off on hols for a few days. They all need a break, probs from each other as much as anything. So if not expect any movement on anything until after this weekend. The FA Cup matches start tonight and go over the weekend which will keep a lot of players and clubs busy too. So hopefully next week we see a couple of new players through the door to give us a boost.

Napoli have agreed a loan deal with Aston Villa, which includes a non-mandatory option to buy clause worth £7.7m (9m euros), for 28-year-old Belgium midfielder Leander Dendoncker. (Fabrizio Romano) That will be some money in the bank for Villa to give us for Rogers and help with their FFP problems.

Going to be blowing a gale force wind tomorrow night. Which should make it fun. Get those balls over the top to Forss all night long.

I think it will be Glover Rav. Fry Clarke Jones. Engel Howson Barlaser Hackney Rogers Coburn We have to risk players who aren't fit. It's too big an opportunity to not do so. We have time off after this so it's sink or swim I think. Anyone have an idea of a particular pub near Earls Court folk are planning on going to pre-match?

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/morgan-rogers-aston-villa-situation-28486564 The comments here seem to indicate that it's not just a case of us having a price in mind. I'm reading into Carrick's comments that if the player wants the move and it is having an impact, then we will accept it and move on. Talk of there being different situations could for example mean bids rejected for Hackney and him being cool with that but Rogers wanting a move.