chapattheback

I like Carrick. He seems a really nice, loyal and committed chap, but we won’t win promotion by being nice. His mentor, Alex Ferguson, was known for his hairdryer motivation. I can’t imagine MC doing that. A wet flannel comparison may be a bit harsh but who knows what goes on out of our sight.

To be fair to Greenwood we have no idea what is going on with knocks, niggles, other issues. He has scored a couple of excellent goals and it isn’t long ago that people were saying what a good deal we had with the purchase option. Perhaps a little patience is needed.

I agree about Ayling. Initially used as a full back, he is now match fit after 8 games and as a wing back he is keeping Jones on the bench with a splendid assist in each of the last 2 matches. Jones has the speed, but Ayling has the experience and guile to make space for himself and is a better crosser. I hope that Jones is learning from Ayling and hope that we see an improvement in him when he is subbed on when the opposition and Ayling are tiring.

Opposition seem to think that an early energetic high press can catch out our playing from the back. We concede and lose confidence and energy. i hope to see an early solid defence with quick ball over the top to catch them on the break. There is a time to play from the back but not early on, I suggest

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” Unfortunately, if any of the political views on the other place are questioned, no matter how politely, the poster is labelled as tory, extreme right or even more bizarrely, a trump supporter! Then, apparently, converted to read only. You won’t find any opposing views on there.

I agree with Kev. Bristol City is my nearest Boro away match and I invariably leave disappointed. On top of that, my honda diesel isn’t welcome anywhere near, trains from Yetminster are slow, infrequent, crowded and leave a long walk from Temple Meads, so I am happy to be otherwise engaged this season. All the best to those making the trip from near and far. Will probably win this time leaving me disappointed again, but this time because I didn’t go!

If only we had a management team with experience of defence and midfield at the highest level!

Isaac Hayden having a medical at luton. It seems that they are cannily recruiting players not quite good enough for the premiership, but potentially useful to bounce back stronger next season when they are back in the championship with parachute payments to further enhance their squad.

Thanks, but that’s not what I was hoping for.

Browsing sport being televised on Saturday I notice that several championship clubs are streaming their friendly matches on what seems to be their own tv channel. Eg Bristol, Cardiff, Plymouth. I assume this is via their website. Any news on whether Boro will be offering this sort of thing anytime? https://www.wheresthematch.com/

I realise that this is a transfer thread, but there seems to be an anxiety about a pause in incoming transfers with no mention of undoubted academy talent desperate to progress to the 1st team squad. Hackney was playing for the U21 team a year ago. He soon stepped up to a surprisingly high level. It wouldn’t surprise me if 2 or 3 others followed in the next few weeks. Jack Stott for one. It is a shame that Coburn is injured as this is the time that he would hope to impress. This isn’t just about saving funds. It’s using assets that could be better than incoming. It also demonstrates a pathway

An architecturally significant old building has been saved, restored and is thriving. I will drink to that!

"Splendid" and "Wetherspoons" in the same sentence? In this case, yes. It has a magnificent enormous orangery type extension and a huge southwest facing garden.

Forgot about Plymouth. Never been to the ground but often get to Plymouth for a day out. There is a splendid Wetherspoons near St Davids in Exeter to break the journey back if changing trains

Looking forward to going to Southampton again. on a previous visit I went for the train having given up at 2-0 down and missed the 2 late goals to equalise. A painful memory