Coventry v Boro 2-0

[LinoJo3 5,791 13.6k]

2 minutes ago, Changing Times said:

TeaCider has already answered it.  If we've already made the decision to sack him no matter what then the financial side of it is irrelevant.  We've taken that into account because we are going to sack him come what may, and that obviously includes if we happen to get promoted.  Financially it doesn't make sense, and it certainly doesn't make sense in any other way that I can see.  You're basically saying that Gibson wrote the season off in February.  I suppose he might have done so but that to me would be a really odd thing for the owner of the club to do, and would obviously call his judgement into question. There's also the obvious point to make that if we did get promoted then he'll have proven Gibson to be wrong - by definition Carrick will have been good enough to achieve what Gibson had decided he couldn't.  Not only that but the rumours suggest that it was some senior players who talked Gibson around so if that's the case then surely that infers that Carrick was going to be sacked in February?  That in turn suggests that the financial side of things was irrelevant, that Gibson hadn't given up on the season, and that therefore the decision wasn't already made.  Maybe it's just me but I would find it extremely awkward to be in the position of everyone knowing that he's losing his job regardless but then continuing on anyway.  I mean even the Robson/Venables thing wasn't decided until after the season was finished but here we've already sorted the next manager with a few months to go?  It's not even that I couldn't see Carrick leaving even if we did win the play offs, it's just that I think that is a decision that would be made after the fact not months beforehand.

It would be a weird situation but honestly who knows what goes on behind the scenes in football. The January window was ‘weird’ and the whole feel to the end of the season has been weird so tbh it wouldn’t surprise me if it was true.

Sacking him if we get promoted or not doesn’t really bother me, but I do find it harder to believe that he’s known since feb that he’s gone regardless. That said if some random guy on a forum knows then Carrick definately will, it would add up some of the things that haven’t really added up the last few months though.

[AnglianRed 7,882 18.1k]

4 hours ago, edinboro said:

Poster over on FMTTM saying Carrick going is all done, regardless of tomorrow with Cooper to be announced. Makes sense and not a surprise, but interesting timing for it to be leaked.

Interesting...but FMTTM is about as reliable as the red top papers. Probably best wait for a more reputable sauce...

[Bruce 3,110 2.5k]

7 hours ago, LinoJo3 said:

It would be a weird situation but honestly who knows what goes on behind the scenes in football. The January window was ‘weird’ and the whole feel to the end of the season has been weird so tbh it wouldn’t surprise me if it was true.

Sacking him if we get promoted or not doesn’t really bother me, but I do find it harder to believe that he’s known since feb that he’s gone regardless. That said if some random guy on a forum knows then Carrick definately will, it would add up some of the things that haven’t really added up the last few months though.

The original post sounds like attention-seeking to me.

I can believe that Carrick has been told that not making the playoffs is non-negotiable and that there is a clause in his contract which leads to a reduced pay-off if we don't make the play-offs.

I can also believe that it's a bit of an open secret that we'll be looking to part company if we don't get promoted. Assuming Gibson is making the decision, he has form for making a decision in advance rather than acting on the spur of the moment. 

If that is the case then it helps explain why Carrick seems to have become more hidebound recently. Like Wilder with his overlapping centre-backs, Carrick seems determined to prove that he is right.

I can even believe that, looking at the rumours from Leeds, we've decided that even promotion isn't good enough. If Leeds are seriously thinking that they would sack Farke in order to bring in a manager who would maximise their chance of staying up, we may be thinking along the same lines with Carrick.

What I don't believe is that we've agreed some sort of deal with Cooper in advance of all this. Cooper will undoubtedly be hoping for a Premier league opportunity and isn't going to box himself in at this point. If have decided to let Carrick go regardless I think the only people who will know this are Gibson, Scott and Bausor and no way are they going to be letting on.

I see there's an article in the Mail's regular EFL column quoting "club insiders" about Carrick and calling him a "true gentelman".

Quote

Carrick’s initial impact in the 2022-23 campaign was special given he took over a side that was 21st in the Championship and looking like relegation candidates after Chris Wilder’s sacking.
But Carrick guided Boro to 18 wins in 30 games as they rose to fourth until a 1-0 aggregate defeat by Coventry in the play-offs extinguished their promotion hopes.
Mail Sport understands Carrick lifted the mood significantly upon his arrival and his demeanour enabled him to get the best out of a struggling side.
His personality is something that comes up in conversations and Carrick is extremely popular among Middlesbrough's squad. His own playing record demands instant respect, but the 43-year-old’s way of operating is well-regarded too.
Carrick’s innate composure and ability to read the game has been transferred into coaching where he is a calm presence on the touchline.
He is now Boro's longest-serving boss since Aitor Karanka and has also implemented an attractive style of play, with one figure claiming the football is among the best they have ever watched at times.

I don't see this as saying that we're keeping Carrick regardless but it does give us cover to say when we don't go up that we're only "reluctantly" parting company.

Also, an interesting bit in the You Are My Boro podcast where a Coventry journalist is talking about Lampard's initial impact on "star-struck" players. Shaw and Wilson say that Carrick was the same but that this is a short-term high and the mark of a good head coach is whether they can sustain it. The implication is that they reckon Carrick hasn't sustained it. To me that reads as an acknowledgement that Carrick doesn't cut it as a head coach beyond his name in football and I strongly suspect that's the private view at the club. 

[ManBearPig 2,312 4.2k]

I mean we were never getting top 2, but playoffs was achievable with our squad. For us to not be in them come final whistle today, given how poor the league has been and how inconsistent we have been it isn’t good enough. 

I don’t think a secret deal with Cooper has been made, because if so, surely you’d just get rid and give Cooper more time. 

[mackie2424 494 928]

Well it’s a big one today, I am very excited and will be there! Cannot wait. Please do our job Boro, that’s all we ask. UTFB

[SCG 58 100]

Win and hope… Leicester did it at the last minute in ‘96 and they got promoted…

Someone posted earlier up the thread they’ve switched off for the season and I’m like that but will still watch the game.

Planned something for PO final weekend so might have to reschedule! 

[Erimus74 5,343 5.5k]

9 minutes ago, mackie2424 said:

Well it’s a big one today, I am very excited and will be there! Cannot wait. Please do our job Boro, that’s all we ask. UTFB

Safe journey mackie & lets hope we show the right attitude, aggression & plenty of energy, if we fall short so be it, but please Boro, down fail due to just not laying a glove on Coventry 

UTMB

 

[Whoppy 869 1.5k]

Feeling quite laid back today. We don’t deserve promotion and I don’t think we will beat Coventry today.

[Downsouth 8,153 39k]

29 minutes ago, Erimus74 said:

Safe journey mackie & lets hope we show the right attitude, aggression & plenty of energy, if we fall short so be it, but please Boro, down fail due to just not laying a glove on Coventry 

UTMB

 

Yes keep well and safe to all attending the game.

Simply if we win then there is a prize in store, otherwise out to B&Q and get more plants for my garden!

There will be some defeats to those teams above us and let's remind ourselves of their fixtures

Bristol City V PNE (fighting for their Championship status)

Burnley V Millwall (Burnley will not want to end the season with a defeat)

Sheff United V Blackburn ( could be a draw but home advantage for me)

Entirely up to Boro simple as!

[DurhamRed 2,360 5k]

Come on Boro let's finally kick start the season is hopefully sweet revenge on the playoff defeat 1 nil boro 

[Johnmfc81 950 2.1k]

Like others I'm quite relaxed about it. Obviously want a win and hope we do get into the playoffs, but I don't think we truly deserve it given the performances. We have had an unbelievable chance this season and through either bad luck or ineffective performances we have blown them, it's crazy how we still have a chance of the playoffs tbh. 

Looking forward to next season with any chance of change, to hopefully improve the situation. UTB.

[TeaCider24 18,313 23.4k]

The leaking returns, but apparently this is the team:

Travers

Howson
Fry
van den Berg
Iling-Junior 

Hackney
Morris

Forss
Azaz
Giles

Conway

[edinboro 1,462 2.3k]

Probs not far off our strongest team. Giles at left back I would guess.

[SCG 58 100]

Forss starting for once 😳

[Boro 86 849 2.7k]

21 minutes ago, TeaCider24 said:

The leaking returns, but apparently this is the team:

Travers

Howson
Fry
van den Berg
Iling-Junior 

Hackney
Morris

Forss
Azaz
Giles

Conway

My preferred team that. No Djiksteel (not a fan) and probably Illing Junior up on the left with Giles LB , or possibly swapping at various points in the match)

win or bust time here so praying for a miracle.