Neverbefore 10,695 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 So barring any late announcements, a quick review of the window - Pros - - competition for friend added - centre midfield looks strong with a variety of different styles of play possible. - addition of a very pulis centre back - addition of a very pulis centre forward Cons - - no right winger in squad. - only left winger in squad is 34 and isn't good at playing as a winger anymore. - still only a centre back to play right back, no competition. - lost the best centre back we've had at the club since Woodgate - if we want to persist with 3cbs, one injury means a 16 year old is playing. - lost the only player to hurt teams when we were struggling last season - lost the only striker that had any creativity to a direct rival. - looking like losing our best player from our good start to the season. - no number ten - only one option in terms of style to play. That about sum it up? C- Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 2,492 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 What situation have we put ourselves in exactly? McQueen can play in multiple positions including as a winger, we have extra backup at CB and Saville can play where Braithwaite played. I'd say we're fine for now. Strengthen in January if needs be, we have plenty of cash. Since when can Saville play Braithwaites position? Weird signing. Saville is an attacking midfielder, Braithwaite has been playing behind Britt, there's not a million miles between them. I think that's stretching it a bit bud. Braithwaite is essentially a striker who gets moved around a bit. Saville is a midfielder who gets forwards and chips in with some goals. I'd expect Braithwaite to get more goals than Saville all things being equal and I don't think you could ask them to play the same role in a side. No, I know they aren't exactly the same, but nor were Tomlin and Vossen, and we swapped between the two of them playing behind the striker in the playoff season. Obviously the teams were setup slightly differently depending who was playing there, as they would be this season (I'd expect someone like Howson to be asked to play further forward if Saville was playing there), but I think he could play a variation of that No 10 role. Link to post Share on other sites
Brick_Tamland 60 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Maybe Adomah's agent wanted a big fee Link to post Share on other sites
Tony 54 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 @GraemeBailey Of all the deals that Middlesbrough have failed to do this summer - this one hurts more than most, a player who loves the club, loves the area and wanted to play for Tony Pulis - deal all but agreed, and still couldn't get done. I mean, how couldn't we have got this done? The guy wanted to come, we've got the money. Serious questions need to be asked at this point. What happens if he wanted a longer contract that we were prepared to offer? This would be his last big contract at his age. I wouldn't want him on a long-term deal. Link to post Share on other sites
sambaDTR 260 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 It’s not true until RAF confirms it! Link to post Share on other sites
Neverbefore 10,695 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 I did say this would happen after the last window shut. The reason why loan windows are rarely very fruitful is because the terms of any deals very rarely favour the selling club so they may as well keep them in the squad. Link to post Share on other sites
boksicdink 1,937 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 @GraemeBailey Of all the deals that Middlesbrough have failed to do this summer - this one hurts more than most, a player who loves the club, loves the area and wanted to play for Tony Pulis - deal all but agreed, and still couldn't get done. I mean, how couldn't we have got this done? The guy wanted to come, we've got the money. Serious questions need to be asked at this point. What happens if he wanted a longer contract that we were prepared to offer? This would be his last big contract at his age. I wouldn't want him on a long-term deal. Again, at this point we really needed to get something done. Now we have a squad full of CMs and CBs Link to post Share on other sites
Changing Times 12,211 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 No, I know they aren't exactly the same, but nor were Tomlin and Vossen, and we swapped between the two of them playing behind the striker in the playoff season. Obviously the teams were setup slightly differently depending who was playing there, as they would be this season (I'd expect someone like Howson to be asked to play further forward if Saville was playing there), but I think he could play a variation of that No 10 role. But those two players were far more similar. Vossen was a striker who played off another striker and Tomlin was an attacking midfielder who did the same. I wouldn't liken them to Braithwaite and Saville to be honest mate. I get what you're saying I just think the differences between these two are quite a bit greater than Vossen and Tomlin. Link to post Share on other sites
Changing Times 12,211 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Maybe Adomah's agent wanted a big fee :D Link to post Share on other sites
Jamie-H 1,322 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Remember when we sold him to Villa he'd just been promoted with the promotion clause a lot of our players were on he could easily be on 35-40k since to get him from us they'd have had to incentivise him to drop down I get he's not an easy guy to take on if that's the case. My point is if we truly waited until nearly 5pm then fire everyone involved who didn't have the set of balls to call off the negotiations earlier giving us enough time to recontact Puncheon but we'll see... Link to post Share on other sites
Tony 54 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 @GraemeBailey Of all the deals that Middlesbrough have failed to do this summer - this one hurts more than most, a player who loves the club, loves the area and wanted to play for Tony Pulis - deal all but agreed, and still couldn't get done. I mean, how couldn't we have got this done? The guy wanted to come, we've got the money. Serious questions need to be asked at this point. What happens if he wanted a longer contract that we were prepared to offer? This would be his last big contract at his age. I wouldn't want him on a long-term deal. Again, at this point we really needed to get something done. Now we have a squad full of CMs and CBs If the deal wasn't right then I'd rather they walked away than just signing someone for the sake of it. Can't say I'd have been that fussed about him returning. Link to post Share on other sites
Changing Times 12,211 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 I thought we couldn’t sign anyone who became out of contract during the loan window, how would that have worked? I think you could as long as the contract was terminated before the deadline? Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 2,492 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 I thought we couldn’t sign anyone who became out of contract during the loan window, how would that have worked? I think you could as long as the contract was terminated before the deadline? Yeah that's right. Link to post Share on other sites
Rioch's Braves 711 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 So it looks like the signing of the day goes to Villa, Abraham excellent signing. Link to post Share on other sites
TAPOUT 361 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Surely if there was nothing to announce the club would announce that? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts