We've supposed to have suffered a wobble recently yet we still sit at the top of the form table over the last 6 games. We've only lost 2 out of 21 games.I'd like to stay ahead of Boro, even better if they just fall off. It's clearly better if it requires 2 teams to go on an unbelievable run to catch us rather than just 1.
This now needs to read
Middelsborough
Hackney turning down Ipswich even though the club accepted the offer, the limited Rob Edwards walking out... things have fell in to place for them a little bit.I said from the start they'd last the course. They've recruited well and I expect them to strengthen in January.
Luckily we have what is effectively a 6 point lead over them and they've still got to come to the CBS
For nowHas their new manager kept on Adi as coach?
They will need to offload or deregister players first as they have a full squad. That may not be straight forwardI said from the start they'd last the course. They've recruited well and I expect them to strengthen in January.
Luckily we have what is effectively a 6 point lead over them and they've still got to come to the CBS
As in the first part?This now needs to read
Middelsborough
£1 on that if it came in would set you up for life.Bet Fred 5000-1 league, 250-1 Fa Cup still a few bob there(£1,255,251) beer money for a day or twoSheffield Wednesday can still win the league and FA Cup
Seen him talking to FL at length after the game up there ,don't want to start rumour.Hackney turning down Ipswich even though the club accepted the offer, the limited Rob Edwards walking out... things have fell in to place for them a little bit.
It's a well run club, as I said to @Kris_Boro a while ago let's fend off the parachute teams and go up together. Obviously want to win the title given our start but promotion without going through the playoffs will be the best sporting day of my life regardless.Hackney turning down Ipswich even though the club accepted the offer, the limited Rob Edwards walking out... things have fell in to place for them a little bit.
They do like to sell in Jan, i can't see them doing it this time however, that would be mental. I also think we will dip into the market more then them which will hopefully lift us further ahead.It's a well run club, as I said to @Kris_Boro a while ago let's fend off the parachute teams and go up together. Obviously want to win the title given our start but promotion without going through the playoffs will be the best sporting day of my life regardless.
A big bid could come in for Hackney I suppose but it would need to be ridiculously high for them to consider it. Edwards trading that job for Wolves is about one of the worst managerial switches I can think of, proper lunacy on his part.They do like to sell in Jan, i can't see them doing it this time however, that would be mental. I also think we will dip into the market more then them which will hopefully lift us further ahead.
In truth though as a Boro fan, if it were as an only side in the equation, Middlesbrough by themselves cannot be rivals for the autos. The title yes, but if there's only 1 rival for the autos then there would be no rivals to stop you getting in them.This now needs to read
Middelsborough
Who is Target on loan from? Read they may recall him?In truth though as a Boro fan, Middlesbrough themselves cannot be rivals for the autos. The title yes, but if there's only 1 rival for the autos then there would be no rivals to stop you getting in them.
A lot of Boro fans incidentally are in the same mindset as myself, promotion is far far more important than the title. Going up is the be all and end all for the adventure and as despite the fact we're well run, it would transform our club's finances. The Championship title would be a nice cherry on the top, but we're not actually that ar$ed about it.
As such we're mostly concerned with that pack of clubs behind and keeping as big a gap between us and them as possible. So a lot of us DON'T want Coventry to fall away. Quite the opposite. Aside from our game with you of course, we'd much rather you carried on with your best form, smashing all and sundry, as that would invariably put any other sides who could possibly try and break into the top two further back, so having yourselves as a kind of battering ram to knock any of our potential challengers back would sit the best with us. It would probably get promotion in the bag earlier for both of us too if we were to continue on with our "Hellball" style of play we've now became rapidly accustomed to and taking points off those in the pack as well.
The league title would only become an actual thing when both Cov and Boro were already promoted and if both sides were reasonably close in points, though even then I don't think we'd be really bothered to miss out on it.
In terms of the transfer window, we don't actually need many new signings really. After two years in a row with by far the worst injury record in the league and it negatively affecting us for the those campaigns, we seem to have prioritised buying players who were "utility or multi-roled" that is were skilled at playing different positions in anticipation of the inevitability of our first team dropping like flies. As a case in point, we were even 4-7 games ago putting out a side that had from our 5 CBs only 1 who could play and all 3 DMs out injured too for the most part until Browne returned.
The solution of course was to use a multi-skilled fullback as a centre back (Target) and a multi-skilled attacking winger (Gilbert) in the engine room, with a small amount of detriment to the side, but miniscule really, giving us far greater strength in depth.
This has the benefit too that we will in effect acquire "conpetent new signings who are already used to the league" when our current wounded such as Dael Fry at CB, Aiden Morris at DM recover for example, the same as Alex Bangura did recently, coupled with the fact that we already have Adilson Malanda (CB) able to play from January that we signed in the summer.
As such we may sign one or two players that may add to our squad such as another speedy winger for instance (it won't be too much of a problem making space for them as we'd simply de-register those of our long-term crocks who are least likely to return this season, such as Darragh Lenihan) but we shouldn't on the face of it need to go bananas in the January window at all.
| 1 | Coventry | 46 | +30 | 103 |
| 2 | Stoke | 46 | +8 | 93 |
| 3 | Southampton | 46 | +5 | 93 |
| 4 | Hull | 46 | +1 | 78 |
| 5 | Millwall | 46 | -4 | 75 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 46 | +11 | 73 |
Not sure you were that brutal mate lolI just did the Fishy predictor, being as brutal as I could, here's what came up.
obviously, I tried to be impartial, but it didn't change much.
1 Coventry 46 +30 103 2 Stoke 46 +8 93 3 Southampton 46 +5 93 4 Hull 46 +1 78 5 Millwall 46 -4 75 6 Middlesbrough 46 +11 73
Think you're being a tad harsh on Boro there, 2nd on current form over the last 6 games, playing well, I can't see anyone from 2-5 catching us or them, also being very lenient on Soton, having them hit 2.52 ppg for the rest of the seasonI just did the Fishy predictor, being as brutal as I could, here's what came up.
obviously, I tried to be impartial, but it didn't change much.
1 Coventry 46 +30 103 2 Stoke 46 +8 93 3 Southampton 46 +5 93 4 Hull 46 +1 78 5 Millwall 46 -4 75 6 Middlesbrough 46 +11 73
We have 3 players in on loan. Two are Target from Newcastle and Browne from Sunderland, whom as much as they're rivals who we don't get on with usually we have to admit we're thankful for these lads.Who is Target on loan from? Read they may recall him?
With injuries it depends who they are? We lose Rushworth, Grimes, Thomas, MVE or JDS we may struggle. Our two losses were when our back ups were playing. Three of the back four missing at Wrexham and three of our four top scorers missing from the starting 11 at Ipswich. To put it in perspective, the players missing had scored only one goal less than the whole Ipswich team at the time.
That said, both losses were impacted by dreadful refereeing decisions. The ridiculous decision not to send off Hirst at Ipswich was confirmed by ref watch as wrong.
I certainly want us and Adi Viveash (one of my all-time favourite coaches) to get promoted. Hope your new manager doesn't dump him. He is a very strong character and wont take any shit. See his interactions with Mourinho and Waghorn.
Oh let's hope so!Think you're being a tad harsh on Boro there, 2nd on current form over the last 6 games, playing well, I can't see anyone from 2-5 catching us or them, also being very lenient on Soton, having them hit 2.52 ppg for the rest of the season
Everton want Hackney in January. Pretty sure you want sell then.We have 3 players in on loan. Two are Target from Newcastle and Browne from Sunderland, whom as much as they're rivals who we don't get on with usually we have to admit we're thankful for these lads.
There's also the talented Norwegian teen attacking midfielder Sverre Nypan from Man City, but he's struggled to have much gameplay with those infront of him.
They're all on season long loans, though an agreement may be reached for Nypan to go back in January due to his lack of game time.
We've lost several of our mainstays to long term injury this season (as usual!) such as Dael Fry, Aiden Morris and Strelec, fortunately we have a fairly strong spine in depth, several goalscorers and as said plenty of multi-skilled players.
For any length of time, we'd probably miss Hackney the most, followed by Sol Brynn.
Our start to the season was governed by the fact that whilst our attack wasn't the most potent and neither was our defence (though it was pretty near the top when everyone was fit) we have the strongest midfield in the league that know how to play together, meaning we can 9 times out of 10 control the game in the centre of the park and dominate possession. In contrast to Carrick, Edwards did what he usually does; play a back 5 with 3 cbs to make us much tougher at the back, meaning we could control most of the pitch, whilst still lacking much of a cutting edge up front as due to Edwards' almost sole focus on defence we were light up front in terms of players getting isolated with the main body of the side being further back. All the same, it allowed us the success of surprise at the start of the season, followed by perhaps the efficiency of a side in 5th or 6th as teams learned to low block and play long to bypass our midfield, knowing if they tried to battle through it, they'd very likely get beaten.
Then not so long after Ratboy left, along came Hellberg, who prefers to attack with press, but most importantly has less emphasis on formation, changing it regularly depending on opponents and most importantly fitting it around the players attributes he has, rather than seeing where a player can best fit "his" formation. The result is the high energy pressing you see now, as with less clinical finishers than yours we instead go for battering teams with attacks raining in, with more mistakes forced from opponents, more chances and shots potentially created and tailored to fit every attacking player's strengths to now improve conversion rates. The defence is slightly less solid, but a lot of that is taken care of by the fact that with less time on the ball in their own halves now, opponents cannot go long as accurately and often, meaning they instead need to do what they didn't want to do originally and try and battle through that midfield of ours.
Adi, as you obviously won't be surprised by, has of course been an ideal man to make the transition. He never wants to be a manager, for the whole PR side of the role, the tubthumping and public speaking isn't something he likes or considers himself accomplished at, but he's an excellent coach who not only is respected, but has a vast array of knowledge and knows this league inside out. Hellberg has no plans to dispense with his services and it's common opinion that he would be a fool to do so.
There will be a few prem clubs who want him in January, tbh which we're prepared for. According to transfermkt he's now the most valuable player in the championship and has stepped up his game even further this campaign.Everton want Hackney in January. Pretty sure you want sell then.
Who's that rat you're on about?There will be a few prem clubs who want him in January, tbh which we're prepared for. According to transfermkt he's now the most valuable player in the championship and has stepped up his game even further this campaign.
There's very strong rumours that Palace and Leeds are also interested and we're sure that Wolves would want him too if they could actually afford him, though he'd tell them to go bol1ocks as they're a Prem club in only name right now.
The underlying fact here is we're not in a position where we have to sell to buy, like yourselves we've made quite a bit of cash on outgoing players in the last couple of years (Morgan Rogers, Latte Lath, Van den Berg and Finn Azaz being the first 4 that come to mind along with others, Akpom and Djed Spence were further back, but add on clauses have kept more money rolling in for them. Not forgetting of course the almost 4M from Wolves for taking the Rat off our hands, small in comparison to the tranfer fees for any of those players, but a decent chunk of change all the same and it all adds up)
Hackney himself has made no secret of the fact he sees himself as a Premier League player which is only justified. He'd like to be so first and foremost with us as he's a Boro fan playing for his boyhood club that brought him through, so provided we're still up there during the window, it's likely he'll want to stay until the end of the season as a minimum and longer if we get promoted naturally.
If we don't go up of course, he'll almost certainly be off in the summer and as fans we're resigned to that, but desperately don't want to see him go.
In the meantime, is it impossible him leaving in January? No, but it is unlikely as it stands and would take pretty silly money comparatively to prise him away.
Edwards I assumeWho's that rat you're on about?
Edwards.Who's that rat you're on about?
You are quite correct Sir, he is none other than our former manager Rat Edwards, who despite preaching "we're a big family" until he was blue in the face, scurried off instantly without a thought of throwing our season into complete disarray, at the first sign of some more dollar.Edwards I assume
Awful move as well. Gone to a team who will likely get a record low points tallyYou are quite correct Sir, he is none other than our former manager Rat Edwards, who despite preaching "we're a big family" until he was blue in the face, scurried off instantly without a thought of throwing our season into complete disarray, at the first sign of some more dollar.
I will say one thing you've done better than probably anyone else in the division is extracting very generous fees for players who didn't look as impressive as the fee would suggest. I assume Steve Gibson's drinking a stronger version of whatever our Douglas does for his negotiations.There will be a few prem clubs who want him in January, tbh which we're prepared for. According to transfermkt he's now the most valuable player in the championship and has stepped up his game even further this campaign.
There's very strong rumours that Palace and Leeds are also interested and we're sure that Wolves would want him too if they could actually afford him, though he'd tell them to go bol1ocks as they're a Prem club in only name right now.
The underlying fact here is we're not in a position where we have to sell to buy, like yourselves we've made quite a bit of cash on outgoing players in the last couple of years (Morgan Rogers, Latte Lath, Van den Berg and Finn Azaz being the first 4 that come to mind along with others, Akpom and Djed Spence were further back, but add on clauses have kept more money rolling in for them. Not forgetting of course the almost 4M from Wolves for taking the Rat off our hands, small in comparison to the tranfer fees for any of those players, but a decent chunk of change all the same and it all adds up)
Hackney himself has made no secret of the fact he sees himself as a Premier League player which is only justified. He'd like to be so first and foremost with us as he's a Boro fan playing for his boyhood club that brought him through, so provided we're still up there during the window, it's likely he'll want to stay until the end of the season as a minimum and longer if we get promoted naturally.
If we don't go up of course, he'll almost certainly be off in the summer and as fans we're resigned to that, but desperately don't want to see him go.
In the meantime, is it impossible him leaving in January? No, but it is unlikely as it stands and would take pretty silly money comparatively to prise him away.
In some cases I would agree, the clubs paid very generously for a player, in others I would say they got substantially more in the long run from that player than what they paid for.I will say one thing you've done better than probably anyone else in the division is extracting very generous fees for players who didn't look as impressive as the fee would suggest. I assume Steve Gibson's drinking a stronger version of whatever our Douglas does for his negotiations.
I guess what I meant was that more than once Boro have sold a player for x amount and I've had to double check the fee because it just looked too high, Latte Lath the most recent example. But yes fair enough, I'd forgotten about Morgan Rogers entirely.In some cases I would agree, the clubs paid very generously for a player, in others I would say they got substantially more in the long run from that player than what they paid for.
Latte Lath is a striker more suited for the English game, so that sale whilst he was decent for them in the MLS initially didn't go as well as they'd hoped. I didn't mention Coburn, but he falls into this bracket too as it stands, due to him getting injured at Millwall.
Then there's the "not bad value" sales. Akpom was actually decent at Ajax and his scoring ratio was actually pretty good in the Eriedivisie for minutes played in a system he was unused to. He's of course now at Ipswich, where in a good way for both our clubs they seem not so blissfully unaware that he only excels in a number 10 role which we discovered. They're almost always playing him out of position. VDB is young so it's too early to tell with him amd Finn Azaz his sale is too recent though has offered mixed results so far.
Then there's the good value for the buyer sales. Spence, after a long wait due to his hot and cold attitude is proving more valuable to Spurs now than what they got him for, and there's a good caee to be made for Morgan Rogers being the bargain of that season.
I'm genuinely struggling to think of a worse managerial switch, it was just monumentally stupid on his part. Long way to go of course but I think either of our squads this season would have got more points than whatever Wolves get this season.
He inherited a Luton team that would have probably gone up regardless, Jones had laid all the groundwork. He impressed a lot at Forest Green but elsewhere I’ve not been convinced.My wife, who is a lifelong Wolves supporter, isn't impressed by him although she accepts that it is early days and he inherited a very poor squad. She can only think that he took the job either for the money or for reasons of emotional attachment as he used to play for them.
I actually wonder if Wolves wanted him knowing they are going down and because he did so well to get Luton up.
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