[Football] Good to see Middlesbrough preparing for life back in the Championship

[Paris]

One thing we'll hopefully learn from Middlesborough's almost certain relegation is that we'll need more than a sturdy defence to keep our heads above water next season. Boro have shown that having nothing going forward will lead to the inevitable. Chris has been there as manager and coach for a number of years, so have faith that he'll pitch our team/squad and necessary tactics correctly to give us every chance. No Ricky Van Wolfswinkel though please

 

[sir albion]

Playing boring defensive football will get you nowhere in the premiership.....You need to attack and score as that will give you hope.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

It is all about opinions and mine is that he is a very good left sided midfielder, which most clubs struggle to find and if Stephens goes he could fill the void along with Kayal more central.

Agree it's all about opinions and I am sure we'll be linked with a lot of players in the summer if we go up. I don't think Leadbitter will be one of them and, even if we are interested, I think Middlesbrough will be determined to keep hold of their squad and will have the money to do so.

 

[Jim in the West]

Have Middlesborough EVER played exciting football? I suppose they must have done at some stage in the past, but Karanka was unbelievably negative (despite having loads of strikers in his squads), and even now they've got rid of him they still can't score. They must be the dullest club imaginable - add to which, the town itself is SO depressing. How they attract decent players is beyond me.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

They must be the dullest club imaginable - add to which, the town itself is SO depressing. How they attract decent players is beyond me.

People will do anything for money.

 

[spence]

I want Boro's relegation to drag on. Hopefully they go down on the last game,

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

At the end of the day it wasn't meant to be a year ago.......Now it is though.
TBH we have sort of followed their path, they went so close then had that bit more next season, if it wasn't for our spectacular effort they would have gone up easily. Now the comparisons must end!

 

[Lurchy]

It is all about opinions and mine is that he is a very good left sided midfielder, which most clubs struggle to find and if Stephens goes he could fill the void along with Kayal more central.

Sights should be set a lot higher than Leadbitter, not sure he could be seen as an improvement on what we already have and focus should be on players that will improve the squad.

Adama Traoré from them looks like an excellent prospect still, expect him and Ben Gibson to be the first to be poached after relegation.

 

[Weststander]

Playing boring defensive football will get you nowhere in the premiership.....You need to attack and score as that will give you hope.

Agree totally. Look at Boro & Sunderland. Goals scored literally gives your defence three points to defend. Karanka's don't concede/lose football leads to relegation when uo against PL opponents, and bores the fans (loads of empty seats at depressing Riverside yesterday).

 

[theboybilly]

Have Middlesborough EVER played exciting football? I suppose they must have done at some stage in the past, but Karanka was unbelievably negative (despite having loads of strikers in his squads), and even now they've got rid of him they still can't score. They must be the dullest club imaginable - add to which, the town itself is SO depressing. How they attract decent players is beyond me.

I just can't get interested in Middlesborough. I always switch channels when they are on...a boring, boring club. If I lived on Teesside I'd follow Hartlepool Utd

 

[El Presidente]

I've always got on with Boro fans, however, a cursory glance at their accounts last year reveals that over half their signings were on credit.

They spent £42 million on new players in the year ended 30 June 2016, but the cash given to other clubs was only £16 million.

 

[Weststander]

Have Middlesborough EVER played exciting football? I suppose they must have done at some stage in the past, but Karanka was unbelievably negative (despite having loads of strikers in his squads), and even now they've got rid of him they still can't score. They must be the dullest club imaginable - add to which, the town itself is SO depressing. How they attract decent players is beyond me.

They don't. Unsurprising, being the poorest and most miserable part of England.

Propped up by the owner who spent £44.6m on transfer fees to get them narrowly over the line in 2016. (Compared to our £14.2m at the same stage).

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

I just can't get interested in Middlesborough. I always switch channels when they are on...a boring, boring club. If I lived on Teesside I'd follow Hartlepool Utd

You are Jeff Sterling and I claim my £5.

 

[Bozza]

I may have had a drink last night. Regardless, I stand by what I said which is a combination of a few things...

1. Their fans on the big day last year. Firstly the way some of their lot treated our players on the pitch at the final whistle. Secondly the hostile and unpleasant way my family were treated as we returned to our car in the town. Sneering abusive blokes getting in right in my face, trying to get a reaction so they could have the scrap they wanted. Lots of homophobic crap for good measure too. I was with a 6-y-o boy and a 13-y-o girl. There's really no need.

2. The stories I've heard regarding how many Boro staff treated their Albion counterparts after the game. By all accounts class, grace and humility were largely absent. The story of Albert Adomah following the Albion team bus out of town flashing his lights and beeping his horn has already been mentioned on here as well.

3. The bile their fans posted and tried to post on NSC after they had triumphed. In all the years I've been running NSC I've not seen anything like it. For the only time I can recall, I had to turn off new member registrations for a while and then, subsequently, introduce measures to moderate the first posts made by each new member.

 

[spence]

Was there really a large amount of Boro fans who signed up just to gloat ?

 

[bhanutz]

Was there really a large amount of Boro fans who signed up just to gloat ?

Yup but where are the pillocks now? Shite team, shite town...Hope they go down!

 

[Weststander]

I may have had a drink last night. Regardless, I stand by what I said which is a combination of a few things...

1. Their fans on the big day last year. Firstly the way some of their lot treated our players on the pitch at the final whistle. Secondly the hostile and unpleasant way my family were treated as we returned to our car in the town. Sneering abusive blokes getting in right in my face, trying to get a reaction so they could have the scrap they wanted. Lots of homophobic crap for good measure too. I was with a 6-y-o boy and a 13-y-o girl. There's really no need.

2. The stories I've heard regarding how many Boro staff treated their Albion counterparts after the game. By all accounts class, grace and humility were largely absent. The story of Albert Adomah following the Albion team bus out of town flashing his lights and beeping his horn has already been mentioned on here as well.

3. The bile their fans posted and tried to post on NSC after they had triumphed. In all the years I've been running NSC I've not seen anything like it. For the only time I can recall, I had to turn off new member registrations for a while and then, subsequently, introduce measures to moderate the first posts made by each new member.

Karma. The gracelless scum are going straight down, with only parachute monies to show for it all and another mega investment blown by Gibson. 20 odd goals scored and a PL win every 2 months on average, played in front of a now 2/3 full stadium. On their forum, its been civil war all season of: club loyalists versus others stating the truth that it's been shit.

 

[Bwian]

I may have had a drink last night. Regardless, I stand by what I said which is a combination of a few things...

1. Their fans on the big day last year. Firstly the way some of their lot treated our players on the pitch at the final whistle. Secondly the hostile and unpleasant way my family were treated as we returned to our car in the town. Sneering abusive blokes getting in right in my face, trying to get a reaction so they could have the scrap they wanted. Lots of homophobic crap for good measure too. I was with a 6-y-o boy and a 13-y-o girl. There's really no need.

2. The stories I've heard regarding how many Boro staff treated their Albion counterparts after the game. By all accounts class, grace and humility were largely absent. The story of Albert Adomah following the Albion team bus out of town flashing his lights and beeping his horn has already been mentioned on here as well.

3. The bile their fans posted and tried to post on NSC after they had triumphed. In all the years I've been running NSC I've not seen anything like it. For the only time I can recall, I had to turn off new member registrations for a while and then, subsequently, introduce measures to moderate the first posts made by each new member.

Not to mention the wayne kerrs outside the team's hotel during the night trying to keep the players awake all night and then as the players were boarding their coach.

Totally agree with you in everything you said about them-there is nothing pleasant whatsoever about Middlesbrough. Nothing. Even that stupid bridge is a let down.

 

[sir albion]

They were a great side to watch in the days of Bernie slaven at ayresome park....Christ it's been dull dull dull since bless them

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Have Middlesborough EVER played exciting football? I suppose they must have done at some stage in the past, but Karanka was unbelievably negative (despite having loads of strikers in his squads), and even now they've got rid of him they still can't score. They must be the dullest club imaginable - add to which, the town itself is SO depressing. How they attract decent players is beyond me.

There was that season where they signed Juninho, Ravanelli and Emerson, 1996-97, and they played exciting, attacking football and got to both cup finals.

They got relegated that season too