Same_as_before
Well-known member
It happens every day of the week .
Very angry Downing
- Thread starter Duffman
- Start date
Laughing
Well-known member
Well that's ok then, oh hang on, it was a verbal contract, so it contravenes contract law.. Jeez it's neither wonder Johnson gets away with lie after lie when people accept this behaviour
premierleague
New member
In the same podcast Mark Schwarzer states he feels the same about MFC on his departure from the club, after giving 11 years service!! And the club's refusal or forgetfulness to pay the postage for play-off final tickets!! (He paid himself for the tickets for his son and him, his son supports the Boro)
Just got round to listening to this. I’ve listened to Schwarzer’s podcast for a while and it’s a very good listen. You can hear in previous episodes that there’s been something off with Mark and some of his time at Boro in the way he talks about certain periods, he doesn’t talk about Fulham in the same way. I remember some criticism towards the end of his time but I don’t remember the booing he mentioned... if it happened like he says then it’s a ridiculous way to treat a player who gave us 12 years over our most successful period.
As for Downing, of course the club doesn’t owe him a living and he wasn’t amazing in his second spell, but if what he says is true it’s disappointing from the club and I don’t blame him for feeling bitter. If they wanted him gone (and maybe it was the right time) they could have been far more professional. They hint at other players leaving with a sour taste so maybe the club doesn’t have the best track record in this regard - obviously this all comes with a big caveat of not having the story from the club/chairman/staff involved.
Regardless, it’s a big shame that two of our most successful and greatest players have left feeling undervalued by the club and fans. Downing at least had a warm reception when he came back and in time he’ll probably appreciate that, but sadly that didn’t seem to happen for Schwarzer.
As for Downing, of course the club doesn’t owe him a living and he wasn’t amazing in his second spell, but if what he says is true it’s disappointing from the club and I don’t blame him for feeling bitter. If they wanted him gone (and maybe it was the right time) they could have been far more professional. They hint at other players leaving with a sour taste so maybe the club doesn’t have the best track record in this regard - obviously this all comes with a big caveat of not having the story from the club/chairman/staff involved.
Regardless, it’s a big shame that two of our most successful and greatest players have left feeling undervalued by the club and fans. Downing at least had a warm reception when he came back and in time he’ll probably appreciate that, but sadly that didn’t seem to happen for Schwarzer.
Ted_DN38416
Well-known member
Didnt Monk tell him he was free to find a new club when he took over? Seems like a conversation about possibile contracts based on potential outcomes. We didnt even make the play offs. great player and interesting to see what sort of coach he would make. But this is kist a none story. Basically Downing’s upset because he didn’t get what he wanted... so what, thats life
Laughing
Well-known member
Your post misses the point, but you already know that which makes me wonder why you posted it.
Ted_DN38416
Well-known member
I get your point. But it does happen all the time and it happens both ways. Similar thing happened with Danny Mills after his loan. I think we’re all really proud of Downing. He’s someone our club and town should be really proud of despite his shortcomings in his second spell. And even if what he said is true which o reckon os probably half true being weve only heard his side, maybe its for the best we didn’t offer him a coaching role becauae hes not really showing many leadership qualities coming put whinging
Laughing
Well-known member
I agree that the club were right to let him go. I also agree that Downing's account is very likely skewed a bit. However the club seem to have a bit of previous on this and I don't much like it, given, to a large extent, the club represents you and I.
Ted_DN38416
Well-known member
Don’t really have a problem with it tbh. We’re talking about millions of pounds after all. Think the club could work on its PR like because stuff like this ( even though its nothing really ) wouldn’t come out at other clubs. I reckon it probly went something like:
Gibson: Stewey, we all think a lot of you but lets be honest, i cant give you the extension. 1) you haven’t quite performed the way we would of expected. 2) the club has to plan financially for an indefinite period in the second tier. So would you consider signing the waiver and start playing again? If we go up i can offer you a bonus or discuss new terms of an extension. If we don’t we’ll review your performance in the last eight games and see where we are. We could consider offering you a coaching role... maybe.
Downing: Ok
Not too different to whats being said, other than its only Downings point of view that we've heard
Boro_Legend
Well-known member
Between Downing and Woodgate $hit stirring, it's no wonder AK threw a wobbler. Downing bringing all this up now shows a distinct lack of class. The guys a millionaire and can't stop bitching. It was all avoidable too, if Gibson would stop interfering with signing players that the manager's don't want at the club. Gibson Has a track record for interference. Hopefully Warnock will keep him on the straight and narrow.
Same_as_before
Well-known member
You made that up.
Michael_Vronsky
Well-known member
Priv
Well-known member
Despite being arguably our best ever keeper. Schwarzer piping up is abit of a funny one, he spent every summer he was with us trying to hoar himself to a bigger club. When he finally left the best he could get was Fulham. Yes a few fans got fed up with it but he never got any real stick for it. Even after saying early in his last season he was going to leave. He always came across as very ungrateful, no wonder Gibson didn’t go to far out of his way to say goodbye.
SilentProf
Well-known member
He should have asked for the new deal to be agreed and finalised before he signed the waiver. There’s no reason it couldn’t have been done.
Paterson
Well-known member
Astonishing really how every now agrees how great he was first time around. Because it wasn't really like that. Half the crowd and the message board were on his back non-stop.
So I reckon most of the ones who now criticise his second spell are those who had him down as a 'fanny' first time around.
If you dont get Downing, you dont get football.
So I reckon most of the ones who now criticise his second spell are those who had him down as a 'fanny' first time around.
If you dont get Downing, you dont get football.
Ted_DN38416
Well-known member
Downing was brilliant first time around. Got into the side after mendieta got injured and we pushed Zenden onto the middle and made the left his own. For a while he was the best crosser of a ball in the premier league. He wasnt blessed with exceptional pace but, he did have a burst of acceleration and would take his man on down the line. Was never quite the same after he jarred his knee with England for me. I dont think he liked getting hurt and its not unreasonable to say the championship is a bit more physical than the premier league. Both of those factors plus just getting older are probably why he didnt live up to expectations second time around. Great player for us overall though and a shame things soured on and off the pitch to an extent but thats not just the clubs fault whatever may or may not have happened behind the scenes
Laughing
Well-known member
That seems like a fair assessment Ted
Pablo Escobar
New member
Makes sense how poor we are trying to buy players when Bausor is happy to play a role like that as for SG about time he ran Boro like his own Bulkhaul company I hope to see more ruthlessness with players who think we are an easy ride sounds like Stewy was dealt with poorly in this instance but in all honesty I think Bausor is poor when trying to put deals together.
jonny_greenings_sock
Well-known member
Missed a bit there Stewie:
"A local lad, played over 400 games for the club, come back, wanted to play number 10 but wasn't very good at it so the manager brought in a proper player who got us promoted, was dressing room poison to said manager, did nothing in the Prem and got relegated, spent the next three years phoning it in playing in George Friend on the overlap, 8 goals and 13 assists in four years on a reported 35 grand a week, wanted a new contract even though the fans boo me because hey, it's an easy commute from home and then bang."
Does sound like the club manipulated him a bit with the promises of a new contract, quite shabby. Football's a ruthless meritocracy though, you get rewarded for performances and nothing else. It works both ways like when players want to leave for say, Spurs or Aston Villa, but does leave a bad taste when it happens to someone with that kind of history and connection with the club.
Absolutely outstanding in his first spell and will always treasure the memories. Best footballer that's ever come out of our academy. But wish he was as assertive and chewy on the pitch as he is off it, have rarely seen a player play such passive, risk-free football and affect games so little with the amount of talent he has. Like he's been in his shell since mid 2015.