Anthony Vickers - Images of Middlesbrough to blame for lack of recruitment?

If the Gazette slag off the club, they'll be denied access to press conferences etc. The club have basically given them an ultimatum. Tow the party line or else. The Gazette is no longer fit for purpose. Their journos are either controlled (e.g. Vickers) or have such a terrible grasp of the English language you could be mistaken for thinking they're schoolchildren who have won some sort of competition.

P.S. That's very offensive to schoolchildren. I apologise.
 
ticker_tape said:
Its obvious that a lot of clubs have the same problem, we can pay better than some but less than others.
We are less attractive than a lot of other options to some players and maybe its not worth the upheaval for them.

Is it really worth paying over the market value for some players who arent that good ?, I realise its always a risk whoever you pick up that that they may turn out to be a poor buy( more often than not).

The area is industrial eyesore ..gerraway
Its nicer on the outskirts of big cities or industrial areas... no kidding
Some like to live amongst surburban sprawl of a city so there is plenty of things to do entertaiment etc and work for their partners..... thats why theres so many people in citys ....

Stamping your feet because we cant compete for players isnt new, and even if we had a out of town sugar daddy, with FFP, money cant be thrown at it now.
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Spending £7m on Flint, £8m on Saville, £15m on Assombalonga.. puts you in an awkward position when you’re haggling over tens of thousands of pounds. You can’t just turn from billy big balls blowing everyone out of the water to poor old boro sweaters for goalposts. We rocked the boat with the talk of FFP so I imagine some clubs would be extra motivated to make things difficult for us. Not to mention the training facilities and the top notch academy. We’re the posh boy of the championship, the teachers pet. Probably best we have a look on the continent..
 
Uwefuchs said:
asically the current project isn't as appealing to pl
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I think your forgetting the Strachan time that left a legacy of poor buys, we then had Mowbray saddled with very very expensive players who were not worth a the fees and wages to get rid of.

TM wheeled his way getting rid of the problems he inherited and bought the cornerstones for the Karanka play offs and then promotion.

Ive a feeling Warnock is just another TM making things ready for the next manager.

Gibsons not a trillionaire but has brought us more succeess than most clubs have. Theres a pattern from supporters unhappy that things dont happen immediatley and we cant throw millions at problems anymore.

As for the Gazette they have been hand in glove since 1876 with the Boro and so act accordingly.

I think AV brought up something worth talking about that stimulates debate.
If you were true to your feelings perhaps you should start a protest march and make your position known at the games, or does that only apply to journalists?, that isnt a pop by the way.
 
Pog said:
It’s just simply the Gazette doing propaganda for the club. It’s no different to when the club released the Gazette attack dogs on Orta with lines fed by the club, to protect Gill, Bausor, etc.

Factors such as:
• What’s the salary
• Which clubs is it / what league is it
• Will I play first team football
• Who’s the manager
• Do they have a good chance of winning the league/promotion/trophy/etc

I’d imagine location probably comes next.

I can’t imagine we’re ticking many of those boxes for location to be a factor. We couldn’t get George Friend to stay and he loved the area.

The finances are the main issue, but Gibson spaffed all the proceeds from promotion on absolute dross so that’s on him.
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George Friend was given a longer contract and the promise of game time. Plus working for a manager who favoured him previously.
 
Spending £7m on Flint, £8m on Saville, £15m on Assombalonga. Would you buy any of them again Newy?
When we do compete it doesnt always work out.

Warnock will have bought his fair share of spuds in the past.
 
ticker_tape said:
I dont


Held to account :)
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Why shouldn't they be held to account?

Three years ago we were enjoying the riches of the Premier League, now we haven't got a pot to píss in,

One year ago the chairman sat in front of the world and told us all how Woodgate was the outstanding candidate and how he was the man to give the club it's identity back. He told us we could expect high intensity, attacking football, yet we ended up as the league's lowest scorers, again, and almost went down. Then that was all abandoned after one game of the restart and we appointed Warnock, a man who has retired several times, to save us from going down. (I like Warnock by the way, he's the first honest manager we've had since Mowbray).

The club are incapable of learning from their repeated mistakes, in all departments, and that has to stop with Gibson. For too long it's been jobs for the boys, and it's still continuing. If anyone dare question him they are shown the door.

For a successful businessman to make so many mistakes is just baffling.

He, and others within the club, should be held to account by the local press and us supporters, and not just wheel themselves out every time season ticket renewals are due...if we are lucky.
 
ticker_tape said:
I think your forgetting the Strachan time that left a legacy of poor buys, we then had Mowbray saddled with very very expensive players who were not worth a the fees and wages to get rid of.

TM wheeled his way getting rid of the problems he inherited and bought the cornerstones for the Karanka play offs and then promotion.

Ive a feeling Warnock is just another TM making things ready for the next manager.

Gibsons not a trillionaire but has brought us more succeess than most clubs have. Theres a pattern from supporters unhappy that things dont happen immediatley and we cant throw millions at problems anymore.

As for the Gazette they have been hand in glove since 1876 with the Boro and so act accordingly.

I think AV brought up something worth talking about that stimulates debate.
If you were true to your feelings perhaps you should start a protest march and make your position known at the games, or does that only apply to journalists?, that isnt a pop by the way.
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I've said we're not a very attractive prospect at the moment thats all. I don't see why I would need to be outside the ground protesting against Gibson. My comments on this thread have been more critical of Vickers than Gibson.
 
Smog in Wilts said:
When we look at foreign players and managers, they probably wont have the preconceived misconceptions about the area. So will probably approach the job with an open mind. Equally they know they are going to be at a club for a certain duration of time before moving again.
I think there is a difference between a young player and an older player. An older player may be influenced by the manager and his philosophy and buy into a project, younger players need to feel more comfortable for the living standards locally, unless they are on a high income they may not be able to commute from further afield.
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There also seems to be an assumption that if they're foreign they must come from a picturesque paradise with a Mediterranean climate and fantastic nightlife. Plenty of industrial towns on the continent and plenty of players come from them. There are even, shockingly, places worse than Middlesbrough abroad.
 
Bickers made a point that we are not where we were a decade ago.. we weren’t in the financial position we were able to attract the same quality of players we once did. A decade ago we had Strachan who brought in some absolute tripe and then we had Mowbray who followed with a budget of absolutely nothing. Maxi Haas anyone?
I think we are in the exact same position that we were in a decade ago.. the difference is we’ve been there before and should have a better clue of how to dig ourselves out. The core of the squad is solid.. we’ve got a first team that can beat anyone in the league imo. Our weakness is in depth, so with all the constraints that we have already, we also have the possibility that players coming in might think they will be playing 2nd fiddle to the likes of Spence & Tavernier.

10 years ago, what sort of top notch superstars were we bringing in to smash the league..

Paul Smith

Andrew Davies
Matt Kilgallon
Stephen McManus
Andy Halliday

Nicky Bailey
Kevin Thomson
Michael Taveres

Tarmo Kink
Kris Boyd
Merouane Zemmama
 
festa5 said:
There also seems to be an assumption that if they're foreign they must come from a picturesque paradise with a Mediterranean climate and fantastic nightlife. Plenty of industrial towns on the continent and plenty of players come from them. There are even, shockingly, places worse than Middlesbrough abroad.
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And also an assumption that all footballers and their wives want to be in a big city.
 
"Why shouldn't they be held to account?"

Thats football, you cant win them all ask Man Utd.

Who holds them to account anyway...fans not renewing or not turning up thats all and that happens at all clubs.
If Gibson had no track record of any success at all then fair dos, but he has.


How about fans track record of infrequent support, doesnt that count?
newyddion said:
Bickers made a point that we are not where we were a decade ago.. we weren’t in the financial position we were able to attract the same quality of players we once did. A decade ago we had Strachan who brought in some absolute tripe and then we had Mowbray who followed with a budget of absolutely nothing. Maxi Haas anyone?
I think we are in the exact same position that we were in a decade ago.. the difference is we’ve been there before and should have a better clue of how to dig ourselves out. The core of the squad is solid.. we’ve got a first team that can beat anyone in the league imo. Our weakness is in depth, so with all the constraints that we have already, we also have the possibility that players coming in might think they will be playing 2nd fiddle to the likes of Spence & Tavernier.

10 years ago, what sort of top notch superstars were we bringing in to smash the league..

Paul Smith

Andrew Davies
Matt Kilgallon
Stephen McManus
Andy Halliday

Nicky Bailey
Kevin Thomson
Michael Taveres

Tarmo Kink
Kris Boyd
Merouane Zemmama
Click to expand...


Good Post.
 
Pog said:
It’s just simply the Gazette doing propaganda for the club. It’s no different to when the club released the Gazette attack dogs on Orta with lines fed by the club, to protect Gill, Bausor, etc.

Factors such as:
• What’s the salary
• Which clubs is it / what league is it
• Will I play first team football
• Who’s the manager
• Do they have a good chance of winning the league/promotion/trophy/etc

I’d imagine location probably comes next.

I can’t imagine we’re ticking many of those boxes for location to be a factor. We couldn’t get George Friend to stay and he loved the area.

The finances are the main issue, but Gibson spaffed all the proceeds from promotion on absolute dross so that’s on him.
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Not being funny here but how exactly did they '"set the attack dogs in Orta"? Maybe I missed that.

I'd say although the money was definitely 'spaffed' that summer that's down to the recruitment team and manager surely. Gibson can't be blamed for the quality (or lack of) of players that came in?
 
Most of these clubs must be paying a generic wage for a lot of the average players who have a 2 year contract at say Derby or Sheff Wed, thing is when you want to buy a player to make plans for and that comes with a risk.

I still think there will be a mass scamper for jobs from short contract or frees and clubs shedding millstone players, its whether they turn out to be any good if Warnock signs them.
 
Uwefuchs said:
And also an assumption that all footballers and their wives want to be in a big city.
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Mendieta didn’t have to stay as long as he did, McClaren too. Why would all these multimillionaires choose to stay in the area long after any affiliation with the club?
*Unless that’s what all this is about. Click bait story leading to an article listing all the players that have played for boro that have been from outside of the area. Each one with obligatory ‘parmo portrait’ - a trained disciplined athlete smiling teeth gritted next to the 8000 calorie cheese schnitzel.
 
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festa5 said:
There also seems to be an assumption that if they're foreign they must come from a picturesque paradise with a Mediterranean climate and fantastic nightlife. Plenty of industrial towns on the continent and plenty of players come from them. There are even, shockingly, places worse than Middlesbrough abroad.
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I think some of the big cities in this country are mediocre at best.
 
ticker_tape said:
Spending £7m on Flint, £8m on Saville, £15m on Assombalonga. Would you buy any of them again Newy?
When we do compete it doesnt always work out.

Warnock will have bought his fair share of spuds in the past.
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I would have bought Flint & Saville, that’s not the point tho. We still spent that money and now the market perceives us as being well to do. We in a tuxedo with a monocle in asking for spare change for the bus.
 
TheFair86 said:
Not like the footballers would be living on Costa Street in the town centre anyway, they're are plenty of nice places to live and they will be doing their training at Rockliffe which is hardly the set of Blade Runner.
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My sister lived in that Street for a few years.....
 
Michael_Vronsky said:
Getting the excuses in, no doubt about it. What happened to the 'we have the best training facilities in the country' line? I guess it was a dream that we signed Rav and Juninho. And it certainly blasts the myth that we've ALWAYS paid over the odds as Juninho would've earned more at Arsenal but we sold him on the 'project' and our ambition.

Expect another campaign of a McNair/Saville axis next season...
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Wasn't the focus on the perception of the players spouses? Don't tell me that that doesn't factor into some decisions.
 
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