Interesting really, as I would say this has been the case for years - the being "too nice." The last time we had a tough unit was under Karanka getting promoted. Why have not more aggressive and powerful players been identified and signed? We've got Lenihan in but other than that all the other signings I would say are nicey nicey. Find it baffling that we are signing 'development' strikers when we don't have any first choice ones.
Chris Wilder
- Thread starter InglebyUTB
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Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
I'm cautiously optimistic that this will be an exciting season, no doubt it will have its fair share of ups and downs, but ultimately I think we will be challenging at the right end of the table.
But, like you say, the season hasn't even got a full head of stem up yet, so there's no reason to press the panic button and in reality these early games always promised to be a mixed bag, both in terms of results and performances, until the window shuts and we have the players in that we so clearly need.
There's a lot to be optimistic about, we have a bit of cash to spend, we are investing in a higher quality of player than for a good fews seasons now and we have a manager that demands success.
The ingredients all all there for an exciting season.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
I agree that we are 'too nice' and the contrast between us and Sheff Utd a few weeks ago demonstrated that. They looked like a team with the qualities that we aspire to in many ways.
On the subject of the 'development; strikers, I think it's always easier to sign these types of player, for obvious reasons, hence they've come through the door first. If that was at the expense of more established players I'd get your point, but we all know that the club has no signed a more devemoped player in Muniz and will almost certainly bring another one in, whether its Strand Larsen or someone else.
Nosmo-King
Well-known member
I am seriously missing something obviously. What I see is a suspect keeper, suspect defence, ineffective midfield and a below par strike force.
3 points from 15 tends to back this up - however well we may have briefly played in matches.
3 points from 15 tends to back this up - however well we may have briefly played in matches.
Your points are good and quite adequate but what I would say it depends on your out look do you want to home in on the negatives or take the positives.
We have created more than enough including yesterday to have more points on the boards.
Keeper yes a littel suspect.
Defencively as a team not great at times but that happens when you take risks and dont have the legs to get back, something we need to address.
However I feel overall we have played some good stuff, not had the rub of the green off the officials, should of been more clinical in front of goal and we would of been in a different position.
allied_assault
Well-known member
Hoppe, Forss ... those two signings to me I had never known a thing about until we were linked, and find it hard to believe Wilder is directly responsible for having brought them in. I can't see either being a hit, particularly the formerYeah, I get that but I am only passing on what I read from a guy who is normally a trustworthy source .. He has just stated that there's been a fallout but posted it somewhat cryptically like there's more to it than just being left out the side. Which I hope there isn't ... but as my post explained, it just makes you wonder, as you look at the state of how we have started this season, I am just saying, I hope behind-the-scenes things with Wilder and the team, in general, are still OK and there's not unrest for any other reason throughout the set-up
Anyone looking at our start and form going back into last season is bound to have questions, naturally ... I read how many wins from the last 18 games or so earlier, it makes for worrying reading
A few others on here have dragged up my earlier post and said they think Wilder should go as it is the players he has brought in, etc, so his fault .. I am not so sure
Hoppe, Forss ... those two signings to me I had never known a thing about until we were linked, and find it hard to believe Wilder is directly responsible for having brought them in. I can't see either being a hit, particularly the former
Lenihan, Steffen I would imagine are more signings he perhaps has been more directly involved in, but otherwise, I don't know what is going on regarding recruitment
We know Muniz is not a signing he is responsible for as Muniz was our main target under Warnock last Summer and Fulham poached him
Regardless, it is clear we need at least another 2 or 3 quality players to make a big improvement in this side because as I look at the squad right now, it just is not good enough. Somehow it feels like we have regressed to Warnock times when I am reading the starting line ups
Losing Tav is going to hurt more than fans expected unless we get very lucky in the remaining days of the transfer window. I hope we get busy and sort it out. I hope another ten games time we can all look back at this thread and wonder what all the fuss was about
This I firmly believe is true
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
What, you have written of the recently turned 21 year old Hoppe on the basis of seeing him for 15 minutes yesterday?
I'm not saying he will be a success, just that the lad needs to be given a chance first!
allied_assault
Well-known member
No Jonny
I am agreeing that these are not players that CW would have targeted
Not Hoope as a player or his ability especially after 20 mins but he did look a little lost which is understandable
TheYorkshireTerrier
Well-known member
How often has history proved that you can’t rule out automatic promotion after a bad start (as in, the first month of the season), yet people still do it
nowthen
Well-known member
For other clubs?
Whenever we have a bad start I always think of Reading years ago with Shane Long, maybe we could do that? Never have!
Do we ever do well after a bad start? No wins in 5 isn’t great, good or even okay.
Nosmo-King
Well-known member
Mart, ultimately one thing matters - points on the board - something we have failed miserably to achieve. Yesterday HAS to be a turning point- the performance was lamentable.
Are the likes of Muniz or Strand Larsen not development players too? They are hardly seasoned pros.
TheYorkshireTerrier
Well-known member
Forest and Norwich are great examples of the last 5 years, it’s silly to rule anything out at this stage with so much to play for.
Nosmo-King
Well-known member
And Forest succeeded by - change of manager.
Nosmo-King
Well-known member
Jedi just commenting factually - no more, no less
nowthen
Well-known member
Yes other clubs are great examples, that is why I mentioned Reading. Boro have never had the character to do this and sadly I don’t think we have this season either.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
I guess every player is developing, at a decreasing rate until they hit their peak, by which time they'll be at pretty much their highest transfer value.
And that's always the dilemma for a club like Boro isn't it, or actually, for every club other than the super rich elite; buy high potential young players, develop and sell-on at a profit - rinse and repeat.
Or we go the other way and pay high fees for players at their peak, or spend less on average senior players.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
He did look lost, apart from looking exceptional at giving away daft fouls.
CW has said that both Hoppe and Forss are ones for the future and, like Muniz, they are players identified by the club. Scott's role, in its purest definition I think, is to ensure continuity in terms of the playing side of the club, which should prevent what we're seeing this summer, in such a huge turnover of players.
As long as CW, or whoever the manager is at the time, has the sign-off on players then it's a sensible approach.