Gazette End of Season Player Ratings

[BoroMart]

Who do you sell Saville to for £2m and who do you buy in for £2m to replace him? Plus all the wages etc.. how much do you save by doing all this?

Saville along with McNair are now our 2 biggest earners. At 8mill he will be on a big wage, are we getting value for money for that wage and is he a guarenteed starter? No and No.

I would get rid too

 

[TeessideCleveland]

I wouldn't give Britt a 1 based on his post Xmas 'form'. An absolute waste of space who what on the beach for the majority of the season

 

[Subbuteo_171]

He was absolutely magnificent at Swansea, a game we completely dominated. We completely outclassed them and Morsy ran the midfield that day. He was everywhere, including being high enough up the field to score a late equaliser. I think he could do that more often but his primary job, and Warnock's instruction, is to cover the bases and do the dirty work. He has been really good for us this season, IMO. Look at our form since he was injured, the sort of goals we conceded. There were gaps everywhere. It isn't all down to Morsy being out injured but a big part of it was. Wycombe was a prime example, their midfielders were running off us and gliding into the box at will. Wycombe. Bottom of the league for almost the whole season and they humiliated our midfield. Put Morsy in there and he doesn't allow that to happen.

That's how I saw/see it anyway.

All about opinions.

There have been other games he was poor and a liability. He isn’t particularly mobile and he’s easy to run past as a rexult, look at his yellow card count - and lack of mobility is a big concern across our midfield (and has been for a good while) hence why I don’t think he was the right signing for us.

 

[indeedido]

Who do you sell Saville to for £2m and who do you buy in for £2m to replace him? Plus all the wages etc.. how much do you save by doing all this?

I said IF we can sell Saville for £2m I would in a heartbeat.
If he was any good people would pay it and take the £2m across his contract.
Mowatt free would not have an amortisation hit and his wages would be no more than what Saville is already on. On signing, he would also immediately have a resale value.
Mowatt is a much better player who would cost less next season than Saville would AND would have some resale value if we signed him.

I am not saying we must get Mowatt, I'm simply saying he would make miles more financial sense than keeping Saville if we could get a fee for Saville now.

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

All about opinions.

There have been other games he was poor and a liability. He isn’t particularly mobile and he’s easy to run past as a rexult, look at his yellow card count - and lack of mobility is a big concern across our midfield (and has been for a good while) hence why I don’t think he was the right signing for us.

I agree it is about opinions. But would love to know which games he was a liability in? He does have a bit of a temper on him but I think his red card was rescinded wasn't it? It was obviously a harsh one. I honestly can't remember if he was sent off any other times. He might've been taken off once because he reacted to a kick or something, was it Preston? But I think we need a bloke who likes a bit of needle in the midfield, I think we've been a bit too nice for too long. All players of that kind will get into trouble with the referee though. Clayton used to get booked all the time but knew where the line was. Like Fernandinho, or even Ince. You need someone to get stuck in and tackle with their whole body now and then. The bloke doing the tackling is more likely to be in bother with the ref.

I think Morsy does a good job for us and allows someone like Tav to enjoy being on the ball and play to his strengths.

 

[Subbuteo_171]

I agree it is about opinions. But would love to know which games he was a liability in? He does have a bit of a temper on him but I think his red card was rescinded wasn't it? It was obviously a harsh one. I honestly can't remember if he was sent off any other times. He might've been taken off once because he reacted to a kick or something, was it Preston? But I think we need a bloke who likes a bit of needle in the midfield, I think we've been a bit too nice for too long. All players of that kind will get into trouble with the referee though. Clayton used to get booked all the time but knew where the line was. Like Fernandinho, or even Ince. You need someone to get stuck in and tackle with their whole body now and then. The bloke doing the tackling is more likely to be in bother with the ref.

I think Morsy does a good job for us and allows someone like Tav to enjoy being on the ball and play to his strengths.

There were a few mid season where he was utterly ineffective, such as that dreadful run of home games when he was really poor plus others earlier in the season. Maybe in the right formation with others around him but not with Saville and Howson, the 3 together make me wince.

Good to see you back posting regularly by the way Viv.

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

There were a few mid season where he was utterly ineffective, such as that dreadful run of home games when he was really poor plus others earlier in the season. Maybe in the right formation with others around him but not with Saville and Howson, the 3 together make me wince.

Good to see you back posting regularly by the way Viv.

Thanks for saying that, it is much appreciated! And even though the season ended poorly, it is always easier to post about Boro during good(or slightly better, or slightly less sh*t, which sort of qualifies as good really) times.

I agree about playing Morsy, Saville and Howson. That should never, ever happen. If we're doing that then we may as well play Jepson up front and Warnock down the wing, just for a bit of pace. Morsy holding the fort while Tav plays forwards, maybe McNair getting up and down or someone else, a new signing, would be ideal for me I think.

 

[newyddion]

Thanks for saying that, it is much appreciated! And even though the season ended poorly, it is always easier to post about Boro during good(or slightly better, or slightly less sh*t, which sort of qualifies as good really) times.

I agree about playing Morsy, Saville and Howson. That should never, ever happen. If we're doing that then we may as well play Jepson up front and Warnock down the wing, just for a bit of pace. Morsy holding the fort while Tav plays forwards, maybe McNair getting up and down or someone else, a new signing, would be ideal for me I think.

I'd prefer to see Tavernier in the midfield.. but who are our front three? or who have been our front three? there's only so much Watmore can by himself up there.

Britt - we wanted rid, he wanted away and barely went through the motions.
Fletcher - injured and never got up to speed also wanted away
Akpom - started ok but was limited and didn't change his game to suit
Spence - struggled in a new role
Coulson - struggled in a new role
Mendez-Laing - never got out of the starting blocks really
Kebano - solid player and whipped some great balls in from the left.. no one there do put them away
Bolasie - flashes of brilliance, but we needed consistency
Johnson - always put a shift in, left wing back, left wing, underused as either one thing or the other

change them out for solid championship quality players and then see where we are. we were light in midfield (for playing three in the middle) and with Tavernier out we lost that edge that sets us apart. we can't do without tav imo for a promotion push.

 

[viv_andersons_nana]

I'd prefer to see Tavernier in the midfield.. but who are our front three? or who have been our front three? there's only so much Watmore can by himself up there.

Britt - we wanted rid, he wanted away and barely went through the motions.
Fletcher - injured and never got up to speed also wanted away
Akpom - started ok but was limited and didn't change his game to suit
Spence - struggled in a new role
Coulson - struggled in a new role
Mendez-Laing - never got out of the starting blocks really
Kebano - solid player and whipped some great balls in from the left.. no one there do put them away
Bolasie - flashes of brilliance, but we needed consistency
Johnson - always put a shift in, left wing back, left wing, underused as either one thing or the other

change them out for solid championship quality players and then see where we are. we were light in midfield (for playing three in the middle) and with Tavernier out we lost that edge that sets us apart. we can't do without tav imo for a promotion push.

The front three, ideally, would've probably been Fletcher heading it with two from Bolasie, Kebano, Watmore playing off him or out wide. Or maybe Morsy sitting, Tav ahead of it - McNair when Tav is injured, with Bolasie and Kebano out wide and Watmore playing as a 'loose 10' behind Fletcher. Fletcher's injury set us quite a bit because I think Warnock actually really liked him and would've used him. I think he lost trust in him after the match where he came off after about 10mins, was it Bristol City?

I also think Fletcher may have told Warnock he'd sign another contract and then changed his mind, hence the comments about players who shake your hand on something and then don't stick to it. That is just my hunch with Fletcher because Warnock put him back in the team for three straight games after injury but by the time he was back fit again his position seemed to have changed, even though we were actually even more desperate for a striker.

I still think you could bolt a good striker onto the squad that finished our season and we'd be just about top six.

 

[indeedido]

The front three, ideally, would've probably been Fletcher heading it with two from Bolasie, Kebano, Watmore playing off him or out wide. Or maybe Morsy sitting, Tav ahead of it - McNair when Tav is injured, with Bolasie and Kebano out wide and Watmore playing as a 'loose 10' behind Fletcher. Fletcher's injury set us quite a bit because I think Warnock actually really liked him and would've used him. I think he lost trust in him after the match where he came off after about 10mins, was it Bristol City?

I also think Fletcher may have told Warnock he'd sign another contract and then changed his mind, hence the comments about players who shake your hand on something and then don't stick to it. That is just my hunch with Fletcher because Warnock put him back in the team for three straight games after injury but by the time he was back fit again his position seemed to have changed, even though we were actually even more desperate for a striker.

I still think you could bolt a good striker onto the squad that finished our season and we'd be just about top six.

I simply can't agree with that last line Viv. We ended up a poor disjointed squad that still needs a major overhaul.
We had no strikers, poor goalkeepers, a plodding midfield, with insufficient defensive cover and flattered to deceive out wide.
We have the bones of a top 6 side with Fry, Bola, Dijskteel, Hall, Morsy, Tavernier and Watmore.
We need more quality and more cover.

 

[newyddion]

Saville along with McNair are now our 2 biggest earners. At 8mill he will be on a big wage, are we getting value for money for that wage and is he a guarenteed starter? No and No.

I would get rid too

sell to who and who do we bring in? it's not champ manager. saville is a quality championship midfielder

The front three, ideally, would've probably been Fletcher heading it with two from Bolasie, Kebano, Watmore playing off him or out wide. Or maybe Morsy sitting, Tav ahead of it - McNair when Tav is injured, with Bolasie and Kebano out wide and Watmore playing as a 'loose 10' behind Fletcher. Fletcher's injury set us quite a bit because I think Warnock actually really liked him and would've used him. I think he lost trust in him after the match where he came off after about 10mins, was it Bristol City?

I also think Fletcher may have told Warnock he'd sign another contract and then changed his mind, hence the comments about players who shake your hand on something and then don't stick to it. That is just my hunch with Fletcher because Warnock put him back in the team for three straight games after injury but by the time he was back fit again his position seemed to have changed, even though we were actually even more desperate for a striker.

I still think you could bolt a good striker onto the squad that finished our season and we'd be just about top six.

I'd agree this that 100% Fletcher was a massive miss for us this season. Add into that Kieffer Moore and we could have had a chance of going up imo

 

[indeedido]

sell to who and who do we bring in? it's not champ manager. saville is a quality championship midfielder

I'd agree this that 100% Fletcher was a massive miss for us this season. Add into that Kieffer Moore and we could have had a chance of going up imo

That first comment from you newy is a cracker given your endless lists. Saville is absolutely not a quality championship midfielder. Interestingly Warnock has never mentioned him.
Why on earth was Fletcher a miss? He's never done it for us, or anyone else.
We spent over £14m on that pair. We would not miss either of them and they were both stunningly bad buys.

 

[newyddion]

That first comment from you newy is a cracker given your endless lists. Saville is absolutely not a quality championship midfielder. Interestingly Warnock has never mentioned him.
Why on earth was Fletcher a miss? He's never done it for us, or anyone else.
We spent over £14m on that pair. We would not miss either of them and they were both stunningly bad buys.

thanks indeedidio always a pleasure. I like Saville what can I say. Fletcher scored 11 goals for us last season (under woodgate) our tow top scorers this season were Watmore with 9 and Saville with 6. Fletcher was a massive miss for us this season, even coming back from injury he had our highest goals per 90mins.

£14m doesn't come into it Monk massively over spent on players. £15m for Assombalonga only scored 5 for us this season. Fletcher scored 4 and Saville scored 6

I would have kept Fletcher and I think Warnock would have done too. I don't see any reason to get rid of Saville and folks need to stop using the £8m price tag as a stick to beat him with. £4m would have been about right imo

 

[indeedido]

Fletcher was a massive miss for us this season, even coming back from injury he had our highest goals per 90mins %age

Fletcher scored every 249 minutes he played and got 2.
Watmore scored every 207 minutes he played and got 9.

Fletcher came back from injury on 24th January. We kicked off 7th, 3 points off the play offs, with 39 points from 24 matches having scored 30 goals and conceded 20.
He is then available for 22 matches from which we take just 25 points and score 25 goals, conceding 33. He scores twice.
He played in just 2 of those first 24 matches from which we got a point and scored once.
In what world did we remotely miss Ashley Fletcher?

It is all about opinions. I just think you are being ridiculously kind about a player that doesn't warrant it.

 

[coluka]

Saville always has me thinking, exactly what is his purpose in the team

He pops up on occasion for a welcome goal here and there, true. In possession he looks comfortable on the ball when nobody is near him but the ball is usually a hot potato if an opponent is close by. He drifts around box to box like an empty crisp packet in a breeze occasionally taking one for the team with a pull back or mistimed challenge. Oh, he does that complainy face thing to the ref when he has been fouled I suppose.

In fairness to him, he has 4 assists too so as a midfielder he has been involved in 18% of our league goals, which sounds ok till you realise we only scored 55. He has apparently had 63 shots but only 16 were on target, not very impressive. As i said before, he is in his last year and we will need to recoup some monies from somewhere, we can’t let him walk for nowt like the others. Best we part as friends now for me.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

I simply can't agree with that last line Viv. We ended up a poor disjointed squad that still needs a major overhaul.
We had no strikers, poor goalkeepers, a plodding midfield, with insufficient defensive cover and flattered to deceive out wide.
We have the bones of a top 6 side with Fry, Bola, Dijskteel, Hall, Morsy, Tavernier and Watmore.
We need more quality and more cover.

They are the key players for me too, and if we're having to raise funds to strengthen the two we might get a few bob for but most easily replaceable would be Saville and McNair.

Saville hasn't produced a consistent performance of decent quality.

McNair strikes a ball well but too often found wanting in defence and immobile in midfield.

 

[newyddion]

Fletcher scored every 249 minutes he played and got 2.
Watmore scored every 207 minutes he played and got 9.

Fletcher came back from injury on 24th January. We kicked off 7th, 3 points off the play offs, with 39 points from 24 matches having scored 30 goals and conceded 20.
He is then available for 22 matches from which we take just 25 points and score 25 goals, conceding 33. He scores twice.
He played in just 2 of those first 24 matches from which we got a point and scored once.
In what world did we remotely miss Ashley Fletcher?

It is all about opinions. I just think you are being ridiculously kind about a player that doesn't warrant it.

Fletcher coming back from injury says a lot. Watmore is a much more effective player than Fletcher and scored more goals.
(Fletcher scored every 164 minutes he played and scored 4) - two appearances in the league cup and two goals.

We missed having strikers injured, lazy, deckchairs out whatever the case may be.. we missed goal scoring strikers. I'm not saying Fletcher is better than Watmore.. but had he not had been injured we would have had more points on the table.

 

[newyddion]

They are the key players for me too, and if we're having to raise funds to strengthen the two we might get a few bob for but most easily replaceable would be Saville and McNair.

Saville hasn't produced a consistent performance of decent quality.

McNair strikes a ball well but too often found wanting in defence and immobile in midfield.

Why take out two effective players from a successful core? McNair is better utilised in defence but he needs a solid defender next to him sure there are improvements that can be made as with any player.. but why throw the baby out with the bath water?

Easily replaceable? Go on then.. on top of all the other players we need to replace.. who do you bring in to replace McNair and Saville?

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Why take out two effective players from a successful core? McNair is better utilised in defence but he needs a solid defender next to him sure there are improvements that can be made as with any player.. but why throw the baby out with the bath water?

Easily replaceable? Go on then.. on top of all the other players we need to replace.. who do you bring in to replace McNair and Saville?

Successful core?

You must have missed the season just gone, our core wasn't successful at all.

 

[indeedido]

Why take out two effective players from a successful core? McNair is better utilised in defence but he needs a solid defender next to him sure there are improvements that can be made as with any player.. but why throw the baby out with the bath water?

Easily replaceable? Go on then.. on top of all the other players we need to replace.. who do you bring in to replace McNair and Saville?

I suggested Mowatt earlier, but it's not my job to recruit.
McNair plays well in defence with Fry. Otherwise he needs to play in a 3, he can't be the lead defender.
I'm not saying McNair is no good by the way, just he's no water walker. He's much better than Saville...and much more valuable.