Grade our season thus far

It's hard to rate a race when it's only half done. Worth remembering we're in exactly the same position at this point than we were at this point last season. Same points, same position in table. Exactly the same.
We'll probably strengthen in January like we did last year too.
 
C ... we are an average team... with an average squad.... in an average position in the league table....

The league after 22 games doesn't lie, yes we have injuries, but when we had a near full squad it was still average..

Hackney has played 16 of our 22 league games, we won 7 of them games and drew 3, 43% win ratio with him in the team (average), yet some on
here think he is the missing link to why our form has been up and down! it's been up and down all season.. with and without him and others in the team

We didn't win our first league game until 23rd September, our 8th match, and we almost had a full squad to pick from for them 8 games.
 
C
24 games to go. We need to get 2 points per game from them to hit the play-offs
January recruitment will be important in being able to do that. Getting long term injuries like McGree, Forss and O'Brien back also will be
 
C - Pretty much where I expected us to be start of the season, would have been a D but after the start we had where it looked like we might genuinely be fighting relegation, it’s a pleasant change to be relatively comfortable.
 
Well , we are not Walking in the Air for sure.. but neither are we Little Donkey , so we sort of a Oh little town of Middlesbrough how still we see thee lie ( six points off the playoffs ) . I do fear we could have a bleak mid winter in Jan with more of those I words and players away etc but thats for next half term
 
C
Bang average. Mid table... win, lose, win, lose...
Will only make better progress if learn from mistakes (improve defence).
Nothing to get excited about.
 
C+ We are still in the hunt for the playoffs in the quatre finals of the league cup with a big chance of a semi final. That for the squad turnover in the summer and the injuries we've had is good going. Require a decent janaury in recuritment to strengthen the side then hopefully we push on for a playoff spot and make a good go at getting to the league cup final where anything could happen
 
C+ for me, the plus being for the League Cup Quarter Final.

Middlesbrough have all the attributes to be a decent side, but are prone to lapses in concentration which has shown in the mixed bag of results this term. A little more application after Christmas and I don’t see why they can’t challenge for the play offs.
 
The halfway point is actually after Saturday's game with West Brom. If we've won our next two games then we'll be in a cup semi final and probably 3 points off the play offs, that'd be a good solid B. Maybe even a B+ everything considered.
If we've lost both those games, it's a huge opportunity missed and probably 9 points off the play offs. D minus.😄
Big week coming up!
 
10/10

More of the same as last season please..
after 23 games last season we were on 30 points

Our recruitment has been fantastic.. truly fantastic, we’ve managed to replace EVERYTHING from last season with the January transfer window still to come!

The loss of Smith and Lenihan have obviously had an impact.. but we’ve covered well.
Hopefully we will have McGree, Forss & O’Brien back next month.

Carricks unwavering confidence and consistency will be our key to success.. although it does sometimes look he is inflexible or too slow to react. He is not a reactive manager.. slow blunt force trauma of a better plan tuned to perfection.

The cost was early on in the season to get the ball rolling yet the result has been seen with players coming into the team to cover for injury or suspension.

A difference we have seen from last season is that we have one run away team.. this season it looks like we’ve got three.. so perhaps a bigger gap between the top three and the rest of the table. We have been in a false position imo and West Brom have injuries on the horizon, Sunderland have dropped a clanger moving Mogga on, Watford are the perennial unstable mable.. Norwich don’t have the chips and neither do Blackburn.

Chip away, keep calm and Carrick on.

Prediction:

Leicester 100+
Ipswich 90+
—————————-
3rd Leeds 85+
4th Southampton 80+
5th Hull 75+
6th Boro 75 points

Full strength Boro vs Leeds over two legs..
I feel like a younger Boro side could have the edge. I like the look of Hull and have perhaps bolstered them beyond a sensible prediction.. much like Ipswich I think momentum can carry them on.. past Southampton would be another question.

Boro vs Hull playoff final?

UTB!
 
Probably a C.
We set out on (yet another) 180 degree turn and massively overhauled our squad with punts and prospects. That kind of thing usually leads to a mid-table finish and that's what it looks like we're heading for.

Carrick has struggled to cope with this level of churn but it is notable quite a few clubs brought in as many (or more) players as us and they mostly struggling. Coventry, Stoke (19 players in), Swansea (14), Sheffield Wed, Sunderland, Birmingham have all bought in at least 12 players. You can argue that bringing in that many while losing so many huge players for the club gave Carrick the biggest challenge in the league.

The quality of recruitment is still uncertain and our best patches have tended to be when we could largely rely on our old guard. The massive influx did us no favours but, reading between the lines, everything about this season seems geared around building for the future while hoping to squeeze by this season. Golden Thread the sequel. Overall, that means we won't really be able to grade this season until we see how well it has achieved its (unstated) goals for next season.
 
I think it's probably a C. Maybe a C+ for the cup run.

Given the players we've lost in the summer and the injuries we've sustained, I'm fine with that.

And while the quality of some of the content of the exam paper is inconsistent and littered with errors, it's been a far more enjoyable read than most others I've seen.
 
I 'd go for a C considering the majority of the new signings were unproven at this level and have probably appeared more than expected.With a bit of defensive recruitment in January I'd be happy to keep in touch with the playoff pack and hope we can put a decent run of results together towards the end of the season and get into the play offs as a side in form,
 
C.

Got the feel of a rebuild season, the new players will benefit from a full season in the Championship with, hopefully, a real crack next year.

Unless we get some real quality in January (will we use the loan system we have been trying hard to avoid......?) can expect more of the same. Few wins, few draws, look like world beaters then look like relegation fodder.

Or we sign 3-4 quality players and have a second half to the season like last year......... 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️
 
We’re very similar to where we were at this stage last season, reflected in our points total. Only this year we have our best players to come back from injury and a January transfer window on the horizon. I honestly don’t understand the negativity from some. It’s very tiring.

It’s a long season and, as we experienced last year, it’s about how you finish. I think we peaked quite early last season.

I’m very confident about this squad of players and this coach. I would say we’re a B-, C+ when you pull it all together - that’s the drastic overhaul of the squad, the age of the squad, the cup run, the closeness to the top six, the comparison with the same stage last season, the injuries.

I think there’s a real opportunity for this team to grow and develop together and really push on in the second half of the season.
 
Last edited:
Nano said:
D. We're in the bottom half and 6 points off the playoffs. Massive backwards step from last season and even at full strength we're not capable of matching last season's team.

Can't believe everyone is being so positive. We're well below expectations.
Click to expand...
We have the same number of points that we had at the same stage last season - however we have no Akpom and an injury ravaged squad, so depending on how you want to view things from here we are in a weaker position, on paper at least. If we can stay in touch with top six till the window an get one or two new players in plus most of the injured back then who knows
 
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