uncle_rico
Well-known member
We lacked squad depth last season and Carrick, Scott and Gibson will all know that. Hopefully something that will be addressed this summer.
I'm going to put my football neck on the line
- Thread starter alvez_49
- Start date
Scrug
Well-known member
Big job isn’t it? Have to either re-sign or replace Giles, Archer, Ramsay, Steffan, Mowatt, Muniz and potentially Chuba to have the same squad-depth at least, even if the latter of those didn’t feature too frequently.
Funky_Chicken
Well-known member
No point making predictions like this until we see who comes and goes in my honest opinion
Simply red
Well-known member
I predict we will be pleasantly surprised 
dooderooni
Well-known member
We have Carrick, we have a mindset to attack, we have a re-engaged fanbase. In fact we have plenty of positives going for us right now and I'm sure whoever we get in will benefit from all the above and perform.
Not going to be daft and say we'll be top 2, but we'll be there or thereabouts.
Not going to be daft and say we'll be top 2, but we'll be there or thereabouts.
Simply red
Well-known member
The Carrick pull will be key , and Steve Gibson 's backing .
I live in hope . UTB
TeaCider
Well-known member
We were up to 5th before we'd even signed Archer or Ramsey.
I think Steffen and Giles are a loss, but we've got plenty of scope for improvement and I'm hoping for another entertaining season.
Even if it ends without promotion again, last season was incredibly entertaining for large parts of it and I'd quite happily experience something similar again.
I think Steffen and Giles are a loss, but we've got plenty of scope for improvement and I'm hoping for another entertaining season.
Even if it ends without promotion again, last season was incredibly entertaining for large parts of it and I'd quite happily experience something similar again.
Ebor
Well-known member
A bit previous this thread!
I have a good feeling for next season, best for a long while. And it's mainly to do with having MC for another season. I think everyone is behind him more than any other manager since Aitor
We've got loads of gaps and no idea if any of last seasons loans will come back or not. But for the first time in quite a long while I trust the judgement of the manager and the recruitment team. It's always a difficult season with the parachute lot, but Leeds & Southampton are beatable, so it's game on.
I'm more excited around proper signings than loans, but both will be interesting
Hopefully happy days!
I have a good feeling for next season, best for a long while. And it's mainly to do with having MC for another season. I think everyone is behind him more than any other manager since Aitor
We've got loads of gaps and no idea if any of last seasons loans will come back or not. But for the first time in quite a long while I trust the judgement of the manager and the recruitment team. It's always a difficult season with the parachute lot, but Leeds & Southampton are beatable, so it's game on.
I'm more excited around proper signings than loans, but both will be interesting
Hopefully happy days!
I agree
Towards the end of last season I believe teams started to suss out how we play and it showed . Bullying us off the ball and playing very physical seems to work well on us. It feels like the start of the last season , we supposedly were going to make a big push with wilder which didn’t materialise. Our form nose dived 2 seasons ago under wilder like it did with Carrick last season. So the warning signs are there
I’m also not bothered if akpom leaves either . 10 million even I would snap your hand off for given he’s been ***** apart from one season with us , people here were desperate to sell him before . Plus he’s nearing 30 so little resale value left
Towards the end of last season I believe teams started to suss out how we play and it showed . Bullying us off the ball and playing very physical seems to work well on us. It feels like the start of the last season , we supposedly were going to make a big push with wilder which didn’t materialise. Our form nose dived 2 seasons ago under wilder like it did with Carrick last season. So the warning signs are there
I’m also not bothered if akpom leaves either . 10 million even I would snap your hand off for given he’s been ***** apart from one season with us , people here were desperate to sell him before . Plus he’s nearing 30 so little resale value left
MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
The one big plus point for recruitment this summer is there is a clear philosophy for the team in terms of mentality, ability and type of football.
That narrows down potential transfer targets straight away.
So (I'm hoping!) there will be a clear strategy and focus on who we will be bringing in, instead of a scatter gun approach we have seen at times over the years.
That narrows down potential transfer targets straight away.
So (I'm hoping!) there will be a clear strategy and focus on who we will be bringing in, instead of a scatter gun approach we have seen at times over the years.
LaPennaBianca
Well-known member
Seems mad to be so doom and gloom when the start of season is still 7 weeks away.
I fancy us to recruit well and hit the ground running. But I'm an incurable optimist.
I fancy us to recruit well and hit the ground running. But I'm an incurable optimist.
MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
Nero
Well-known member
Boro played a style between November and April that if replicated next season will be enough to finish top 6 again.
Much depends on recruitment but Gibson and the club will know this already. What is the point in having a DOF if plans for promotion, or another Championship season were not already in place. I suspect discussion with Aston Villa regarding Archer and Ramsey have been done. Much will depend on who Villa bring in for their own squad, as I could see them wanting Ramsey and Archer for the Conference League especially (which has a quota for home grown players).
Much depends on recruitment but Gibson and the club will know this already. What is the point in having a DOF if plans for promotion, or another Championship season were not already in place. I suspect discussion with Aston Villa regarding Archer and Ramsey have been done. Much will depend on who Villa bring in for their own squad, as I could see them wanting Ramsey and Archer for the Conference League especially (which has a quota for home grown players).
MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
Very true - ball is in Villas court and we will be waiting for a call (or not).
You would hope we have a cut off date, and we look elsewhere, so that we aren't scrambling around in 5 weeks time.
LaPennaBianca
Well-known member
You can't analyse a probability as it isn't a thing.
You've just asserted we'll have a bad window and that Chuba will have a worse impact. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but it's not rooted in fact.
It's a pessimistic interpretation of what may happen i.e doom and gloom.
Scrug
Well-known member
I agree 100% with the OP
I spent the first 20 years of my Boro supporting life being optimistic about every game and every season.
I then realised - it was doing my head in so firk that….
The last 35 years have been much better for my wellbeing
That’s entirely the problem with this board, as soon as someone suggests a different (and let’s face it more realistic viewpoint based on you know, Boro being Boro) they’re instantly labelled as a bed wetter and shot down by the ultra macho blind optimists.
So far the best I've seen from the optimists is 'Because Carrick' , 'Its the championship anything can happen' and 'Carrick has pull with players' super.
Essentially let's just completely forget the final furlong of the season where Carrick himself made some boggling decisions as our form disintegrated.
Let's ignore Leeds, Leicester and Southampton all being massive clubs.
Let's ignore Wednesday, Ipswich and Plymouth being pretty massive clubs (ok Plymouth is a stretch I'll give that).
But it's not all doom and gloom!
If we are realistic about expectations we can mould the coaching setup this year make one or two permanent first team signings that actually work and then make a good go of it the season after when hopefully the big boys have been promoted and Luton and the dross comes down.
Essentially let's just completely forget the final furlong of the season where Carrick himself made some boggling decisions as our form disintegrated.
Let's ignore Leeds, Leicester and Southampton all being massive clubs.
Let's ignore Wednesday, Ipswich and Plymouth being pretty massive clubs (ok Plymouth is a stretch I'll give that).
But it's not all doom and gloom!
If we are realistic about expectations we can mould the coaching setup this year make one or two permanent first team signings that actually work and then make a good go of it the season after when hopefully the big boys have been promoted and Luton and the dross comes down.