Jonny Howson

Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
That's Leadbitter too. He was great because of the players around him. Those responsible for giving us that extra bit after failing in the play offs.
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I think the difference with Leadbitter is he was a leader and he was vocal and it was visible and got the crowd going. The fact he was a mackem but was clearly Boro through and through made him connect with the fans better.

Howson is a different kind of person and you don't even notice he's there. Seems like a really nice bloke but he's a lead by example type leader rather than a natural leader.

Leadbitter was also a regular goal scorer and he definitely did do spectacular things, like that free kick Vs Huddersfield. Top it off with winning promotion and being half of the best midfield in the league he is way ahead of Howson.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
Howson falls into the Robbie Mustoe bracket.
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I like Jonny but he’s nowhere near Mustoe imo. He played about 400 games for us over ten years and you’d say around three quarters of them were in the top flight. He was streets ahead of Howson.

Nothing against Jonny, I think he’s been good for us, really good at times, but a way off people like Mustoe.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
I like Jonny but he’s nowhere near Mustoe imo.
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I think you need to read my comparison again.

My comparison is that a lot of fans didn't really appreciate the amount of work Robbie did both on and off the ball and feel Howson is a very similar player. He tends to do the dirty work to allow others to take the glory. I wouldn't say Howson is as good as Mustoe (who is one of my favourite all time Boro players), but he (Howson) certainly doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I think you need to read my comparison again.

My comparison is that a lot of fans didn't really appreciate the amount of work Robbie did both on and off the ball and feel Howson is a very similar player. He tends to do the dirty work to allow others to take the glory. I wouldn't say Howson is as good as Mustoe (who is one of my favourite all time Boro players), but he (Howson) certainly doesn't get the plaudits he deserves.
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Apologies, was only responding to your initial post and hadn’t seen your later one. A lesson in why reading the whole thread before posting on it is important.
 
Nano said:
I think the difference with Leadbitter is he was a leader and he was vocal and it was visible and got the crowd going. The fact he was a mackem but was clearly Boro through and through made him connect with the fans better.

Howson is a different kind of person and you don't even notice he's there. Seems like a really nice bloke but he's a lead by example type leader rather than a natural leader.

Leadbitter was also a regular goal scorer and he definitely did do spectacular things, like that free kick Vs Huddersfield. Top it off with winning promotion and being half of the best midfield in the league he is way ahead of Howson.
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For me they weren't the best midfield in the division at the time but were surrounded by better players.

I know what you're saying about the way he connected with the fans but that doesn't make him a legend to me. He wouldn't be in my top 20 midfield players that I've seen play for the Boro.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.
 
I think the parameters for what makes a player a legend are different for clubs of our level, can't really hinge it on what he achieved, because ultimately as a club we aren't likely to really be achieving much. For me he's up there, been with us for ages now, can always rely on him, he's always there, he sacrifices himself for the good of the team in filling in different positions all over the pitch like at right back and centre back, and doesn't really put a foot wrong when he does so. He's an absolute first class model professional as well. Just quietly goes about his business gets on with the job, plays well, makes a big difference for us, and never makes a fuss about anything. I think he's a different type of leader to Leadbitter, but no less a leader.
 
The Disciple said:
A model pro - he ran things in that first half. Pleased he got the winner after having the pen saved, and the togetherness in the whole camp was clear to see in the celebrations afterwards
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The togetherness of the squad is key, its easy for fans to pick holes in team selections etc but the management go on infor.ation from the medical teams, players contributions in training to pick what they feel right on the day, no players look to be sulking and they all appear to be playing for the team and doing the best they can even when having a bad day, ex. Greenwood, Fry, Jones, silvera have all come under scrutiny but are still going out there and giving the best they can, team morale is massive in sport and with injured players to come back to boost so tired legs and possible one or two transfers who knows what the outcome of this season my be, UTB
 
It took me a while to warm to Howson. We initially thought we'd signed a box-to-box goalscoring midfielder, but he was putting in underwhelming performances during his first season here.

I can still remember him getting pelters on here for "hiding" in the 2nd leg playoff semi-final vs Villa. Seems mad looking back on it now.

Ever since that difficult first season he's done well for us and he's been a great servant, although I do agree with others that he probably does need to actually win something before he can be considered as a legend.
 
I don't think Howson was an instant hit when we signed him from Norwich but look what he has developed into. He has worked hard for the club, kept himself fit and at 35 is still first name on the team sheet.

#UTB
 
parmoboy said:
It took me a while to warm to Howson. We initially thought we'd signed a box-to-box goalscoring midfielder, but he was putting in underwhelming performances during his first season here.

I can still remember him getting pelters on here for "hiding" in the 2nd leg playoff semi-final vs Villa. Seems mad looking back on it now.

Ever since that difficult first season he's done well for us and he's been a great servant, although I do agree with others that he probably does need to actually win something before he can be considered as a legend.
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I rated him in that season. Like you say, he wasn’t what we thought we had signed but that can’t be his fault.

300 games at such a consistent level qualifies him as a legend for me. Many see Friend as a legend, this guy is streets ahead.
 
Paulroddam7 said:
I rated him in that season. Like you say, he wasn’t what we thought we had signed but that can’t be his fault.

300 games at such a consistent level qualifies him as a legend for me. Many see Friend as a legend, this guy is streets ahead.
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I think if I remember rightly he did improve after Pulis came in. Monk chopped and changed the team game by game, so it's not surprising players found it difficult to find some form in hindsight.
 
The funny thing is, this is on track to be his best goalscoring season since he signed for us, and he's barely taken a shot all season.

I'm convinced he wouldn't have even tried to shoot from that corner if he hadn't just had his penalty saved seconds earlier.

He's on 2 at the halfway point, which is already better than 5 of the 6 previous seasons he's been here.
 
TeaCider said:
The funny thing is, this is on track to be his best goalscoring season since he signed for us, and he's barely taken a shot all season.

I'm convinced he wouldn't have even tried to shoot from that corner if he hadn't just had his penalty saved seconds earlier.

He's on 2 at the halfway point, which is already better than 5 of the 6 previous seasons he's been here.
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Scored in the cup too so 3 for the season
 
Like a fine wine. I'm not sure how he does it? The demands of playing in CM week in week out in the champo is unforgiving. Especially at 35.

Hes never injured and hardly misses a match. In fact he's hardly ever substituted and plays the majority of times for 90mins.

He has been on a one year rolling contract for 3 years now. In all that time we've been saying 'we need to sign a longterm replacement for Howson'. We still haven't. The fact is on his day he's still our best and most consistent CM. That incudes Hackney. Who must be learning so much from him.

Hes had a few midfield masterclasses over the last couple of years. I remember his performance against spurs. Yet he's just consistent.

Oh and let's not forget the fact he's played at RB / CB and not looked out of place in either position.

I see absolutely no reason why he won't be signing another year. Carrick loves him and he's still keeping up high standards and consistent performances.

He will get a new deal. We will once again think it's his final swang song and play 15-25 times as we've signed someone 'better'. Yet fully expect him to still play 40 times next season 😂. You'd even keep him if we went up. You can't just move on that much experience.

He's been a terrific signing. One of very few from the money no object times. Legend? I'm not sure. Yet nearly 300 appearances should qualify you for plenty of recognition.

I mean some say Juninho is a 'legend'. Around half the appearances and left when we were relegated. An iconic signing that kick started our glory years. Yet I've never thought 'legend'. The likes of Mogga and many of that 86 squad are far more deserving of such acolades in my opinion.

I loved Robbie Mustoe. He's was a stunning signing for the price. A fantastic servent who saw off many bigger and more expensive names signed to replace him. Howson is very similar. Very unassuming and just gets on with the job. Very hard to replace.
 
Could we have a list of other Legends so we can compare and contrast and bicker... The one and only reason we are still in contention for the play offs and probably why we haven't slipped into Div.1
Holds it together when everything is falling apart.
Legend for me!
 
S7DiscoDown said:
Hes never injured and hardly misses a match. In fact he's hardly ever substituted and plays the majority of times for 90mins.
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All of this 100%, I was speaking about this at the match last weekend, what is he doing different off the field to other players, routine/habits as to be performing and playing the amount of minutes is credit to him.
 
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