Middlesbrough braced for summer in interest in Djed Spence

I'd actually be quite happy to loan him out somewhere if he could nail down a position.

There's still every chance he could come good, he's still only 20.
But right now, I'd not want him as a starter.
 
junos_boots said:
They had the Sessegnons coming through at the same time as Spence, which is why I guess they didn't see Spence getting enough games to justify a further contract
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well he was up against Steven Sessegnon at RB.

16/17 season for Fulham U18s, Djed played 8 games at RB, Steven Sessegnon played only 2. So Djed must have been ahead of him, forcing him to play CB and LB for most games

17/18 season, Djed played more games in total, more games at U"3s and more games at RB than Steven. Ryan was first team LB.

At this stage, Djed was ahead of Sessignon as a RB, undoubtedly. But, they let him go to us that summer.
 
bear66 said:
He was responsible for switching off at the far post a few months back, but there are 48 other goals we've conceded this season
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HE has largely played RM this season, so he will be less directly culpable for the goals, but, that doesn't mean his defending has improved, only that he has had less responsibility for defending in the red zone. Bizarrely having his defensive burden reduced hasn't allowed him to flourish from an attacking sense.
 
BoroMart said:
HE has largely played RM this season, so he will be less directly culpable for the goals, but, that doesn't mean his defending has improved, only that he has had less responsibility for defending in the red zone. Bizarrely having his defensive burden reduced hasn't allowed him to flourish from an attacking sense.
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27 year old Fisher has had two good games since he arrived. I distrust his defensive abilities more.
 
TeaCider said:
Because I've got nothing better to do today, I'll go through every goal that we've conceded which Spence has been partly at fault for.

Against Swansea, he lazily closes down his man, and then watches as the ball is passed to Dhanda, who runs off and scores.
Against Preston, for the second goal he fails to block a slow ball rolling past him, it's picked up by a Preston player who passes it to Scott Sinclair who runs on and scores, he could also have closed down Sinclair after his intial mistake. This is a game he was actually playing as a right back too, so it's less excusable.
Against Blackburn, he wanders off and leaves his original man to start marking Rothwell, disrupting our other players marking and then completely leaves him anyway to allow him to run in for a tap in.
Against Rotherham, very loosely marks Crooks to allow him a free shot from the edge of the box.
Against Swansea he deflects their opener past Bettinelli, though I don't blame him for this one whatsoever, Howson and Bola were at fault for this one.
Against Millwall, demands the ball off Akpom and immediately loses it as he paid no attention to the player behind him, they break away, the ball is in the back of our net 5 seconds later.

There's 5 goals he's been at fault for this season, plus one where he's unfortunate. These are just the ones that actually led to goals too, he's made plenty of mistakes that haven't.
Now, for most of these goals you can excuse it as he's playing as an attacking player, but then there's absolutely no contribution up the other end of the pitch to balance it out.
He's only started 21 games this season and he's spent a lot of the second half of the season on the bench, so I think 5 goals is fairly significant.

He ia far from the only player to make mistakes leading to goals, before someone again comes in with "what about when McNair or Howson did this", and I'm not trying to pretend he is and there are other players who share culpability for some of these goals.

If he's going to be an attacking player, he should be scoring and assisting. I think there's only Dijksteel of the regular starters who's been involved in fewer goals.
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You could make a case for a number of players being at fault for up to 5 goals. Howson, McNair, Hall before he was out injured, even Bola. Its a team game and errors are not always down to one man but I will have a look at those you mention.

Against Swansea, he lazily closes down his man, and then watches as the ball is passed to Dhanda, who runs off and scores. Dhanda who turned Morsy inside out to get his shot in. I'll give you that Spence lazily closed down his man but there was a lot do after that.
Against Preston, for the second goal he fails to block a slow ball rolling past him, it's picked up by a Preston player who passes it to Scott Sinclair who runs on and scores, he could also have closed down Sinclair after his intial mistake. This is a game he was actually playing as a right back too, so it's less excusable. Agreed his attempt to control the ball was poor. What was also poor was Fry's attempt to get up to speed which gave time for Sinclair to get his shot in.
Against Blackburn, he wanders off and leaves his original man to start marking Rothwell, disrupting our other players marking and then completely leaves him anyway to allow him to run in for a tap in. You can make a case for a number of errors here. Yes Spence left his man but went to the goalscorer and then let him go. McNair should have cut out the ball out wide, Bola should not let him get the cross in but the real culprit HERE'S JOHNNY. Howson who wasn't aware and let the goalscorer go past him and score.
Against Rotherham, very loosely marks Crooks to allow him a free shot from the edge of the box. Wasn't marking anyone there for me. Very poor. Ball dropped to Crooks and Howson, who also wasn't marking anybody but was closest player to the goalscorer, came to close him down but stuck a leg out and turned his back on Crooks.
Against Swansea he deflects their opener past Bettinelli, though I don't blame him for this one whatsoever, Howson and Bola were at fault for this one. And Bolasie for giving away a free kick in a dangerous area.
Against Millwall, demands the ball off Akpom and immediately loses it as he paid no attention to the player behind him, they break away, the ball is in the back of our net 5 seconds later. He asked for the ball of Akpom agreed, however he delayed playing it and not where Spence had "demanded" it and Spence was closed down and lost the ball. This was 20 yards outside of the Millwall penalty area. Wallace received the ball in his own half and ran forward with Howson alongside of him but without him ever putting in a challenge. He outpaced Howson and crossed where Hall turned it into his own net.
 
I remember scouting at the screen pass it! Pass it! NOT NOW **** SAKE! for that last one. Totally akpoms fault and one of the reasons we were so **** in attack. He ignores the quality run from Spence and rather than putting him in dithers until the chance is gone. His defensive pass then puts Spence under pressure we lose it and they score. The number of times we miss OBVIOUS forward balls is ridiculous. That's a clip I would use on a training video as it so perfectly sums up how failing to play forward can come back to bite you on the ****.
 
TeaCider said:
Because I've got nothing better to do today, I'll go through every goal that we've conceded which Spence has been partly at fault for.

Against Swansea, he lazily closes down his man, and then watches as the ball is passed to Dhanda, who runs off and scores.
Against Preston, for the second goal he fails to block a slow ball rolling past him, it's picked up by a Preston player who passes it to Scott Sinclair who runs on and scores, he could also have closed down Sinclair after his intial mistake. This is a game he was actually playing as a right back too, so it's less excusable.
Against Blackburn, he wanders off and leaves his original man to start marking Rothwell, disrupting our other players marking and then completely leaves him anyway to allow him to run in for a tap in.
Against Rotherham, very loosely marks Crooks to allow him a free shot from the edge of the box.
Against Swansea he deflects their opener past Bettinelli, though I don't blame him for this one whatsoever, Howson and Bola were at fault for this one.
Against Millwall, demands the ball off Akpom and immediately loses it as he paid no attention to the player behind him, they break away, the ball is in the back of our net 5 seconds later.

There's 5 goals he's been at fault for this season, plus one where he's unfortunate. These are just the ones that actually led to goals too, he's made plenty of mistakes that haven't.
Now, for most of these goals you can excuse it as he's playing as an attacking player, but then there's absolutely no contribution up the other end of the pitch to balance it out.
He's only started 21 games this season and he's spent a lot of the second half of the season on the bench, so I think 5 goals is fairly significant.

He ia far from the only player to make mistakes leading to goals, before someone again comes in with "what about when McNair or Howson did this", and I'm not trying to pretend he is and there are other players who share culpability for some of these goals.

If he's going to be an attacking player, he should be scoring and assisting. I think there's only Dijksteel of the regular starters who's been involved in fewer goals.
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QPR too which Warnock called him out for post-match. So 6
 
Watford as well - watch the replays - twice just walks out slowly, the second of which played the scorer on. Admittedly I think it was Fisher was behind him, but he had been getting up from being injured so at least had an excuse.
 
asredastheycome said:
Last season people on here would have got rid of Fry. So just shows you have to stick with the young kids as long as possible.
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No it shows people on here are a bit daft. Fry's attitude has always been first class and his quality has been there to see since he was 17. He's made mistakes but he's always shown a willingness to learn and improve.

I'm not convinced you can say the same about Spence and our last two managers have questioned Spence's attitude both to apply himself and to listen.

Plus he's itching to get back to London, so I'd be inclined to let him go. Not saying I'd give him away for peanuts but if a decent offer of a couple of million come in I'd accept it.
 
Tricky. Got an attitude for sure but not a bad thing of channelled right. Talented lad i think we just haven’t seen it often enough partly because I think he knows he can do better than Middlesbrough FC. If he was in a better team with better talent he’d either switch on or get found out. Would like to keep him and see him kick on but realistically, its a no win situation for us because we wont get that much for him and he’ll probably go on and reach his potential somewhere else
 
Thinking this through I think it's highly likely this story has been planted by his agent. Probably been told he's free to leave in the Summer and trying to drum up some interest?
 
talented no doubt, however needs to have application & willing to listen, learn & play for the team - above all else.

Big post-season of rebuilding so funds will be needed from somewhere - no magic money trees on Teesside..
 
It's a gamble letting any young player leave, but Spence is the sort where you feel it's a bigger gamble than usual, because he has the raw materials to be a top level player.

Problem is sounds like his head isn't particularly well screwed on and there's a fair chance it goes the other way and he doesn't even make it as a championship player.

Tough call then deciding what fee would be "too good to turn down". Given the financial position, you'd think it'd be anything over £3m (maybe less in the current climate). That's probably a reasonable risk for a prem team to take on someone who might be worth nothing in a couple of years. Harder for a championship team to gamble on that money, unless they're pretty certain he's going to make. And sounds like we're not.
 
I’d be looking to develop him as a forward player, through the middle. He’s got ability and his instincts seem good, but I agree he often looks confused and unsure whether to stick or twist.
He could do a year in league 1 with a good coaching set up and come back a real asset.
Big sell-on clause if we do cash in now should be easy to negotiate
 
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