The most woeful, inept, “performance” since Michael Carrick took charge.

[Jedi boro]

Not for Crooks it isn’t. He is doing a job. He is an employee effectively, and has been offered a fantastic opportunity. Carrick clearly understands that and so does the club.

He’s a professional footballer he’s not doing us a favour.

 

[Merlin]

Heres my prediction we will sign a few good signings early on lifting the mood amongst fans but struggle and miss out on that elusive top striker then just before deadline we will lose Hackney or vdb to unexpected bid and wont have a plan for a replacement because its such an unexpected event other clubs want your top players. Season starts 3 or 4 player short and we finish outside the play offs again. Carrick leaves

You’re suffering from long Boro fan syndrome - watch the Juninho highlights vid on YouTube, read Doom To Boom followed by listening to the Perfecto Allstarz mix of Papas Got A Brand New Pigbag on high volume, repeat three times a day for two weeks and you’ll be right as rain again

 

[Nero]

It is nonsense.

Clubs can and do refuse moves all the time.

To claim they can't is nonsense.

Crooks wanting a move is no issue whatsoever, but the club didn't need to sanction it.
They've just decided that they'd sooner make a profit on a 30 year old player whilst the offer is there.

They’ve decided to listen to a player who fancies the move. Exactly the same as the Rogers situation.

 

[TeaCider]

They’ve decided to listen to a player who fancies the move. Exactly the same as the Rogers situation.

Yes, I'm aware.

But they were under no obligation to do so, they just fancied the money and thought it outweighed keeping the player.

It's daft to pretend that it's only because the player wanted to leave that they've left.

If Villa had only offered £5m for Rogers, but he was throwing a massive strop about wanting to leave, he would still be here, because the club wouldn't see the financial value in selling.

We've made a significant profit on Crooks, over twice what we paid for him 3 years ago, that's why he's going, not because he really wants to go to America and the club are powerless to stop him.

 

[Nero]

Yes, I'm aware.

But they were under no obligation to do so, they just fancied the money and thought it outweighed keeping the player.

It's daft to pretend that it's only because the player wanted to leave that they've left.

If Villa had only offered £5m for Rogers, but he was throwing a massive strop about wanting to leave, he would still be here, because the club wouldn't see the financial value in selling.

We've made a significant profit on Crooks, over twice what we paid for him 3 years ago, that's why he's going, not because he really wants to go to America and the club are powerless to stop him.

It’s a deal that suits everyone. The clubs makes money, Crooks gets to take up a really good opportunity. No hard feelings. He will leave with the best wishes of everyone. He has been a good player for Boro.

 

[Jedi boro]

We've made a significant profit on Crooks, over twice what we paid for him 3 years ago

Where did you see this as I’ve only seen considerable sum but no numbers

 

[Diego]

It’s a deal that suits everyone. The clubs makes money, Crooks gets to take up a really good opportunity. No hard feelings. He will leave with the best wishes of everyone. He has been a good player for Boro.

I get what you are saying but the timing doesn’t suit us. Especially after the Rogers sale.

The money is good I agree but for me it’s just a shame about the timing. In the summer it will look a better decision than it does right now maybe.

 

[mercury_redstone7]

It's a funny old game football, Crooks leaving is now an issue yet half the fan base has been divided on him for sometime saying he offers very little yet when we are beaten both him and Dijksteel are now the answer, however I do like both players for clarity.

Crooks leaving is probably for family reasons and what I seeing offer in America, granted the timing isn't great but if we make a profit on a player who in the summer has a year left on his extended contract and most not to long ago where happy to move on would be good Financial business for the club.

Its as if we are gearing up for a big summer again but I am more bother about the here and now.

Yesterday was very poor and players had an off day to which the heckles from the crowd didn't help as we are not as a group leaders and I struggle to see of the 11 on the pitch yesterday who would grab the game by the throat and that attitude is definitely need in sport if you want to be successful.

As for Carrick and his team selection there where question marks over playing Hackney out of position but he's done it previously and am sure Hackney has 4 goals to his name and should of put us 1 nil up early in the game yesterday bit he was and has been off his game for a few weeks although looked a little better second half.

Mcgree - maybe he just wasn't quite ready he has only been a sub at the Asian Cup.

Azaz - granted things haven't started great and fans around me are already slagging him but I see different things a player who can recieve the ball on the half turn like to go forward with it and but for bad finishing would of had a goal and a couple of assists since he's been here but another who needs to work on his defensive duties.

Barlaser had a mare in the main but also still played some excellent balls forward but I agree if you want to be top six he just isn't good enough but can be a good back up player.

Obrien well of the pace and to be expected for start in six months I think.

Glover some good saves but looked very shakey.

Ayling some have said he was poor I thought his interchange and delivery was one of the positives from yesterday although I do wish dijksteel could apply himself and cement the rb spot as he has all the attributes to be a good championship player.

Defensively as a team we are so poor the first goal a centre half just runs through the centre of the pitch rav gets pulled over for some reason engel plays his man on side but then his defensive positional sense is very poor and they score he almost gets in glovers way, whole hearted player but another in engel who lacks confidence and am still not convinced he is the answer for a team challenging although he has showed glimpses when he gets forward that he can deliver and play but Defensively I think very poor.

Second goal Hackney bad pass behind obrien but then the midfielder is allowed to run and shout someone has to come out make a foul anything to stop the shot, the goals we concede are so poor from an overall team defensive structure which is a major issue.

Positives are we still made a lot of half chance, Hackney, obrien x2 which he should of done better, Greenwood x2 was he offside and should of went round the keeper and slotted plus a few saves from there keeper but our finishing aswell as defending isn't good enough which will leave us hanging on to the tails of the top 6 and then fall away at a canter, yesterday felt like an end of season atmosphere yet there is still so much to play for.

Another big re build in the summer!

Loans
Obrien
Ayling
Greenwood
Thomas

Out of contract
Smith
Howson
Mcnair
Ayling

Potential sales
Hackney
Rav if the money is right
Mcgree only a year left and something just doesn't seem right.

I hope recruitment are working in the free agent market and lining things up now similar to a leadbitter free transfer or Lenihan

Great post, I really enjoyed reading your points and the reasoned thoughts. You should do more of it.

 

[Nero]

I get what you are saying but the timing doesn’t suit us. Especially after the Rogers sale.

The money is good I agree but for me it’s just a shame about the timing. In the summer it will look a better decision than it does right now maybe.

Without a doubt it’s not great timing. I actually think Crooks has been one of our most consistent players this season too. Him leaving is a loss.

It just seems to me Boro have understood it from both sides. Good people leave places of work all the time. For Crooks and his family, this is probably an opportunity that might not be there in July. If his family are keen, go for it.

 

[TeaCider]

Where did you see this as I’ve only seen considerable sum but no numbers

There were rumours it was $4m, which is a signifcant procit on £1.1m we paid for him, even with Rotherham having a sell-on clause.

Can't remember who posted it now, so I couldn't tell you the source.

 

[king_hellfire]

But they were under no obligation to do so, they just fancied the money and thought it outweighed keeping the player.

It outweighed keeping the player?

Regarding the Rogers sale, the £6 million sitting in the bank isn’t going to get the goals you need to fire you into the playoff positions and potential promotion, where you are guaranteed a £100+ million payment.

You need goals and you sold a player that can get you goals. I’m not sure the sale was in the best interests of your club.

 

[TeaCider]

It outweighed keeping the player?

So the £6 million sitting in the bank is going to get the goals you need to fire you into the playoff positions and potential promotion, where you are guaranteed a £100+ million payment?

You need goals and you sold a player that can get you goals. I’m not sure the sale was in the best interests of your club.

I don't think it was either.

But the club often makes stupid decisions and they'll have thought it did.

 

[Andy_W]

I think some here are being a bit dramatic giving Carrick too much crap, and not directing it where it should be going, i.e who's giving him these players and the basic mistakes these players are making.

1st half:
Hackney missed a pretty easy chance, should have just headed it
1st goal: Pretty good play by them in the build up, and decent through ball through loads of players, but absolutely terrible defending from Engel (main problem), their lad also got lucky, we should have had someone back to get the ball when he checked back.
2nd goal: Hackney gave the ball away in an absolutely ludicrous position, good finish from their lad, probably wouldn't have expected him to score that. Not sure where O'Brien was going when Hackney was under a bit of pressure, but it's no excuse for Hackney losing the ball there.
Big chance for them: Ludicrous marking by Engel again.
Fairly good chance for Azaz, poor effort as this level, hitting the target isn't enough if it's that weak and middle of goal.

2nd half:
Greenwood decent chance, should have scored
Greenwood one on one, should have scored
Greenwood offside goal, which didn't look offside to me, great finish though on his left.
Scored a slightly fortunate goal, but we deffo deserved at least one
Countless times we got round the back and did little with it.

Overall:
Barring a couple of ludicrous individual mistakes in the first half, we were still better than them I thought, and they were quite fortunate, we were all over them second half.
Greenwood's not a striker
We don't have a striker good enough for a play-off team, (last year we had two good enough for a promotion team)
The best option as a striker is probably Forss, who isn't fully fit, but he also scores less as a lone striker, than he does playing on the right, so is probably not the striker answer, not if we're hoping for play offs
Our best player to play on the right who was in good form, was injured, so we're also sort of forced into playing Forss there (also played midweek and not fully fit)
Crooks wouldn't have been any better, he's not a striker either
Engel isn't good enough or anywhere near as consistent enough, Bangura's injured
Carrick is the coach, they were clear about that when they brought him in, he's not buying or selling the players
We're putting square pegs in round holes, as we don't have the squad to do otherwise
We're putting small round pegs, in holes which require much larger round pegs for this level
We had 70% possession, just didn't do a great deal with it, as there's a lack of creativity, and a lack of finishing ability
McGree is not the answer, I'm not sure why he used to be a 7/10, but people talking now like he's a 9/10?
Howson's 35, it's clear he's not fit enough to train and play every game, and he also played midweek
O'Brien looks unfit/ lazy
Bristol City aren't mugs, they're just as good as us, they're now above us

 

[Andy_W]

It outweighed keeping the player?

Regarding the Rogers sale, the £6 million sitting in the bank isn’t going to get the goals you need to fire you into the playoff positions and potential promotion, where you are guaranteed a £100+ million payment.

You need goals and you sold a player that can get you goals. I’m not sure the sale was in the best interests of your club.

Spending £6m on a striker in January probably wouldn't have secured us play-offs anyway, or at least not winning them, the side (and squad) is worse than last year and last year we got turned over by Coventry and they got turned over in the final.

Maybe they were trying for players or loans, which didn't work out.

Maybe they think spending £6m on someone who is available might not be better than Latte Lathe, so what's the point? He's going to come back from injury and there doesn't seem much point having two similar level players, as we would end up in a similar level position. We don't have the luxury of having £4-6m players who are recent recruits, sat on the bench.
If we're going to get a striker in, I would hope we would be aiming higher than Latte Lath, which is going to cost more money (and they need to be available, and willing to come here), and of course harder to secure in the Jan window, than maybe in summer.

£10m for Rodgers was a good deal, he was ok, for a couple of months, couldn't get int the side before that as he was playing poorly. The club should have known how good he is more than anyone, so hopefully judged that getting £10m there and then was a good deal, which might pay off more when we can spend the money (if it's there to spend, and not pay bills).

Rogers scored 2 in 26 league appearances, that's not a great return for where he plays. Sure, he scored 5 in 6, in the EFL the cup, 4 of those against absolutely terrible teams, and a good goal v Chelsea when they were 6-0 up.

Crooks has only scored like 3 in 26, which isn't a great return either. Sounds like we've been offered decent money for him, he's not a starter for a play-off side and only has 18 months left on his deal, and is 30, so selling him makes sense.

 

[BiggEggo]

Must be a few players fancying a move given the current situation.

Rudderless ship.

 

[r00fie1]

CARRICK ON CROOKS:

[From the record of the Official Media Conference Transcript, 8th February 2024]

US Interest in Matt Crooks?

I can give you the latest. Crooks is gonna travel over to America in the next day or two. It's one of those things…. I said it to Morgan: every situation is different, and we treat it different. For this one, for Matt and his family, it's an opportunity he kind of wanted to explore and, It's too big to turn down. We respected that. It is what it is, you know. At this moment in time, it's not done. Whether it gets done or not, he is travelling over there to have a medical to see what comes of it.

Will Crooks departure limit attacking options?

We've got options. We've got really good options. Riley and Sammy coming back around. Manny [Latte Lath] getting fit again in the not too distant future. I think we've got good options. Hayden played well as a ten [10] at the weekend. We're flexible across the front line and we're creating chances. We're looking dangerous. I've got a lot of faith in the boys, whoever plays. Listen! It is what it is. We want to be as strong as we can, we want to be as powerful as we can, and we want to be as dangerous as we can. But I do feel with the players we have, we have a good balance.​

​

 

[The Ruthsayer]

CARRICK ON CROOKS:

[From the record of the Official Media Conference Transcript, 8th February 2024]

US Interest in Matt Crooks?

I can give you the latest. Crooks is gonna travel over to America in the next day or two. It's one of those things…. I said it to Morgan: every situation is different, and we treat it different. For this one, for Matt and his family, it's an opportunity he kind of wanted to explore and, It's too big to turn down. We respected that. It is what it is, you know. At this moment in time, it's not done. Whether it gets done or not, he is travelling over there to have a medical to see what comes of it.

Will Crooks departure limit attacking options?

We've got options. We've got really good options. Riley and Sammy coming back around. Manny [Latte Lath] getting fit again in the not too distant future. I think we've got good options. Hayden played well as a ten [10] at the weekend. We're flexible across the front line and we're creating chances. We're looking dangerous. I've got a lot of faith in the boys, whoever plays. Listen! It is what it is. We want to be as strong as we can, we want to be as powerful as we can, and we want to be as dangerous as we can. But I do feel with the players we have, we have a good balance.

​

All fine and dandy, but to say Hackney played well as a ‘10’ is incorrect.

 

[The Ruthsayer]

So GE, you think he played well yesterday in the advanced midfield role? I thought he was really poor. Much better when reverting to his usual position in centre mid.

 

[r00fie1]

So GE, you think he played well yesterday in the advanced midfield role? I thought he was really poor. Much better when reverting to his usual position in centre mid.

Agreed.
Hayden looked wasted.