Why don’t the likes of Andy Townsend ( parlour ince) never get mentioned as ex Boro players in all time boro XI

Talking about Merson a Sunderland fan told me a funny story. Apparently he was on holiday in Spain and he went and bought a morning paper,when he came back his face was tripping him up.His wife says what's a matter with you he says the Boros only gone and bought Merson he would of been great for us,thats them up.
Enjoyed that, made me laugh😁
He forgot to mention the bit about how many fans they have than us 😊
 
The accepted view is that Ince was class and merson was head and shoulders above everyone else.

The reality is that Townsend's Boro got the highest league placing under robbo with 51 points, despite losing the supposed god of the team merson. The following season Boro added juninho, Ince and ziege. Such world cup winning titans of the international game should have blown townsends efforts out of the water. Yet they got one more point and finished lower than the legendary Townsend team. The season after they lost ziege and added boksic and ehiogu and scored a measley 44 points.

The only logical conclusion that can be drawn from this is that Andy Townsend rather than Ince juninho and merson deserves to be lionised as the true Boro hero of the late 90s and early noughties.

There should be four statues in the Riverside carpark. Mannion, Hardwick, camsell and Townsend.

**Dean Gordon was good also.

As an interesting aside I would subscribe much of inces reputation down to him doing a lot of pointing. Stick a bloke on a football pitch who does lots of pointing and before long everyone will be in agreement that here is a man that knows his onions. I'd go so far as to say that if Liz truss had done a bit more pointing she would still be in number ten today. Many people think that good leadership is through setting a good example, keeping a clear head and making bold decisions. It isn't. It's about pointing. Shouting helps also, but it's mainly pointing.
Another terrible take. Ince dragged us kicking and screaming through games during his spell here. His spell with us is drastically under rated.
 
Another terrible take. Ince dragged us kicking and screaming through games during his spell here. His spell with us is drastically under rated.
I think Ince was fantastic for us and is under-rated. Maybe not the most likeable bloke, but gave absolutely everything. He is nearer my best Boro team than Boateng.

I also think the Sheriff is sat by the river, just casting away.
 
I think Ince was fantastic for us and is under-rated. Maybe not the most likeable bloke, but gave absolutely everything. He is nearer my best Boro team than Boateng.

I also think the Sheriff is sat by the river, just casting away.
**** crack if that’s the case.
 
Not this again it’s been dredged from
2021 my point was that he never seems to appear in any best of boro teams when we have the debates. neither do ince or parlour either despite their incredible careers etc.

It’s like they are not regarded by the fans as ex players in the way others are.
 
Not this again it’s been dredged from
2021 my point was that he never seems to appear in any best of boro teams when we have the debates. neither do ince or parlour either despite their incredible careers etc.

It’s like they are not regarded by the fans as ex players in the way others are.
Would you put them in a best Boro XI, I certainly wouldn't. Doesn't mean that they are not considered as ex Boro players, as are Juninho and Spriggs
 
Both Andy Townsend & Ray Parlour have spoken highly of the Boro

Very good player for us too

I once heard Parlour mention on talksport about when he played in the North East with Sunderland. Maybe a slip of the tongue but it made me think we must have meant very little to him and his career.

Never really forgave him for that.
 
I once heard Parlour mention on talksport about when he played in the North East with Sunderland. Maybe a slip of the tongue but it made me think we must have meant very little to him and his career.

Never really forgave him for that.
I've heard him on the local radio singing our praises a few times

 
Yes of course he played for us but if I think of ex Boro players I must admit I just think of hendrie slaven even boatengs etc I don’t really picture Townsend.

I doubt he even classes himself as an ex Boro player same with Ray parlour as you get the feeling players like that were just passing through we were just a pay check to tide them over.

I’m posting this after he was on talk sport earlier and when asked where he was in 1999 he said he was winding down his career at either us or west Brom. But it was quite dismiss and think that’s how these players must see us and other sides like us.
Souness, Emerson, Juninho, Mendieta, Mustoe.. it’s a tough pack to get into!
 
You don’t mention Boateng.
I can’t get my mind round anybody rating Mustoe higher than Ince.
365 games.. Boateng & Ince both wonderful players.

Souness, Emerson, Juninho, Mendieta, Mustoe, Boateng, Ince.. without even thinking. Where does Townsend come in?
 
Back
Top