Hackney

[Kilburn]

Of course there's a risk Hackney will go this summer, but as several people have pointed out already, it's probably receded thanks to his being out of the team with injury.
We all know how good he is, but from the outside looking in he's that young midfielder who had a great breakthrough season but has struggled to follow it up due to fitness issues.
I'm sure the club will hold out for what they know he is worth, and it looks less likely now that someone will be willing to pay that.

 

[BoroMart]

Yes Hackney was outstanding for the England U21 and did not look out of place alongside Palmer, Elliott and Lewis. He plays better alongside better players. He can play deep or attacking and he is English which again adds to his attraction for PL squads. With addons it must be a £25M+ deal.

My biggest concern over what could hold Hackney back is when defending and isolated 1-vs-1 he gets beaten too easily. That's the next step in his progress, improve that, and he's an all round top player

 

[iamborome]

If we are ever to win promotion we need players of Hackney's calibre. It would be downright stupid to sell him now, with three years left on his contract. Howson is still going, but for how long? We have tried to fill his shoes with the likes of Barlasser and O'Brien, but that has failed. It makes you realise just how good Hackney is and how difficult it would be to replace him. We are certainly not going to be playing Carrickball without him.

 

[MoggasDog]

It’s often right too, we said it was a mistake for Giles to go to Luton, archer to go to Sheff United, Ramsey to go to Burnley and Akpom to go to Ajax…and all have had a torrid time, ditto Spence too, although most of were happy for that to be a disaster for him

This is a very good point.
How many of those lads will be wondering what might have happened if they had all stayed at the Boro for another year? (except buckethead Spence, of course)
Carrick got the best out of those lads.
Nevermind.

Hackney is a class act but has only played in the Champo. The difference with him and the others - including McGree - he is a Boro lad. I would guess that he would be happy to stay unless a huge offer is received. We might be in a much better position if the club could make that known to any admirers. The grass is certainly not greener on the other side - but the wages are

Big money or fu.ck off.

 

[UgoAfro]

If we are ever to win promotion we need players of Hackney's calibre. It would be downright stupid to sell him now, with three years left on his contract. Howson is still going, but for how long? We have tried to fill his shoes with the likes of Barlasser and O'Brien, but that has failed. It makes you realise just how good Hackney is and how difficult it would be to replace him. We are certainly not going to be playing Carrickball without him.

Law McCabe looked just like a mini-Hackney on Saturday. Obviously some way to go but he was comfortable taking the ball under pressure and always found a team mate with his pass.

 

[ForssAwakens]

Why would it be better for him?
It would be better for us as supporters but don't confuse that with being better for Hackney.

People said the same thing about Rogers in January. People said the same thing about Tavernier. It's just wrong. If he's good enough he'll break into the first team and if he's not he'll end up like O'Brien with an inflated contract while he plays championship football but at least he'll have tried. If he signs a 5 year contract with a prem club, that contract alone will probably be worth more than 12 years of championship football. That's just how it is.

He gave us an extra season last year. There was interest there then. But you get circa 12 seasons as a professional, you've got to make the most of them.

In all these transfer threads there is a fair amount on delusion that fans go through to kid themselves

 

[Ash88]

My biggest concern over what could hold Hackney back is when defending and isolated 1-vs-1 he gets beaten too easily. That's the next step in his progress, improve that, and he's an all round top player

I agree with this. Hackney is very good at what he does... but in order to do what he does, he NEEDs a Howson type player to sit back and do the dirty work for him.

You only really get the luxury of being able to play like that for a top team in a division.

He'll probably do very well for a mid-level PL team such as Wolves (based on this season), but I think he'd struggle at a team who need to constantly defend like Forest of Burnley.

 

[Humpty]

My biggest concern over what could hold Hackney back is when defending and isolated 1-vs-1 he gets beaten too easily. That's the next step in his progress, improve that, and he's an all round top player

That's very niche. Anyone looking to buy him is going to do so on his ability to move the ball. Highly unlikely his ability to defend 1 on 1 is going to have much of an impact especially as a centre midfielder.

 

[BoroMart]

That's very niche. Anyone looking to buy him is going to do so on his ability to move the ball. Highly unlikely his ability to defend 1 on 1 is going to have much of an impact especially as a centre midfielder.

It's just an observation of the weaker side of his game, coaches look to improve the weakest parts not the bits that are already good. We always need our central midfielders to help cover wide, and many teams expect that. He has been in those positions and beaten a little too easy for my liking. It's the big chink in his armour.

 

[Middlesbrough123]

See the phrase "fully fit". He had a couple of injuries this year, and was never really on it for more than a handful of games, as he hadn't got his fitness or sharpness up to where it was last year.

I think fans opinion of coburn over the season has been harsh . I think hel be a top striker when fully fit , but playing while carrying an injury hasn’t given a young player trying to establish himself in the side the best chance

 

[Humpty]

It's just an observation of the weaker side of his game, coaches look to improve the weakest parts not the bits that are already good. We always need our central midfielders to help cover wide, and many teams expect that. He has been in those positions and beaten a little too easy for my liking. It's the big chink in his armour.

Oh i agree i just don't think it's as significant enough to hold him back. It's a skill that can be taught and coached. He has skills that can't be taught or coached which is why he's in demand.

 

[BoroMart]

I think fans opinion of coburn over the season has been harsh . I think hel be a top striker when fully fit , but playing while carrying an injury hasn’t given a young player trying to establish himself in the side the best chance

He's certainly got the ability to be a top champo player, with enough progression a prem players. Yes the injury has held his development back and people (probably myself included) have been harsh on him.

Apart from the obvious size, he also has decent pace, good movement and is a strong finisher. His size means it's tough for him to lead a high press, he gasses at 70mins already, in a high press he'd gas at 40. I think in the right team and tactics he'd do really well at this level already. It'll be interesting to see if we keep him reserve, cash in, or loan him next year. Remember we have Finch a couple of years behind him, and Matthews a year behind him. so there will be pressure on him in the summer if he wants a place in our squad.

 

[TS4Red]

I’ve heard the same, was also told McGree has asked for a transfer too. Lad who told me has usually been pretty reliable.

If we need to sell one to keep all the rest I wouldn't be against mcgree going. I like him and he's a good player but our best form this season has come without him. I think we can sacrifice him if it means keeping rav, hackney, latte etc

 

[indeedido]

IF we paid just £1m for Rogers, then there really is very little difference between his position and Hackney's, given both had years of contract and virtually no book value.

I'd have kept them both, but its irrelevant as I'm not making the calls.

 

[Redagain]

Hackney has just bought a £600000 house in Wynyard with his girlfriend
He is too much of a Mammys boy to want to be away from her ( not the soppy on mammy apron strings type , the type who loves his Mam too much to be away from her)
He doesn’t want to leave, he will only be going if the club tell him too.

 

[Merlin]

We’d be completely nuts to sell Hackney, and if i was Carrick I’d be thinking why am i even here if the club are selling my best players every year

 

[Jonathan]

This is a very good point.
How many of those lads will be wondering what might have happened if they had all stayed at the Boro for another year? (except buckethead Spence, of course)
Carrick got the best out of those lads.

In their defence, did any of them other than Akpom really have the option to just stay another year? Three of them were on loan, and two of them would have cost well in excess of what we could have afforded, and weren't the reports about Giles that he was interested in coming back but we weren't prepared to pay the fee Wolves were?

 

[Redlips]

Hackney is the real deal, he will play for England.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

Hackney has just bought a £600000 house in Wynyard with his girlfriend
He is too much of a Mammys boy to want to be away from her ( not the soppy on mammy apron strings type , the type who loves his Mam too much to be away from her)
He doesn’t want to leave, he will only be going if the club tell him too.

Better not sell him to Everton then.

 

[Blf]

I hate that we have to sell our better players each season now.
However if it was a choice between Lathe , RVDB or Hackney it has to be him for me.
He plays well with better players for England which has increased his stock.
His stats for us are not good (they surprised me tbh)
Started 20 games of which 9 saw him subbed off.
1 goal in 20 games
0 assists.
If we can get big money for him the team won't be affected too much.