Potential Signings

Diego

Well-known member
Players will be desperate to come to us now. Chance to work under a manager they will respect from his playing career and what he’s won and his start in management and also the chance to play for a big club at this level pushing for a premier league place.

This month is massive and I can’t wait to see who can attract. Best I’ve felt about the Boro in a long time, trumps any positivity I had under Wilder and that was quite high too for a while.
 
I think 'desperate' is putting it a bit strongly but I agree that we are a more attractive proposition now and it can only help.

It's only 10 games and I don't want to get carried away but it does feel different to even the good start Wilder had. I haven't seen Boro play as much good football and score as many goals as they currently are for years and years and years.
 
We could strengthen the right side a little, and I'd like to see 4 central midfielders in the squad, to cover suspensions and injuries.
 
I know the cynics will say players only move to the club willing to pay them then more. For a lot of players I'm sure that's true.

But for others I do agree Carrick will be a draw. I think it's pretty clear from the outside looking in he's very keen on improving players. He's been there, done it all. Woody too to an extent and Woody is also keen on improving players. Ben Gibson speaks highly of him on that front and Gibson is about as much of a "pros pro" as you can get.

Then you throw in Danks, also highly rated and whose specific remit is working with players individually.

Carrick's character will also matter I'd think. He's not a whiner, he's not a thrower of tea cups. The impression is he treats players like grown ups. Like you'd expect a good boss to treat you in the real world.

Players at different clubs talk to each other. They'll know exactly what he's about and while money will always be a factor, our coaching set up (and facilities) should be a draw. Certainly for the types of player we're going to be predominantly targeting - young players with potential.

Any youngster (or even slightly older players with untapped potential, e.g. Barlaser) with their head screwed on and/or is well advised, should be interested in what we're doing. Particularly if they're serious about developing and improving.
 
Ideally i'd like someone to help shore up the left flank, either left back of defensive left midfield, when we are under the cosh or in difficult away games. Teams definitely target this area as its our main strength going forward, so naturally leaves us a little exposed in transition.

If a long term RB is available id like us to look at that, however Tommy Smith is doing a steady job.

Centre mid cover is a given, again ideally a long term Howson replacement.

Although hard to make the argument after three wins on the spin and forss, akpom and crooks all playing excellently i'd also like another striker if we really want to kick on. However, id want that to be a permanent and someone that will improve us, if we are gonna sign a balogun/connolly on loan for the sake of it id rather not bother.

So 4 would be the ideal, but got to be the RIGHT 4
 
I don't have much of a problem if we sign no one this window.

The last few January windows have left use weaker than before, and I wouldn't want to derail a what has been a promising start by bringing in players for the sake of it.

If we do bring players in, I'm looking at the defence. We've been scoring goals for fun recently, but only kept 1 clean sheet in 10. If we are to do anything, we will need to rely on the defence at some point. Fortunately, defending is as much about team work as it is personnel, and I'd hope some improvement can be made through coaching. However, if quality fullbacks were available, we should be interested.
 
The thing about the cover for Howson is this will be hard to sort out. Any real top player would want to know they are going to be first choice from the start eg Howsen becomes backup.

The other option is to get a young player from a lower division team and explain how we will work to improve him, but this is always risky as if it was easy to spot potential accurately then everybody would be able to do it and they would already be in the academy.

Third option is to pay silly wages to a mid 30s aged player to wind down his playing career and tell them we will help him onto coaching ladder
 
Quality, not quantity.
If we can't get quality, then just bring in a CM option and don't sell anybody.
Gaston was quality back in Jan 2016 and he was instrumental in getting us over the line.
Gestede and Connolly were horrendous back in those Januarys.

Have a go for Gyokeres and if no go, then don't grasp at something lesser.
We are not going to spend hundreds of millions if we go up, so going up with a team that has some quality would give us hope of staying up that crucial first season. Gyokeres for £15-18m would be a real help.
 
Steffen /Roberts

Smith/Dijksteel
Fry/McNair
Lenihan/Clarke
Giles/Bola

Jones/Forss
Howson/BARLASER
Hackney/Mowett
McGree/Muniz

Akpom/Watmore
Crooks/Hoppe
 
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Quality, not quantity.
If we can't get quality, then just bring in a CM option and don't sell anybody.
Gaston was quality back in Jan 2016 and he was instrumental in getting us over the line.
Gestede and Connolly were horrendous back in those Januarys.

Have a go for Gyokeres and if no go, then don't grasp at something lesser.
We are not going to spend hundreds of millions if we go up, so going up with a team that has some quality would give us hope of staying up that crucial first season. Gyokeres for £15-18m would be a real help.
I think we have more chance signing Ben Brereton Diaz from Blackburn tbh

If we’re going for three assuming to replace Luongo, McNair and Muniz.. I’d go for

11 Dan Barlaser - Rotherham
12 Jan Paul Van Hecke - Brighton
22 Ben Brereton Díaz - Blackburn

But then seen as we’re top six with a chance for automatic promotion.. why wait for the summer? Let’s go for a magnificent SEVEN!

Steffen /Roberts

Smith/Drameh
Fry/Van Hecke
Lenihan/Clarke
Giles/Wagner

Jones/Forss
Howson/Barlaser
Hackney/Mowett
McGree/Brereton Diaz

Akpom/Gyokeres
Crooks/Stewart

9 Ross Stewart - Sunderland
11 Dan Barlaser - Rotherham
12 Jan Paul Van Hecke - Brighton
17 Victor Gyökeres - Coventry
15 Cody Drameh - Leeds
22 Ben Brereton Diaz - Blackburn
27 Kai Wagner - Philadelphia

that’s us pretty much sorted for the premier league isn’t it?

Steffen & Giles in, Tav back from a relegated Bournemouth and Payero recalled from his frivolous loan back home.

7 Marcus Tavernier - Bournemouth
10 Martin Payero - Recall

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I don't have much of a problem if we sign no one this window.

The last few January windows have left use weaker than before, and I wouldn't want to derail a what has been a promising start by bringing in players for the sake of it.

If we do bring players in, I'm looking at the defence. We've been scoring goals for fun recently, but only kept 1 clean sheet in 10. If we are to do anything, we will need to rely on the defence at some point. Fortunately, defending is as much about team work as it is personnel, and I'd hope some improvement can be made through coaching. However, if quality fullbacks were available, we should be interested.
I feel the same way. We were actually in a play-off place under Warnock until we hit January, then we lost our way as Warnock was constantly tinkering with the team for the remainder of the season, trying to find the right formula.

I also felt we lost our way a bit under Wilder after the January window. Sporar was just finding form at the time.

I'd be happy if we only made one or two additions to the squad. Maybe Carrick could use his Utd links and we could look into bringing in couple of Utd youngsters until the end of the season. They must have some talent in their U23s.
 
Quality, not quantity.
If we can't get quality, then just bring in a CM option and don't sell anybody.
Gaston was quality back in Jan 2016 and he was instrumental in getting us over the line.
Gestede and Connolly were horrendous back in those Januarys.

Have a go for Gyokeres and if no go, then don't grasp at something lesser.
We are not going to spend hundreds of millions if we go up, so going up with a team that has some quality would give us hope of staying up that crucial first season. Gyokeres for £15-18m would be a real help.
We aren’t spending 15-18 on anybody, the Gyokores ship has sailed. We could however get a Gaston style loan, someone like Pellestri could be good.
 
The thing about the cover for Howson is this will be hard to sort out. Any real top player would want to know they are going to be first choice from the start eg Howsen becomes backup.

The other option is to get a young player from a lower division team and explain how we will work to improve him, but this is always risky as if it was easy to spot potential accurately then everybody would be able to do it and they would already be in the academy.

Third option is to pay silly wages to a mid 30s aged player to wind down his playing career and tell them we will help him onto coaching ladder
Any real top player would back themselves to get in the side ahead of Howson or Hackney surely (or anyone for that matter)?

And even if they don't, there's not much competition beyond those two, it's a packed schedule where injuries/suspensions will play a part and Howson will probably leave in the summer.

I don't think it's a hard sell at all. Players know it's very much a squad game these days and we're probably lighter than most in that position. Plus the manager will almost certainly make you a better midfielder given that was his position and what we've seen so far.

If I was a centre mid, I'd be crawling over broken glass to come and play here for Carrick
 
Any real top player would back themselves to get in the side ahead of Howson or Hackney surely (or anyone for that matter)?

And even if they don't, there's not much competition beyond those two, it's a packed schedule where injuries/suspensions will play a part and Howson will probably leave in the summer.

I don't think it's a hard sell at all. Players know it's very much a squad game these days and we're probably lighter than most in that position. Plus the manager will almost certainly make you a better midfielder given that was his position and what we've seen so far.

If I was a centre mid, I'd be crawling over broken glass to come and play here for Carrick
I think that we agree. My point was that people were talking about getting a backup for Howson. I agree that if we go for a top player then he is replacing him.

Signing somebody to be a back up for 6 months and then knowing he will be good enough next year is what I think is hard.
 
I think that we agree. My point was that people were talking about getting a backup for Howson. I agree that if we go for a top player then he is replacing him.

Signing somebody to be a back up for 6 months and then knowing he will be good enough next year is what I think is hard.
Yep probably not far off.

I think my point is you don't sign him as "back up" you sign him as genuine competition for the other two. The two performing best get the nod. That's how it would be sold to any prospective signing surely?
 
I feel the same way. We were actually in a play-off place under Warnock until we hit January, then we lost our way as Warnock was constantly tinkering with the team for the remainder of the season, trying to find the right formula.

I also felt we lost our way a bit under Wilder after the January window. Sporar was just finding form at the time.e

I'd be happy if we only made one or two additions to the squad. Maybe Carrick could use his Utd links and we could look into bringing in couple of Utd youngsters until the end of the season. They must have some talent in their U23s.
Warnock’s woes were more down to the injuries to Fry and Tavernier our squad was paper thin, yes our gambles with Bolasie and NML didn’t pay off.. but I think we would have needed them to win the playoffs.

Wilder’s man management was pure pish.. covered up by Peltier and Bamba and as much as I’d have kept Hernandez over Connolly it wouldn’t have changed what unfolded.

No gambles on drug addicts or pish
heads or pally fanny connoisseurs.. and we should be ok

I’ve said before 3 or 4 players to replace fringe players will see us right and I think bringing in players known to lads in our squad will help.

Dan Barlaser to replace Massimo Luongo has played with Giles and Crooks for Rotherham

Jan Paul Van Hecke (if Paddy McNair leaves) has played with Lenihan and Giles at Blackburn.

Ben Brereton Diaz (if Rodrigo Muniz is recalled) is ex Man Utd academy, can play on the left and has played with Lenihan, Giles & Van Hecke.

Nice little promotion graft..
 
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