So. Do we have a decent squad?

Rogers played up front the first two games, but as Coburn was injured and Latte not yet signed there wasn't a lot of choice for Carrick. Perhaps Forss should have started up front?

However, another mistake here was not having got a striker in before the season started, especially when it was clear Akpom was off, perhaps you can blame that on the window closing at the end of August and not the start of the season.
 
Otto42 said:
Rogers played up front the first two games, but as Coburn was injured and Latte not yet signed there wasn't a lot of choice for Carrick. Perhaps Forss should have started up front?

However, another mistake here was not having got a striker in before the season started, especially when it was clear Akpom was off, perhaps you can blame that on the window closing at the end of August and not the start of the season.
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Neither Cobern or Latte Lath replaced Akpom, they replaced Archer.

Has Akpom been replaced, or have the team adjusted to playing a different way without anybody filling his role?
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Neither Cobern or Latte Lath replaced Akpom, they replaced Archer.

Has Akpom been replaced, or have the team adjusted to playing a different way without anybody filling his role?
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I think carrick has tried filling the role but nobody can do the same job yet.
It was made for chuba last season. I think they are playing slightly different although deffo only 1 striker but at times they’re close
 
Greenwood played Akpom's position last night (albeit not his role) and I think may continue to going forward, with Rogers as back up.

Akpom really was a one off, it's difficult to find an exact replacement with his technical ability, vision, movement and strength. Not to mention his finishing!

We did some similarities with Greenwood's game last night though - dropping deep to link midfield and attack. I expect a significant amount of coaching is going on with him behind the scenes.
 
changingman said:
Greenwood played Akpom's position last night (albeit not his role) and I think may continue to going forward, with Rogers as back up.

Akpom really was a one off, it's difficult to find an exact replacement with his technical ability, vision, movement and strength. Not to mention his finishing!

We did some similarities with Greenwood's game last night though - dropping deep to link midfield and attack. I expect a significant amount of coaching is going on with him behind the scenes.
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Yeah, I thought Greenwood was very good at times last night, coming deep and finding space. He just needs to ensure he gets more involved but that will come the more we get used to playing with him and vice versa. Could be exactly what Carrick is looking for.
 
Depends what your ambition is. Promotion to the premier league ambitions will require more quality.

Championship team squad is ok
 
I've said this alot when we were down 7 games without victory.
Fans have expected far to much in that run players through either Injury or through not having personal have been forced to played out of position or play full games when the reality Is they needed easing in.
Engel was okay, nothing spectacular in his first few outings then Sheffield Wednesday happened and all of a sudden he was the worst player In Our history.
Silvera was starting games and for the first few looked bright but he had a few bad games and all of a sudden he's a cost saving option and the board should be sacked.
Sammy has came from the Australian league.
Lukas has came from the Danish league. This division and their team mates are a huge step up in quality.
Morgan Rogers had been on loan to Lincoln and and a struggling Blackpool, he is a winger and he was forced to play up top and inevitably has struggled, he has had pelters.
Lath on Facebook has received pelters.
He's scored 3 goals in 5 starts in league and cup and 1 20 minute sub appearence.

We've been comparing these players to Giles, Akpom, Archer and Ramsey. Can we please remember how much those 4 sold for in the summer and compare it to how much these guys have came here for?

This is the start of the project, to build a young, ambitious team that in the end makes our club successful and makes us alot of money.
For every player that is a roaring success there may be 2 that don't quite work but in willing to put my trust and my patience into the project and get behind any player that pulls on that shirt and gives their all for us. It's never been for the want of trying, lack of experience and quality has been our downfall.
I'm delighted our fortunes are picking up
 
We have a mid table Championship squad, there is currently little real quality in it.
It is a big squad, massive in fact and the club clearly chose quantity over quality. There are 27 players in the first team squad, plus a lot of younger players and the academy.

I would personally prefer a smaller squad with more real quality.
Of course we could not afford to buy Archer, Ramsey and Giles at the summer prices without much greater investment. Keeping Akpom would have been another big commitment.
But I would have borrowed quality again. The club have gone down a different route.

It is so important to get up as quickly as you can. I don't personally think this squad is remotely ready to do that, which is disappointing after our experiences last year.
Furthermore I don't believe it will develop into being right next season.
I haven't seen evidence that anybody Scott has bought so far will turn a big profit, but in fairness that of course could change and I sincerely hope it does.
Profit may come from Hackney, Coburn, Fry and Jones, but I'm not sure how that endorses this low cost mass recruitment model.

Carrick has made mistakes, he will make more, but I think we are lucky to have him for a number of reasons.
I think he (and Danks) has already improved a number of players last season and this. I think he will get the best out of a relatively limited lot and crucially he may be able to get greater than the sum of the parts again.
I think that is the definition of good management and is why I think we are lucky to have him.

Last night was very much a tale of two halves. The first half was plain boring. I don't see us rampaging through matches like the second half of last season, so keeping it tight when we are not flowing will be key.The second half was much more enjoyable and successful.
Both were encouraging in their own way.
 
I thought against Cardiff though the first half was slow, we were patient and that’s the way we need to play against teams that sit in. We’ve found earlier in the season that when we force the pace we get caught out defensively, which nearly happened on Tuesday too. Second half the game became more open and that suits us.

I look at Leicester last night and their quality, and think our squad is miles off that level. The rest of the Championship is a mixed bag and we could as likely with our squad finish top six or bottom six. The squad is a work in progress, but these days the time to build a squad and get up is limited, as the bigger clubs will cherry pick our developing players. Loans in January could be key again to any hopes of promotion via the play offs.

Glad at the moment to be looking up rather than down for a week or so.
 
We have a reasonable squad from what we've seen so far but don't think we have enough goals in the team as it stands, be interesting to see what happens over the next few week, if we are in with a shout I'll be disappointed if we don't go for it in Jan but if we are mid-table we would be better concentrating on getting the best player possible through the door as early as possible in the summer.
 
BeanBeany said:
We have a reasonable squad from what we've seen so far but don't think we have enough goals in the team as it stands, be interesting to see what happens over the next few week, if we are in with a shout I'll be disappointed if we don't go for it in Jan but if we are mid-table we would be better concentrating on getting the best player possible through the door as early as possible in the summer.
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Hopefully latte and coburn can start bagging.
I think McGree will finish at or almost double figures and crooks probably will if he keeps playing.
We need a few from centre mid and centre backs
 
Funny old game because only a month or so ago Boro’s chances going to Sunderland were minimal, but now we are getting back to being the unpredictable team that are just likely to get a result anywhere.
Having players like Riley,Crooks and Jones who are capable producing a goal , means we fans are now concentrating on the teams above us and ignoring relegation fodder.
After all, Cardiff won at Sunderland recently, so expect an unexpected result perhaps.
 
Morton94 said:
I've said this alot when we were down 7 games without victory.
Fans have expected far to much in that run players through either Injury or through not having personal have been forced to played out of position or play full games when the reality Is they needed easing in.
Engel was okay, nothing spectacular in his first few outings then Sheffield Wednesday happened and all of a sudden he was the worst player In Our history.
Silvera was starting games and for the first few looked bright but he had a few bad games and all of a sudden he's a cost saving option and the board should be sacked.
Sammy has came from the Australian league.
Lukas has came from the Danish league. This division and their team mates are a huge step up in quality.
Morgan Rogers had been on loan to Lincoln and and a struggling Blackpool, he is a winger and he was forced to play up top and inevitably has struggled, he has had pelters.
Lath on Facebook has received pelters.
He's scored 3 goals in 5 starts in league and cup and 1 20 minute sub appearence.

We've been comparing these players to Giles, Akpom, Archer and Ramsey. Can we please remember how much those 4 sold for in the summer and compare it to how much these guys have came here for?

This is the start of the project, to build a young, ambitious team that in the end makes our club successful and makes us alot of money.
For every player that is a roaring success there may be 2 that don't quite work but in willing to put my trust and my patience into the project and get behind any player that pulls on that shirt and gives their all for us. It's never been for the want of trying, lack of experience and quality has been our downfall.
I'm delighted our fortunes are picking up
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👏
 
Morton94 said:
I've said this alot when we were down 7 games without victory.
Fans have expected far to much in that run players through either Injury or through not having personal have been forced to played out of position or play full games when the reality Is they needed easing in.
Engel was okay, nothing spectacular in his first few outings then Sheffield Wednesday happened and all of a sudden he was the worst player In Our history.
Silvera was starting games and for the first few looked bright but he had a few bad games and all of a sudden he's a cost saving option and the board should be sacked.
Sammy has came from the Australian league.
Lukas has came from the Danish league. This division and their team mates are a huge step up in quality.
Morgan Rogers had been on loan to Lincoln and and a struggling Blackpool, he is a winger and he was forced to play up top and inevitably has struggled, he has had pelters.
Lath on Facebook has received pelters.
He's scored 3 goals in 5 starts in league and cup and 1 20 minute sub appearence.

We've been comparing these players to Giles, Akpom, Archer and Ramsey. Can we please remember how much those 4 sold for in the summer and compare it to how much these guys have came here for?

This is the start of the project, to build a young, ambitious team that in the end makes our club successful and makes us alot of money.
For every player that is a roaring success there may be 2 that don't quite work but in willing to put my trust and my patience into the project and get behind any player that pulls on that shirt and gives their all for us. It's never been for the want of trying, lack of experience and quality has been our downfall.
I'm delighted our fortunes are picking up
Click to expand...
It was our worst ever start outside the Premier League, off the back of a terrible end to last season. It was absolutely nothing to do with fans expectations.

The players weren’t eased in because Michael Carrick tossed them them in at the deep end, thinking he could field a team of 5 or 6 new players and things would just work.

Playing players out of position in the vast majority of cases was down to poor team selection from Michael Carrick as he had options who could play those positions on the bench he just wasn’t picking them. Our best player being one of them.
 
I would say we are about 10th best team in the league.

Looking at the likely starting team @ Sunderland against last Janaury when we played there - we have lost some quality in Giles and Akpom, possibly a bit stronger in the goalie department, possibly Hackney has developed further, otherwise same/similar players Smith/Lenihan/Fry/Howson/Forss or Jones/McGree/Crooks or Lath - bench (McNair, VDB or Dijksteel, Greenwood, Barlaser, Lath or Crooks, Forss or Jones, Glover, Rogers or Silvera - opposed to Roberts, McNair, Bola, Jones, Watmore, Archer, Hoppe). I would say overall slightly weaker this season, however the team last year finished 4th with 75 points. Swansea were 10th last season with 66 points.
 
It’s still too early to tell. I didn’t get carried away when we were bottom and I want now that we’ve won 4 games on the trott.

Gk looks a safe position (barring AFC)

CBs individually have ability but I haven’t seen a strong partnership develop.

RB, average

LB, no idea if they’re good enough

CM Howson and Hackney are good Barlaser is an ok backup. o’Brien is a loss

Forss, Jones, McGree we know what they can do. Crooks is ok, Silvera not impressed so far, Rogers looks a good addition, Gilbert’s not had a look in.

Lath will miss plenty but petrify teams with his speed and leap. Coburn is a good alternate option.

All in we’re an ok set off individuals, but capable of playing well as a unit. I feel confident for 8-12th at the moment. If the last few games can be reappeared for longer then I’ll re-adjust
 
BoroMart said:
It’s still too early to tell. I didn’t get carried away when we were bottom and I want now that we’ve won 4 games on the trott.

Gk looks a safe position (barring AFC)

CBs individually have ability but I haven’t seen a strong partnership develop.

RB, average

LB, no idea if they’re good enough

CM Howson and Hackney are good Barlaser is an ok backup. o’Brien is a loss

Forss, Jones, McGree we know what they can do. Crooks is ok, Silvera not impressed so far, Rogers looks a good addition, Gilbert’s not had a look in.

Lath will miss plenty but petrify teams with his speed and leap. Coburn is a good alternate option.

All in we’re an ok set off individuals, but capable of playing well as a unit. I feel confident for 8-12th at the moment. If the last few games can be reappeared for longer then I’ll re-adjust
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Pretty balanced view mart. Only thing I would say is that Carrick has talked up this squad so he may well see something in training, particularly with silvera, who he persisted with.

I suspect the squad will get better than the level we have seen to date.

I said top 6 at the beginning of the season and I haven't seen anything to change my mind.
 
Now that we've made it to the second international break, I think the squad is looking quite healthy personally. 5 consecutive wins in all comps obviously makes everything look better, but I always thought we would see the real Boro emerge after the first international break, not before. Hopefully we can improve again after this break.

Saturday's win was acheived without Van den Berg, Lenihan, O'Brien, Howson and McGree. Also Latte Lath, Rodgers, Forss, Silvera and Bangura started on the bench. And Clarke may be on his way back as well. For me personally, I think we may have enough quality to get into the playoffs even after giving everyone a head start, with rejuvenated Jones like a new signing, Hackney getting better and better and Barlaser looking like the player we hoped we had signed. Latte Lath, Greenwood, Coburn, Rodgers, VDB and at least one of the two left backs could improve further given time.

We'll clearly have some stumbles along the way, but Leicester aside (and possibly Ipswich), I think the rest of the division is much of a muchness and we are one of 10 or more teams that realistically hope to make the top 6. I'm quietly confident we will.

UTB!
 
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