The Wilder poll out of 10

[Andy_W]

Deciding we need a keeper is still different from actually being able to bring one in that’s good enough mid season and on our budget

Exactly.

He had about a month before the transfer window opened, which is zero time to assess what he has, and what we could try and get, never mind actually get. That applies to other positions too. The fact we got anything and made them into a team which has got equal points as Fulham, in the Wilder timeframe is a practical miracle.

We probably had a list of keepers we could chase before he arrived, but he might have looked at them, and what our scouting network previously brought in for keepers and thought thanks, but no thanks, I'll find someone myself, when I get chance.

Lumley's not great, but he's not a total disaster either. All keepers make mistakes, especially at this level and some big name keepers from the prem make just as many.

It's not exactly like we could get Allisson, Ederson or De Gea, but they make mistakes too, albeit they do save more worldies and are worth more than our entire team.

 

[Heine_Otto]

10. Absolutely

I'd pretty much written this season off as being bang average at the end of October. We were winning a few, losing a few, our results were inconsistent, our performances were consistently unattractive.

I can't remember a manager transforming a team so quickly. As some have said above we have a pretty thin squad and it'll take him 2 or 3 windows to really put his mark on it. What he's done with the current squad has been fantastic.

8 games to go and still well in the mix for a play off spot is a superb achievement from where we were.

Add in to the mix reaching the FA cup quarter final with some notable scalps on the way and he's done a brilliant job.

However, more than anything, he's united the club. Players, coaching staff, backroom staff and fans are in this together.

 

[Diego]

10. Absolutely

I'd pretty much written this season off as being bang average at the end of October. We were winning a few, losing a few, our results were inconsistent, our performances were consistently unattractive.

I can't remember a manager transforming a team so quickly. As some have said above we have a pretty thin squad and it'll take him 2 or 3 windows to really put his mark on it. What he's done with the current squad has been fantastic.

8 games to go and still well in the mix for a play off spot is a superb achievement from where we were.

Add in to the mix reaching the FA cup quarter final with some notable scalps on the way and he's done a brilliant job.

However, more than anything, he's united the club. Players, coaching staff, backroom staff and fans are in this together.

Spot on Heine!

 

[wilkos_perm]

I’ve gone 8: gut instinct, mainly.

There is the odd thing which mitigates against him, however minimally. One of those is that he gives away too much, for me, in his interviews. I’d like him to be a bit more circumspect.

Oh, and Joe Lumley.

Gives away too much? Like what?

 

[Jedi boro]

Gives away too much? Like what?

I agree I love how open and candid he is as he sees what we see.

He doesn’t sugar the pill or treats us as fools.

 

[changingman]

9 for me, it's not perfect but it's pretty close.

Left room to aspire for perfection in future matches/seasons.

 

[joeychicago]

I went for 10. I absolutely love the bloke, and I really think he 'gets' Boro - the place, the fans, everything about us. Obviously, we've had a few bad results, but I wasn't downgrading it from a 10 for them. He's made me happy to be a Boro fan again. He's made me excited to go to the games again, he's built up a real connection with the fans already, he's got a bromance I am very, very jealous of with Leo , and overall, he's made me believe again. What a fella.

 

[indeedido]

I've put 8 and contrary to a post above, I'd still put 8 if we lose at home to Fulham.

By the 31st December, he had incredibly got us to 5th in the table, 10 points behind leaders Bournemouth and 6 points behind Fulham.
We have now risen back to 5th, still 10 behind Bournemouth, but 18 behind Fulham.

I wasn't disappointed at the time with the window, but with the benefit of hindsight I don't think the forward recruits have made us stronger, other than in numbers.
We've been unlucky with injuries to Payero and McGree, but lucky that the core 3 midfielders have stayed fit and played very well. Luck has pretty much evened itself out.

I think he has worked wonders in many ways in establishing a real team ethos, creating a united front from Boardroom to fan base, improving many individual players significantly and getting largely positive results.

I think he will get us across the line in the play offs, which would make him a very solid 9 by then and have a real chance of winning them, so would then be an obvious 10.

 

[guisborough_rob]

Gives away too much? Like what?

I know it might be a bit abstract but sometimes he starts saying something in an interview or presser, then qualifies it, then maybe goes on to embellish upon that second part as well. Almost like he can’t help himself.

I dunno, maybe I’m just being hypercritical, and don’t get me wrong, he is a vast improvement on the bluster, fluster and blame-game that we got with Woodgate and Warnock.

I like his honesty too…could he just rein it in a tad?

 

[Diego]

I know it might be a bit abstract but sometimes he starts saying something in an interview or presser, then qualifies it, then maybe goes on to embellish upon that second part as well. Almost like he can’t help himself.

I dunno, maybe I’m just being hypercritical, and don’t get me wrong, he is a vast improvement on the bluster, fluster and blame-game that we got with Woodgate and Warnock.

I like his honesty too…could he just rein it in a tad?

Can you give an example?

 

[wilkos_perm]

I know it might be a bit abstract but sometimes he starts saying something in an interview or presser, then qualifies it, then maybe goes on to embellish upon that second part as well. Almost like he can’t help himself.

I dunno, maybe I’m just being hypercritical, and don’t get me wrong, he is a vast improvement on the bluster, fluster and blame-game that we got with Woodgate and Warnock.

I like his honesty too…could he just rein it in a tad?

Fair enough, i don't see the harm in it myself, he gives good insights into his thought process and decision making

 

[guisborough_rob]

Can you give an example?

Next time I hear one, I’ll let you know. As I said, it’s just an overall sense I’ve taken from him talking to the press.

 

[Diego]

Next time I hear one, I’ll let you know. As I said, it’s just an overall sense I’ve taken from him talking to the press.

I don’t think he necessarily gives anything away. Think he just is honest, he’s previously said he doesn’t like to show his hand with injuries but the press hound him about updates so sometimes he probably says things in that regard he doesn’t want too. I think his press conferences are pretty good. Haven’t watched todays but looking forward to catching up with it after work

 

[Andy_W]

I don’t think he necessarily gives anything away. Think he just is honest, he’s previously said he doesn’t like to show his hand with injuries but the press hound him about updates so sometimes he probably says things in that regards he doesn’t want too. I think his press conferences are pretty good. Haven’t watched todays but looking forward to catching up with it after work

Yeah, he only says things which someone with decent knowledge would pick up on anyway, and we all know everyone is practically scouting opposition in intricate detail anyway.