Middlesbrough - WTF?!

Ok, where have they suddenly got all this money from?

Bringing Downing and Stuani to the club? No doubt they will also add a couple more with a good 6 weeks left until the transfer window shuts. I was tipping them to win the title before they made those signings but now they look even stronger. Still need 1-2 new players including a keeper to replace Konstantdropalot but what a squad they are building.

Money does not guarantee success however like teams like Derby, Brentford, Wednesday, etc they are showing ambition to strengthen their squad with quality players.

Unfortunately it appears as though Cardiff have given up on doing the same. Slade stated that the club are not shopping in Harrods anymore. We are not even shopping in Poundland, etc at the moment.

Quite like 'The Smoggies'. Much prefer them to their big headed neighbours on the Tyne and Wear.

Ok, where have they suddenly got all this money from?

Bringing Downing and Stuani to the club? No doubt they will also add a couple more with a good 6 weeks left until the transfer window shuts. I was tipping them to win the title before they made those signings but now they look even stronger. Still need 1-2 new players including a keeper to replace Konstantdropalot but what a squad they are building.

One of the main reasons, other than having a lot of money for signings, that Boro have been able to bring in quality players like Downing and Stuani, is because of their manager. Aitor Karanka is an extremely well known coach around Europe and beyond, who has a lot of experience and is very highly thought of by a lot of people. He was Assistant Manager to Mourinho at Real Madrid and he has a hell of a lot of contacts in the game. I think Downing may have signed for Middlesbrough whoever the manager was there. But, Stuani I think signed for Boro, first and foremost because of the manager. Also, Stuani and Karanka know each other pretty well and that was one of the main reasons that he joined Boro. I think if any other manager that may have been in charge may not have been able to persuade Stuani to choose Middlesbrough. Karanka used his contacts last year by signing Jelle Vossen, Kike, Emilio Nsue, Yanic Wildschut, Patrick Bamford (on loan from Chelsea), Kenneth Omeruo (on loan from Chelsea) and Tomas Kalas (on loan from Chelsea). Who all did very well for Boro, especially Bamford, Vossen, Kike, and Nsue.

Bloooooobirds.

Bet all other clubs in football league who havnt bought anyone are saying exactly same thing about their club! Why haven't we bought players?

They also have an owner who most importantly is a fan of the club he is bankrolling. He realizes that the big money is in the Premier League and he is willing to take a chance on spending big money to get there.

It's true that spending big does not always work but quite often it does work and that is the calculated gamble that Gibson is willing to take. He has appointed a very good manager who he is now backing with plenty of funds to buy top quality players (at this level anyway) to give his club the best chance of reaching the top division.

Our owner on the other hand either doesn't care about getting promotion in the slightest despite the bollocks spoken by Dalman and Choo, or is showing his absolute cluelessness by thinking that we can get promoted with journeymen players and a manager who together last season proved beyond any doubt that the limit of what they can acheive is mid table mediocrity.

Unfortunately we can only dream of ever having an owner like Steve Gibson or a manger like Karanka.

Another club who our fans think are great because they are spending money! Ahh well may as well resign ourselves to abject failure and relegation this season because we haven't matched a couple of other clubs in champ in buying players!?

Another club who our fans think are great because they are spending money! Ahh well may as well resign ourselves to abject failure and relegation this season because we haven't matched a couple of other clubs in champ in buying players!?

I'm sure we won't get relegated this season as these players and this manager have shown that they are capable of a mid table finish.

Many people will be happy enough with that although I can't see too many being happy with the standard of entertainment that was served up for most of last season. Also, if the club's debt continues to be reduced then I'm sure most people will agree that has to be a good thing.

What I can't understand though is why some people think that the same squad with the same manager and the same limitations shown throughout last season can suddenly become challengers towards the top of the division this season? What evidence is there to suggest that this season will be any improvement on last?

Haven't Boro also lost a load of players this summer with loans ending and a sale or 2.
Are Friend and Vossen still there ?

Another club who our fans think are great because they are spending money! Ahh well may as well resign ourselves to abject failure and relegneeded to this seastogether?cause we haven't matched a couple of other clubs in champ in buying players!?

I'm sure we won't get relegated this season as these players and this manager have shown that they are capable of a mid table finish.

Many people will be happy enough with that although I can't see too many being happy with the standard of entertainment that was served up for most of last season. Also, if the club's debt continues to be reduced then I'm sure most people will agree that has to be a good thing.

What I can't understand though is why some people think that the same squad with the same manager and the same limitations shown throughout last season can suddenly become challengers towards the top of the division this season? What evidence is there to suggest that this season will be any improvement on last?

1st 6 home games and last 7 away games showed we are capable of having good run ! Don't forget last season was very bitty with players leaving/coming? Maybe a full close season is needed to gel team together?

Another club who our fans think are great because they are spending money! Ahh well may as well resign ourselves to abject failure and relegneeded to this seastogether?cause we haven't matched a couple of other clubs in champ in buying players!?

I'm sure we won't get relegated this season as these players and this manager have shown that they are capable of a mid table finish.

Many people will be happy enough with that although I can't see too many being happy with the standard of entertainment that was served up for most of last season. Also, if the club's debt continues to be reduced then I'm sure most people will agree that has to be a good thing.

What I can't understand though is why some people think that the same squad with the same manager and the same limitations shown throughout last season can suddenly become challengers towards the top of the division this season? What evidence is there to suggest that this season will be any improvement on last?

1st 6 home games and last 7 away games showed we are capable of having good run ! Don't forget last season was very bitty with players leaving/coming? Maybe a full close season is needed to gel team together?

Hope you're right but unrelenting consistency is what won us the title a couple of seasons ago rather than "runs" of wins followed by long periods of poor results and performances.

Another club who our fans think are great because they are spending money! Ahh well may as well resign ourselves to abject failure and relegneeded to this seastogether?cause we haven't matched a couple of other clubs in champ in buying players!?

I'm sure we won't get relegated this season as these players and this manager have shown that they are capable of a mid table finish.

Many people will be happy enough with that although I can't see too many being happy with the standard of entertainment that was served up for most of last season. Also, if the club's debt continues to be reduced then I'm sure most people will agree that has to be a good thing.

What I can't understand though is why some people think that the same squad with the same manager and the same limitations shown throughout last season can suddenly become challengers towards the top of the division this season? What evidence is there to suggest that this season will be any improvement on last?

1st 6 home games and last 7 away games showed we are capable of having good run ! Don't forget last season was very bitty with players leaving/coming? Maybe a full close season is needed to gel team together?

Hope you're right but unrelenting consistency is what won us the title a couple of seasons ago rather than "runs" of wins followed by long periods of poor results and performances.

Always start season hopefull! I'm not pessimistic that's for sure, in fact fans may be surprised this season although 1st 8games are tough and being honest not expecting no more than half amount of points available!