Transfer window slams shut on Boro
By Shaun • Sep 1st, 2009 • Category: Featured ArticlesSo the transfer window firmly closed and fans were left scratching their heads at the complete lack of activity from Middlesbrough. All day long rumours of different players being spotted in and around Rockliffe were floating around the internet, 99% of which were complete fabrications, but at the end of the day the only player who we ever looked likely to sign was Rob Hulse.
We seemingly agreed a fee with Derby County only for Hulse to turn down the move, choosing to remain with our Championship rivals. I have not read any official story claiming that we actually made a bid, from either club, so whether we did or not is still in doubt. All of this begs the question though, if we did make a bid why was he our only target? Did we stick all of our eggs in one basket? Or, did we have other targets that the club have kept under wraps that they also failed to sign?
What this leaves us with is a forward line of Leroy Lita and Marvin Emnes neither of which, despite flashes of quality, have shown signs of being a 20 goal a season forward at this level. Throw in Aliadiere who is less likely to score 20 goals in a season than I am likely to beat Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint and we look shockingly weak up front, again! Oh but thats right I forgot, Danny Webber is still an available free agent!
And what of Afonso Alves? Well, his proposed move to Al Sadd fell through and he is still a Boro player, though it is my understanding that they have until September 15th before their transfer window closes. The question is going to be whether the Brazilian, should he stay, will knuckle down and try to rebuild his shattered reputation. If he does he may well be the missing link up front, as I am confident (rightly or wrongly) that he will score goals at this level. I personally still think we will thrash out a deal with the club from Qatar before their deadline and Alves will be lacing up his football boots in Qatar.
Though the window is now shut it does not mean that new faces will not be brought in as there is still the opportunity of Gareth Southgate adding some loan signings to the squad. We can only hope that he is scouring this country and abroad for a couple of loan signings to come in and stregthen the side.
Looking at the positive side of the day, Adam Johnson and David Wheater are still Boro players and I have to admit to breathing a sigh of relief when the window shut and no more significant players left the squad. Yeah we haven't strengthened but we also haven't weakened the side, hopefully a few loan signings are made to augment the squad and we can push on.
It wasn't the transfer frenzy that many expected from a lot of the main Championship protagonists either:
Newcastle: Peter Lovenkrands in. No players out.
WBA: No players in. Borja Valero out (loan).
Cardiff: No players in. No players out.
Sheff Utd: Jordan Stewart in. Lee Hendrie, Billy Sharp and Leigh Bromby out.
So maybe it wasn't as bad as it seems, or am I kidding myself?
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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Yeah I share everyone’s disappointment. Not suprised though. The frenzied activity that Sky Sports promised us was a damp squib really, all over the leagues - but I for one am glad it’s all over. I have no doubt that Gibbo has a list of non-contract players pinned to his office wall and should an emergency hit we will sign Henri Camara or someone of his ilk for 2 or 3 weeks or as long as deemed necessary. This is the reality of relegation and still carrying a Premiership wage bill. As they said on “Close Encounters” - we are not alone! The fact that we held on to Wheater and Johnson is a blessed relief. I believe that we have eough defenders to see us through. I am more than a little concerned about the midfield. I have never been anti - Southgate but does he not fancy Walker as a player? He had a couple of really good games last season and then went awol. Or does somebody know something I don’t? I have faith in Lita to score goals for us and couldn’t help feel a twinge of annoyance when Nugent went on loan to Burnley. I really felt that Lita, Nugent up top with our two wingers would have made us promotion favourites. Hey, but what do I know? Ipswich up next - I wonder if Keane would swap for our our situation? Onwards and upwards……UTB.
I have followed Boro since I was 8 & Arthur Kaye played wight wing for us. I`ve never called for a managers head. I won`t stop following the Boro. I`m a Boro fan not a premiership fan! Saying that, I can`t remember a time as dire as this other than when the gates were shut. One defining moment for me was when we lost 3 points. We were attracting top stars & now we pray we can get shot of Aliadere, pray our players can stop giving the ball away and just hope that someone sees sense & puts us all out of this Southgate nightmare. Forgive the guy for he clearly knows not what he does!!
The 3 points culprit should be taken out & shot. When the mighty Stoke cherry-pick our top players, then we are really in some poor situation. I only hope we can find a manager to take on the role of Rioch cos that`s where gonna need lifting from if wer`e not careful.
CUMMON BORO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disappointing to see players like Ben Watson and Jay Simpson move on loan to other clubs, I just hope we some sort of plan to add to the squad with loan players.
It’s my understanding that Southgate had a fall out with Walker and has made the player available for transfer
DAVEYPARKENDER - why so glum? I agree that when Stoke harvest our players times are tough, but in reality if Huth hadn’t had a good opening spell in the Championship would we really have missed him that badly. I can see Riggott and Poggi coming back soon, especially with the international break speeding up recovery. Tuncay also disappointing but he was no TLF(and he went after relegation). Football moves on. I really liked your comment about being a BORO fan and not a Premiership fan. I wish others could be like you. But to say you can’t remember a time as “dire” as this seems a little OTT to me. If we had played 5 and ended up with 2 points then sold and not replaced I might have gone along with your ideas but we haven’t. Let’s get behind the lads who want to play for the club and a manager that needs support. Results seem to suggest that he is doing something right at the moment, so give credit were it’s due. I was a Holgate supporter under the stewardship of Rioch and although it was a fantastic ride, the fact was that he didn’t cope at the top level with us, Aston Villa or Bolton. Although Southgate has made many errors he still is a rookie. Just face up to the fact Gibbo rates him and Gibbo calls the shots. Players come and gone. The only constant is the fan and the club. This yet could be a good season for us with a couple of new terrace heroes to be crowned. Is it really that glum? UTB.
So disappointed rob hulse turned down a move 2 boro! Anyone know which players were after to loan cos were looking ver very weak up front
all sorts of names being thrown around like Delfouneso, Wellbeck and Michael Johnson but they are all just internet rumours, doubt we will hear anything until firm bids have been made
A little disappointing that ther was no activity - agreed ! but on the flip side I would rather we did not spend money we obviously dont have that end up like Leeds or Southampton.
Who should we sign !!!
Bently is out of favour at Spurs in a world cup year, he can not move to another top flight club so why not have a go, if he was the best player in the championship surely Capello would have a look which is more than he is gonna do sat on the sidelines at white hart lane, I still think his wages will be too much for us though.
We tried to sign Matic, (so southgate must rate him) who went to chelsea and dosent play why not loan him, lets get an arsenal kid to give us extra numbers in midfield, and lets sign Danny Webber and Balde just as cover, lets give them a chance, get behind them and the team and stop all the whinging cos the window is shut !!
WE ARNT A BIG CLUB ANYMORE, WE HAVE NO MONEY, lets make the best of it watch committed football and have the best season we have watched since God knows when !!! we can be the best team in this league and remain competetive whilst stabilizing the Foundations the club is built on.!! The Academy.
Anyone know what website Southgate uses to check for all the free transfers lets all have a look cos there must be a forward there, If not and Alves stays lets play him, get behind him and support him while he is in a boro shirt, all sins forgiven if he scores freely at this level, lets remember they all play for the boro, we want them to perform well but lets save the negativity for the opposition.
Again ONWARDS AND UPWARDS - Up the Boro
Have you checked today’s Northern Echo - apparently we’ve been linked with Sunderland’s Daryl Murphy on loan.
God that would be a disaster! My brother is a Sunderland fan and he absolutely hates Murphy, he was gutted when a move to Ipswich fell through
Daryl Murpy - Yer jokin arent yeh - We must be a standing joke up there
I’ve just read Lamb’s interview on the reasons behind the sales and lack of activity - how the relegation means a 20m drop in revenue. I, like dave, am a Boro fan and have enjoyed that winning feeling here in the Championship, and now that losing feeling too!
But, the window is shut, we have held onto our rough diamonds and we must be positive, show our support and have faith that we can build from here - without some positivity the reputation of the club will be soured.