jono

Did you head straight for the cubicle?

He has the passing ability & Vision of huddlestone, but with mobility & pace.
 

This is why I’m always happy to take a punt on these types of players, especially when it doesn’t cost much. It didn’t work out with Ibe, but Morrison has been excellent so far.

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

I am very happy .. a win would have been better of course, but you can see the younger players getting better, stronger and more resilient as each game is played. Watson and Stretton .. let’s face it they are boys .. looked effective and hungry off the bench. Watson is a terrier of considerable finesse. Jack got hugged every time he was near the ball but their temperament was excellent. Either could start and I wouldn’t worry about them being over run.
On to the game ! It was always going to be a tough one. Derby a bit short of front teeth playing a typical Warnock side full of gamesmanship ( AKA cheating ) and a ref who was so dim he couldn’t see it. … So, regardless of this, on the balance of play and chances, probably a fair result. ( That said I am wishing their No 7 an embarrassing stomach upset or something similar .. nasty little cheat who loved being being the east stands bad boy after he cheated his way to a throw in and a free kick ) 
Shinnie .. cover so much ground and fought so hard, Morrison is one of those players like Sherringham .. space just appears around him magically. He is going to be so influential. Curtiss and Jags together remove the set piece jitters. Bird continues to prosper as he now knows he doesn’t always have to be covering the back 4 and can look forward. Everyone else did a sterling  job full of effort. Sibbo and Joz are nearly there .. they just need a goal each, then watch them go ! 
South stand and fans in general … huge shift post Covid .. so much more noise and continuous support despite reduced numbers .. Great job, I am certain the players can feel it. 
Right then, who’s got an axe for some tree felling duties next week ? 

I am very happy .. a win would have been better of course, but you can see the younger players getting better, stronger and more resilient as each game is played. Watson and Stretton .. let’s face it they are boys .. looked effective and hungry off the bench. Watson is a terrier of considerable finesse. Jack got hugged every time he was near the ball but their temperament was excellent. Either could start and I wouldn’t worry about them being over run.
On to the game ! It was always going to be a tough one. Derby a bit short of front teeth playing a typical Warnock side full of gamesmanship ( AKA cheating ) and a ref who was so dim he couldn’t see it. … So, regardless of this, on the balance of play and chances, probably a fair result. ( That said I am wishing their No 7 an embarrassing stomach upset or something similar .. nasty little cheat who loved being being the east stands bad boy after he cheated his way to a throw in and a free kick ) 
Shinnie .. cover so much ground and fought so hard, Morrison is one of those players like Sherringham .. space just appears around him magically. He is going to be so influential. Curtiss and Jags together remove the set piece jitters. Bird continues to prosper as he now knows he doesn’t always have to be covering the back 4 and can look forward. Everyone else did a sterling  job full of effort. Sibbo and Joz are nearly there .. they just need a goal each, then watch them go ! 
South stand and fans in general … huge shift post Covid .. so much more noise and continuous support despite reduced numbers .. Great job, I am certain the players can feel it. 
Right then, who’s got an axe for some tree felling duties next week ? 

Stretton is a better prospect than Sibley.
Sibley is no better now than two years ago. He needs room to manoeuvre because his close control isn’t great. He won’t get much of that in the championship.
He doesn’t really demand the ball. He hacks rather than tackling and his final ball is poor.
I struggle to see the excitement. He is young and may develop but my own thinking is he lacks the maturity to do so. He’s a better sub than starter.
Stretton by comparison is composed under pressure and not afraid to use his strength.
 

What a great afternoon it was today at PP
So proud of the whole crowd who were obviously also delighted to be there
And also a word for the Boro fans - every one of them were clapping the video announcement of the passing of our oldest supporter, pre match . Very well done to them . 
And thank goodness their young fan, who was taken out around half time, is now ok - it looked truly horrible
Thats my last word of thanks to Middlesborough ! 
 
What a truly dreadful and appalling team. All down to their manager of course. Anti-football at its worst. No wonder young people are finding other activities to focus on. 
 
As for us - marvellous , and unlucky not to win in my opinion (although I am bias of course). Every one of them was magnificent today. 
 
Special words to : 
Roos - his saves are winning us points now 
Byrne - at half time it looked like he would have to be taken off, such was his litany of calamities. Responded absolutely fantastically in the second half
Joz - really put in a shift (as they say !) and seemed really up for it today. As long as you dont need a header, just blast it at his body and he will control it in a nanosecond 
Davies and Jag - the Masters 
Stretton - see Joz comments above. Nearly got us a winner when it looked physically impossible to shoot 
The Crowd - wow ! 
 

I walked over that on the upper walkway when I was working in Boro - it was a sponsorship thing raising money for a statue of the great man in Albert Park.
This is my favourite though. Beautiful lines...

Loved Wardy.
He had skill for sure and turned it on many a time, loved it when he kicked the ball one side and ran round the other - but it was the cheeky grin and the choir boy look he gave to refs when he’d fouled someone .. innocent little me ref ? I’d never be involved in any afters, my mum thinks I’m an angel. NOT ?

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

I guess Covid and football finances are part of it but compare Butterfield / Johnson vs Morrison and their relative costs/abilities  .. jaw dropping ! 

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

I am very happy .. a win would have been better of course, but you can see the younger players getting better, stronger and more resilient as each game is played. Watson and Stretton .. let’s face it they are boys .. looked effective and hungry off the bench. Watson is a terrier of considerable finesse. Jack got hugged every time he was near the ball but their temperament was excellent. Either could start and I wouldn’t worry about them being over run.
On to the game ! It was always going to be a tough one. Derby a bit short of front teeth playing a typical Warnock side full of gamesmanship ( AKA cheating ) and a ref who was so dim he couldn’t see it. … So, regardless of this, on the balance of play and chances, probably a fair result. ( That said I am wishing their No 7 an embarrassing stomach upset or something similar .. nasty little cheat who loved being being the east stands bad boy after he cheated his way to a throw in and a free kick ) 
Shinnie .. cover so much ground and fought so hard, Morrison is one of those players like Sherringham .. space just appears around him magically. He is going to be so influential. Curtiss and Jags together remove the set piece jitters. Bird continues to prosper as he now knows he doesn’t always have to be covering the back 4 and can look forward. Everyone else did a sterling  job full of effort. Sibbo and Joz are nearly there .. they just need a goal each, then watch them go ! 
South stand and fans in general … huge shift post Covid .. so much more noise and continuous support despite reduced numbers .. Great job, I am certain the players can feel it. 
Right then, who’s got an axe for some tree felling duties next week ? 

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

I guess Covid and football finances are part of it but compare Butterfield / Johnson vs Morrison and their relative costs/abilities  .. jaw dropping ! 

A good footballer is just a good footballer 

Of the trialists he was the one I thought we could do with most. his age is a risk but like Curtis he’s a proper CB with a touch of class as well.
He’s made a big difference and we look more secure at the back against the teams that play cloggers up top. It’ll be interesting to see how they deal with the teams that play on the break and in behind.

We don’t bring the ball out that fast with Jags and Curtis but we look a lot more composed than when Keogh was there, noticeable it’s giving Roos and others more confidence too.

If Nigel had one strength .. he could pick a player. Whether it was attitude or skill I think he had a very good eye for a good fit. 
I am impressed with the ones we got. Jags and Morrison are the sort of left field signings that can get the best out of our young guns. Baldock and Stearman are good solid pros that fill some gaps. 
 
it’s transitory given players ages but, less a star striker, we have a team with an appealing balance .. and don’t forget Knighty and Bielik to come back. Quietly impressed with whatever is going on in the background team and recruiting  wise

I guess Covid and football finances are part of it but compare Butterfield / Johnson vs Morrison and their relative costs/abilities  .. jaw dropping !