Notes for the New Season - Part One: Middlesbrough, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday Monday, 20th Jul 2015 11:00 by HarryFromBath In the first of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums. Middlesbrough, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday are under the spotlight in today’s notes. Middlesbrough — Onwards and Upwards“Are you over it yet?”, “The Premier League opening weekend will be a killer, seeing Norwich line up wherever and knowing we were there but for the cruelty of football”, “I nearly opened the bag with the programme in it last night but couldn’t face it. I wonder if it will ever be read.” While some supporters are still coming to terms with their team’s play-off defeat to the Canaries, most are quick to accept that the better team won on the day. “We didn’t play well enough to win that game”, “I think it’s the fact that we didn’t turn up in the final is what bothers me most.” The mood is upbeat and most fans remain positive. “The defeat doesn’t alter the fact that it was a good season with a lot of good things in it”, “We have a good young manager who wants to get us up this season and build on last season’s foundations. The future is bright. The future is Boro.” Departing Loan SigningsThree permanent signings have departed this summer, veterans Jonathan Woodgate (retired) and Dean Whitehead (to Huddersfield), while 22-year-old striker Luke Williams has joined Scunthorpe. Boro will however need to rebuild following the departure of five of last season’s loan signings.  “I reckon Chelsea will want to send Bamford to a Premier League team to further his development.” Centre-back Tomas Kalas’s loan from Chelsea has been extended for the coming season, but defender Kenneth Omeruo and striker Patrick Bamford have returned to Stamford Bridge. Defenders Ryan Fredericks (to Spurs) and Fernando Amorebieta (to Fulham) have also returned to their parent clubs while Belgium striker Jelle Vossen, who was on loan last season from Genk, has opted to join Burnley on a three-year contract. Transfer Dealings“Some of our departing players are clearly going to be hard to replace but we have to bring in similar quality to have a chance.” Three major permanent replacements have been announced thus far. “So cruel — I thought Alex Baptiste was an excellent free transfer. I’m gutted for the lad and for our planning.” The 29-year-old defender arrived from Bolton only to suffer a serious leg injury in Boro’s first pre-season friendly at York. “A horrid start to the season”, “Our right-back spot is cursed.” “Christian Stuani can play through the middle or on the right in a flexible interchanging attacking system.” The 28-year-old Uruguay international striker has just signed from Espanyol and is “an intelligent player who will add extra strength and aerial height and won’t be sitting on the bench”. Stewart Downing“There is no way on God’s earth we are going to stick Stewart Downing on the wing. He is here to play number 10”, “Downing is composed on the ball and his far superior ability will surely bring out the best out of those around him”, “A great team player and a great player in his own right.”  “We needed more creativity from central midfield”, “We need to have more people in and around the penalty area when we have possession high up the pitch. Leadbitter and Clayton rarely move forward. We break with only one or two players and cross the ball into an area full of defenders.” “Downing was the signing I really wanted.” Supporters are euphoric about the return of a player who they believe will raise the overall level of play. “His class will show. He’s head and shoulders above everything in this division and the whole team will improve around him.” The Murphy Affair“Anything happening with Murphy?” News that our leading striker signed a new contract to remain at Portman Road ended an episode which baffled many Middlesbrough fans. “Murphy signed a new contract with Ipswich. Thank God for that”, “Ipswich won’t want to sell to a promotion rival.” “Out of Bamford and Murphy up front there’s no contest.” Most fans felt that Murphy’s age and the size of the transfer fee made a deal unworkable, but he had his advocates. “We were too much of a one-trick pony last season. Signing a big, strong striker would give [manager Aitor] Karanka more attacking options.” “I would have liked Murphy. The money seemed a lot but I would have liked us to sign an in-form striker with recent Championship experience”, “The YouTube video of last year’s goals is brilliant. He scored all kinds, spectaculars, tap-ins, powering through defenders and headers. He was excellent.” “By the way, can anyone believe that despite Murphy being a year older and not on the same level, he would still have cost £500,000 more than Robin Van Persie?” “Just reading the story about Sheffield Wednesday’s loan bid for Murphy — the quotes from McCarthy are priceless.” Leeds United — Progressing Under Cellino“I feel so much happier at this stage of the season with [new manager] Uwe Rosler in charge than I did 12 months ago with [Dave] Hockaday”, “It does all look and sound better, doesn’t it? I still feel it is all a bit fragile and could explode apart at any minute. Fingers crossed.” The mood at Elland Road is upbeat after a stable summer. “Our future looks far healthier than it did a couple of seasons ago when we were plodding along with a bunch of has-beens and with our club in serious debt. We have better resources at the top and have started bringing in decent players.” “We have every reason to be happy right now”, “We should be aiming for a top 10 finish as a minimum target as part of our progress on the playing field. I’m hoping for a play-off spot (with pre-season optimism)”, “We have a new era and a new management structure in place.” Massimo Cellino“Our recent owners have been 50 shades of crap. GFH were complete and utter crap. Ken Bates was horrible stagnating long-term crap and Cellino talks crap and does crap things, but is less crap than the others”, “Let’s face it, anyone can compare themselves to Bates and look good.”  “Say what you want about Cellino, compared to Bates he’s willing to invest and is a lot shrewder when selling players”, “I know he won’t cash-in on our youth players such as Cook, Mowatt and Byram without a fight”, “The club is being run efficiently for the first time since the early nineties.” Whites appreciate the relative stability and organisation which their owner has brought to the club but remain deeply frustrated with his interference in the footballing side of things. “Cellino, do us all a favour and let the people you are employing do their jobs without interference.” “Sadly we have the manager-eater in charge. Even if Rosler is successful, Cellino wouldn’t want someone else taking the limelight from him”, “I call it a victory if Rosler lasts three months”, “I could see Cellino sacking him over an argument, never mind our league position.” Uwe Rosler“Rosler has made a good start. Giving everyone a clean slate means hopefully we can move on from ‘injury-gate’ [when six Leeds players withdrew from a game against Charlton citing injury] and bridge any division within the camp”, “We need to back Uwe’s judgement.”  “I’ll support Rosler until we lose three on the bounce. Then I won’t have to”, “Spot on. I’m happy enough with Rosler but it doesn’t matter a plying feck who is coach with this utter madman in charge. Three defeats and they are toast.” “I applaud Rosler for coming to this club with this owner and I hope his confidence in his own ability is borne out by results and the owner’s willingness to let him get on with footballing matters”, “When you look at Rosler’s record at Brentford it wasn’t too bad in his two years in charge.” Most fans salute the former Wigan manager’s bravery in taking the role on but some have voiced misgivings. “I’m a little underwhelmed with this one, lads, if I’m honest”, “Counting his silverware and struggling like hell. Football must be the only industry in which useless idiots keep finding work.” Transfer DealingsLeeds have been active in the transfer market this summer. The most notable departures have been midfielders Aidy White (to Rotherham) and Rudi Austin (released) along with veteran Michael Tonge and keeper Stuart Taylor. Many Whites expect striker Billy Sharp to leave this summer. Four first team players have joined permanently, goalkeeper Charlie Horton (from Cardiff), defender Sol Bamba (who was on loan from Palermo last season) and two strikers, 21-year-old Lee Erwin (from Motherwell) and former Town loan signing Chris Wood (from Leicester on a four-year deal). Two other new faces are worth noting. Midfielder Tom Adeyemi has arrived on a season-long loan “with a view to a transfer” from Cardiff and 23-year-old striker Nicky Ajose returns to the club having spent last season on loan at Crewe Alexandra. “Wingers now are the remaining priority this summer.” “Adeyemi is a bit of an enforcer and hard worker like Rudi, but younger and hopefully with better ball skills and decision-making”, “On the face of it he’s a genuine upgrade”, “Fingers crossed he will put in a decent season and free up the other midfielders to use their creativity.” Chris Wood“I have always liked Chris Wood as a player. He can definitely score plenty of goals and is proven at this level”, “How we need a 20 goals-plus striker”, “He’s strong quick and a natural finisher and he can hold up the ball. He’s only 23 but has experience in this league.”  “Given a run at this level he will become a top striker.” United fans are delighted with the capture of the New Zealand international with the Whites fending off interest from Wolves. “There is plenty of good feeling at Elland Road and that’s the best aspect of the Wood signing.” Neil Redfearn“Neil Redfearn has resigned as Academy manager saying the club made his position ‘untenable’”, “If we hadn’t appointed him first team coach last season we would have ended up in League One”, “Cellino is his own worst enemy. Once again he has managed this situation appallingly.” Eyebrows were raised last week at the announcement that Redfearn, who took charge of the first team for two spells last season, was resigning in unhappy circumstances. “It's another example of how the Cellino administration operates. It's just not a healthy work environment.” “Redfearn has always behaved and spoken honourably. Near as I can tell, he always speaks the truth. So when he says the offer to return was not genuine I believe him. That's just not how anyone should be treated, never mind someone who has done as much as Redders.” Sheffield Wednesday — Hold On To Your Hats“Should a top-six place be a realistic ambition for this season?”, “Without a doubt”, “It depends how the foreign legion fit in really”, “A couple more quality signings and I think the automatic places beckon”, “It’s going to be fin finding out. I’m really looking forward to the new season.” The arrival of new manager Carlos Carvalhal along with eight new players, five of them permanently, has set pulses racing at Hillsborough this summer. Lewis McGugan was the latest arrival last week and Owls have also been wondering if Patrick Bamford might pitch up in South Yorkshire. “We have never witnessed a shift like this in our entire history. What has happened and what could happen is monumental. It’s fraught with danger but could bring success and riches we have never seen before. It certainly won’t be dull and, let’s face it, this time last year we all craved this.” Carlos CarvalhalDespite this euphoria, many Owls have their doubts about their new manager who replaced Stuart Gray in June. “The clubs have made some strange appointments but this one is off the scale. Something doesn’t add up”, “He hasn’t worked for two years and to have had 14 jobs is some going.”  “Sporting Club de Portugal and Besiktas — let’s be honest, that’s more impressive than any managers in our recent history”, “At least it looks like we have a suave smoothie with a bit of style. He will look the part if nothing else”, “Attack, attack, attack, but with sartorial elegance.” “I hope Dejphon Chansiri [Wednesday’s owner] has picked a good ‘un”, “We are a big team and there will be plenty of managers who would have wanted to manage us. He plays attacking football”, “I keep reading that he likes attacking football, but this just doesn’t happen overnight.” Transfer Dealings“You cannot fault what Mr Chansiri has done so far. Dead wood cleared, new coaching staff, pitch and scoreboard and new players starting to arrive”, “Who is not excited that after the 20 years of mismanagement at this club we seem to be moving into the modern era?” Lewis Buxton, Joe Mattock (both to Rotherham), Gary Madine (to Bolton), Jacques Maghoma (to Birmingham), Giles Coke, Paul Corry, Rhys McCabe, Matt Young and Kamil Zayatte have all left the club this summer. Glenn Loovens, Kieran Lee and Jose Semedo have extended contracts. The permanent arrivals are ex-Town keeper Lewis Price (from Crystal Palace), defender Darryl Lachman (from FC Twente), midfielder McGugan (from Watford), and wingers Marco Matias (from Nacional in the Portuguese top flight) and Ross Wallace (from Burnley).  The players arriving on loan are defender Vincent Sasso (season-long from Sporting Braga), right-back Jack Hunt (season-long from Crystal Palace) midfielder Alex Lopez (season-long from Celta Vigo). “Marco Matias is exactly the player we need.” The 26-year-old winger “is a very exciting signing. He should add real quality and a number of goals to the team. We are definitely playing 4-3-3 with Marco on the left. Let’s hope we can bring in a quality striker for him to supply.” “Jack Hunt is very good going forward”, “He’s a proper right-back.” The 24-year-old is “an excellent signing. We needed another full-back after Buxton left”, “He’s a cracking player and will be one of the best right-backs in the Championship this season.” Despite the excitement with the summer’s developments, many Owls are urging patience. “Adopting a flowing one-touch style of play won’t in itself cut the mustard as other clubs will find a way to negate it. It will be down to the quality of the players we have brought in.” Lewis McGugan“My gast is well and truly flabbered”, “The midfield is shaping up to be something very special”, “I have to say that £300,000, if correct, is an absolute bargain. I’m surprised half the Championship weren’t in for him”, “Promotion in two seasons? Nah, we’ll be there next year.”  “Yes! Welcome back Lewis”, “I told you he was coming back.” The 26-year-old had a successful loan spell with the Owls last season and is “our best signing of the summer. He can hack the pace and play 35-plus games”, “His vision is excellent and he is class on the ball.” “Really pleased we have got this sorted. It’s a long time since we have had a central midfielder of this quality”, “The sort of player you can build a team around”, “We just need some strikers to feed off this midfield”, “Good news. Now just the strikers need to be sorted, Mr Chansiri.” Ticket Price Increases“Wow, just wow. One man and his dog will be watching the team”, “At those prices a promotion challenge is the minimum we will be expecting. They will need to pull some major signing out of the bag”, “We have got this very wrong. We make Leeds look cheap.” While the Thai owner has been hugely credited for investing in the club both on and off the field since buying the club from Milan Mandaric, there has been a hostile reaction to the ticket price increases for the coming season. The highest price for an Owls’ ‘Category A’ game will be £52. “I don’t care how much Chansiri has invested in the club. These are shameful prices and anyone trying to defend them needs their heads checking”, “Even if we are pushing for promotion, lots of walk-up fans won’t be able to justify that. Chansiri might have made his first big misjudgement.” The Murphy Loan Affair“Oh my”, “I have to agree with McCarthy. It does seem a bit strange to try and take a rival team’s leading scorer on loan as opposed to stumping up the readies”, “It was not respectful at all, whoever it was”, “What a ridiculous thing to suggest, taking last season’s top scorer on loan.” “It’s pretty tinpot.” Owls were pretty embarrassed when the story broke about their team’s loan bid for our leading striker. “We all know what McCarthy would have said if he were allowed two words”, “I quite like the fact that we were trolling Mick McCarthy with a loan bid for his top scorer.” In this discussion, there was some admiration for the way we were prepared to stick to our guns and not undervalue our players. “How come Ipswich got £8 million for Tyrone Mings and we only managed £1.5 million when Michail Antonio left? The sooner we start talking up our players the better.” Message BoardsThe busiest Middlesbrough forum is One Boro . There are a number of busy Leeds message boards, with LUFC Talk offering some in-depth discussions. The most active Sheffield Wednesday forum is OwlsTalk . Harry's Notes by ClubBirmingham
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