I often have a little look on their fans forum as I used to live in the Teesside region for a while. Its weird how they they view their side, they seem to think they have one of the strongest squads in the division ..is it just me..I just don't see it, they are rank average full stop. This is a quote from one of their fans today. "We clearly have superior players to most teams we face" They must live in a dream world
Im born and bred in Teesside and live and work here so i fully agree, theyve always thought that. However i do disagree abit, their squad is really really strong this season, and they are massively underachieving much to my delight having to work and mix with their fans daily.
I think they're in delusion about quite a few of their players, the keeper is bang average at this level and they have form for changing keepers every season, I'd be curious to see who was their last keeper to play more than 80 times for their first team (2 seasons). Also they seem to think Latte Lath is above and beyond the Championship, he has looked bang average to me with the exception of his good form towards the back end of last season. Hackney and Jones overrated as well, good players at this level, but not more than that.
I heard they were by far the better team today and lost 0-2. The stats pretty much back it up. Things can change quickly in football and I think they are better than some results but could get dragged down by it. Or turn a corner and improve results. They've had some decent ones in amongst but they're not as good as us
I remember reading similar when we beat them. Think it was a post about how player for player only 1 or 2 of our players would get into their starting 11. Definitely strong side but not as good as they think.
Seems today was similar to our game for them, loads of possession with no end result. Seems their fans don't quite understand you get nil points if you don't score more than the opposition. Gibson's good with his managers so don't see the manager being shown the door.
I like their squad but they still have big weaknesses in it (like most squads in the league) I think they are poor at the back and their strikers have been pretty shocking this season. They aren't actually playing bad at all, but teams have sussed out how you play against them n they haven't found that plan B yet They have a top 6 squad in the league but are currently under performing...... long may that continue
Agree with that bot, i thought they would be doing a lot better than they are as it looks a decent side on paper.....how does that saying go again
Looking at squads in the Championship I personally think these are stronger squads then the Smoggies SAFC Burnely Norwich Leeds Sheff Utd West Brom With Blackburn, Watford, Swansea, Boro and maybe Derby all a much of a muchness. Can't think of one player Boro have that would go into our first team
I think Hackney is good but I wouldn't have him in the side over Jobe or Rigg, They have probably got better strikers than us, even if they are off form at the moment.
And this ..after todays game. The smog must be really killing some brain cells off "I think we are woefully underachieving and they are unexpectedly overachieving at the minute. Fair play to them, but I fully expect us to finish above them."
