The only sides in the Top 6 to manage more than 6 points over their last 5 games are Burnley (15), Brighton (8) and Derby (7). Our 6 isn't all that bad.
On another note does anyone remember the ****e that **** hole from borof came it with when I told him Burnley are far better than them? ****er.
If we go up, it will 'Bruce got lucky. We only went up cos Borough and Derby ****ed it up.' Reminiscent of the 'Phil Brown got lucky. We only stayed up cos Newcastle ****ed it up' bollox.
One of the key Karanka toys/pram separation issues is that Ayala might not be as injured as reported.
We have an expression here in Oz called "Tanking"! It's where the bottom teams try to finish dead set last so that they get the first 'draft pick' for the next season.There's heavy fines for this if caught but they can cover up by fielding their strongest team - but play them out of position. Sound familiar. In Middlesbrough's case it appears, from what Karanka has said, that some of his team are 'Tanking' and making little or no effort to win games. Maybe this is because they know that if they get promoted they will be chucked out of the team because there are better options to strengthen the side and they will be out of a job. I don't know but with promotion within their grasp and then getting beat by two of the bottom three teams in this league (and failing to score) smells rotten to me. I am sure there will be more on this when Karanka is out and faces the press.
Jeez Roo... that's a hell of a conspiracy theory. So much money involved now in going up, sounds implausible the players/ownership are not busting their arses to make it happen ? (Do they have a draft in Oz footie ? Can't remember.). Corruption maybe ? It won't be the players. All of those Boro players would want promotion surely, to enhance "exposure" and their careers. Sounds to me that Karanka is feeling out of his depth & covering up his inadequacies at a crucial time to save face.
"Tanking" will not be happening here in the Boro situation. Too much to lose. Does relegation/promotion exist in pro "Aussie Rules" football ? If not, the draft is more significant. Bit like American football & Ice Hockey & baseball over here. Pro basketball too.
Like I said, I simply don't know the reason. "Tanking" raised it's ugly head 2-3 seasons ago when some really good players were coming up in the 'Draft'. These players can become really prized possessions and make a huge name in the AFL. A bloke called Luke Hodge was in much demand as a 'rookie draft pick' and went on to fulfill everyone's expectations by captaining the great Hawthorn Hawks to 4 consecutive Grand Finals - winning the last three. The Football League Clubs wouldn't have a bar of this because of (as you say) the money involved but there has to be some players who realise that they will be 'let go' after attaining promotion as they are not up to that level. I don't know if this is effecting Middlesbrough's game or not but they have been described as 'wandering aimlessly' - this from a team who were just about home and hosed for the PL. This is good for us although we failed to take advantage against a team who could not score against the worst defence in the league but managed to score against us with the best defence in the league. Karanka could have gone to the same "School for Managers" as Di Canio and is a 'loose canon' but to tell his players that he did not wish to manage them any more because their hearts weren't in it sounds very ominous to me.
I sort of understand your point. But if a player is making a living in a Championship team (e.g. Meyler) and was cast adrift if City were promoted, wouldn't he likely be picked up by a another Championship team with no financial loss to himself ? PS. No offense intended to Meyler...just a random name I picked.
It's a daft point but just to entertain it, we kept most of the players who got us to the PL when we went up. The only one who played any sort of significant part in that promotion who we cut loose was Jay Simpson and he went to Thailand with a big wage boost. Everyone else got a gig in the PL either on the bench of starting XI, and they suddenly have 'PL' on their CV. Attracts more interest amongst other PL clubs (like Boyd) or in marquee roles (Koren). I can't imagine players not wanting a promotion on their CV even if they knew they wouldn't get to start a game in the PL.
