Exactly my thought as soon as I read it! In that case lets all laugh at Sunderland and be in total awe at Newcastle.
Didn't Karanka spit his dummy out and flap off for a few weeks during crunch time? He's a big baby, I'll judge him when he's having to grind out results in this league. Mourinho's his mate, very close, so we can expect our yougsters to be going to Boro from now on.
Very true. Same as all of the promoted teams I have them as one of the favourites to go down just on purely quality of squad. This theory proves to be a bit sh!t though.
Grant was never the most blessed but he played for the shirt every time. He'll get a decent reception my end, 100%
At Leadbitter, why not? He's ****e and proven that he's not of a premiership standard. I'm not gunna never laugh at anything again in football incase Sunderland play them one day and we come unstuck. What would be the point, how could you ever have any craic?
Karanka tends to get things right defensively so they won't ship too many goals which gives them a chance. Their problem was scoring goals in the championship, which won't get easier for them in the top flight. They may become nil-nil specialists in which case it will be a struggle for them.
Their owner is a footy man. He loves that club. Unlike any others i can think of in the prem. New money. Maybe Leadbitter wont be there.
Leadbitter is the captain and leader and knocks in a fair slice of goals for them, takes all the dead balls. I'll be surprised if he ain't there. He's not a bad player, he just wasn't good enough for where we were trying, and failing, to get to.
Not sure there's a lot to laugh at yet, I'll reserve judgement until they've made their signings and we see how well they start the season. They must have a reasonable squad already to have kept pace at the top of the championship for the last year, though I'd imagine Karanka might have to find a plan B to being solid at the back and nicking 1 nils and the like, clean sheets are a lot harder to come by against the better quality in the premier league.
Looks like they're buying Viktor Fischer from Ajax for about 4 mil, good signing for them. I'd expect him to do well in the prem.
Fill your boots lads. Karanka (or however it is spelt) will be the first manager gone once he goes on a Keeganesque rant leaving Boro mired in he relegation zone.