It's gone through ... and we're getting 'fringe' left back James Husband in return. [Husband signed for 'Boro from Doncaster in the summer for £500k. He's played 4 League games]
Husband played 28 league games in the Championship for Doncaster last year, as they went down. It's not a stellar signing but it gives us a reserve left back, something we've sorely lacked all season (since Kavanagh was earmarked for the left of the diamond).
Fernando is a centre back who can cover at left back. That's somewhat different, and in our current 'system' is exposed much more.
Admittedly he was primarily a center back but don't see this as a good swop, hopefully I'll eat my words and Husband will make a grand marriage with the club (pun intended and coat off the hook).
To be clear, I think Amorebieta is a better player than Husband at this point (although I don't know much about Husband). But Amorebieta was our fifth choice centre back, who I think it is clear will be leaving in the summer. Clearing his wage and acquiring some left back cover at this point is a fairly good deal, I think.
FFC know far more than I ever will, I just think to have a good player (on his day) whilst we fight off relegation is priority, no more no less. There is no right or wrong just different perspectives and Surlyc I dearly hope you are right.
'Boro have injury problems at CB and presumably the Basque connection with manager Aitor Karanaka played a part. Will be kind of ironic if Nando performs for the rest of the season in that position, given how many times we've nurtured him through injuries. Still he's obviously not in Kit's plans for next season, so hopefully he does have a few decent games for them and then signs him in the summer. Despite him being on contract with us till 2017, doubt if we'll get much (if anything) for him. Whatever, we did get him on a 'free' and it's wages off the book.
Kostas Mitroglou and Olympiakos are starting to make noises about making his loan permanent in the summer. Apparently the Greeks are picking up all of his "close to £2.5m" salary but can't afford to honour that and pay a hefty fee. So, are looking for a cut price deal. Kit's quoted response is, "Some of my staff have been in touch with him. Text messages and that. We know he's been scoring goals and fitted in well. But as for his return, I've not thought that far ahead, and these discussions will need to had come the end of the season, and we'll work out the best way of dealing with it." A wee bit surprised if those are his wages but whatever they are, it's clear we'll not be prepared to 'sustain' them. Down to Mr Rigg then to justify his salary and make sure we don't let Mitrog go cheap.
Tom's loan at Aldershot has been extended till the end of the seaon. As has Josh Passley's loan at Portsmouth.
Josh Passley is in a spot of bother. For home games the Pompey squad are expected to clock in at Fratton Park by 1.30pm. However on Saturday our Josh turned up 25 minutes late and was promptly sent away. This, despite only last Thursday having his loan agreement extended till the end of the season. And apparently it's not the first time he hasn't been punctual since joining. Pompey manager Andy Awford is due to have words today. May well be a case of ... "Home Josh, and don't spare the horses till they hit Motspur Park". For the record Portsmouth lost the match 2-0 to Shrewsbury. Source: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/passley-to-learn-fate-after-pompey-late-show-1-661570
We defiantly do not need players with attitude problems, reputedly he was spoken to when at the cottage about towing the line.
According to the BBC Josh has been fined. Pompey manager Andy Awford said, "We've dealt with the situation, with full agreement of Fulham. He's apologised to the group so we draw a line under it and move on. He's available for Friday."
A mixed Easter for the lads on loan with the errant Josh Passley probably being happiest bunny: "Fernando Amorebieta’s Middlesbrough debut ended in disappointment on Monday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat in their top-of-the-table clash at Watford. The Venezuelan played the full 90 minutes at centre-back but goals in either half from Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo sent the Hornets to the Sky Bet Championship summit and Boro down to fourth. Josh Passley was ever-present for Portsmouth over the Easter weekend as they took four points from their two games. On Good Friday they found themselves 1-0 down away to Carlisle United when Kyle Dempsey struck with just two minutes played. They went into the break in front courtesy of efforts from Jed Wallace and Matt Tubbs, but Charlie Wyke hit an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time to ensure the spoils were shared. Three days later Pompey entertained Plymouth Argyle and put a dent in the visitors’ Play-Off bid with a 2-1 victory. Wallace opened the scoring before Ryan Taylor headed in a second, with Olly Lee volleying in a consolation. That win keeps Portsmouth sitting in 14th in League Two. In the division above, Stephen Arthurworrey also played every minute over the weekend, but Yeovil Town were twice defeated. On Friday they threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Chesterfield, before they succumbed to a 4-0 loss at Fleetwood Town on Monday. The result leaves them bottom of League One, with relegation likely to be confirmed sooner rather than later. In the Vanarama Conference, Tom Richards twice came off the bench as Aldershot Town secured back-to-back wins. On Friday, three goals in nine second-half minutes saw them come from behind to win 3-1 at Forest Green, and they followed that up with a 2-0 home triumph over Torquay United to significantly ease any lingering relegation concerns. In the Conference South, Magnus Norman’s presence in goal couldn’t prevent Farnborough from slipping to consecutive defeats. They lost 4-1 at home to Wealdstone on Saturday, and followed that up with a 3-1 defeat at Basingstoke Town two days later as they remained second bottom in the league. In Germany, Thomas Eisfeld played 74 minutes of VfL Bochum’s 2-0 defeat at SV Darmstadt 98 on Sunday. Romain Bregerie put the hosts in front in the first half, and minutes after Eisfeld was replaced by former Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell, Leon-Aderemi Balogun grabbed a second for Darmstadt. Bochum remain in eight spot after the loss.”
Reasonable results for the lads on loan, although it turned into a hard weekend for Josh and Magnus - ”Stephen Arthurworrey played the full 90 minutes as Yeovil Town’s relegation from Sky Bet League One was confirmed with a 1-1 draw against Notts County on Saturday. The Glovers took an early lead at Huish Park when County defender Haydn Hollis headed into his own net, and they remained in front until the 79th minute when Garry Thompson levelled matters. The result left Yeovil 13 points from safety with just four games remaining, thus confirming their second relegation in as many years. In League Two, Josh Passley featured for 83 minutes of Portsmouth’s 3-1 defeat away to Morecambe, before being taken to hospital when he was knocked unconscious. The wing-back was given oxygen and left the pitch on a stretcher following a collision, and was given an X-ray and CAT scan when he remained in hospital overnight as a precaution. Thankfully, the results showed no serious damage, but he will miss Tuesday’s game against Stevenage. Prior to the incident, two Alex Kenyon goals had put the hosts in front. Conor Chaplin halved the deficit following Passley’s withdrawal, but Morecambe extended their two-goal lead through Padraig Amond’s effort in the third of 11 minutes of stoppage time. Magnus Norman was sent off as Farnborough’s 3-1 defeat at home to Chelmsford City confirmed their relegation from the Vanarama Conference South. The young goalkeeper pulled off a number of important saves early on, but was given his marching orders after bringing down Hugo Skepelhorn on 23 minutes. With no replacement stopper on the bench midfielder CJ Fearn donned the gloves, but his first act was to pick the ball out of the net following Joe Ward’s successful penalty. The 10 men of Boro held their own until the 64th minute when City captain Mark Hughes doubled the lead, and Mason Spence rifled in a third shortly after. Jamie White did grab a consolation with five minutes remaining, but the defeat – coupled with results elsewhere – sealed Farnborough’s fate. In Germany, Thomas Eisfeld played 81 minutes of VfL Bochum’s 2-1 home defeat by RB Leipzig on Sunday. Yussuf Poulsen put the visitors in front with less than a quarter of an hour played. Simon Terodde equalised on 62 minutes, only for Dominik Kaiser to hit what proved to be the winner just moments later.”
A sort of okay weekend for the lads on loan - and Kostas lifts a title: "Stephen Arthurworrey helped Yeovil Town record a shock 1-0 win at promotion-chasing Swindon Town on Saturday. The Glovers, whose relegation from Sky Bet League One has already been confirmed, struck just before the hour mark when James Berrett hit a shot from the edge of the box that found the corner of the net. Arthurworrey played the full 90 minutes to secure the clean sheet, but the win comes too late for new manager Paul Sturrock, although two wins and a draw in his opening three games will give Yeovil optimism for next season in League Two. Tom Richards came on as a 58th-minute substitute for Aldershot Town but could not prevent his side from falling to a 1-0 home defeat to Chester in the Vanarama Conference. A 15th-minute penalty from John Rooney was enough for the visitors to take all three points leaving the Shots with two to play having already secured safety. Fernando Amorabieta made a late and very brief appearance for Middlesbrough as Boro hung on to clinch three vital points at Norwich City. An early own-goal from Alexander Tettey handed Middlesbrough the win as the race for Sky Bet Championship promotion took another twist. In Greece, Kostas Mitroglou appeared as a 67th-minute substitute as Olympiakos thumped Levadiakos 4-0, a result which sealed their fifth straight Super League title with four games to go.”
Not so good for the ‘home’ lads but Kostas M is still scoring - ”Stephen Arthurworrey played the full 90 minutes as already relegated Yeovil Town suffered their first defeat under new boss Paul Sturrock against Port Vale. The visitors took the lead early on at Huish Park as Ben Pope scored his 12th of the season. The Glovers thought they had stolen a point late on as Gozie Ugwu levelled matters with 10 minutes to go but Michael Brown scored the winner just moments later to confirm Vale’s safety in Sky Bet League One. Tom Richards also played the full match but he could not prevent his Aldershot Town side falling to a 3-1 defeat to Grimsby on the final day of the Vanarama Conference season. Grimsby, who had already confirmed their Play-Off place, scored twice early on through Ross Hannah and added to that in the second half through Jon-Paul Pittman. The Shots got one back late on through a Jordan Roberts free-kick but it would be nothing more than a consolation. Kostas Mitroglou was on the scoresheet as Olmpiakos claimed a point at Panionios. The already crowned Greek champions found themselves 2-0 down with 25 minutes to play before Mitroglou got one back for the visitors. Just two minutes later Alejandro Dominguez equalised to share the spoils.”
Last weekend’s round-up: ”Fernando Amorebieta‘s Middlesbrough drew 0-0 with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday – a result that saw them finish fourth in the Sky Bet Championship. The Venezuelan came in at left-back due to George Friend’s suspension following his red card at Craven Cottage, and he created his side’s first decent opening when he won possession on the halfway line and marauded forwards before finding Kike whose touch let him down. Both teams had chances to win it late on but were forced to settle for a draw, and Boro will now face fifth-placed Brentford in the Play-Offs. In League One, Stephen Arthurworrey’s final game for Yeovil Town ended in a 5-1 defeat at MK Dons, who earned promotion courtesy of the win. The Dons went into half-time four goals up courtesy of strikes from Carl Baker, Dean Lewington, Darren Potter and Will Grigg, although the Glovers pulled one back shortly after half-time when Jordan Spence put through his own net. Lewington grabbed his second of the game on 74 minutes to wrap things up, and Preston North End’s defeat at Colchester United means MK Dons will be playing Championship football next season. In Greece on Sunday, Kostas Mitroglou netted twice in Olympiakos’ 5-0 win at home to Kalloni. The Super League champions went into half-time two goals to the good courtesy of strikes from Jorge Benitez and Kostas Fortunis, and Alejandro Dominguez made it three shortly before the hour mark. Mitroglou then capitalised on a mistake to slot in with 10 minutes remaining, before calmly side-footing home a penalty five minutes later to ensure Olympiakos secured a handsome victory on the day they were presented with the league trophy. On the same day in Germany, Thomas Eisfeld came on for the final 20 minutes of VfL Bochum’s 4-2 win at Aalen. Onur Bulut volleyed the visitors into the lead shortly after the quarter hour mark, but was then sent off two minutes later following an incident involving Aalen left-back Arne Feick, who was also dismissed. Simon Terodde headed in a second for Bochum with 32 minutes played, and Marco Terrazzino’s effort and a Collin Quaner own goal made it 4-0, although Aalen did their best to fight back through Markus Steinhöfer’s penalty and a Orhan Ademi strike.”
