McNair

One step closer to the rebuild being complete. Happy with it. I hope he has as mediocre a career as he has to this point.

 

Yeah £5m in full cash today is worth £7m+ in instalments over the next few years for you guys. There's also the element of getting people off the wage bill now rather than having it drag out for another month (not huge money admittedly, but it's not nothing). I won't be convinced that it was a 'good' deal for Sunderland, but I don't think it's the catastrophe that some think it was.

I can't stop chuckling at him stood next to his crutches though! I thought someone had photo-shopped them in at first, that's an excellent first picture in the shirt.

 

Looking again, they are photo shopped right?

That makes me sad. I really hoped it was real.

 

Paddy McNair is targeting promotion back to the Premier League with Middlesbrough after a 'hard' 12-months at Sunderland.McNair, who has signed a four-year deal at the Riverside, was part of the Sunderland side to suffer relegation to League One last season.

The Northern Ireland international, who ended last season strongly with four goals in five games, is looking to put a difficult spell behind him and help lead his new team back to the top flight.

McNair made the switch after a total of 28 appearances for Sunderland over two years, his appearances limited after suffering a cruciate knee injury in November 2016. The fee believed to be around £5million.

Reflecting on his Sunderland spell, McNair told Boro's website: "No player wants to be involved in a team that's been relegated, it was a hard 12 months.

“But at the same time it will stand me in good stead. At the same time it was a bad experience but I think it was a learning curve and I can use that at Middlesbrough."

McNair, also wanted by Brighton & Hove Albion and Stoke City, is looking to hit the ground running under Tony Pulis.

"That’s the thing with transfers – it always takes a couple of weeks and you have to be patient sometimes," said McNair.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be here.

“From the first time I spoke to the manager here and knew that Middlesbrough were interested, I was dying to come.”

He added: "I can’t wait to get going.

"There’s no easy game in the Championship, it's Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday and you have to be physically and mentally ready for it.

“Hopefully we can achieve the goal at the end of the season, and that’s to get back to the Premier League.

"I'm a midfielder, more of a box-to-box and I'll try my best every week and hopefully that will get us three points on a Saturday more often than not."

McNair joined Boro on the first day of pre-season training yesterday ahead of the squad jetting out to Austria today for a training camp.

“The earlier you get into a new club the better, I think. Once you feel more comfortable you’re going to play better,” added McNair.

“I’m glad I’ve come here at the start of pre-season and I’m looking forward to getting to know the lads.

"I know Fabio from my time at Manchester United and Ashley Fletcher as well, who was at Sunderland last year with me, and I also played with him at Man United so I know a couple of the lads but I'm sure it won't take me long to bed in and get to know them."


I think he needs to have a long think about how many games he actually played in in those 12 months whilst getting top rehabilitation and picking up hefty wages before he goes spouting off about bad experiences the Prick..

 

Unless they hired a dwarf to hold them up out of the shot... I suspect you're right.

 

Don't you just hate modern day footballers. They have no morals, self respect or sense of reality.
My love for the game dwindles season after season.

 

Exactly my thoughts on the subject.

 

Sounds like you are at the point where you should take in some non-league stuff mate.
That's all about football and not about money

 

Ive already been thinking about that mate. Im moving to Darlo soon so im going to start following them.

 

I started taking in some Shields games a few years back - makes you remember when football was about scoring goals, rather than finances and agents and w@nkers

 

Footballer speak- “no player wants to be involved in a team that’s been relegated”
Actual speak- “ it was everybody else’s fault - nothing to do with brilliant me “

 

No need mate. Just keep supporting the lads.

 

Can't hate the lad for having more ambition than Ellis Short. Good young players want to leave because our previous owners dropped us two leagues. Blame every kid who wants go by all means. Seems passive agressive and misdirected. Fact is we've got a lot of players above our level now. I'll channel my hatred to those who couldn't give a **** the season before and the one before that. Your Catts right through to you McGeadys and Macca's. They didn't give a **** while in a position to do something about.

McNair, Maja, Asoro, Honeyman. They've done **** all wrong other than come of age at a time that the club that has been badly managed.

 

I heard Raffa wants out

 

I may be well out of touch but used to see this kind of behaviour at all levels and sure it’s much the same now - remember in the 80’s Plains Farm Workingmens club poaching players from all over by paying more than anybody else. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the mercenary nature at the top of the tree where the money is obscene but it’s human nature mate.

 

yes paddy and that would explain why your agent was dying to find you another club allegedly of course

 

He obviously didn't learn how to give an interview from Chris Coleman.

 

Yeah! And heard on "good authority" that he fancies a new challenge to take you up in the championship and ensure you stay there put.

 

What?