Dan Thurlwell

@danamalt @DomShawEcho Losing arguably the only player capable of playing a splitting pass for the attackers to run onto (rather than trying to pick up the ball and travel before shooting) is going to be difficult to replace - not to mention his goals which far outweigh any other MF in the squad

As reported, #Boro have accepted Southampton's improved bid for Finn Azaz. £12m + £3m in add-ons.

IMO @schwarzer_mark gave an impartial assessment of the game last night and held back on criticism, respectfully. We gave it a good go over 2 legs, but the gap between PL and EFL gets wider every season.

@thepinkponce Recruitment pre-season regarding CF has been dreadful. Wilder last season was left without a striker and Carrick this season. Akpom was a fluke last season in terms of how he got reintegrated into the squad out of pure lack of options so he can’t be counted in reality

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho They took a risk. It failed. Miserably.

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho I wonder if the club were caught on the hop by him leaving - maybe they hadn't anticipated it, certainly this summer, and maybe he pushed to leave which they hadn't expected. It would be hard to see why they hadn't replaced him otherwise.

One of the worst Boro teams I’ve had the misfortune of watching. I started in 83. We were crap then and we’re crap now with a few good bits in between. We’re sleepwalking to League One. The shop says it all.

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho To be fair to Wilder, he said it time and time again, in pretty much every presser that he was our best player - so I don’t buy that internally the club didn’t appreciate that and how damaging the effect of not replacing him would be

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho Feels like there's been a miscalculation to me as well. Not sure there was enough appreciation of the effect Tavernier had and how big his absence would be, probably from most of us to be honest.

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho I honestly think that they thought they’d get away with it with Giles and McGree on the left. Otherwise why let Payero and Tav both leave

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho I'm sure they did have a list - I can't imagine for a second they didn't. I think it's far more likely they either couldn't afford the replacement(s) they wanted or they couldn't prise them out of their club(s).

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho No matter what club you are at, you always prepare for losing your best/most influential player and have a list of possible replacements to hand. Unless you’re Boro recruitment. Eyes shut, fingers in ears. And yet not one journo asks the club such pertinent questions

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho I don't know if they weren't prepared for his departure or weren't able to replace him, but it's definitely unbalanced the midfield, which I think has had big knock-on effects. I presume he's not easy to replace, given he's gone to the PL for £12m.

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho I don’t question that they’re not trying. But they’ve been dealt a a bad hand by wiping the squad of pace and movement. Even Sporar would drag defenders/midfielders to the channels giving Crooks and Jones space to exploit.

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho That's exactly my point. I don't think Howson's been great either. But there's no one organising, taking control, etc in any area of the pitch.

@GraemeBandeira @AndrewHaslam79 @NahItsLyingTho We simply do not have a captain in the squad. Nobody vocal or who will hold underperformance/mistakes/going missing on the pitch to account

@AndrewHaslam79 @NahItsLyingTho @danthurlwell Fry

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho With a CM choice of Howson, Crooks, McGree, McNair there is zero pace. Shows how much Tav’s running was crucial to that midfield dynamic. Criminal not to replace that

@GraemeBandeira @NahItsLyingTho @danthurlwell He'd be my choice to to be honest, although I don't think there's a lot in it. I just don't think it's particularly useful to focus on individuals either. Collectively there's so much wrong.

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira File under ‘plays for a big club so must be good’. The Championship is relentless in terms of balls pumped into the box on top of a keeper without a world class defence to help. A tough ask for any GK with no EFL experience regardless of quality

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira I think someone like Steffen highlights the issue in terms of character and influence. On paper a great signing. In reality not played much first-team football given his age and doesn't seem as vocal/dominant as you might expect or hope.

@AndrewHaslam79 @GraemeBandeira A lot to be said for allowing the likes of Bamba and Peltier go in the summer - players that can offer advice and coaching to a defence devoid of confidence. They didn’t need to play week in week out, simply being there as experienced heads was invaluable

@danthurlwell @GraemeBandeira Absolutely a soft underbelly isn't it. Loads of players who'll play well when the team is playing well but who seem incapable of turning it round when we're not.

@GraemeBandeira Exactly that. Weak spine always a recipe for disaster. GK, CB, CM and ST. Not one of those positions really has a player you can say week in week out they’re on the team sheet because of attitude, reliability and performance. They’re simply on there because they’re what we have

@danthurlwell Opposition brief: put the ball in the box, they shit themselves. Also let them have the ball. They’ll give it to us in the final third.

@GraemeBandeira @sknab1 Listening to Warnock recently - NB is very good at bringing in the money and spreadsheets/cash flow but it was a struggle to get signings over the line and felt he lacked support. Just hope we’re not hearing the same from Wilder when window shuts (if he is still here)…

@sknab1 One hundred per cent

Selling our best player three days before the season. Great work Boro. Great work.

@Smogonthetees Not even listed on the squad page on the website

@rachelhudson84 @Boro @DMY008 Absolutely the best

Best person at the @Boro absolutely love her ♥️@DMY008

Hopefully not the last one of the season @boro

Sorted now cheers for sharing! UTFB

Anybody after 2 x @boro tickets for the game tomorrow? No money wanted for them

@VonRoginald follow me and DM me mate 👍