S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Middlesbrough 1 Swansea 0 | Att: 26,035 (Away 685) | 3pm | Saturday 9th August 2026

[gerwyn.evans]

Enough with this.

This isn't 1985. Motionless target men whose only function is to get on the end of crosses just don't cut the mustard anymore. To be a striker in the modern game you need to offer a lot more than he does. And Cullen for that matter.

Our only two striking options, and both are pitiful. No more excuses. It's killing us more than any other issue.

Enough with this? So your opinion is fact is it?

We have not played to VIP’s strengths from the off unless you think we have? Added to that the acclimatisation point. Not saying he should be our first choice and hoping we can upgrade when we do bring someone in but to call a player a waste of time is beyond dismissive.

 

[magicdaps10]

First day of the season, squad not complete, injury problems and at a ground we usually struggle at. Predictable defeat, we ideally would have created more and ideally the squad would be complete but almost all non elite clubs are still trying to recruit and our low income means we struggle to compete financially which often means deals take longer to find and compete.

I think the underlying issue to today's performance is our lack of creativity and goalscoring during our pre season.


There was a point in today's game when I thought what the F have I just seen and told me all about what to expect this season......when Cam Burgess pulled his gum shield out.

 

[Michu78]

I can't remember being so exited for the season to start to be totally deflated after one game. That performance was up there with the worst from the past ten years.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Enough with this? So your opinion is fact is it?

We have not played to VIP’s strengths from the off unless you think we have? Added to that the acclimatisation point. Not saying he should be our first choice and hoping we can upgrade when we do bring someone in but to call a player a waste of time is beyond dismissive.

Never said my opinion was fact, I'm just sick to the back teeth of people mitigating for him and Cullen.

What are they doing to help the team? Are they making intelligent runs? Are they dropping deep to try and link the play? Are they dragging centre backs out of position? Why can't they stay onside?

This idea they warrant an entire side built around them and then we'll unearth their talent - sorry, but for me it's bollocks. They're just not very good.

I accept other opinions are of course available.

 

[gerwyn.evans]

I think the underlying issue to today's performance is our lack of creativity and goalscoring during our pre season.


There was a point in today's game when I thought what the F have I just seen and told me all about what to expect this season......when Cam Burgess pulled his gum shield out.th we have brought in are not up to speed are they. EOM has missed part of pre season too,

I think the underlying issue to today's performance is our lack of creativity and goalscoring during our pre season.


There was a point in today's game when I thought what the F have I just seen and told me all about what to expect this season......when Cam Burgess pulled his gum shield out.

Inoussa didn’t start, missed part of pre season, trying to integrate, EOM missed part of pre season, no striker as VIP wasn’t fit enough to start, Cullen isn’t a 9. Yes ideally a striker would have come in by now, lack of finances probably makes this harder. All of the above to me means it’s little wonder we didn’t show in the final 3rd today.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Apart from the Boro lad getting a run on Burgess for the goal i thought we looked solid at the back in fairness

 

[gerwyn.evans]

Never said my opinion was fact, I'm just sick to the back teeth of people mitigating for him and Cullen.

What are they doing to help the team? Are they making intelligent runs? Are they dropping deep to try and link the play? Are they dragging centre backs out of position?

This idea they warrant an entire side built around them and then we'll unearth their talent - sorry, but for me it's bollocks. They're just not very good.

I accept other opinions are of course available.

Ok but statements like “enough with this” are quite sweeping, whether you meant it to sound like that I doubt. Agree we need to upgrade as striker but VIP as a 2nd choice isn’t bad, he can’t press which is a problem I’d say.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Ok but statements like “enough with this” are quite sweeping, whether you meant it to sound like that I doubt. Agree we need to upgrade as striker but VIP as a 2nd choice isn’t bad, he can’t press which is a problem I’d say.

We are all a bunch of drama queens on here mate, you'll get used to it

 

[Blackpooljack]

In the live table we are nestled quiet nicely in the bottom 3. It's gonna be a long old season.

 

[rockinj]

I was one of the very few who was reluctant in Sheehan becoming permanent (to say the least)

But please let’s not get carried away after one game. I can see it already on here. But obviously we’re lacking in key areas.

Keep calm.

 

[swan65split]

First day of the season, squad not complete, injury problems and at a ground we usually struggle at. Predictable defeat, we ideally would have created more and ideally the squad would be complete but almost all non elite clubs are still trying to recruit and our low income means we struggle to compete financially which often means deals take longer to find and compete.

werent they all in place months ago?

 

[gerwyn.evans]

We are all a bunch of drama queens on here mate, you'll get used to it

Thanks! Emotions running high too! I get it

 

[bakajack]

We move on and look to Tuesday, the cup game is a free swing at bat to fix our formation and get some minutes into the legs of players that need them

 

[gerwyn.evans]

werent they all in place months ago?

As we are still trying to bring players in then I would say no? Whether bringing in players in the final weeks of the window that will be integral to us is ideal is another question, still catching up from Watson and the previous Americans

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Thanks! Emotions running high too! I get it

My bark is worse than my bite, trust me