Going to Porto, according to X. One things for sure, Boro will strengthen regardless if they see an opportunity. Our lot won’t. Yet social media fans will keep telling me we’ve net strengthened this season. I simply cannot see it.

That's one way of looking at it, but Ismael doesn't strike me as someone who suffers fools.

MO of just about every manager, 'head of', CEO over the last 15 years is to blame the shitshow on the previous bloke and make promises/assurances/wishes that it won't happen again. It isn't a mistake, it has been deliberate policy and I dare say was the biggest single reason why Eustace threw in the towel and left to join a real club, because they weren't letting him do the job he needed to do. It isn't an accident, it isn't a mistake, it isn't misfortune or bad luck. It is deliberate, conscious and purposeful with one aim which is to reduce the cash the owners need to put into the club. They've got away with it until now, but it will catch up with them eventually. I actually think our surprisingly good season last year will only have emboldened the regime more to think that they can easily manage by getting rid of more 'big' earners and going cheaper again. Trouble is I don't think they are as clever or good as they think they are and it will end with the club paying the ultimate price.

Only reason I said it was because Hackney didn’t want to go Ipswich.

We have to play the guy who we bought to replace Brittain. The guy who came on yesterday at half time. If not why did we sign him ? Montgomery at right back is a ticking time bomb. You wouldn’t see a tackle like that yesterday on your local rec. I had the sound off on my TV and I thought he was grabbing the lad because the ref had blown up for something. WBA’s coaching staff will have watched yesterdays game and will be targeting him from the off.

It wasn't me who said it, it was Ismael.

I don't know mate was Steve Kean not aligned with the board? I get where your coming from as its disheartening losing good managers due to fallouts with the way the club is being run but the manager and board here being aligned means the manager can have us losing most weeks and relegation candidates and keep their job no matter the results Obviously I'm hoping that Ismael will bring in the results but I don't want another person towing the party Line if the players brought in don't show enough quality after a bit of time

Gestede was here last season when Brittain didnt get offered a new deal. And hasnt managed to get any contracts over the line.

No, but he said it was down to past mistakes, ie not Gestede.

Publish and be damned.

It does feel different,it's the most important factor.

Who said boro have withdrawn? They haven’t it’s due to be announced tomorrow

What makes you say that they have withdrawn?

If Boro have withdrawn from Brittain we might stall the Miller deal?

Yeah having thought about this I tend to agree. I was wondering if India’s bowlers would benefit from the rest but it’s just as likely they won’t be able to ‘recreate’ the high they were on.

I was basing it on you saying 3 including Miller. Then naming yet another squad with 5 new signings. As ever, you move the goalposts and start going off on tangents.

such a low number? We will have 27 players. I have explained and what your original post didn't take into account is Brittain's replacement and whether Leonard will be that 3rd striker or we loan him out and bring in a replacement most likely tomorrow

De Neve? Has he ever taken set pieces before? I only saw the first half hour yesterday but he put in one free kick that just went miles over everyone. Weve not had a decent set piece taker for a while. I would prefer Kargbo and Pickering to start down the left. Also, obviously not Montgomery on the right. Going into the season with Hedges starting was grimly predictable.

This is the team that I predict Ismael will pick, not my preferred 11. Who are you putting at RB? The options are a guy who has never kicked a ball in the Championship, looks as raw as they come and couldn't get a game at the relegated Belgian side Rovers have signed him from....or Montgomery, who at least has some minutes in the Championship. On Kargbo, I don't think Ismael trusts him to start games and do the defensive side of the game, so I predict Ismael favours De Neve to start ahead of him. As I say, they're just predictions and not my preferences.

we could be announcing two players incoming tommorow,the facebook lot will have to have their tissues at the ready🙂

For me, the lack of transparency is the issue. Im sure there will be nothing groundbreaking but for the club to need so long to approve the minutes suggests some tampering.

I think its very clear what the team will be for the first league game of the season, Ismael has made sure they have plenty of game time and they have been mainly started every game Look like De Neve and Cantwell be our set pieces takers from the 5 pre season games

Ismael doesnt seem happy about the contract situation.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/hibs-motivation-at-dundee-revealed-as-david-gray-gives-lewis-miller-transfer-update-after-big-win-5254858 Hibs' manager was asked about Miller. Usual non committal managerial spiel, but he did say that he is still injured. There seems to be some mystery about the injury. First Alan Nixon said 2 months which turned out to be badly wrong. It was reported by Elliott Jackson that he might be able to train this week, which would be ideal because he will almost certainly be first choice so if we could get him starting next weekend or at least in the cup game, then that would have been great. But clearly not. No reporters over here seem to have picked up on the Henriksson story.

We’ve got a board ? Wow. Who are the lucky people ?