It wasn’t difficult to agree w/ Roberto Mancini. Boro did play very well – for large spells anyway. Immaterial really, since the quality of the final product remains abject. Gordon Strachan employed a five-man midfield to harry their elite opposition, even overcoming a devastating injury to Adam Johnson – which is becoming so redolent of [...]

So it’s VfB Stuttgart submitting a satisfactory tender for our dear Tuncay, £9m reportedly – the Turk wanted to stay in England, but fractional offers from Spurs, Villa, and Everton made this Bundesliga barter the best course for the club… Residual impact from the Carlisle friendly results in another prolonged absence for Matthew Bates…a staggering fourth [...]