Aitor Karanka: Middlesbrough sack Spaniard

[Mellotron]

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I did mention a few weeks ago that some of our supporters will have a massive shock coming their way if we go up, seem to remember getting torn apart..

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I think we would only get "torn apart" by the top 6-8, below that you have the likes of;

Watford
Bournemouth
Swansea
Stoke
Hull
Middlesborough
Burnley
Palace
Sunderland (admittedly probably down)

In terms of their starting 11s vs our likely-to-be-strengthened current best 11, there's no reason we couldn't compete with those teams, is there?

[Is it PotG?]

[Monkey Man]

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Absolutely. I have no doubt we can rely on Bloom. It would be good if supporters showed patience too. If you look at the three promoted teams from last year, Middlesbrough and Hull are both in the bottom three and Burnley are doing pretty well, but they've been up a couple of times in recent years so probably had a better starting point that we would. If we do go up, 17th would be an achievement in the first season up and then you can build from there. I'm not saying that should be the limit of our expectations but, having been used to winning a lot of games and rarely losing across the last two seasons, we will have to get used to losing a lot more games next season, even if we do well like Burnley.

This has been going through my head a lot lately. If we go up we'll be underdogs for the first time in many years and newer fans that have got used to us winning are going to have to getting used to really get behind a losing team a lot of the time.

[severnside gull]

Had no idea how to go forward. If only he had left last Easter.

[clippedgull]

I don't think TB will ever sack Hughton, but if we get promoted and spend most of the season in the bottom 3 and end up getting relegated I think Hughton will leave by mutual consent.

If we don't get promoted this year or next year, then I think the same scenario could occur.

[Mellotron]

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Thank the Lord for Chris Hughton.

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

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Did you know NSC spell check for Karanka is Karaoke...

True story.

And the Japanese word for Karaoke is Karanka.

Alternative fact.

[Pavilionaire]

Gibson has, once again, demonstrated his loyalty by giving Karanka a decent chance but the stats and the table don't lie - he had to go.

Moreover, I'm not convinced that Karanka would take them up from the Championship next season - Villa and Norwich will be in the mix, and I expect Hull and Sunderland will be too, and it does seem there are rifts between manager and players.

For every manager like Sean Dyche that can get relegated and bounce back straight away there's an Alex Neil that can't shake off the ghosts of relegation with players, board and fans.

[BBassic]

I actually think if we were to go up and come back down again that Hughton would be given that season to get us straight back up and if he was unable to then he'd be off.

[BensGrandad]

Wouldnt Gibson go after a name like Ryan Giggs on his playing record?