It looks like we're about to sign a Right Back.

[Charnwood]

Town are reported to have agreed terms with Middlesbrough regarding the loan of right-back Frazer Richardson.

According to Sky Sports, the Blues and Boro have agreed an initial loan for the 31-year-old, who was close to joining Blackpool on a similar basis until Paul Ince’s sacking by the Tangerines earlier this week.

Rotherham-born Richardson started his career with Leeds where he made 145 starts and 28 sub appearances in nine years, scoring five times.

Having spent two spells on loan at Stoke early in his time at Elland Road, 5ft 11in tall Richardson moved on to Charlton in the summer of 2009.

After a year at the Valley he joined Southampton before signing for Boro at the start of this season. He has made only 11 appearances since his switch, the most recent in November.

[Charnwood]

According to Sky Sports he's agreed to stay at least until the end of the season on loan terms with a view to signing permanently.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Fantastic ! I'm really chuffed ! Middlesbrough reject is about to join us. Exciting times !

So..... Evans refuses to help Mick out and we're forced to take other clubs' rejects. Clubs from the same league. Not that I'm blaming Mick as he has no other options just freebies and loanees.

Not writing Richardson off but the facts are clear. He had been Middlesbrough regular during Mowbray tenure. That team under Karanka is doing an amazing recovery following Mowbrays misery. Richardson has no place in that team and played only once ever since they appointed Karanka and that was in his first game.

Still when Mick leaves us at some point in the future some soppy Town fans won't mind that poor manager Mowbray is to become our new man...... only cos he's our ex-player

Hope all goes well form Richardson when he pulls on the Town shirt but the clubs policy is ridiculous that we are forced to sign some poor reject on loan.

[Herbivore]

How dare we try to live within our means. SACK THE BOARD!!!

[Number 9]

I wonder if he's better than Hewitt? That's all fine and dandy if we live within our means. If that's the future though, we'd better start developing our youth a lot faster than we currently are, don't you think?

[Herbivore]

People have been saying we need a right-back, we look set to sign a right-back and people still complain. Hewitt is where he should be right now, which is playing regular football at a level where he'll develop and his mistakes will be less costly.

[philgoddard]

This signing just goes to show how misguided some fans opinions on town are. Not just on here but on the twtd site also.

We are not a big team anymore! Despite a few weeks in the top 6 we are considered and rightly so an average mid table championship team. We are not in a position to sign quality players like the top teams are until we can establish ourselves as serious top 6 team.

As for Richardson he is a proper right back, looked good when at Leeds so will surely add much needed balance to the defence. A bit of optimism and perspective is needed here for sure

[hallamblue]

Id say this is exactly what we need and have done so for bloody YEARS. We also need a creative midfielder and have done so also for years!

[barmy billy]

Fantastic ! I'm really chuffed ! Middlesbrough reject is about to join us. Exciting times !

So..... Evans refuses to help Mick out and we're forced to take other clubs' rejects. Clubs from the same league. Not that I'm blaming Mick as he has no other options just freebies and loanees.

Not writing Richardson off but the facts are clear. He had been Middlesbrough regular during Mowbray tenure. That team under Karanka is doing an amazing recovery following Mowbrays misery. Richardson has no place in that team and played only once ever since they appointed Karanka and that was in his first game.

Still when Mick leaves us at some point in the future some soppy Town fans won't mind that poor manager Mowbray is to become our new man...... only cos he's our ex-player

Hope all goes well form Richardson when he pulls on the Town shirt but the clubs policy is ridiculous that we are forced to sign some poor reject on loan.

You say when MM goes at some time in the future.......

The way things seem to be going with additional players, that should perhaps read 'some time in the near future'. It would not surprise me to hear that he is thoroughly pissed off with Evans.

[J4ck22]

I've come to terms with the fact that whatever happens, good or bad, people will still complain.

It's not an inspirational signing by any means, but come on, what the f*ck else can we do?

[J4ck22]

Id say this is exactly what we need and have done so for bloody YEARS. We also need a creative midfielder and have done so also for years!

It's all well and good repeating the same thing all season, but would you also happen to know where to find one, either for free or on loan? I already know the answer.

[The Don]

Mach, do you seriously feel like that? When was the last time we signed a player that was considered "required" by their club.

We've been out of the game for so long that we have to contend with what we can get. I'm not saying that's right, but it's the reality until things improve.

Let's not write the guy off just yet though.

Walters, Delaney and McAuley left us and have done arguably better elsewhere when we didn't believe them to be worthy of playing the game.

Norris, Chopra and Bullard joined us with great reputations and we know what happened there.

One mans fool can be another mans gold.

[Mr.Punch]

Mach, do you seriously feel like that? When was the last time we signed a player that was considered "required" by their club.

We've been out of the game for so long that we have to contend with what we can get. I'm not saying that's right, but it's the reality until things improve.

Let's not write the guy off just yet though.

Walters, Delaney and McAuley left us and have done arguably better elsewhere when we didn't believe them to be worthy of playing the game.

Norris, Chopra and Bullard joined us with great reputations and we know what happened there.

One mans fool can be another mans gold.

good point well made

[Charnwood]

To be honest Mach I don't see the problem. We all know we need a specialist right back and we've signed one. I s he better than we have, probably yes, and we get a chance to take a look before we pay a fee or get stitched up with a long contract.

If you look at all the transfers in involving Championship Clubs I think you'll find most are loan's either involving a young player attached to a Prem League Club desperate for playing time. or a player surplus to a clubs current requirements.

There are very few transfers involving large fees or players clubs desperately want to keep, I don't think we're an exception.

[hallamblue]

Id say this is exactly what we need and have done so for bloody YEARS. We also need a creative midfielder and have done so also for years!

It's all well and good repeating the same thing all season, but would you also happen to know where to find one, either for free or on loan? I already know the answer.

Id say mick McCarthy' s scouting team woulx have the best chance possible of unearthing a right bank. The previous 2 managers squandered millions on washed up journeymen and run of the mill midfielders. Neither of them had a decent scouting network because one manager was behind the times, the other incapable of working with others in a backroom staff.

MM appears to have something about him and an awareness of what players are about/ available which Keane and Jewell hadnt got a clue tbh. Mick McCarthy said in the summer that there would be a great deal more players out of work as the nature of the game is changing for clubs outside of the PL...... and so he has shown by picking up players for zero fee and low wages - certainly lower than we have been paying players for several years. An emerging theme at the majority of clubs now. Which is why I'll be interested tk see what is done abiut those ckhbs that flout these new FFP rules.

On the issue of righg back id say it would be far eazier to secure a RB than a left back as a decent left footed player appears to be a rarity in the game.

[Charnwood]

Boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Middlesbrough right-back Frazer Richardson is joining the Blues on loan until the end of the season.

“I’ve known him a long time, we tried to sign him from Leeds when I was at Sunderland. He’s only 31, he’s out of contract at the end of the year, so he’s with us until the end of the season.

“He wants to get a contract somewhere, it’s fabulous for us and he’s a top lad, I’m delighted with him.

“He knows the score, he’s come down, he knows Chambo’s playing and he wants to come and fight for a slot, which is great for a pro at 31. Fantastic. He’ll be available on Tuesday at Leeds.”

[wilnisfan]

It all depends on your point of view, looking at it one way we have another loan to fill a problem area which we need a proper solution

And then one could see a differing point of view that we would much prefer to have a young hungry potential type of player on a permanent long contract and an older player on a short contract, than the other way around - which wasn't long ago and we were proper bitchin about it then.

[herforder]

It all depends on your point of view, looking at it one way we have another loan to fill a problem area which we need a proper solution

And then one could see a differing point of view that we would much prefer to have a young hungry potential type of player on a permanent long contract and an older player on a short contract, than the other way around - which wasn't long ago and we were proper bitchin about it then.

Think we have to trust MM's judgement; his is the point of view that matters most!
Having to operate within tight financial constraints, this will hopefully prove to be a shrewd bit of business. (Encouragingly I thought EH had a good game for Gillingham against Brentford the other night - did nothing wrong, and made some good forward runs/crosses).

[Herbivore]

We have Hewitt and Veseli for the long-term, in fact I think Kyle Hammond also plays there. However, none of those players is ready for this level now and so it's better we bring in a player who is proven at this level to fill the gap short-term whilst our own youngsters continue to learn their trade.

[Charnwood]

With potentially Richardson and Cresswell in the full back positions, Berra, Smith and Chambers to choose from in Central defence with Mings & Elliott in development our defensive options suddenly look much better albeit still a bit thin.

Gerken looks a decent Championship keeper and McGoldrick, Murphy, Nouble, Taylor & Ebanks-Blake, with Marriott in development makes the strike force look reasonable and again gives McCarthy effective options.

... but midfield is still where we don't appear to have an effective combination despite on paper the individuals looking more than competent. If you think we have Anderson, Edwards, Hunt, Hyam, Skuse, Tabb, Tunnicliffe and Wordsworth.... you can understand why Marcus Evans might be reluctant to give MM more funds and add to the midfield wage bill.

In my opinion McCarthy needs to make some big decisions on some of these players because there's no point adding to the midfield resources it it makes yet another player redundant and surplus to requirements.

Although it would be very nice to have a shiny new creative midfield player, if McCarthy can find his most effective combination from the players we have this squad should be sufficiently experienced and talented to be challenging for a place in the play-offs.

[Bluemike]

If Anderson could produce what he did yesterday every week we would be much healthier.

[Herbivore]

If Anderson could produce what he did yesterday every week we would be much healthier.

Agreed, sounds like his performance yesterday was the Anderson the Bristol City fans held in such high regard. If he can sustain that level it'll be like a new signing in some respects. Hunt is getting towards match fitness now too and that will give us another good option. MM sides always tend to have a couple of grafters in the middle with the creativity coming from the flanks. Our problem has been that our wide players haven't been good enough for that to work consistently. If Hunt and Anderson start producing the goods on a regular basis we'll do fine without needing to add to the side. I don't think we're likely to get this much vaunted creative CM; in fact I'm not sure they even exist particularly at this level or below.

[herforder]

If Anderson could produce what he did yesterday every week we would be much healthier.

Do you think that was because he was playing wider than in past appearances? I think I can recall an interview where he said that playing in a narrow midfield was not his natural game. Certainly his and Hunt's most effective performances, holding out real optimism if MM continues to play them in the same way for the future. If anything I was slightly disappointed with RT - who, as usual, worked very hard but perhaps gave away some poor passes and didn't create too much. But that's just nit-picking!

[Bluemike]

Tunnicliffe was shocking in the first half, in fact he was so bad he would definitely get into Man Utd's team.

In fairness he greatly improved after the break and for me was quite instrumental in us getting on top of the midfield and in turn the game. He got into the box a couple of times which also created space for others.

[Mach_Polish_Blue]

Mach, do you seriously feel like that? When was the last time we signed a player that was considered "required" by their club.

We've been out of the game for so long that we have to contend with what we can get. I'm not saying that's right, but it's the reality until things improve.

Let's not write the guy off just yet though.

Walters, Delaney and McAuley left us and have done arguably better elsewhere when we didn't believe them to be worthy of playing the game.

Norris, Chopra and Bullard joined us with great reputations and we know what happened there.

One mans fool can be another mans gold.

You may have a point Don but those were the days that we were an attraction for the players from the same league. Let's take 1999/00 season where we signed Jermaine Wright, McGreal and Stewart. Days like that may return but only if things improve as you've said. Still I'm not entirely happy with getting rejects in but I'm not writing Richardson off.

Actually I've changed my mind a bit over him. Mick seems to be happy with this addition. Moreover Nigel Adkins praised Mick for this one. So looks like a not bad deal.

[Bluemike]

The thing is we all have to realise there are an abundance of freebies to be had now and not all of them are cast offs, far from it. If Tom Ince isnt snapped up soon he can walk for nothing in the summer, Leicester top the league at the moment and around half of their current squad are also out of contract come June so there are some gems to be had. It is just the way the rules of the game are changing things.

[Charnwood]

The thing is we all have to realise there are an abundance of freebies to be had now and not all of them are cast offs, far from it. If Tom Ince isnt snapped up soon he can walk for nothing in the summer, Leicester top the league at the moment and around half of their current squad are also out of contract come June so there are some gems to be had. It is just the way the rules of the game are changing things.

Rather strangely it looks as if Tom Ince is off to Swansea on loan till the end of the season with no commitment to join them in the summer. I'm not quite sure to make of this if he's out of contract at the end of the season.

[Bluemike]

I am hearing he is off to Stoke.

[The Don]

He spoke to Swansea yesterday and stoke today. Apparently there are two other clubs he intends on talking to before anything is confirmed.

What is certain, he won't be in Blackpool come February.

[Charnwood]

He spoke to Swansea yesterday and stoke today. Apparently there are two other clubs he intends on talking to before anything is confirmed.

What is certain, he won't be in Blackpool come February.

.....and Blackpool will struggle to score goals without him.


mmmmmm .. when do we play Blackpool? ... 15th Feb