Well boys and girls, we have now gone well over 24 hours without signing anyone Scottish, or indeed, anyone at all!
And while its nice to have a little break to build up some anticipation, just so we don't miss anyone arriving you understand, it is a little bit boring.
So, we are going to play a little game, a version of Kill, Kiss, Marry (not what I usually call it, but I'm keeping it clean.) only for our purposes its Sell, Loan, Keep.
Theres is no point in speculating on players who have just arrived, or those who are no longer part of our club, so here goes.
Mido - Sell. Get Rid! I don't care how or where to. Watching Mido stroll around the pitch once too often and reading enough negative reports straight from the club to wallpaper the mansion he no doubts lives in mean that even without his colourful past I do not want to see him in a Boro shirt ever again.
Didier Digard - Keep and monitor his fitness. Digard was purchased by Gareth Southgate as a player for the future, which is now. If he can stay fit he can remind us why we were all crying for Southgate to play him more often, because he was one of our better players. Although it is a very big 'if', I think he's worth a bit of effort.
Brad Jones - Keep. Despite his many many critics, the Australian is a better goalkeeper than he is usually given credit for, and while I'm not convinced he's a strong enough first choice, he is useful back-up.
Danny Coyne - Keep. Although Coyne does have chinks his in his armour, notably his height and age, he is usually a solid Championship goalkeeper.
David Wheater - Keep. Although Wheats seems to be stalling on signing a new contract I think that may have had a lot to do with not knowing whether 'Big Mick' was staying. The Redcar Rock is still very young for a central-defender and needs the steadiness of a regular partner, especially the superb Stephen McManus. I'm confident Wheater will have his best season so far for us in the 2010-11 campaign.
Gary O'Neil - Sell. Controversial, I know, but his value decreases every year in a market which increasingly over-values players. He is injury prone and just seems too delicate for the promotion battle Boro are going to wage. If Stoke really do want him, he can go and play with Huth and Tuncay again.
Rhys Williams - Keep. Once he returns from injury (and Australia) I reckon the young defender/midfielder will be raring to go and will make a significant contribution to our season.
Julio Arca - Sell - A great servant to the club but one who is definitely past his best.
Lee Miller - Sell - With Boyd, McDonald and co he probably won't get off the bench and I'd rather see a youngster like Franks be given the time and attention.
Leroy Lita - Sell. See Miller but even more so, I think we can do better.
Joe Bennet, Luke Williams, Jonathan Franks - Keep. Good young talent with confidence and bags of potential, just don't rush them Gordon!
Andrew Taylor, Tony McMahon, Matthew Bates, Seb Hines - Keep. If only so we remember we are Boro and not McBoro. We need a full squad and while this little lot have had more injuries than David James has had hairstyles it will nive to have an excess of defenders at the start of the campaign, because you can bet we won't have them all fit by the end of it!
Justin Hoyte - Keep. A frustrating player who goes from very good to very bad with little inbetween, Hoyte is nonetheless a decent footballer, and he has bags of pace.
Marvin Emnes - Sell if we can loan out if we can't. I just don't get what he gives us.
Jonathan Grounds - Keep. A young defender who, I believe, should, with the occasional wobble, come through very well under Strachan.
Kyle Naughton - Loan him back from Spurs!
So there you have it, these are just my verdicts.
Feel free to join in through the comment's box or the messageboard if you prefer!
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 15-7-10
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