Middlesbrough may have earnt their first win of the season at home to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night, but plenty of supporters are fuming at Marcus Browne’s wreckless behaviour and sloppy performance.
Once tipped as a ‘wonder-kid’ while coming through the ranks at West Ham United, the 21-year-old joined Boro on a four-year deal in the summer but hasn’t hit the ground running at the Riverside.
Plenty of fans were rightly delighted with the first three points of Jonathan Woodgate’s tenure, but many were vocally disappointed with Browne’s display on the night:
Twitter: Same fans tha had the audacity to complain about Adama Traore on the wing were treated to that Marcus Browne perfor… https://t.co/kXhBSRXvVJ (@EojSewob)
Twitter: bright spells at times, Browne is a liability at this stage, still don’t think he will make it to the end, need to… https://t.co/KW08UhkObm (@gisboro)
Twitter: Also, Browne needs to be careful.
Persistent fouling throughout the first half has seen him pick up a yellow, and… https://t.co/k8XFcriMh5 (@Smithy_MFC84)
Twitter: I don’t know what’s worse, Marcus Browne’s composure or Ryan Shotton. Shotton needs removing just as much as Browne… https://t.co/2pnFflVmHm (@jackdresser98)
Twitter: Shotton and Ayala were good tonight but neither can pass a ball, Bola’s scared to go forward and Browne was shockin… https://t.co/9mS6hyJ3qT (@kieranjcrossman)
READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT
Browne is a versatile starlet who is comfortable playing centrally behind the striker and on both flanks, those traits make him valuable to any attack and the decision to let him leave in the summer must have been a difficult one.
He shined for Oxford United in their League One campaign last term, scoring nine goals in 44 appearances, but the step up to the Championship could be something he’s not quite ready for.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say he was very lucky to stay on the pitch on Tuesday, and it can honestly only get better for him up here. The Hammers aren’t really missing him though.
