Will Middlesbrough finish in the top 10 this season?
The Premier League has become more and more competitive in the last two seasons and nothing that I’ve seen from Middlesbrough suggests that they have improved at the same pace.
You feel that there comes a point with Boro when they just don’t have the quality to win enough games, and unless Southgate goes out and brings in quality reinforcements Boro are going to be in a spot of bother this season.
Mind you, Boro still finished 12th last season so they do have that quality to scrape through and get the necessary points.
I don’t think Boro have improved enough this summer but there’s still time to go and I think Southgate does have it in him to take them to the top 10, but Europe might be too far for him, especially with the current competition and the players at his disposal.
Manager Status: Southgate has done well considering that he was thrown too early into the job, but so far he hasn’t convinced anyone that he can take Boro to Europe, the way McClaren did. He is unlikely to be sacked but persisting with him will be difficult if Boro are in the bottom 6 come May.
Transfer Analysis: Woodgate’s permanent transfer was a good move but losing Viduka on a free is a blow and Aliadiere does not look like he can match Viduka’s impact at Boro. Boro will miss the powerhouse pairing of Yakubu and Viduka and if Yakubu goes as well, I don’t think Boro have any chance of breaking into the top-10.
Boro are still a few players short of what I’d call a good squad, so it’ll be interesting to see who Southgate brings in over the next 3 weeks.
Players to watch: Downing and Sanli.
August Fixtures: Blackburn at home, Wigan and Fulham away and then Newcastle at home. It’s a tame start to the season compared to what some other clubs are facing, and it’s a good chance for Boro to get a couple of wins and gain confidence.
Expectations: Fans will be expecting Boro to climb into the top 10.
Predictions: Tough - mid-table (9th-15th) but could end up lower.
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I think Middlesbrough have the potential to surprise a few people this year; we’ve cut out the dead-wood and brought in 4 high-quality signings. There is maybe room for one more top striker cos if The Yak goes down then we’ll start to look a little weak up front - it all depends on whether Aliadiere & Dong Gook Lee (who didn’t really get a fair crack of the whip last season) step up to the plate or not.
With Viduka up there, there was a tendency to just hit it up to him, therefore by-passing players like Rochemback and Downing. However this season, Southgate is trying to remould the attack to be more creative and exciting, with the ball played to people’s feet.
The way I look at it, we’ve only lost one big player, and gained 4 in his place. Players like Christie, Morrison, Xavier, Parnaby and Graham are not really worth losing any sleep over as they have consistently proved to be average at best at this level (Xavier was okay but he’s about 35 and past his best now).
If you look at our full strength first team line out, I think it’s pretty intimidating by anyone’s standards. And then we’ve got youngsters like Cattermole, Johnson, Taylor, Davies, Wheater, McMahon and Bates who are all full of potential and, more importantly, busting a gut make it for their local club.
(based on 4-3-3 formation that Southgate’s been using throughout pre-season):
11.Aliadiere 20.Yakubu 17.Tuncay
19.Downing 7.Boateng/3.Arca 10.Rochemback
6.Pogatetz 8.Woodgate 14.Huth/5.Riggott 2.Young
1.Schwarzer
This formation could also then drop in to a straight 4-4-2 with Tuncay out on the right, so there’s plenty of variation possible this season, whereas in the past we were somewhat predictable.
As a Middlesbrough fan, I am genuinely excited at the prospect of the forthcoming season.
Relegation!
I think Southgate can possibly…….if everything goes JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUST right……………get zero points from this campaign.
Relegators….. mount up
Gravity is the irresistable force here. I’m not sure Boro can escape the fall!
I think southgate was a great player and is a great manager in the making boro can do it
There is a long way to go yet. I have faith with Southgate and will stick with the Boro till the end.
Schwarz
Young — Woodgate — Mad Dog — Taylor
Aliadiare — Arca — Stewey Downing
\ /
\ Tuncay /
Mido — The Yak Attack