Football Season Guide

After guiding the club to the play-offs the previous campaign, much was expected of Michael Carrick in his first full season in charge at Middlesbrough, but it ended with an underwhelming 8th placed finish in the league. There were certainly mitigating factors, not least losing their two top goalscorers from the previous season, which led to a slow start. New signings took a while to gel and a spate of injuries meant that Carrick could rarely find consistency with his starting eleven, let alone with the team’s form. A run of just one defeat in their final twelve league games (W7 D4 L1) was one of many reasons the supporters could be optimistic for the future. Emmanuel Latte Lath scored eleven goals in that sequence after eventually finding his shooting boots in his first season on Teesside. Versatile defender Rav van den Berg was already named as both Young Player and Player of the Season in his debut campaign, having just turned 20-years-old. The summer transfer window has yet to bring as many drastic departures as last year, whilst Delano Burgzorg and Aidan Morris have come in to improve the squad. Luke Ayling’s loan move from Leeds was made permanent and he adds vast experience to a young group. Carrick signing a new three year contract could be the best piece of business the club have done. Boro have the tools to get back to where they want to be if they can keep everyone fit this time around.