Boro favourites for promotion next season

When Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League in 2009 many, including me, thought that the club would bounce straight back into the top flight.

However they could only manage a midtable finish in the Championship last season.

Changes

Middlesbrough started last season with Gareth Southgate in charge but the former England international was fired in October.

Scottish boss Gordon Strachan took over from Southgate but the club couldn’t challenge for a playoff position, finishing 11^th in the Championship.

Criticism

Strachan was heavily criticised for his performance as Middlesbrough boss last season. He had almost a season to make the team his own but failed to even achieve a playoff place. However it looks like he needed more time to change the side to his liking.

Middlesbrough’s performances were better towards the end of the season, after a bumpy start under Strachan. Boro started to play like a team and they got the results to show their improvement. Strachan had a decent team at his disposal last season but next season he will have an even stronger side.

Signings

Strachan has been one of the Championship’s busiest managers in the transfer market this summer. Strachan hasn’t just signed quantity but quality this summer. His biggest signing has to be that of striker Kris Boyd from Rangers on a Bosman transfer.

The Scot was prolific in the Scottish Premier League with Kilmarnock and Rangers and is a typical goal poacher. I don’t think he does much outside the penalty box but he seems to find himself in the right place at the right time.

I was really surprised that the Scottish international didn’t secure a move to the Premier League. Strachan must have impressed him with his plans for the future of the club and somehow convinced him to move to the second tier of English football.

Boyd has been joined at Boro by former-Rangers teammate Kevin Thomson. The midfielder joined the club for £2million in a surprise move. Thomson has stated that his ambition is to play in the Premier League with Middlesbrough; it shows that the club have players with ambition.

Former-Charlton captain Nicky Bailey has also joined the club. He is a talented midfielder, who has worked his way up from non-league Sutton United. Before he turned professional Bailey played for England’s C team. He impressed in his two seasons with the Addick’s scoring 27 goals in 85 appearances.

All three players will strengthen the Middlesbrough team significantly. They have that extra bit of quality that the team lacked last season. Gordon Strachan has stated that he wants to sign more players and his squad could get even stronger before the transfer window shuts.

Strachan is interested in signing Rochdale’s highly-rated centre-back Craig Dawson. The youngster has had two transfer requests rejected but it’s believed he will be allowed to leave if anybody comes in with a good enough offer.

Boro are also closing in on Estonian international attacker Tarmo Kink. The 24 year-olds agent has claimed the deal is done, subject to a medical. Strachan means business this summer and next season the team will be his team.

Experienced

Gordon Strachan is a very experienced football man. He has had ups and downs during his managerial career with Coventry, Southampton and Celtic but he is still regarded as a shrewd boss. He is also a likeable character and most of his fellow managers speak very highly of the Scot.

Favourites

The strength and depth of the Middlesbrough squad has made them favourites for promotion from the Championship. The Championship seems wide open next season. The teams that were relegated last season have lost some key players and are likely to take a while to find their feet in a new division.

The likes of Cardiff, Nottingham Forest and QPR are likely to be Boro’s main competition for promotion next season. I believe that Middlesbrough have by far the most quality in their squad and should be top of the pile come next May. The Teeside fans could once again look forward to clashes with both of their North East rivals Sunderland and Newcastle United.