As Boro’s Championship curtain-raiser against Millwall gets ever closer, we take a look at the key decisions that will be made by head coach Michael Carrick before the big kick-off.
Carrick will have to navigate a number of injury situations and also the small matter that the club’s transfer business is yet to be concluded. That will be the same for most clubs though and you are unlikely to find the Boro boss using any of that as an excuse come Saturday afternoon.
Carrick – although not wanting to disclose too much about his selection – admitted in a report by The Northern Echo that his first team picks for the season opener are probably ‘pretty obvious’. He told reporter Dominic Shaw, “Of course we have a good idea I think. It’s pretty obvious as we go through pre-season and you get a bit closer.
“We’re not now going to scrap the team and pick a whole different team for next week, that’s pretty obvious.
“I’m not saying that is the team by any stretch but it will be close to what we’ve always done and how we play and the style of play. It’s up to us to get the right balance.”
With the left-back spot a position that needs significant attention, Carrick experimented with a selection that few saw coming against Auxerre. He brought off Hayden Coulson, who-having featured the most in the left-back spot-was largely expected to start there against Millwall, and moved Riley McGree into left back and put new signing Sam Silvera on the left wing.
McGree is obviously not a left-back by trade, but we know that Middlesbrough can be very fluid with their movement. The idea was to have the Aussie playmaker occupy the position when the opposition have the ball, and then float into midfield when Boro are in possession, with Silvera maintaining the width.
It is a slightly similar concept from when Giles played very high up the pitch last season. McGree drifted inside, with Giles overlapping. Except this way, the left-back in question (McGree) would be moving from left-back to inside rather than further up the flank.
That would take away somewhat from McGree’s overall involvement in the game, but he definitely has the footballing intelligence and ability to carry out anything asked of him.
If the left-back selection is between Coulson and McGree, then what of the positions elsewhere? Well, Sam Silvera has impressed enough for Carrick to consider re-deploying McGree, which shows massive faith in the new arrival given McGree’s standing in the Boro side.
He is direct and gives the left hand side a different dynamic. Boro fans are used to seeing Forss offer a similar direct, pacy approach to his play on the right and Silvera could give Boro that balance.
That would also potentially impact the number ten role, which was occupied by Matt Crooks against Auxerre. If Silvera was to get the nod on the left, McGree could feature in the ten. The only caveat with that selection, is that Crooks is a closer match to Akpom in a purely physical sense. Crooks can make a late run from that position and get on the end of crosses with a bit more impact, which is why we can see Crooks starting.
Experience the key
The right-back berth is another that is up for grabs with both right-back specialists-Tommy Smith and Anfernee Dijksteel-out injured. That selection will be contested by Paddy McNair, Isaiah Jones or Rav van den Berg.
The smart money would be on the experience of McNair. That is for a number of reasons. Jones is looking to regain form of any sort and needs confidence. Rav van den Berg has played right-back but is very young and new to the division.
McNair is a reliable defender and the 28-year-old utility man would also offer the option of being able to tuck in to a three-man defence if the left-back plays further up the pitch. A role often undertaken by Smith last season.
The only other contentious issue in the side, is the striker position. However, it will be considered a huge shock if anyone other than Morgan Rogers were to start there. The former Man City man has played as the main striker regularly during friendlies and got his first goal for the club against Auxerre on Saturday.
Jonny Howson and Chuba Akpom would ordinarily feature in the starting line-up, but having not trained enough, and we feel they will miss out against Millwall.
The early part of the season can be very important in terms of getting a win on the board early. Experience could be key. Here is our predicted eleven for Saturday, with only two signings starting in Morgan Rogers and £2m Seny Dieng.
