It is difficult to believe that we are only eleven games into the season, such is the depth of emotion invested in our respective teams’ relative fortunes.
Middlesbrough have gone from the depths of despair, languishing at the foot of the table and premature talk of the head coach’s job security, to flying back up the league ladder and once again contemplating whether promotion is achievable.
It goes without saying, some performances have been better than others, and some players have shown their worth in a way we may not have expected as we assessed the group back in August.
Here are the three players who have so far this season, made a positive impression at Middlesbrough football club.
1. Josh Coburn
Josh is highly rated by Michael Carrick, lets be clear about that. There is a reason he was rewarded with a new contract this year. He spoke with a determined and definite authority upon returning to Teesside following his loan spell at Bristol Rovers. He really wanted that opportunity to show how much he has developed playing regular League One football under the guidance of Joey Barton.
Despite his confidence, he was told that he may be sent back out on loan if the club manage to land another forward during the summer transfer window. We all now know it didn’t happen and Josh was kept in the first team squad. The 20-year-old form Richmond has grasped the opportunity afforded by that transfer situation and has fought with everything he has in every game he has been selected.
Coburn, who grabbed the winning goal against Watford, gives Boro another dimension, that physicality tires defenders and quite honestly, catches them off guard. He looks like the type of clean-cut boy you could take home to your parents, but ‘The Teesside Haaland’ is a bully and Boro fans love it.
He has excelled in terms of his displays and is currently keeping new arrival Emannuel Latte Lath out of the side.
2. Rav van den Berg
It was well documented that the young centre-back was hot property as far as desirable talents go. Some of the giants of European football were said to be interested in the teenager, but the Boro project was sold to him and the club have got a real gem on their hands.
His steady, but commanding style have already made him a favourite with the Boro faithful, and they haven’t even seen him play consistently in his strongest position. He has done a job at right-back and left-back already this campaign as Boro sought to rectify a particularly weak area of the pitch early in the season.
A new player, figuring out the style and ethos of the team, whilst also trying to come to terms with a robust and competitive division in a new country has been made to look like a seamless transition.
The fact that van den Berg is such a good player is not the surprise, the relative short amount of time it has taken for him to settle, has been the real eye-opener. The 19-year-old is definitely ahead of the growth curve in terms of development. Looks like Boro have a new Rav on the block.
3. Seny Dieng
He is not talked about much now, but Middlesbrough-at the time-really felt the loss of Zak Steffen. He was an integral part of the way Michael Carrick wanted his goalkeeper to play. There are not too many around who have the same unflappable authority and distribution that fit into Boro’s budget. Those keepers are usually way out of price range.
In came Dieng in the summer, with some QPR fans praising his performances, but equally some who wren’t quite so favourable.
What was instantly identifiable, was that Dieng was at home hanging around alongside Jonny Howson near the halfway-line. He has been excellent with his feet but in recent weeks, his value has come to the fore. Not only has he continued with his brilliant sweeper play, he has dug Boro out of a number of holes with some critical saves against opposing players who have been one-on-one with the Senegal international.
His form is improving, parallel with the increasingly solid team effort during the last five league games. It is testament to Dieng’s strong displays that nobody now talks of the loss of Steffen. Long may those displays continue.