MIDDLESBROUGH
LAST SEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 7th FA CUP Quarter- Finals LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Matt Crooks ( 11)
FAN FILE
Last season was a promising glimpse of the Chris Wilder era, even if it ended in disappointment. An iconic FA Cup run was the highlight.
The big talking point is who will play up front for us this year. Djed Spence’s future was an inevitable source of speculation too, namely: who would pay us lots of money for him? This season will be different because with a full pre- season and summer window, we should be totally ready for a season of Wilder- ball. I’m least looking forward to playing
Norwich on their biennial cruise to the Championship title.
The pantomime villain will be Matt Crooks [ below]. The big man thrives on ruining people’s days.
Look out for Josh Coburn. He made great strides last year, topped with his winner against Spurs. The opposition player I’d love here is
Coventry’s Viktor Gyokeres: a complete Championship forward. The gears opposition is Aden Flint, player possibly who grinds because my he during couldn’t his campaign head anything with us. on That, target and the hairband. Our key player will be Isaiah Jones, our flying wing- back who tortured defences in his first Championship season and will want to kick on again. Our most underrated player is
Anfernee Dijksteel, a classy operator in the back three and a major reason why Jones can work his magic in attack. The active player I’d love to have back is Ben Gibson. He’s a left- footed centre- back, a leader, and Teesside born and bred – it just makes sense.
The thing my club really gets right is still the academy. Fans think our owner is among the best, but prone to the odd bad hire. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is largely very positive, end- of- season weirdness with the Burnley job aside. We know we’ve got one of the best managers in the division, so now it’s about delivering on the pitch. If he left, he should be replaced by
Neil Critchley ( but don’t leave, Wilder). I won’t be happy unless we make the top six. We’ll finish 4th.
FFT VERDICT 1ST
Jones’ stellar campaign offered Middlesbrough a threat on the right, but the absence of a leftsided equivalent hindered their top- six bid. Now Ryan Giles has rocked up, Boro could be difficult to stop under a manager with promotion knowhow in Wilder.