It’s time for some forward thinking
Pundit tips Boro to be promoted next season Tributes pour in to the man who was crowned
SAM Parkin believes Middlesbrough can be serious contenders for promotion next season as long as they strengthen in the right areas this summer.
Parkin, who along with Adrian Clarke provides weekly expert analysis on the EFL on their What The EFL?! Podcast, has enjoyed watching Boro for most of the season. And though their recent nine-game unbeaten run came to an end on Monday evening when they lost 4-3 against Leeds United at the Riverside, he saw plenty to be optimistic about.
Reflecting on the game on this week’s episode, the former Chelsea academy graduate said: “I think huge credit should go to Middlesbrough in this game. That’s five goals they’ve scored against Leeds this season and I think I said a while ago, it’s good fun watching Middlesbrough this season.
“They’re entertaining. They have a go and I think they have the league’s most in-form striker at the moment alongside maybe [Sammie] Szmodics and the Coventry two, in Emmanuel Latte Lath. He’s outstanding at the moment.
“So I would 100% fancy Middlesbrough next year, with a few additions in the right departments. They’re possibly a little short at the moment. They could probably do with a wide player and an option at right-back. Dijksteel had a difficult time, to put it lightly, up against some of those Leeds forward players. But credit where it’s due to Middlesbrough because there is a lot to like about Leeds.”
Asked more on Latte Lath, as a former striker himself, Parkin continued: “I think he’s a very good player. I remember he was scoring more sporadically at the start of the season and was being criticised by lots of people for maybe being a little wasteful in front of goal.
“I didn’t see that. I saw the quality finishes that he was sticking away. And now they’re flowing more freely and you can see he’s a really good player. He’s got a real determination to get his shots off, and he’s got decent awareness too. The dummy for the first goal, that’s outstanding. On Ampadu, he just kidded that he was going to let fly, enabling the space to open up.
“Obviously the header is amazing too and now I think he looks like a really good player.
“Had he not been injured for a month to six weeks from January, I think we’d be talking about Middlesbrough maybe being in the play-offs again.”
AFTER so much work on depth last summer, the priority for Middlesbrough this summer will surely be quality over quantity.
The unprecedented injury list justified Boro’s approach to last summer, and it’s also left them in what feels like a good position heading into this summer.
Albeit, in ultimately missing out on a play-off finish this season, it also highlights why a little more quality will be needed this summer if they are to make the next step and challenge next term.
Attack has proven a particular issue for Boro this year and while at times their finishing has let them down, they have, particularly since the turn of the year, struggled with chance-creation. Injuries along the way to Isaiah Jones, Marcus Forss
TRIBUTES have poured in after the death of Sunderland’s player of the century, Charlie Hurley, aged 87.
One of the most adored players in Sunderland AFC’s history and hailed as the “greatest centre-half the world has ever seen” and “the King” by fans, he spent 12 years at the club after joining from Millwall in 1957. and Riley McGree have been unhelpful, but also highlight why their forward ranks could do with at least one quality addition.
In sticking with Carrick’s preferred formation, there are three roles behind the striker that make it ideal to have six options in total.
As things stand, after the shock winter departures of Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks, Boro have seven – but that includes underwhelming loanee Sam Greenwood, as well as Sammy Silvera and Alex Gilbert who have been limited in their chances this season.
In the case of Greenwood, there is
He remains one of only 10 players to surpass 400 appearances in red and white and was crowned their player of the century in 1979.
He featured in all but one game of the club’s 1963-64 promotion winning season, and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
His final visit to Wearside came in November 2016 an option to purchase the Leeds forward for just £1.5 million this summer and I’ve championed the exploration of that prospect previously. He’s really struggled of late but is just 22 and in his first season of regular senior football. Carrick certainly seems to rate him, too.
Silvera, meanwhile, has shown plenty of positivity and Carrick has described himself as excited by the young Aussie’s potential as he used his first season to develop and grow. In truth, were it not for all the injuries, the 23-year-old was never intended to play as often as he has this season. when the gates bearing his name, which used to form the entrance to the club’s training ground, were installed as a permanent fixture at the Stadium of Light.
Born in Cork and raised in London, he also clocked up 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland. On leaving Sunderland, he ended his
Silvera might have actually found himself in a similar position to Gilbert were it not for absentees. The 21-year-old joined Boro last season from Brentford B with the goal of breaking into senior football. But it hasn’t quite transpired that way for him, with his recent assist at Southampton his first notable contribution of the season. Lined up for a loan move in January, it couldn’t happen then because of depth, but could and probably should be explored in the summer. As optimistic as you may want to be about Silvera and the potential of signing Greenwood, the evidence of this season suggests neither should be regular starters next season if Boro are to be realistic challengers for promotion, unless dramatic improvement is shown by either. Isaiah Jones has signed a new longterm contract, which is a huge boost. Along with Marcus Forss – who has suffered terribly with injuries this season – their rightplaying career at Bolton Wanderers, before managing Reading for five years.
A statement on the Sunderland AFC website read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charlie Hurley, one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of Sunderland AFC. Named the Club’s Player of the Century in 1979, The King was a giant in the story of SAFC and his legacy on Wearside will forever endure.
“A man mountain on the pitch and a gentleman off it, Charlie’s aura and charisma ensured that he was adored and idolised by supporters and team-mates alike.
“Charlie adored Sunderland and Sunderland