Football Season Guide

Middlesbrough just missed out on promotion last season after a difficult campaign. Tony Pulis came in midway through the season and played a brand of gritty football that he has been renowned for over the past few years. A similar style of play is expected this year. The good news is Boro have not sold anyone significant over the summer so far, keeping their side together. Pulis opted to regularly go for an unchanged eleven during his time at the club last term and it appears to be consistency of team selection that gives this side a bit of an edge. Pulis has bought well in the shape of defender Aden Flint, who is extremely familiar at this level and one of the Championship's best defences. He should be a threat at set pieces as well as offering a reliable defensive presence. Paddy McNair is another defensive-minded midfielder who has joined from Sunderland. Middlesbrough will certainly be a very tough side to beat given the number of defensively-solid players they have. There are question marks in attack though. Britt Assombalonga has not matched up to his £15 million price tag while Patrick Bamford has shown promise but not always delivered. Adama Traore is another who on his day can really strike fear into the hearts of opposition defences. Yet in the play-offs last season he was a shadow of himself. Boro have allowed Patrick Bamford to leave the club in a surprise move while other players have been attractive to other clubs lately. It is a big season for Middlesbrough given that parachute payments from the Premier League will decrease. They do not have as much money as they had last term so the pressure is on Pulis to get things right.