MIDDLESBROUGH SUMMER TRANSFER DECISIONS IN FOCUS AFTER ENTERTAINING LEEDS UNITED DEFEAT

Middlesbrough's unbeaten run may have come to an end on Monday night against Leeds United, but with very little to play for now this season anyway, recent games have always been played with an element of looking towards the future.

And in matching strong promotion candidates Leeds United, there was plenty to take from the game - both in terms of the positives, but also the negatives that can highlight areas of the team that Boro may need to strengthen during an important summer transfer window.

Ultimately, where Leeds currently are is where Boro wants to be next season and so using these recent games as a yardstick has plenty of value. And with that in mind, here are the talking points and conclusions emerging from the game.

Leeds' performance highlights Boro's need for added quality

It was an entertaining end-to-end game for the most part, but particularly in the first half. It sounds bizarre given Boro conceded four goals on the night, but, up against a really effective and quality-laden attack, Boro didn't defend too badly overall. Just caught out with the odd lapse, they actually only conceded five shots on target, and it was Leeds' clinical approach - and the help of the linesman - more than anything else, that helped them to three points.

At the other end of the pitch, particularly in the second half when so often playing against a lower block as Leeds looked to contain, Boro's inability to break down defences of that ilk came to the fore again. It's been an issue throughout the season and, as has too often been the case, they left themselves open to a counter and were punished.

It highlights what's been known for some time now, Boro could do with added quality in the final third - with the kind of mayhem and uncertainty that Aaron Ramsey could create, and the pinpoint quality delivery of Ryan Giles, too often missing against low-block defences.

Admittedly without Riley McGree and Marcus Forss who are capable of individual moments of quality to unlock doors for Carrick's side, Boro still feel at least one, maybe even two forwards short of having the required quality in depth to ensure they can cope with injuries and still have the ability to put teams to the sword in the way that Leeds ultimately did.

Lewis O'Brien impresses, but a real test for next season seems unlikely now

Lewis O'Brien continues to look really impressive in Boro's midfield. With a drive and positivity in possession and real energy and determination out of it, the Nottingham Forest loan man looks tailor-made for 'Carrick-ball', and looks to be really enjoying his period in the team after such a frustrating season thanks to injury.

The summer will be a really interesting one for the 25-year-old, with two years still remaining on his Nottingham Forest deal. Things are still uncertain at the City Ground as to what division they will play in next season and that probably leaves doubt as to whether O'Brien will be available in the summer. Added to that is the uncertainty over the finances required to do a deal and whether, for Boro, they would be viable.

O'Brien has certainly proven himself a valuable player across these last ten games in which Boro have been far stronger. The real shame, with next season in mind, is that the one test we haven't seen, and probably won't now, is if he and Hayden Hackney can function together.

Two quality midfielders on the ball, the right-foot, left-foot combination makes for a perfect balance in that regard. However, with both very positive, forward-minded midfielders, one potential uncertainty would be whether the pair can play together without leaving Boro's defence too exposed.

It's something that might have to be considered when looking at what direction to go in with regard to strengthening the midfield in the summer, but sadly something that evidence is unlikely to be provided for.

Bangura's return brings focus to interesting summer transfer dilemma

One interesting element of last night was Alex Bangura's return to action. A 20-minute cameo after being out since January, Bangura immediately looked bright getting up and down the left wing - producing far more in attack in the short period than Luke Thomas in the 68 minutes prior. Using his pace, he also got back well to make one excellent last-ditch recovery tackle.

It was all an example of how, for a long time, Bangura has looked like Boro's best current option in terms of making that role look as close as it did last season, when it was such an important position in terms of how Boro played.

Unfortunately, Bangura just hasn't been able to get a good run in the team, with injuries impacting him since he pulled his hamstring just 60 minutes into his debut at Blackburn Rovers. Without Bangura for most of the season, Carrick's preferred system has had to be tweaked, with neither Lukas Engel - who missed out for personal reasons last night - or Thomas quite producing the same kind of attacking quality.

It brings into focus a dilemma Boro's recruitment team will have this summer regarding that position. Thomas will inevitably go back to Leicester after an underwhelming loan spell, but what do Boro do with Engel and Bangura? Do they go forth with the pair and hope they can stay injury-free next term and build on their first season with improved second seasons?That certainly fits with the model.

But, in the ever-present desire to try and push for promotion, there's also the possibility of cashing in on one and trying to sign a more ready-made first-choice for the role in the mould of Giles. There was certainly talk of interest in Bangura earlier in the season from clubs back in the Netherlands and also Italy, but a lot could be determined by what Boro believe is available to them this summer at an affordable price, with budget and obvious priorities elsewhere in mind.

A 50-year first for Boro confirmed

While most had already resigned themselves to the fact, defeat last night officially confirmed that Middlesbrough will spend an eighth season in the Championship next term. In fact, that makes it a 50-year first for Boro in terms of being outside of England's top flight.

This year is the seventh season in the second tier and that tied with the amount they spent outside the Premier League before Aitor Karanka and co. won promotion back in 2016. The last time Boro had eight-plus years outside of England's top flight came in a 20-year period between 1954 and 1974. That ended when Alan Foggon top-scored with 20 goals to fire Jack Charlton's Boro to the First Division as champions.

Boro will be hoping this current run ends before coming close to breaking that 20-year record, with plans already in place to build on the positives of this season ahead of a promotion challenge next season.

2024-04-23T14:39:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd