
Craig Johns from the Boro Gazette has given us the lowdown on Boro's season so far, their dangermen and how he thinks the game will pan out...
6th in the Championship after 29 games with 12 wins, eight draws and nine defeats. What's been the story of Boro's season so far?
Consistently inconsistent. That about sums it up. On paper, Boro have a squad that should be competing around the same level as Sunderland are this season, and indeed when at their best they’ve proven they can do so. The problem is, that best side of them isn’t produced enough. Their results have been majorly hampered by an attack which has so often struggled against low-block compact defences (with Regis Le Bris having seemingly figured that out himself for the reverse fixture and getting his gameplan spot on for that game), and also a defence which can’t seem to help finding new ways to gift opponents goals. No Championship side have conceded more goals this season from unenforced errors, and it’s a real problem for Michael Carrick.
What do the fans think of Carrick in the dugout?
In general, I think there’s an appreciation that he’s a good coach and, when it’s good, his style of play is so attractive to watch. That being said, he’s of the modern management stock who are set with their principles to the point of stubbornness at times. Many of the errors mentioned above are from playing out from the back. It’s a style he insists on, even when there are times when it’s blatantly obvious the ball just needs to go. In struggling to break those low-block defences down, there is often a lack of a plan B, while many have expressed frustrations with his rather reactive in-game management, with regard to subs and tactical tweaks. That said, this is just over two years into his first job, there’s been so much change at Boro in that time - mostly for the better - and Carrick is a big part of that.
Emmanuel Latte Lath is your top scorer with 11, what kind of striker is he? Do you reckon you'll be able to keep him until the end of the season, and beyond?
As things stand, the expectation is he will stay, though his availability for the Sunderland game is unknown due to a groin injury suffered last time out against Preston North End. Latte Lath is very much a striker who creates and thrives off chaos. He doesn’t give defenders a second with his pace and movement and he’s always looking for that run off the shoulder of the last defender to get in behind. He’s not the type of player who’s likely to dribble past multiple defenders and score a spectacular individual goal. But, create for him and he’s proven himself a deadly finisher.
Other than ELL who are some of your best players?
Ben Doak and Finn Azaz have been the other stars of the season so far. Doak arrived on loan from Liverpool and has done so well that Crystal Palace and Ipswich were bidding for him this month. Liverpool set a £30m asking price on his head and now, with the loan recall deadline passing, he will definitely be staying at Boro. An old-fashioned kind of winger, he loves to get one-on-one with his full-back and beat them to the byline before pulling it back. Ever-improving all areas of his game, he cut inside on his left-foot recently against West Brom and curled one far top corner. He’s a star in the making.
Azaz, meanwhile, is Boro’s chief creator. He usually plays the number ten role behind the striker and has a bit of freedom to roam. Not blessed with pace, he likes to get on the ball in pockets of space and then feed the attacking players. He’s very much Boro’s link between midfield and attack and his influence is such that teams have really started focusing closely on him during games.
On top of those too, Aidan Morris has recently returned from injury and has quickly established himself as a key player after his summer switch from Columbus Crew. As well as his confidence on the ball, he’s tenacious off it, and it’s exactly what Boro otherwise lack when he’s not there - hence attempts to sign Glen Kamara before the window closes.
Of course it’s worth mentioning Morgan Whittaker too, who has just joined the club from Plymouth Argyle and could make his debut against Sunderland. He’s been one of the best attacking players in the Championship since the start of last season and Boro have paid a lot to land him ahead of Burnley this month.
On the other hand, which Sunderland player worries you the most?
It’s hard not to appreciate the season Wilson Isidor is having. For me, he’s the archetype of this new Sunderland we’ve seen since the arrival of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman: signing these young, relatively unknown and/or unheralded players and turning them into gems.
I don’t get chance to watch too many Sunderland games, but they clearly have plenty of attacking talent with the likes of Jobe Bellingham and ex-Boro man Patrick Roberts. It’s fair to say the capture of Enzo Le Fee got the attention of many Championship clubs.
Based on the gameplan of the reverse fixture and just the general impact he’s had at Sunderland, not a player but Le Bris could be the biggest factor in this one. From the outside looking in, he appears to have made Sunderland a side so efficient and getting results, which is the exact opposite of Boro.
Have Boro done any January business yet? Where do they need to strengthen?
They’ve signed four players so far. George Edmundson was already here on loan and impressed so they made that a permanent deal. Ryan Giles, meanwhile, enjoyed such a successful loan spell here two seasons ago when both Boro and Sunderland made the play-offs. Having struggled elsewhere since, they took up the opportunity to finally reunite with him this month. The attacking left-back suited Carrick’s style perfectly first time around and is an alternative means of breaking down those stubborn defences.
As too is the aforementioned Whittaker. From the right wing he scored 20 goals for Plymouth last season and has another four this term - including a winning goal against Brentford in the FA Cup recently. He has the ability to beat a man but also score a spectacular one from range - which could be particularly useful. He also previously linked so well with Azaz at Plymouth.
Finally, Mark Travers has arrived on loan from Bournemouth and will likely debut against Sunderland. They needed a new keeper this month because both Seny Dieng and Sol Brynn have picked up long-term injuries. In Travers, they’ve signed a keeper who has convinced many Cherries fans he should be ahead of Chelsea loanee Kepa in the pecking order there. It feels like an important signing.
With deadline day being the day of the game, there’s also a chance they’ll have added former Rangers and Leeds midfielder Glen Kamara to the ranks as well - though whether in time to play against Sunderland remains to be seen.
On the outgoing front, Isaiah Jones and Matt Clarke have left, with Lukas Engel and Dan Barlaser likely to follow as Boro trim their squad of fringe players.
What's your score prediction and goalscorers?
Struggle to see anything but a bit of a cagey game. Having lost comically last time out at Preston, I’m trying to convince myself that in Boro’s inconsistent pattern, we’re now due a good one… I’m not optimistic. I’ll go 1-1 with Doak scoring Boro’s goal and Roberts getting Sunderland’s.
Finally, where do you reckon both sides will finish this season? Will this fixture be played in the play-off final perhaps?!
I don’t think you can rule out that possibility at all. Sunderland appear to be well-positioned in that cluster of four at the top who should, at the very least, now secure a top-six finish.
As for Boro, they appear to be really making a push for it with their January signings and that really puts the pressure on Michael Carrick to now deliver that play-off spot. Given the points they left themselves cut adrift, it feels like already they’re battling in a big field for the two remaining play-off spots. That said, if the new signings can have the desired impact, and they can end the season stronger, I’d fancy their chances on their day against pretty much any Championship side but Leeds United. The big question is can they find some consistency and cut out the silly errors.