Ahead of Monday night's 'derby' against Middlesbrough, we spoke to arguably the only nice Boro fan in Teesside, James Barker, to preview Tony Mowbray's return to the Riverside...
Boro are 20th in the league, having won just once so far. What's gone wrong?
Middlesbrough have developed an incredibly frustrating habit of conceding cheap goals so far this season. Whether it's giving teams head starts early in the game, own goals that slash three points to just the one, or throwing away games right at the death. Boro just keep on shooting themselves in the foot.
Our last game away at Watford showed that Chris Wilder and his side are no further down the line with a remedy either. A game in which for large periods, Middlesbrough were the better side, and had done enough to walk away from the match with a well deserved point. Before once again, the team fell back into their old habits and conceded a completely avoidable goal.
We do perhaps possess a solid understanding for why this could be happening, and that is a defence that has been overhauled this summer. Only Paddy McNair and Isaiah Jones have been able to keep a grasp on their place in the back five, with Ryan Giles, Darragh Lenihan and latest arrival Matthew Clarke forming the new defensive line. And on paper, this should be a top tier defensive unit this year, as stalwarts in recent years such as Anfernee Dijksteel and Dael Fry have began to find starting opportunities hard to come by in recent games.
Other problems such as losing an in-form Chuba Akpom to injury and a lack of depth in midfield have undoubtedly contributed to our poor start. But with no clean sheets yet this season, Boro's defence needs to click sooner rather than later. But until that happens, opposition strikers will rightly continue to purr at the prospect of facing our defence.
What are your thoughts on current manager Chris Wilder? Is he the right man for the job despite this slow start?
Despite everything I've just said however, Chris Wilder is the best thing that's happened to Middlesbrough Football Club in quite some time. That is because in-between the moments of defending that wouldn't look out of place in a "Carry On" film, the football that Wilder has got the Boro playing is a joy to watch.
His high-intensity overlapping centre-back system has been a breath of fresh air to all of us who've had to endure the recent tactical offerings in the dug out. Indeed the three gaffers that preceded Wilder were Neil Warnock, Jonathan Woodgate and Tony Pulis, meaning days of inflatable dinosaurs roaming the terraces at The Riverside are long extinct.
Wilder has arrived with a clear philosophy, and he has a clear vision of what needs to be done to bring success back to this football club, it's just a case of how long can we persuade him to see his vision through if things don't go to plan this season. So yes, Chris Wilder is absolutely the man for the job.
What kind of reception will Tony Mowbray get on Monday?
This is going to be really interesting to see. I know I'll be speaking for a large amount of Middlesbrough fans here that I hope he'll get a good reception. I'll certainly be clapping for him anyway. But there is certainly a contingent of Boro fans - perhaps from those who saw him lead the club so brilliantly back in 1986 - who will see this move to Sunderland as somewhat unforgivable.
Some fans on both sides will be experienced enough to remember the time when another Middlesbrough hero, Brian Clough, swapped Teesside for Wearside. By Clough's own admission, it took a long time for Middlesbrough supporters to forgive him for doing that. Perhaps it will be the same this time round too.
But if I had to give a reflection of the mood from what I've gathered at this moment in time, it would be one off wishing "Mogga" all the best, just not on Monday night. So far that reason, I'd expect him to get a good reception, and I expect any boo's will be likely drowned out.
What do you think of ex-Sunderland pair Duncan Watmore and Paddy McNair?
How can you look at Duncan Watmore and not just love the guy? Is he a magician with the football?, No. Does his unfortunate injury history mean he can't play a full 90 minutes every game?, Yes. But I tell you what, aside from George Friend, Grant Leadbitter and nowadays Isaiah Jones and Jonny Howson, he's about the hardest working player we've had in a long time. I'd love to know what brand and flavour of energy drink he necks before a game because he just does not stop running. He must be a nightmare for defenders to constantly know where his on the pitch.
And then there's Paddy. He's been one of our best and most consistent players since the moment he stepped through the doors at Rockliffe Park. A leader on the pitch and an exemplary professional off the pitch, and a solid 7/10 most weeks. But I'll tell you what, he could've tackled the ageing process better than he did Watford's players on Tuesday night. It was his first notably poor game in what feels like a very long time, and that's because it probably is.
But I fully expect him to bounce back from that performance, and there isn't really an opponent that he should be more fired up to put in a much improved display against than his former employers...
How's your transfer window been? Did you sell any important players or bring in any big names?
I think a 7/10 would be a fair grade to give our summer transfer window. Wolves loanee and left wing-back Ryan Giles has been a revelation for us so far this season. He possesses an absolute wand of a left foot, and if Sunderland's coaches have done their homework, preventing him from getting crosses into the box should be priority number one on Monday night.
Signing Blackburn Rovers' captain on a free transfer in Darragh Lenihan, and a centre half in Matt Clarke who's won player of the season in four of his last five seasons for £2.5-3M looks like fantastic business from the club, despite some early teething problems.
The striking department required a major revamp this summer, and Boro went out and recruited three forwards in the shape of: Matthew Hoppe, Marcus Forss and Rodrigo Muniz. The latter - and being the only loanee of the three - has been handed the number nine shirt, and is expected to be Boro's focal point for goals this season. Whereas Hoppe has seen limited first-team action so far, and Forss opened his account on matchday two Vs QPR, but hasn't found it again since.
In midfield, we were dealt a massive blow in losing Marcus Tavernier. Boro also sent attacking midfielder Martin Payero back to his homeland of Argentina to sign a loan deal with a view to a permanent deal with Boca Juniors, and ultimately failed to replace either of them. The only midfield addition came in the loan signing of defensive midfield player Alex Mowatt. The lack of midfield reinforcements have undoubtedly put a stain on an otherwise highly promising summer's worth of business however, and looks likely to come back and haunt us at some point.
Who's been your danger man this season?
Our two biggest danger men are our wing-backs, Ryan Giles and Isaiah Jones. As previously mentioned, Giles' left foot delivery is a thing of footballing beauty, so much so that Gru and his minions are probably masterminding their latest act of villainy in an attempt to steal it. He has three assists from seven games to start the season.
And on the opposite flank, you'll find the right wing-back that Tottenham should've signed, Isaiah Jones. A non-league reclamation project turned nightmare fuel for Championship defenders for the last year or so. He's the player who has the ability to lift everyone off their seats as soon as he receives the ball in an attacking area, because there's a high likelihood of something brilliant about to happen. Now that teams have become wiser to his danger, he has found it slightly more difficult to have as big of an impact on games as he was having last season, but still, he's a massive danger that should be given the upmost respect.
If you could sign any Sunderland player, who would it be and why?
It's the boring answer, but it's the obvious one, Ross Stewart. The man knows where the back off the net is, that's more than could be said for the vast majority of our striking options for the last however many years our presence has graced the Championship. Tall, but deceptively sharp and quick, whilst being good and strong in the air but equally as dangerous with the ball at his feet. He's a proper centre forward who can punish you from anywhere in and around the box.
Where are the weaknesses for Sunderland to exploit?
For now, whilst our defenders are still probably going through those tedious ice breaker activities to get to know one another on the training pitch, it is definitely our weak spot at the moment. We've conceded 12 goals in seven Championship matches so far, and with the way they're playing at the moment, Ross Stewart and co. have every right to come here full of confidence of adding to that tally.
What's your score prediction? Who will get the goals?
This is going to be one of the most hotly contested Tees-Wear derbies in recent memory, with freshly written sub-plots raising the stakes even higher.
Taking this disappointing Watford scoreline aside, Boro played really well and outplayed The Hornets for the majority of the second half. And in the game prior to that one, we finally registered our first three points in a home encounter with Swansea City, another game that we dominated from practically start to finish. So it does still feel like Boro are beginning to turn a corner on the pitch.
With that being said - although Jonathan Woodgate would try and argue differently - the table never lies, and Sunderland are in 8th place on merit. Therefore, I do see this being a tricky afternoon for Middlesbrough, so I'm going to say 2-2. Rodrigo Muniz and Matty Crooks to score for Boro, with Ross Stewart and Alex Pritchard to score for Sunderland.
It's early in the season but where do you predict both teams to finish this campaign?
I'm still confident that the calibre of players we have will see us climb the table, and I'm still confident that a playoff spot is there for Middlesbrough in a wide open season. So I'll say 6th place for Middlesbrough.
Sunderland, to your credit, have adapted to life back in the Championship brilliantly so far this season. And when you have a goalscorer like Ross Stewart up top, the possibility of winning each game is always going to be there. However, I'm not sure that you're going to have the depth to sustain a play-off push over a full campaign just yet. Please don't take that as an insult though, the very fact I'm saying that you just might not have the strength in depth to be a play-off team this season is a massive complement in itself.
I'll say 10th on the early evidence. But with Mowbray now at the helm, and with the foundations of a really good squad already in place, I expect you to be perennial contenders for a return back to the Premier League over the next few seasons.
