Former Middlesbrough player Kris Boyd believes Boro will be in promotion contention for the rest of the season. After a second consecutive poor start to the season, Michael Carrick’s team seemed to have found their groove.
Boro struggled to start the previous season before going on a six-game winning streak from late September to late October.
They were unable to regain that level of performance until it was almost too late, in March, and therefore missed out on the play-offs.
Carrick and his team are now looking to learn from their mistakes and put together a more polished season, which they believe will result in a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016/17.
They presently sit just outside the top six with 24 points from 15 games. They are only five points below the top three, but nine points separate them from the relegation zone, demonstrating how tightly packed the middle of the second tier table is at this point in the season.
Kris Boyd predicts Middlesbrough to be in promotion contention
Boro have yet to entirely resolve their inconsistency issues. Take that out of the equation, and they surely have the players, management, and financial means to compete for a berth in the Premier League next season. Boyd, a Sky Sports commentator, believes Carrick will propel Middlesbrough to the top division at the end of this season. He told the Northern Echo:
“Michael Carrick opted to quit Manchester United and go out on his own, and he’s done an excellent job. Middlesbrough, based on their location, appear to be a club somewhere between the Premier League and the Championship.
“I believe they had tremendous big expectations to kick on and attempt to get back there (to the Premier League), as they did under (Aitor) Karanka a few years ago. The chairman backs the club and the managers, and I’m sure Michael Carrick will feel supported.
“They might go higher this year. They had a shaky start but appear to have recovered. They’ve recently had some good outcomes, and they’ll be trying to keep it up.
“If you look back a few years and consider some of the names who were at the club when it was soaring in the Premier League, if they can get back up, they can attract players. The chairman will support his managers and spend the money if they can return.”
Middlesbrough need to take advantage of a weakened Championship
Last season, it was going to be difficult for any club to break the glass ceiling and knock one of Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, or Southampton out of the top four.
Those positions appeared to be locked up; every other team was simply competing for the remaining berths. This time around, there are no true juggernauts. Leeds, Sheffield United, and Sunderland are unquestionably the teams to beat at the top of the division, but they, along with the clubs between them and the top three, should all be catchable and beatable in Boro’s eyes.
It does not appear that any side has the top slot locked up, and Carrick and his teammates must strive to capitalise on this.
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