This is Middlesbrough’s first game back after the transfer window has officially shut. Boro have done some great business bringing in 10 senior players. They have also managed to keep hold of several key players. The most notable being captain Ben Gibson who received a lot of interest from Premier League clubs over this summer.
Middlesbrough have had a worrying few games recently. They lost 2-1 away to Nottingham Forest in part to Britt Assombalonga’s failure to put away several key chances. They then drew 0-0 in their most recent game with Preston North End. Largely due to some tactical blunders.
But Boro now face Bolton who are the perfect team to bounce back against due to their awful form. Here is how Middlesbrough could line-up against Bolton Wanderers.
Formation: 4-1-2-3
Garry Monk took some unnecessary risks with his formation in Boro’s last game at Preston. Middlesbrough started out with a three at the back and then switched to a 4-4-2. Neither of these formations worked well for before. So, except Monk to revert back to the system that has seen Boro win twice at home this season.
GK: Darren Randolph
Since signing for Boro earlier this summer, Darren Randolph has started every league game for Boro. He has kept three clean sheets in his first five games. Randolph has also pulled off a few excellent saves. Including one against Preston North End.
Randolph is Boro’s number one keeper so expect him to start every league game this season. Something Boro fans will have no problem with given how well he has played in a Boro shirt so far.
RB: Cyrus Christie
Christie is one of 10 new players signed by Monk over the summer. He is fast, puts in a great cross and fits into Monk’s system perfectly due to his attacking nature.
Boro have not had a decent right back for a while now. But they look to have found one finally in Cyrus Christie.
RCB: Dael Fry
At the start of this season, Fry was very much excepted to be a fringe player at Boro with Daniel Ayala the one to partner Ben Gibson. However, Ayala was injured after just one game which gave Fry the opportunity to fight for a starting place.
Fry has certainly done this. In the four league games, he has played Boro have kept three clean sheets. He and Ben Gibson have formed a great partnership and are excepted to be Boro’s main centre back pairing this season.
LCB: Ben Gibson
After much transfer speculation, Ben Gibson is still a Boro player, at least until January. Keeping Gibson was one of the best bits of business Middlesbrough did this summer. Gibson is a great young captain and as mentioned earlier is forming a great partnership with fellow Boro Academy graduate Dael Fry.
The two players even combined to score Boro’s only goal at Nottingham Forest with Fry setting up Gibson and the pair look to have a very bright future ahead of them.
LB: George Friend
Friend’s ability has been very much questioned recently by Boro fans. However, Garry Monk is clearly a fan of him as he has started every Boro league game this season.
Friend is excellent going forward and Bolton are the perfect opponents for him to show Boro fans he’s still got it.
CDM: Adam Clayton
Clayton has been one of Boro’s player of the season so far and should be one of the first names on Monk’s team sheet every game.
Boro fans are now very familiar with the role he is playing under Monk. He drops between the two CB’s forming a three at the back which allows the full backs and centre mids to get forward.
He also breaks up play extremely well and controls the game for Middlesbrough. Clayton has been outstanding for Boro so far this season. If he stays fit he should start every Championship game.
CM: Lewis Baker
Baker has not started many games for Monk since joining on loan from Chelsea. This may be due to the fact he is a very attacking minded CM and Monk does not want to be too exposed at the back. But Bolton are a very poor side this season and have yet to win a game.
Therefore Monk should start Baker as he would be able to break down the Bolton defence better than the likes of Forshaw while not worrying too much about defending against a weak Bolton side.
CM: Jonny Howson
Howson has started every Championship game this season for the Teessider’s. He is a good box to box midfielder and fits Monk’s system very well.
Many Boro fans have been disappointed with him so far. Largely because they watched him score 40 yarders on YouTube and he has yet to get one for Boro. But what they should remember is he only scored six for Norwich last season so it’s unlikely he will be bagging too many this season. Either way, he is a player who can drive into the box and cause Bolton some problems.
RW: Patrick Bamford
Bamford, like Clayton, has been one of Middlesbrough’s better players this season when he has played. He was left out of the Preston game due to a formation change. But given how many chances he has created this season and how well he switches between a right wing and CAM role, Monk will be very keen for him to play against Bolton.
ST: Britt Assombalonga
Apart from youngster Ashley Fletcher, Britt is Boro’s only fit striker. So, expect him to start. He has scored twice this season for Boro but he’s also missed some big chances.
However, Assombalonga is a proven Championship goal scorer and Bolton will be the perfect game for him to find his goal scoring boots again after losing his nerve at ex-club Nottingham Forest.
LW: Marvin Johnson
Johnson was Middlesbrough’s only deadline day signing. He is 26 and was signed for League One Oxford United. Johnson is likely to start against Bolton simply because injuries to other players will necessitate it.
Both Martin Braithwaite and Ruddy Gestede will miss the Bolton game through injury and as they are the players who Monk has been playing left wing/ striker there is a big shortage for that position. Johnson is the only fit Boro player who is a natural LW so he is very likely to get the nod from Monk.
This is how they might line up:
