Boro to blossom?

Tuesday, 07/09/2010

by Shoot's Middlesbrough blogger, Fenton Moore.

After the start to the season that Boro have had, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the fans would see this week's international break as something of a respite. 

However, that hasn’t been the case. Both the fans and the club itself seem determined to get out and prove that we do have the quality to push for promotion.

Disappointment and broken promises seem to have been the norm at the club  over the past few seasons and this summer has, ultimately, proved no different. 

An exciting start to the transfer window saw the early captures of quality players such as Kris Boyd, Nick Bailey, Stephen McManus and Kevin Thomson and the club become early pre-season favourites. 

It also saw high levels of optimism from the fans and a belief that the good times might be just round the corner. Then the transfers slowed.

Tarmo Kink came through the doors next and he could prove to be the exceptional signing of the summer. 

A tricky winger with a real eye for goal, the player looks hungry to prove himself and reach his early potential when he was seen as something of a footballing prodigy in his homeland Estonia. 

However, by the time Kink was captured at the end of August, a few fans were beginning to feel the usual jitters. 

The base of the team was looking strong but we were still desperately crying out for a some depth in defence and the ever elusive midfield playmaker. 

Despite the constant newspaper links and internet rumours not much seemed to be happening in the background. Brad Jones’ departure to Liverpool seemed to only add to the necessary outlay that the club would need to provide if we were to be ready for the season.

Jason Steele proved that just because a goalkeeper can play until a greater age than outfield players it doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t make the step up to the first team just as early. 

Steele turned 20 just last month and since his Middlesbrough debut against Chesterfield has already received his first England Under–21 call up and has been likened to Joe Hart. 

An agile keeper who can control his box, he seems the answer to many fans' dreams. However, with only Danny Coyne as back up, there is still the ever present nerves regarding what would happen if the young lad was to make a confidence-knocking error. 

Only two players have been brought in since Jones left, Mathew Kilgallon and Mickael Tavares have both been brought in on loan. 

Kilgallon has been solid at left back and Tavares has the potential to be a very good player in the Championship, he is likened to Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong, and he seems hungry to win a permanent deal. 

Yet these signings don’t seem to have succeeded in quenching the fans' thirst for to players who would finally complete that ever elusive jigsaw puzzle that would enable the club to reclaim Premiership status.

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