Middlesbrough have gone from 21st in the table when Michael Carrick took over to third now, and after a midweek win at Sheff Utd they’re hunting down the second automatic place — James Boothby gives us the latest.

A season of two halves for Boro, how would you assess it overall?

Overall, it has been an excellent season so far. As you rightly say, one of two halves really but since Carrick arrived we have started to look like a really good side. We are probably round abouts where many thought we would be at the start of the season - just achieved it in a very different way. It's not just on the pitch either, as cliched as it sounds but it finally feels like the whole club (manager, players, fans, recruitment etc) are all pulling in the same direction.

Boro league results so far…
Boro 1-1 West Brom Jones 10 — Swift 51
QPR 3-2 Boro Willock 13, Dunne 27, Dykes 38 — Crooks 41, Forss 56
Boro 2-2 Sheff Utd Akpom 14, 82 — Berge 3, Giles og 68
Stoke 2-2 Boro Brown 19, Wright-Phillips 90 — Watmore 38, Jagielka og 63
Reading 1-0 Boro Fornah 28
Boro 2-1 Swansea McGree 14, Crooks 30 — Piroe pen 79
Watford 2-1 Boro Sarr 24, Bayo 90 — Muniz 4
Boro 1-0 Sunderland McGree 25
Boro 2-3 Cardiff Watmore 76, Muniz 77 — O’Dowda 4, Harris 20, Ng 45
Boro 0-0 Rotherham
Coventry 1-0 Boro Gyokeres 17
Boro 1-0 Birmingham Akpom 23
Millwall 2-0 Boro Flemming 5, 49
Boro 1-2 Blackburn Watmore 45 — Gallagher 4, 17
Wigan 1-4 Boro Keane 34 — Jones 44, Watmore 51, Hackney 57, Akpom pen 69
Boro 0-0 Huddersfield
Preston 2-1 Boro Ris 35, Storey 90 — Akpom 7
Hull 1-3 Boro Christie 60 — Akpom 30, Figueiredo og 63, Christie og 80
Boro 0-0 Bristol City
Blackpool 0-3 Boro Jones 15, Forss pen 48, Akpom 65
Norwich 1-2 Boro Sargent 7 — McGree 64, Crooks 90
Boro 2-1 Luton Akpom 38, Crooks 90 — Clark 33
Burnley 3-1 Boro Benson 60, 67, Howson og 72 — Watmore 49
Boro 4-1 Wigan Forss 26, Akpom 49, 59, 90 — Aasgaard 61
Blackburn 1-2 Boro Hedges 5 — Forss 46, McGree 56
Birmingham 1-3 Boro Chong 74 — Crooks 57, 59, Akpom 85
Boro 1-0 Millwall Forss 54
Sunderland 2-0 Boro Stewart 51, Diallo 81
Boro 2-0 Watford Akpom 36, Forss 45
Boro 3-0 Blackpool Akpom 32, 59, McNair 69
Cardiff 1-3 Boro Kaba 25 — Forss 17, Archer 38, McGree 90
Sheff Utd 1-3 Boro McBurnie 5 — Akpom 25, Archer 48, 74

I thought Chris Wilder would be your cheat sheet this year, actually it seems he was holding you back, what did he get wrong?

I don't think you are alone in thinking that - I know I was excited at the start of the season to see what he could achieve. Looking back though, I think the rot set in probably April time last season. He was very heavily linked with the Burnley job when Dyche left, and he did nothing to put those rumours to bed as well as links with other clubs. I know our director of football has since come out and hinted at the fact he was chasing any other job that came along and I think it's obvious that affected the whole club. We actually started the season playing ok (first 30 minutes at Loftus Road aside!) but results were not coming. The system he was playing with the overlapping centre backs just did not suit the players we had, and I think his man management left a lot to be desired. Frequently throwing the same players under the bus for little to no reason. He also fell out with recruitment - he wanted to bring in Dwight Gayle and David McGoldrick whilst the club wanted to go in a younger direction. By the time he got the boot it was clear something needed to change - I think we were 21st and something needed to be done to save the season.

Amazing upturn under Michael Carrick - how has he done it, what has he changed?

I think the biggest thing is he has given players confidence. Zack Steffen talked on a podcast a couple of months ago about the biggest thing that has changed is the players now get a lot of positive re-enforcement. It might be an inditement on the modern day football, but it certainly seems to have worked. The system has also changed to better suit the players we have. With a back three, Fry and Lenihan in particular did not look comfortable but they have both excelled. Chuba Akpom has dropped deeper into the number 10 role and it has proved to be a masterstroke so far - enabling him to get on the ball a bit more and drop into those pockets of space. Marcus Forss barely got a look in under Wilder, but has played pretty much every game under Carrick and is looking good in the wide right attacking role. And Hayden Hackney has been a revelation in the midfield and came from nowhere really. A bang average loan at Scunthorpe last season, and not around the squad under Wilder, huge credit has to go to caretaker Leo Percovich who threw him straight into the team.

What January transfer window business was done? What needed to be done?

We went into the window looking to strengthen up front and in midfield and I think we definitely achieved that. The biggest move was to bring in Cameron Archer up top from Aston Villa. He had a good spell at PNE last season and sounds like most of the Championship were after him this time around. I think having one of his old coaches from Villa (Aaron Danks) on Carrick’s staff helped with that. He has given us that added threat up front, with his pace to get in behind opening up spaces for others to thrive as well. Got off the mark with a good goal against Cardiff at the weekend, scored twice again last night at Sheff Utd, and has been a threat in every game. Dan Barlaser came in from Rotherham to add some competition in midfield - he managed seven assists for a struggling side so hopes are high for him too. Has only had a couple of cameos so far but has looked good in those. Aaron Ramsey also came in on loan from Villa. Going out was Duncan Watmore to Millwall. It was a move that made perfect sense for everyone - his contract was running out and I don't think he would have got a new one here and it enabled us to bring Ramsey in as his replacement. He is an absolute top pro though and sat to see him go.

Summer Ins >>> Marcus Forss, 23, CF, Brentford, £3.2m >>> Matthew Hoppe, 21, CF, Mallorca, £2.5m >>> Matt Clark, 25, CB, Brighton, £2m >>> Darragh Lenihan, 28, CB, Blackburn, Free >>> Liam Roberts, 27, GK, Northampton, Free >>> Tommy Smith, 30, RB, Stoke, Free >>> Zack Steffen, 27, GK, Man City, Loan >>> Ryan Giles, 22, LWB, Wolves, Loan >>> Alex Mowatt, 27, CM, West Brom, Loan >>> Rodrigo Muniz, 21, CF, Fulham, Loan

Summer Outs >>> Djed Spence, 21, RB, Spurs, £13m >>> Marcus Tavernier, 23, LM, Bournemouth, £10m >>> Dejan Stovanovic, 28, GK, Regensberg (Germany), Undisclosed >>> Nathan Wood, 20, CB, Swansea, Undisclosed >>> Toyosi Olusanya, 24, LW, St Mirren, Undisclosed >>> Uche Ikpeazu, 27, CF, Konyaspor, Free >>> Martin Payero, 23, CM, Boca Juniors, Loan >>> Grant Hall, 30, CB, Rotherham, Loan >>> Joe Lumley, 27, GK, Reading, Loan >>> Josh Coburn, 19, CF, Bristol Rovers, Loan >>> Neil Taylor, 33, LB, Retired >>> Sammy Ameobi, 30, AM, Released >>> Lee Peltier, 35, RB, Released >>> Sol Bamba, 37, CB, Retired >>> Hayden Coulson, 24, LB, Aberdeen, Loan

Winter Ins >>> Dan Barlaser, 26, CM, Rotherham, £1m >>> Cameron Archer, 21, CF, Villa, Loan >>> Aaron Ramsey, 20, AM, Villa, Loan

Winter Outs >>> Duncan Watmore, 28, CF, Millwall, Undisclosed >>> Mass Luongo, 30, CM, Ipswich, Free >>> Matthew Hoppe, 21, CF, Hibs, Loan

Best players and weak links in the side?

Akpom is the player getting all the headlines and you can understand why. From potentially leaving the club to top scorer in the league in six months is good going. But it's not just his goals that have impressed, it's his all-round play in that number 10 role. Giles at left back is superb going forward, and as mentioned above Hackney has had a great season alongside Howson in midfield. Lenihan is also looking like the player advertised when we brought him in the summer -a real leader and comfortable on the ball.

I wouldn't class him as a weak link, but we have to talk about Steffen. A big part of the way we play is to play it out from the back, straight to full backs/centre halfs. A lot of moves ending in goals have stated this way - however when it goes wrong it puts us under severe pressure. Cardiff's goal at the weekend came from a wayward Steffen pass to McNair.

Revised expectations for the season?

I think finishing in the playoffs should now be a realistic aim and they anything can happen. The top two look too far ahead to catch - with the lead they have they can afford a poor run of form and still be clear, though last night’s result certainly keeps that hope alive. If we did make top 6 though, can't see to many teams wanting to face us (on current form at least...)

Links >>> Middlesbrough Official Website >>> Teeside Gazette — Local Paper >>> FMTTM — Message Board >>> One Boro — Forum >>> Bonkers for Boro — Blog >>> Boropolis — Podcast

The Twitter @jamesyboz, @loftforwords

Pictures — Action Images

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TacticalR added 23:06 - Feb 17 Thanks to James. I wonder if the problem with Wilder is that he needs complete control of everything so finds it difficult to get on with owners (and players)? Or maybe his previous period of success has made him overconfident and inflexible? Anyway, Carrick has started with a bang, which is particularly impressive as he is working with an existing squad of players.
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francisbowles added 10:38 - Feb 18 'our director of football has since come out and hinted at the fact he was chasing any other job that came along ', shades of Beale. Thanks James, glad you're enjoying things. Go easy on us today, please!
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