Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 the future of the 2019-20 season has been plunged into doubt and rumours of the Football Association voiding their domestic leagues have gathered more and more pace since all British football was suspended until April 3rd.
Therefore, with the potential of this season becoming void, the lookahead to next season has already begun to take place. Leaving fans pondering who they will and won’t be seeing come the beginning of the 2020-21 season.
In Middlesbrough’s case they currently have four players in their playing squad on loan and also have a handful of senior first-team players away from the club, raising the question who should be kept and who should be sold?
Goalkeepers:
Tomas Mejias – The Spainiard rejoined the club as Jonathan Woodgate’s first summer signing after originally being released in 2018 and has seemingly filled the void that he left open as a third-choice keeper. Mejias has one-year remaining on his current deal and it would seem strange for him to be released before his contract was up.
Verdict: Keep
Dejan Stojanovic – Since making his reported £1m January move from St. Gallen, Dejan Stojanovic has only managed one senior start. However, during his debut against Charlton he displayed all of the assets Boro have been missing in between the sticks. You’d expect Stojanovic to really establish himself as number one when the season resumes.
Verdict: Keep
Aynsley Pears – After the departure of Darren Randolph, twenty-one-year-old Aynsley Pears sprung onto the scene and became Boro’s stand-in keeper and until only recently looked a mainstay in the team. Nevertheless, after a series of high-profile mistakes Pears was taken out of the team and was dropped for Middlesbrough’s last league fixture. Unlike any other of the keepers Pears’ contract runs out in the summer and there is still uncertainty as to if he will commit his future to his boyhood club.
Verdict: Keep
Defenders:
Anfernee Dijksteel – Definitive judgement would be harsh on Anfernee Dijksteel when you consider the injury problems he has suffered this season. Although, when you consider the two players he was brought in alongside (Marc Bola and Marcus Browne) left the club temporarily on loan in January after failing to make an impact, you wonder had the Dutch defender stayed fit would he have also been sent out for games.
Verdict: Keep
George Friend – Over the years George Friend has been a fantastic servant for the club but now is his time to go. For at least the past two seasons he has suffered continuous injuries and when he has been fit to play, his performances have left a lot to be desired. Perhaps a coaching role should be offered to Friend.
Verdict: Release
Daniel Ayala – Daniel Ayala was and still is deemed one of the best central defenders in the Championship and it would be crazy to let him go. Nonetheless, his contract situation is not all that simple. His current deal runs out at the end of the season and due to Ayala being with the club since being in the Premier League it would be expected that he still remains one of the clubs highest earners. However, in today’s market you get what you pay for and Ayala has to be one of the players prioritised in the contract renewal process.
Verdict: Keep
Ryan Shotton – Shotton is another of the seven that are out of contract at the end of the season and arguably should be one of that list that should not have their contract renewed. Like George Friend, the ex-Stoke defender has suffered a series of injuries and this has ultimately reflected in his performances. The Ryan Shotton of the early Tony Pulis day are long gone and now is the time for the defender to find a new challenge.
Verdict: Release
Dael Fry – After somewhat of a challenging season for the twenty-two-year-old, Dael Fry will be ready for the challenge of the new season and with another year of experience under his belt he will be hoping to improve on the assets he has already displayed in order to become a top defender. Despite interest from the Premier League it would be in the best interests of the club and Fry to have another season at the Riverside.
Verdict: Keep
Harold Moukoudi (Loan) – If his own-goal stats were anything to go by Harold Moukoudi certainly wouldn’t be on the loaness that would be signed perementalty. Luckily for the defender he has shown Boro fans what he is all about with his strength and heading ability and most supporters would agree they would be happy to see him return either on loan or permanently next season.
Verdict: Keep
Marc Bola – Despite only joining in the summer Marc Bola was sent back to Blackpool on loan almost immediately. In his few performances for Jonathan Woodgate he has failed to show any of the potential his fee suggested and since rejoining Blackpool he has lost his place in the League One side. Bola certainly would not be a huge miss for Woodgate moving forward.
Verdict: Sell
Djed Spence – For such a poor season in regards to the clubs league position, Djed Spence has been one of the few positives. The marauding full-back caught the eye of Riverside spectators when called upon in the festive period after a defensive injury crisis and has never looked back. Spence has now been rewarded with a new two-year-deal and will not be going anywhere.
Verdict: Keep
Hayden Coulson – Similarly to Spence Hayden Coulson has been one of the few shining lights in an ultimately disappointing season. His pace and trickery has already caught the eye of Premier League side Newcastle and Boro will be doing their best to hold onto the academy product.
Verdict: Keep
Midfielders:
Marcus Tavernier – The 2019/20 season has been the season that has provided Marcus Tavernier with his most starts in the professional game. This season in a more central role Tavernier has established himself as one of Woodgate’s go to guys and it comes as no surprise there has been whispers of Premier League interest in the youngster.
Adam Clayton – Adam Clayton is another of the midfielders that divides opinion but the stats don’t lie when it comes to Boro’s record with and without him in the team. This season all of Jonathan Woodgate’s sides wins have come when Clayton has played a part. Nevertheless, Clayton is not getting any younger and his contract runs out at the end of the current season, posing the question should the midfield destroyer be offered a new deal?
Marcus Browne – The Marcus Browne that joined Middlesbrough looks a completely different man to the one who is in scintillating form on loan at Oxford and with his loan set to finish at the end of the 2019/20 campaign you’d expect him to come back with a point to prove.
Verdict: Keep
Ravel Morrison (Loan) – Ravel Morrison simply just hasn’t had the time on the pitch he would have hoped to impress. In small glimpses fans have been treated to what Morrison could offer but this isn’t enough to justify re-signing the creative midfielder on loan at this current time.
Verdict: Send back to Sheffield United
Jonny Howson – Despite being on the list as a midfielder Jonny Howson has only played there once this season. Nevertheless, he has been outstanding and arguably player of the season. Unfortunately, Howson is out of contract in the summer and due to his impressive season will have attracted a whole host of interest. Boro must do everything to keep hold of Howson.
Verdict: Keep
Paddy McNair – Twelve months ago it would have seemed crazy to think that Paddy McNair would have been one of Middlesbrough’s key men the following season but under Jonathan Woodgate Paddy McNair has been allowed the freedom to flourish in the midfield role he desired under Tony Pulis. No doubt there will be interest in McNair in the summer market but if Boro can they should definitely hold on.
Verdict: Keep
Patrick Roberts (Loan) – If Boro want to achieve anything next season they must bring back Patrick Roberts it is as simple as that. In only a handful of appearances Roberts showed his class and why Jonathan Woodgate did everything to bring the winger on loan to the club.
Verdict: Keep
Marvin Johnson – Due to his contract situation Marvin Johnson’s future at the club looks incredibly doubtful. Johnson is out of contract in the summer and despite a mediocre season it looks as though his time on Teesside may be over.
Verdict: Release
George Saville – George Saville is a midfielder that divides opinion. Some argue he should start week in week out and some wouldn’t be phased if they never saw him pull on the red shirt again. On the balance of this season Saville hasn’t been all that bad and financially selling him now would probably mean taking a loss on him. So for that reason alone you’d imagine Saville will be around come the beginning of next season.
Verdict: Keep
Lewis Wing – In only his third season in professional football Lewis Wing has been steady again. His goal contributions have increased although he has found himself in and out of the team, Wing still remains of the Boro’s best attacking threats and at the end of the day who doesn’t love a #CasualWingyBanger?
Verdict: Keep
Strikers:
Britt Assombalonga – The Congolese international is Middlesbrough’s record signing and it’s fair to say this season has been his worst to date. In fairness to Assombalonga he has had a long spell out injured however his finishing in the early part of the season left many fans frustrated and with the club seemingly needing to move on some of their big earners it may be the right time for Assombalonga to leave the Riverside.
Verdict: Sell
Ashley Fletcher – There have been many times in Ashley Fletcher’s Middlesbrough career when he has looked close to the exit door. Yet out of the current crop of strikers Fletcher would be the last one you would expect to leave. The ex-Manchester United forward has recorded his best scoring season to date and the future looks promising for Fetcher and his Boro career.
Verdict: Keep
Rudy Gestede – The less said about Rudy Gestede’s Middlesbrough career the better. After joining the club in the Premier League for a whopping £6m, the forward has managed no less than 5 league goals in three years and with his contract running out now seems the perfect time for the Benin striker to depart.
Verdict: Release
Lukas Nmecha (Loan) – In a similar breath to Rudy Gestede Lukas Nmecha’s contribution to Boro’s season has been minimal to say the least. Since signing on loan from Manchester City Nmecha has not contributed a goal or an assist and for this reason currently finds himself filling a spot on the bench every week.
Verdict: Send back to Manchester City
The Boro Way 