Rundown on new Middlesbrough Arrivals

Article by Stephen Davison

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Middlesbrough have been extremely busy in the summer transfer window and have landed all of their top targets. Patience has been the key for Aitor Karanka and the hierarchy at the club to land their targets. Steve Gibson has yet again worked the oracle and gave another manager the team that he wanted with full financial backing. Lets hope Mr Karanka can now get them playing as he wishes so we can get out of this league.

12 players have arrived, some on loan, some permanent signings. Here is a rundown on each of them and for those that have played for the club already, a brief note on their story so far:

Tomas Mejias - Goalkeeper - Signed from Real Madrid on a free transfer

Mejias joined last year on loan but only played 1 game due to injury. In the summer a deal that suited Boro was arranged and the shot stopper signed a 2 year contract on Teesside. Mejias started the season as the clubs No 1 but has made some horrendous mistakes already in the 5 league games to date. Spilling the ball, not commanding his area, dropping crosses, missing the ball completely. It has not been a good start and already the fans have no trust in him. So far Karanka has stood by his man but for how long, only time will tell.

Jamal Blackman - Goalkeeper - Loan signing from Chelsea

The young keeper is being touted as a player going places and has the potential to go to the top. Judgement will need to be reserved as he has yet to play a competitive league game for any club. He should have no trouble getting into the first team if good enough due to the horrendous form of Tomas Mejias.

Damia Abella - Right Back - Signed from Osasuna on a free transfer

Abella is a big, powerful full back that has vast experience in La Liga. He played for Barcelona and Real Betis prior to moving to Osasuna. Abella should bring great qualities to the team with his experience but so far has failed to impress. He has been subbed at half time a few times already after some very ordinary performances. Once he settles into the club he should start to show his ability.

Ryan Fredericks - Full Back - Loan signing from Spurs

Fredericks is a pacey, skilful and direct right back that could just be a great signing for the club. He is very much a modern full back and wants to get forward at every opportunity. Yet to play for the club, it will be interesting to see how much game time he gets and whether he will be first choice.

James Husband - Left Back - Signed from Doncaster for 500k

Husband is a highly rated left back who can also play left midfield. He has played in both cup games so far and played very well. The deal to bring Husband to the Riverside seen Curtis Main head in the other direction. He is a young, strong, athletic player who is hungry for success. Husband will push George Friend all the way to play in the first team and as soon as he is given an opportunity he will look to grab it with both hands.

Kenneth Omeruo - Central Defender - Loan signing from Chelsea

Omeruo arrived last season and made an instant impact looking a cut above this level. He went to the World Cup with his country Nigeria in the summer and was the standout performer for his national team and gained rave reviews. Many teams wanted to take him on loan this season but he was true to his word and said that he wanted to return to Boro to continue his learning and development. Omeruo has fitted back in seamlessly; he is a silky smooth player who sees danger before anyone else. He reads the game so well and is destined for the top, which is where Jose Mourinho has tipped him for.

Adam Clayton - Central Midfielder - Signed from Huddersfield for 1.5M plus add ons

Clayton was the long term target that Karanka identified as the player he wanted, and after a long, drawn out transfer battle, he got his man. Clayton should be a natural to play in central midfield in the 4231 formation that the manager refers. So far, he looks like he hasn't settled; he has yet to play well in any of the appearances he has made. It’s too early to judge him as he is a good player, but he needs to prove it now and get down to work. In the last game against Reading he lost the ball on numerous occasions in the middle of the park and the alarming thing for me was that he never worked hard to get the ball back or track back. Karanka style is very much the Spanish way, and winning the ball back quickly and pressing high is natural. To do this you must work hard and not shirk responsibility.

Yanic Wildschut - Left Winger - Signed from Heerenveen for 500K

Signed on deadline day, Wildschut come through the famed Ajax academy before moving on. He is a tall, super quick winger who could be very exciting to watch. At just 22, he has his best years ahead and hopefully the management team can get the best out of him and improve him.

Emilio Nsue - Right Winger - Signed from Mallorca on a free transfer

Nsue was a player that Karanka knew well and wanted as one of his priority signings. He can play right back, right midfield, right wing and also off the front. The manager has long talked about the need for players that can play numerous positions and that is maybe the reason why he wanted Nsue at the club. So far, he has yet to impress. As a winger, which is where he has been deployed, he has yet to show anything, no pace and no ability to run past a man. Again it is early days but it is hard to envisage Nsue being able to dislodge Albert Adomah or Muzzy Carayol once he returns from injury.

Patrick Bamford - Striker - Loan signing from Chelsea

The highly rated front man eventually decided that he would join the Boro on loan after being courted by many premier league and championship clubs. He has signed until Jan 15 and it will very much depend on whether he is successful or not as to whether the loan will be for a full season. Bamford will need to be on top form to get playing time as competition is healthy now at the club.

Enrique Garcia "KIke" - Striker - Signed from Murcia for 2.7M

Kike hit the ground running and scored in his first 2 games. He has failed to find the net since but in all honesty he has not had many chances. The team has played poor and failed to furnish the front man with the opportunities he needs. He is already a fans favourite, hopefully he will go form strength to strength and can be Boro's first 20 goal a season forward for many a year.

Jelle Vossen - Striker - Loan signing from Genk (1.2M loan and 4.75M signing in total when he signs permanently next summer)

Eventually we have got him, the man we all wanted to see has at last arrived. An 18 month transfer saga was at last brought to a close with the loan signing of Vossen. He has signed on loan until next summer and will then sign on permanently. The club played a blinder in getting him on loan, as to buy him now would have taken the club over the FFP limit. The transfer fee will come off next year’s budget when he signs permanently. Champions league experience, a Belgian international and a proven goal scorer, it is hoped that Vossen will be the man to fire the Boro to success this season.

So that's it. Karanka now has the team and the squad that he wants so there will be no hiding place for him if the team is unsuccessful. The signings have been impressive and appear to follow month upon month of scouting. Looking at the new arrivals, it is clear that the club have looked for young, hungry players that they can improve. All of the players signed appear to carry sell on value should things not work out or whose price will massively inflate if we are successful.

The international break gives Karanka and Hignett time to now get the players gelling and ready to mount a serious challenge this season. Anything less than the play offs will be seen as failure with the investment and quality that the club have brought in.

Mr Karanka, over to you!!

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