Middlesbrough’s head coach, Michael Carrick, has marked his two-year anniversary at the club by proclaiming the current squad as the best he’s managed during his tenure.
Despite a mixed start to the season, the former Manchester United midfielder believes his team now possesses a depth and balance that will support Boro’s ambitions for sustainable growth and a strong push up the Championship table.
A More Cohesive, Balanced Boro
Carrick’s first season at the helm saw Boro narrowly miss promotion, losing to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals. That squad, however, was composed largely of loan players whose departures forced a significant overhaul in the following months. Now, Carrick feels he has assembled a more cohesive and permanent unit.
Boro are eighth in the table, just two points behind West Brom in fourth, and despite a wobble earlier in the season, Carrick’s side have found a little form as well. They head to face a Norwich side in seventh place, also eager to break into the top seven, and that pushes focus onto Boro to retain some consistency, which is going to be important in any push towards the Premier League.
Progress and Positivity
Under Carrick’s leadership, Boro has evolved in style and consistency. With 100 games under his belt and an impressive 50 wins, the head coach is optimistic about the team’s trajectory and the club’s overall growth. The current campaign has had its ups and downs, but Carrick insists he’s pleased with the way his team is responding to new strategies and adapting to challenges.
“It evolves over time,” Carrick remarked. “I’d like to think we’ve moved in a positive direction. There’s been a few bumps as you’d expect. But, largely, I’m sitting here quite happy with the way things are going.”
“They’re a team that are really well coached with very clear principles,” he said, adding that Norwich’s attacking style mirrors his own squad. “They’re very dangerous, have got good players, and go through the pitch quick and attack very fast.”
Writer’s View
Carrick’s commitment to long-term growth over short-term fixes shows his vision for a sustainable Boro squad. By reducing dependency on loans, he’s building a resilient team that could thrive in the Championship and beyond. This evolving Boro squad, grounded in stability and cohesion, may be positioned well for future successes – but their match against Norwich will test just how far they’ve come.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
