Forget Giles and Whittaker, Middlesbrough must address this area before the Feb 3rd deadline | OneFootball

Middlesbrough have built an excellent attacking unit, but Michael Carrick's side are lacking top-six level defensive players.

Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick have addressed some key areas this transfer window, namely through adding the likes of Ryan Giles and Morgan Whittaker.

Whilst Carrick remains in charge, they are expected to be a side challenging for the play-offs, if not in and around the automatic promotion places. Promotion heading into the summer was the goal yet again for his side, especially after losing just one of their final 12 league games in 2023/24 and only just missing out on another play-off battle.

Boro have struggled with consistency on a game-to-game basis throughout the campaign so far, with season-long inconsistent results and performances that have hamstrung them in their pursuit of potentially breaking into an automatic place battle.

Therefore, Boro, unsurprisingly, are in the hunt for one of two play-off places in 2024/25 and know the importance of nailing the January transfer window if they are to fend off the chasing pack, which goes all the way down to the likes of Millwall and Preston North End on 37 points.

Middlesbrough's season has been promising so far, with plenty of goals scored and plenty of chances created. This is reflected in the data, with Boro the third-highest scorers in the division behind Norwich and Leeds, while also being the team with the third best xG numbers behind Leeds and Coventry (FotMob).

In that sense, adding a couple of extra attacking pieces will only increase their output and put teams to the sword on a more regular occasion. Giles has not played well for some time with Hull City, but the best form of his career came under Carrick’s tutelage, while Whittaker's talents are well known after his exploits last season with Plymouth Argyle.

Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough are an impressive attacking team

The league table doesn't necessarily tell the whole story for his side this season, as they have largely played well in the circumstances. Obviously, the underlying data is only an indicator of the strength of a team's performance week-to-week and points will be what ultimately decides promotion.

In that sense, Carrick's side are clinging onto a play-off place in the Championship, but they know that they have the firepower and creativity to cause any team issues. That said, they will still be hoping to have a strong end to the January transfer window as they look to mount a serious play-off push in the second half of the season.

Boro have also been handed the boost of Ben Doak's Liverpool recall deadline being passed, meaning the electric teenage winger will remain on Teesside for the remainder of the season, but more attacking additions were made on top of that. In the last few days, Middlesbrough completed the signing of Whittaker, in a deal understood to have been worth £5 million up-front with a further £2.5 million in add-ons.

The left-back role was clearly an area for improvement at Middlesbrough as well, and adding Giles to the squad will thoroughly enhance Carrick's options. Looking back at his 2022/23 season, the defender was a constant threat down the left-hand side, as he contributed 11 assists and created 87 chances for those around him.

An already potent attacking team that is capable of blitzing through some teams and outgunning others in a chaotic game, adding Giles and Whittaker is unlikely to move the needle all that much for Boro, even if they have a more balanced attacking dynamic with a more attack-minded full-back and a player capable of being a match-winner in the final third.

Instead, their issues have been at the other end, with various goalkeepers trialled between the posts. All while having an unsettled back four in front of whichever player Carrick has deployed in goal. That will be frustrating their head coach, as he will know that his squad has what it takes to achieve their promotion ambition this year, but if they are to do so, Middlesbrough must further improve in certain areas of the pitch before the close of the window on Monday evening.

Middlesbrough's defence must tighten up if they are to finish inside the play-off places with certainty. The goalkeeping room has been coming under increasing scrutiny this season, both in regard to the depth and quality available in between the sticks, so securing Mark Travers will come as a relief and leaves them with fewer boxes to tick in the final five days of the window.

Prior to his arrival, Senegalese international Seny Dieng opened the season as Boro's number one once again, but a combination of mistakes, unconvincing performances, and injury woes saw academy graduate Sol Brynn replace him as the starter in late-November. However, a dislocated shoulder meant Tom Glover was drafted into the starting line-up and has deputised there.

That has cost them valuable points already and he remains as the club's only senior option. Travers will bring a level of competency and consistency that should aid a consistently shuffled back four as well.

Carrick must secure at least one more defensive player at Middlesbrough

In most areas, Carrick and co. now appear to have good depth and options to choose from. That is particularly evident in attack and central midfield. However, some of the defensive frailties are obvious for all to see, even if, for example, Luke Ayling and Anfernee Dijksteel have had their moments over the last few seasons, neither have been able to nail down the right-back spot.

Dijksteel's form is the best it has ever been, but he is out of contract this summer. There also remains the question of how long he will be able to sustain his current level; therefore, the club should be eyeing market opportunities that arise for another right-sided full-back, especially following Ayling's struggles during Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Preston North End.

It was the latest mistake in an ever-growing list of what are often soft, stupid, and avoidable goals. The kind which could be their undoing in the long-run. They concede far too many of those, which is partly a function of the intense and demanding style of play deployed by Carrick, but also down to regular individual errors because the talent level is simply lacking.

A right-sided full-back is not the only area that they could and perhaps should be looking for another option, with a multitude of issues in the heart of defence this term as well. Of course, the pedigree and potential of Rav van den berg cannot be denied, while Dael Fry has proven himself to be a capable operator at second tier level. However, neither are fit enough nor perfect stylistic fits into Carrick's way of playing.

George Edmundson has nailed down the role in their absence and signed a permanent deal recently, but although his availability has been better, he is also not the best tactical fit. Boro could do with another more athletic central defender that can operate in a high line, all while being comfortable in possession.

That won’t come cheap, but should be a priority before the deadline. That's because Matt Clarke's departure leaves Middlesbrough somewhat thin on the ground in their centre-back department, with Darragh Lenihan likely to be out injured for the rest of the season, meaning should injuries or suspensions hit over the coming weeks, Carrick could be faced with a real crisis situation.

They have just three specialists now but none are particularly excelling in terms of being players with the technical security to manage games better and mitigate against defensive lapses. There's a lack of speed and athleticism throughout Middlesbrough's back four, and also very few defenders who look extremely comfortable playing a possession-based style of football in a high line.

A player that is adept at both in the heart of their defence could make all the difference, especially with Middlesbrough being as free-scoring as they are, meaning a slightly sturdier and compact defence could be the difference between a play-off berth and just missing out.

Man-for-man, Boro's defensive players simply don't match up with the five sides above them. They may well have the third-highest goals tally in the division, but they are a soft touch in a defensive sense, and both a new full-back and central defender could be the final pieces of the puzzle for Carrick's team this month.