Football Season Guide

Following a sluggish start to the 2010/11 season, Boro employed new boss and former playing hero Tony Mowbray to rejuvenate the Teesside club’s fortunes. Two years in the Championship doldrums has left Middlesbrough owner, Steve Gibson with little choice but to enforce budget cuts for the upcoming 2011/12 campaign. Consequently a number of the club’s high wage earners have left the Riverside Stadium including Didier Digard, Julio Arca and Kris Boyd who were all on handsome wages by second tier standards. Mowbray faces a battle to hold onto several of his more valuable players with Dutch striker Marvin Emnes continually linked with a move to Premier League newboys Swansea, along with strike partner, Leroy Lita. Central midfielder Malaury Martin is the Reds’ most significant summer signing, with the promising Frenchman agreeing a one-year deal after a successful trial period. Traditionally, Mowbray’s sides play an attractive, short passing game and Boro will be no different if their end of season form was anything to go by back in April/May.