2017–18 Middlesbrough F.C. season explained

Club:	Middlesbrough
Season:	2017–18
Manager:	Garry Monk (until 23 December 2017) Tony Pulis (from 26 December 2017)
Chairman:	Steve Gibson
Stadium:	Riverside Stadium
League:	Championship
League Result:	5th
Cup1 Result:	Fourth round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Fourth round
League Topscorer:	Britt Assombalonga (14)
Season Topscorer:	Britt Assombalonga (14)
Prevseason:	2016–17
Nextseason:	2018–19
Pattern La1:	_middlesbrough1718h
Pattern La2:	_middlesbrough1718a
Pattern B1:	_middlesbrough1718h
Pattern B2:	_middlesbrough1718a
Pattern Ra1:	_middlesbrough1718h
Pattern Ra2:	_middlesbrough1718a
Pattern Sh1:	_middlesbrough1718h
Pattern Sh2:	_middlesbrough1718a
Pattern So1:	_long_band_stripes_on_white
Pattern So2:	_band_stripes_white
Leftarm1:	FF0000
Leftarm2:	FFFFFF
Body1:	FF0000
Body2:	FFFFFF
Rightarm1:	FF0000
Rightarm2:	FFFFFF
Shorts1:	FF0000
Shorts2:	2A2B57
Socks1:	FF0000
Socks2:	2A2B57

The 2017–18 season was Middlesbrough's first season back in the Championship, making an immediate return to the division following relegation from the Premier League in the previous season. In their 142nd year in existence, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.^[1]

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, with all competitive games played between August 2017 and May 2018. Two transfer windows took place, the first from 1 July to 31 August 2017, the second from 1 January to 31 January 2018.

Garry Monk was appointed as manager in June 2017, however he parted company with the club in late December after an unconvincing start to the season, with the club in 9th position. Tony Pulis replaced him on 26 December, and took charge of the team after Middlesbrough's Boxing Day fixture against Bolton Wanderers.

Changes

The first and most crucial change this season is that the club will play in the EFL Championship, having been relegated from the Premier League in the previous season.^[2] Aitor Karanka, who had managed the club from November 2013, was sacked in March 2017 after a poor run of results, having not won in ten matches and having occupied a place in the relegation zone. Prior to his sacking, tensions had mounted between Karanka and both the club's board and fans surrounding Middlesbrough's January transfer activity and frustration from supporters over the poor results and perceived poor style of play.^{[3] [4]} Karanka's assistant manager, Steve Agnew, served as caretaker manager until the end of the season.^[5] On 9 June 2017, it was confirmed that former Swansea City and Leeds United manager Garry Monk would become the new manager for the 2017–18 season.^[6]

Nathan Convery, Bradley Fewster, Brandon Holdsworth, Lewis Maloney, Niall McGoldrick, Junior Mondal, Josef Wheatley, Matthew Wilson, Víctor Valdés, Brad Guzan and Viktor Fischer were amongst the first players to leave the club in the summer 2017 transfer window. Further departures would include Bernardo Espinosa and Cristhian Stuani, who both completed moves to Girona, while James Husband would leave for Norwich City, defender Antonio Barragán would depart on a season-long loan to Spanish club Real Betis, midfielder Gastón Ramírez would depart for Sampdoria, and the club also terminated the contract of Carlos de Pena by mutual consent.

Monk's first major signings included Norwich City midfielder Jonny Howson, Derby County right-back Cyrus Christie, Toulouse striker Martin Braithwaite, Nottingham Forest strikerBritt Assombalonga, as well as goalkeeper Darren Randolph, and striker Ashley Fletcher, both moving from West Ham United.

Squad

First team squad

^[7]

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Date of Birth (Age)	Previous Team
Goalkeepers
1	Dimitrios Konstantopoulos		GK	1978 11, df=yes	AEK Athens
13	Tomás Mejías		GK	1989 1, df=yes	Real Madrid
25	Darren Randolph		GK	12 May 1987	West Ham United
Defenders
2			FB	1990 7, df=yes	Cardiff City
3			LB	1987 10, df=yes	Doncaster Rovers
4			CB	1990 11, df=yes	Norwich City
5	Ryan Shotton		RB / CB	1988 10, df=yes	Birmingham City
6			CB	1993 1, df=yes	Academy
14	Martin Cranie		CB / RB	1986 9, df=yes	Huddersfield Town
20			CB / RB	1997 8, df=yes	Academy
Midfielders
7			DM / CM	1986 1, df=yes	Ipswich Town
8			DM / CM	1989 1, df=yes	Huddersfield Town
16	Jonny Howson		CM	1988 5, df=yes	Norwich City
19			AM / LM / RM	1984 7, df=yes	West Ham United
21	Marvin Johnson		LW	1990 12, df=yes	Oxford United
23	Jack Harrison L		RW	1996 11, df=yes	Manchester City
27	Muhamed Bešić L		CM	1992 9, df=yes	Everton
30	Lewis Baker L		CM	1995 4, df=yes	Chelsea
37	Adama Traoré		RW	1996 1, df=yes	Aston Villa
Strikers
9			ST	1992 12, df=yes	Nottingham Forest
11	Patrick Bamford		CF	1993 9, df=yes	Chelsea
39	Rudy Gestede		FW	1988 10, df=yes	Aston Villa

• L = Player on Loan

Pre-season

Friendlies

As of 3 July 2017, Middlesbrough have announced five pre-season friendlies, against Mansfield Town, Rochdale,^[8] Oxford United, Chesterfield^[9] and FC Augsburg.^[10]

Competitions

Championship

See main article: 2017–18 EFL Championship.

Football League play-offs

FA Cup

In the FA Cup, Middlesbrough entered the competition in the third round and were drawn at home versus Sunderland.^[11] Boro beat the Black Cats 2–0 at the Riverside.

The Monday after Boro were drawn with who ever won that night's game between Brighton and Crystal Palace.The Seagulls (Brighton) won the game 2–1, meaning that Boro will play them in the 4th round, on the Weekend of the 27th of January.

EFL Cup

Middlesbrough entered the 2017–18 EFL Cup in the second round, and were drawn at home to Scunthorpe United.^[12] An away trip against Aston Villa was confirmed for the third round.^[13] A fourth round trip to AFC Bournemouth was announced.^[14]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017			Luke Armstrong		Free	^[15]
1 July 2017			Tom Brewitt		Free	^[16]
1 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[17]
1 July 2017			Lewis Wing		Free	^[18]
7 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[19]
7 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[20]
13 July 2017					undisclosed	^[21]
14 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[22]
17 July 2017					£15,000,000	^[23]
22 July 2017					£5,000,000	^[24]
28 July 2017					£6,500,000	^[25]
29 August 2017			Jakub Sinior		Undisclosed
29 August 2017			Amadou Sylla		Free	^[26]
30 August 2017					Undisclosed	^[27]
31 August 2017					Undisclosed	^[28]
31 January 2018					Undisclosed	^[29]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[30]
1 July 2017			Nathan Convery		Released
1 July 2017					Released	^[31]
1 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[32]
1 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[33]
1 July 2017			Brandon Holdsworth		Released
1 July 2017			Lewis Maloney		Released
1 July 2017			Niall McGoldrick		Released
1 July 2017					Released
1 July 2017				Retired	Released	^[34]
1 July 2017			Josef Wheatley		Released
1 July 2017			Matthew Wilson		Released
7 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[35]
11 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[36]
19 July 2017					Released	^[37]
21 July 2017					Undisclosed	^[38]
4 August 2017					Undisclosed	^[39]
7 August 2017					Released	^[40]
10 August 2017					Undisclosed	^[41]
18 January 2018					£4,500,000	^[42]
31 January 2018					Undisclosed	^[43]
31 January 2018					Free	^[44]

Loans in

Start date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	End date	Ref.
14 July 2017					30 June 2018	^[45]
11 August 2017					30 June 2018	^[46]
30 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[47]
31 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[48]

Loans out

Start date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	End date	Ref.
1 July 2017					30 June 2018	^[49]
1 July 2017					30 June 2018	^[50]
3 July 2017			Robbie Tinkler		January 2018	^[51]
6 July 2017					30 June 2018	^[52]
7 July 2017			Matthew Elsdon		30 June 2018	^[53]
18 July 2017					30 June 2018	^[54]
4 August 2017					30 June 2018	^[55]
7 August 2017						^[56]
31 August 2017			Callum Johnson		January 2018	^[57]
5 December 2017					5 January 2018	^[58]
12 December 2017			Alexander Pattison		12 January 2018	^[59]
4 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[60]
17 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[61]
19 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[62]
31 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[63]
31 January 2018					30 June 2018	^[64]

Statistics

Appearances

No.	Pos.	Name	Championship			FA Cup			EFL Cup			Total			Discipline
			Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
1	GK	Dimitrios Konstantopoulos	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	0	0	0	0
2	DF	Fábio	18 (3)	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	19 (3)	2	1	2	0
3	DF	George Friend	27 (4)	2	1	2	0	0	2	0	0	31 (4)	2	1	9	0
4	DF	Daniel Ayala	31	7	1	2	0	0	3	0	0	36	7	1	2	1
5	DF	Ryan Shotton	21 (1)	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	23 (1)	1	2	2	0
6	DF	Ben Gibson	43	1	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	46	1	2	5	0
7	MF	Grant Leadbitter	29 (3)	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	27 (3)	3	2	11	1
8	MF	Adam Clayton	20 (10)	0	0	1 (1)	0	0	1	0	0	22 (11)	0	0	11	0
9	FW	Britt Assombalonga	30 (12)	14	0	0 (1)	0	0	0	0	0	30 (13)	14	0	3	0
11	FW	Patrick Bamford	23 (14)	10	0	1	0	0	2	2	0	26 (14)	12	0	1	0
13	GK	Tomás Mejías	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	DF	Martin Cranie	1 (8)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 (8)	0	0	1	0
16	MF	Jonny Howson	35 (6)	2	2	2	0	0	1	0	0	38 (6)	2	2	7	0
19	MF	Stewart Downing	36 (2)	2	7	1 (1)	0	0	0 (3)	0	0	37 (6)	2	7	1	0
20	DF	Dael Fry	11 (2)	0	1	0 (1)	0	0	2 (1)	0	0	13 (4)	0	1	2	0
21	MF	Marvin Johnson	6 (11)	1	2	0 (1)	0	0	0	0	0	6 (12)	1	2	0	0
23	DF	Jack Harrison	0 (3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 (3)	0	0	0	0
25	GK	Darren Randolph	44	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	46	0	0	3	0
27	MF	Muhamed Bešić	13	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1	1	3	0
30	MF	Lewis Baker	6 (6)	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	8 (6)	2	0	1	0
37	FW	Adama Traoré	24 (8)	5	10	2	0	1	2	0	2	28 (8)	5	12	3	2
39	FW	Rudy Gestede	10 (9)	3	2	1	1	0	0 (1)	0	0	11 (10)	2	1	3	1
45	FW	George Miller	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 (1)	0	0	0 (1)	0	0	0	0
Players who left the club in August/January transfer window or on loan
10	FW	Martin Braithwaite	17 (2)	5	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	19 (2)	6	2	3	0
12	GK	Connor Ripley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	MF	Marten de Roon	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
15	DF	Alex Baptiste	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	DF	Antonio Barragán	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	MF	Adlène Guedioura	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
18	FW	Ashley Fletcher	3 (13)	1	1	1	0	0	2 (1)	1	0	6 (14)	2	1	0	0
22	DF	Cyrus Christie	24 (1)	1	4	0 (1)	0	0	0	0	0	24 (2)	1	4	7	0
23	MF	Julien De Sart	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	DF	Connor Roberts	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	0
34	MF	Adam Forshaw	5 (6)	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	8 (6)	0	0	1	0
51	MF	Lewis Wing	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 (1)	0	0	1 (1)	0	0	0	0
62	MF	Marcus Tavernier	4 (1)	1	0	0	0	0	3	1	2	7 (1)	2	2	0	0

Top scorers

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.

width=10		width=10		width=10		width=150	Player	width=50	Championship	width=50	FA Cup	width=50	League Cup	width=50	Total
1	FW	9	Britt Assombalonga	14	0	0	14
2	FW	11	Patrick Bamford	10	0	2	12
3	DF	4	Daniel Ayala	7	0	0	7
4	FW	10	Martin Braithwaite	5	1	0	6
5	FW	37	Adama Traoré	5	0	0	5
6	FW	39	Rudy Gestede	3	1	0	4
7	MF	7	Grant Leadbitter	3	0	0	3
8	DF	3	George Friend	2	0	0	2
	MF	16	Jonny Howson	2	0	0	2
	MF	19	Stewart Downing	2	0	0	2
	DF	2	Fábio	1	0	1	2
	FW	18	Ashley Fletcher	1	0	1	2
	MF	30	Lewis Baker	1	0	1	2
	MF	62	Marcus Tavernier	1	0	1	2
15	DF	5	Ryan Shotton	1	0	0	1
	DF	6	Ben Gibson	1	0	0	1
	MF	21	Marvin Johnson	1	0	0	1
	DF	22	Cyrus Christie	1	0	0	1
	MF	27	Muhamed Bešić	1	0	0	1
Own Goal				1	0	0	1
Total				63	2	6	71

Notes and References

1. News: History . Statto.
2. News: Bye Boro! Middlesbrough relegated from Premier League. 9 May 2017. 4 July 2017. CBBC Newsround.
3. News: Aitor Karanka: Middlesbrough sack manager after three and a half years. BBC Sport. 16 March 2017. 4 July 2017.
4. News: Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson says tired Aitor Karanka 'sacrificed himself'. Sky Sports. 17 March 2017. 4 July 2017.
5. News: Aitor Karanka: Middlesbrough sack manager after three and a half years . BBC Sport . 16 March 2017 . 4 July 2017.
6. News: Middlesbrough appoint Monk as new manager. Reuters. 9 June 2017. 29 June 2017.
7. Web site: Middlesbrough F.C. First team squad . mfc.co.uk . . 31 August 2016.
8. News: Boro To Face Mansfield And Rochdale In Pre-Season. 23 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 22 June 2017.
9. News: Portugal Calls For Pre-Season Training Camp. 29 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 29 June 2017.
10. News: Bundesliga Side Set For Riverside Friendly. 3 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 3 July 2017.
11. News: Boro To Face Sunderland In FA Cup third round. 7 December 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 4 December 2017.
12. Web site: Round Two: Confirmed Carabao Cup draw. efl.co.uk. EFL Official Website. 10 August 2017. 11 August 2017.
13. News: Carabao Cup Draw – Boro To Face Aston Villa. 24 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 24 August 2017.
14. Web site: Bournemouth Await In Cup. Middlesbrough Official Site. 21 September 2017.
15. News: Boro Agree Deal For Luke Armstrong . Middlesbrough Official Site . 26 May 2017 . 26 May 2017.
16. News: Boro Sign Former Liverpool Youngster Tom Brewitt. 28 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 28 June 2017.
17. News: Boro Agree Deal To Sign Enes Mahmutovic . Middlesbrough Official Site . 19 May 2017 . 19 May 2017.
18. News: Boro Complete Deal For Lewis Wing. 28 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 28 June 2017.
19. News: Cyrus Christie Set For Boro Medical. 7 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 July 2017.
20. News: Boro Set To Swoop For Jonny Howson. 7 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 July 2017.
21. News: Braithwaite leaves Boro for Leganes. BBC Sport.
22. News: Boro Complete The Signing Of George Miller From Bury. 14 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 14 July 2017.
23. News: Boro Complete Club Record Signing Of Britt Assombalonga. 18 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 17 July 2017.
24. News: Boro Complete £5m Signing Of Darren Randolph. 23 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 22 July 2017.
25. News: Ashley Fletcher Signs For Boro. 28 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 28 July 2017.
26. News: Boro Make Double Swoop For Amadou Sylla And Jakub Sinior. 29 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 29 August 2017.
27. News: Ryan Shotton Signs For Boro. 31 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 30 August 2017.
28. News: Boro Complete The Signing Of Marvin Johnson From Oxford United. 31 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 31 August 2017.
29. Web site: Deadline Day: Huddersfield Defender Joins The Club. Middlesbrough F.C.. 1 February 2018. 31 January 2018.
30. News: Jordan Rhodes Joins Sheffield Wednesday. Middlesbrough Official Site . 1 February 2017 . 1 February 2017.
31. News: Eight Released From Our Academy . Middlesbrough Official Site . 1 June 2017 . 1 June 2017.
32. News: Viktor Fischer To Depart For German Side Mainz . Middlesbrough Official Site . 28 June 2017 . 28 June 2017.
33. News: Brad Guzan Set For Summer Return To The USA With Atlanta United . Middlesbrough Official Site . 25 January 2017 . 24 May 2017.
34. News: Victor Valdes To Leave Boro . Middlesbrough Official Site . 24 May 2017 . 24 May 2017.
35. News: Bernardo Moves On. 7 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 July 2017.
36. News: Defender James Husband Joins Norwich City. 12 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 11 July 2017.
37. News: Carlos de Pena Departs Boro. 19 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 19 July 2017.
38. News: Cristhian Stuani Makes Move To La Liga. Middlesbrough F.C.. 21 July 2017. 21 July 2017.
39. News: Gaston Ramirez Completes Serie A Move. 4 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 4 August 2017.
40. News: Alex Baptiste Joins Queens Park Rangers. 7 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 August 2017.
41. News: Marten De Roon Returns To Atalanta. 10 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 10 August 2017.
42. News: Yorkshire Evening Post. 18 January 2018. 18 January 2018. Lee Sobot. Done Deal: Adam Forshaw joins Leeds United in £4.5m deal from Middlesbrough.
43. News: Transfer Deals – January 2018. BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. 31 January 2018.
44. News: Adlene Guedioura leaves Middlesbrough for Nottingham Forest. Sports Mole. 2 February 2018. 1 February 2018. Wilks. Neil.
45. News: Defender Connor Roberts Joins Boro On Loan From Swansea. 14 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 14 July 2017.
46. News: Boro have completed the loan signing of Lewis Baker from Chelsea.. 11 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 11 August 2017.
47. Web site: Manchester City sign Harrison from New York City and loan him to Middlesbrough. Independent.ie. 30 January 2018 . 14 January 2020.
48. Web site: Middlesbrough sign Everton's Muhamed Besic and Huddersfield's Martin Cranie. bbc.co.uk. 31 January 2018. 1 February 2018.
49. News: Goalkeeper Fryer Joins Stevenage On Loan. 29 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 29 June 2017.
50. News: Julien De Sart Returns To Belgium On Loan. 27 June 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 27 June 2017.
51. News: Robbie Tinkler Heads Out On Loan. 3 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 3 July 2017.
52. Web site: Middlesbrough defender Antonio Barragan joins Real Betis on loan – and is unlikely to return . GazetteLive . 7 July 2017 . 7 July 2017.
53. News: Matthew Elsdon Signs For Inverness On Loan. 7 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 July 2017.
54. News: Callum Cooke To Gain More League Experience On Loan. 18 July 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 18 July 2017.
55. News: Harry Chapman Goes Out On Loan. 4 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 4 August 2017.
56. News: Connor Ripley Signs Contract Extension Before Heading Out On Loan. 8 August 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 7 August 2017.
57. News: Callum Johnson Goes On Loan. 1 September 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 31 August 2017.
58. News: George Miller To Join Wrexham On Loan. 7 December 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 5 December 2017.
59. News: Alex Pattison Joins York City On Loan. 13 December 2017. Middlesbrough Official Site. 12 December 2017.
60. News: Connor Ripley: Bury sign goalkeeper from Middlesbrough on loan. 4 January 2018. 28 January 2018. BBC Sport.
61. Web site: Marcus Tavernier: MK Dons Sign Middlesbrough Midfielder On Loan . BBC . 17 January 2018 . 17 January 2018 . bbc.co.uk.
62. Web site: George Miller Returns To Bury In Loan Deal . Middlesbrough F.C. . 20 January 2018 . mfc.co.uk.
63. https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/officielt-braithwaite-til-bordeaux/ Officielt: Braithwaite til Bordeaux
64. Web site: Ovie Ejaria, Ashley Fletcher and Lee Camp join Sunderland . BBC Sport . 1 February 2018 . 1 February 2018 .