tactics could yield under-fire manager

COULD PROVE A CATALYST FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGES

- By CRAIG JOHNS Football writer [e-mail] @craig_johns

MIDDLESBROUGH could look very different for the start of next season, with a thorough review currently taking place to determine what went wrong this term, and what needs to improve for next.

While the decisions made in that review will ultimately determine whether Michael Carrick continues as Boro head coach or not, the current feeling is that the Manchester United legend will still be in charge at the Riverside for the new campaign. Exactly what changes will come, though, are to be determined.

Regardless, Boro face another big summer as they say goodbye to five loan players and have also announced Anfernee Dijksteel will depart at the end of his contract next month. In turn, recruitment staff have identified five key areas in which they wish to strengthen the squad as a priority.

While that will naturally prove a big factor in whether Boro can improve on this season's disappointing 10th-place finish next term, undoubtedly, getting more out of the existing players at the club should also be high on the agenda.

One of the potential options to explore in order to achieve this could be a tactical or stylistic change for the new season.