So, here we are just over a month into Boro's return to the Premier League. First up, the squad changes. Bit of an overhaul was necessary as there were too many players approaching or over 30. Hew wants to play a fast paced pressing game, and to do that required fresh legs.
Players Out
Marcus Tavernier / Hull City / £3.5m
Marcel Lavinier / Chesterfield / Loan
George Saville / Bristol Rovers / Loan
Paddy Mcnair / Young Boys / £9m
Sam Stubbs / St Johnstone / Loan
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru / Scunthorpe / Loan
Luca Navarro / St Johnstone / Loan
Total transfer revenue = £12.5m
Players In
Che Adams / Southampton / £8m
Leo Bonatini / Crystal Palace / £10.5m
Harold Moukoudi / St Etienne / £5.25m
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru / Man City / Free
Patrick Roberts / Man City / £10.5m
James Garner / Man Utd / Season long loan
Birgir Melling / Man City / £6m
Total transfer spend £40m
Balance = -£27.5m
Its precipitated a slight change to the formation, roberts now playing as an inverted winger.
And here we are at the start of October, Boro sitting in 5th place. Two defeats, one narrowly to Arsenal and the other, a 2-0 defeat to current Champions Chelsea. Stoke continue to feel nauseous as we knocked them out of the Carabao cup again, and next up is Norwich in round four.
Here's the overall summary, the board appear to have decided Hew is doing a great job, a new contract has been side and the threat of the sack is all but forgotten.