The summer transfer window has seen Aitor Karanka transform Boro’s playing staff even if the team has fallen in an all familiar pattern on the pitch. Early promise with victories over Birmingham, Oldham and Bolton was eclipsed by a dressing room dressing down to Sheff Wed and then Reading. We had flattered to deceive as typically only Boro can. But a couple of days after that latest burning by Reading we pulled our hands out of the fire and emerged with a new star striker and a keeper. Dramatically untypical Boro.

Boro now have a potential strikeforce to fear. I never really believed the myth that was Jelle Vossen. It just always seemed to be not so much paper talk as twitter twerping. But amazingly enough it was true all along and Boro now have the Belgian for our own penalty box of delights.

As Scott Wilson opined in his excellent Northern Echo column Aitor will need to be flexible with his formation if he is to get the best out of Vossen, Bamford and Kike. I suppose the fact we ended the last half hour against Reading with Bamford alongside Kike points in a positive direction. Though what that says for Tomlin’s future role is not so clear. Although I should add that the manager underlined the former Peterborough player's key role at Boro to me at last week’s pre game press conference.

It is the goalkeeper position though that perplexes many fans the most. With two tried and tested and Championship approved custodians in Dimi Konstantopoulos and Jason Steele why throw in rookie Tomas Majias, so obviously not the finished item. Costly mistakes include match changing errors against Leeds, Sheff Wed (two seasons running) not only undermined his confidence but arguably also that of the defence. Pretty much the only games where he kept clean sheets were where the defence and midfield prevented our opponents from getting a shot off on target. With a weak link at the back the whole team suddenly seems shaky. Karanka has often demonstrated a ruthless streak when outfield players make errors so why the blind spot for his keeper?

It was already potentially a promotion busting decision to keep faith with the former Real Madrid B team player and one that didn’t add up after Dimi’s heroics last season and Jason Steele’s proven quality. But it now appears we might have a new number one in Jamal Blackman. He certainly comes highly rated. You don’t get thrown a five year contract at Chelsea for nothing. But to come in on loan as first choice is a bold move. I just hope this isn’t another unnecessary gamble.

The link up with Chelsea is certainly saving us pounds and keeping us the right side of the great Financial Fair Play divide but I really do hope it is not at the cost of eroding the identity of the club and moreover the academy. It is only right that Adam Reach gets competition on the wing but after spending a season out on loan he could benefit the side and himself to have a real run in the first team. Will having Emilio Nsue and now Yanic Wildschut for competition be to the detriment of Adam’s development?

Yanic Wildschut is an interesting signing. He was certainly schooled with the best at Ajax Academy. Heerenveen are famed in Netherlands for playing the Ajax way. Both clubs have a traditional formation that they like to stick to. They play with wingers who run up and down the channels as if they are stuck in grooves. I look forward to seeing Yanic play.

Obviously the Premier League is the big aim and we need to take all steps necessary to achieve that. But I hope that our role as a nursery club to Chelsea youth does not stunt our own youth development and also blunt the local identity of Middlesbrough FC.