Get the latest Boro stories straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Enter your email Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

This is the strangest pre-season ever.

Here we are, less than two weeks away from the start of the league programme, and the Boro’s team plans are still completely up in the air.

It’s no different for us, than it is for every other team in the league.

But the bringing forward of the transfer deadline appears to have more produced many more negatives than positives.

In this respect I certainly don’t envy Tony Pulis and the Boro officials at the moment.

Pulis is trying to juggle with getting the team right, when he doesn’t know what the team is going to be.

In previous years Boro have been able to make whatever summer signings were possible, and then reassess the team after the opening fixtures before the last minute panic buying and selling at the end of August.

(Image: Focus Images)

Under the new system, the bulk of the business really needs to be done before the opening game on August 4, though I suspect it will be Thursday, August 9, before the real nitty-gritty takes place.

Boro’s situation is arguably worse than some other clubs because we don’t know what is going to happen regarding the futures of Adama Traore and Ben Gibson .

Everybody on Teesside wants to keep both players. But then both may go.

If they don’t go until August 9 then it may leave Pulis with just hours remaining in which to bring in suitable replacements.

We know that Boro have already been working very hard to bring in more players to supplement early signings Aden Flint and Paddy McNair.

Pulis is right to insist that the club won’t pay silly money for targets. There’s no doubt that inflated asking prices will eventually drop.

However, if they don’t drop until August 9 then the lack of negotiating time makes it harder for Boro to be sure they are doing the right thing.

I don’t doubt that Pulis will have a competitive Championship side on August 10 but the new deadline does not make the manager’s job any easier.

And, what do we need? Well, four goals conceded in a friendly game at Accrington is not clever, even considering that results are not supposed to matter at this stage.

The work still needed to be carried out is extensive. If Traore and Gibson go, then Pulis is under pressure to replace both of them with quality men and has said as much.

(Image: Focus Images)

Clearly Boro must show they can dominate games much more, which spells out the need for another midfielder.

Then we have to wonder about the attack, especially if Britt Assombalonga goes and the unfortunate Rudy Gestede’s ankle problems are not short term.

Yes, there’s a lot of work to get through behind the scenes, and so little time to do it.