It's been an inconsistent start to the season for Middlesbrough with them trying get back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

There's always an adaptation period for a club that's come down from the Premier League and that has been no different for Boro, with them having the added change of Garry Monk coming in as manager.

However, with Steve Gibson saying he wants the club to smash the league and them spending a fair bit of money in the summer, they have to be considered as underachieving with them eleventh in the league.

Indeed, when you consider transfermarkt's stat that Boro's transfer expenditure from the summer is £50.09m, over £30m more than second placed Wolves, there really does need to be an improvement from them.

Of course, there's still a long way to go and the club has shown at times this season it'll be a match for anyone throughout the campaign but they need consistency more than anything.

That, though, is something that is not a quick-fix and Garry Monk will have to find a system that really works before rival fans start piping up and suggesting that Boro's attempt to 'buy the league' simply hasn't worked.

Boro, meanwhile, need to show it's not just a case of throwing money at the top players, and that actually they have put together a cohesive side. It'll be interesting to see how they do.

Thoughts, Boro fans? Let us know below!