This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World’s Middlesbrough fan pundit Phil Wrightson has suggested Jonathan Woodgate is the right man for the job at the Riverside but that supporters may have to be patient.

The former player took charge of the club in the summer after Tony Pulis’ exit and expressed his intent to change the club’s style of play from the start.

The North East side have struggled at the start of the season and are 18th with one win in six league games as we head into the international break.

Wrightson provided his view on the start to the season under the new Boro boss.

He said: “It’s early days but Woodgate has a clear vision for the future and wants his style of football–high pressing, playing out from the back and constant forward movement–to be played right from all of the kids' teams through to the first team.

“This was music to all of our ears after two years of Pulis-ball and against Luton Town on the first day, we were a lot more entertaining than last season, although at the same time we looked a lot shakier defensively as the 3-3 scoreline suggests.

“Since then the results have been disappointing; Woodgate could point to Assombalonga’s missed penalty at Luton, two wrongly disallowed goals against Brentford and two blatant penalty shouts ignored by the referee against Millwall; if these had gone our way we'd have had more points on the board.

“However, in our defeat at Blackburn and in our cup defeat to Crewe there were no such excuses; we were poor and to be fair, Woodgate agreed and stated this publicly.

"Furthermore, we hadn’t played any of the sides expected to be challenging at the top before Bristol City on Saturday, which is unsettling as if the also-rans in the league are taking points off us what will Leeds, Fulham and Swansea do to us?”

[ad_pod ]

Wrightson added that he felt patience would be necessary this season but ultimately Woodgate was the right man for the job.

He said: “I think most Boro fans have accepted this season may be one of consolidation as Woodgate changes the whole ethos of the club; he hasn’t had much money to spend and there appeared to be a lot of unrest in the squad after Pulis left.

“It’s far too early to judge how successful we will be but I found Saturday’s game at Ashton Gate very encouraging in our attacking play.

“Our defence still looked suspect but due to injuries, we are yet to see our first-choice centre-half pairing of Dani Ayala and Dael Fry play together this season so it’s also too early to judge our backline.

“We may have to be patient but the appointment of Woodgate appears to be a long-term project and, for now at least, I believe he is the man for the job.”

Woodgate's side's first game after the international break will be against Reading at the Riverside.