Middlesbrough fans expected success last season, their strong pre-season signings looked to be everything a club needs to progress. 

One or two, such as Ashley Fletcher and Martin Braithwaite didn't work out, but the likes of Britt Assombalonga had significant impact. it wasn't enough to keep Garry Monk in a job, but Tony Pulis used the squad Monk built, plus a few shrewd January manoeuvres, to get Boro into the top six.

The football world knows what Pulis does, he defends and hits teams on the break. some call it anti-football, but that would be unfair.it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'm sure Boro fans would rather that than mid-table obscurity attained by playing neat football.

It isn't as ugly as you might think either, in Adama Traore Boro fans had arguably one of the best footballers in the second tier. He's a joy to watch, a real flair player with a penchant for the unpredictable and the ability to get bums off seats.

Sadly, his pace and poise on the right wing was not matched on the opposite flank, giving Boro's attacks a very one dimensional feel. With Stuart Downing on the left there was little explosive pace, the cornerstone of the Pulis way. Instead they became predictable in an unpredictable way. Opponents knew the ball was going to Traore, what he did with it was the bit that kept them guessing.

This summer the recruitment at Boro has been very much focused on the Pulis blueprint. Aden Flint couldn't be more suited to his approach if he tried, tall, imposing and great in the air, Flint will get forward for set pieces and look to either net himself or nod the ball into the danger area.

That still leaves the issue of the attacking pattern of play, which is where FLW thinks Marcus Maddison would do a fantastic job for Boro.

Maddison had a great season at Peterborough, relatively high-scoring with a healthy helping of assists to boot. Having emerged from the National league with Gateshead he's shown that he's got the attitude and work ethic to ascend the divisions and make the most of his skills.

His skills are what makes him ideal for the Boro blueprint. He's quick, just like Traore and whilst he might not pose the natural flair of the former Barcelona, he has a unique skillset that would cause as many problems on one flank as Boro currently cause on the other.

He's left footed too, a natural fit for the left flank without having to switch feet to deliver a ball. he could offer the second outlet, the alternative to spraying the ball out to the right, and he's break at pace and whip balls into the danger area.

Maddison is up for sale this summer, with several Championship clubs rumoured to be in for his services. If Tony Pulis truly wants to take Boro back to the promised land, then one route there might be by making the most of both flanks. after all, if a one-sided team can achieve sixth place, what could they do if they had two flanks fully operational?