While many Boro fans will be still hurting from relegation, i myself find my self optimistic ahead of the new season and the chance to see Boro winning games again will give me great joy with our just rewards coming at the end of the season, which will hopefully be the Championship trophy.

The Division is a difficult one though, with any one of around 15 teams capable of pushing for promotion in any given season, but with Boro's quality, in an ideal world, we'd hope to be one step ahead of our opposition considering we still have what I'd consider a Premiership squad [mostly].

If im perfectly honest though, it doesn't matter where Boro finish in the league table as long as they gain promotion, whether that's through the automatic places in first and second or the Playoffs is irrelevant, but it would be nice to take the division by storm and take a trophy home at the end of the season, wouldn't it?

Boro and Sheffield Utd have already done battle during the summer, not on the field but in the transfer market, playing a tug of war for no less than three players.

Kyel Reid, an ex-West Ham winger, snubbed Boro amid suggestions from his family that he should join Sheffield [as stated by the South Yorkshire paper The Star] and appears satisfied with his move. Boro made it 2-1 one though after stealing Leroy Lita and Mark Yeates from under their noses, with both players preferring a move to Middlesbrough any day of the week... and they have the nerve to suggest what we're missing? A nothing failed player who couldn't cut it in the Premier League... yeah, what a loss! Jesus Christ.

So who will be our key players this season? Boro's key to promotion will be the ability to score goals from all over the pitch. You can bet new signing Leroy Lita will be in the goals. There are 46 games in the Championship season and if he can play most of those games, we'll easily see 15 league goals out of him at a minimum.

Adam Johnson will come into his own this season as he makes his mark after Downing departed. He'll be the main source of creativity as he dribbles in from the wing or tries to get in crosses from the by-line. He's not only an exciting winger, but he's also a goalscorer [as seen at Watford], more so than Downing. We can expect at least 5 - 10 goals from the left wing throughout the season, and i wouldn't be surprised if he scored more.

Mark Yeates... an ex-league one player, but a good player non the less. He'll be Boro's first natural right winger for years upon years. Good at breaking up the defence with killer balls and scores a few goals also.

Didier Digard will provide the physical presence needed to compete in this league, a tough tackling midfielder, he never got to make his mark in the Premiership last year, but this season we'll see what he's all about and he could be a key player in the centre of the park.

We've got three other tough players in defence, Wheater, Huth and Pogatetz will be suited perfectly to defending against the strikers in this league who lack any sort of technical ability, but make up for that with physical presence and the ability to finish.

The season's success will be dependant upon goals being scored from all positions, and Boro stand a good chance of achieving that this season, something which we lacked in the Premiership for various reasons.

Southgate has today set a target of at least two goals per game.

"I think we need to score on average two goals a game to win the league, which shows again how a different mentality is needed, because last year we'd go to places like Arsenal and Chelsea trying to shut up shop."

"We've had a survival mentality for a couple of years, now we have to win consistently and try to win the division, which is a big change in mindset from three months ago."

Sheffield United: A Brief history in time

Sheffield United Football Club
Nickname(s): The Blades, Red & White Wizards
Founded: 1889
Ground: Bramall Lane
Location: Sheffield, south Yorkshire
Capacity: 32,609
Chairman: Kevin McCabe
Manager: Kevin Blackwell

Sheffield United formed on 22 March 1889 at the Adelphi Hotel, Sheffield (now the site of the Crucible Theatre) by the President of the Cricket Club Sir Charles Clegg, as a way of keeping the Sheffield United Cricket Club together during the winter close season, following the departure of Sheffield Wednesday to their new ground at Olive Grove and generating income revenues from Bramall Lane over the winter. Sir Charles Clegg was incidentally also the president of Sheffield Wednesday FC. Gradually, as football took off, the football team supplanted the cricket team, such that in 1975, cricket was no longer played at Bramall Lane.

Undoubtedly United's heyday was the 30-year period from 1895–1925, when they were champions of England in 1897–98 and runners up in 1896–97 and 1899–1900, and FA Cup winners in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925, finishing runners up in 1901, and also eleven years after their cup final win in 1936. United have not won a trophy since 1925, bar those associated with promotion from lower-leagues, though they did reach both domestic cup semi-finals and the First Division play-off final in the 2002–03 season, ultimately losing all three matches.

Their darkest days were the 1975–76 to 1981–82 seasons, where three relegations in six seasons saw The Blades drop from the top-flight to the fourth division, but this was soon followed by United's best period until Neil Warnock took the managerial helm, with Dave Bassett as manager masterminding successive promotions in the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons, to put United back in the top flight in time for the beginning of the Premiership's inception in 1992.

The Blades were founder members of the Premier League, along with Boro.

Middlesbrough: Tactics and Team news

[4-4-2] Coyne, Hoyte, Pogatetz, Huth, Wheater, Yeates, Johnson, Digard, O'Neil, Tuncay, Emnes - Subs: Steele, McMahon, Williams, Arca, Lita

That would appear to be the likely team to start against Sheffield Utd, however the team hasn't been picked yet, so we could see some changes.

Injury News:

Aliadiere has been struck down with a bout of sickness and will miss the opening weekend game.

Tuncay is fit and ready and will play a part in the match, although it remains to be seen if he'll start.

Arca And O'Neil are recovering from pre-season knocks and the latter remains hopeful to be fit enough to start with Arca probably settling for a place on the bench.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Middlesbrough vs Sheffield Utd; Season Opener Preview. Can Boro bring the knife to the neck of The Blades?

Boro are believed to have already rejected a bid of £3million earlier this summer, and now if rumours are to be believed, Boro have been subject to an undisclosed bid from Saudi outfit Al Ahli.

Other clubs are mooted to show an interest, but it's Al Ahli that would be able to offer the more lucrative terms, given his largely unsuccessful time on Teesside and other major clubs in Europe reluctant to spend money on a player who could be past his best already.

Boro are unlikely to recoup a large portion of the £12million or so shelled out, with a fee in the region of £4-5million more than likely being put on offer.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Afonso Alves heading to Arabia?

Camara has been no stranger in British football since his arrival from Sedan, playing for clubs such as Stoke (loan), West Ham (loan), Southampton (loan), Celtic (loan), Wolves and Wigan.

A pacey striker, he's shown his apparent potential on a few occasions in the Premiership but has never been able to hold down a starting role at anywhere other than Wigan, where he scored 20 goals in 60 appearances.

Camara would bring a raft of experience in the top flight, pace and an eye for goal. His technical ability is also quite impressive, and the ability to perform the unknown makes him a danger in and around the box, no doubt a handful for most Championship defences if he's given the right squad.

Camara would join under the Bosman ruling after winding down his contract at Wigan.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Boro set to snap up Henri Camara on a free transfer?

Tuncay remains one of the most high profile players still on our books, with Southgate saying, "I'm amazed" at the fact he's still here.

“We’ve told him all along that we would not stand in his way if the right offer came in, but so far that hasn’t happened.

“When you look at his quality and his background with the Turkey team it’s incredible.

“I think something will happen but when, we don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Many will be aware that Tuncay hasn't played a single minute of pre-season football, but that's down to a few training injuries, however, he's apparently fit and ready to play. We could expect Tuncay to play around 60 minutes, with  new signing Leroy Lita replacing him as a substitute as he works on his overall fitness.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Southgate prepares Tuncay for the Championship

Boro were made joint 6/1 favourites along with West Brom to finish in second place this season by Ladbrokes.

It's my opinion that Boro are definitely looking like candidates to take the title. The squad hasn't been too disillusioned by relegation, and the apparent mass exodus hasn't taken place, furthermore, our stars aren't in the press every day begging for a move... The problem player has already left and my guess is that the rest (Tuncay, Alves...) are just waiting patiently on the sidelines, but should definitely be utilized if possible. Squad harmony seems to be pretty good, better than i expected.

Newcastle on the other hand, the supposed favourites, still don't have a manager, still have an owner that wouldn't wipe his back-side with the club, as well as numerous players that would rather move on to pastures new and haven't hesitated to say so in the national papers.

It looks like the trend of media hatred towards Boro is no where near finished... I'm surprised we're even 2nd favourites, but who listens to the bookies, right?

Up the Boro!

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Middlesbrough tipped for 2nd place in the Championship

The latest names in the mill are rumoured to be Marseille duo Elliot Grandin and Mamadou Samassa, who'll both be available for fee's of less than £1million.

Grandin is a former French U-21 international and can play either up front or in an attacking right wing position, while Samassa is primarily a striker, and is the more unlikely of the two to join the club.

Other English clubs are rumoured to be interested, however it remains to be seen how both players could fit in the squad with a full compliment of strikers and Jonathan Franks waiting for his chance on the right wing.

Leroy Lita Preview

Leroy Lita joined yesterday on a free transfer from Reading. It was revealed that Lita was a long term target for Boro, and is subsequently happy to have had the chance to revitalise his career with the club.

Lita (24), is an explosive striker known for his pace and the ability to score goals.

He began his career at Bristol City in 2002 with huge potential. In his first season he made 17 appearances, scoring 4 goals.

The season next, Bristol stepped up his development as he played a more integral part in the team, playing in no less than 31 games, scoring 5 goals.

The 04/05 season was considered his breakthrough season.

He started most games, making 44 league appearances, netting an impressive 24 goals. In all competitions, he made 51 appearances, while only being a goal short of netting 30.

Reading, then a Championship club, then came in for him in the 05/06 season where he kept up some pretty good goalscoring form. Lita made 26 appearances in the league that season, finding the net 11 times. He went on to score 15 goal in all competitions as Reading achieved promotion to the Premier League.

Lita went on to make his Premiership debut against non-other than Boro, where he bagged the winning goal. He failed to score for a lot of the season after, and subsequently lost his place. On his return to the team, he managed to find 10 goals in 12 games as the season drew to a close.

Lita's debut top flight season ended with 38 appearances and 14 goals in all competitions.

Injuries restricted Lita to 14 appearances in Readings relegation season, and upon his recovery, vowed to fight for his place despite being linked with loan moves away, but ended up in a loan move to Charlton, a then Championship Club, where he made 8 appearances, scoring 3 goals.

Lita fell out of favour when Reading were relegated to the Championship and he made a loan move back to Charlton. In all he scored 9 goals in 21 appearances for Charlton over two championship seasons.

Lita should prove to be a fine asset to Boro this season. If he plays enough games we should easily see 15 league goals or more.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

The door is still open for new signings; Leroy Lita preview

Gareth Southgate is currently the third longest serving Premiership manager, and that, Says Gary Johnson, is down to Gibbo's resistance to outside pressures.

Johnson has been linked to the now vacant post at Fratton park after the departure of Tony Adams earlier in the week, and he says Gibson "at Middlesbrough is a good example of a chairman who stands by his managers.

"People were calling for Bryan Robson's head for a long time and then it was Steve McClaren and now it's Gareth Southgate.

"But the chairman is strong enough to resist outside pressures and do what he thinks is right, and because of that Boro have remained in the Premier League and made who knows how many millions of pounds on the back of it."

The City boss added: "If only more chairmen were like that. There are 92 people qualified to be managers in the Football League, but there are millions of unqualified managers who have an opinion.

"Those people are able to have their say in the media, on the terraces or in phone-ins on the radio, and they are not shy of saying what they think.

"Club chairmen are bound to hear what is being said, but the problem comes when they allow it to influence their judgement.

"You only have to look at the top of the Premier League to see how it works. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been at Manchester United and Arsenal for a long time and both clubs have benefited from that stability."

A credit to the integrity of our chairman, long live Steve Gibson!

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Gibbo’s the one to emulate, says Bristol City gaffer Johnson

Johnson ran onto a lose ball, lobbed one defender and then flicked the ball over the next as he hit a volley into the top right-hand side of the net with his right foot.

Johnson continues to impress for the U-21's, scoring his third goal in twelve appearances.

You can watch the goals here.

Paul Gascoigne vs Scotland (Euro 96)

Adam Johnson vs Ecuador U23's (Friendly) Courtesy of Setanta Sports

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Johnson the one to watch as unlucky England-U21’s lose.

Owens today penned an extension on his loan deal with Blackpool.

Having only made three sub appearances, Pool boss Tony Parkes appears to have seen enough in training to warrent keeping him at the club until March.

This will be a big boost to Owens, who has seen his first-team opportunities at Boro very hard to come by.

The extra stint in the North West will be a big change from his usual taste of Reserve-team football.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Graeme Owens extends his stay at the seaside

Hines has seen his first-team appearances limited so far, but remains seen as a "hot prospect" by the Boro back room staff.

Currently 20, Hines has returned to the Boro squad after a loan spell with Championship side Derby County, but wasn't chosen to make an appearance in the team, at least on the pitch. He's captained England at U-16 level and represented his country at every other level up to U-19, made his Boro debut as a left back in a 4-3 FA Cup third round win over Hull City in January 2007, scoring the opener with a long-range strike, one which propelled him into the eyes of Boro fans.

Post from BoroMania: Middlesbrough Football

Hines chooses Boro, whatever the weather!