Sky Sports pundit drops exciting Middlesbrough FC prediction for 2025 | OneFootball

Don Goodman has provided his thoughts to FLW regarding Middlesbrough's progress in 2024 under Michael Carrick.

Don Goodman believes Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick are due to have a strong second half of the campaign after a good 2024 thus far.

The Teessiders are battling for the play-offs again under Carrick, who is now in his third season at the Riverside after being appointed in October 2022.

It has turned out to be an inspired decision, despite his side sitting outside of the play-off places for the majority of last season and falling just short. He has earned plenty of plaudits for his work in transforming Boro over the course of over two years now, not least due to the turnover of some of the club's best players during that time as well.

Promotion heading into the summer was the goal yet again for his side, especially after losing just one of their final 12 league games in 2023/24 and only just missing out on another play-off battle. Despite ultimately settling for eighth last term, in part due to an ever-growing injury list over the course of the season, there will remain optimism that they can make the cut in 2024/25 instead.

Having seen multiple players depart in the last few summers, be that upon the expiry of their loan or from selling them, the summer was one of continuity and stability for Middlesbrough. That should serve them well in the race for promotion, and so far has been important in their positive start to the season.

Carrick continues to earn plenty of credit for the work he has done at the Riverside, with Boro between fifth and 12th for every matchday of the season thus far, and on course for a play-off push — at the very least — once more.

Don Goodman's verdict on Middlesbrough and Michael Carrick as 2024 draws to a close

For many involved with Middlesbrough, Carrick is the club's biggest asset by far. It will have come as a relief to therefore hear that he penned a new three-year contract this summer, as the club have put their faith in him as the right man to take the club forward.

We asked Don Goodman about their progress under him, especially in 2024 and whether it has been a good year for them. Speaking via CoinPoker, he said: “2024 has been a year of progression for Middlesbrough.

“It didn't start well, winning two, drawing two and losing five of their first nine fixtures. They did finish the 2023/2024 season strongly, however.

“I had big expectations for them this season and even bigger ones after seeing them play. I think they're definitely one of the three best teams in the Championship, even if it's not reflected in the results. When they lose, Boro usually give a good account of themselves in the performance.

“They're sixth at the moment and they haven't yet gone on the kind of run I think they're capable of. Their longest unbeaten stretch is just three games and that shows there's a lot more to come. They've just been punished for missing chances at the one end and conceding very soft goals down the other.

“As I say, 2024 has been a year of progression. I'd expect them to take points from their upcoming run of fixtures, and if they can go on one of those runs that they're capable of, they may be able to put pressure on the teams above them.

“They've got a good squad of players and I have them down as a shoo-in for the top six. I would be massively shocked if they don't. Everything is there for Boro to have a really strong second half of the season.”

Middlesbrough's expectations and ambitions in 2024/25

Carrick recently detailed his commitment to staying put at Middlesbrough, who are said to be confident the 43-year-old is going nowhere. Much like players, managers can develop in the right environment, and he is thriving with Boro for the most part.

The league table doesn't necessarily tell the whole story for his side this season, as they have largely played well in the circumstances. Obviously, the underlying data is only an indicator of the strength of a team's performance week-to-week and points will be what ultimately decides promotion.

However, the trend so far over a strong sample size is something to excite supporters, with Boro leading the way in terms of xG and chances created alongside Daniel Farke's Leeds United. Under Carrick, they are expected to be a side challenging for the play-offs, if not in and around the automatic promotion places, and such numbers will see them in the mix come May.

Carrick is one of the best young English coaches out there currently. He's tactically innovative and flexible, often making proactive changes mid-game to counter the opposition. However, as Goodman alludes to, Boro could easily be considered as one of the three best teams in the league this season.

The objective now is to gain promotion to the Premier League and there will be real disappointment if the club fail to do so this time around. In 2024, only Leeds have picked up more points than Middlesbrough in the Championship, with just Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, and Burnley left to play, meaning there is every chance they end up as runners-up for that title and that they carry that form into 2025.