Much has changed since Middlesbrough last played in the top flight of English football.
Many Australians remember players Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer and many more playing for Riverside back in the day.
Twelve teams in the Premier League remain from the 2008-9 season and many clubs have suffered variations in fortune during this period.
When Middlesbrough was relegated at the end of 2008/9, Aston Villa finished sixth and qualified for Europe.
Fast forward to today and Aston Villa are plying their trade in the Championship while Middlesbrough rejoin the top flight after finishing second in the Championship.
As we approach the start of the Premier League season are Middlesbrough well placed for an extended stay at the top, or will the adventure be a short lived one?
Certainly history shows it is tough for the promoted clubs. In recent seasons teams such as Norwich, Hull, Burnley, QPR, and Cardiff have had relatively short stints to the top flight before bouncing back down to the Championship.
Two of those clubs, Hull and Burnley, will join Middlesbrough in the Premier League this season. While pre-season predictions can come back to bite it would certainly appear that Middlesbrough are the best placed of the three to retain Premier League status.
For a start Boro are very well managed by Aitor Karanka who has plenty of top level experience both as a player and a manager. Karanka spent three years as an assistant at Real Madrid working under Jose Mourinho from 2010-2013. Karanka left the club when Carlo Ancelotti arrived and Karanka was appointed Middlesbrough manager in 2013.
Karanka boasts an overall winning percentage of 52.5 per cent with only 34 losses from his 139 games in charge. Karanka signed a contract extension in 2015 for four years and this will be his first experience managing in the Premier League.
Often the step up from the Championship to the Premier League can be a bridge too far for some clubs and this makes quality additions to the squad vital.
Middlesbrough has been very active in the transfer window as they look to strengthen the squad and judging from afar it certainly appears many of the additions will play significant roles this season and beyond.
Some of the Middlesbrough additions thus far include Antonio Barragan, a highly rated defender from Valencia who has signed on a three year deal. Central Defender Bernado Espinosa joins on a free from Sporting Gijon and attacking midfield Viktor Fischer makes the move to the Riverside from Ajax in a deal worth £3.8m.
Martin de Roon a Dutch midfielder has also signed from Serie A outfit Atalanta, a player that Karanka had been keen on for some time.
Middlesbrough has also brought in Premier League experience with the addition of goalkeeper Brad Guzan and big game experience with former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes. Gaston Ramirez who was on loan at Middlesbrough last year and showed flashes of brilliance will continue his Boro adventure at the club that re-ignited his stalling career.
While Ramirez was arguably the best signing for Boro last year the fans might be thinking the same again in 12 months’ time. Another addition that cannot be underestimated is Striker Alvaro Negredo who has joined on a season long loan and already impressed in pre-season.
Of course the season is yet to play out and how the new signings adapt in the top flight remains to be seen but Boro have certainly not sat on their hands since promotion. Many cynics will point to potential fireworks if the season does not start smoothly.
Karanka is known to have a temper and some pundits believe tension still exists after a training ground bust up earlier this year. But the club has certainly dismissed reports of any lingering issue.
The seven year Premier League absence is finally over and Boro appear well prepared as they host Stoke at the Riverside on the opening day. The fans are rightfully excited. The fans just hope this excitement last beyond this season in the Premier League.
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