Gazette Boro writer Craig Johns answers your Middlesbrough-related questions

The Boro Mailbag returns with Gazette Boro writer Craig Johns answering your Middlesbrough-related questions.

This week, there are questions on Luke Ayling’s credentials as a regular starter, Boro’s strongest XI and Kim Hellberg’s ability to find successful new positions for players.

As always, if you’ve submitted a question that’s not yet been answered, rest assured, it remains on the list and we will get around to it. At the end of the answers, you’ll also find the form to submit your own questions.

Q - Should Luke Ayling be in Middlesbrough’s starting XI?

There’s no hiding from the fact that Ayling was at fault for the second Stoke City goal, and there’s been times this season where he’s looked a little vulnerable.

I don’t think there’s much to read into that beyond the fact that Hellberg’s aggressive high line doesn’t always help him when balls go over the top, because, at 35, he’s not as quick on the half turn anymore.

That said, I think Ayling still has strong points to his game, and still has an important role to play this season. And I think, with that in mind, some of the discourse from some around a player who always gives his all and is a genuinely good guy, has been far too strong.

That said, I think now, where Ayling will be best used by Boro will be how he was used against Wolves - coming on late in games when Boro need to protect a narrow lead.

While Hellberg won’t have an official ranking, if I was to rank Boro’s centre-backs when everyone is fit then the reality is that I’d have Ayling fourth behind Ashley Phillips, Adilson Malanda and Alfie Jones.

So when everyone is fit, no, Ayling would not be in my starting XI. But over the course of a 46-game Championship season, Ayling will have an important role to play, and deserves our support.

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Q - Do you think the starting XI at Stoke City was our first-choice XI?

Hellberg was asked recently about a strongest XI and his answer was that, particularly in the busy modern game, he doesn’t think there is any such thing.

Particularly for a coach like Hellberg, I think we’ve seen this week why he will never have a strongest XI. His analysis of the opposition made him believe that Boro were better-suited to a back four against Wolves, and a back five at Stoke City.

And with fixture congestion in mind, he noted ahead of Cardiff City that he feels he’s learned his lesson from the Norwich City and Millwall games, and not changing enough after Norwich, leading to a performance lacking energy against Millwall.

With that in mind, I think Hellberg is genuine when he says he doesn’t believe in a strongest XI, and not just saying that to avoid creating a hierarchy.

In terms of my personal opinion on what Boro’s strongest XI is, I’d actually point to the team against Wolves as being as close to my strongest team.

I prefer Boro in the 4-3-3 system to a back three, and I’ve felt for a long time that Phillips and Malanda would emerge as Boro’s strongest centre-back pairing.

The only position where I don’t think there’s a clearly established first choice is left-back. Neto Borges is playing excellently right now, but I do think there’ll be games (playing against the low block in particular) that will suit Max Arfsten better.

Q - With Kim Hellberg’s tinkering with positions a la Tommy Conway and Adilson Malanda, do you think there’s merit in that? And are there any others you feel could work in a new position?

I definitely think there’s merit in the tinkering to find new roles for players when it suits. In the case of Malanda, that’s been done to fix an early issue around openness, though I think Hellberg’s been clear he still sees the Frenchman as a centre-back.

As for Conway, I think the value of switching him to left wing has been clear, and I thought Hellberg’s answer on why he did that earlier this week was excellent. I love when Hellberg gives his long, tactical answers like that. He’s really open and really insightful, which should always be welcomed.

In terms of who else could change position, I like that as a question. The person who asked the question mentions alongside his question that he’d like to see Arfsten used in a role that will allow him to be on the pitch more, while he can see Myles Peart-Harris as the defender who steps into midfield.

With Arfsten, I still think it’s really hard to define his exact position. Hellberg believes he can be a full-back, wing-back and winger, and I guess that will only help him get on the pitch more, because he’s proven reliable in all three of those roles.

As for Peart-Harris as a defender stepping into midfield, it’s an interesting call. Peart-Harris was actually a defender in his early academy days before moving into central midfield.

He certainly has the physical attributes to do it too. Would he be a strong enough defender? That would be my one concern/question mark over that prospect.

In terms of other players, the one that immediately springs to mind, though probably not too original, would be David Strelec dropping into a deeper role.

The introduction of Will Lankshear this season has highlighted how much Boro lacked a proper centre forward last season.

Strelec, I think, has some good qualities with the ball at his feet, but he seems to lack that natural instinct that Lankshear has.

It feels more 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 this season, but Berhalter does play really high up in the forward line. Strelec would be unlikely to work as hard off the ball, but in possession, I could see Strelec offering plenty playing in the hole off Lankshear.