With the EFL now on an open extended break for those pesky internationals, I thought it might be worth a new topic and to take stock of where we are, eight games in.

It’s fraught to make any concrete judgements this early, especially with so many changes in the squad and so much more football to come but there is somewhat of an odd feeling around the club at the moment, one where there is general satisfaction at our points tally but not at performance levels.

Do we expect too much? Or is it more that those decent results are unsustainable if we don’t improve, and we should be a bit concerned?

Anyway, to pass the time and maybe further the debate, here’s my ratings for the players and manager so far:

Radek Vitek - 6

OK, but no better than that so far. By the time of last season’s run-in, I felt that Sol Brynn had become a bit of a problem for us with too many basic shot stopping errors, so I was pleased when the club announced it had signed a big keeper with a good pedigree and a strong Championship season already under his belt. It’s very early, but so far I haven’t felt any real upgrade on Brynn. In fact, given how many goals we’ve already conceded from balls into the box, I’m tempted to say that Boro would have been better placed if they’d spent some of that £7m on retaining Dael Fry instead. Brynn and Fry have their limitations but dealing with crosses absolutely isn’t one of them, and maybe we’ve taken a bit of backward step overall. Still, it’s very early doors and this current opinion could look very silly indeed come May. Let’s hope so.

Callum Brittain – 7.5

One of Boro’s best so far in my opinion. The defence is understandably under scrutiny at the moment but I think Brittain has been a consistently good performer at right back. Runs all day, has a great work ethic and an understated sort of presence, I think he’s gone up a notch from last season. His attacking output may be more based on endeavour than quality but I don’t see many elsewhere in the division that I’d rather have over the season.

Ashley Phillips – 6.5

Decent so far, with a crucial late winner against Norwich. He arrived late and not match fit so has only been eased in, making it even harder to judge, but I think his size, bit of pace and reasonable quality on the ball are already apparent. At just 21 years old there looks to be plenty of potential there and he’s made an ok start to life at Boro, In a side that isn’t easy for defenders.

Luke Ayling – 5.5

Still able to swing in a decent cross from deep, still somewhat of a leader on the field but this has been a difficult start for Ayling. I have some sympathy for him. He can’t go back ten years, or suddenly become taller or quicker, and our style of play somewhat plays into the things he can’t reasonably do. Nevertheless, it feels like he’s no longer first choice when everyone else is available, and I think that’s fair now.

Max Arftsen – 6

After two or three windows of trying to land the American wingback, it’s strange that he hasn’t yet nailed down a place in the team, especially with limited options at left back. He does appear to be more a wingback – or even winger – than a fullback but he’s got a bit of attacking verve about him and is wonderfully two-footed. His finish at St Andrews was very composed and, if we can find the right role for him, I think there’s plenty more to come. A tentative, but promising, start to life at Boro.

Adilson Malanda – 6

I’m disappointed. When Malanda arrived in January, we looked to have a player who was immediately Premier League-ready. His physicality and defending were good from the get go but he also had a great pass on him, cutting through the lines to the feet of more advanced players. An absolute bargain. However, his form waned in the closing months, getting caught on the ball at times and those passes started to find opposition midfielders too often. We might have thought that because he hadn’t had much of a break from his MLS season to the chaos of the Championship, he was simply a bit overworked, but that form hasn’t yet returned this season. The usual mitigations apply with an unsettled defence in an overtly attacking team – plus Malanda has been shifted into midfield as often as he’s played in defence – it’s difficult to find consistency in those circumstances. But he’s got a lot more in his locker and I want to see it for a prolonged period now.

Neto Borges – 6.5

A bit of a surprise package so far. Having been loaned out last season, he didn’t seem to have much of a future at Boro but now finds himself as seemingly first choice left back. And he’s done ok I think. He works hard, defends reasonably well and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. However, he’s always been a bit limited going forward and doesn’t offer that balance or outlet down the left. As the season progresses, I expect Arfsten to overtake him but I’m happy to have Borges around as a useful squad player, and he’s made a decent fist of the opportunity he’s had to start this season.

Seb Berhalter – 6.5

Still settling in and yet to nail a place of his own, Berhalter is another who has done ok so far but not too much more than that. He does have a cultured right foot and an excellent work rate but I’m not convinced that he and Morris are the right blend as a partnership to be honest – I think they might be better suited to playing as two of the three in a 4-3-3 with a dedicated defensive midfielder covering behind them. However, there’s some promise there, and we shouldn’t be lacking for effort in the part of the pitch.

Riley McGree – 6

Mild disappointment. Like Malanda, I judge McGree by high standards because he has the quality to be a top Championship player. He hasn’t found it so far this season though, despite having better attacking options around him. The highlight of his season so far is surely that superb turn and assist for Lankshear so late against Lincoln. More of that please.

Aidan Morris – 7

Came back late after an injury but has picked up well. Not quite vintage Morris yet but still one of Boro’s better performers so far. My main observation on Morris is that I no longer consider him to be a defensive midfielder. He seems to be the closest Boro have to that role but the more I watch him, the more I see him orchestrating play and getting forward, rather than having an instinct for covering spaces, holding position and being paranoia about stopping opposition counters. He works hard and doesn’t mind a tackle, but that isn’t enough to be considered a defensive midfielder for me. I think he needs one alongside him for him to his best work.

Myles Peart-Harris – 6.5

He’s a got an athletes build, good technique and can carry the ball forward – certainly more in his locker than I was expecting from a free transfer who played out last season relatively anonymously at Oxford United. There are shades of Morgan Rogers there (the one at Boro, not the one at Villa, Chelsea and England). I’m not yet sure what his best position is and need to see some more end product from him to be convinced but I’m encouraged.

Tommy Conway – 6

Another who’s battling back from injury and still settling into the season. You can never doubt Conway’s effort or desire, hugely endearing qualities. For a while not though, he’s been struggling with confidence in front of goal and, besides pressing, working hard and setting an example, it’s difficult to to see what he really brings to the attack. Neither a reliable goalscorer or creator, I find it hard to place him in a side that seeks promotion. I once, perhaps unfairly, opined that TC was a poor man’s Duncan Watmore. I’m still not convinced that that was wrong. A top man, rightly loved, but we’ll need more quality from him.

Amario Cozier-Duberry – 8.5

Another late arrival but one that has wasted no time in making his mark. Always wants the ball, always wants to go past his man, runs back to help defensively and has a shot on him as well – he looks a nightmare for opposition defenders. My only concern is not with ACD himself but with Boro, a bit like we did with Ben Doak a few seasons ago, becoming over-reliant on him.

Jeremy Sarmiento – 6.5

A little in and out with injury but he’s looked more settled so far this season, with a touch of added goal threat. We’re weren’t sure if he had the end product to go with his flashy feet last season but there are signs that’s going to up his output this term. Not s stellar start but promising.

Kyle Joseph – 6

Another with plenty of heart and character but the quality looks very hit and miss so far. One of those who looks like he’ll score a bicycle-kick screamer one minute and then fail to trap the ball the next. I expect him to offer plenty of running and probably have one or two big moments for us over the season but equally frustrate and probably be in and out of the team.

Will Lankshear – 9

Great start to his Boro career with six goals in eight Championship appearances. Boro have been crying out for an out-and-out striker for some time and Lankshear has been just that. Put himself about enough, has great positional instincts and a deadly first-time finisher. There’s always room for improvement but he’s been a top signing for us so far.

Others

Alfie Jones

Another who was eased back after a long-term injury and has since found himself back on the treatment table. Not had enough minutes to be judged.

Leo Castledine

Limited minutes and looks devoid of confidence when he has played. Shame, I hope he can rediscover himself as the season progresses.

David Strelec

See Castledine.

Manager

Kim Hellberg – 6.5

It seems harsh to be third in the table with almost two points per game and yet not particularly generous with the manager rating. Yet Boro’s start could undoubtedly – probably should – have been better. There are mitigating factors such as the squad turnover but Boro’s group does look like one of the best four or five in the division, and yet every game has been a bit of a struggle so far. The players aren’t perfect or perfectly balanced (where’s that actual holding midfielder again) but Boro’s main issues seem to be tactical and mental, with open spaces in midfield and no more than 60 minutes good play per game so far. Ultimately that sits with the manager to resolve. I’m a huge fan of KH, his personality and professionalism, and his attacking instincts overall are what I want to see from the club, but there are gaps and I think he can do a little better with the tools he has to work with. And I think he will.