On the 27th of June 2018, Boro announced their second summer signing in the form of 6’6” centre-back Aden Flint.
For many seasons the ex-Bristol City man has been regarded as one of the best defenders in the Championship and it is for that exact reason why there has been no shortage of interest in him over the past two years. Indeed, it has been reported that Boro fought of a whole host of clubs, including Premier League outfit Burnley, to gain Flint’s signature.
Goal-scoring defenders are something that Middlesbrough fans should be accustomed to by now after half a season under Tony Pulis, and the latest arrival at Rockcliffe Park is cut from the same cloth. In fact Flint’s most likely defensive partner, Daniel Ayala, was a safe bet as first goalscorer on most betting slips throughout the second half of last season.
However, despite Ayala’s remarkable efficiency in front of goal, Tony Pulis’ newest recruit takes it to a whole new level. Flint boasts a total of 91 career goals since he began his rise through the football ladder at non-league Alfreton Town. Having noticed the ability and potential he had shown at the Conference North side, League One Swindon Town decided to snap up the towering defender in January 2011.
Flint would go on to stay with the Robins for two years before signing for fellow League One club Bristol City. Before joining Pulis’ squad for a reported £5m plus add-ons, the aerial threat spent five years in the South West at Ashton Gate.
Despite his impressive record in the opposition’s box, the once England youth international’s defensive prowess shouldn’t be disregarded or ignored. For what he lacks in pace he more than makes up for through his ability to read the game.
This was shown most notably last season in Bristol’s first-leg semi-final tie with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. In the end Bristol City couldn’t hold on to the lead that Bobby Reid’s early opener from the spot had given them, but the Riverside’s newest arrival proved exactly why our recruitment team will have identified him as a potential target throughout the entire match.
His finest moment of the game came when he cleared the ball off the line after Raheem Sterling had dinked the ball over the on rushing Bristol City keeper, Frankie Fielding.
These kinds of displays were continued throughout the entirety of the season and as a result, his defensive stats speak for themselves. Over the course of the 39 league games he played in, Flint made a crucial 40 interceptions, a remarkable 240 clearances and unsurprisingly won 270 duels.
With regards to what Flint’s arrival may mean for players already at the club, there are still questions to be answered.
What does it mean for Ben Gibson? Could it prevent the progression of Dael Fry?
For many fans, losing the passionate and home-grown Ben Gibson would be a travesty. But if he does leave, Boro have a ready-made replacement ready to fill his boots.
However, if he chooses to remain at the club this summer, he could be re-accommodated at left-back. This is perhaps more likely than it initially appears given the worsening form of George Friend and Gibson’s own ball-playing abilities. It also wouldn't be the first time Pulis has moved a central defender into a full-back role (Ryan Shotton at Boro and Craig Dawson at West Brom).
As for Dael Fry, the addition of another gifted centre-back may well lead to yet another season in which he has to settle for just a handful of appearances; something which the twenty-year-old can’t have if his aspirations of becoming a regular for his boyhood club are serious. The removal of playing opportunities for a promising, young but admittedly inexperienced defender in favour of an experienced 28-year-old may prove to be a good decision in the short-term, but it comes accompanied by a potentially negative long-term impact that remains to be seen.
Ultimately, for Championship fans, attackers and defenders alike, the combination of Aden Flint and Daniel Ayala in a Tony Pulis system will undoubtedly be a nerve-wracking prospect. Indeed, for an already strong back line, the addition of Flint could well turn out to be a masterstroke both defensively and offensively for Middlesbrough next season.
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