What next for Martin Braithwaite?

By Michael Richardson

You wouldn’t blame many Boro fans for allowing the idea of Martin Braithwaite’s existence to leave their minds since his January deadline day move to Bordeaux – but currently away in Russia with Denmark, Braithwaite’s future at the club is very much still up in the air.

Despite leaving on uncertain terms upon Tony Pulis’ arrival mid-way through last season, Braithwaite’s start at Boro was nothing to be sniffed at, tallying 3 goals and an assist in his first 8 games. However, just an additional 3 goals up until January left many fans questioning whether the man who likened himself to club legend Juninho when he first signed was as good as he made himself out to be.

Despite this, regular Twitter posts and interactivity with fans – most memorably a popular video of him trying his first Middlesbrough parmo - kept him afloat and well thought of within the fan base.

Personally, I don’t think many Boro fans would have questioned Braithwaite’s commitment to the cause prior to his January move, however, some may have felt that he had cracked under the pressure of playing for Pulis, perhaps didn’t fit the system or had instead opted for the “safer option” of transferring to his familiar surroundings in Ligue 1 in order to secure his World Cup place.

So all this really does beg the question – What’s next for Martin Braithwaite?

The Dane’s record at Bordeaux would probably be classed as somewhat of a success, acquiring 4 goals and 3 assists in his final 6 games of the season – doing more than enough to secure a seat on the Danish flight to Russia. On the basis of these performances and the glimpses we saw at Boro, Barnsley (A) and Ipswich (H) spring to mind, I don’t think many can question his ability.

The real question lies on whether or not Braithwaite would fit Pulis’ 4-3-3 system, and whether he would be willing to give promotion another go – he did, after all, say he saw a future involving him and Boro playing in Europe.

In terms of fitting the system, he would likely be a better option on the left wing than Downing, and a front 3 of Adama, Braithwaite and Assombalonga would certainly offer the pace and willingness to attack that most fans have been crying out for.

However, it doesn’t take a football genius to realise that this would be a very unusual occurrence if compared to stringent manager Tony Pulis’ previous teams – this is perhaps an unfair stereotype however, as all Boro fans have seen the remarkable improvements in Adama Traore’s game since Pulis arrived. It is likely Pulis would rather opt for a set piece specialist - perhaps Robert Snodgrass or Matt Ritchie - to deliver balls in towards fan favourite Dani Ayala and new signing, 6’ 6” Aden Flint. Selling on Braithwaite, as long as there were any takers, would likely generate upwards of around £7 million for Boro, which could be invested into a winger more suited to the manager’s system.

Furthermore, Braithwaite’s personal opinion must also be considered as a factor, and although he seemed to enjoy his start at the club, you couldn’t blame him for choosing the French port city of Bordeaux over Middlesbrough – as long as they wanted to sign him.

Personally, I would like to see Braithwaite give it another shot at Boro, but only as long as Pulis could find a way to incorporate him into the starting XI. I think his flair and clinical shooting, which he showcased in stints last season, could be a valuable asset as we look forward to a return to the Premier League in 2019.

So, would you like to see Martin Braithwaite play in role in Boro’s team last season? Or are you very much firmly in the “cash in” camp? Let us know via Twitter (@boropolis) or in the comments below.