Middlesbrough substitutes dilemma and 'massive strength' verdict for crucial moments

Michael Carrick has offered insight into his thinking when it comes to making substitutions in games - an aspect of his management at Middlesbrough that has at times come under scrutiny.

While the Boro boss has largely excelled in the Boro hotseat in what is his first management role, there have at times been one or two questions surrounding his in-game management, particularly with regard to the timing and impact of the subs he makes.

But with Boro's squad much stronger this season, they have recently reaped the rewards of that, with subs making key contributions in victories over Sheffield United and QPR. Asked about his thought process with regard to making changes in games, the Boro boss explained why it's not always as easy as might be thought, as he detailed his many considerations.

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“It’s never just about the 11 players on the pitch at the start of the game," Carrick said. "Everyone has a part to play and it’s up to us to get the selection decisions right and get the balance right. Over the last couple of weeks, all the boys have really produced for us - including the boys coming off the bench.

"Games can flip quite quickly, so, in terms of the pattern of a game, how it started or how it’s going at any given time, isn’t necessarily going to be how it finishes. Many games are decided towards the end, so who is on the pitch at the end of the game can be just as important as who starts a game. That’s ultimately when it’s decided.

"We always have the option to bring five players on, and we always have many strong options to bring on. We try and use that in the right way when we can. It’s a challenge. The dynamics of when to make your subs comes into it. Sometimes you might look and think you don’t need to make one because of the way the game is, the feeling and the combinations.

"You can just naturally think, ‘We need to make a sub’ at certain times in a game, but actually, that can sometimes disturb things a little bit. But one thing I will say, when the boys are coming into the side or coming off the bench, we feel there is a level of consistency to the performances, and that’s a testament to how the boys train and work together. It’s a massive strength to have the options to make the changes if we need to."