MIDDLESBROUGH supporters have long lived with the boring Boro' tag, but after several years of mediocrity, that could be about to change.

When Steve McClaren accepted Steve Gibson's invitation to take over from Bryan Robson in 2001 his brief was to stabilise the club and stop it being the yo-yo side it had become under its previous leader.

McClaren achieved stabilisation and, in doing so, achieved greater success than his predecessor.

The former Manchester United assistant not only led Boro into the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history via a league position, but astonishingly also took the club into the final of the competition.

McClaren's coup de gras, however, came in 2004 when he delivered the club a historical first ever piece of major silverware, when landing the Carling Cup.

An impressive legacy, but when McClaren left to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson as the England manager, few supporters shed any tears.

When Southgate was installed last year he revealed an intent to move away from McClaren's philosophy. But these changes could not be implemented overnight as he inherited his former manager's side and summer signings.

But one year on and Southgate's influence is now being slowly stamped on the Boro squad.

New signings Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere indicate Southgate has stayed true to his word by acquiring players who offer craft, guile and pace.

And supporters lamenting the loss of Mark Viduka will not do so for long if Tuncay and Aliadiere display the promise already shown in the club's preseason friendlies.

While the Australian was inspirational, his presence made Boro all too easy to negate. The emphasis on trying to pick up the pieces from the strength of his hold-up play became all too predictable.

But Tuncay and Aliadiere offer much more pace and unpredictability than the club have had in years.

"We've been short wide on the right for a long time and we've been short of pace,"

confessed Southgate. "I've said all along we will be a different team this year.

"We had Yakubu and Viduka last year who formed a certain type of partnership, where we played quite direct balls in to them. This year we have two players who offer us something a bit different.

"We have to keep working at things and we'll try a few different things on the training ground. But I must say they've both fitted in really well.

"The others need to get used to them now as they are a threat. I couldn't be happier the way they have slotted in both on and off the field."

Since Juninho left, for the second time three years ago, the club has lacked a genuine playmaker.

But in Tuncay, Southgate seems to have unearthed something much more than just that.

"He just likes to play football and will play anywhere, which is fantastic. He did a job (on the right) for both club and country regularly.

"He's played further forward in a three-pronged attack and he's played in the middle of midfield.

"We'll keep looking at different things but it's great to have those options because you always lose players at certain stages of the season."

Middlesbrough's players have been impressed with their manager's fleet-footed acquisitions.

Chris Riggott acknowledged Viduka would be a big miss but also confessed he was genuinely excited by the captures of Tuncay and Aliadiere.

The defender admitted: "It was disappointing to lose Viduka, but that is how football works. But we have a good replacement (in Aliadiere).

Whether he is a like for like replacement remains to be seen but Tuncay looks like good player.

"I've not seen much of him as I've only worked with him for a couple of weeks but he looks very bright and looks like a good signing. Jeremie looks lively and he is very quick.

"You can see him the way he likes to get in that channel and get to the byline. He is a very dangerous player when he does that. It is a big move for him and hopefully it will work out for him.

"Everyone knows you can sign as many players as you like in the Premier League but it is matchwinners you need to create something that bit special.

"I think he is that signing who looks capable of doing that."

And Boro look like a side capable of exciting the supporters at long last.