With half of January gone many Middlesbrough fans are looking for the club to kick-start a recruitment drive.
Boro's flat performance in losing at home to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday has added to a sense of drift that has been developing in recent weeks.
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six Championship games, but four of those have been draws. Two came against struggling sides Boro would expect to beat in Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City, while the 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day saw Michael Carrick's side surrender a 3-0 half-time lead.