With Italian star Maccarone also on board, are things looking bright for Boro?

Boro have been chasing Juninho, 29, since the end of the World Cup last month but had initially been unable to agree personal terms.

Juninho is the second international to sign for Boro in a month, Italy's Massimo Maccarone having already agreed an �8.15m move from Empoli.

Is there a bright season ahead for Boro? Or is it another false dawn?

Yesterday a Mackem season ticket holder told me he'd put a decent wad of cash on Boro to win the FA Cup, that sums up to me this is no false dawn. Boro's time has finally arrived, we have the best young manager, the dead wood has been pruned, and I can't wait for the new season to start. UP THE BORO.
P Henderson, UK

While all the talk of big money players is grabbing the headlines, how many squads can boast as many young players coming through as us? Wilkshire, Downing, Hudson, Parnaby, Murphy will all play and that ain't including Marinelli and Maccarone who are both 21, 22.

Our Academy is now bearing fruit and McClaren is doing an excellent job cementing it with top stars. Under Robson our average age must have been 30+, now Boksic, Southgate are the only players in the first team over 30. Festa, cooper are both over 30 but will feature as squad players mainly.
Kevin Coate, Boro, England

Boro are progressing well and we have some excellent youngsters coming through. All the top teams have big squads, and we are expanding ours yet still reducing the wage bill. Quedrue was excellent on loan and has signed, Juninho will provide for us the creative spark and draw space for the strikers.

Maccarone, once he has settled, could prove to be a top striker, and better value than a lot of the strikers in England. Geremi is an excellent player, with pace, power and a good touch. With him on loan it freed up more cash and it now looks to be Boateng who will sign.

I wouldnt rule out Cisse from PSG coming on loan as well. While players like Festa, Cooper and Whelan may not set the world alight, they are all useful players who will slot in for injuries and suspensions.

Wilkshire, Parnaby, Downing, Murphy, Hudson...are all definitely good enough to play top flight footy and how many clubs have that many kids coming through at the same time?
Kevin Coates, Middlesbrough, England

As a life long Boro fan and season ticket holder for three years, I am more excited about this season than the first time Juno came.

Boro fans expect the best and I think they will see the best. We've got a pretty good midfield which is improving rapidly, and with George Boateng, we will have one of the best squads in the Premiership. COME ON BORO.
Alex Doyle, Middlesbrough ,England

Boro fans will continue to turn up, especially to watch Juninho, and will doubtless retain the record for Middlesbrough as best supported club per population. Boro, like most other clubs, are still a long way from challenging for the title, but surely a cup is a live possibility.
Phil Cunningham, Vietnam

I can't wait for the new season now! The little fella will provide ample supply for Maccarone and Boksic, while Geremi and new signing Boateng will fill the roles of the departed Inca and Mustoe. All this and our fine defence, we should be aiming for that long awaited first piece of silverwere, and Europe. Come on Boro!
Danny Graham, Boro, UK

We will wait for results with expectation rather than fear this year. Juninho will rekindle the missing passion at the Riverside. Is it time for Paul Okon to show he can fill the boots of Mustoe and Ince?
Chris H, Australia

Well done to Boro. They needed a good striker to pair with Boksic, and they went out and got one. Now, with the world cup winner Juninho and the solid Geremi also in their ranks, I can't see why they won't challenge for a European place next season.
Jay L, England

Look what happened after they put their faith in a certain Brazilian and an Itailian last time: relegation. Except this Italian is not proven. They still have too many players that are just not good enough.

The likes of Stamp, Festa, Windass, Whelan...the list goes on. For every good player there are two bad. They will do a bit better but not set the world alight as some are expecting. Boro fans look back to 1997 and think: has that much changed?
Andrew Sturdy, UK

Credit has to go to the manager for showing such insight in the transfer market. McLaren seems to have a plan. He started at the back and is now looking for more flair going forward.

The likes of Geremi and Maccarone are exciting signings, maybe the Boro fans will turn up now. However, McLaren must be careful not to swamp the side with foreign players, because the key to a successful domestic team is a British spine
Daniel Heathcote, UK

The season is shaping up nicely - I've not looked forward to one as much in recent years. I can't wait for the Southampton tickets to go on sale! I agree with all the comments about needing midfield workhorses.

Isn't Geremi one answer to this one? Add one more player [like Izzet] to this squad, and with Macca pairing up with a number of alternatives up front, a solid back four, and I think we WILL win something this year. Put us down for a top six finish. I'm drooling!
Paul Crowe, Sussex, England

I think that Steve McLaren has done a wonderful job in enticing a player of Juninho's calibre back to the Riverside. Along with the signing of Maccarone, everything is pointing to a good season for the Boro. The team is certainly taking giant steps in the right direction and McLaren is certainly the man to take them there. . . until Fergie retires!
Ross Cumming, England

I am a massive Boro fan and welcome the news of Juninho's imminent arrival. I believe we have had many legends at the club from Dunbar in the early 20s to the most recent, Ravanelli. I do, however, believe that Juninho has the potential to become the greatest player in our history. In short, I sense great things ahead.
Niall Clegg, Ballyhalbert, Portaferry

It is impossible to predict what the forthcoming season will bring for the Boro, but surely the fans will feel that there is a much better chance of watching entertaining football.

My only worry is the lack of midfield strength. By strength, I mean hard work and graft which was previously done by Robbie Mustoe and Paul Ince (who have both left the club).

When able replacements have been made for those two players, we should see a vast improvement. The club already has a good defensive record and with the addition of Juninho and Maccerone, this should provide a lot more options up front with a fully fit Alen Boksic. We live in hope.
Andy Shearer, England

Could be different this year, as at last quality midfielders and strikers are being added onto a pretty solid defence. Previously we scored and conceded when buying stars. After dropping Ince and Mustoe, Boro are missing a solid holding midfielder, meaning the likes of Juninho/Greening driving forward could leave us exposed.

Still lacking an out-and-out goalscorer. Boksic's legs have gone and his touch is getting a bit iffy too. I think it's going to be another season rubbing shoulders with Charltons and Tottenhams rather than the top six... but it's all progress.
Paul E, UK

There is always an air of expectancy from the Boro fans when Juninho plays for us. That was missing last season but Juninho seems to have fully recovered from his broken leg now.
Chris Upton, Middlesbrough, UK

Fair play to Boro, they have got Maccarone, Geremi and Juninho and I can see them challenging in the top half next year whilst teams like Spurs, Villa and my own West Ham sadly fail to make any impact as we can't even pay �2m for a good striker like Yorke. Let's just hope Boro can win at Old Trafford again!
Matt, UK

As a Boro fan I am chuffed to pieces that we have re-signed him...BUT we don't have the defensive midfielders like Ince to support him. Anyway, good luck to the wee man.
Jamie Pell, The Boro, England

As a Sunderland fan, I can only look enviously at the ambitious signings of Boro. Who has Reid bought? Babb? Myhre? Where's the backup for Kev and Quinn? We need goals!
Richard Peacock, Scotland