Reference the Conway debate, when McGree is fit (?) to play and resumes his position, which is more on the left, will that leave Conway (more in the center) with more opportunities to score 🤔.
Come on BORO.
I'm rapidly reaching the conclusion that Tommy Conway's biggest problem is the number on his shirt. If it was anything other than 9 he wouldn't have so much heat on him, to use the latest phrase from Traitors.
@peter-surtees That’s a great point you make about his shirt number. We don’t know what instructions he’s been given by KH and I’m definitely not ready to lose TC yet - I just hope he takes the next chance he gets and his confidence flows back.
Conway must be the hardest working forward we’ve had since Tuncay, though I recall as time went on Tuncay tended to save that effort for the bigger games or ones on TV.
No-one could ever knock TC for effort.
The problem really is the missed big chances. If he still only got himself in the box for the usual 1-2 shots, but half of them went in, there’d be no issue. There’s no real issue with missed half chances either though, it’s just the big ones that you want your striker to bury.
Until this season, he looked like a good finisher to me. Still low on being in the right place - I don’t think he has that natural instinct - but reliable when the chance came.
Not this season it seems and every passing game probably dents the confidence in front of goal by another small notch.
Strelec I think will be a better goalscorer but I’m not sure on whether his selection in place of Conway will make us a better team overall. Not yet anyway.
I still think we need a physical presence up front to work off. I think either Conway or Strelec would benefit from a partner who can hold the ball and draw defenders.
The Tommy Conway debate.
We can all agree the amount of running , closing down defenders, chasing back etc, etc is very helpful for the team although I detect in the last few games he’s played a bit more on the left and not charged about quite as much - presumably on the instructions of the coach.
But the fundamental issue is do we want this kind of performance from a number 9 ( or 10 or whatever) who doesn’t influence the result of a game ?
Or, would we be better served with a conventional number 9 who scores goals , leads the line , holds up play, creates chances for others etc?
To me , the answer is obvious. All teams need a decent goal scorer. No matter how good a team is defensively , in midfield etc. It’s goals that win matches.
Boro are no different. If we can get a suitable player then Conway can still have a role eg chose the games carefully he may start or bring him on late in the game as defenders are tiring and he’s “ full of beans”.
I fear Boro’s chances of promotion or a top 6 position is less likely without a decent centre forward than with Conway and the existing crop of low scoring attacking players - with the exception of Whittaker.
Just my views.
philip of Huddersfield 👍🤔🤔
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That would seem a quite logical conclusion but looking at Conway's stats during the 10 games McGree played he had 14 shots with 4 on target and one goal (pen) - so his shots per game were actually slightly lower than his season average at 1.4 versus 1.6.
Incidentally, 7 of those 14 shots were in the last 2 games that McGree played - though they were the start of that famous 4-2-2-2 formation and both of those games Conway was partnered by Strelec up top - so maybe this is the key to Conway getting more shots on goal but they need McGree on the pitch too. The next game saw Hamiliton step in for McGree and it was that 0-0 against Blackburn.
Excellent discussions regarding Tommy Conway. Thank you very much, lads.
I can only say that he must score more often as a striker. Up the Boro!
Teenage striker Cruz Ibeh staked a strong claim for further Middlesbrough first team involvement as he hit a first half hat-trick in a 6-1 win for the Under-21s against Ipswich on Sunday - with head coach Kim Hellberg watching on from the stands.
There were many other fringe players from the first team playing against Ipswich, too.
So we have many up-coming, young players at Boro now. Perhaps we need some help (a goal scorer) up front short term? Up the Boro!
@philip-of-huddersfield It is difficult to disagree with your post Philip.
But the big question is, can Mr Scott and the Recruitment Team find this elusive coring forward, that could make the difference between promotion or not.
Second place has to be the goal now (sorry about the pun) as the play offs are a lottery.
I am fairly sure Mr Gibson will try his best to provide the finances this window for a forwtd if deemed necessary by Hellberg. However, repeating myself, following Hamilton, Sene, Hansen, Nypan and Strelec can Scott deliver. Oh and don’t forget Iheanacho.
Talking of strikers, I wonder if Boro could prise Zan Vipotnik away from Swansea:
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zan-vipotnik/profil/spieler/506942
Come on BORO.