Middlesbrough could miss a transfer opportunity as scoring problems remain a concern
Substituting Chuba Akpom’s goals has always been difficult despite the arrival of Emmanuel Latte LathQueens Park Rangers goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Middlesbrough’s lack of goal-scoring ability threatens to derail this season before it enters its prime.
The inability to sign the confirmed scorers over the summer had dire consequences for the team.
It is true that they created chances against QPR, but the defeats in front of goal highlighted the fact that there were few, if any, natural finishers in the squad.
Michael Carrick as well as anyone else knows that it is nearly impossible to completely fill the void left by the loss of Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer (40 goals).
However, there definitely needs to be a better recruitment policy to try to find some snipers, even from a lower division.
Of course, goal scorers cost more than normal players.
Perhaps spending the cash even after selling Akpom was a reward.
But I don’t envy Carrick in trying to make this new team half as efficient as last season.
Boro has only signed one mainstream striker from dozens of senior players, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and he looks useful.
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Unfortunately, he missed out on a number of opportunities, which suggests that he will have to move up a few levels if he is to improve on his previous scoring record.
As an all-rounder, Latte Lath will certainly improve as he continues to stay.
He does not fight accurately and is very fast.
But those are the goals we want to see.
Carrick will certainly continue to work hard to integrate with the new boys in the hopes that the whole team will start scoring in front of goal.
But if you don’t have a finisher it can be an uphill battle.
So where can the goals come from?
Josh Coburn is the other mainstream striker.
His steady progress at Bristol Rovers suggests he can start scoring on a reasonably regular basis given plenty of time on the pitch.
On the other hand, looking at individual stats, Marcus Forss and Matt Crooks have a decent scoring record.
Forss is used very well by Carrick on the right wing.
The manager may be reluctant to put him back in the middle but it’s still a possibility.
Carrick also experimented with playing Crooks in the mainstream midfield position.
Things didn’t really go well, although Crooks had a useful track record in midfield.
Riley McGree has an eye for goals and will score a few goals as an attacking midfielder, but I don’t envy many people who are under pressure trying to improve their scoring record.
Three goals from Boro’s opening five Championship games is a sad indictment of what is missing and doesn’t bode well.
We knew that Boro weren’t the best defensive side in the division, which is another reason why they desperately need to start scoringThat’s ten league games now with a win, if you count the play-off games.
Hopefully it’s as much a matter of concern to the staff as it is to the fans.
The lack of goals and much needed points in the bag must be causing the loss of confidence which was pretty much in evidence against QPR.
Overall, I still believe that Boro will get better as a footballing side as the new boys gradually get their feet under the table.
Morgan Rogers looks to be a quality prospect and could benefit a lot in the future, while my watcher tells me that Lewis O’Brien is an excellent quarterback who will add a lot of energy.
quantity for the team.
Elsewhere there are some disappointments, particularly at left-back, where Lukas Engel has yet to make an impact.
His position must have been threatened by Alex Bangura.
With 12 new players on the team, Carrick has a lot of work to do during his international break – especially on how to create goals.
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