Middlesbrough have Finn Azaz problem Plymouth Argyle had answer to: View | OneFootball

Azaz is yet to find the back of the net for Boro so far this season, but scoring goals wasn't an issue from his time with Argyle.

Finn Azaz found the net regularly from his time with Plymouth Argyle, but he's yet to score a goal so far this season, leaving Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick with a dilemma to consider over the October international break.

The Irish international has been a player that Carrick has entrusted to operate as his main number 10 since he was signed in January from Aston Villa for around £2m, but has also been forced to play on the flanks amid injuries in Boro's squad.

Azaz is the playmaking cog behind Boro's centre-forward, but there is one aspect of his game so far this season that is preventing him from becoming a top class attacking midfielder at Championship level: goals.

After missing a gilt-edged chance in Middlesbrough's most recent defeat to Watford, Boro must find the answer to this problem soon as they continue to be punished for being wasteful in front of goal.

Boro and Carrick need Azaz to start finding the back of the net

Azaz' role as Middlesbrough's number 10 is one of great importance in Carrick's system, as his side seek to dominate possession, create lots of chances, and score plenty of goals.

Two of those core principles have been met so far this season, but putting the ball in the back of the net has proven quite a challenge for Boro's forwards in the opening chapter of the 2024/25 campaign.

Emmanuel Latte Lath hasn't scored since the opening day, and Middlesbrough's joint-top scorers in Hayden Hackney, Matt Clarke and Tommy Conway respectively, are all sitting on just two goals each.

Azaz' underlying attacking numbers are very strong, as no Championship attacking midfielder has created more chances than his 26 or registered more shots on target than the Irishman's 12 so far this season - per FotMob.

His 30 shots have only been bettered by 2.6% of his second tier positional peers so far this season too (per FotMob), further indicating just how central he is to Middlesbrough's attacking play.

But whilst he's testing opposition goalkeepers, he isn't currently beating them. As such, his lack of form in front of goal only serving to add to Boro's goalscoring problem, rather than helping to fix it.

Indeed, Middlesbrough have scored just 10 Championship goals through the first nine games, and whilst Carrick's men still sit just two points outside the play-offs, that goal tally has been bettered by the likes of Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Oxford United respectively.

Azaz' number of goals from his one-and-a-half years with Plymouth was one of the main reasons why Middlesbrough identified him as a priority transfer target last winter.

Eight goals as well as eight assists in 34 League One games during the 2022/23 season, was followed up with seven goals and five assists from just 26 Championship appearances in the first half of last season.

After signing for Boro at the halfway point of last term, Azaz added another four goals and five assists to his tally as a Middlesbrough player, bringing his total for the season to 11 goals and 10 assists.

As per FotMob, only 2.3% of Championship attacking midfielders scored more goals, had more shots (84) and registered more shots on target (27) than Azaz did last season.

Interestingly, Transfermarkt have Azaz as operating from central midfield in 15 of his 26 Championship appearances for Plymouth last season, as opposed to the attacking midfield role he's taken up with Middlesbrough.

Argyle tended to deploy a 4-3-3 formation with a flat midfield three during the first half of last season, so could Carrick's answer to extracting the goals out of Azaz lie in reverting him to a more central midfield role in this system?

If Azaz can't produce the goods, Carrick may turn towards summer signing

Having made just five appearances and scoring two goals in the process, Conway has proven to be Middlesbrough's most prolific forward in the Championship so far this season.

That's after not signing for the club until after the opening game, and having missed Boro's last three games through injury, with Sunderland on the 21 September being the last time he was seen in action for Carrick's side.

The Scotland international has almost exclusively operated as a number 10 since his £4.5m move from Bristol City in mid-August, and was looking like he was close to cementing his place in the starting XI before picking up an injury setback towards the end of September.

But, with Carrick hoping to have the 22-year-old back and available for selection after the international break, he will have a tough decision on his hands regarding who to side with in the number 10 role.

Prior to his injury, the pair were able to be involved in the same starting lineup due to Azaz being chosen to play out wide in place of the injured Riley McGree.

However, the Australian international appears to have returned to full fitness, and as such, will likely be favoured to reprise his role on the left flank, potentially leaving Azaz and Conway to battle it out for a spot in the middle.

Carrick will no doubt love the amount of chances and shots on goal Azaz is creating, but if he doesn't start finding the net soon, it could become harder and harder to justify starting him in that position.

Conway has shown that he knows where the back of the net is, both from his time with Bristol City and in glimpses with Boro, and thus Carrick may well be tempted to choose him over Azaz in an attempt to end Middlesbrough's frustrations in front of goal.