Middlesbrough’s up and down season has almost ran parallel with their ongoing struggle to find a regular and prolific number nine.
There is still over a third of the Championship season left and their quest for a play-off place is still within reach. However, if Boro are to breach that top six, they need to find some momentum up front and with another transfer window firmly shut, Michael Carrick must once again look inwardly for a first choice number nine.
Middlesbrough in need of a striker
The search for a striker began in the summer. Carrick was left to pick up the pieces after last season’s promotion campaign ended in disappointment. That play-off heartache saw 29-goal hero Chuba Akpom depart for pastures new, along with prolific poacher Cameron Archer who returned to his parent club Aston Villa.
The club did manage to bring in explosive striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from Atalanta. But they were unable to supplement his arrival with a further breakthrough. That meant young talent Josh Coburn-a player who was all set to join Plymouth on loan-remained on Teesside and became an alternative option.
Coburn and Latte Lath are the only recognised centre-forwards currently in the squad, after the club once again failed in their efforts to attract a recognised striker. There are a number of other players who have already, and continue to be utilised in that position such has been Boro’s struggle to find continuity up front.
In fact, Michael Carrick has used six different individuals in the central striker role this season. Morgan Rogers, Matt Crooks, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Josh Coburn, Sami Silvera and Sam Greenwood have all auditioned to be first choice number nine.
Carrick must choose from within at Middlesbrough
Rogers has of course left for Villa, and with Coburn still being nursed through his ongoing groin issue, and Latte Lath still a number of weeks away from contention, Sam Greenwood is the latest to throw his metaphorical hat into the ring. Sam offered an encouraging showing against Sunderland. His pace and willingness to run in behind will have pleased Carrick. Ironically, Boro’s only goal of the game came from Marcus Forss, a player in form and who many feel could make the move into a more central position, but is yet to be given the opportunity there. Forss is unfortunate in the sense that his comeback from injury has coincided with Isaiah Jones’ absence and so it is difficult to envisage a scenario that sees Forss move into the middle until the right-winger returns.
But in a few weeks’ time, with all strikers fit, it is expected that Carrick will have 4 players who he hopes to be able to call upon for the Championship run-in. Coburn, Latte Lath, Forss and Greenwood. Those are the ones that will be front runners for the role.
Summer recruit has all the credentials
Quite remarkably, all four players sit on 5 Championship goals for this season. It has been a characteristic of Boro’s campaign that goals have been shared around the group as opposed to one talisman carrying the burden.
Of those players mentioned, one stands out as the ideal fit for the way Carrick wants to play. Emmanuel Latte Lath was just beginning to adjust to the style of the side before injury again hampered his progress.
The Ivorian is an explosive outlet who can score all types of goals. He is pacey, unpredictable, deceptively good in the air and has already scored some sublime goals this season, notably the solo effort against Cardiff and the rocket versus Leeds.
A ‘defender’s nightmare’
He is far from the finished article, but Middlesbrough boss Carrick explained just what an asset he can be when describing him in a previous interview in the Northern Echo. Describing the summer recruit, he said:
“His pace, his sharpness, unpredictability, it can be a defender’s nightmare.”
Latte Lath has that pace in behind that can offer a new dimension to Boro’s game. Sometimes Carrick’s side have been guilty of playing a lot of possession-based football in front of opponents and it becomes a predictable without that injection of pace on the counter. Latte Lath can give Boro that tempo and nobody likes to play against strikers that will have you running towards your own goal.
According to FOTMOB, he has had 36 shots inside the box this season, which makes his return seem a little mediocre. There is no denying, he has missed chances, good chances, but with Middlesbrough now welcoming back Riley McGree and adding the likes of Finn Azaz to a host of other creative players who can unlock defences with a pass, you feel that it is a matter of time before Latte Lath will click into top gear and drive Boro back up the table.