Two changes Michael Carrick must consider after Middlesbrough's attack misfires again
Middlesbrough were well below par as they lost 1-0 at Sunderland to Chris Rigg's first-half goal at the Stadium of Light.
Allowed to have the majority of the ball in a surprise tactical switch from the home side, Boro once again failed to make use of their possession to trouble Sunderland's deep and compact defence enough. Tommy Conway's early headed opportunity that hit the bar was about as close as Boro came as they registered one paltry shot on target all game.
With Boro dropping yet more points in what is at risk of becoming a frustrating start to the season, we take a look at three talking points emerging from the game.
READ MORE: How a tactical surprise flummoxed Middlesbrough in Sunderland defeat with a familiar feel
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Two changes Carrick must be considering as Boro's attack misfires again
Boro's attack continues to misfire and is has to be a major concern for Michael Carrick. Having been provided with the tools during the summer transfer window, the Boro boss has to find a way to get his attacking quartet working better, because right now, it's not quite clicking. The result is Boro looking far too easy to defend against.
They have so much of the ball but whether it's wasting opportunities or lacking a killer final pass, Boro just don't have an end product right now. Teams, as Carrick noted after the Sunderland game, are setting up to offer as little space for Boro as possible. The onus is therefore on Boro to be much better at finding a way.
Following another underwhelming attacking performance, Carrick has to be considering at least two changes for the next game against Stoke City next weekend. The first would see Liverpool loanee Ben Doak replace Isaiah Jones, who has been particularly guilty of lacking an end product of late.
Doak has came off the bench and looked bright in Boro's last two games and, signed on loan from Liverpool with real excitement, Carrick recently said that the pacey wide man was physically ready to start games now, having missed the second half of last season through injury. He feels a natural change for Boro to make as Jones struggles for form.
With Tommy Conway settling into the side nicely in the number ten position, Finn Azaz must find his place under threat too. The former Plymouth man had started the season well and was topping many major attacking statistics across the whole division. However, that was while still playing the far more suited number ten role.
Not blessed with natural pace, Azaz has often been used in the left-sided forward role by Carrick since arriving last January but has never really looked as comfortable there. Though the role allows for freedom to float inside, he's never looked quite as effective in that role, while his inability to get back and recover his position quickly enough leaves the left-back exposed too.
Micah Hamilton was the player who came off the bench against Sunderland, but the former Manchester City man continues to show why Carrick has stressed the need for patience given his inexperience. Delano Burgzorg has played the role with varying success so far too, as he tends to be a players who blows either hot or cold.
Riley McGree has always been the most natural fit for the role, but keeping him fit since the start of last season has been the biggest issue. He's been back in the squad for the last two games but was unused from the bench in both. "He's close," Carrick said of McGree after. "He's working his way back to fitness so we're making sure he stays fit."
Possession reality sums up Boro's biggest problem this season
Including their two cup games so far this season, Boro have played eight games now and won only three. In a rather telling trend, all three of their wins have come in the only three games in which their opponents have had more possession than them.
Asked about possession after, Carrick noted not for the first time that having more possession wasn't necessarily something he looked at too much, and it was rather what his side did with the possession they do have. That in itself sums up Boro's biggest issue right now though.
When they do have more possession and they look to patiently build attacks, they ultimately move the ball around too slowly, allow opponents time to settle into their shape, and are therefore hard to break down. In comparison, when Boro have less possession, they had really good success when playing on the counter - with Leeds and Cardiff (after getting their noses in front and forcing the home side out to try and find an equaliser) good examples.
The trouble is, two managers in a row now have noted how Boro like to play and have set their own sides up accordingly. No side is just going to allow Boro the space they crave in the final third - particularly when it's so easy to see how much they're struggling when that isn't available. Ultimately, Carrick and his Boro players have to find a way to make much better use of the possession they do have by being a lot more ruthless, both in their creativity and their finishing.
Stoke game now feels important
Having now reached six league games with eight points on the board and ten points dropped, next weekend's home tie with Stoke City feels really important to try and rebalance the scales. Boro already know how costly falling too far behind in the promotion race can be.
Stoke have already won heavily at the Riverside this season, albeit with two teams that were heavily changed for the cup. This time, the Potters arrive on Teesside with a new manager who lost his first game 3-1 against the previously winless and hapless Hull City. Stoke are vulnerable right now and Boro have to step up and take advantage. That will require huge improvement from this Sunderland defeat.