Finn Azaz M Middlesborough b.2000

[liamoo11]

Well deserved, and his emergence in the last year gives us a really useful option in terms of an attacking midfielder ahead of the Bulgaria games, especially given Moran's disappointing showings at Stoke this season.

I have liked moran when I've seen stoje games this year playing that deep midfield position

[Eirambler]

It's fair to say Stoke fans don't share your view! I don't think he offers enough off the ball to play that role, he needs to be further forward with two stronger midfielders behind him. He has lost his starting place in recent weeks and Lawal coming back to fitness will probably push him further down the order also.

[Trequartista20]

A real talent.

Are we capable of correctly incorporating him into our side and getting the best out of him, though? I'm not so sure.

In the past when we were at our height, we were capable of getting the very best out of every player, ensuring we were always more than the sum of our parts. Now, sadly, I believe the opposite is true.

[Eirambler]

Another assist today to throw on the pile - that's 14 goal contributions for the Championship season so far. Well on course to better his 21 from last season if he stays injury free (and assuming he isn't bought in January).

[Eirambler]

A goal and an assist for him in the first 15 minutes today.

[Olé Olé]

Another goal on 31st minute.

[Eirambler]

17th goal contribution of the season for him. Must be close to the top of the Championship table on that stat.

Tough one for young Cork lad Otegbayo making his first league start at centre back for Wednesday.

Edit - 1st in assists, joint 1st in contributions, joint 6th (with Cannon) in goals.

[samhaydenjr]

Eight goals in his last eleven games from midfield - if he keeps this form up in March, then we have a very good chance

[Jolly Red Giant]

Azaz is the form player of the squad - should be starting next game if he keeps it up

[Eirambler]

Breaks his 10 game run without a goal or an assist. Hopefully the start of another decent run ahead of March. I do wonder how a section of our support base will deal with his Israeli background longer term, hopefully not an issue but you couldn't be certain.

[Razors left peg]

If anyone gave him abuse they should be thrown out of stadium

[Eirambler]

And follows it up with an assist.

[SkStu]

Good to see. Moran also got an assist for Stoke in the same game with "a perfectly weighted cross".

[Olé Olé]

Breaks his 10 game run without a goal or an assist. Hopefully the start of another decent run ahead of March. I do wonder how a section of our support base will deal with his Israeli background longer term, hopefully not an issue but you couldn't be certain.

It's more his Cork background I have an issue with as a Kerryman.

[Acornvilla]

I think it depends on if he ever makes any public statements about what's going on. As a young fella and a footballer I don't really expect him to any time soon, maybe he has and I've just not gone looking because I want to like him :D

[Eirambler]

I read an interview recently where the writer said that Azaz had stipulated no questions on the Israel/Gaza situation.

[Razors left peg]

I read an interview recently where the writer said that Azaz had stipulated no questions on the Israel/Gaza situation.

Fair enough, he's a footballer not a politician

[rebelmusic]

I don't have any facts to back up this statement but an observation this season is that Boro seem to do well when Azaz is on form. He seemed to have a dip for a couple of months there but thankfully is back with a bang.

[Fixer82]

I read an interview recently where the writer said that Azaz had stipulated no questions on the Israel/Gaza situation.

Wise move on his part.
He’s half Israeli I believe.
No matter what he says on the situation he’ll severely pi$$ someone off.

[Fixer82]

17th goal contribution of the season for him. Must be close to the top of the Championship table on that stat.

Tough one for young Cork lad Otegbayo making his first league start at centre back for Wednesday.

Edit - 1st in assists, joint 1st in contributions, joint 6th (with Cannon) in goals.

Contributions? Is this a new thing?

What’s the next stat trend I wonder.
Attack breaking tackles?
Line breaks?

[Eirambler]

Contributions = goals and assists combined. Just a shorthand way of saying it rather than typing out "goals and assists combined" every time. A fairly standard metric I would have said, not like the xG type stuff you get a lot of these days.

[Fixer82]

Thanks for the info!

[MancIrishWolf]

Another goal for Azaz yesterday, which apparently means only him and Salah have ten goals and assists playing across all 92 leagues (sadly not at a comparative level).

Seems to have overcome his recent inconsistencies, which he apparently put down to dealing with being man-marked. All part of the learning curve!…

https://fmttmboro.com/index.php?threads/finn-azaz.66915/page-5

[John83]

With numbers like that, it seems likely he'll be in demand this summer from Premiership clubs.

[Eirambler]

One thing about Azaz is that he absolutely isn't shot-shy, if he sees a chance to shoot he nearly always goes for it. Should tie in well with Hallgrimsson's thing about wanting many finishes rather than the perfect one (that is someone's signature on here).

[Kingdom]

One thing about Azaz is that he absolutely isn't shot-shy, if he sees a chance to shoot he nearly always goes for it. Should tie in well with Hallgrimsson's thing about wanting many finishes rather than the perfect one (that is someone's signature on here).

That's a good observation and particularly relevant in the context of our MNT.
We have been abysmal for years for shooting from distance.

[Eirambler]

With numbers like that, it seems likely he'll be in demand this summer from Premiership clubs.

Reports today that he has three EPL clubs looking at him with a view to a summer move, including Palace who had scouts at the Bulgaria game (and Paddy McCarthy in the Ireland dugout).

[Demesne Lad]

Reports today that he has three EPL clubs looking at him with a view to a summer move, including Palace who had scouts at the Bulgaria game (and Paddy McCarthy in the Ireland dugout).

According to tbrfootball.com (26 March), Crystal Palace would be particularly keen to sign Azaz if they sell England international Eberechi Eze this summer. However, eflanalysis.com (26 March) say they "have now learned that Azaz is going nowhere despite links to the Eagles" - but the website gives no information about the source of that claim, or any other evidence to support it.

[John83]

"X is going nowhere" is a negotiating stance. Everyone has a price. I imagine Azaz's would be very high this summer given his performance in the Championship, presumably long contract, and age. I'm not tuned in to transfer fees these days, but I'd have thought you'd be talking north of £10M. Szmodics went for 11, and Idah was 8.5.

[Eirambler]

His contract is until 2028, so would definitely expect it to cost more than £10m to sign him. Middlesbrough sold Emmanuel Latte Lath for anywhere between £15m and £22m depending on what report you read, so they might hold out for similar for Azaz.

[Demesne Lad]

Scores again today, away to Sheffield Wednesday.

[Eirambler]

23 goal contributions from Azaz now, which is apparently the best in the Championship. But notable that they are unusually weighted towards games against bottom half teams. He hasn't scored against a top half team all season, and his record is 0 goals and 1 assist against top six teams.

[pineapple stu]

Eric Cantona was famously a big man for the small occasion. I'd take a Cantona now :)

[Olé Olé]

He's doing his best to get Boro into the play offs here against Coventry. He's their best player by a distance. Maybe should have done better with a shot he hit straight at the keeper. Commentator said he's had 3 on target shots saved by keeper. I think he's right - 2 just now and one in first half Azaz thought was in for a second but keeper touched off the post.

[Olé Olé]

4th shot saved by keeper. Everything is going through him. Their centre forward is spending more time getting out of Azaz way than playing with him.

[Eirambler]

No promotion for Middlesbrough, but maybe Azaz might get a move up.

[Stuttgart88]

No promotion for Middlesbrough, but maybe Azaz might get a move up.he was the driving force behind anything positive they did. I think he had four efforts on goal, all saved but only one really came close.

[Eirambler]

Linked to Bournemouth and Leeds, in addition to the previous Crystal Palace links. Never fully understood why Villa let him go.

[CraftyToePoke]

Never fully understood why Villa let him go.

Who of that Villa, front six, for arguments sake, is he getting in ahead of ? Realistically.

[Stuttgart88]

Right now, none, but Villa have allowed some of these guys to develop and prosper. Could they have done the same with Azaz?

[CraftyToePoke]

He wouldn't have had the minutes at the level they're operating at this last couple of years in order to prosper though ? He didn't immediately hit the ground running a division below either, took him a bit, a bit he probably wouldn't have gotten at Villa. The odd league cup outing doesn't really give that. & he's still quite streaky / patchy.

If he ends up at a club going deep into the CL stages & upsetting the EPL established order & being key to that, then you can talk about Villa calling it wrong I guess.