Rate the signings: Tommy Conway

[wilsoncgp 10,100 19.9k]

Think he's a really good fit for what we're trying to do. I don't know if he's a game changer but he's a very welcome part of this squad. Always puts himself 100% into every game, covers a lot of ground at the top end of the pitch. He can improve on those goalscoring numbers too, I'm sure. 7 for me.

[Neverbefore 14,994 29.3k]

Most obvious 7/10 ever for me and looks like that's where he's fallen. 

The 5 and the 10 voters are mental imo. 

[Erimus74 5,340 5.5k]

8 for me, absolutely love his never say die attitude for the team & his love of playing for the shirt, saying it was one of the best days of his life when he signed for the Boro & bringing his dad down to the Riverside, those things are priceless, IMO

Even in quiet games he never hides, full of running, I never have an issue with penalty misses either, players put themselves up there & if they score, brilliant, if not tough

13 goals in his first season with us is excellent, someone mentioned career best, another plus & for me, probably the only shining light out of a dull season 

Does he need someone to play alongside him, maybe so. 

I really hope he's here next season scoring more goals for the Boro 

 

[Alan2202 0 1]

Solid signing, he hasn't been brilliant nor has he been terrible, gave him a 7/10 for his respectable goal tally but like most of our squad ultimately its a must do better.

[Nobby Barnes 780 1.3k]

12 minutes ago, Alan2202 said:

Solid signing, he hasn't been brilliant nor has he been terrible, 

That's a 5 then...

You can't give him 7 

[p_mards 1,870 8.5k]

It was great business to sign Conway for £4.5 million last summer given he had significant Championship experience for his age and has all the attributes you want for a striker in our system. It's easy to forget that he's only 4 months older than Coburn and still has lots of development left in him. His character is excellent as he works hard, has leadership skills way beyond his years with the way he encourages teammates and seems a great character to have in a dressing room. In our tough spell after January when we were devoid of purpose or many leaders, he stepped up and became a key figure in the team. He's missed two costly penalties this season, but he's never let the setbacks negatively impact him. Even after he missed his penalty against Norwich he did the media rounds immediately after the match - which won my respect. He also spoke to the media several times in our 5 game losing run. For a young striker that mentality is elite. It's far more than any club would expect from a 22 year old striker with no prior allegiance to the club. Much like when we signed Friend, he showed a similar "all in" mentality, and it's easy for it to go unnoticed in amongst the disappointment of this season. Most importantly though, Conway is an all-round very good quality striker too as he can do a bit of everything as he's very comfortable technically, has good movement, is mobile (not lightning quick but still quick enough) and can finish different types of chances. When he's played he's had constant chopping and changing of key players at LB, LW, #10 and RW, yet he's adapted and managed to perform in a mess of a season for us. He also has moments of magic like his Bergkamp-esque goal away to Blackburn.

Conway has had two spells out injured this season and was juggled with Lath for the first half of the season so has only started 60% of our games. And our team has never been settled or reached a particularly high level aside from the 3 thumping wins in November. Despite that he's still scored 13 goals with an impressive 22% chance conversion. Even the top scorer this Championship season was Piroe with 19 goals, who started 78% of games for Leeds who scored 96 team goals - compared to our 64 team goals. I'm not a huge fan of statistics, but I feel they're appropriate here. If Conway stays fit and he's in a more stable team with improved quality and a better culture then his goal returns will massively increase, even if he performs to a similar standard as he has this season. He's easily a 20 goals a season striker when he starts more games and our squad quality around him improves.

I think what goes against Conway in fans analysing him is that he's followed a succession of some more eye catching strikers like Archer in a clinical 2022/23 team and the one man dynamo of Latte Lath in the final dozen games of 2023/24. All of which were  at their best when we were on an upward trajectory, so analysing a less eye catching Conway after a miserably disappointing season feels like a sobering affair. I already feel sorry for whoever follows Doak at RW as they're going to be judged harshly. I'd give Conway 8 out of 10 as he was signed for a good price and has done well for us in a very difficult season for a young striker to come into. He's a very good quality striker that we need to build around to help him show more of what he can do.

[TomHark 33 25]

I gave a 7/10. The lad shows effort, can finish, but I don’t like him on penalties. He is often isolated in games and does a lot of running to get involved but he can’t do it alone. I feel the team isn’t playing to his strengths, but then again does his strengths not fit the team that has been built? His stock has risen but I am not sure he can be a 20 goal a season striker as yet, promise but more needed.

[JCWamma 520 301]

I was torn between a 6 and a 7 and decided to grade harsh. He's not wowed yet, which given he cost £4.5M I was kind of hoping he would. I think a lot will depend on this season for him - if he drives on and scores the goals to help us get to the playoffs or better, this rating will look very silly. If his next season is similar to this one, I'll feel justified. Logically he should improve, now he's older and more settled and whatnot.

[Erimus74 5,340 5.5k]

7 hours ago, p_mards said:

It was great business to sign Conway for £4.5 million last summer given he had significant Championship experience for his age and has all the attributes you want for a striker in our system. It's easy to forget that he's only 4 months older than Coburn and still has lots of development left in him. His character is excellent as he works hard, has leadership skills way beyond his years with the way he encourages teammates and seems a great character to have in a dressing room. In our tough spell after January when we were devoid of purpose or many leaders, he stepped up and became a key figure in the team. He's missed two costly penalties this season, but he's never let the setbacks negatively impact him. Even after he missed his penalty against Norwich he did the media rounds immediately after the match - which won my respect. He also spoke to the media several times in our 5 game losing run. For a young striker that mentality is elite. It's far more than any club would expect from a 22 year old striker with no prior allegiance to the club. Much like when we signed Friend, he showed a similar "all in" mentality, and it's easy for it to go unnoticed in amongst the disappointment of this season. Most importantly though, Conway is an all-round very good quality striker too as he can do a bit of everything as he's very comfortable technically, has good movement, is mobile (not lightning quick but still quick enough) and can finish different types of chances. When he's played he's had constant chopping and changing of key players at LB, LW, #10 and RW, yet he's adapted and managed to perform in a mess of a season for us. He also has moments of magic like his Bergkamp-esque goal away to Blackburn.

Conway has had two spells out injured this season and was juggled with Lath for the first half of the season so has only started 60% of our games. And our team has never been settled or reached a particularly high level aside from the 3 thumping wins in November. Despite that he's still scored 13 goals with an impressive 22% chance conversion. Even the top scorer this Championship season was Piroe with 19 goals, who started 78% of games for Leeds who scored 96 team goals - compared to our 64 team goals. I'm not a huge fan of statistics, but I feel they're appropriate here. If Conway stays fit and he's in a more stable team with improved quality and a better culture then his goal returns will massively increase, even if he performs to a similar standard as he has this season. He's easily a 20 goals a season striker when he starts more games and our squad quality around him improves.

I think what goes against Conway in fans analysing him is that he's followed a succession of some more eye catching strikers like Archer in a clinical 2022/23 team and the one man dynamo of Latte Lath in the final dozen games of 2023/24. All of which were  at their best when we were on an upward trajectory, so analysing a less eye catching Conway after a miserably disappointing season feels like a sobering affair. I already feel sorry for whoever follows Doak at RW as they're going to be judged harshly. I'd give Conway 8 out of 10 as he was signed for a good price and has done well for us in a very difficult season for a young striker to come into. He's a very good quality striker that we need to build around to help him show more of what he can do.

Great write up, very similar to my thinking but put across far better than I did

[Denzel Zanzibar 8,120 15.5k]

At £4.5m I think we overpaid because other than his fairly decent goal return, he's contributed very little else. He's clearly not a lone striker and he doesn't bring others into play or drive the ball forward like ELL did.

Get him a a strike partner and we'll see the best of him next season, but I can't see Carrick ever moving to a system with two up top.  

[Bruce 3,087 2.4k]

7 hours ago, p_mards said:

It was great business to sign Conway for £4.5 million last summer given he had significant Championship experience for his age and has all the attributes you want for a striker in our system. It's easy to forget that he's only 4 months older than Coburn and still has lots of development left in him.

I think if Conway gets it right that he's going to be a Premier league striker. He reminds me of a young Bamford though he needs to get better at getting into the box; spends too much time drifting around outside (not just with us, similar with Bristol City). He's got just enough physicality and pace and is smart enough in his reading of the game to be a good all round striker. Needs to get better at holding the ball and drawing a foul so we can use him as an out ball.

Looking at our team from last season, Hackney & Doak I think are Premier league ready. Conway, Iling Jr and Rav are, I reckon, capable of making the step up providing they can stay fit and play a whole season. Morris might be as well but I think he might end up more of yo-yo player. ELL is, likewise, I reckon, one of those players who can't quite cut it in the Premier but is ideal for a yo-yo parachute club. If McGree could stay fit he would be another on the Championship/Premier league boundary. 

[BillyWoofs_shinpad 2,241 10.3k]

He’s not a lone striker, I also think we signed him “because we could”. I’m not sure he fits into Carrick’s system and although he’s scored a couple of spectacular goals, they’ve been outweighed by some howlers. I wouldn’t want him as our main striker next season. 5/10

[SouthernSmoggie 5,276 7k]

13 goals isn't a bad return at all considering he was second choice for a lot of it and the team was utter crap second half of the season. 

He's got plenty of potential and only young. I was surprised to learn he's the same age as Coburn. 

As others have said though, not sure he's the man to lead a Carrick-style 4-2-3-1. I reckon he'd be great on the right of a 4-3-3. 

[TeaCider24 18,216 23.3k]

15 minutes ago, SouthernSmoggie said:

13 goals isn't a bad return at all considering he was second choice for a lot of it and the team was utter crap second half of the season. 

He's got plenty of potential and only young. I was surprised to learn he's the same age as Coburn. 

As others have said though, not sure he's the man to lead a Carrick-style 4-2-3-1. I reckon he'd be great on the right of a 4-3-3. 

He was first choice for most of the season, he missed 9 matches through injury and started 27 of the other 36 he was our player.

It's still a decent return though, a goal every 2.8 games.

Edited June 3 by TeaCider24