Centre Forward (9 Viewers)

[rexo87]

I think I’d like to see Wright as CF from the start of next season. He’s had a difficult year with his big injury and before that being in the USA squad so started a few games on the bench. If he played 46 games through the middle I’d back him to score 20.

 

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[Mucca Mad Boys]

Hes scored 4 in his last 6 centre forward appearances

1 hattrick which using your ‘Simms Formula’ is scoring in 2 out of 6 games. In actual fact, he’s scored in 3 games in 14. It’s not bad, but could be better.

That Sunderland home performance v much looks like an outlier, unfortunately.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I’m not an expert but comparing the goals we scored (specifically Simms & Wright) on the counter under Robins last season versus the goals we’ve scored under Lampard… last season, we put a lot more balls behind defences for players to run into and this season we’ve scored a lot of goals from crosses and set pieces. Hence why we’re top scorers of headed goals in Europe.

Haji Wright, BTA and Simms have all scored most of their goals playing in a formation that played 2 strikers. After all, most of Haji’s goals were under Robins/Carr. Under Lampard, BTA and Simms have yet to score a goal when we’ve played 4-2-3-1 which suggests to me there’s something fundamental we need to change tactically to get the most of our strikers.

At the end of last season, both Simms and Haji scored v Leeds. In the final 6 games of the season, Haji scored 1 goals and Simms 0. Was the song’s Haji was regressing there also?

Or alternatively, was it the team floundering as a whole? Yes, imo.

It’s not ‘weirdly discounting’ his injury at all. He’s been back playing since March so how long does he get a pass? It is factual to say that in the games since he and Simms have played together, Wright has missed more big chances than Simms.

More fundamentally, my point is that the issue is tactical. The same group of players who scored 50 goals last season have only mustered 25 between them is concerning. Haji Wright’s decreased production is probably down to missing 20+ games but his post-Lampard stats are concerning.

Just as Lampard deserves heaps of praise for how he’s developed players like JDS, Rudoni and others, the questions around the strikers need to be asked.

Haji has responded by at least having a reasonable goalscoring record this season despite being out for over a 1/3 of the season. If it weren't for his injury layoff he would've probably matched his record last season, if not bettered it. Simms' inconsistency last season bar an emphatic two month spell has regressed to the point where his form is actually quite alarming.

Haji in all fairness was only coming back into the fold those first 3 games at the beginning of March. He was nowhere near fit. Then he scored 5 in the following 7 games. So think it's a bit dramatic to suggest his post-Lampard stats are concerning. Simms not scoring in 13 successive games is what's concerning.

The tactics are of course different, but are they really the sole reason? I wouldn't say FL's tactics negate either's abilities to a massive extent. Possibly more Haji's than Simms' as I'm not at all a fan of him in the middle. If anything though Simms should be in his element with the amount of crosses we put in the box yet he's not really even getting the chances.

 

[Evo1883]

1 hattrick which using your ‘Simms Formula’ is scoring in 2 out of 6 games. In actual fact, he’s scored in 3 games in 14. It’s not bad, but could be better.

That Sunderland home performance v much looks like an outlier, unfortunately.

We have all consistently pointed out that haji is having a bad period of form .

You seem comfortable shitting on haji though

 

[Evo1883]

Haji has responded by at least having a reasonable goalscoring record this season despite being out for over a 1/3 of the season. If it weren't for his injury layoff he would've probably matched his record last season, if not bettered it. Simms' inconsistency last season bar an emphatic two month spell has regressed to the point where his form is actually quite alarming.

Haji in all fairness was only coming back into the fold those first 3 games at the beginning of March. He was nowhere near fit. Then he scored 5 in the following 7 games. So think it's a bit dramatic to suggest his post-Lampard stats are concerning. Simms not scoring in 13 successive games is what's concerning.

The tactics are of course different, but are they really the sole reason? I wouldn't say FL's tactics negate either's abilities to a massive extent. Possibly more Haji's than Simms' as I'm not at all a fan of him in the middle. If anything though Simms should be in his element with the amount of crosses we put in the box yet he's not really even getting the chances.

Weve seen haji and Simms miss big chances recently , the tactics are not the issue

Mucca is struggling to just say simms isnt good enough

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I am talking about Simms - how is it tactical when he has scored in one game in 25 under another manager?

Explain

The whole season was 19 goals for Simms. Wright scored 3 more league goals and he scored 4 penalties.

Godden also didn’t score in the league past September, only 2 goals v Oxford in the cup. Likewise, Haji scored 6 in his first 25 games so all those forwards were struggling to various degrees. Almost in line with the team’s form…

Whichever way you cut 23/24, Simms and Wright were v similar statistically. Given your pathological dislike for Robins, I’d have thought you’d have taken the opportunity to have a go at Robins too.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

We have all consistently pointed out that haji is having a bad period of form .

You seem comfortable shitting on haji though

There’s no shitting on Haji from me at all. It’s using your own logic against you.

I’ll reiterate the fundamental point that tactically, something needs to be adjusted to get more out of Wright, Simms, BTA and Bassette because I think all of those players are good.

 

[Evo1883]

The whole season was 19 goals for Simms. Wright scored 3 more league goals and he scored 4 penalties.

Godden also didn’t score in the league past September, only 2 goals v Oxford in the cup. Likewise, Haji scored 6 in his first 25 games so all those forwards were struggling to various degrees. Almost in line with the team’s form…

Whichever way you cut 23/24, Simms and Wright were v similar statistically. Given your pathological dislike for Robins, I’d have thought you’d have taken the opportunity to have a go at Robins too.

In the league last seaosn haji had 23 goal contributions in 44 games .. they weren't similar in the league haji massively outperformed ellis and from the wing too

 

[clint van damme]

It's not just goals though is it?.
If Simms hold up play was good, if the ball stuck to him, if he brought others into play you'd could perhaps ignore a low goal return,but he's doing none of those things either.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Weve seen haji and Simms miss big chances recently , the tactics are not the issue

Mucca is struggling to just say simms isnt good enough

Simms' shots per 90 last season was 2.8 and this season is 2.4, slight dip but nothing overly major. His conversation rate is down from 15.5% to below 10 though.

He's quite obviously struggled this season and the tactics have nothing to do with it.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

In the league last seaosn haji had 23 goal contributions in 44 games .. they weren't similar in the league haji massively outperformed ellis and from the wing too

After all, Wright did cost double the price and is closer to his peak years. It’s a reasonable expectation

Either way, you’re moving the goalposts because the facts aren’t friendly to you. We’re talking goals and Simms scored more from open play in the league and in the cup and his peak form was better than Wrights.

I highly rate both players and 23/24 should have been a baseline season for them because both players should have scored more goals than they actually did in 23/24.

Both players should have scored more than they did this season too so that’s something they both need to work on.

 

[Evo1883]

After all, Wright did cost double the price and is closer to his peak years. It’s a reasonable expectation

Either way, you’re moving the goalposts because the facts aren’t friendly to you. We’re talking goals and Simms scored more from open play in the league and in the cup and his peak form was better than Wrights.

I highly rate both players and 23/24 should have been a baseline season for them because both players should have scored more goals than they actually did in 23/24.

Both players should have scored more than they did this season too so that’s something they both need to work on.

Haji played from the left mucca , thats a fact that you're swerving . He had 7 assists to add to his goals in the league .

Haji probably scored the amount of goals youd expect him to score in 29 matches , whilst playing 2 differnet positions

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Haji played from the left mucca , thats a fact that you're swerving . He had 7 assists to add to his goals in the league .

Haji probably scored the amount of goals youd expect him to score in 29 matches , whilst playing 2 differnet positions

Let’s not forget that he’s played roughly half his appearances upfront and tactically his role wasn’t a winger in the traditional sense like Sakamoto.

I’m happy with Wright’s output in 23/24 as well as 24/25 and I’m not one of the boneheads suggesting we should sell him. If we want to have a fair comparison, then the points I’ve raised are valid.

Objectively, he and Simms xG stat was higher than their actual goals scored which is needs improving in because it meant they missed plenty of chances. That same trend was true this season the last time I checked and neither player has scored since.

Personally, I’d like to see us find a way to potentially play 4-4-2 next season or a system akin to that.

 

[Evo1883]

Let’s not forget that he’s played roughly half his appearances upfront and tactically his role wasn’t a winger in the traditional sense like Sakamoto.

I’m happy with Wright’s output in 23/24 as well as 24/25 and I’m not one of the boneheads suggesting we should sell him. If we want to have a fair comparison, then the points I’ve raised are valid.

Objectively, he and Simms xG stat was higher than their actual goals scored which is needs improving in because it meant they missed plenty of chances. That same trend was true this season the last time I checked and neither player has scored since.

Personally, I’d like to see us find a way to potentially play 4-4-2 next season or a system akin to that.

I dont think we should play 442 just to accommodate simms , i doubt Frank will anyway

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I dont think we should play 442 just to accommodate simms , i doubt Frank will anyway

How about Morris?

Joking aside, my view is that we get the best out of Haji playing off another player, be it off the left or as a striker in a pair.

 

[Cov kid 55]

I'm not having this Wright not turning up for big games bollocks. He's just out of form. He's played well in big games for us before, Wolves Away for example. The guy had a shit injury, the type that lingers, who knows it was probably adrenaline that got him that hatrick in his return.

Let's not pretend that Vik made much impact in the 3 playoffs games he played either. Shit happens, bad timing for the form of our strikers that's all.

I'm not against always looking to upgrade but Wright is a fine player who is out of form/unfit that is all

I disagree, I’m afraid, I’ve said it before, he’s a bit of a flat track bully, when things are going well for us he’s fine, but I don’t think he’s a player to dig us out of a hole. You’ve mentioned Vik, totally different player, he would take on a whole defense on his own, and go toe to toe with any gig fucker he was up against. I don’t see Hadji doing that. I think our defense is reasonable, and we have a midfield that can dominate possession as it did kast night. But despite the control we had over the game we didn’t work their keeper enough or create enough clear chances. I think we therefore need two new forwards who can score goals (sounds easy,eh?) so we need to move on Simms who has mostly been a big disappointment, and probably BTA. I would probably keep Wright (unless we get a good money offer, which I doubt) as he can add something from the left if we can get some spark into him. Just hope we can keep Rudoni who is turning out to be a class player.

 

[Cov kid 55]

How about Morris?

Joking aside, my view is that we get the best out of Haji playing off another player, be it off the left or as a striker in a pair.

You’re probably right there, it’s just not Simms. And as I’ve just posted, Wright isn’t the man to do it on his own.

 

[Manchester_sky_blue]

We'll move our strikers on, it's pretty obvious.

Yeah but what will that raise? Even if you sold all 3 you wouldn't replace them with 3 better players for the money they would fetch.

 

[mmttww]

Agreed. The Chelsea team he played in was extremely physical.. watching Simms and Wright after coming from that background must be quite an eye opener.

I liked seeing quite a few being noticeably more physical last night. Kitching, Sheaf, Eccles, Wilson all made it clear we weren't gonna take any sh*t. Thomas shoving someone while we were attacking was a bit thick but still, good to see the rest of it.

 

[Captain Dart]

I thought last week our problem was the defence.

 

[shmmeee]

That’s not the point and again, you’re making this about Simms.

If we only created one or 2 big chances a game for Vik, he wouldn’t have scored 23 goals in 22/23 and we wouldn’t have got the money for did for him.

As great as Vik was that season, he had a 10 game barren spell and had the highest ‘big chances missed’ by quite a distance.

You’re right, he offered so much more than goals, but if that team wasn’t so lethal on the counter to create so many good chances for him… he wouldn’t have been as great for us.

Simms has already proved he can score 15-20 goals down the middle for us last season.

Us “creating chances for Vik”:

 

[Blind-Faith]

Us “creating chances for Vik”:

Fucking hell he was good for us wasn’t he? Him and Hamer were a real real joy to watch

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Yeah but what will that raise? Even if you sold all 3 you wouldn't replace them with 3 better players for the money they would fetch.

I reckon you’d still rake in 17-20m for all 3. You could get 1 really top championship striker and 2 decent back ups for that

Wright is having a bad time, but on his day he’s one of the best in the league. We’d easily get our money back on Simms and BTA (Stoke and Blackburn were willing to pay for BTA back in January)