Ellis Simms playoffs reason not played (8 Viewers)

[Speedie's Head]

Judging by our record against the bottom 8 teams this season, it’s a shame he or Haji didn’t score more goals against them…

This argument makes no sense. A goals value is the same whether it’s against top of the table or bottom. People keep bringing up the hat tricks v Maidstone and Rotherham as if Haji (and others) didn’t play in the same game and failed to score.

Go through Gyokeres’ record in 22/23, he scored a lot of his goals against bottom half teams, should that have discounted how great he was that season? No, of course not!

It’s baffling how posters try to put an asterix on a players achievements when they’ve done good.

It's like dropping down a division, it's that bit easier when you've lost a yard or your touch isn't reliable. Players can still be highly effective but more hit and miss against the better sides.

 

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[Mucca Mad Boys]

It's like dropping down a division, it's that bit easier when you've lost a yard or your touch isn't reliable. Players can still be highly effective but more hit and miss against the better sides.

No it’s not, this is not a good argument at all.

To demonstrate, Gyokeres scored 57% of his goals against bottom 8 teams in 22/23. In fact, he only managed 7 goal contributions against top 7 teams.

It’s fairly obvious why. In most seasons, the top half teams tend to get their highest scoring wins against lower table teams - that was certainly the case for us under MR in 22/23 and 23/24. See Piroe’s 4 goals v Cardiff this season too.

It’s an anomaly that we’ve done so well under Lampard considering our record against the bottom 6 teams or so. If we match our 24/25 record under Lampard (1.79 PPG or 82 points over 46 games) and improve our point share v bottom half teams, we’d be close to automatic promotion form. All hypothetical of course.

 

[SBT]

There’s a few things that we need to improve:
- we need to create more chances to feet in the box
- wingers need to take on their men and get the ball in the box quicker
- on that, we can be v slow in the final third and it’s not ideal for a striker to have 2-4 players around him, it’s only benefitted Rudoni who tends to arrive late in the box
- midfielders could be braver with passes/shooting around the box

For such a long-winded post (I’m only quoting some of it here) I’m amazed you don’t make any mention of the need to shore up the defence.

Lack of goals didn’t screw us over this season; it didn’t even screw us over in the playoffs. Boneheaded mistakes and a lack of authority at the back cost us every single time.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

For such a long-winded post (I’m only quoting some of it here) I’m amazed you don’t make any mention of the need to shore up the defence.

Lack of goals didn’t screw us over this season; it didn’t even screw us over in the playoffs. Boneheaded mistakes and a lack of authority at the back cost us every single time.

You’re right and defence is my first priority too, 100%. You’ve jumped in the conversation a bit too late because @clint van damme and I were talking about strikers specifically and how we get the most out of them.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that we’ve conceded the most in the top half and need a new profile of CB to fit Lampard’s defensive system i.e. possession based and high line.