I’m just listening to last nights post-match and BTA confirmed he was playing through injuries throughout last season.
Significantly, it corroborates
@Jimmy87 intel which confirmed all 3 of our strikers were dealing with significant knocks at the tail end of last season.
Last season was the statistical outlier for Simms and BTA so I’m not surprised that they’re doing much better. I didn’t expect to BTA to ‘pop off’ to the extent he has to be honest. This season may also be an outlier for BTA for all the right reasons.
BTA is playing so well, there’s a serious consideration as to how we reintegrate Rudoni in the team. He’s obviously a starter but do we continue with 4-4-2 or does BTA revert to one of the wings?
I think when Rudoni comes back, his minutes will be managed anyway, due to the length of time out and the injury itself.
It's a nice problem to have though for once. BTA can't be dropped with the form he is so i am guessing he will revert to one of the wings and either Tats or EMC will make way. Though everyone is playing really well, neither of the wingers are contributing with goals, BTA is simply on fire.
I hope that in January we add to the wing because although BTA has proved very versatile, we still need that direct competition for those spots and i fear that he could burn out eventually or get injured due to the schedule.
You're right about last season being a statistical outlier for them, also right in saying that this season could be too for all the right reasons. I hope it is.
With regards to Simms, i'm pleased for him, that was a good performance last night, as have his cameos been so far this season.
When he arrived here, it was in the wake of Gyokeres moving on. He instantly had great expectations upon him, along with it wrongly being bandied around that he was on the same wage as our record signing, which is ridiculous and hasn't helped matters.
He was purchased as a 22yr old with potential for development. He had been loaned around a lot, and probably could have done with spending a full season with Sunderland, rather than being recalled to sit on the bench at Everton.
He had a decent first season considering his age and the usual settling into a new home with his family etc.
Last season with the injury to Wright at the beginning, the bad start for the team and the pressure Robins was under, the injuries, Lampard came in and adapted the team, knowing that none of our strikers were 100% and we couldn't play to the ability to which we are now.
I believe now they are all fit, we are seeing what they are capable of.
At the moment i think Simms is being managed in the correct way. Wright is our main man and absolutely should be at the price we paid for him, he is our best striker and most experienced, he should always start when possible.
This way, those on the bench can developed with good coaching and less pressure.
I've heard that Lampard spends time one on one with all players too, that is a sign of really good man management.
You can see all the players on the bench are hungry when they come on, last night being a great example, Wright got the rest he needed and will be ready to go on Saturday, Simms came in and did the job we needed him to do.
It would have topped off the evening if he could have got his goal but he did fine, he was a menace, 2 assists, not sure if his header was going in, but BTA was exactly where you want your strikers to be. He's nicked a few on the line this season but who cares, rather be sure they are going in than being flat footed and they get cleared.
I don't care if every goal we score is a tap in as long as the strikers are moving and are there to put the ball in the net.