Centre Forward (21 Viewers)

[Liquid Gold]

Wright - Doesn't turn up in big games
Simms - Not developed, doesn't look like he ever will
BTA - Not a good enough starter

We need to move them all on to generate some funds for quality.

 

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[hinckley cov]

Simms must be going in the summer because if he can’t get on when wright has been none existent there’s no hope for him.

 

[Alkhen]

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

 

[SkyBlue_Adam]

If a stupid offer comes in for Wright then he goes but for a small squad he’s great that he can play LW and Striker. Versatile players are handy in this league

Simms is not good enough and needs a fresh start somewhere else

BTA I’m sure will end up at Blackburn or Stoke

 

[Perennial Lurker]

If a stupid offer comes in for Wright then he goes but for a small squad he’s great that he can play LW and Striker. Versatile players are handy in this league

Simms is not good enough and needs a fresh start somewhere else

BTA I’m sure will end up at Blackburn or Stoke

Simms was our starting number 9 for the majority of our surge up the league . Agree he should score more but he adds to the team when he is playing well

 

[Grendel]

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’ve been a big fan of Haji but I don’t think his games in the play offs were remotely acceptable

Not the missed header - that can happen. It’s overall application and desire. He has pace and movement but showed none. It was hugely disappointing

 

[clint van damme]

I agree with many of the comments on the thread but it just seems unfeasible that we swap all 3 strikers in the summer, though I wouldn't complain if we did

 

[Para1140]

G

Wright - Doesn't turn up in big games
Simms - Not developed, doesn't look like he ever will
BTA - Not a good enough starter

We need to move them all on to generate some funds for quality.

Get Sergeant in

 

[Robinshio]

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

There is something fundamentally off with the way we play and its impact on the strikers.

Wright, Simms and BTA’s production is all down from last season. I don’t think they’ve all become bad players.

There were rumours that Simms was carrying a long term-ish injury and the same must be true for Haji. It was like watching Kane at the Euros (2024) all over again.

 

[Grendel]

There is something fundamentally off with the way we play and its impact on the strikers.

Wright, Simms and BTA’s production is all down from last season. I don’t think they’ve all become bad players.

There were rumours that Simms was carrying a long term-ish injury and the same must be true for Haji. It was like watching Kane at the Euros (2024) all over again.

There is no evidence of injuries.

Simms production last season in the league was no better than- he’s not good enough at this level. Haji was fine until the last few games and for some reason he’s just nosedived.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

There is no evidence of injuries.

Simms production last season in the league was no better than- he’s not good enough at this level. Haji was fine until the last few games and for some reason he’s just nosedived.

Our ITKs have suggested that’s the case. Players playing with injuries will be kept under wraps as much as possible. So there won’t be ‘evidence’ as you put it.

It’s the eye test, Haji looked a shadow of himself and in my opinion, it didn’t look like he’s was being lazy but no where near 100% for 120m.

Simms scored 19 goals last season and more goals from open play than Haji last season. Your point is based on a falsehood.

 

[Winny the Bish]

Wasn't there a chart going round earlier this season that showed Wright, BTA and Simms were three of the worst finishers in the entire league?

Maybe we should look for someone who doesn't shoot straight at the goalkeeper 50% of the time.

 

[Grendel]

Our ITKs have suggested that’s the case. Players playing with injuries will be kept under wraps as much as possible. So there won’t be ‘evidence’ as you put it.

It’s the eye test, Haji looked a shadow of himself and in my opinion, it didn’t look like he’s was being lazy but no where near 100% for 120m.

Simms scored 19 goals last season and more goals from open play than Haji last season. Your point is based on a falsehood.

Simms scored in 9 league games last season. Your defence of someone who’s underperformed massively is just strange.

I suspect the manager of the club sees things very differently to you

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Our ITKs have suggested that’s the case. Players playing with injuries will be kept under wraps as much as possible. So there won’t be ‘evidence’ as you put it.

It’s the eye test, Haji looked a shadow of himself and in my opinion, it didn’t look like he’s was being lazy but no where near 100% for 120m.

Simms scored 19 goals last season and more goals from open play than Haji last season. Your point is based on a falsehood.

It's the end of the season. Most players on that pitch last night would've probably be carrying some kind of knock, strain or just generally not be at 100%.

I'm afraid regardless of how you spin it Simms' performances this season on the whole have been consistently poor.

 

[Perryccfc]

There is absolutely no way Simms is here next year after being benched for the 2 biggest games of the season. He and his agent will know the score with Lampard from Everton, and will be looking for a move I am sure of it. Feel for the guy, he clearly lacks a bit of a personality on the pitch which does seem to impact him. But for where we want to be and what we want to achieve, he is not at that level.

Wright is good enough, but was anonymous for both games, that isn't acceptable.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Simms scored in 9 league games last season. Your defence of someone who’s underperformed massively is just strange.

I suspect the manager of the club sees things very differently to you

How many games did Haji Wright score in? Non-penalty goals only would be 12 games (13 with penalties).

So what separates your high praise for Wright versus scathing views on Simms is 3 or 4 games last season. Not to mention Wright missed more big chances than Simms last season too.

This ‘scored in x league game’ stats is nonsense and we’ve spoken about it before. Even Gyokeres in 22/23 scored in 17 (or so) games in 22/23 which shows even the best Championship strikers rarely score in 50% of games they play.

 

[Alkhen]

I agree with many of the comments on the thread but it just seems unfeasible that we swap all 3 strikers in the summer, though I wouldn't complain if we did

It's totally not what we need. Shift 1 of you can but the less chun we have the better. I'd definitely keep Haji, he's good at this level.

We need to build on a squad that was in the top 3-4 points wise since Frank took over. No huge rebuilds. Maybe add some in move some of the current team down the pecking order so we have proper depth.

 

[Shannerz]

Wright - Doesn't turn up in big games

That's blatantly not true.

What he does is go into himself when he's not on it, and doesn't battle.

Whether that's against a good team or a weak team, or a big game or a run-of-the-mill game doesn't make any difference.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It's the end of the season. Most players on that pitch last night would've probably be carrying some kind of knock, strain or just generally not be at 100%.

I'm afraid regardless of how you spin it Simms' performances this season on the whole have been consistently poor.

I was talking about Wright’s performances.

More generally, if you have 3 Championship strikers with decent records and they’ve all underperformed this season… it might not be them at fault.

 

[Grendel]

How many games did Haji Wright score in? Non-penalty goals only would be 12 games (13 with penalties).

So what separates your high praise for Wright versus scathing views on Simms is 3 or 4 games last season. Not to mention Wright missed more big chances than Simms last season too.

This ‘scored in x league game’ stats is nonsense and we’ve spoken about it before. Even Gyokeres in 22/23 scored in 17 (or so) games in 22/23 which shows even the best Championship strikers rarely score in 50% of games they play.

It’s the manager whose chose not to give him one minute in the two biggest games of the season - not me

 

[pusbccfc]

He won't be getting called up anytime soon. He'll regret it ahead of an American World Cup.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It’s the manager whose chose not to give him one minute in the two biggest games of the season - not me

Probably a mistake. Lampard sees Haji as the man to lead the line and since he’s come back, barring the league game v Sunderland… hasn’t been convincing in that role.

With the game heading to penalties, Wright was never coming unless he had to.

 

[Grendel]

Probably a mistake. Lampard sees Haji as the man to lead the line and since he’s come back, barring the league game v Sunderland… hasn’t been convincing in that role.

With the game heading to penalties, Wright was never coming unless he had to.

He put BTA on.

He didn’t use him on Friday

Suggests he isn’t in his plans

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I was talking about Wright’s performances.

More generally, if you have 3 Championship strikers with decent records and they’ve all underperformed this season… it might not be them at fault.

You also referred to Simms carrying an injury which apparently in part explains his consistently awful performances and him not scoring a goal since February. Must be some 'injury'.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

He put BTA on.

He didn’t use him on Friday

Suggests he isn’t in his plans

BTA is a penalty taker, Simms isn’t.

He started in the first leg off the back of a good 20 minute cameo v Boro. Before then Simms was definitely higher in the pecking order and you know that.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

You also referred to Simms carrying an injury which apparently in part explains his consistently awful performances and him not scoring a goal since February. Must be some 'injury'.

If all the strikers are out of form, does that say more about them or the team?

 

[Sick Boy]

He put BTA on.

He didn’t use him on Friday

Suggests he isn’t in his plans

In one of the City Unseen videos I’m sure one of the coaches was eyeballing Simms in the changing room after the game.

Simms showed next to no real emotion and didn’t join in with the celebrations…the writing is very much on the wall for him. I suspect it’s as much of an attitude issue more than ability at this point - but probably a bit of both.

 

[Grendel]

If all the strikers are out of form, does that say more about them or the team?

Wright has averaged a goal every 1.5 games this season.

 

[lord_garrincha]

Go with Alexi... Sell Haji and bring in that pee fuck he mentions.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

If all the strikers are out of form, does that say more about them or the team?

Over the course of the whole season Wright hasn't been out of form though. He's scored 12 goals despite missing nearly 4 months of the season. It's only these past 3/4 games he's been genuinely dreadful.

With BTA his form replicates that at West Brom. Erratic.

Simms has been consistently poor since the back end of last season.

I'd say the problem lies in the quality of recruitment than the team or existing management.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Wright has averaged a goal every 1.5 games this season.

Under Lampard? He’s scored in 3 games out of 14.

Which, ironically for you, is around the ratio of Simms last season. If braces and hattricks count after all, stop parroting the ‘Simms has only scored in “x” games’ nonsense. After all, his hattrick v Sunderland only counts as ‘one game’ scored in.

What Wright did pre-Lampard was irrelevant and it’s clear that we need to get the tactical system working for all of our strikers.

For Simms, you talk about ‘games scored’ versus goals:game ratio but then use that exact formula for Wright. It’s laughably dishonest of you.

 

[covcity4life]

It’s the manager whose chose not to give him one minute in the two biggest games of the season - not me

JDS better than bidwell according to lampard then..

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Over the course of the whole season Wright hasn't been out of form though. He's scored 12 goals despite missing nearly 4 months of the season. It's only these past 3/4 games he's been genuinely dreadful.

With BTA his form replicates that at West Brom. Erratic.

Simms has been consistently poor since the back end of last season.

I'd say the problem lies in the quality of recruitment than the team or existing management.

He’s scored in 3 games in 14 under Lampard.

Take out that one 10/10 performance v Sunderland, even in the games he scored (Burnley & Plymouth), has he had a standout performance?

For me, I’d say no. On his day, Wright is one of the best players in this division but he has t hit those heights under Lampard.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Its quite clear that for me, our forwards need to be improved.

I would have no issues with Simms, BTA and Bassete all leaving.

Lampard will know this too. In my mind he wants a big unit who knows how to use their body as that main striker choice.