Centre Forward (18 Viewers)

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

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.

You take out Simms' hattrick last season against a genuinely woeful Rotherham, and another against a NL South side then his season looks incredibly average. You can't remove goals to suit your argument.

I think Wright is that kind of player though. Even last season some of the games he scored in he was average or even anonymous. Strange how you try to shoehorn it into being a Lampard issue.

 

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[TomRad85]

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.

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.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

JDS better than bidwell according to lampard then..

 

[Ccfcisparks]

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.

Sakamoto and EMC fit the physical idea but in different ways, Sakamoto harries and nips at players whilst EMC is excellent at using his body to shield.

We need a big striker who can throw elbows and really throw centre halves about and I think it will be formidable

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Sakamoto and EMC fit the physical idea but in different ways, Sakamoto harries and nips at players whilst EMC is excellent at using his body to shield.

We need a big striker who can throw elbows and really throw centre halves about and I think it will be formidable

It isn't necessarily a big striker just one who anticipates better and times their jumps , look at Rudonis heading ability in comparison

 

[Ccfcisparks]

It isn't necessarily a big striker just one who anticipates better and times their jumps , look at Rudonis heading ability in comparison

Rudoni is quite big actually. Isn't he like 6ft 2?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Which one of our strikers would you say is good at getting infront of a defender to attack the ball , which one would you say offers a genuine aerial threat and which one would you say is strong and can hold the ball up and bring others into play consistently


The answer isn't good btw , the way frank wants to play i feel the striker needs these qualities

Simms is objectively our best heading forward and frankly, has scored more headed goals than the likes of Ivanovic, Keiffer Moore and Carlton Morris (more headed goals this season than both players over the last 2). Names I’ve seen touted to come in and do a better job in that respect.

For me, we’re a bit too bit too predictable. We don’t tend to counter attack with any real purpose, looking at Sunderland at home in the league, we scored 2 goals from counters.

There were multiple times that EMC or Sakamoto would take on a defender to then check back rather than getting the ball in. Likewise, in midfield, we have more control but miss a bit of directness, be it a shot or pass.

Over this season, I’ve seen plenty of occasions where Simms, Wright, Bassette and BTA make runs from deep and we’ve opted to not go for the pass. It’s a bit too conservative and reminds me of when Arsenal would need to score the ‘perfect’ goal under Wenger.

When all your strikers are struggling, it signals to me that they aren’t the problem. We’re not creating the types of chances that Simms, Wright and BTA were scoring last season.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Rudoni is quite big actually. Isn't he like 6ft 2?

He's tall I grant you that but I was referring to the art of heading the ball which Simms and Wright both struggle to do well a lot of the time

 

[pusbccfc]

Sakamoto and EMC fit the physical idea but in different ways, Sakamoto harries and nips at players whilst EMC is excellent at using his body to shield.

We need a big striker who can throw elbows and really throw centre halves about and I think it will be formidable

Shame Simms is too soft.

He did that roll better than anyone away at Leeds last season. Not really seen it since.

 

[Evo1883]

Simms is objectively our best heading forward and frankly, has scored more headed goals than the likes of Ivanovic, Keiffer Moore and Carlton Morris (more headed goals this season than both players over the last 2). Names I’ve seen touted to come in and do a better job in that respect.

For me, we’re a bit too bit too predictable. We don’t tend to counter attack with any real purpose, looking at Sunderland at home in the league, we scored 2 goals from counters.

There were multiple times that EMC or Sakamoto would take on a defender to then check back rather than getting the ball in. Likewise, in midfield, we have more control but miss a bit of directness, be it a shot or pass.

Over this season, I’ve seen plenty of occasions where Simms, Wright, Bassette and BTA make runs from deep and we’ve opted to not go for the pass. It’s a bit too conservative and reminds me of when Arsenal would need to score the ‘perfect’ goal under Wenger.

When all your strikers are struggling, it signals to me that they aren’t the problem. We’re not creating the types of chances that Simms, Wright and BTA were scoring last season.

Morris is far superior to simms in the air in general and better on the ball , he would suit a lampard team more than Ellis simms imho because of the volume of crosses and his high arial success rate

The strikers are struggling because they all lack the attributes to succeed in the system , haji when hes playing well is the only one but hes too hot and cold

 

[TomRad85]

Sakamoto and EMC fit the physical idea but in different ways, Sakamoto harries and nips at players whilst EMC is excellent at using his body to shield.

We need a big striker who can throw elbows and really throw centre halves about and I think it will be formidable

Like Evo said the other day... a Temu Drogba.
Think Salech from Cardiff would be a real good striker pick up. Would take him and then Riis on a free. Sell BTA and Simms and you're in a profit with 2 better players, and thats before you even start looking at selling Wright and using that money.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Morris is far superior to simms in the air and better on the ball , he would suit a lampard team more than Ellis simms imho

The strikers are struggling because they all lack the attributes to succeed in the system , haji when hes playing well is the only one but hes too hot and cold

Yet Luton play with wide players and throw the ball into the box at every opportunity and still Morris doesn't score many headed goals ?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

You take out Simms' hattrick last season against a genuinely woeful Rotherham, and another against a NL South side then his season looks incredibly average. You can't remove goals to suit your argument.

I think Wright is that kind of player though. Even last season some of the games he scored in he was average or even anonymous. Strange how you try to shoehorn it into being a Lampard issue.

That’s my point actually because I’m not doing that. It’s Grendel and other who peddles this ‘he’s only scored in “x” games’. In the same back and forth, Grendel switches to the Haji Wright scores every 1.5 games which is an MPG stat.

I’m calling out the obvious hypocrisy of using one metric for one player v another.

Again, the stats for Wright are heavily weighted to his form pre-injury and under Robins/Carr. His record under Lampard isn’t as strong.

This isn’t having a go at Wright. Quite the opposite, the thing I’m concerned about is that our strikers form when we play 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 is weak and that needs addressing.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Like Evo said the other day... a Temu Drogba.
Think Salech from Cardiff would be a real good striker pick up. Would take him and then Riis on a free. Sell BTA and Simms and you're in a profit with 2 better players, and thats before you even start looking at selling Wright and using that money.

Yes don't mind those suggestions too

 

[TomRad85]

We are quite a physical team btw, its just our strikers that are pussies.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Simms is objectively our best heading forward and frankly, has scored more headed goals than the likes of Ivanovic, Keiffer Moore and Carlton Morris (more headed goals this season than both players over the last 2). Names I’ve seen touted to come in and do a better job in that respect.

For me, we’re a bit too bit too predictable. We don’t tend to counter attack with any real purpose, looking at Sunderland at home in the league, we scored 2 goals from counters.

There were multiple times that EMC or Sakamoto would take on a defender to then check back rather than getting the ball in. Likewise, in midfield, we have more control but miss a bit of directness, be it a shot or pass.

Over this season, I’ve seen plenty of occasions where Simms, Wright, Bassette and BTA make runs from deep and we’ve opted to not go for the pass. It’s a bit too conservative and reminds me of when Arsenal would need to score the ‘perfect’ goal under Wenger.

When all your strikers are struggling, it signals to me that they aren’t the problem. We’re not creating the types of chances that Simms, Wright and BTA were scoring last season.

Granted we often are unimaginative in how we progress the ball up the pitch but not sure I agree with this. Simms and Wright are regularly very static when deployed in the middle and BTA/Bassette make aimless runs, often into an offside position.

 

[Evo1883]

Yet Luton play with wide players and throw the ball into the box at every opportunity and still Morris doesn't score many headed goals ?

Hes not had a great season in a poor team tbh

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

That’s my point actually because I’m not doing that. It’s Grendel and other who peddles this ‘he’s only scored in “x” games’. In the same back and forth, Grendel switches to the Haji Wright scores every 1.5 games which is an MPG stat.

I’m calling out the obvious hypocrisy of using one metric for one player v another.

Again, the stats for Wright are heavily weighted to his form pre-injury and under Robins/Carr. His record under Lampard isn’t as strong.

This isn’t having a go at Wright. Quite the opposite, the thing I’m concerned about is that our strikers form when we play 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 is weak and that needs addressing.

This is my point about recruitment though. I don't even think the strikers signed were even necessarily right for whatever formation/tactics Robins was trying to put out.

They certainly don't fit with the formation/tactics under Lampard but this is a byproduct of inheriting a team you haven't built.

 

[TTG]

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.

didn't he assist both the goals we scored

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Morris is far superior to simms in the air and better on the ball , he would suit a lampard team more than Ellis simms imho

The strikers are struggling because they all lack the attributes to succeed in the system , haji when hes playing well is the only one but hes too hot and cold

Morris has scored 9 headed in his last 3 seasons which is the same as Simms but in a lot more games and minutes because Simms had half a season in 22/23.

We’re not signing Morris so this is a redundant conversation and your point isn’t backed up by facts. Facts are friendly.

These players were perfectly capable of scoring goals under Robins when we still prioritised possession so it’s the tactics that need to change rather than the personnel imo.

 

[TomRad85]

I wouldn't go for Morris personally, but he's obviously better than Simms. A low bar granted.

 

[TomRad85]

Morris has scored 9 headed in his last 3 seasons which is the same as Simms but in a lot more games and minutes because Simms had half a season in 22/23.

We’re not signing Morris so this is a redundant conversation and your point isn’t backed up by facts. Facts are friendly.

These players were perfectly capable of scoring goals under Robins when we still prioritised possession so it’s the tactics that need to change rather than the personnel imo.

Plot twist.. it will be the personnel.

 

[Evo1883]

Morris has scored 9 headed in his last 3 seasons which is the same as Simms but in a lot more games and minutes because Simms had half a season in 22/23.

We’re not signing Morris so this is a redundant conversation and your point isn’t backed up by facts. Facts are friendly.

These players were perfectly capable of scoring goals under Robins when we still prioritised possession so it’s the tactics that need to change rather than the personnel imo.

Morris has some of the highest aerials won in the division this season and in general its something we struggle with from both Simms and wright .. but i agree we probably won't be signing carlton morris

 

[Perennial Lurker]

I wouldn't go for Morris personally, but he's obviously better than Simms. A low bar granted.

Feel we need to find a young Vik from somewhere, obviously won't find one as good but one with similar attributes

 

[CovLad94]

We need a physical workhorse up top for when things aren't going our way, fed up of watching Wright shirk out of everything and falling over if the wind hits him. As for Simms it's clear he's not pushing himself and mutually I think should allow him to leave.

 

[Evo1883]

I like Wright and generally think hes a better forward than simms

 

[Perennial Lurker]

I like Wright and generally think hes a better forward than simms

He can be unplayable at times but can be just as abject in others

 

[SBT]

JDS better than bidwell according to lampard then..

Don’t think anyone can seriously argue otherwise at this point

 

[SBT]

Morris has some of the highest aerials won in the division this season and in general its something we struggle with from both Simms and wright .. but i agree we probably won't be signing carlton morris

His aerial stats are great but his other stats are pretty rancid. If we’re going to be a pure route 1 team next season then I could see it, but I think we’re a bit more sophisticated than that - we are not going to play the way we did against Sunderland every week. We didn’t even play that way against Sunderland in March!

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Morris has scored 9 headed in his last 3 seasons which is the same as Simms but in a lot more games and minutes because Simms had half a season in 22/23.

We’re not signing Morris so this is a redundant conversation and your point isn’t backed up by facts. Facts are friendly.

These players were perfectly capable of scoring goals under Robins when we still prioritised possession so it’s the tactics that need to change rather than the personnel imo.

Is there really anything wrong with the tactics though? Feel like that's a pretty feeble explanation personally. At some point the players have to take accountability for their performances.

 

[Manchester_sky_blue]

We seem to be under the impression that there is money available to splash on better strikers, I'm not convinced there is.

 

[Boicey]

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

Strange in his interview after the hat trick that Wright said he was disappointed there was an international break. He wanted to just keep on playing.
He didn't sound like he had any injury concerns at all.

 

[TomRad85]

We seem to be under the impression that there is money available to splash on better strikers, I'm not convinced there is.

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

 

[sw88]

Can’t stand most Americans at the best of times, but, when they try to talk football, I completely shut off!

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

This is my point about recruitment though. I don't even think the strikers signed were even necessarily right for whatever formation/tactics Robins was trying to put out.

They certainly don't fit with the formation/tactics under Lampard but this is a byproduct of inheriting a team you haven't built.

Haji and Simms scored 19 goals a piece in 23/24, the pair were utilised well that season. They’ve not become bad players overnight imo.