At present, still a long way to go before kick off.
Ellis Simms playoffs reason not played (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Skyblueabo1111
- Start date
shepardo01
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SHUNT31
Well-Known Member
He’s not improved since day one, let alone under Lampard
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
On Simms, I want him to do well but I think he’s regressed. Compare his goal against Huddersfield at no point this season did I think he could do that.
Understand he’s a confidence player who I think has been unfortunate with starts being very stop start but until he gets some fire in his belly, I don’t think he’ll start to improve. Hopefully some home truths can bring him back out as there has been glimpses this season (Sheffield Wednesday for example).
Understand he’s a confidence player who I think has been unfortunate with starts being very stop start but until he gets some fire in his belly, I don’t think he’ll start to improve. Hopefully some home truths can bring him back out as there has been glimpses this season (Sheffield Wednesday for example).
Speedie's Head
Well-Known Member
He's started almost every game this season, I think. Missed a couple with a foot injury, the two playoff games, little else
He started 26 matches in the league this season.
His longest run of starts in a row was 11 where he got 4 goals and an assist.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
Only started 26 games in the championship and once in the EFL and FA Cup Games.
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
This reads like he expects to be here next season. Thought the rumours were that he's going?
mmttww
Well-Known Member
Feel for Simms for one main reason, which is being asked to play with his back to goal as a sort of target man at times, when everything I saw of him before we signed him showed he's an on the last shoulder, run behind, poacher in the box type of player. He hasn't adapted.
Don't disagree some of his basics are off but I'm not convinced anyone incl. Wright showed much more when playing that role under Lampard. Doubt we change how we plan to play over the summer so he either learns how to be more effective in that role or it makes sense to sell him.
Don't disagree some of his basics are off but I'm not convinced anyone incl. Wright showed much more when playing that role under Lampard. Doubt we change how we plan to play over the summer so he either learns how to be more effective in that role or it makes sense to sell him.
Speedie's Head
Well-Known Member
Crikey maybe it just felt like it!
Still 46 apps and 7 goals. 26 goals in 99 games across the two season, 1 in 4 (and worse in the league) is a poor return for a CF by any standards, especially when he's not getting the assists either. He'd do better with a move for his own good at this point you'd think.
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I think he needs a proper run out and to be given faith by a manager. I think his time with us is over but I’ve written others off only to come back stronger.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
13 goals a season is a slightly above average return. This season, it would’ve only been 7 goals from the golden boot.
Simms’ first season was good, his second season was unsatisfactory. I don’t think it’s time to get rid of him at all but he has to turn things around next year.
Simms, BTA and Bassette have all struggled making immediately impacts from the bench and they all need to do more to win the starting shirt. Off the top of my head, only BTA has scored from the bench.
Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
Just rumours
clint van damme
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I don't think he can play in the 4 3 3 system.
He's not looked great this season in the 5 3 2 under Robins or Lampard but he's looked particularly poor in the 4 3 3.
He's not looked great this season in the 5 3 2 under Robins or Lampard but he's looked particularly poor in the 4 3 3.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Have any of our strikers looked good in a 4-3-3? Haji Wright looked fantastic v Sunderland and that was it in his 14 game stint.
For me, it’s all tactical. Rewatching last seasons goals for Haji and Simms and this season - our approach to chance creation is v different last season.
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clint van damme
Well-Known Member
So what does Lampard do? Try and coach them to play in that system, get rid and bring 2 new strikers in or try and adapt one player and get rid of the other?
No chance
Mateta showed exactly what we want from a centre forward in terms of ability and desire. Obviously we are not going to get the level of quality but we should get the battling attitude.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
It’s a valid question to ask. Assuming the issue is personnel, the likelihood of us selling all 4 strikers and replacement them all just isn’t going to happen.
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
In terms of personnel, we need more goals and assists from our wingers. It’s fair to say that EMC and Sakamoto have been inconsistent from an attacking perspective at times, particularly against the low block.
The ‘best case’ scenario (not imo, but in relation to what you asked) is that we sell Haji for big money (if he wants out) and make a small profit on BTA to sign a striker or 2. However, for most part, Lampard will have to work with what he’s got over preseason. Simms and Wright between are capable of scoring 25+ league goals in a season, so there’s something positive to work with and the problem isn’t necessarily them imo.
Simms touched on it in an IG post, he knows it hasn’t been his best year and the tone was more ‘I’ll be back’ rather than ‘farewell’.
Skyblueabo1111
Well-Known Member
In fairness, did anyone? Wright one game.. Totally agree, I believe Simms and Assante together, as a 2 , won 9 out of 10, with a back 5
Cally Fedora
Well-Known Member
Good question in terms of what Lampard should do. Everyone will have their opinion. If it was, if Wright is in the right mindset, I’d look to keep him as the central striker. He’s capable of 20 goals a season and that is not to be sniffed at. I’d try and keep BTA. On balance I’d try and move Simms on and get a capable target man in with whatever we get. I’d definitely keep Bassette. The spine of the team would then be Dovin, Thomas, Grimes, Rudoni, Wright.
Speedie's Head
Well-Known Member
He did score a lot of his goals against weaker opposition where he had more time and space, the FA Cup games, Rotherham in the league... I know he scored against some very good teams too but it all needs to be considered together.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
I agree on Bassette, we need to see where he can go as he's got something sbout him but I'd send him on loan.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
We’re stuck with Bassette. No one is going to pay close to the fee we paid and he’s probably on a decent wage for a player of his age and ability. I’d see if a L2 side can make anything of him on loan.
Wright is a goal scorer but just get the vibe his time has come to an end. Cash in and get a focal point for this system IMO.
Simms is likable but I just don’t see a footballer in there. If we can get £3m let him go.
BTA if he’s happy to be backup I’d be OK to keep around but not sure he would be.
Which suggests all new strikers really.
Wright is a goal scorer but just get the vibe his time has come to an end. Cash in and get a focal point for this system IMO.
Simms is likable but I just don’t see a footballer in there. If we can get £3m let him go.
BTA if he’s happy to be backup I’d be OK to keep around but not sure he would be.
Which suggests all new strikers really.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
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.
Terry_dactyl
Well-Known Member
I actually thought he was looking half decent at the start of the year. Missed a couple of half chances but looked up for it and was a handful for defenders. He was then dropped and he’s not looked particularly good since.
Speedie's Head
Well-Known Member
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.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
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.
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
Well-Known Member
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.