Ellis Simms playoffs reason not played (2 Viewers)

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).
 
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Speedie's Head

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).
He's started almost every game this season, I think. Missed a couple with a foot injury, the two playoff games, little else
 

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.
 

Speedie's Head

Well-Known Member
Only started 26 games in the championship and once in the EFL and FA Cup Games.
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.
 
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Sky Blue Goblin

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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.
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.
 
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Mucca Mad Boys

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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.

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.
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
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.
 
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Mucca Mad Boys

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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.

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
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.

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?
 

Mucca Mad Boys

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?

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’.
 

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
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.
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
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.

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.
 

Mucca Mad Boys

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.

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 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.
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.
 

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