Interesting, maybe Lee Buchanan? Lampard would of had him at DerbyI heard domestic, Saddle said he had heard the same. That's why i'm hoping it's nailed on. The fact it was said specifically 'whether we go up or not' led me to believe that discussions may have already been ongoing.
Callum Doyle ?So that would indicate a high quality signing then , considering its up or not
Based on the LCB assume this isn’t the leftback saddle was on about earlier on a free?I heard domestic, Saddle said he had heard the same. That's why i'm hoping it's nailed on. The fact it was said specifically 'whether we go up or not' led me to believe that discussions may have already been ongoing.
Just going off transfer market he’s worth apparently 15 million, can’t see us signing him in the championship.Callum Doyle ?
Just double checked and the other name doesn’t play left centreback so won’t be him. Least it sounds like we are trying to get our business done early.Not had a name yet, last time i spoke to Saddle he hadn't either. Not sure whether he has yet, i haven't logged on much recently, so haven't kept up with all the threads.
Yes good to know they having been continuously working, whatever position we finish. Big recruitment meeting in London last week too, hopefully they have a good list together by now.Just double checked and the other name doesn’t play left centreback so won’t be him. Least it sounds like we are trying to get our business done early.
Simms was massively culpable for the first goal.
I have backed Simms and tried to be patient, but he is unfortunately the same player he was when he signed - I can't name any aspect of his game that is better or worse than the day he walked through the door, has the odd good game, but for every one of those there is two or three where he looks like a competition winner
What is worrying me at the moment is he is not even missing chances... He is just not getting any to miss in the first place
Disagree, it’s clear he’s being asked to perform a specific role and Jimmy87 has mentioned he’s playing with an injury.
The scrutiny should be with Haji who’s missed two massive chances in the last 2 away games. I’m struggling to see why he’s got a free pass here.
Disagree, it’s clear he’s being asked to perform a specific role and Jimmy87 has mentioned he’s playing with an injury.
The scrutiny should be with Haji who’s missed two massive chances in the last 2 away games. I’m struggling to see why he’s got a free pass here.
Because he scores goals more regularly than any other championship player.
More concise that what I put - yeah this!
I don’t think Wright gets a free pass. It’s more just a recognition that even on his off games (of which there are many), he’s still our most likely goal threat.
I get that Simms is being asked to do a particular job, but I personally wasn’t aware of him carrying an injury until this thread. Which does certainly explain a few things.
Because he scores goals more regularly than any other championship player.
End of the day end product tops all. And you can afford one slightly eccentric striker who scores twenty a season. Just like we can afford a ten a season striker if they’re doing the other stuff well and enabling the team. I’m not sure Simms is tho
Missing big chances only mattered when Simms missed them.
Last season, Simms output was actually higher from open play. So again, if we’re judging the players equally…
On Haji, he’s actually been in positions for big chances since he’s been playing off the left so there’s something to idea that Simms is creating space in the box for other players.
People are playing favourites on the forum. Why this thread has blown up after a 3-1 loss perplexes me.
We lost because we defended really poorly so throwing strays at a striker is just v odd. If he’d missed 2-3 big chances, it’d make sense.
Simms still got flak when his MPG was 200 so it’s certainly deeper than that.
I’d trade Haji’s hattrick at Sunderland for goals v Hull and Plymouth. Wright can be a streaky goal scorer.
Yea because all high scorers miss big chances. Thats OK because they’ll be another along in a minute. If Simm was scoring a goal every other game no one would focus on misses.
He was last season and did at a critical point in our season when Haji was injured.
I hear you. There have been worse performers this season and I’m not blaming Simms for a 3-1 loss. It’s just another performance from him where I’m scratching my head a little. I know we’re still in the playoffs, but are we all unsure that a CF that scores more and has a better first touch would help?
As I’ve said; wasn’t aware he has been carrying an injury until this thread so perhaps that explains a large number of his performances being quite passive. He was great against Hull and Sheffield Wednesday; my memory is poor but these are the recent performances where I’ve gone “okay, maybe he can start to do this at least every other game”.
Out of interest when and how long was Simms MPG 200?
Is he getting in the positions to get those chances, or he busying himself making space for Wright to miss them instead
I have many questions! I think he can / could be so much better, but at the moment I’m struggling to believe that will be here. He just seems like a really sweet and chill guy, so I would be over the moon for him to suddenly become consistent. Or even just get the winner in the playoff final…
His MPG for this season is 350 and that’s without considering last season.
I crunched some numbers before our run in Jan/Feb when arguing for Simms to start because I thought he was better than Bassette - at that point, he scored a goal every 195-200 minutes in his entire Cov career (all competitions). That probably would’ve improved somewhat in Feb but tailed back off since then. I’d assume it sits near 275-300 MPG over this season and last.
It’s worth noting that after September, Simms’ next consecutive start was in January. Simms definitely missed some big chances particularly at the start of the season and that’s slowed down under Lampard because we generally make less chances.
I’m confident that next season we’ll get a good return from Simms. It’s been stop and start for him and now he’s playing through an injury. He never got the credit he deserved for stepping up and scoring goals in those tough away games v Blackburn and Sheff Wednesday that are part of the reason we’re in the playoffs today.
His MPG for this season is 350 and that’s without considering last season.
I crunched some numbers before our run in Jan/Feb when arguing for Simms to start because I thought he was better than Bassette - at that point, he scored a goal every 195-200 minutes in his entire Cov career (all competitions). That probably would’ve improved somewhat in Feb but tailed back off since then. I’d assume it sits near 275-300 MPG over this season and last.
It’s worth noting that after September, Simms’ next consecutive start was in January. Simms definitely missed some big chances particularly at the start of the season and that’s slowed down under Lampard because we generally make less chances.
I’m confident that next season we’ll get a good return from Simms. It’s been stop and start for him and now he’s playing through an injury. He never got the credit he deserved for stepping up and scoring goals in those tough away games v Blackburn and Sheff Wednesday that are part of the reason we’re in the playoffs today.
No he wasn’t. He got 13 in the league.
To be clear I was happy enough with him eventually last season. He’s had a poor year this season though.
1) He needs a run in the team - he’s played in 41 out of 44 games including 24 started
2) He’s a ‘streaky’ goal scorer - he’s scored 6 in 41 (including only 1 at home) – when is the streak coming?
3) He holds the play up and wins fouls – he’s won 9 fouls in 41 games
4) He’s aggressive and uses his physique – 1 yellow card and given 23 fouls suggests he doesn’t really put himself about either
5) He’s an aerial threat – scored one header I think (need to check this one tbf)
6) We don’t create any chances for him – 60 shots including 57 inside the box, so not even clinical at 1 in 10
7) He’s young and he’ll get better – now 24 with 170 games behind him – it needs to happen soon!
I was at Plymouth yesterday, I’ll be at Luton Saturday, this isn’t as someone who doesn’t want him to do well – in fact I’d love it as it means we’re more likely to win, but I simply don’t see anything that he's preforming well at.
I did say the headers needed checking. I also wasn't suggesting they were direct responses to your points, simply more facts from the season. You've chosen the ones that suit your argument, I've picked up a few to say why I dont think he's performing. All about opinions and concept, yours equally valid, I'm only sharing an alternative view.He’s scored 4 headers this season and you’ve ascribed several points to me that I’ve not said.
The streaky goalscorer point is something I said about Haji Wright.
That’s fair mate. Admire your faith in him and provided he’s still here I hope we can get a bit more out of him next season and also, the next few games would be the ideal time for the real Ellis Simms to make himself known again!
All competitions, they had the exact same goal tally and Wright was a penalty taker. In fact, Haji scored 3 penalties in the league so they both scored 13 goals in all competitions from open play and Haji Wright missed more ‘big chances’.
Given that Simms scored 3 goals v Prem opposition, it’s just odd why we’d only talk about the league - all in open play.
Even then, arbitrarily take his hattrick v Maidstone and Haji’s penalties (4), Simms still scores more, 16 goals v 15.
Haji is a better player imo, but the disrespect and mental gymnastics used to criticise Simms has been bizarre at times.
Weird player to dig out after yesterday - was not in the top 5 worst players
Simms scored a few when we played to his strengths in the 5-3-2 - balls down the channels, lots of crosses, quicker build up, second striker to help him press
He's not a striker for the system Lampard ideally wants to employ as he's not technically there. Not his fault, just how it is.
Think he'd definitely get 15 goals for a team that play how we did at the start of our run
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