Player ratings v Boro (27 Viewers)

[Diogenes]

Have a weird feeling he will score goals elsewhere but it's not working here..

Imagine if we had a striker that had scored even a 1/4 of the shockers he's missed. Or was able to retain the ball without it bouncing 30 yards off him.

 

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[shmmeee]

Was on about this yesterday. You hear of some players,who strut about giving it the big shot and though people don't like it maybe you need that attitude.
I see Simms regularly round Earlsdon and he seems very quite, very withdrawn and he looks, for a big guy, as though he wants look smaller and blend into the back ground.
Just seems to be his way.

I expected him to have had another purple patch by now but it just hasn't happened.

Saw it with Bakayoko as well. Wright has enough talent that it doesn’t affect his output but I can’t help but wonder what he’d be like if he was aggressive all the time too like we’ve seen he can be.

I do wonder how much that can be instilled though.

 

[shmmeee]

Can't trap a ball , pass a ball ,head a ball or hold up a ball or hit a ball clean.. thats beyond mentality

He’s come through a PL academy. You don’t do that with the seeming lack of natural footballing talent he’s got on the pitch. I agree though his heading and first touch in particular seem well off the level.

 

[Evo1883]

He’s come through a PL academy. You don’t do that with the seeming lack of natural footballing talent he’s got on the pitch. I agree though his heading and first touch in particular seem well off the level.

Its easy to see how he did well against kids at academy level

 

[shmmeee]

Its easy to see how he did well against kids at academy level

But he’s still have been receiving top quality training. Surely you don’t get that far just because you’re a big lad. There’s lots of big lads with the touch of a brick wall. I’m one of them.

 

[Evo1883]

But he’s still have been receiving top quality training. Surely you don’t get that far just because you’re a big lad. There’s lots of big lads with the touch of a brick wall. I’m one of them.

Yes but many academies were looking for big powerful footballers for the last however many years .. hes a product of that

 

[clint van damme]

Someone said on

But he’s still have been receiving top quality training. Surely you don’t get that far just because you’re a big lad. There’s lots of big lads with the touch of a brick wall. I’m one of them.

It's the same with Collins though.
Talking to a mate post game and he'd been chatting to a lad he knew who played keeper to non league level
The lad said if he'd done, or not done, some of the things Collins does at non league level he'd have quickly been dropped.

How did they get so far when poor at the basics?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Can't trap a ball , pass a ball ,head a ball or hold up a ball or hit a ball clean.. thats beyond mentality

Ordinarily would agree, but as another introvert I think his mentality does explain those things.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

I think regardless of peoples opinions on simms, it’s clear he probably won’t be leading the line for us next year, regardless of the division we are in.

So let’s get behind him the last 2, hopefully 3 games. He could be the difference maker

 

[shmmeee]

Yes but many academies were looking for big powerful footballers for the last however many years .. hes a product of that

I was born in the wrong era

 

[shmmeee]

Yes but many academies were looking for big powerful footballers for the last however many years .. hes a product of that

Mostly I don’t understand how you can play football all day every day with the best coaches around and still be unable to trap a ball.

 

[Evo1883]

I think regardless of peoples opinions on simms, it’s clear he probably won’t be leading the line for us next year, regardless of the division we are in.

So let’s get behind him the last 2, hopefully 3 games. He could be the difference maker

I'm always behind him when hes on the pitch , my opinion on him doesnt alter that

 

[Evo1883]

Mostly I don’t understand how you can play football all day every day with the best coaches around and still be unable to trap a ball.

I know a fair few lads that got overlooked because of their build

 

[shmmeee]

I know a fair few lads that got overlooked because of their build

I get that. And definitely athleticism is prized these days. But still. I think I could take anyone on the planet and given hours each day and top coaches get them to trap the ball.

TBH this is bigger than Simms. Why can’t all full backs do a decent long throw? Why are so many so poor on their weaker foot? So many footballers seem to have glaring issues in their game that simple practice should resolve but they go decades never learning this stuff. Crazy to me.

 

[Alkhen]

Any tactics nerds explain Bidwells instructions yesterday? He did well but I noticed he left loads of space out on the left wing when we're in possession, they kept having a man spare out there. Felt a bit lucky that they rarely found the man open.

 

[Evo1883]

Any tactics nerds explain Bidwells instructions yesterday? He did well but I noticed he left loads of space out on the left wing when we're in possession, they kept having a man spare out there. Felt a bit lucky that they rarely found the man open.

Seems the team were asked to stay compact and move across the pitch together to prevent space in the middle , it forces teams to play wide

 

[shmmeee]

Any tactics nerds explain Bidwells instructions yesterday? He did well but I noticed he left loads of space out on the left wing when we're in possession, they kept having a man spare out there. Felt a bit lucky that they rarely found the man open.

Generally Lampard seems to want us getting back into quite narrow positions when defending. You see people going mad that no one is “going to him” but different players consistently seem to want to get narrow and defend the box rather than engaging the winger so I think it’s intentional.

 

[Cally Fedora]

The Simms equation is simple for me. He will score streaks of goals but his all round game is very poor and unlikely to improve. I’d start BTA in the play offs - no question

 

[fernandopartridge]

Was on about this yesterday. You hear of some players,who strut about giving it the big shot and though people don't like it maybe you need that attitude.
I see Simms regularly round Earlsdon and he seems very quite, very withdrawn and he looks, for a big guy, as though he wants look smaller and blend into the back ground.
Just seems to be his way.

I expected him to have had another purple patch by now but it just hasn't happened.

Stop pestering him then clint

 

[Gibbo]

I get that. And definitely athleticism is prized these days. But still. I think I could take anyone on the planet and given hours each day and top coaches get them to trap the ball.

TBH this is bigger than Simms. Why can’t all full backs do a decent long throw? Why are so many so poor on their weaker foot? So many footballers seem to have glaring issues in their game that simple practice should resolve but they go decades never learning this stuff. Crazy to me.

The question that always dogs me...why are professional footballers frequently so poor with their weaker foot. Mystifies me. I reckon I was better with my left foot back in the day than some of them. And I was crap..

 

[clint van damme]

Stop pestering him then clint

It's OK mate, Im cleverly concealed in a bush. He's blissfully unaware I'm there, though the people whose garden it is have phoned the police a couple of times

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It's OK mate, Im cleverly concealed in a bush. He's blissfully unaware I'm there

This is some seriously kinky shit

 

[CovveeBreak]

If Simms was better in the air, and his exceptional hold up play wasn't one in every 5 games, honestly, I wouldn't give a toss about his lack of goals because there are plenty off goals around him in Wright, Rudi and Saka.

But alas, for a big number 9, we need more of that from him to justify his starting berth.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Our judgements are too negative he’s an average player not poor at this level
Rudoni is not good he’s very very good

 

[Otis]

Any tactics nerds explain Bidwells instructions yesterday? He did well but I noticed he left loads of space out on the left wing when we're in possession, they kept having a man spare out there. Felt a bit lucky that they rarely found the man open.

Yeah, I clocked that too. Wasn't sure how we would have countered or covered that, had they made that pass.

 

[shmmeee]

The question that always dogs me...why are professional footballers frequently so poor with their weaker foot. Mystifies me. I reckon I was better with my left foot back in the day than some of them. And I was crap..

Just have half an hour a day where you can only use your weak foot in training. Can’t be hard. Same as the “Rudoni stays back and practices finishes with Lampard”. Is it really too much to add an hour to training on weaknesses? Would the PFA be up in arms or the players too prima-donna ?

 

[Alkhen]

Seems the team were asked to stay compact and move across the pitch together to prevent space in the middle , it forces teams to play wide

Generally Lampard seems to want us getting back into quite narrow positions when defending. You see people going mad that no one is “going to him” but different players consistently seem to want to get narrow and defend the box rather than engaging the winger so I think it’s intentional.

Yeah could see it was intentional but can't lie it did terrify me at times! There were a couple of points were Azaz was wide open with loads of space to run into the box if they had mad a fairly simple switch. I'm guessing the reasoning is that we back Kitch and Thomas to deal with crosses so try and funnel attackers into taking that option.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

If Simms was better in the air, and his exceptional hold up play wasn't one in every 5 games, honestly, I wouldn't give a toss about his lack of goals because there are plenty off goals around him in Wright, Rudi and Saka.

But alas, for a big number 9, we need more of that from him to justify his starting berth.

Simms is immensely frustrating as he plainly has the tools to be a good player, but seems to lack desire and is too often on the back foot. Early in the first half yesterday when Wright put a cross in that went over Simms head I was wondering why he wouldn't instinctively look to jump as Wright shaped to cross the ball instaed of waiting to see where the cross goes and missing his opportunity. I get the feeling in kids football Simms superior physique was probably enough to stand out above his counterparts, but as he's got older others have caught up with him and he's lost that advantage.

 

[Herb70]

Ellis Simms brings a presence to the pitch that makes a difference. He’s one of those players who improves the team’s overall performance when involved. While opinions may vary, the stats don’t lie —across his 27 league starts this season, the team has averaged 1.7 points per game, compared to just 1.1 points in the 20 matches he hasn’t started.

 

[Evo1883]

Ellis Simms brings a presence to the pitch that makes a difference. He’s one of those players who improves the team’s overall performance when involved. While opinions may vary, the stats don’t lie —across his 27 league starts this season, the team has averaged 1.7 points per game, compared to just 1.1 points in the 20 matches he hasn’t started.

What do the stats say when sheaf starts and when he doesnt ?

 

[DannyThomas_1981]

Grimes is being overlooked. One of our very best January signings. Does the simple things very very well - and is technically and positionally excellent. He allows others to play. Pure class. We’ve recruited excellently - not every signing is going to immediately work out - our success rate looks good at this point.

 

[mmttww]

Grimes is being overlooked.

Good shout. He's slotted in so seamlessly that after a few games of being impressed and noticing what he does, he's just become a key part of a side that (at home at least!) functions really well.

 

[Lionelr]

Wilson 8.5 - stepped up. First touch gave me a heart attack Massive character in the goal, not sure if it came across on screen but in person you could see him shouting and commanding the box. Some of the clearances were as impressive as the saves.
MVE 8 - thought he was great. Intercepted plenty, made good tackles, got forward well.
Thomas 7 - did what was asked. Left the occasional space through the middle in 2nd.
Kitching 7 - same as above
Bidwell 7.5 - against a tough winger in Whitaker (attribute wise it’s not easy for Bidwell) fully up for it and made him look poor.
Grimes 8 - again not sure if the screens picked it up, his work rate off the ball, chasing down players making it hard for them to break lines. Kept the dynamic of the game in our favour
Sheaf 7.5 - again pressed well. First half we dominated all because of the midfield
Rudoni 9.5 - no explanation needed
Wright 6 - didn’t come off for him today, it happens. Made space and had plenty of service. That helped us at times.
Simms 6 - pulled the defence well. Didn’t win an awful lot for a big player
Sakamoto 7 - good work rate, trickery worked well.

honourable mention for BTA - won more in the air than Simms did in the first 5, he looked sharp and dangerous

 

[Johhny Blue]

I had to count the Boro players on the pitch a couple of times, Wright had 3 or even 4 players marking him at times

I noticed 20 players packed in the central area at one point.

 

[quinn1971]

Thought the three of MvE Saka and Rudi was outstanding today.

Spot on, have to keep MVE in the summer, him and saka link up brilliantly