The Forwards Conundrum (1 Viewer)

BlueSkiesForever · Dec 30, 2023

I feel like I’ve been very patient with Simms over the last few months, always trying to see the positive in him, and whilst I do think he’s quick and strong and has made a fair few decent runs in behind in previous games, I thought last night’s performance was absolutely shocking from him. Literally walking around, not making enough runs, allowing the defender to make the first move, not getting into space quickly enough, not even half-pressing their defence. He looked absolutely bored and fed up, and he’s only 22, he should be a right handful to control. Alright he technically got the second goal, fair, but that was the only positive thing he did all night.

Also just to say, Godden is not the answer, he’s equally miles off it and isn’t getting any younger. In Simms’ defence I would rather start Simms and have the potential of pace/strength than have Godden on the pitch. But what is the proper answer to our forwards problem? Do we play Haji as striker with Simms on left wing and Saka on right wing? Do we play Dasilva or O’Hare left wing instead and drop Simms? Could we even start Tavares when he’s back? (I know 90% will laugh at that but I think Tavares needs a chance to prove himself, he’s clearly not a permanent solution but maybe as a temporary fix he could play a part?)

We just can’t keep relying on Haji and Saka to do all the work, we need a proper striker to rely on to get into space, run at defenders and put the ball away, and atm, as much as I want him to be, I’m really concerned that Simms isn’t the answer.

Greggs · Dec 30, 2023

Wright and Sakamoto have both improved immensely. It's just finding the right number 9 now.

BlueSkiesForever · Dec 30, 2023

Greggs said:
Wright and Sakamoto have both improved immensely. It's just finding the right number 9 now.

I think I agree tbf, it just feels like he’s not fitting in and we need a new striker. As much as I want to be on Simms’ side I just look at the training videos, him pre and post-match, him in the game etc etc, just everything about him seems bored and flat, sounds strange I know but I just wonder if he doesn’t actually want to be here.

SBT · Dec 30, 2023

My hot take on it is that the wide forwards playing so well and scoring/creating so much lately isn’t just down to Wright and Sakamoto playing well individually, it’s down to the striker causing problems and creating space for them too. I don’t think the current system is set up to particularly favour that #9 striker, but so long as it continues to create chances for the front three in general then it doesn’t bother me too much.

AFCCOVENTRY · Dec 30, 2023

Simms occupies the central defenders to give Wright and Tatsu space to do their thing. For me at the moment the front 3 is working well. Ultimately it’s a team game and we’re getting results at the moment.

SBAndy · Dec 30, 2023

Sinclair Armstrong possibly? Last 6 months of contract at QPR, he’s not been prolific but still very young and can play anywhere across the front 3.

clint van damme · Dec 30, 2023

While the criticism of Simms and Godden is valid its worth remember that we've scored 8 more goals than we had after 25 games last season.

Sick Boy · Dec 30, 2023

Perhaps Robins’ pursuit of Billy Sharp wasn’t so bonkers after all. Would have been a decent signing for the rest of the season.

Deleted member 9744 · Dec 30, 2023

Sick Boy said:
Perhaps Robins’ pursuit of Billy Sharp wasn’t so bonkers after all. Would have been a decent signing for the rest of the season.

Exactly the sort of player we need.

Deleted member 5849 · Dec 30, 2023

SBAndy said:
he’s not been prolific

To put it mildly!

Macca · Dec 30, 2023

Sick Boy said:
Perhaps Robins’ pursuit of Billy Sharp wasn’t so bonkers after all. Would have been a decent signing for the rest of the season.

That’s the type we need in January

Terry Gibson's perm · Dec 30, 2023

It’s about time Simms was given a proper run of games, Godden is infuriating he has to play beyond the defence now as the last bit of pace has gone he is touching the ball rarely he is a passenger.

Terry Gibson's perm · Dec 30, 2023

Macca said:
That’s the type we need in January

No thanks we have a slow striker already we look better with pace in the frontline.

Deity · Dec 30, 2023

I think it’s fairly simple …. We have to persevere with Simms who has greater potential and offers more physical attributes to occupy defenders.

We also need to bring in another forward as it is clear Goddens best days are behind him.

In defence of both players one of the things I love about this City formation and team is the excitement you feel as a fan when Tats or Wright have the ball and are running at their full back. HOWEVER I can’t guess which way they will go so timing your run as a forward must be a nightmare !

This might in part explain why both forwards are often stationary when the ball does eventually come into the box.

If we are to sign another striker I’d like us to sign someone with good pace because without it they won’t keep up with the speed of our counter attacks.

stupot07 · Dec 30, 2023

Terry Gibson's perm said:
It’s about time Simms was given a proper run of games, Godden is infuriating he has to play beyond the defence now as the last bit of pace has gone he is touching the ball rarely he is a passenger.

I agree, he plays 3-4 then drops out for 3-4 games, then back in 3-4 games. he needs to be given a run of 10+ games straight to get into some rhythm.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

Terry_dactyl · Dec 30, 2023

Greggs said:
Wright and Sakamoto have both improved immensely. It's just finding the right number 9 now.

I really think it’ll be Simms. I just wish he’d hurry up and prove me right.

Blind-Faith · Dec 30, 2023

The central striking role is a bit of a poisoned chalice really, all our good play and majority of goals comes from the wide players because of how we play.

Id give Simms the next ten games atleast, if nothing else he has more of a presence up top than Godden and will give defenders atleast a tough afternoon.

What I will say in Goddens defence , his pressing at the top end of the pitch is on a different level to Simms.

clint van damme · Dec 30, 2023

Blind-Faith said:
The central striking role is a bit of a poisoned chalice really, all our good play and majority of goals comes from the wide players because of how we play.

Id give Simms the next ten games atleast, if nothing else he has more of a presence up top than Godden and will give defenders atleast a tough afternoon.

What I will say in Goddens defence , his pressing at the top end of the pitch is on a different level to Simms.

Godden caused Wedneday problems with his movement which had a big hand in the first goal but I didn't see any of that last night.
In general he seems to be getting more and more ineffectual

SkyblueTexan · Dec 30, 2023

Whittaker instead of Simms would have been a much better and cheaper option than Simms. Strong, pacy and scores goals. Alas hindsight is 20/20 and we’re stuck with Simms who offers very little. There were one or two games like against Huddersfield where he was trying hard. Nowadays he just jogs around and barely breaks a sweat which is really infuriating. That used to be Wright, but he seems to have found a groove now and hope it stays that way. How do the team light a fire under Simms or do we find a replacement? Agree Godden is done and we need a replacement for him anyway. Hope we have a loan lined up for the Jan window. Need to send Ayari back, extend COH’s contract, get a midfield general, maybe get a CB as well to take Fadz’s place. Lots of tinkering to do. Probably will not all happen this window and have to wait until the summer.

Deity · Dec 30, 2023

Blind-Faith said:
The central striking role is a bit of a poisoned chalice really, all our good play and majority of goals comes from the wide players because of how we play.

Id give Simms the next ten games atleast, if nothing else he has more of a presence up top than Godden and will give defenders atleast a tough afternoon.

What I will say in Goddens defence , his pressing at the top end of the pitch is on a different level to Simms.

I agree re Goddens pressing although without ever looking like creating an unforced error

slowpoke · Dec 30, 2023

I’ve spoke about this on another thread but I’ll repeat what I said firstly I’m very patient with players and have been with Simms but he at the moment is not good enough, yesterday although he got that tap in he was awful, bit of a disgrace really, came on fresh but contributed to put it bluntly fuck all.
His team mates must see it I noticed COH looking daggers at him a couple of times, one good thing came from yesterday it’s transfer window time, we have few bob, sort it MR.

SBT · Dec 30, 2023

SkyblueTexan said:
There were one or two games like against Huddersfield where he was trying hard. Nowadays he just jogs around and barely breaks a sweat which is really infuriating.

Simms is not being instructed to go out there and run around like a maniac against a possession-based team like Swansea.

slowpoke · Dec 30, 2023

Deity said:
I agree re Goddens pressing although without ever looking like creating an unforced error

He can’t seem to stay on-side. He was yards off yesterday a number of times.

Terry Gibson's perm · Dec 30, 2023

slowpoke said:
He can’t seem to stay on-side. He was yards off yesterday a number of times.

He has to be as even the slowest defenders can catch him up if he got the ball, his legs have gone and needs replacing

slowpoke · Dec 30, 2023

SBT said:
Simms is not being instructed to go out there and run around like a maniac against a possession-based team like Swansea.

Sorry he didn’t run round anywhere at all yesterday and it allowed Swansea cbs room and time to move forward 10 yards pushing us backwards.

clint van damme · Dec 30, 2023

Terry Gibson's perm said:
his legs have gone

He's 22!

slowpoke · Dec 30, 2023

clint van damme said:
He's 22!

Think he’s talking Godden

Deleted member 9744 · Dec 30, 2023

stupot07 said:
I agree, he plays 3-4 then drops out for 3-4 games, then back in 3-4 games. he needs to be given a run of 10+ games straight to get into some rhythm.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

He is the only player who has played in every game and has had plenty of opportunities including a run of 7 starts. In my view the last thing he needs is a further run of 10+ starts.

SkyblueTexan · Dec 30, 2023

SBT said:
Simms is not being instructed to go out there and run around like a maniac against a possession-based team like Swansea.

All I am asking for from Simms is to make a nuisance of himself to opposing players, keep them occupied/concerned, track back and try harder. I am seeing that from Wright now and not previously when he was a carbon copy of what Simms still is. Right now there’s I see zero effort from Simms except his meek attempt to make up for yesterday’s lackadaisical display to prod home a header that was already on its way in.

Deleted member 5849 · Dec 30, 2023

SkyblueTexan said:
Whittaker

The guy who'd had a loan spell at Plymouth, had developed a relationship with club and manager, so was always going to go there?

SkyblueTexan · Dec 30, 2023

Deleted member 5849 said:
The guy who'd had a loan spell at Plymouth, had developed a relationship with club and manager, so was always going to go there?

McNally had a loan spell and didn’t return, JCS had a loan spell and a relationship with Adi and didn’t return. Things change and people change their minds sometimes as well. Sure there’s examples of people staying where they are as well. Oh well.

Deleted member 5849 · Dec 30, 2023

SkyblueTexan said:
McNally had a loan spell and didn’t return

Whittaker had a loan spell and did return. It was always going to happen. He didn't want to go back to Swansea when they recalled him from his loan spell.

False9 · Dec 30, 2023

Terry Gibson's perm said:
It’s about time Simms was given a proper run of games, Godden is infuriating he has to play beyond the defence now as the last bit of pace has gone he is touching the ball rarely he is a passenger.

At this point he offers nothing to the team.

Even his poaching abilities have disappeared, wright played a fantastic ball across the 6 yard box and he was nowhere near it.

PUSB-We_are_going_up · Dec 30, 2023

SkyblueTexan said:
Whittaker instead of Simms would have been a much better and cheaper option than Simms. Strong, pacy and scores goals. Alas hindsight is 20/20 and we’re stuck with Simms who offers very little. There were one or two games like against Huddersfield where he was trying hard. Nowadays he just jogs around and barely breaks a sweat which is really infuriating. That used to be Wright, but he seems to have found a groove now and hope it stays that way. How do the team light a fire under Simms or do we find a replacement? Agree Godden is done and we need a replacement for him anyway. Hope we have a loan lined up for the Jan window. Need to send Ayari back, extend COH’s contract, get a midfield general, maybe get a CB as well to take Fadz’s place. Lots of tinkering to do. Probably will not all happen this window and have to wait until the summer.

The solution for Wright was persevering and giving him a constant game time and a run of games which Simms hasnt had, I’ve been impressed with Simms number 9 work some of the dirty work that he does goes unnoticed and its a real shame

slowpoke · Dec 30, 2023

Signing strikers is the most difficult and risky of all positions there are multi-million pound examples kicking their heels throughout the Premiership. They need to fit playing seals and hit the game running but we need t do something.

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