True.
I like both Sheaf and Eccles and think that as a pairing they work together well too, but neither of them score goals and that is a major concern.
I’m not sure they’re that great a partnership. Comparing our record against top half teams in 22/23 and 23/24 paints a picture. Both Eccles and Sheaf played in those seasons. However, both of these players are good progressive deep lying playmakers - imo Sheaf is a lot better at that job without being an insult to Eccles. We need someone who’s more adventurous on the ball and puts the ball into advanced players in the final third/the box. Torp did this well for Simms chance and if Eccles is injured for a stretch, it’s his time to step up to the plate - too often he looks classy one minute and lost the next!
Back to that CM partnership, they both need a CM next to them that can drive the ball forward (dribbling) and more adventurous with their passing. With those two as the anchors, we play football in a lateral, almost semi-circle shape, if you will i.e. CM to WB, CM to CM, back to the opposite WB.
Eccles is making strides to his passing range, tbf but his best passes are sideways/diagonal - he played some really good balls to WBs and a tasty cross… What we need was to put more balls in behind for the strikers.