The myth about Haji (2 Viewers)

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

“That he cant play as a Striker”
- just over a goal every other game he’s played there for us (and if you include assists so ‘goal involvements’ its practically one a game)
- played there in Turkey and got a world cup call up and even played and scored for the US
- Why wouldn’t you want Haji and EMC in the same team swapping over occasionally like Bassette and EMC did.
- he’s 6ft4 and can header a football, get him in the middle or as an outlet for flick ons, he can flick on as he was doing it for Simms earlier this season in the 1 or 2 games they partnered eachother centrally
- Oh and he’s not useless up front those who think he is need to give it a blank slate and watch him again next time he plays Centrally

 

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[Mr Panda]

I just don’t feel like he was really allowed much time up there to consistently find his feet and then the notion that he can’t play there seemed to gain traction.

I remember him bursting through vs Leicester in his first game, smashing the bar and wondering why that wasn’t enough evidence to try him there a few more times!

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I think Mason and Wright will rotate in and out the LW and ST during games. Seen Mason doing it with Norman before his injury so think that’s the plan.

 

[SkyB]

I think it's a given when EMC and Haji are both fit we play a front 3 of EMC - Haji - Tats.

Can't believe there would be any thoughts otherwise.

 

[shmmeee]

How many were on his own rather than as a two out of interest?

 

[Lamps]

It seems to me like many of those who said EMC is shite now say he will be out of the side on the return of Wright. But what manager would leave out a player that is averaging a goal or assist every game. They prefer to make out Wright can only play on the wing.

 

[Old Warwickshire lad]

I think it's a given when EMC and Haji are both fit we play a front 3 of EMC - Haji - Tats.

Can't believe there would be any thoughts otherwise.

And I would play EMC-Simms-Wright with Norm and Tats to come on later in the game.
Think they are our best front 5, getting us all to agree on the 3 starters well that’s another story.

 

[PVA]

I’ve mentioned this before, that often times in this season and last season our strikers often look poor and I think a lot of that is down to the system and style of play rather than the striker themselves.

We’ve seen so many games where the striker(s) have looked totally isolated and lacked service.

Wright and Simms looked awful up front together last season, Simms has been poor this season, Bassette only has one league goal etc.

So yes Wright has had some bad games at ST for us but that absolutely doesn’t mean he can’t play there and I’m hoping Lampard is working to address the issue of the isolated striker.

Front three when everyone is fot has to be EMC – Wright – Sakamoto. We’ve at least got to try it and if it doesn’t work then fine.

 

[skybluecam]

I think it's a given when EMC and Haji are both fit we play a front 3 of EMC - Haji - Tats.

Can't believe there would be any thoughts otherwise.

That combination has to be tried for a decent run of games.

Wright has to be in the team unquestionably. EMC has done more than any of the rest. And Saka is the only one in the squad who's looked effective on the right wing.

 

[SBT]

How many were on his own rather than as a two out of interest?

I think the Turkish club he was at usually played with Haji on his own up front.

He clearly has experience playing that role, but I still don't think it's a given that Haji will flourish as a lone striker.

 

[peteCCFC]

I think it's a given when EMC and Haji are both fit we play a front 3 of EMC - Haji - Tats.

Can't believe there would be any thoughts otherwise.

Is Haji good enough/capable of playing on the right hand side of the 3? Tats could definitely be improved on and trying Haji on the Wright allows Simms and Bassette compete for the central spot.

 

[baldy]

Is Haji good enough/capable of playing on the right hand side of the 3? Tats could definitely be improved on and trying Haji on the Wright allows Simms and Bassette compete for the central spot.

Would that be Ellis on the Simms & Norman on the Bassette?

 

[SBAndy]

How many were on his own rather than as a two out of interest?

I fee there’s only been 2-3 games for us where he’s been up top on his own. Littered with offsides from memory.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

I’ve mentioned this before, that often times in this season and last season our strikers often look poor and I think a lot of that is down to the system and style of play rather than the striker themselves.

We’ve seen so many games where the striker(s) have looked totally isolated and lacked service.

Wright and Simms looked awful up front together last season, Simms has been poor this season, Bassette only has one league goal etc.

So yes Wright has had some bad games at ST for us but that absolutely doesn’t mean he can’t play there and I’m hoping Lampard is working to address the issue of the isolated striker.

Front three when everyone is fot has to be EMC – Wright – Sakamoto. We’ve at least got to try it and if it doesn’t work then fine.

Simms hasn't been poor. He has hardly been picked and he has been playing a lone striker . Basette has struggled on his own. They all struggle on their own. Pick 2 strikers, job sorted

 

[shmmeee]

I fee there’s only been 2-3 games for us where he’s been up top on his own. Littered with offsides from memory.

This is my only concern with this stat. Playing in a two lets you pull wide similar to playing in a three where his main role is to get into scoring positions. Not sure we’ve got the data here to say he works as a lone striker. Though he did play there in Turkey I think.

 

[shmmeee]

Simms hasn't been poor. He has hardly been picked and he has been playing a lone striker . Basette has struggled on his own. They all struggle on their own. Pick 2 strikers, job sorted

Then you have to drop Sakamoto and EMC is the issue. And our midfield three isn’t great at picking up the creative slack.

 

[PVA]

Simms hasn't been poor. He has hardly been picked and he has been playing a lone striker . Basette has struggled on his own. They all struggle on their own. Pick 2 strikers, job sorted

Lampard wants to play 4-2-3-1, so I don't see that happening much.

(except at the moment where we're almost being forced into 3-4-1-2 because of injuries).

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Lampard wants to play 4-2-3-1, so I don't see that happening much.

(except at the moment where we're almost being forced into 3-4-1-2 because of injuries).

Same numbers different order so its fine

 

[Boicey]

I think Wright will get his chance as a central striker with EMC on the left.
Let's hope we can make it work. Maybe try more long balls. Mix it up a bit more.

 

[SkyBlueMatt]

I think that now EMC has got his feet under the table and has some confidence after recent form. With everyone back and fit, I would put him on the right and drop Saka.

Wright - Simms - EMC

 

[JSL]

I would like to see Haji tried on the right with Simms and EMC alongside

 

[stupot07]

I'm not sure the stats are right. Just looking at transfermarkt

It has him scoring 2 goals against Watford playing as a striker, when he played LW that game as Simms was playing, and has him scoring 2 against Millwall as a striker - he started that game as a striker but both his goals were off the left wing after Simms came on. I can't be bothered to go through the rest. We definitely saw the best off him on the left wing.

 

[eyesee]

simms is our best striker. period.
that may give us a question to answer on the left, but dropping simms is categorically not the solution to that.

 

[skybluecam]

Wright won't have played any games for the club as a central striker in a 3 with a competent left winger, because he was the only one at the club.

Did we try a front 3 of Palmer - Wright - Saka last season? Palmer was never good on the wing anyway, he just drifted back in to the middle constantly.

It's definitely worth trying Wright down the middle.

 

[Frostie]

I'm not sure the stats are right. Just looking at transfermarkt

It has him scoring 2 goals against Watford playing as a striker, when he played LW that game as Simms was playing, and has him scoring 2 against Millwall as a striker - he started that game as a striker but both his goals were off the left wing after Simms came on. I can't be bothered to go through the rest. We definitely saw the best off him on the left wing.

We played 3 at the back in that Watford game, Wright played up front with Simms. Spot on about the Millwall game though.

I don't think it's that Wright can't play as a striker per se, just that he isn't suited to play the type of striker role we've asked of him before, or likely now either. I said at the time when he was struggling after first joining that our tactics didn't make sense as we weren't playing to his strengths. The switch to LW really unlocked him.

He's not great with his back to goal & having ball to feet etc. He excels at running the channels, ball carrying into the box etc.
In the current 3 at the back he could do that alongside Simms but then you'd lose the pressing that Lampard obviously wants from Bassette or BTA.

 

[shmmeee]

We played 3 at the back in that Watford game, Wright played up front with Simms. Spot on about the Millwall game though.

I don't think it's that Wright can't play as a striker per se, just that he isn't suited to play the type of striker role we've asked of him before, or likely now either. I said at the time when he was struggling after first joining that our tactics didn't make sense as we weren't playing to his strengths. The switch to LW really unlocked him.

He's not great with his back to goal & having ball to feet etc. He excels at running the channels, ball carrying into the box etc.
In the current 3 at the back he could do that alongside Simms but then you'd lose the pressing that Lampard obviously wants from Bassette or BTA.

What would you say the difference was in Turkey? Easier league for strikers or a slightly different 433 setup?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'm not sure the stats are right. Just looking at transfermarkt

It has him scoring 2 goals against Watford playing as a striker, when he played LW that game as Simms was playing, and has him scoring 2 against Millwall as a striker - he started that game as a striker but both his goals were off the left wing after Simms came on. I can't be bothered to go through the rest. We definitely saw the best off him on the left wing.

Pretty sure that 3-3 v Watford we played 3-4-1-2. Transfermarkt will only show where the player started the match too because when looking at players who came on as a sub, the position is blank.

Last season, unquestionably Haji looked better at LW. That, however, doesn’t been he is to forever play in that role.

 

[Frostie]

What would you say the difference was in Turkey? Easier league for strikers or a slightly different 433 setup?

Bit of both.
I don't think it's an easy league but maybe for the type of forward he is, defenders struggled to deal with him. Tactically, he played in a 4-2-3-1 but with a lot more freedom. Below is a fairly typical heatmap for him, as you can see lots of work in wide areas but gets into the box for his shots.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Bit of both.
I don't think it's an easy league but maybe for the type of forward he is, defenders struggled to deal with him. Tactically, he played in a 4-2-3-1 but with a lot more freedom. Below is a fairly typical heatmap for him, as you can see lots of work in wide areas but gets into the box for his shots.
View attachment 40748

Got the ball quite a lot on the right then too…