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Yes, there’s a logic to it. If anything, you want a more clinical striker to take advantage of set pieces and the odd cross in the box. Bassette will only really offer a lot of energy off the ball. It’s good but hasn’t really yielded too much in terms of chances and/or goal contributions. Hope...

I don’t blame them! 😉

It's a rather facetious reply bearing we have 32 goals sitting on the bench and with Wright is our top scorer, EMC and Rudoni being joint top goal scorers after him whereas Sakamoto has 4 goal contributions all season - where does he fit in? You're just not going to make the selection of the...

There’s no reason you can’t fit different players in that same basic shape. If EMC continues his form into the New Year and one of the strikers, you’re not going to relegate one of those players to the bench for Sakamoto.

EMC has played a couple of games there, if that. It’s best to reserve judgement. The way the wingers play, EMC and Wright at least (and Sakamoto to a lesser extent) is to joins the striker when Rudoni drifts to the left and the shape becomes more or less a 4-4-2. There’s the option to play...

EMC has played plenty of matches as a RW, until it’s been tried with all the players available. Players may have to move around to get game time, there’s too many goals in Wright and EMC to not play both.

It’s not a sudden turn, he’s a still a good player but if you have Wright and EMC who are better goal scorers and better at assists, why would they make way for Sakamoto? You have Simms, BTA and Bassette on the bench if you start Wright as a striker. Simms and BTA got 32 goals between them last...

Why is Saka an automatic pick? If one of the strikers hits form over Xmas, Saka is going to make way for EMC and Wright out wide. Imo, Sakamoto's role will develop into being our super sub. A tricky player to bring on against tiring defences could be a good ace up our sleeve. He had a purple...

I think Wright can manage playing upfront in a 4-2-3-1... It's his most common position and system in his career. LW is a new-ish role for Wright. Besides, last season he struggled in a 3-4-1-2 and this season couldn't stop scoring before his injury. Generally, strikers form will dip in teams...

This season most of his goals have been upfront which means that he will get goals from both positions. Wright himself is on record saying his best position is striker which is where he’s made the most appearances in his career. If everyone was fit and ready, you’d play EMC-Wright-Saka...

Is he? Scored most his goals playing upfront this season, 4 goals in 5 games as a striker.

Priority is definitely for CB and CM for me. If the right player is available, happy to sign a LB because I do agree it’s more of an area to improve in summer 2025.

Bidwell probably is a big earner and is someone we probably want to replace in the summer. If these Wagner rumours persist, this is 3/4 LBs that we’ve linked with since the summer. Fans need to let it go, JDS is probably a more suitable back up defender in any case.

In terms of output expressed as goals and assists, he can be quite low. Under FL, he's been encouraged to cut in and cross more which was more of a rarity under MR, he would typically jink with his dribble moves and then lay it to MVE on the overlap. Some of his goals last season were superb...

I’m pretty convinced that COH’s run in Dec-Feb was a flash in the pan. He was on unreal form but never believed he’d be a 10-20 goal a season midfielder. IMO, Rudoni will be the better player for us even if his own xG stats aren’t great (last season at least). I have the same reservations about...

Out of the time frame, but there’s McG too!

Snap!

Chaplin?

Even before this purple patch, he had a few nearly moments under Robins too.

It’s worth noting that Lampard was a rookie at Derby so probably heavily relied on his Chelsea contacts and (iirc) his own experience in the Chelsea setup of upcoming stars than he would now. Instinctually, I don’t think we necessarily need hot shot loanees, this season as a priority. If...