Match Thread Coventry City - Portsmouth FC Match Thread - Wednesday 9th Apr (25 Viewers)

[Gibbo]

EMC was poor and he seems to have lost confidence, he isn't shooting and doesn't seem to have a clear idea in his head about what he's going to do. Wright has got to go out to the left at Hull.

He got past his man time and time again last night. Just pants at the final ball

 

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[shmmeee]

Wondering that although it seems harsh, Paterson for Tats. I agree the criticism of EMC is over the top but he does need to improve his final delivery. It's useless beating your man and then hitting a ball to the man in the third row of the stand opposite

Other than Rudoni and sometimes Saka we lack real quality into the box, and both of them are best cutting in from the right. One reason I think Wright won’t go wide left is he’s probably among the worse for delivery into the box.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Other than Rudoni and sometimes Saka we lack real quality into the box, and both of them are best cutting in from the right. One reason I think Wright won’t go wide left is he’s probably among the worse for delivery into the box.

He managed a decent number of assists last season, his crossing is fine.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

You can give an opinion but i can give the opinion that your claim of "shoehorning" is nonsense. We wouldn't do that just as we wouldn't discuss a £4 million winger as a backup winger when going over transfer targets.

The funny thing is you tried to flex your intellectual superiority before i did so don't try and play victim there either. I don't claim to be mega intelligent but none of your attempts at one-upmanship have really hit the mark so we can probably leave it there.

I do visit occasionally so you aren't entirely safe i'm afraid.

With regards to EMC being backup, even you must have the sense to admit it was a slightly left-field (pardon the pun) buy when the best player in the team is also in that position. Yes squad rotation is a thing, I'm quite clearly not aloof to that fact but wouldn't you raise eyebrows if for instance we dedicated a significant proportion of our transfer budget to another RB?

Resource management is fundamental in any transfer window and every pound has to be accounted for and be invested with purpose. I don't see that with EMC.

Wright is a brilliant goalscorer but when playing his back to goal, opposition defenders are tight on him and he isn't being fed through he's completely frozen out of the game. Whereas on the left he can receive the ball to his feet more freely and use his pace and athleticism to carry it forward and look to put a ball in or attempt a shot.

If Lampard is going to play him in that role, he probably needs to base it on who the opposition is and their style otherwise it is very much shoehorning him in.

You can say it's nonsense all you like but last night proved as such.

 

[shmmeee]

He managed a decent number of assists last season, his crossing is fine.

Id wager most weren’t your traditional crosses into a header that Lampard seems to want. EMC for all his faults is better at that and Wright is probably better in the box on the end of them.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

He managed a decent number of assists last season, his crossing is fine.

His delivery is usually pretty good. I remember there were a good amout of drilled crosses he did across the box last year.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Some of DaSilvas crosses last night were sublime , just begging to be headed in

 

[David O'Day]

Some of DaSilvas crosses last night were sublime , just begging to be headed in

He was very good, the only poster on here that is shorter than him will likely say he was shit though.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

He was very good, the only poster on here that is shorter than him will likely say he was shit though.

He's gone very quiet hasn't he ?
Probably doubly angry that Rudoni is better than his darling O'Hare too

 

[shmmeee]

He's gone very quiet hasn't he ?
Probably doubly angry that Rudoni is better than his darling O'Hare too

Rudoni joint top assists with two fewer games than the other two. Impressive.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Rudoni joint top assists with two fewer games than the other two. Impressive.

He is class and still improving too . His work rate and work ethic , even when he isn't playing at his best , are fantastic .
Really hope we hold on to him this summer

 

[TomRad85]

With regards to EMC being backup, even you must have the sense to admit it was a slightly left-field (pardon the pun) buy when the best player in the team is also in that position. Yes squad rotation is a thing, I'm quite clearly not aloof to that fact but wouldn't you raise eyebrows if for instance we dedicated a significant proportion of our transfer budge to another RB?

Resource management is fundamental in any transfer window and every pound has to be accounted for and be invested with purpose. I don't see that with EMC.

Wright is a brilliant goalscorer but when playing his back to goal, opposition defenders are tight on him and he isn't being fed through he's completely frozen out of the game. Whereas on the left he can receive the ball to his feet more freely and use his pace and athleticism to carry it forward and look to put a ball in or attempt a shot.

If Lampard is going to play him in that role, he probably needs to base it on who the opposition is and their style otherwise it is very much shoehorning him in.

You can say it's nonsense all you like but last night proved as such.

We're not insulting each other any more (i'll choose to ignore the 'even you' part which is tame so i'll let it slide) so i will engage.

On the RB bit, yes i'd be suprised if we invested £4 million in a RB with MvE still here. My answer to that would be forward players get shuffled more than a defence would, or ideally anyway. Also attacking players win you games (and generally cost more because of this), when someone has given their all there for 60/70 mins you want someone with quality coming on to win a game, not a cheap dud. I think we're light in the Right Forward position and hope we go for quality over filler, someone who can challenge for a first team place, like EMC on the left.

You don't see EMC as a £4 million player... that's an opinion, it probably is a slight over pay but the market is what it is, its absolutely obscene. But here we are.

Could we play the players more according to opposition, horses for courses? Yes maybe, but that shows the value of having EMC and why he isn't a backup anymore than Simms is. Simms is probably more so right now but i never see him described as such.

Last night proved as such? - I'm not sure on this, Wright was poor, none of our other strikers have shown that they would have, with any certainty, been any better. Simms has had his chances, plenty of them, and everyone wanted him dropped!

 

[TomRad85]

Id wager most weren’t your traditional crosses into a header that Lampard seems to want. EMC for all his faults is better at that and Wright is probably better in the box on the end of them.

I think you make a very good point here. Most headed goals by a distance right? If it works it works.

 

[shmmeee]

I think you make a very good point here. Most headed goals by a distance right? If it works it works.

on that note wright should score more headers.

 

[TomRad85]

on that note wright should score more headers.

Can't get that dominating header against Oxford out of my mind. He should be doing way more of that.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Can't get that dominating header against Oxford out of my mind. He should be doing way more of that.

He doesn't look a natural header of the ball

 

[shmmeee]

Can't get that dominating header against Oxford out of my mind. He should be doing way more of that.

Seems a bit nitpicky for a striker who scores every other game, but when he shows he can do it like that… it’s a bit like when you felt Vik could have had 40 if he just tightened up his finishing … or moved to Portugal.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Id wager most weren’t your traditional crosses into a header that Lampard seems to want. EMC for all his faults is better at that and Wright is probably better in the box on the end of them.

He got 4 assists from crosses last year

 

[shmmeee]

He got 4 assists from crosses last year

Not a huge amount considering he’s playing left wing. I like Weight out left, I like a driven low cross, I just think Lampard sees him differently. Even when Simms has come on Wright has tended to stay at CF.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

We're not insulting each other any more (i'll choose to ignore the 'even you' part which is tame so i'll let it slide) so i will engage.

On the RB bit, yes i'd be suprised if we invested £4 million in a RB with MvE still here. My answer to that would be forward players get shuffled more than a defence would, or ideally anyway. Also attacking players win you games (and generally cost more because of this), when someone has given their all there for 60/70 mins you want someone with quality coming on to win a game, not a cheap dud. I think we're light in the Right Forward position and hope we go for quality over filler, someone who can challenge for a first team place, like EMC on the left.

You don't see EMC as a £4 million player... that's an opinion, it probably is a slight over pay but the market is what it is, its absolutely obscene. But here we are.

Could we play the players more according to opposition, horses for courses? Yes maybe, but that shows the value of having EMC and why he isn't a backup anymore than Simms is. Simms is probably more so right now but i never see him described as such.

Last night proved as such? - I'm not sure on this, Wright was poor, none of our other strikers have shown that they would have, with any certainty, been any better. Simms has had his chances, plenty of them, and everyone wanted him dropped!

EMC has been tried centrally and on the right and hasn't looked comfortable at all. Even DMA at Peterborough has admitted on his podcast he can't play anywhere else other than on the left. Perhaps the thought was we could coach that into him one can only speculate. But regardless he isn't one you can 'shuffle about'.

I've never said I don't see him as a £4m player, you've literally made that up. He's a good player at this level and will be constantly learning. It's only his first season so teething problems are to be expected, however at the point in time he's simply not better than Wright and I'm always a believer of playing your best players in their most comfortable roles.

Think you're arguing for arguments sake here. Simms did well when he came on and challenged and got in and amongst it. It was a game where he was far more suited.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Can't get that dominating header against Oxford out of my mind. He should be doing way more of that.

With the current team, I do think that our best team is has Rudoni, Wright, EMC and Simms playing. Whether that’s a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, I don’t know.

Specifically, given the volume of goals we score from headers, you want Simms in the box, Rudoni arriving late and Haji exploiting mismatches against full backs.

It’s harsh on Sakamoto but Rudoni is a better at assisting from the RW and EMC is a better player overall imo. I’m certain EMC could play RW but he hasn’t been tested there as much.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Not a huge amount considering he’s playing left wing. I like Weight out left, I like a driven low cross, I just think Lampard sees him differently. Even when Simms has come on Wright has tended to stay at CF.

He only played 19 last season on the LW.

 

[shmmeee]

He only played 19 last season on the LW.

That surprises me

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

With the current team, I do think that our best team is has Rudoni, Wright, EMC and Simms playing. Whether that’s a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, I don’t know.

Specifically, given the volume of goals we score from headers, you want Simms in the box, Rudoni arriving late and Haji exploiting mismatches against full backs.

It’s harsh on Sakamoto but Rudoni is a better at assisting from the RW and EMC is a better player overall imo. I’m certain EMC could play RW but he hasn’t been tested there as much.

I'm not certain on this at all. He's look very uncomfortable in the past when played there, even at Peterborough.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Sorry, have I missed something?

Wright has started 4 games up front, with 3 of those against some of the best defences in the league, and scored 3 goals. But apparently he’s not effective there?

Not as effective no

 

[shmmeee]

I think inverted wingers works anyway. Saka is mostly left footed.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

Watching the extended highlights back this morning, EMC does seem to have played quite a lot better than I thought when I watched the game last night.

I thought he was below par, although when he got the ball he often had 2/3 of their players on him

 

[TomRad85]

EMC has been tried centrally and on the right and hasn't looked comfortable at all. Even DMA at Peterborough has admitted on his podcast he can't play anywhere else other than on the left. Perhaps the thought was we could coach that into him one can only speculate. But regardless he isn't one you can 'shuffle about'.

I've never said I don't see him as a £4m player, you've literally made that up. He's a good player at this level and will be constantly learning. It's only his first season so teething problems are to be expected, however at the point in time he's simply not better than Wright and I'm always a believer of playing your best players in their most comfortable roles.

Think you're arguing for arguments sake here. Simms did well when he came on and challenged and got in and amongst it. It was a game where he was far more suited.

I'm arguing for arguments sake is hilarious, i just gave my response in a non-argumentative way and you can't even just settle back into discussion mode for the sake of forum harmony. You seem quick to anger.

What i have written is there for all to see, as is what you have written. We've both said what we think, people can read it and agree with what they want so lets just leave it. It's boring for everyone.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'm not certain on this at all. He's look very uncomfortable in the past when played there, even at Peterborough.

Haji could potentially play there, he’s good with both feet so could see some joy from him cutting onto his left foot before shooting like he did v Sunderland.

We almost definitely will sign a RW in the summer if EMC or Wright is not a viable option. I rate Sakamoto but he’s not quite going to be a league leading player in that position.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Was a big advocate for Wright as the 9 and EMC on the left wing but doesn’t seem to play to Wright’s strengths especially as we can play quite direct and go to the striker and have them hold it up. His best work against Sunderland was due to the space behind their line which Pompy didn’t give us

For all his faults, think Simms physically lends it self to this role and would personally look to playing wright back on the left for a low block and then EMC and Wright for space behind. Different tools for different Jobs and all that

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I thought he was below par, although when he got the ball he often had 2/3 of their players on him

I took my mate who was a neutral and he thought highly of EMC, some of his passes were a bit off but his dribbling was generally solid.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I'm arguing for arguments sake is hilarious, i just gave my response in a non-argumentative way and you can't even just settle back into discussion mode for the sake of forum harmony. You seem quick to anger.

What i have written is there for all to see, as is what you have written. We've both said what we think, people can read it and agree with what they want so lets just leave it. It's boring for everyone.

In what way am I quick to anger? None of the points you've made in that post actually make a whole lot of sense so clearly at this juncture you're disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.

 

[covcity4life]

One of the crosses emc did that looked like a waste and went out the other side of pitch was actually so dangerous when saw it on replay.

Him, wright or Patterson I'm happy with LW options.

 

[TomRad85]

In what way am I quick to anger? None of the points you've made in that post actually make a whole lot of sense so clearly at this juncture you're disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.

Jesus Christ mate, you might be the most frustrating individual on this forum.
I gave my opinions to your opinions, i wasn't arguing as i thought we were trying to get past that, i was telling you what i think. They make sense, i'm not sure it what way they don't. You're still trying this intellectually superior bit but its not really working.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Was a big advocate for Wright as the 9 and EMC on the left wing but doesn’t seem to play to Wright’s strengths especially as we can play quite direct and go to the striker and have them hold it up. His best work against Sunderland was due to the space behind their line which Pompy didn’t give us

For all his faults, think Simms physically lends it self to this role and would personally look to playing wright back on the left for a low block and then EMC and Wright for space behind. Different tools for different Jobs and all that

100%. In this stretch, we’ve got games v Hull, Plymouth and Luton so there will be a lot more games of a similar profile to last night. So having Simms in the box with Haji will be beneficial. I’m leaning to 4-4-2 atm because we’re a bit short on CMs with Eccles and Torp out injured.