How good is Sakamoto? (2 Viewers)

[shmmeee]

So because that’s what Peterborough fans said, it must be try and always will be. I’m sure if you asked Barnet fans the same question, they’d say he was a fine RW.

It’s true that he played his best football playing LW for Peterborough. Different club, different manager and different tactical role for the player.

Bearing in mind Haji and Simms were starting to hit form in the new year period of 2023, do you seriously think we were willing to sign a winger for £5m to sit them on the bench behind Haji Wright? There was always going to be a plan to get Haji, Simms and EMC in the same team.

Unless we play 4-4-2, Haji or EMC will end up playing RW.

Nah Wright down the middle, neither Simms nor BTA seem to have convinced Lampard.

 

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[CovValleyBoy]

Can't figure him out

One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats

The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic

Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc

Can only assume it's on instruction

Didn't Milans run at pace lead to the corner that led to the 3pts

 

[Great_Expectations]

There’s also the fact he’s not had a sustained run in his favoured RW position with MVE behind him.

If we switch back to a 4 soon he’s a guaranteed starter in that role, especially as he has no real competition.

I would like to sign a pacey RW for next year but would definitely keep Sakamoto for competition and something different. He’s not especially quick but he is skilful and tricky, which is different to our other wingers.

We’ll need both skillsets next year.

 

[JSL]

He looked lost last night. He was supposed to be alongside Simms but spent most of the night being outpaced chasing back after he had lost the ball. I am pretty sure he only started as Frank had a plan to go 433 by bringing EMC on at some point and already had him on as RW on the pitch with a formation tweek

 

[fernandopartridge]

I think he's ok but certainly not irreplaceable, doesn't impact games enough

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[Nick]

He looked lost last night. He was supposed to be alongside Simms but spent most of the night being outpaced chasing back after he had lost the ball. I am pretty sure he only started as Frank had a plan to go 433 by bringing EMC on at some point and already had a RW on the pitch with a formation tweek

Ay? He wasn't playing up front?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Nah Wright down the middle, neither Simms nor BTA seem to have convinced Lampard.

We’ll wait and see but Simms has done well in recent games offers something different to what we have.

I could see Wright and EMC getting in each other’s way a bit because they both like to cut in onto their right foot.

Again, Sakamoto’s performances just don’t warrant him being an automatic starter. I’d rather start a 4-4-2 and put Rudoni RM that a front 3 of Sakamoto, Wright and EMC.

 

[CCFCAnalysis]

Sakamoto is so important for us.

Totally different type of wide player to what we have.

Haji, EMC are physical speedy box crashers.

To balance that, you need something different on the other side. He’s two footed and technical. Come into his own when teams employ a low block against us.

I think you’ll see him and Rudi play out on the right in a 4-2-3-1

Rudi and Torp rotate in the 10.

EMC and Haji on the left.

Simms, Haji and BTA through the middle

There will always be injuries and suspensions, so Paterson would help too.


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[JSL]

Ay? He wasn't playing up front?

Exactly. The team selection.looked 532 with him up front but Simms was on his own

 

[SBT]

Shame in a way that he got injured last season as I had floated the idea between friends that he could have been someone to flip quickly. Not sure he’ll get back to the outputs of last season.

If he’d left after last season then he would have been such a legendary signing. He was brilliant, and still is on occasion, but he was definitely playing miles better than he actually is. I’ll always love watching him.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Sakamoto is so important for us.

Totally different type of wide player to what we have.

Haji, EMC are physical speedy box crashers.

To balance that, you need something different on the other side. He’s two footed and technical. Come into his own when teams employ a low block against us.

I think you’ll see him and Rudi play out on the right in a 4-2-3-1

Rudi and Torp rotate in the 10.

EMC and Haji on the left.

Simms, Haji and BTA through the middle

There will always be injuries and suspensions, so Paterson would help too.


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Just out of curiosity, why do you think we wanted to sign Matondo in the transfer window just gone? Lampard wants 2 speedy box crashers as you put them. In fact, it’s a job that Sakamoto has been asked to do.

My view is that a lot of people’s perceptions of Sakamoto haven’t really moved past his purple patch over Dec-Feb last season.

He’s a good player, just not starting calibre player when you have stand outs in Wright, EMC, Rudoni and Simms.

 

[shmmeee]

Just out of curiosity, why do you think we wanted to sign Matondo in the transfer window just gone? Lampard wants 2 speedy box crashers as you put them. In fact, it’s a job that Sakamoto has been asked to do.

My view is that a lot of people’s perceptions of Sakamoto haven’t really moved past his purple patch over Dec-Feb last season.

He’s a good player, just not starting calibre player when you have stand outs in Wright, EMC, Rudoni and Simms.

I think he’s ahead of all of them for RW. Maybe Rudoni but I don’t think he’d be half as effective there, he likes getting to the byline and crossing with his left, he’s nowhere near as effective when he finds himself wide right.

 

[Nick]

Exactly. The team selection.looked 532 with him up front but Simms was on his own

We clearly weren't playing 5 3 2.

Maybe you can have an issue that he wasn't in goal enough?

 

[shmmeee]

Exactly. The team selection.looked 532 with him up front but Simms was on his own

It was clearly 541?

 

[JSL]

It was clearly 541?

That's what I just said

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I think he’s ahead of all of them for RW. Maybe Rudoni but I don’t think he’d be half as effective there, he likes getting to the byline and crossing with his left, he’s nowhere near as effective when he finds himself wide right.

You wouldn’t know for sure because Haji and EMC have barely had a game there.

I’m pretty sure Rudoni has more assists crossing from the right wing (open play) than Sakamoto. The last example being Watford at home.

Players roles change all the time, look at Jamie Allen, he had rarely been asked to play DM under Robins and was more of a AM yet prospered there in the last few games.

To use an example, perhaps we play an attacking shape with a front four of:

RW - Wright
AM - Rudoni
LW - EMC
ST - Simms

Since it's common for teams to defend in a 4-4-2 and that shape could easily be shifted around so Rudoni defends at RW with Wright and Simms at ST. In fact, thinking out loud, that front 4 give us a really fluid setup because Rudoni, EMC and Wright can operate in each of those positions. Again, this idea of ‘positionless’ football is one of those vogue ideas right now.

 

[CCFCAnalysis]

I think he’s ahead of all of them for RW. Maybe Rudoni but I don’t think he’d be half as effective there, he likes getting to the byline and crossing with his left, he’s nowhere near as effective when he finds himself wide right.

If you look at Rudoni’s assists. If you exclude the set pieces, the remainder are when he’s on the right-hand side cutting back on his left to pass/cross


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[CCFCAnalysis]

Just out of curiosity, why do you think we wanted to sign Matondo in the transfer window just gone? Lampard wants 2 speedy box crashers as you put them. In fact, it’s a job that Sakamoto has been asked to do.

My view is that a lot of people’s perceptions of Sakamoto haven’t really moved past his purple patch over Dec-Feb last season.

He’s a good player, just not starting calibre player when you have stand outs in Wright, EMC, Rudoni and Simms.

Was to do with BTA moving on, which was getting likely at one point. So would have been a wide option to allow Haji to play up-top


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[Deity]

Can't figure him out

One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats

The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic

Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc

Can only assume it's on instruction

We were not playing 5 at the back when Tats and Milan were at their best.

 

[Boicey]

Saka is a valuable addition to our squad. Offers something different, can beat a player, put a good ball in, assist and score as well as having a great work rate and is a plus to team spirit.

Not a world beater, prone to giving a ball away in a bad position but absolutely a good squad player and option for us.

 

[blunted]

Been a bit disappointed with him this year. However, he has not really had a run of games and MVE has been below par too. Last season they were brilliant together. His injuries haven't helped.

 

[shmmeee]

If you look at Rudoni’s assists. If you exclude the set pieces, the remainder are when he’s on the right-hand side cutting back on his left to pass/cross


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To be fair he’s only made three non corner assists (I’m not counting the one against Plymouth where he challenged for the ball in the middle and it fell to Eccles) and they are from the right. Only one cutting back in on the corner of the area, one through pass from the right side of the D, and one cross with his right from the byline.

Genuinely surprised he hasn’t had one crossing from the left.

 

[ms639]

This is his level and peak I think


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[stupot07]

To be fair he’s only made three non corner assists (I’m not counting the one against Plymouth where he challenged for the ball in the middle and it fell to Eccles) and they are from the right. Only one cutting back in on the corner of the area, one through pass from the right side of the D, and one cross with his right from the byline.

Genuinely surprised he hasn’t had one crossing from the left.

So when you take away corners and compare open play goal contributios, he has assisted and scored the exact same number as Sakamoto in 2648 minutes or championship football as Sakamoto has in 1505 minutes?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Was to do with BTA moving on, which was getting likely at one point. So would have been a wide option to allow Haji to play up-top


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Even if that’s the case, is he starting ahead of Sakamoto or EMC? After all, your first line was ‘Sakamoto is so important for us’.

Personally, I don’t think BTA was ever going to leave in January without a sufficient striker option coming in.

The way Lampard has is set up, he wants direct and pacy wingers in the team.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

So when you take away corners and compare open play goal contributios, he has assisted and scored the exact same number as Sakamoto in 2648 minutes or championship football as Sakamoto has in 1505 minutes?

The statistics have Rudoni as outperforming Sakamoto too. Repeating the narrative that Sakamoto is our best RW doesn’t make it true unfortunately.

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[SkyBlue_Adam]

Can't figure him out

One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats

The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic

Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc

Can only assume it's on instruction

I think O’Hare was a massive part of their link up too..

 

[stupot07]

The statistics have Rudoni as outperforming Sakamoto too. Repeating the narrative that Sakamoto is our best RW doesn’t make it true unfortunately.

Jack Rudoni Scouting Report for Last 365 Days Men's Next 14 Competitions | FBref.com

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They play in different positions. Plus Sakamoto is the only right winger in the squad.

 

[shmmeee]

Anyway. Lampard has changed the formation from one that was working just to fit him in. I think he’ll be fine.

 

[AOM]

His form has definitely dipped since the injury so it could be a confidence issue, and he also only really fits in the team if we're playing 4 at the back (similar to Mason-Clark).

Thought he was pretty ineffective first half yesterday and I was surprised he wasn't subbed, but looked a lot better in the last 30 or so minutes. Some of his passing over the top was impressive

 

[Offhegoes]

Thought he was one of our better players on Tuesday, some of his trickery in tight situations was a delight. He whipped in 2 fantastic crosses as well. He's had a tough season, what with getting back to full fitness and then getting that stud in his knee, and then the change of formation which meant he was benched. Can't understand some of the thoughts on here...He's a little diamond.
A midfield 3 of Sheaf, Grimes & Rudoni and a front 3 of Saka, EMC & Wright will tear this league up. Hopefuly in a couple of weeks we'll see that.

 

[SkyBlueSteve81]

Can't figure him out

One thing that has frustrated me all season however is last year we had the best right hand side in the league with Milan and Tats

The overlaps, the threading of passes between each other, the incisive movement, leaving players on there arse 2 or 3 times a game, they were almost telepathic

Now? Well I think we've all seen, both have been nowhere near last years levels, ponderous, slow, sideways and backwards etc

Can only assume it's on instruction

I think O'hare also had something to do with the improved form of Sakamoto and Milan last season. When he drifted over towards the right they created triangles with lots of movement.

 

[rexo87]

Will be best in a 4-3-3. Not sure what people expect from him in a really tight game with no space like the other night, especially when MVE is having a quiet game. Also don’t forget his fantastic ball to EMC, if he scores that everyone’s raving about the pass.

 

[jto123]

The only thing I take away from this thread is clearly there is some split opinion across the fan base too haha. Not just me then!