A Word On… The Attack (2025-26)

I’ve made a case for the defence, and I’ve looked at the men in the middle. You know what’s next.

Following the heartbreak of our play-off defeat to Sunderland, many a Coventry City fan had washed their hands of our forward line, myself included. In spite of that, Frank Lampard insisted on persisting with consistency in our squad, and we are now looking at three strikers who all got into double figures for the season.

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As the preferred option to lead the line, Wright has either delivered in spades or irritated spectators. A good start to the campaign was followed up with a three-month dry spell (albeit not helped by an injury picked up while away with the United States). This was followed by eight goals in his next ten games before a quiet end to the season.

At his best, there are few better in the division in terms of offering the complete package up top. Comfortable with either foot; pacey; tall; happy to run at defenders and has a knack of drawing fouls. When he is fully motivated, he is a monster. But therein lies the big issue with Haji Wright. There have been times this season where he just doesn’t appear to be the same player. Whether it is a matter of motivation or circumstance is less of a question when, following his pivotal hat-trick against Middlesbrough, Frank Lampard himself stated:

When you get him really feeling like this is a competitive game, he uses all his attributes and strength, he’s got great quality and we saw that tonight.

You would think by now that, three seasons in, our fanbase would be more forgiving of Haji Wright. However, he still continues to frustrate. Very much a player who plays to the occasion, perhaps going into more perceived big games next season against top opposition will be a key to unlocking Haji Wright’s true potential. If the going is tough for the team next season, will he face up or shy away?

Season Rating: B+
Premier League Squad Level: Starter

You would think by now that, three seasons in, our fanbase would be more forgiving of Ellis Simms. However, he still continues to frustrate. In a season where he has had to play mostly second-fiddle to Haji Wright, as opposed to playing alongside him, Simms has still come out with a respectable goal return. For a player who seems to thrive off of confidence and then given little opportunity to build it up, this makes it perhaps even more respectable.

While he has less in his locker than Wright, it feels as though should he refine his better qualities, or at least get the best out of them more often, then what he is good at could be better than his main striking rival. Less comfortable with the ball at his feet, and certainly outside of the attacking third, Simms comes alive inside the 18-yard box. Add to that his ability to score the occasional rocket, and you get the sense that if he had a proper run as the first-choice striker, we’d see Simms score a far greater number of goals in this side.

There are still things that hold him back; like Wright, there are some games that seem to pass him by, or where nothing really sticks to him. For a player who should be very good aerially, his jumping is often mistimed. He doesn’t have the same dribbling ability as Wright; preferring instead to try and knock the ball past the defender and hope he can outpace them. He has also missed a few good chances to score, but so has Wright.

It’s getting to the point where you feel that if the club has to move forward, then it has to decide between Haji Wright and Ellis Simms. Although they have different skillsets, their apparent mentalities make them feel like two sides of the same coin. One point to make on that however, is that it feels as though Wright prefers the comforts of playing at home, whereas Simms is better suited to the rough-and-readiness of playing away – Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, and Watford all some of his best performances this campaign and they were all on the road. Perhaps that alone might keep them both here for another year at least.

Season Rating: B
PL Squad Level: Rotation

Well done to Brandon Thomas-Asante for a marked improvement over his first season with the club. If you’re going to be a squad player, you’d best make an impression when you get your chances.

… he is a player who is probably better acting off of instinct, and would benefit from having less time on the ball in some cases. Perhaps this shows off his value as a player who would be better at the very end of moves

Perhaps I’m not the best analyst of footballers, but I feel justified in my assessment of Thomas-Asante last season. You know what they say about broken clocks. Looking at the goals he has scored, Thomas-Asante has been the true poacher of the side; forever smashing home loose balls at set-pieces, or getting telling finishes on the end of crosses. His movement and anticipation have been rewarded with a reversal of what could have been said about him last season; as not a great scorer of goals, but a scorer of great goals.

His versatility has been a boon to the side as well, having spent time covering either flank, as well as a stint in the side in a number ten role that on the surface didn’t suit his skillset, but ended up working as he effectively played as a second striker rather than an attacking midfielder. Conversely, it’s hard to really get a read on what his best position is. Regardless, it is a certainty that wherever he is stationed, Brandon Thomas-Asante will give a committed performance; being hard worker off the ball and a terrific presser.

Perhaps he doesn’t quite have the technical skill required for top-flight football, but he is capable of outstanding moments that defy this observation (his goal against Blackburn was very nearly my pick for Goal of the Season), and he’ll be happy to serve the club in the Premier League regardless of the way in which he is asked to do it. It would however be a surprise to see him continue the momentum he has garnered over the past campaign.

Season Rating: B+
PL Squad Level: Squad player

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Each player has transferable skills for the top-flight. Wright has his dynamism and finishing ability; Simms his power & physicality; Thomas-Asante his energy & work rate. If we could trade all three of these in for just one player with those attributes combined, we’d be very happy with our lot. As it is, there aren’t many Coventry City fans out there who’d feel comfortable if we went into next season with an unchanged attacking personnel. The likelihood is that at least one player will be allowed to leave to make room and funds for an established top-level attacker. Just who comes in, and who goes out, is a conundrum at this moment in time. Maybe they’ll survive until January? We’ll see.

I still miss Vik.