Sideways Sammy

The club’s record signing and having scored double figures in the league each of his three season at Coventry City, it is hard to find a tangible argument that Haji Wright has not been a success at the club. Still, there remains an underlying sense that Wright could be doing a little more in a Coventry shirt – whether that’s in terms of goalscoring or all-round play – to prove his undoubted quality, that he isn’t quite that ruthless leading man the mantle of record signing and first-choice centre-forward would suggest, that he shouldn’t be as prone to upturns and downturns in form as he seems to be. For someone who should be rightly considered among Coventry City’s best players, Haji Wright still has something to prove to fully win over the fans.

Haji Wright is clearly someone who requires a level of maintenance in order to find his best form. Whether it was in being given a run in the team on the left wing after a rocky settling-in period at the club three years ago to, more recently, being back as, more or less, the first-choice centre-forward under Frank Lampard, where Wright has struggled most in his time at Coventry City has been when injuries or form have robbed him of a consistent place in the side. When on form, Wright can be a complete presence across the front line, hassling centre-backs, running in behind and composed in his finishing. When he’s off form, Wright can be less convincing, struggling in physical challenges or with his touch. Regardless of form, he has shown he is excellent in getting into scoring positions, which is why both Mark Robins and Frank Lampard have generally handed him the leeway to start as often as possible in order to get into form.

Why Coventry City fans remain a little cold on Haji Wright is because his poorer performances are so visible. The argument that a striker who is capable of getting on the end of chances even if they’re not playing well might be a positive quality is something lost on most when they see a striker missing chances. On top of that Haji Wright’s physical attributes engender this sense that he should relish throwing his body about, when he looks to be the kind of striker that prefers running in behind. When Haji Wright is good, he is unstoppable. When Haji Wright is bad, he is still a threat. He is someone who is constantly the centre of attention because of his excellent movements and physical presence. For all the quibbles about his somewhat non-aesthetically pleasing style of play, it is hard to argue that isn’t highly effective at what he does.