Malbranque 7 tried hard
Keane 8 as always he was eager, determined and took goal well
:shrug::shrug::shrug:
:rofl::rofl::rofl:
:shrug::shrug::shrug:
:rofl::rofl::rofl:
Don`t understand why he took Steed off, when they went down to 10 men they just got everyone behind the ball, loads of room out wide where we could have got in behind them, i`d have kept him on.
I think JR had decided it was a wrap and just wanted to do a bit of experimenting, and also rest Keano and Malbranque, who were by some way our most effective players.
Let's not start questioning JR's decisions like some of us did Jol's. Instead, let's assume that they both have far more idea of what they're about than any of us.
We are hard to watch sometimes, even when it seems comfortable. Can't say I enjoyed the game imensely. Was very disapointed that Malbranque was subbed. I thought he provided two very rare moments of spunk in an otherwise sterile game.
Lennon would have been a far more obvious choice but I suppose he needed the pitch time more than malbranque. Ratings:
Robinson 6 - SFA to do but made one very good save. He is still slow to come off his line and collect balls that the defence kind of stand there waiting for him to come for. It creates unease.
Salty 6 - Considering the fella rarely plays his performance was adequate.
Dawson 6 - SFA to do yet still didn't look great. Would like to have seen Kaboul with Chimbonda.
Chimbonda 6.5 - Still suffering from bouts of casualfuckingitus. But in general I felt a little better knowing he was there than the young duo.
Lee 6.5 - Did OK
Lennon 6 - I have to say that young lennon is becoming a bit disapointing. Time to kick on. Time to start influencing games a little more. Perhaps to much hope is resting on his young shoulders, if we had Petrov or AN other quick creative perhaps it wouldn't be such an issue.
Jenas 6 - Another slightly muted performance.
Zokora 6.2 - extra .2 because he did actually drop a shoulder a couple of times and leave a player in his wake which is what you have to do when they have two walls in front of the ball. Apart from that was tidy without being exceptional.
Malbranque 8 - Created the best two moments of the game.
Berbatov 6.75 - He says he loves us. I'm just not feeling the love right now.
Keane 7 - his faggotyness still pisses me badly. For the first three years of his tim here I thought he was 5'6' because he never got near headers. Turns out he's 5'10' but just shit scared of putting his head near the ball in case it hurts. Or his foot near the opposition in case that hurts. If he had a bit of courage and a bit more spunk he'd be almost a real no.10. As usual though he scored just to maintain enigmatic status.
Bent 5 - contrived to miss open goal having done well to beat a shit keeper.
Boeteng 6 - Looking OK. Like to see him on Sunday for a proper looksie.
Defoe 6.5 - Livelyish.
Taking Malbranque off would have been a huge mistake if we were not 2 up.