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Match Ratings Ratings vs West Ham

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Well, someone had to.....


Forget the first half stroll, even the end of the game, the only bit that mattered was that 15-20 mins spell where the game completely turned around. When the opposition had their tails up, the heat was on, we were under pressure and on the back foot, what did we learn….. That the likes of Sissoko, Son, and Alli, for all their improvement of recent weeks, just don’t have the ability to get a grip of a game and control – keep the ball instead of the flicks, take the sting out of the game and play possession ball under pressure. We got example #47897892789 that when we’re under the cosh; Dier (central midfield version) is nowhere to be found, quelle surprise. That’s not to say the defence was blameless, but in the centre of the park was where we needed something the most at that stage, and it didn’t happen.

Then we have to mention Poch, because he deserves stick for that fuck-up too. Firstly, let’s talk defending set pieces. Apart from our general susceptibility at them, I’d love to be able to ask him why he doesn’t think opposition players standing on the edge of the box need marking. Maybe if one of the journalists are reading this and want to go off-script they could ask him for me….. This ‘tactic’ has already cost us in a big game, go back and watch the 3rd goal in the FA Cup semi final last year, and tonight it allowed them that path back into the game. So soft, so avoidable, and really no excuse.

We also got confirmation in the second half that he indeed doesn’t give a shit about this competition. No changes in that chaotic spell when we need to find some control from somewhere, and then at 3-2 down takes off all our attackers – including our main aerial presence and target man when it is obvious we are going to be camped around their area for the remainder of the game. Then, in those latter minutes, the classic ‘lets hoof the ball into the box for no-one’ when you have Dier + two centre backs stood back who you could tell to go stand up front and at least have someone to aim at…. But no.

It doesn’t matter if this was the 4th rate competition or the biggest of games, you praise the team/manager when you think they do well, and criticise when you feel they don’t. And tonight, League Cup or not (and it’s not as if the trophy cabinet is well stocked…), turned into an embarrassment. If we’re aspiring for the very top we have to stamp out these aberrations. It deserves criticism.

Vorm – Couldn’t really be faulted for any of the goals.

Foyth – Mostly did well and looked calm and composed, a bit less easy for him second half. His one real error was punished for the second goal unfortunately.

Alderweireld – First half was his best of the season, then started creaking a bit in the second.

Davies – Ok first half. Meh second.

Trippier – Meh.

Dier – You’re a centre back.

Rose – A few good moments, most of the time looked rusty.

Sissoko – First half was fairly decent, and had the perfect ‘bulldozer’ opportunity to finish off a nice move for the opening goal. Second half showed that controlling a midfield is beyond him…

Alli – That central midfield maturity is still a work in progress…..

Son – Lively first half, guilty of carelessness with the ball in that crucial second half spell.

Llorente – Some classy touches and was a big part of the opening goal, but I would like to see him play with a touch more intensity and aggression… I don’t remember him being so languid at Bilbao for instance(?).

Subs:
Dembele – Dembele-d around for a few mins, should probably have been on earlier.
Eriksen – Should have been on 20 minutes earlier.
Nkoudou – Just why.
 

NickHSpurs

Well-Known Member
Mar 14, 2004
13,626
11,875
The likes of Trippier, Sissoko, Son and Llorente should be absolutely busting a gut to impress in games like this to give Poch a selection headache for the league. Instead they all proved why they’re used for rotation.
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
Vorm 5
Foyth 6.5
Toby 3
Davies 5
Trippier 5
Rose 6
Dier 5
Alli 5
Sissoko 6
Son 4
Llorente 5

Nkoudou 2
 

trevo

(ex?)EU Member
Oct 23, 2007
3,025
3,439
I thought that GKN looked great when he came on but then he sort of disappeared
 

allpaths

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2014
3,174
8,381
This really hurt not because it was West Ham but because we were up 2 nil cruzing and in desperate need to break our barren cup drought.
But a good win at the weekend will do more than enough for me to forget about tonight.

Anyway to the ratings:

Vorm-5 He has a very tough job having to perform little game time, but for me he was really poor for the first and that's what gave West Ham the confidence to get back into the game.

Foyth-6.5 Was going to give him a much higher rating until conceding the 2nd goal. Still a very accomplished performance think we have one hell of a player on our hands.

Toby-6 Beautiful first half, disappointing 2nd. Felt like he needed to settle the side down a bit and show some leadership. Still class.

Davies- 7.5 Defenatly the best of our defenders, was unlucky to play Ayew onside for the 1st goal. Other than that I thought he was spectacular, great on the ball, especially leading up to the sissoko goal and some very brave confident moments of defending. Also that nutmeg to win the freekick on the edge of West ham's box was nasty.

Trippier- 5.5 Good first half, horror show second half. He's such odd player with such a strange set of abilities that he can equally be such a wonderful asset, especially with his crossing and eye for a pass, while being a liability with his mediocre ability to link play and keep position.

Rose-6 Showed that he's a player full of ability, but was rusty. Personally I've forgiven him, though I won't be looking back on him as fondly as I would have.

Dier-4 Extremely poor Lanzini (he'd look great in Lillywhite) ran circles around him. Needs to realise he's a defender not a midfielder.

Alli-7.5 Classy, combatative, high energy, just doesnt have the ability to slow play down and dictate posession, which hurt us when we had Dier and Sissoko in midfield alongside him.

Sissoko- 7 good goal, played some very good stuff at times. Just doesnt think the game well at all, and is techincally not at an acceptable level.

Son(MOTM)- 9 hasnt met a backline yet that can handle his movement. The runs that he make are so strong dragging defenders all over. Link up play was a sloppy at times, but was mostly good and in general probing.

Llorente-7 very good focal point playing really good quick one touch football. Just wish he was a tad bit more mobile.

Demebele- 6.5 Great to see him looking very dembele like on the ball, just not a the type of player you need when chasing a game.

Eriksen- Not enough time

GKN- Really wished it would work for him, just doesnt look he has the required quality. Bit of a joke that he's played ahead of the likes of Edwards.
 

allpaths

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2014
3,174
8,381
The likes of Trippier, Sissoko, Son and Llorente should be absolutely busting a gut to impress in games like this to give Poch a selection headache for the league. Instead they all proved why they’re used for rotation.
agree with Tripps and Sissoko, but I thought Son was class, two assits and provided good movement while running his nuts off.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
The biggest problem was the three stooges we had in the CM3, which at no time did you feel had any firm control of that game, we even got to 2-0 up almost accidentally, we weren't playing great football, we were just playing less shit football than West Ham, the twenty minutes after half time just reversed that, they didn't play great or have any control, they were just a bit less shit than we were.

Dier may as well have not come out for the second half. Laborious with the ball and ineffective without it. And It was just a mater of time before one of Alli or Son's careless fuckery bit us on the arse, which it did when Son's carelessness resulted in the equaliser.

There seems to be a section of fans that are so desperate for the club not to be recorded as making the stupidest transfer purchase ever that they will praise Sissoko just for having his shorts on the right way round. His run and finish was decent, everything else he did was just making ordinary stuff look like an achievement.

What I really don't get is that if Poch doesn't give a shit about this competition, and I wouldn't be apoplectic with rage if he didn't, why not at least use it to get players like KWP some game time on his clock and Edwards some bench time. Achieve something useful. As it is, with a massive game away at the weekend, we've just risked injury and added to the work load of one first choice RB and both of our first choice LB's.


Individual

Vorm - OK

Trippier - OK/meh

Foyth - upon us.

TA - meh/poor

Davies - OK

Rose - Meh

Dier - was, very

Sissoko - makes football look like hard work.

Alli - He does/did some decent things, but also does/did some really stupid things. Like trying to dribble fast on the counter attack. He's not very good at that but keeps trying to do it and just coughing up good counters by dribbling into defenders instead of releasing.

Son - A game of two halves. The good half last for the first 5 minutes, the bad half lasted for the net 80.

Llorente - He's like Berbatov, but not as clever or as fast.
 
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Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
I think Poch is sitting, relaxing with feet up having a nice glass of Prodigo Malbec Reserva and thinking...feck that was close. Must send Ayew an Xmas card.
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
Well, someone had to.....





Vorm – Couldn’t really be faulted for any of the goals.

Foyth – Mostly did well and looked calm and composed, a bit less easy for him second half. His one real error was punished for the second goal unfortunately.

Alderweireld – First half was his best of the season, then started creaking a bit in the second.

Davies – Ok first half. Meh second.

Trippier – Meh.

Dier – You’re a centre back.

Rose – A few good moments, most of the time looked rusty.

Sissoko – First half was fairly decent, and had the perfect ‘bulldozer’ opportunity to finish off a nice move for the opening goal. Second half showed that controlling a midfield is beyond him…

Alli – That central midfield maturity is still a work in progress…..

Son – Lively first half, guilty of carelessness with the ball in that crucial second half spell.

Llorente – Some classy touches and was a big part of the opening goal, but I would like to see him play with a touch more intensity and aggression… I don’t remember him being so languid at Bilbao for instance(?).

Subs:
Dembele – Dembele-d around for a few mins, should probably have been on earlier.
Eriksen – Should have been on 20 minutes earlier.
Nkoudou – Just why.


Could have sworn one bounced out of his hands and a WH player scored..

Never mind....
 

sammyj

Well-Known Member
Nov 23, 2013
1,693
4,559
Vorm dreadful goalkeeping for the first and maybe a kick up the arse for the rest of them
Coys
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,336
329,025
There seems to be a section of fans that are so desperate for the club not to be recored as making the stupidest transfer purchase ever that they will praise Sissoko just for having his shorts on the right way round. His run and finish was decent, everything else he did was just making ordinary stuff look like an achievement.

There also seems a section(mostly you) that might as well write up their assessment of Sissoko pre-match and just post it as your post match analysis. He was better than all the others imo last night, and I'm not saying he was great or anything because he didn't need to be to be our best player in that display. You did this exact same thing with Walker until he left for a world record fee for a full back. Should he be starting when everyone is available? No, but has he of late been playing anywhere near as badly as you make out? No where near.
 

OPModric

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2010
1,100
2,448
Wanyama and Winks instead of Alli and Dier and that will never happen.

We need more intelligent players.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
There also seems a section(mostly you) that might as well write up their assessment of Sissoko pre-match and just post it as your post match analysis. He was better than all the others imo last night, and I'm not saying he was great or anything because he didn't need to be to be our best player in that display. You did this exact same thing with Walker until he left for a world record fee for a full back. Should he be starting when everyone is available? No, but has he of late been playing anywhere near as badly as you make out? No where near.

Sissoko is possibly the one I'm not dissapointed with. He's not supposed to be a midfield maestro, he does what he is told to. A few others are trying to be too clever...
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,389
Thought Sissoko did pretty well. Scored a good goal and covered a lot of ground. Alli looked like he couldn't be arsed and was (predictably) more interested in taking the piss with tricks and flicks. He butchered a couple of very good chances by refusing to pass. Foyth looked good apart from being caught napping for their second. If we'd got out of second gear we could have killed it off by half time. Vorm getting criticised for the first goal is harsh - he did well to stop the first effort and the WH players were lucky to be played onside.
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
Alli has to be the worst player you could ever have receive the ball on the counter.

Absolutely will not pass, just slowly bumbles the ball forwards with it right under his feet, until a defender finally stands him up and takes the ball right off his foot, because Dele doesn't even actually move to either side - just carries on in a straight line refusing to pass until he falls over.

He's like the anti-Bale.
 

Wheeler Dealer

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
6,863
12,282
Alli has to be the worst player you could ever have receive the ball on the counter.

Absolutely will not pass, just slowly bumbles the ball forwards with it right under his feet, until a defender finally stands him up and takes the ball right off his foot, because Dele doesn't even actually move to either side - just carries on in a straight line refusing to pass until he falls over.

He's like the anti-Bale.
I didn't realise that he had no change of pace, which becomes more obvious when he's playing deeper and he has the opportunity for bursting runs forward.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Could have sworn one bounced out of his hands and a WH player scored..

Never mind....

Don't agree with that, he made a smart stop and was unlucky in who it fell to.

As I said, I'm much less impressed that Poch doesn't think his teams should bother marking someone on the edge of the box waiting for the second ball. That's how you stop that goal being scored.
 
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