Match Ratings v City

[guy]

I just feel that, given that we have a superb left back in Ekotto, we are able to play Bale on the left wing, and given the fact that he is superb on the left wing, it makes up for the loss of Modric's perhaps enhanced creative freedom on that side because it gives it to Bale, while allowing Modric to effect the game more comprehensively by playing him in the middle.

YES YES AND YES. Couldn't agree more

 

[sim0n]

Gomes 7 - Not a great deal to do

Corluka 7 - Good defensively, linked up well with Lennon a couple of times
Dawson 8 - A rock, needs to decrease the amount of long 'passes' though
King 8 - Excellent
Ekotto 8.5 - Neither winger had anything on him, just confirms how underrated he is

Lennon 7 - Still getting back up to speed, put a few decent balls in
Hudd 8.5 - Very composed, great distribution. Not bad for someone who apparently can barely move eh.
Modric 8 - Showed that great footballers > Athletes. Excellent.
Bale 8 - Caused Richards all kinds of problems in the first half, great delivery most of the time, unlucky not to score. Should've scored at the end though.

Defoe 7 - Very unlucky not to score, great work rate
Crouch 6.5 - Standard performance from Crouch, held the ball well up at times, but just need a bit more from him.

--------------

Keane 6 - Not involved a great deal
Pav 6.5 - Injected some life into us when he came on
Gio 6 - Didn't really have much of a chance to impress

That looks like the game/players I watched -- small mention of the penalty that Bale seemed to earn.

Maybe Pav will start in Berne? I'm certain Leggers will not play on a plastic pitch - I'm sure Bassong will do well. Maybe Walker will get in there too?

 

[StartingPrice]

Re Modric, I think that even though he may be involved in a few more eye catching moments, and directly involved in more of our goals, when playing on the left, because obviously he has more freedom there, he has far more of an effect on the way our entire team plays when he's in the middle.

I can't remember Ardiles, but he is the player a lot of my elder peers seem to liken Modric too. Would anyone have ever stuck him out on the left? Further to that, the modern (and better version of as present) player who I liken to Modric is Xavi, and I'd never dream of sticking him out on the left.

I just feel that, given that we have a superb left back in Ekotto, we are able to play Bale on the left wing, and given the fact that he is superb on the left wing, it makes up for the loss of Modric's perhaps enhanced creative freedom on that side because it gives it to Bale, while allowing Modric to effect the game more comprehensively by playing him in the middle.

Also, a lot of what I base my Bale comments on regarding him against lower class man marker teams is from what I've seen of him in the side with the slower Bentley or Kranjcar on the other side. However, with Lennon or Giovani on the right, teams will find it harder to man mark Bale on the left because then they have Lennon on the right to worry about, and if they man mark on both wings, Huddlestone and Modric will have all the freedom in the world in the middle, even agaisnt a 3 man midfield.

You make some good points.
It is all about opinions.
My opinion is that the Spanish league is very, very different to the EPL, so I don't accept the analogy as being 100% valid.
Ideally, for me (especially if he could add more goals), Modric would be best in the centre of a 4-5-1, which would, I believe, combine the best of both our opinions (but, as we all know, we would need a special No.9 who can play that system, to do that).
And in the final analysis, for me, Bale/Modric is more offensive and more likely to provide the craft and goals we are gonna need to break down the majority of EPL teams, who are likely to try sitting deep, and either eeking out a draw, or sneak a win on the break. With the added benefit that the Sergeant can play against this team who are gonna be more combative.

 

[Michey]

Gomes - 7

Corlurka - 6.5
Dawson - 7
King - 7
BAE - 8.5

Lennon - 6.5
Huddlestone - 8
Modric - 7.5
Bale - 9

Defoe - 6 (please stop blasting everything you see and for once try to be clinical)
Crouch - 7

 

[steve]

A good performance, shame about the result as we deserved the 3 points.

City defended quite magnificently and the criticisms of our forwards seems somewhat unjustified and a kneejerk reaction to the fact we failed to score.
It was Bale who had the most glaring chance though and he fluffed his lines after a fine performance. His duel with Richards was very interesting and I thought Richards did better as the game progressed after struggling to contain Bale in the first half. But our forwards took their chances reasonably well I thought. I didn't really see what Defoe could've done that differently with his two chances, Hart's reaction and then spreading of his body were top drawer goalkeeping.

City's defending was superb at times, the covering on Pav and Keane for the two fantastic low crosses in the 2nd half was excellent and Hart was obviously MOTM.

Modric was generally magnificent and after a very good first half Huddlestone's performance noticeably deteriorated. I thought Lennon did ok against the quietly impressive (defensively at least) Kolarov and our back 4 were good against Tevez who as ever tried to force the game as much as possible.
BAE did play well and recovered to rob SWP, but he should never have stepped up in the first place (Mancini left SWP on for far too long and should've started with AJ IMO). Corluka was ok, although he worries me at times. How Mancini didn't have Bellamy down the left scaring the shit out of him I don't know. Bellamy was exactly the sort of player City needed yesterday and I think Corluka might have struggled against him at times. The benign Silva (who will get better) offered little attacking threat and it wasn't really until Johnson came on that they had a threat out wide.

I thought HR's subs were positive and well timed and gave us fresh impetus up front when we needed it. The only alternative I could realistically see was to bring Palacios on for the tiring Huddlestone but HR was probably right to go the way he did.

All in all it was generally a very positive performance against one of the strongest sides in the league and bodes well for the rest of the season. A marquee striker is what we all want but we're not realistically gonna get a Rooney or Torres. It will not be easy to improve on what we have IMO.

COYS!!!!

 

[Legend10]

Gomes - 7

Corlurka - 6.5
Dawson - 7
King - 7
BAE - 8.5

Lennon - 6.5
Huddlestone - 8
Modric - 7.5
Bale - 9

Defoe - 6 (please stop blasting everything you see and for once try to be clinical)
Crouch - 7

Can you provide 1 example of a blast?

Oh and Hudd was better than Modric in central midfield, that's a great gag!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Agree with a lot of what you say Steve, but as Ashley Young found out in our win at Villa park 08/09, Corluka isn't fazed by pace really, especially not with Lennon protecting him so well.

I agree that Ekotto made a mistake, but he made up for it superbly, and every player made an error at some point. One of City's best counters was off the back of a sloppy pass from the generally magnificent Modric, while, as you point out, Bale missed an absolute sitter. I don't think Ekotto can be put down too much for that. King also made a mistake in a dangerous area, just outside our area, losing the ball, before using his power and skill to regain it, it happens to anyone.

As for Silva, he'll play better than that if City realise that they've signed a central midfielder with a left foot, not a winger, and given that they play 3 in the middle anyway it shouldn't be an issue accomodating him. They just need to drop that lump Barry and make him second fiddle to Yaya. Obviously I hope that it's too late before City realise this.

 

[worcestersauce]

A good performance, shame about the result as we deserved the 3 points.

City defended quite magnificently and the criticisms of our forwards seems somewhat unjustified and a kneejerk reaction to the fact we failed to score.
It was Bale who had the most glaring chance though and he fluffed his lines after a fine performance. His duel with Richards was very interesting and I thought Richards did better as the game progressed after struggling to contain Bale in the first half. But our forwards took their chances reasonably well I thought. I didn't really see what Defoe could've done that differently with his two chances, Hart's reaction and then spreading of his body were top drawer goalkeeping.

City's defending was superb at times, the covering on Pav and Keane for the two fantastic low crosses in the 2nd half was excellent and Hart was obviously MOTM.

Modric was generally magnificent and after a very good first half Huddlestone's performance noticeably deteriorated. I thought Lennon did ok against the quietly impressive (defensively at least) Kolarov and our back 4 were good against Tevez who as ever tried to force the game as much as possible.
BAE did play well and recovered to rob SWP, but he should never have stepped up in the first place (Mancini left SWP on for far too long and should've started with AJ IMO). Corluka was ok, although he worries me at times. How Mancini didn't have Bellamy down the left scaring the shit out of him I don't know. Bellamy was exactly the sort of player City needed yesterday and I think Corluka might have struggled against him at times. The benign Silva (who will get better) offered little attacking threat and it wasn't really until Johnson came on that they had a threat out wide.

I thought HR's subs were positive and well timed and gave us fresh impetus up front when we needed it. The only alternative I could realistically see was to bring Palacios on for the tiring Huddlestone but HR was probably right to go the way he did.

All in all it was generally a very positive performance against one of the strongest sides in the league and bodes well for the rest of the season. A marquee striker is what we all want but we're not realistically gonna get a Rooney or Torres. It will not be easy to improve on what we have IMO.

COYS!!!!

Pukka post steve.:clap:

 

[StartingPrice]

I would also like to draw attention, if I may (haven't seen anyone else mention it, but I haven't read every single post), to THudds inch perfect pass to Defoe, to seet him up on the 'Keeper...it was positively Hoddle-esque (may have to invent a new adjective...Thuddle-esque :grin.

 

[Coyboy]

That'd be them.

God knows what happened to them; talked to him for a bit and he was pretty sound if a little annoying.

 

[mikeygold]

Modric is proof that players can learn to play in a league and therefore should not be dismised due to early results. He really controlled that midfield when he had energy and hs tackling was sensational.

 

[Coyboy]

I am not sure if I have seen us play such expansive and great football against such a good and defensively protected side before. In other games, we are three up at half time. There wasn't much to frown at viz. the first half performance. Huddlestone was terrific and BAE and Bale combined very well. I was disappointed that we didn't get the ball to Lennon in the same space and that he didn't do as well as Bale partly in consequence of that but he did set up Crouch for Defoe's first chance.

I kept screaming at our defenders, mostly BAE for closing down players but what he did very well yesterday was draw players in, then take the ball and come away with it. He did bust a gut to stop SWP in the second half. However, the intermittent pressing bothered me. Sometimes we were excellent and as I have said Modric's interceptions were top notch but we did sit back more and more as the game wore on. It's hard to keep up the intensity of the first half, but we didn't need to give City such time. When you press players, they make mistakes and lose possession.

The subs, predictably did this well and I thought they were a tad late but that is what I see as Redknapp flaw, as it could be with Jol, and more reflects that he usually sets teams up well and keeps faith with them. I would always have brought on Pav but not Keane. He still seems sub par. I too would have brought on Gio and he was good but I couldn't help thinking when he picked up the ball in their half that Lennon would have been more direct and ultimately more effective in possession. But Gio is different and looked good in his own right.

I would love to have seen Kranjcar, not sure where he was. I wouldn't have brought off Crouchy, I thought he did very well.

A disappointing result and second half performance, but a terrific first half against a great keeper in the making.

You cannot legislate for Hart's saves and more in the second half, City's brinkmanship defending so I wouldn't have changed much going forward but improve the fucking pressing!

 

[simyid]

surely yesterdays perforemence proved there is no need to buy a player like parker when we have hudd, luka, wilson and sandro

 

[Bingy]

I voted for Bale....although there were several top class performances from Spurs....That said we need to get shut of the English attack that we are 'lumbered' with....Both Crouch and Defoe bring their WC 2010 form to our squad and it is just not good enough (for a proper team?). The 'keep it English' Brigade will disagree but.....what is new (1966 is a bit 'dated' now (at long last)?). To take advantage of our reasonable 1 point start we need to copy what the other top teams are doing...and load the team with quality foreign players (as cheap as possible?) with 1 or 2 English players IF they are good enough to start?
Stoke are waiting....and we MUST take all points....otherwise we are facing, yet, another nervous 2010/11? I have faith in the Good Lord.....but does he have faith in US haha? COYS!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I am not sure if I have seen us play such expansive and great football against such a good and defensively protected side before. In other games, we are three up at half time. There wasn't much to frown at viz. the first half performance. Huddlestone was terrific and BAE and Bale combined very well. I was disappointed that we didn't get the ball to Lennon in the same space and that he didn't do as well as Bale partly in consequence of that but he did set up Crouch for Defoe's first chance.

I kept screaming at our defenders, mostly BAE for closing down players but what he did very well yesterday was draw players in, then take the ball and come away with it. He did bust a gut to stop SWP in the second half. However, the intermittent pressing bothered me. Sometimes we were excellent and as I have said Modric's interceptions were top notch but we did sit back more and more as the game wore on. It's hard to keep up the intensity of the first half, but we didn't need to give City such time. When you press players, they make mistakes and lose possession.

The subs, predictably did this well and I thought they were a tad late but that is what I see as Redknapp flaw, as it could be with Jol, and more reflects that he usually sets teams up well and keeps faith with them. I would always have brought on Pav but not Keane. He still seems sub par. I too would have brought on Gio and he was good but I couldn't help thinking when he picked up the ball in their half that Lennon would have been more direct and ultimately more effective in possession. But Gio is different and looked good in his own right.

I would love to have seen Kranjcar, not sure where he was. I wouldn't have brought off Crouchy, I thought he did very well.

A disappointing result and second half performance, but a terrific first half against a great keeper in the making.

You cannot legislate for Hart's saves and more in the second half, City's brinkmanship defending so I wouldn't have changed much going forward but improve the fucking pressing!

Pretty much echo's my feelings exactly. I would say on Crouch though is that, though the work rate was there and he had a good first half, he suffered from how deep our midfield went in the second half and seemed to go off the boil as a result when he did see the ball, so I was fine with him coming off with Defoe. However, what I would have done is bring on Pav and put Giovani as a second forward, especially as Zabaleta had recently been booked and would have had trouble coping with an improving Lennon in my opinion.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Pretty much echo's my feelings exactly. I would say on Crouch though is that, though the work rate was there and he had a good first half, he suffered from how deep our midfield went in the second half and seemed to go off the boil as a result when he did see the ball, so I was fine with him coming off with Defoe. However, what I would have done is bring on Pav and put Giovani as a second forward, especially as Zabaleta had recently been booked and would have had trouble coping with an improving Lennon in my opinion.

Good thinking.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

By the way (MODS), can we have a separate section for ratings threads. It would be really useful to be able to look back throughout the season and reference them - we could even use them at the end of the season to pick a player of the season etc.

They also provide a unique perspective and individual record of every single game we play.

 

[Michey]

By the way (MODS), can we have a separate section for ratings threads. It would be really useful to be able to look back throughout the season and reference them - we could even use them at the end of the season to pick a player of the season etc.

They also provide a unique perspective and individual record of every single game we play.

Good idea :up:

 

[Ron Burgundy]

An interesting game, and hard to sum up. I said yesterday in a thread about Man City that they are better than us at either end but the only area we remain superior is the creativity that comes from midfield, and I think ultimately this game bore that out.

I'm not sure our defence would have coped with what their defence did in that first 45 minutes. Ours did well at Eastlands but it was never under the same pressure that we exerted here for 45 mins and they don't have players as good at causing problems as Modric, Lennon, Bale, GDS, Hudd (for 45 mins), GDS, Crouch. Sure they have Tevez the wonder horse, and Silva will settle but when our attack is flowing it is something to behold - and for 45 minutes it flowed beautifully.

Modric was just about MOTM for me. He was everywhere and saw 30% more of the ball than Huddlestone, whose deterioration in the second half (how often have we said that) was a major contributory factor in our shrunken second half performance. I thought Huddlestone was excellent in the first half, but as good as he was in the first he was as bad in the second. Modric by contrast seemed to just keep going like a little dynamo - what amazes me is the defensive work he gets through as well. Trouble is, it's pointless owning a porsche and just using to do the shopping. If Huddlestone is to play then we must play 451/433 or 442 with Palacios or Jenas running around like nutters so Modric can do a bit more playing.

Anyone wants to compare Modric/Hudd here's a link. Just compare the locations and quantity of pitch/passes that Modric makes compared to Hudd. It's amazing considering Modric Modric played 90 mins for Croatia on wednesday as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chalkboards/create


Once we lost control of the middle - which we did in the second half - the game ebbed into a still reasonably entertaining stalemate with our subsequent chances coming on the break and City not any where near clever or quick enough to cause us much heartache.
I still find it hard to enjoy football once we relinquish the ball for such long periods like we did in the second half.

The Lennon/GDS debate is much harder to call. Lennon was back to his fizzy best. End product and choice of option were, as ever, a bit hit and miss at times but he was fucking lively and causing problems. GDS also played well when he came on - involved the whole time, He doesn't scare LB's in the same way Lennon does, but his choices in possession are less erratic and where Lennon is about pace GDS is more about interplay. Good to have both, and it's going to be a real ding dong between these two this season (I hope).

Ratings:

Gomes 6 - Can't remember what we agreed the default - SFA to do mark was 6 or 7 ?

Corluka 6.5 - Intelligent footballer - but lacks urgency. Did OK today, no more no less.

Dawson 6.5 - Did the usual robust CB things that he does, but made a terrible mistake first half in front of goal (I think it was Dawson - I haven't seen a replay) and has got to stop hoofing the ball to the opposition under no pressure.

King 7 - He'll have tougher days.

Ekotto 7.3 - A very good performance marred by the inevitable - and almost fatal - fuck up. Still allows people to cross to easily for my liking as well. But otherwise was very involved and played a very active part in the game.

Lennon 7.5 - Very lively, best game since injury.

Huddlestone 6.5 - First half he was good. Second half he was conspicuous by his absence. He's clumsy at times in the challenge too. I don't think I have ever seen him play really well for 90 minutes in his whole career with us. Play him in a 5 or don't play him, because Modric is proving to be better as a CM regardless who's next to him.

Modric 8 - Intelligence combined with industry. Football nirvana.

Bale 7.5 - Really good performance.

Crouch 6.8 - Crouch worked hard but I though Toure and Kompany played him really well today.

Defoe 6 - A typical Defoe performance really. Had the odd moment, worked reasonably well at closing down but I really think we need to improve this area of the team.

Keane 4 - Came on, faffed around, wasted a good ball by turning back into the defender and did nothing much after that. Was lazy at closing down a couple of times as well.

Pavlyuchenko 6 - For me he should be ahead of Defoe in the pecking order. Not by much mind.

GDS 6.5 - Really lively and constantly looked for the ball.

That chalk board's wrong

Where's Hudd's pass to Defoe when JD should have scored? Hudd also scored an awesome volley. I'm happy that the Hudd and Modric can play in CM together - not always, but in plenty of instances.

 

[ravo]

Gomes 6 - Nothing to do.

Corluka 7 - Kept their running wingers at bay.

Dawson 8 - Looked after Tevez well.

King 8 - Usual class.

BAE 7 - He's been getting massive reps, which I agree with, however, defensively he did let SWP get behind him a couple of times. They could've scored from one of them. Then what would everyone have said?

Lennon 6.5 - Still not back to his usual self, would like to have seen him run at the FB more often, as he was on a yellow.

Modric 8.5 - ran the game, very good.

Hudd 7 - OK, passing wasn't up to its usual standard. First game of the season though.

Bale 8 - Looked really dangerous again. Let's hope he can keep his fitness up this season.

Defoe 7 - Worked really hard and deserved a goal.

Crouch 6.5 - Also worked hard and had the ball played into his feet, which was nice for a change. Wasn't anywhere near as good as he can be. To be fair Toure had a stormer (as did Kompany).

Pav 6 - I reckon he should have taken a touch before hitting that first-time shot at goal towards the end.

Gio 7 - Looked dangerous when he came on. Liked his commitment and willingness to win the ball back. Hopefully will provide competition for Lennon.

Keane 6 - Again worked hard, but never really got going.