Match Ratings -VS- Portsmouth

[General Levy]

Robinson 5.5 - Terrible major mistake again on 74 minutes whilst still 0-0. Easy save from Davis' chip.

Hutton 7.5 - Played really well. Some mis-stray passes in the first half but overall very good.

Woodgate 7.5 - Again absolutely 1st class.

Dawson 7 - Played well unlucky not to score.

Chimbonda 7 - Was great in the first half, unlucky not to score. Not as good in the 2nd, but still played well.

Lennon 5.5 - Very disappointing today. Some good runs, but his crossing was atrocious. I wonder if being dropped from the England squad has affected his confidence?

Zokora 7.5 - worked his socks off today, was everywhere and his recent form has been very good.

Huddlestone 7 - Drifted in and out of the game for long periods. His off the ball running is still disappointing. Showed some lovely passing skills once again.

Malbranque 7 - Had a great 1st half, not as good in the 2nd but played well.

Keane 6 - Average Keane today. Nothing of note, just average.

Berbatov 6.5 - showed some nice touches, a bit disappointing again.

SUBS:

O'hara 6.5 - Lost the ball a few times trying to take players' on and not getting anywhere. Easy tap in for the 2nd goal.

Bent 7.5 - Quiet and then scored an easy header. Then sprang into life and was instrumental for the 2nd. Could have scored more, looked good.

Tainio 6 - Didn't have long, but played some nice passes.

 

[Keano]

Tommy was amazing..MOTM closely followed by Woody

Pasc played well

Hutts didnt have a very good game,but i still love him

Well done Benty

 

[nidge]

Bent got skys MOTM. :think:

 

[Cicinho]

Robinson (6) Did all that was asked of him, thankfully not tested much.

Hutton (6) Average game, but did well defensively.
Dawson (6) Contained their strikers well.
Woodgate (7) Looks so comfortable, good to inspire others aorund him to play at that level.
Chimbonda (6) Good enough.

Lennon (6) Looked pacy and a threat at times but once again faded in and out.
Zoko (7) Cleaned up all the loose balls, started attacks with pace and passes.
Hudd (7) Good job spraying the ball forward, shooting was off today though.
Malbranque (6) Good game, didn't get into the game to much but covered well.

Keane (5) Pretty much anonymous other than a few nice touches.
Berba (7) Good skills, always looked a threat, was up for this game.

---

O'hara (7) Thought he was the perfect sub to get into the game and create, good goal.
Bent (8) Changed the game, goal and an assist, should start next game.
Tainio (6) Scrapped some minutes.

 

[Cicada]

you can't go against Bent can you..

changed the game when he and O'hara came on

 

[nuttynoah]

Robinson 6
Hutton 7
Dawson 6
Woodgate 8
Chimbonda 6
Lennon 4
Zoko 7
Hudd 8
Malbranque 7
Keane 7
Berba 6
---
O'hara 7
Bent 8
Tainio 6

MOTM Woodgate, again

 

[dvdhopeful]

Bent gave us a cutting edge that we didn't have until he came on, delighted to see him get that goal and the work he put in for the second. I'd give MOTM to Hudd though as he played superbly, made tackles and interceptions and generally read the game well.

 

[Cicinho]

Robbo's mistake could have lost us the game, good thing Zoko became a superman to get back, other than that Robinson had a 6/10 game.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Bent got skys MOTM. :think:

probably for scoring the first, and making the second.

robinson 6 - we almost conceded a goal because of him when kanu went past him. one good save.

hutton 6.5
chimbonda 7.5 - very good going forward, made some crucial interceptions at the back.
woodgate 8 - what a player. i haven't seen that good of a defender at the lane for a long time (apart from Ledley).
dawson 7

lennon 5 - was really bad today.
steeeed 6.5
huddlestone 8 - this was a game for The Hudd. We had all the possession so he could show his class.
zokora 7 - saved us when kanu was through. good game from him.

berbatov 7
keane 6.5

bent 8 - one goal, one assist.
o'hara 7 - nice goal, his first in the premiership.
tainio 6

 

[Spurs_Q8]

Robinson 6 - one good save and one mistake.
Hutton 7.5 - wroked hard.
Woodgate 8.5 - Mam of the match without doubt, very good performance by woody !
Dawson 7 - well done.
Chimbonda 6.5 - too many faces this afternoon. I could see ok.
Zokora 7.5 - played well in 1st half, then ok in 2nd half but saved our goal !
Huddlestone 7.5 - worked hard and involved too much and 1st half, should do better in set-pieces and looked tired in 2nd half.
Malbranque 7 - as the same as Chimbonda in 1st half but imporved in 2nd half.
Lennon 6 - good runs but his very poor crosses meant his work was nothing.
Keane 7 - did well.
Berbatov 7.5 - very nice touches and played good game.

Bent 8 - wooow, finaly he get it right and made the difference here, good goal and then a great assist !
O'Hara 7 - lost possesion two times but scored vital goal and looked confident after that.
Tainio 7 - not too much time but one good tackle, one good block and good run too !

Ramos 8.5 - The team played well more than 60 mins, the changes didn't look good at first but his 2 of subs scored the winner for us and third one TT did well to keep it 2-0 and working.

 

[Evolution]

Robinson - (6) Not much action. Nice tip over from attempted lob. One hairy moment when Kanu bottled a header that he should have scored. Robo should have come and claimed it though and nullified the thread. Same old Robo...

Hutton - (7) Looked ok. did his job at the back but offered little threat down the wing
Dawson - (7) Solid but not really tested
Woodgate - (8) Looked like he was always gonna win any 50/50 ball and looks assured at the back
Chimbonda - (7) Looked very good going forward and caused Pompey problems down the wing first half. Done well

Lennon - (6) Can do so much more. Looked threatening but his final ball/shot/pass was poor today
Zokora - (9) My 'Man of the Match' today. Looked awesome in the midfield and equally as strong in Defence. Broke up play well and constantly brought possession back to Spurs
Huddlestone - (7) Passes we're hit and miss today but done well enough in the centre of midfield
Malbranque - (7) Scrapped well and looked better when switched to the right wing. Doubled up well on attackers when Chimbo was under pressure

Keane - (7) Made some good runs but nothing much offered up for him today
Berbatov - (7) Looked quite. Tried to get involved but was swamped out of the game

---

O'hara - (7) Looked liverly when he come on and scored a good poachers goal
Bent - (8) Showed pace and power upfront and scored and good header aswell as creating the 2nd. Would have been my MotM just behind Zoko
Tainio - (7) Done ok

 

[Hoowl]

The intent with which he ran at the Pompy defence after his first goal showed what Bent might be capable of with a bit of confidence. Hopefully the Newcastle back four can boost his morale even more

Woody was his calm, reassuring self again. Our defensive unit is a totally different class with him involved. Hudd was great today too. Both our goals started with raking cross field balls that neither Jeans or Zokora are capable of.


Pompy didn't really offer anything though. Apart from a couple of very rare breaks, they just sat back hoping we didn't score within ninety minutes. I'm pleasntly surprised with our last two results though as I thought we could have easily switched off with nothing to play for.

Gotta agree with the match ratings of nuttynoah.

 

[MrWoolley]

Robinson (5) Good save from Davis, but let a tame Kanu header past him through poor coming out.

Hutton (7) Solid at the back, and always supporting the attack, solid performance with some testing runs.

Woodgate (9) - Quality, all round performance was solid. Man of the Match.

Dawson (7) - Seems to be benefiting from playing alongside Woodgate. Unlucky not to score.

Chimbonda (7) - Good performance by Chimbo, got forward well and made some nice tackles on Utaka. Had him in his back pocket.

Zokora (7) - Comfortable performance, never really tested when it came to being on the ball and having to tackle. Did well to save the goal.

Huddlestone (8) - Enjoyed his performance. Some real nice passes, and controlled alot of the game. Fizzled out near the end of the game, but played well.

Malbranque (7) - Got a bit sloppy between 50-70 minutes, but some really good tackling and always probing for a way forward. Decent shift.

Lennon (6) - Looked lively, but terrible final delivery. :-(

Keane (7) - Worked hard as usual, nearly caught James out. His game was made alot harder by Portsmouth spending most of the game with 10 men deep in there half.

Berbatov (7) - Some real nice touches, looked lively and again, did his best against 10 pompy players constantly on there 18 yard box.

Subs

Bent (8) - So happy he got the goal. Came on and was alert, did excellent to cooly take his header, and did well for the assist.

O'Hara (7) Came on and got involved, ran into some trouble a couple of times, but put the game beyond doubt with good support play and a nice finish.

Tainio (7) Not alot to do, came on and tidied up anything that needed tidying.


Portsmouth (0) Talk about having no ambition, 15 minutes to go, no striker or nothing warming up. Really glad we beat them.

 

[liberty]

I thought Chimbonda was pretty poor.

Pompey were pretty bad - I think Kranjcar is a useful player though.

Our best player was Woodgate. Very cool, calm and collective.

 

[northampton_yid]

Robinson - 6 - solid apart from one mistake
Hutton - 7.5 - never looked under any pressure
Dawson - 7 - unlucky not to score, solid under woody
Woodgate - 8 - rock solid, calm and good distribution
Chimbonda - 7 - a better performance today, cracking volley went close
Lennon - 5.5 - some mazy runs, but final ball was poor.
Zokora - 8 - solid in midfield and even better when went back to CB
Huddlestone - 8.5 - perfect game for hudd. controlled the tempo
Malbranque - 6 - ran and ran, lack a bit of class today
Keane - 6 - average game for keane, did nothing bad but nothing really influential
Berbatov - 6.5 - some class touches again, but rarely threatened
---

O'hara - 7 - wanted the ball and show loads of energy.
Bent - 8 - changed the game. great run for 2nd goal
Tainio - 6 - stiffened up the game

 

[degoose]

for me hudd did his usual brilliant passing and i can see him staying after the summer transfer window, he just offers something different. If he hadnt started this match then you could have seen him coming on.

Glad to see Bent score and showed his excellent pace , again another player who can offer something different.

Id really like to see tainio stay in the summer as well as he is a great squad player and could be very handy in cup games.

Good game today pity we didnt score sooner as im so use to spurs dominating and then messing it up

 

[double0]

Both our goals started with raking cross field balls that neither Jeans or Zokora are capable of.

To balance that statement off. Huddlestone hasn't got the legs to clear off the line a definite Kanu goal, that clearance was worth a goal itself.:shrug:

 

[StockSpur]

MOM-JJ for not playing

 

[Dibby]

Robinson - 6 - Showed several signs of nervousness in simple situations
Hutton - 8 - Showed strength and pushed forward well when needed
Dawson - 7 - Good game for Daws, no major cockups. Solid performance
Woodgate - 8 - Excellent display from our one of our best buys this year
Chimbonda - 7 - Bombed up the line at every opp and always got back to defend
Lennon - 7 - Done well mostly but was unlucky with final ball in several occasions
Zokora - 8 - Showed real flexibility and performed with real coolness in CM and CB
Huddlestone - 8.5 - Played the game his way. Brilliantly distributed passes
Malbranque - 6 - One of very few unimpressive games this season
Keane - 7 - Tried his best to make his mark but luck was against him
Berbatov - 8 - The quiet orchestrator. Controlled the play in attacking moves in the first hour. Great skill on display
---

O'hara - 7.5 - Hunger prevailed for the youngster
Bent - 8 - Finally a glimpse of what he's capable of
Tainio - 7 - Added stability after the first two subs

 

[Wiener]

The intent with which he ran at the Pompy defence after his first goal showed what Bent might be capable of with a bit of confidence. Hopefully the Newcastle back four can boost his morale even more

Bent has been lacking in confidence of late and it was good to see him using his pace and strength to take on defenders. Hopefully over the last few games of the season he can score a few goals and show why we paid so much for him. I believe he can be great for us.

Gotta agree with the match ratings of nuttynoah.

Slightly harsh on Lennon, who got into good positions but failed to deliver a single good cross.