Match Ratings vs Stoke City
- Thread starter General Levy
- Start date
Thought the performance as a whole was much improved, the passing was much crisper and better, and modric dictated the game with his movement. Was a shame that a momentary lapse in defence cost us a clean sheet, but who cares.
Whilst there were some sublime performances, i do feel that it would be easy to go over the top on last nights game, this was a good performance under a great deal of pressure, and for that the team should be praised, but there are still areas that can be improved for instance the amount of free kicks we gave away in areas where we could have been punished by better opposition.
Cudicini 7 - Good debut, looked and exuded composure, but generally had very little to do in the whole match.
Corluka 7 - Thought he had one of his better games and showed some real glimpses of technical ability. Defended well and supported the attack well.
Dawson 6 - Dawson gave another fully commited performance, but for me his mistimed attempts to win the first ball, will always be his limitation. Yes you can count on him to give you 100% every match, but he is not as good a defender as others in the squad.
Woodgate 7 - Quite a good performance by woody, did think he was a little asleep for the early chance that stoke had, but when he finally woke up, was the rock in the defence.
Ekotto 7 - Excellent performance in both defence and in supporting the attack, but was a little disappointed in his poistioning for the stoke goal.
Lennon 7 - Thought lennon had a good game, his rating is only reduced through his poor final ball. His excellent early goal set the scene for the good performance, and was always a threat.
Modric 9 - Outstanding game, was at the center of everything in attack, and also commited in his defensive duties. His passing and movement both on the ball and off set the tone for this performance (yes he does misplace the odd pass, but that is because they generally are penetrative passes to hurt the opposition). Just a shame he couldn't finish his early chance.
Zokora 7 - Good committed display from zokora, the ground that he covered was exceptional and his work rate no doubt added to display of modric. His rating would have been higher had he not been the main culprit for giving away a number of free kicks, that a better team than stoke may have punished us for.
Bentley 7 - worked hard throughout the match, and did think the delivery was marginally better, but i do question whether he is gonna make it at spurs, as he does appear to look slower every time i watch him.
Pavlyuchenko 8 - Another stand out performance from pav. For me he always showed for the ball, defended from the front and brought others into the game. did everything bar score, and a sublime pass for defoes goal
Derfoe 8 - Worked hard throughout, never gave the stoke defenders any let up and took his goal really well. There did seem on this performance to be some green shoots of a partnership between him and pav.
On the back of this performance we now really need to push on, it would be a major step if we can win at bolton at the weekend, but we certainly need to avoid defeat, and translate this home performance to our away form.
Whilst there were some sublime performances, i do feel that it would be easy to go over the top on last nights game, this was a good performance under a great deal of pressure, and for that the team should be praised, but there are still areas that can be improved for instance the amount of free kicks we gave away in areas where we could have been punished by better opposition.
Cudicini 7 - Good debut, looked and exuded composure, but generally had very little to do in the whole match.
Corluka 7 - Thought he had one of his better games and showed some real glimpses of technical ability. Defended well and supported the attack well.
Dawson 6 - Dawson gave another fully commited performance, but for me his mistimed attempts to win the first ball, will always be his limitation. Yes you can count on him to give you 100% every match, but he is not as good a defender as others in the squad.
Woodgate 7 - Quite a good performance by woody, did think he was a little asleep for the early chance that stoke had, but when he finally woke up, was the rock in the defence.
Ekotto 7 - Excellent performance in both defence and in supporting the attack, but was a little disappointed in his poistioning for the stoke goal.
Lennon 7 - Thought lennon had a good game, his rating is only reduced through his poor final ball. His excellent early goal set the scene for the good performance, and was always a threat.
Modric 9 - Outstanding game, was at the center of everything in attack, and also commited in his defensive duties. His passing and movement both on the ball and off set the tone for this performance (yes he does misplace the odd pass, but that is because they generally are penetrative passes to hurt the opposition). Just a shame he couldn't finish his early chance.
Zokora 7 - Good committed display from zokora, the ground that he covered was exceptional and his work rate no doubt added to display of modric. His rating would have been higher had he not been the main culprit for giving away a number of free kicks, that a better team than stoke may have punished us for.
Bentley 7 - worked hard throughout the match, and did think the delivery was marginally better, but i do question whether he is gonna make it at spurs, as he does appear to look slower every time i watch him.
Pavlyuchenko 8 - Another stand out performance from pav. For me he always showed for the ball, defended from the front and brought others into the game. did everything bar score, and a sublime pass for defoes goal
Derfoe 8 - Worked hard throughout, never gave the stoke defenders any let up and took his goal really well. There did seem on this performance to be some green shoots of a partnership between him and pav.
On the back of this performance we now really need to push on, it would be a major step if we can win at bolton at the weekend, but we certainly need to avoid defeat, and translate this home performance to our away form.
Michey
New Member
- May 4, 2004
- 7,888
- 1
Probably longer up in the pitch since Dawson easily gave away the ball.
He saved a goal early in the game though when heading it away on the goal-line.
markiespurs
SC Supporter
- Jul 9, 2008
- 11,899
- 15,576
I think we sat back in the second half for a couple of reasons, the main one was that we were a bit nervous about protecting our three goal lead, hopefully yesterdays game should have setteld some, if not most of those nerves.
The second reason why we sat back in the second half yesterday was one of fitness IMO. Stoke had had 10 days to recuperate after their last game, in that time we have played the equivilent of 2 1/3 matchs.
My vote for man of the match went to Defoe, who i thought linked the play up brilliantly yesterday, especially in the first half.
