This premier league malarkey is alright isn’t it? My player ratings below. Meslier - 6 - Needs to sort his distribution out as that’ll cost us against the better teams but calm on the ball when pressured and looks very good especially when you consider how young he is. Ayling - 8 - Good game, started off a bit shaky but he did have to mark Sterling. Got forward well and could’ve had a goal in the first half. Defended well after the 20 minutes of pressure. Koch - 8 - What a player, besides the penalties he has given away (1 of which shouldn’t have been) he’s been solid. Good on the ball and only 13m. If he keeps this up he’s been a very shrewd signing. Cooper - 7 - Good on the ball and pretty solid against a strong attack. Probably could’ve done better in the build up to the City goal. Dallas - 8 - How good has this guy been since he’s made the LB position his own at the start of last season. Outstanding performance and puts his all in every game, a true professional. Phillips - 7 - Was crowded out in the first 20 which was good tactics by Pep but he improved after this, got an assist and played a good passing game. He’s had a tough start to season. Costa - 6 - Struggled to keep with Mendy in the first have which put us on the back foot. Grew into the game. Needs to work on his strength because he’s got the attributes to be a really good player for us. Roberts - 5 - Not good enough at this level. Lazy and walks around. Thinks he’s better than he is. Root of some of our problems defensively as he’s not doing what he should in this system. This position is for the taking when Rodrigo is fully fit or another midfielder comes in. Keep him as 3rd choice striker but looking at young Gelhardt and Greenwood 3rd choice striker might not be available to him soon. Klich - 8 - Never stops running and probably our most important player. Clever passes, makes good runs off of the ball. So much to admire about Klich. Lost our way when he was taken out of midfield. Alioski - 6 - Tried and tried but didn’t quite work for him. A decent squad player but not a starter in the PL. Should have scored with his header. Bamford - 8 - Works so hard to pressure opposition even when he’s not getting the ball. Our team wouldn’t be the same without him up top. Rodrigo - 9 - Got the equaliser and could’ve had a couple more. Intelligent player. Can’t wait for him to be fully up to speed as he’ll be a big player for us. Poveda - 8 - Ran Mendy ragged and can only get better. Looks very promising. Davis - 6 - Did okay when he came on against very good players. Look forward to seeing more of him at LB. Think Douglas will be off with Alioski and Davis above him in the pecking order. Great game. After the first 20 I thought we were going to get hammered but fair play to all the lads as we got back into it, played our game and got at them. And probably could’ve won it in the end but happy with a point and probably fair considering their start to the game and some of our chances. 7 points out of the first 4 games and prior to anything being played I’d have been happy with 4 points. But looking at it now we can be disappointed not to have more! The first penalty against Liverpool shouldn’t have been and we could’ve got more tonight. We’ve played the best two teams in the league and I’m genuinely not scared to play any other team after watching the rest of the league play. If we take 7 points out of every 4 games we’ll be in a CL spot at the end of the season. Obviously only a Tongue-in-cheek comment but play like this every week and the sky’s the limit.
Fair points Emu. I don't think I meant to single you out regarding Philips. Apologies if it seem like that. I think I was frustrated at his set pieces and corners and it wasn't just in this game. I take your point regarding him being crowded out in the first half. But I'm proud of the team, what a great result and Bielsa deserves all the praise. Pep was gent and there was no excuses or moaning from him. Class man IMO.
Theres a few of you on the Brexit thread Im so proud of the lads yesterday showing resilience and fight after being outplayed for the first 15/20 mins, i said to my mate if we can get to half time just 1 down we can get something from the game and i was right, could easily have won the game Bielsa is a genius LEEDS ARE BACK
Largely agree, but must pick you up on your Alioski comments. When was the last time he started as a winger? The answer to that will tell you why he was off the pace. Simply not match fit. And a baptism of fire by lining up against one of the best teams in england, fit or not. As for his header, it happens. Ironically, he's one of our finest headers of the ball, despite his diminutive stature. However, he replaced Harrison, & you have to ask yourself if Harrison would have been in that position, & if so, would he have scored? I believe the answer is no & no. Can't remember Harrison ever heading a ball at the goals. Accurately (covering myself in case some barsteward posts up 5 headed misses from him! ). Having said all that in Alioski's defence, & being a fan too, I also have to question whether or not he's PL material. Bielsa will make that decision, of course. I want all of our players to succeed, but they can't all be world class.
When was the last time Poveda started yet he ran Mendy ragged. I really don’t understand why we’re shipping out another 17 million on a winger, my boy commented yesterday that he looked class (a cut above was his exact comment).
Watching scum. Who would you rather have at CB. 12 million Robin Koch or 85 million Maguire and 30 million Bailly
Poveda had a great 35 minutes but has looked a long way off the finished article in other games, don't get me wrong I think he will be a top player.
You’re right. I just mean he has been coached by the best in Pep and Bielsa. The new winger will have to adapt to English football but will set us back another 20 million.
If we sign another winger my main worry is that jimmy Somerville and Poveda will miss out on top level football and maybe won't progress as quickly. With Harrison and Costa setting off like a house on fire I'm quite happy to have Poveda, Alioski and Somerville as back up. If the Brazilian kid comes in and plays central I'm a bit happier. Gelhardt looks great but not quite there yet and god knows what happened to Bogusz. Roberts looks the weak link in the first team and Rodrigo looks goosed after 35 minutes.
No arguments at all with anything you said there WJ, and in reality I am only posting now because I remembered Harrison scoring a headed goal for us against Reading, however by the time I had found it on YT, I noticed that Emu had also posted the same, so my thunder had already been stolen.
Well we don't want the **** relegation fodder players, very disappointed with the sky fan sounds, surely they should have you're getting sacked in the morning.
Someone call the chinkyflu police, Liverpool let 7 in, at least scum had the decency to abide by the rules and only let 6 in
