Hamer- 7: Didn't have a lot to do but looked confident for the most part. Solly- 8: Solid and reliable as ever, looked good attacking too. Morrison- 8: Kept their striker's at bay when needed (rarely). Taylor- See above. Wiggins- 9: Man of the Match; defended well, looked fantastic going forward too. Green- 8: Put some good crosses in, threatened their left back regularly. Hollands- 8: Fortunate goal but a solid reliable performance. Hughes- 8: I didn't rate him when i saw him before but i thought he was very good today, looked confident and kept possession well. Jackson- 7: Played okay, not a stand out performance, but did his job. Kermorgant- 8: Finished well, held up the play and flicked the ball on and looked good with Wright-Phillips. Wright Phillips-8: Good goal and a decent all round performance. Very happy
I'd go along with that, Jeffers. Thought all played their part but Wiggins was stand out player for me. Turning out to be a fantastic acquisition.
Took our foot off the pedal once the fourth went in, but that is understandable with another game on Tuesday. But can anyone explain to me the mentality of modern footballers? Four up (or down) and 11 against 10, the game was over a few minutes after half-time. You would think both sets of players would have observed an unspoken gentleman's agreement to behave themselves. Instead of that we saw numerous reckless, and some potentially dangerous, fouls, several bad knocks to players, more yellow cards and one red. All pointless, when there was never the remotest chance of changing the outcome. Carlisle were the worse offenders, but the Addick were by no means blameless. You could understand and partly excuse such behaviour if one side were desperately trying anything and everything to get a foothold in the match, but that was not the case here. When Carlisle were (at least in theory) still in with a chance at one down, and then two down, they stuck to playing attractive and clean football. Why try mixing it when it was all too late? Leave that to the Stevenages of the division. They know how to do it and get away with it. It isn't Carlisle's style and it isn't ours either. Congratulations to CP for getting his team selection, tactics and substitutions right. Hughes was the only positionally correct option at defensive CM but, even so, none of us would have selected him. CP had faith in him and it was fully justified. I don't think even Parky could have done a better job. (Another epic win for Bradford today as they continue their relentless climb into one of the automatic promotion spots).
That was my only worry in the second half, we have a few characters (BWP, Kermorgant, Morrison) who can let their temperament get the better of them after one or two tough challenges, Kermo's yellow card was probably the only blot on the skyline today. Other than that there can be no complaints.
Problem...? I see it as quite the opposite Captain. In BWP, Morrison, Hollands & Kermit (maybe Taylor too) we have players who are good footballers whilst also being able to take care of themselves and their colleagues when the need arises. All too often in the past we've had nobody ready, willing or able to ruffle a few feathers when the going gets a little bit lively. It is imperative imo to have players of this ilk in our squad. Long may it continue i say...!
I agree Franco, this year's crop of players are certainly more passionate than last year's and that can only be a good thing. They just need to make sure that they don't do anything stupid so we don't pick up needless yellows and reds.
More important than the cards, if you turn a dead rubber into a brawl when nothing is at stake you risk getting injuries that could put players out for months or for the rest of the season. Hayes could well have had his season, or even his career ended, by a lunge right at the end of the match. Most of the bad fouls came from Carlisle but Charlton were also guilty of raising the temperature. Walking away from trouble doesn't mean you're a coward, or lack passion or team spirit. It just means you have a few more brain-cells than many footballers and, apparently, some fans.
Horrible looking tackle at the end on Kermorgant from the Carlisle sub, Zoko think it was. Really jumped into it, looked like he wanted to leave a bit on him from where I was sitting, wouldn't have been surprised if he saw red for it. Anyone else see it? And from the back from of lower north (my seat) the challenge that Kermorgant got booked for looked like a really good strong tackle
Imo there’s a time to stick up for yourself and your teammates and a time to walk away. It’s all about having the intelligence to know what course of action befits a certain situation. Take for example the flare up in the Highbury tunnel between Roy Keane and Patrick Viera before the Arsenal vs Manchester United league game in 2005 (i think). Viera was trying to take liberties with a few mind games and a bit of intimidation. Roy Keane stepped in left him in no uncertain terms that he weren’t having any of that… United won 4:2 and Vieira wilted under the psychological battle that he himself had created. Eddie… What would you expect your senior pro’s to do if say a young inexperienced first year pro got given a start and was dished out a bit of rough stuff? (we'll assume the referee was oblivious and not forthcoming with any protection). As both a supporter and the youngster in question, I would absolutely want to see that I had the support of my fellow players. For sure there’s a time to stand your ground and also a time to walk away (it's always good to give the other guy enough rope to hang himself). So far our boys have chosen their responses to any given situations very wisely. Us fans can't have it all ways... The renewed passion, fight and commitment (ingredients that have been sorely missing for god knows how long now) is bound to bring with it the occasional moment of madness. Times where a will to win and support your teammates can blow up now and then. Just so long as any such instances remain in context with what we’re trying to achieve, I can live with the odd yellow or red card… Why…? Because these boys wearing the red and white of the club I hold so dear to my heart are quite simply a joy to behold.
Pretty much agree with most posts. I don't feel Wiggins was or is anywhere near as good defensively as some have made out, but he was very good going forward today. Another anonymous performance from Jackson but other than that I felt the whole team contributed greatly. Its odd, I was dissappointed at the final whistle that it was only 4-0, had hoped for double figures Also, despite being 4-0 up I was infuriated by their players handball. Add that to Kermorgant being booked for a great sliding tackle. If we carry on playing like today, we'll be Champions without a doubt. Great selections by Powell (though odd substitions), four great goals (loved BWP's), good penalty save, amazing match.
Hamer 8 - pretty solid, good save of the penalty and great distribution (especially for 2nd goal). Solly 7 - solid as always. Taylor 7 - less anonymous than usual, good solid performance. Morrison 7 - another solid performance. Wiggins 7.5 - was brilliant going forward, but poor defensively. Green 7.5 - some great flicks and crosses, good game overall. Hughes 7 - solid and maintained possession well. Seemed poor for first ten minutes or so though. Hollands 7.5 - gave his all as we come to expect, are we allowed to say his goal was well taken? Jackson 6.5 - anonymous throughout. Kermorgant 8.5 - got to EVERY header, great link up play with BWP, two well taken goals. MOTM BWP 7.5 - brilliant goal, true poachers instinct. Exactly what we come to expect from our star man. SUBS: Wagstaff 6.5 - a bit ineffective, but a few decent balls. Euell 6.5 - seemed to be on roller-skates every time the ball came to him, did trap it most of the time though. Hayes 6 - not the best cameo I've ever seen, a few mislaid flick-on's etc. Didn't really see the reasoning behind having two big CF's up front together though, even if it was only for the last 10 minutes or so.
Maybe wanted to give Hayes a game but left Kermorgant on as he was on his hat trick? Or maybe to save BWP's legs?
Oliver Holt of the Daily Mirror was at The Valley yesterday, and on twitter he said he thought Green was our best player. Just saying.
Yeah it's a fair point, but equally it sometimes needs a completely neutral head, someone who hasn't seen any of our players before, to make a reasoned judgement as to who played best.
"I don't think even Parky could have done a better job. (Another epic win for Bradford today as they continue their relentless climb into one of the automatic promotion spots)". Eddie - poor attempt at a wind up.
