Hammond is a good player as I have stated. No arguments about the tackle buy his first yellow wasn't a yellow... Just watching MOTD and Alan Hutton's tackle Shane Long was higher and worse...!
Starting 11: Davis - 9.5 - Had a blinder. He kept us in the game. Did brilliantly not only with saves but also handled the constant corners well. Richardson - 6 Fonte - 4 - What has happened to Jose? Is he tired? Playing with a knock? He is having a bad run of form. Hopefully this picks up as he was a beast last year. Hooiveld - 8 - Very solid at the back. What I really like about him is he lumps it forward 60 yards out of trouble when required instead of trying to pass the ball stupidly out of defence. Fox - 6 Guly - 5 - Despite the assist Guly still gets a 5. He was abysmal today, his passing was awful and defensively he offers nothing. Hammond - 5 Cork - 4 - Very poor. His passing was atrocious I thought. Chaplow - 6.5 Lambert - 5. Lacked commitment in the air I thought actually so he loses a mark purely on commitment compared to Connolly and couldn't get in the game for the second game running Connolly - 6. ------------ De Ridder - 8.5. Big impact with the goal Martin - 7
Time for Martn, De Ridder and James to come through into the first team and put pressure on Connelly, Guly and Fonte
Agree with putting more pressure on the starting eleven to ensure we get the most from them, but who is James? Personally with lallana out I would have played de ridder lm, but then again chaplow has been brilliant just think we are missing a creative spark there, which of course lallana is. What we must remember about these results is that we are getting these without our key man. As Adkins says win the home games, then get a mixture of results away from home and we will average 2 points, enough to get promoted.
James Ward-Prowse I would guess... I hope him Luke Shaw, Sam Hoskins etc get given a chance at Crystal Palace
Why the average ratings on Fox? I thought he was brilliant. I was thoroughly impressed by him as I was with Hooiveld. Everything those 2 did was with ease and confidence. Guly had a horrific 70 mins then suddenly after the sending off he was a different player. We didn't play great but we got a very good draw. Davis, Hooiveld, Fox and Chaplow were our best players in my opinion. De Ridder was superb when he came on as well.
Time for Guly to be dropped he has been rubbish for a good month or so......play De Ridder in has place
Some people appear not to want to like Fox. he played very well yesterday and is getting more and more settled
Guly is a frustrating player because he appears not to be as consistent as other players, but he has the flashes of genius which make up for it. Look at the assist for SdR..earnt us a point and stopped Reading getting two.
If NA is to be believed, Fonte had picked up an injury which was hampering him, he wasn't able to sprint, that may have explained the silly hand ball, he was taken off to prevent aggravating the problem. Martin filled in admirably so should be a suitable replacement. Foxy did have a good game and was not as guilty as some at giving the ball away in dodgy areas. Guly was culpable of losing the ball at times but made up for it with one stroke of brilliance. Ricky is entitled to an off day but was still putting in some good passes which were not capitalised upon. Connolly frequently created space for himself but didn't receive the ball where he could do any damage. Once again NA found a way to hurt the opposition when they were at their most vulnerable, several Reading players were cramping up at the end and we finished the fitter of the two sides and maybe with eleven we may have nicked it.
What about the wholefully underhit pass that he gave to Hammond which resulted in Hammond being sent off? The assists and the old flash of genius dont make up for the lazy approach for the rest of the game the total lack of interest he displays most of the time and his reading of the game at times is woeful . I dont like slating our players and I have been defending him for the last few games but Reading was the last straw for me. Impact sub maybe, starter not for me.
Think you'll find that an awful challenge from Hammond resulted in Hammond being sent-off. Blame Guly for giving the ball away. Do not blame Guly for Hammond walking down the tunnel.