We can blame defensive errors, but in reality the last two home games we had a team there for the taking and we couldn't take our chances. We lack quality up front and also at the back and the reality is we need at least 3 new players if we want to stay up. If it wasn't for Saint-Maximan scoring two beast goals we'd have mostly dominated our two last home games and still lost. If we are against a team that's ****e and we cannot score than one goal, we cannot complain if we concede a crappy late equalizer. We need - 1. Another CB. - Lascelles is not good enough. I wish the best for him, he's a real man, but not a PL quality CB. 2. A Lb - Mainly because ASM makes space by having 3 players mark him, so would be great to have a good LB in that space to whip in crosses. We get wrecked down that left hand side so often. 3. Another attacking option. Whether it's another striker or attacking mid. We're not lethal enough. I must say I am a bit skeptical about signing Wood for £25m. But I suppose it's weakening a relegation rival and also a good option whether we stay up or down so it makes sense. In reality trippier and wood are smart moves. Ratings - Dubz - 5 - Trippier- 6 - Decent Schar - 5 - Don't know what he thinks sometimes when he makes those unbelievable runs forward. Not that bad though, just ok. Lascelles - 4 - Not dreadful, but holy **** he should be winning headers like that against smaller players. Dummett - 4 - Should be doing better at denying the ball into the box, and looks vulnerable. Fraser - 5.5 - Worked hard. Longstaff - 5 Shelvey - 5 ASM - 6.5 - A frustrating player, but the only one scoring. Cannot be too unfair to him. The only hypercritical thing I'd say to his face is to stop pissing about with the ball in our own half. He does carve out a goal or chances most games he plays though. At the very least he makes space for others as the drags 2-3 players to him constantly. Joelinton - 5.5 - Can't score for ****, but his work outside the box is still good. Wood - 5 - He made himself a handful, but not much else to say.
Joelinton deserves a 9 for putting Sissoko in his pocket for the entire game 4 for Dummett is harsh, I thought he did well for a fella who’s been out injured since 1982
Nah, putting Sissoko in your pocket and nothing else is a 2. Not saying Big Joe wasn’t okay just putting Sissoko in your pocket isn’t really that much of an achievement.
The thing is when you take all the emotion out of it, the manager had the team set up to win. We controlled the game first half, but we look a bit toothless. Tactically we had it right, we just don't have good enough players. Only when ASM ran out of steam (again), and we had to remove him did the problems start. I can't blame Wood after 3 days training. I think some of the marks are harsh on what I watched, but I get it when its a game everyone desperately wanted to win. We need players urgently. We need quality too, not numbers. We've got too many sub standard players and its killing us.
Joelinton deserves more than 5.5, I'd give him a 7, played much better than most of the others. We needed him in midfield cos Shelvs and Longstaff were gash. Dubs should have saved that goal and Lascelles was naff all game.
Think this was the only "mistake" Howe made at the weekend. Should have bought Lewis on for ASM with 10/15 to go and gone to 5-4-1 with Joe moving to the LM, push Dummy into a back 3 to be more compact and defensively solid. The coaching staff were trying to push us higher up the pitch but players dropped, nowt to do with the staff but instead of trying to get them higher up they could have seen the players weren't responding and done something to help see the game out, for me Miggy was bought on to press higher up but the team were sitting in and trying to see it out regardless. Also think it's harsh on Dummy to say it was his fault for the goal - Miggy didn't pick up his runner and was done by a simple 1-2, Dummett then got closer trying to cover and block the cross but certainly not his fault! Again Lewis here might have had that half second better defensive reactions and not lost his man. Very fine margins and easy to say in hindsight but was honestly calling for this watching the game. I'd also say Chris Wood has a generous score there. For me he should have done MUCH better with his free header from 6 yards out and he lost the ball in the build up for the goal on the half way line.
