All told, we weren't great eh? A lack of presence in the middle, decent displays from their defence and a start that looked like the team bus still hadn't parked up. Here're my player by player thoughts. Lonners - didn't really do much wrong. Wasn't at blame for the goal. Decent distribution (especially compared to last seasons Selhurst trip when we had 0 possession due to Kasper aiming for their keeper every time!). 6/10 Thopson - Was OK in defence, wasn't really pushed for the whole game. Seems to have a disciplined head on him, but he slowed down a lot of our breaks from the back with average passing and not great control - bit worrying considering he's a midfielder! 5/10 Lees - loving him at the back right now. I'm not saying he's the next Vidic, but his drive, positioning, tackling and distribution leave me hoping he gets the armband. 7/10 O'Dea - only thing he can do is act like a brick wall and hope the opposition runs at him. Very average, awful distribution, wasn't even great in the air (as some say he is). 5/10 White - Not a performance that will go down in history, but another decent display. Looking more and more comfortable and using that pace to move the game forward rather than catching up with the opposition after a mistake. 6/10 Townsend - Doesn't seem to me to be the most intellegent flying winger. Definitely a good player for the future, but right now it's just all about his physical attributes more than anything. Unfortunately, their full back was nearly as fast as him so was pretty ineffective. Good determination all the same. 6/10 Adam Clayton - Really not sure what's happened here. I thought we'd found ourselves Steven Gerrard, someone with presence, great distribution with an eye for the killer ball. But not in the last 10 matches or so. He's playing the easy ball everytime, not bossing the game. Still showed a few glimpeses of his first touch and getting through to the attackers, but should be a constant. 5/10 Brown - Was actually sort of impressed by him. We definitely miss Howson in the middle, and Brown slows down our play too much in a four man midfield, but good work-rate, decent in the pass and good in the tackle. Just don't want to see him in the final 3rd... ever! 6/10 Pugh - Starting to think he's a decent signing. Not the player who'll get us promotion, but confident, good in the tackle and also at finding space when on the attack. Would rather see him beat his man a few more times, but OK all round. 6/10 Becchio - what can I say?! He has been awful this season. Lost shape, lost confidence, a complete headless chicken. Paynter would have been better just to block Gardner's vision with the higher balls! So gutting to see him fall so low. 4/10 McCormack - a great number 9. Very pleased with his work-rate and movement. Unfortunately all in vein as he was basically a lone striker until Snodgrass came on. 7/10 Snoddy - changed the game, pure class and some great work with McCormack. Gave Clayton a little spark also. 7/10 All told, disappointed. But I'd say we're a midfielder, a right back, centre-back and a striker away from being very competitive in this league - could be worse! Personally, give Bruce a run at centre back with Lees, get a right back in, spend out on a centre mid and a striker, but that's probably asking too much!! Good day out. Fans were on song as ever, even with the blinding sun and the leaking roof! MOT!
I agree with Logi, Clayton did control the game. Always probing, looking for an opening. Trouble was it was like playing with a brick wall in front of us. Credit where credits due though, Palace defended magnificently.
He wasn't controlling the game, he was just receiving the ball a lot. Admittedly he didn't have too many options ahead of him, but you'd have thought that with Townsend, McCormack and Pugh/Snodgrass ahead, he'd have been able to do more than side-pass horizontally!?
the root of the problem is Becchio! He cant even control the ball anymore and looks to go down all the time, mega disappointing
He did, played it out to the wings a fair bit with the aerial ball. Like LiE says, he had a wall of men in front of him so he was hardly going to find that final ball through the middle straight to McCormack.
As I eluded to, obviously the way we played as a whole / their defending meant Clayton struggled, but towards the beginning of the season he looked like the sort of player that would lift us and destroy them, not someone who can be controlled by a well-organised opposition.
Pugh was at fault for their goal, was never a threat going forward because he is too slow, should really move to Left Back 4/10 Clayton starting to come good again, I feel his confidence can be drained worrying about an error as our defence just can't keep a clean sheet 7/10 McCormack buzzing and grafting 8/10 Snoddy scored 8/10
8/10 because he scored a fortuitous goal?! The rest of his work, in a short spell, didn't merit 80% rating! And re. McCormack, no one will ever get an 8/10 in my book just for grafting. The whole team should be 'grafting' and his energy and movement (which is what I assume you mean by 'buzzing') is what he's paid for along with scoring goals - he didn't score a goal.
It seems Bercchio is not fit after his major injury. He looks like a guy in his 40s trying to play football with fit guys. Did they rush him back?
you can say he was rushed back, but he would have either got injured or improved by now. Neither of those has happened so I can only assume his heads gone or the injury has ruined him.
