Just got back and sat down with a brew watching Gillette Soccer Saturday. I can't be arsed to do a full match report, but here's some thoughts.
If City were more clinical in front of goal they could easily have won by 2 or 3.
City completely ran the midfield in the first half with Chery, Gladwin and El Khayate looking very ordinary. Gladwin, apart from a couple of bits of skill looked pretty awful, whilst I'm not at all convinced about El Kayate. He seems very inconsistent and doesn't seem to want to work back much ( a bit like Phillips?).
I felt really sorry for Washington, played up top on his own, against two giant CBs and fed a diet of high balls and crap over-the-top balls. He had no service whatsoever. Although he would have been in on goal in the first half had Gladwin played him in with a simple pass, instead choosing to play a really hard pass (and the wrong one) to Chery.
We weren't terrible, but we just passed the ball so slowly instead of moving it quicker and more sharply.
In the 2nd half Rangers improved immeasurably when Hoilett was introduced for Chery. We started to move the ball quicker and Junior worked hard to get the ball back and looked a real threat going forward.
Things continued to get better when Pettrasso replaced the very ordinary Gladwin and Polter replaced Washington.
The game was won with an absolute Worldy from that bloke Karl Henry. You remember him; he's the bloke who, according to many on here, can't play. Well he curled in an absolute beauty from 25 yards out into the top corner. ("How **** must you be, Karl Henry's just scored")
Well worth going to see a goal like that!
Polter curled a beauty against the bar and he certainly improved things up front. Washington can't play that lone striker role so it will be interesting to see what happens with him next season.
The game fizzled out with City huffing and puffing but never really looking like equalising.
So we finish exactly mid table with JFH trying to rebuild for next season. I'm still not convinced by Jimmy, but here's hoping he gets it right next term.
Player ratings and comments:
Ingram - 6 - Made one excellent save and looked pretty safe. Poor kicking though.
Ned - 6 - Solid enough and made a couple of surging runs.
Hill - 7 - The usual Mr reliable. Love the bloke!
Hall - 6 - A typical mixed bag. Rushed in and left Ingram exposed, but the keeper made a great stop. But also made a great block, preventing a near certain goal.
Kpekawa - 6 - Did OK. Not convinced about him and much prefer Robinson from what I've seen.
Henry - 7 - Worked hard, without ever playing any forward passes and then scored a wonder goal.
Faurlin - 6 - Another bloke I love at the club, but his legs do look to have gone unfortunately. So pleased he's completed the season injury free.
Gladwin - 4 - Really don't rate him, although he did show a couple of glimpses of skill, so maybe he'll prove me wrong.
Chery - 5 - Very disappointing. If we have him next season, Jimmy must find a way to get the best out of such a talented player.
El Khayate - 5 - A couple of glimpses of skill, but he looks another one who won't put in the hard yards. Not convinced.
Washington - 5 - Worked hard, but got zero service and can't play that role up top on his own imo.
Subs:
Hoilett - 7 - Made a big impact.
Petrasso - 6 - Worked hard and one for the future imo.
Polter - 6 - Proved beyond doubt that he should be the sole striker above Washington. Unlucky to hit the bar.
Bring on the cricket!!
If City were more clinical in front of goal they could easily have won by 2 or 3.
City completely ran the midfield in the first half with Chery, Gladwin and El Khayate looking very ordinary. Gladwin, apart from a couple of bits of skill looked pretty awful, whilst I'm not at all convinced about El Kayate. He seems very inconsistent and doesn't seem to want to work back much ( a bit like Phillips?).
I felt really sorry for Washington, played up top on his own, against two giant CBs and fed a diet of high balls and crap over-the-top balls. He had no service whatsoever. Although he would have been in on goal in the first half had Gladwin played him in with a simple pass, instead choosing to play a really hard pass (and the wrong one) to Chery.
We weren't terrible, but we just passed the ball so slowly instead of moving it quicker and more sharply.
In the 2nd half Rangers improved immeasurably when Hoilett was introduced for Chery. We started to move the ball quicker and Junior worked hard to get the ball back and looked a real threat going forward.
Things continued to get better when Pettrasso replaced the very ordinary Gladwin and Polter replaced Washington.
The game was won with an absolute Worldy from that bloke Karl Henry. You remember him; he's the bloke who, according to many on here, can't play. Well he curled in an absolute beauty from 25 yards out into the top corner. ("How **** must you be, Karl Henry's just scored")
Well worth going to see a goal like that!
Polter curled a beauty against the bar and he certainly improved things up front. Washington can't play that lone striker role so it will be interesting to see what happens with him next season.
The game fizzled out with City huffing and puffing but never really looking like equalising.
So we finish exactly mid table with JFH trying to rebuild for next season. I'm still not convinced by Jimmy, but here's hoping he gets it right next term.
Player ratings and comments:
Ingram - 6 - Made one excellent save and looked pretty safe. Poor kicking though.
Ned - 6 - Solid enough and made a couple of surging runs.
Hill - 7 - The usual Mr reliable. Love the bloke!
Hall - 6 - A typical mixed bag. Rushed in and left Ingram exposed, but the keeper made a great stop. But also made a great block, preventing a near certain goal.
Kpekawa - 6 - Did OK. Not convinced about him and much prefer Robinson from what I've seen.
Henry - 7 - Worked hard, without ever playing any forward passes and then scored a wonder goal.
Faurlin - 6 - Another bloke I love at the club, but his legs do look to have gone unfortunately. So pleased he's completed the season injury free.
Gladwin - 4 - Really don't rate him, although he did show a couple of glimpses of skill, so maybe he'll prove me wrong.
Chery - 5 - Very disappointing. If we have him next season, Jimmy must find a way to get the best out of such a talented player.
El Khayate - 5 - A couple of glimpses of skill, but he looks another one who won't put in the hard yards. Not convinced.
Washington - 5 - Worked hard, but got zero service and can't play that role up top on his own imo.
Subs:
Hoilett - 7 - Made a big impact.
Petrasso - 6 - Worked hard and one for the future imo.
Polter - 6 - Proved beyond doubt that he should be the sole striker above Washington. Unlucky to hit the bar.
Bring on the cricket!!
