Yesterday... and youngsters

Krul- 5
Simpson-7
Taylor-8
Colo-8
Enrique-8
Ferguson-8
Barton-7
Jonas-7
Taylor-7
Lovenkrands- 6*
Shola- 7

Bairns all done well when they came on, Ranger was strong and caused them problems. Lua Lua looked pacey and direct and the biggest praise I reserve for Sammy Ameobi... I thought he looked excellent in his 10 minute cameo!! Composed, direct, pace, confident on the ball.

I just wish some people would lay off his older brother a little bit. Thought Shola had a good game yesterday! he isn't great, but always turns up when it counts!

*Lovenkrands - I still think he just looks lost on a football pitch and is the most inept footballer in our squad. But he always gives 110%

Overall I thought we thoroughly deserved the point yesterday and was extremely proud of the lads effort and performance!

Credit to Pards too... got his selection and tactics spot on!!!

Bring on the Summer... Howay The Lads!!!!!!!

 

Yeah completely agree. Shola is very frustrating at times when his lack of skill is exposed but yesterday when he had people playing well around him he looked a top player.

 

Bump Jonas up to an 8 and I'd say you're spot on!

He was instrumental in pretty much everything we did 'till he came off!

 

I Think you're being a little harsh on Krul. The goal was a mistake, but most of the time he was great, always knew when to come out, actually punched away crosses. If it weren't for the goal it'd be fair to give Wor Tim an 8

 

I thought LuaLua looked out of his depth when he came on (certainly wasn't impacting the game the way Ferguson and Sammy had/was), but then he produced that bit of a magic and a brilliant cross which eventually led to the goal. It's good to have players like this coming through the ranks.

You could tell Sammy was Shola's brother. They look similar and have the same languid running style. He was very impressive though, carried the ball a long way and always had a pass at the end of it, don't think he gave the ball away once. Hopefully we can get one or two out on loan next season. I'd say keep Ferguson, but try and ship a few of the others out.

 

To be honest, I think you've gone the other way...He controlled his box well enough most of the times, but had very little to do other than that and conceded a very silly goal. 8 is far too high - 6 for me!

 

Agree with all of that! I said it while I was watching that he'd not looked too assured on the ball and had lost possession too many times then he whipped in that cross - looked identical to the ones posted the other (for Brighton) two touches with his right and swinging the left before the defender has chance to catch up - looks really weird but clearly works!

 

Id give Lua Lua a chance hes coming back from a broken leg he needs some more confidence

 

Krul had a great game bar that one error.

 

This. He'd only been back in training a week.

 

Just a bit harsh on Krul (good performance part from the error, 7), wasn't just him for that error, it was also Enriques and Simpsons fault.

 

He's a goalkeeper every mistake will cost a goal so the rating represents this!
5 for me

 

I think Krul was excellent yesterday and anyone could have made that mistake. Who's to say Alex wouldn't have scored if Krul hadn't have come out for it?

Alex towers above any of the players marking him so he wouldn have placed in the same corner he got it in and likely would have scored.

That was the only poor decision Krul made all day, and it's unfair to say he was the reason we didn't win the game.

Here are my ratings -

Krul - 8
Simmo - 6
Taylor - 8
Colo - 8
Enrique - 8
Ferguson - 8
Raylor - 7.5
Barton - 7
Lover - 7
Jonas - 7
Ameobi - 5

Ranger - 7 - Good running and set up Taylor for the goal that got us a point.
Sammy Ameobi - 6 - Canny good. Some decent link up play with Lua Lua and other players.
Lua Lua - 6 - Ok. Almost set up Raylor for what would have been the equalizer, but even so, the corner got us the equalizer. He played his part.

 

He's not the reason why we didn't win the game however he should have been the reason for us loosing it!
I agree his punching kept Chelsea at arms length for a long time!
However goalkeepers are expected to make the odd great save and be solid but mistakes are most costly in this position!
If that had been a pivotal game say for 5th place or 7th for european football that mistake may cost money!

 

Never seen Shola do that! But yeah you could tell it was his brother!

 

What makes you sure that Alex wouldn't have scored if Krul had have stayed on his line? It was the defense not picking him up just as much really, he was above about 5 players trying to mark him, so Krul had to come out or else it would have been a free header anyway.

 

Don't see how he can be an 8 like....He was alright, but he made a mistake and didn't have much to do (was it 2 shots on target according to MOTD?)

 

I'm not saying he wouldn't have but Krul didn't give himself the chance to make a save!
As a center Half If your keeper comes out shouting keepers you kind of (but shouldn't) take your eyes off your man as you expect the keeper to do something with it
It's Krul's fault for the goal!
He's a goalkeeper coming out and missing the ball costs!
But I don't fault him for trying to command however to give the bloke an 8 when he could have cost us a point is very generous!

 

Yes but even if Krul had stayed on his line, ALEX HAD A FREE HEADER!!

If people bring this up when deciding whether to keep Krul or send him out on loan, it'll piss me off because it's only one mistake.

 

Saw a joke yesterday on sickipedia that read...

"I was going to say Newcastle's keeper is awful

But that would just be Krul"




Made me laugh actually, however untrue it is..