We seriously do need more attacking quality up front, but as always our defence and midfield controls the game and stops the opposition scoring so we can nice a draw or win. Hope Bruno is ok Ratings - Pope - 6 - Nowt much to do Trippier - 6 - Gave away a pen, and his deliveries were a bit inconsistent today. Not bad, but he's been a bit off recently. He did do some good work on the right though. Schar - 8 - He's definitely our best CB in terms of all round quality. He drives forward well with the ball, set up some chances a good freekick. Botman - 7 Burn - 7 - Good game. Some great challenges. Longstaff - 7 - TBH he gets a lot of flack for his shooting, but his all around play is actually not bad, he gets into some good positions and great cross that lead to the goal. Bruno - 7 - Hope he's ok. Great passing. Joelinton - 8 - Midfield beast as usual. Willock - 7 - Great runs forward. Wilson - 7 - Great runs and movement, unlucky not to score, great assist. ASM - 5.5 - Decent impact, nowt special though. Isak - 8 - MOTM - Scored the goal, he's far more skilful and pacey than Wilson on the ball. I could definitely even see him playing LW. Miggy - 7 - Good runs, good defending and work rate.
I would be inclined to increase the marks for Pope, Botman and Max. None of them did anything wrong. I’d also drop Schar’s not that he did anything wrong but just seems a tad high. Otherwise agree.
I would drop Wilson down markedly, he is the type of player than can do absolutely **** all for 80 minutes, but once or twice in the match does a nice turn, has a decent touch and then spoons the strike on goal. Hope he starts scoring again, but an out-out striker needs to be signed. I also felt that Max did, essentially, nothing. Isak made a massive difference as soon as he came on.
Wilson and Trippier poor. Longstaff or Joelinton MoM. Isak another step up in class, like Bruno. Shame one’s now in, the other out. It’s a **** Hokey Cokey. Max was better than 5.5. Botman was superb, again - did you not see his 3 or 4 fantastic cross field passes?
I felt he has a positional error in him at times, but he's only 22 I know he'll get better. His long range passing has improved as the season has gone on.
Pope 6 Trippier 5 Schar 7.5 Botman 7 Burn 7 Longstaff 7 Joelinton 7 Bruno 6 Willock 6 Wilson 5 Almiron 6 ASM 6 Isak 7 Murphy 6 Wood 6
Personally, I thought we found this match pretty straight forward. Fulham, first 15mins aside, were not that good. I worry about our chance taking ability buy if we keep creating chances, we will score
Wilson’s assist to Isak was class. Trouble is we might need more than one moment like that in a game to win or draw against top or heavily defensive teams. The rest of his game time post World Cup has been so-so. I realise that in view of the facts that we’re one point behind Man City and lie third top of the league, that I’m being rather whingy. But on the other hand, if we’re to make the best use of our superb defence, we must score more goals.
Thought Wilson had an okay game. His striking is off at the moment but thought his movement was good. He puts a lot more pressure on a defence than someone like Wood because they worry about his pace. What's good is that we now win games like this even when our better players are not firing on all cylinders as some of our 'squad' players have stepped up. Thought Longstaff was outstanding yesterday - even with Bruno on the pitch, more was coming through him. He was guilty of dwelling on the ball and getting caught regularly earlier in the season, but he now is having much more influence, moving the ball quickly and accurately, and also getting into some great positions. Interesting that we seem to be able to change shape (Isak and St Maximin coming on) and yet still have same solidarity to our game. I wouldn't have a problem with both Isak and Wilson playing together, almost a 4-4-1-1 set-up. Isak needs to be able to get the ball and move with it - he is not an out-and-out striker. Thought Tripper was actually the weak link in the back line today but everyone has off days. Interesting with the penalty - Pope was appealing for the double hit as soon as he dived - he could well have saved it. He went the right way and it was only the deflection that took it down the middle.
From someone who’s given him plenty of stick I thought Longstaff was outstanding yesterday, almost had an air of arrogance about him the way he was zipping the ball about…..if he could learn to compose himself he could add a few goals to his game, has that knack of being in good positions a lot of the time.
Is Isak gonna start next match? He seems back to full fitness now. If not Palace, then he should start against Soton.
