Haim looked comfortable but is no left back - no pace and no left foot. DJ was busy, looked sharp but missed his best chance. Dyer was my MOM - composed, creative and scored a cracker. And Betty ---- nuff said.
8900 odd fans awful atmosphere, should have let ST holders go free or for token amount. The way we've been playing we would never have filled the stadium. Harry clearly used as a way of seeing players. Here's my expert evaluation: Cesar - Had little to do but what he did do was solid Dyer - MOTM quality with the ball all game, quick, right decisions on the ball and a goal. Well done KIERON! Nelsen - Normal performance Hill - Dominant against Lukaku and had a good game overall Ben Haim - Very sound first half, second half he was tiring but would expect nothing less as hasn't been playing. Good debut Park - **** poor first half better second when he couldn't hide behing Granero and more so Mbia's work rate Granero - Quality on the ball always available, clever player. Taken off at HT as I reckon Harry decided he's happy with him Mbia - loves a tumble but also isn't scared to shoot, one went close and always wants the ball. Did a decent job Taarabt - Not bad but sometimes trys to do too much. Average game by his standards DJ - Worked his arse off (Cisse take note) Didn't get a sniff in front of goal as bugger all service. One time he would have had a shot on target at least Taarabt decided to not pass it Bothroyd - 2nd half sub for Granero, worked harder than before as he knows he has to (****es me off that sort of mentality), won a few headers but if Harry deciding based on this performance he'll go Mackie - Awful all game. Never takes the ball on his back foot and so therefore always plays himself into trouble. Rarely drove forward. Poor Onouha - came on for Nelsen with 10 mins left and went CB. Did nothing wrong and has good pace. Better at RB than CB for me but did well Overall a better passing & more solid display but still lacking in the final third. Dyer, again was immense for me today. Stole it from here http://www.wearetherangersboys.com/forum/showthread.php?154444-Just-back
Just back, so here goes. First half forgettable. Some good passing in defence and midfield but very little in the way of chances. Harry set up 4 1 4 1 with Dyer at right back, Ben Haim at left back, Mbia covering the back four, Park and Granero in the centre, Mackie on the right, Taarabt on the left with DJ up top. Dyer played well, looking for width all the time. Ben Haim looked confident and strong. Park played much better in the second half when Granero was replaced by Bothroyd. Changed to 442 / 4411 with DJ dropping and looking to play inside. Suspect this was an experiment. West Brom had several chances to score in the first half. Hill was totally dominated by Lukaku in the first half and expected to see Onuaha replace him. West Brom again got lucky. A deflected goal that wrong footed Cesar. Off the heel of a defender. Difficult to see from the Loft! But before that we had given the ball away and never really recovered. Our goal was a great tonic. Ball over the top from midfield. West Brom defence asleep and Dyer, one touch, then fired across the keeper. Many were streaming out and waited in the aisles to see a well deserved draw. Good for confidence. Overall DJ looked sharp. Bothroyd less so, though he showed a few good touches. Park - a game of two halves. First pulling out of challenges. Second he made every challenge. Taraabt worked hard, but it didn't quite work our for him. One very poor corner. Set pieces still need some work to improve.
Good summary. Cesar made some good saves. Lukaku looked a much bigger threat than Long or Morrison, and Hill did pretty well in the circs. Ben Haim looked reasonable, bit rusty at times but that's not surprising seeing as he hasn't played much recently - I feel optimistic there. Dyer played well, and took his goal like a pro. Thought Park played well, probably the best I've seen him play for us, particularly in the second half. Liked the look of DJ, particularly as he had to go and dig out the ball. Overall, we look more confident under Harry and although the Baggies were the most threatening in attack, we weren't outplayed.
just got back from the game first half we looked very comfortable on the ball but not really creating much up front. thought the back four looked pretty solid only downside would be Ben haim played well some very nice tackles but he his not a left back a number of times he had space to run into but chose not too meaning mbia and park had to stop check back and play another ball. Also in the second half he got in a few good positions to whip a ball into the box with his left foot but 3or 4 times cut back on to his right all the time, but overall looked pretty solid. DJ looked sharp and hungry and was unlucky in the first half not to get a free kick or pen not sure if it was in the box after a good run was about to pull the trigger and looked like he had his heels clipped. also had a good chance with a header from 10 yards out but put it over the bar. But all in all a very good 90 mins from him didn't stop running and gives us more options upfront. Bothroyd: There is not much to say really very poor spent most of the 45 running around like a headless chicken, for a guy over 6ft plus has a very poor leap on him. Would be very surprised if harry picks him for any more games this season. Mbia: thought he was poor today endless running but played to many balls forward without looking up. he hit one screamer in the first half that wasn't too far off target, but overall not his best game today. Dyer: My mom today worked hard all game got stuck in and deserved his goal at the end which he took very well. Fingers crossed he can stay fit for the rest of the season. Mackie: i must say its the first time i have seen mackie look tired he made a couple of forward runs but felt he could have done with a rest today looked of the pace most of the game. overall a draw a fair result but i feel we need some players that can injected some pace into our play at times it just all to slow and predictable of where the ball is gonna go and not a enough movement from players.
Rather disappointing considering a Premier League team was visiting. I guess a message in there somewhere? I see Palace managed 13,693 v Stoke in a similar London/Midlands match up. Fulham 14,473 v Blackpool and Spurs 35,766 for a romp over Coventry. Wigan with 8,199 seem as disinterested as us for the visit of Bournemouth.
