Escaped with a replay, just...

...well im happy we have a replay as it means the Spurs game has been moved from the Monday night which would have been more difficult to get to.

THE GAME

I cant really say either side deserved to win the game, and it had the typical feel of a FA Cup tie (not the old feel, the modern one) with a low turn out from the fans making any atmosphere difficult to create. They definitely had more shots at goal than we did, but on the balance of play a draw is the right result.

We lined up with Tal Ben Haim making his debut at Left Back and DJ Campbell playing as the lone striker. First half neither side really got going and I think both teams were just going through the motions really. The game got stuck with each side having long periods of possession without really doing much with it - just passing the ball around the midfield area.

Second half we were a bit livelier with two strikers allowing us to give their defence more to think about but they had quite a few shots without really coming to anything once more. I couldnt see either side scoring until they got what looked like a lucky deflected goal which looked like settling the match. Rangers didnt look like scoring at all really and with a couple of wasted opportunities it looked like our FA Cup 'run' was over for another year - but with seconds remaining Dyer picked up a lovely ball over the top and slotted it home with a nice composed finish, ensuring the result was fair to both sides.

THE RATINGS

CESAR - 6 - made a few saves but nothing really troubled him and was unlucky for the goal.

BEN HAIM - 5 - looks a solid player but the fact that he is so right footed meant he hardly went down the wing and kept cutting inside instrad which did prevent us making the most of opportunities. But definitely looks a solid defender.

HILL - 6 - played against the big strong lukaku and did a good job of it. did loose him a few times and let him have too much time on the ball a couple of times but generally did ok. nothing special though.

NELSEN - 6 - much the same really. won the headers that he needed to and didnt give them too many clear cut chances.

DYER - 6.5 - kept on making good runs down the wing and was involved in alot of our good play. great finish for the goal.

MBIA - 5.5. - had an improved second half but was average tbh. yet again was prone to diving which i am really getting frustrated with as he has no need to do it as he has options to pass to. made some nice runs and did have a decent shot in the first half but overall lost too much possession.

GRANERO - 6 - was a calming presence on the ball and was making some nice passes. did the simple things well until being taken off.

TAARABT - 6 - started on the left which meant he wasnt always in position to receive the ball from ben haim as he was moving to the middle all the time. but was often in space and linked the play up well. nothing really came off for him today though.

PARK - 5 - improved in second half but for me i really cant see why he is in the team. was awful in first half and well off the pace. losing possession to easily, passing poor and generally not with the flow of the game. second half was better but is a weak link in the side imo.

MACKIE - 5 - first half was non existent tbh out on the right. second half was involved more but didnt really do too much. one of those days really.

CAMPBELL - 5.5 - worked hard all day and was constantly closing down. won the ball back on several occasions but didnt have one shot due to the lack of service. did better when bothroyd came on as he had someone to help him up front.

SUB:

BOTHROYD (for Granero) 6 - I actually thought he did ok when he came on. linked well with campbell at times and looked confident with a few back heels and decent flick ons. but the game just faded out in the end when neither side created too much. didnt have too much service tbh.

ONUOHA (for Nelsen) - 6 - did what was required but cant say i noticed him too much which must mean he did a decent job!

FINAL WORD

Not a great game from either side by any stretch of the imagination, and as I said the right result imo. Both teams struggled to create anything decent, like the fans who struggled to make any atmosphere. A typical modern FA Cup game tbh. Boring game on the whole and luckily we equalised right at the end after their 'lucky' deflected goal.

In terms of new/returning players - Ben Haim did ok in defence but was at LB and never went down the wing as he is right footed. Campbell didnt have a single shot IIRC but worked hard, Bothroyd the same tbh. Not sure either of those two will be the answer but hard to judge in this sort of game as there was such a shortage of spark and creation in either teams play.

 

Exactly nines I hate watching those early games without a beer but cant be doing with boozing at 10am

 

Yep nines, you didnt miss much at all. Much better to save your money to spend on PL games! See you v Spurs.

 

Mate thanks for the report. I especially enjoy player ratings but on this one very few can say something about it. Cheers

 

Cheers Judo, good as usual (despite my earlier post)

Who would you give MOM too then?