Green 9 - don't think he could have done any more in the land of the giants that was Wednesday's attack. Simpson 7- struggled with Maghoma at times but an extra mark for not being Jose Bosingwa. Looks more comfortable on the ball than any right-back we've had for some time. Hill & Onuoha 7 - didn't have loads to do but dealt well enough with the big lump up front and then the slightly smaller lump who came on. Traore 5- can't defend, won't defend. Is not a defender. Hoilett 8- tired a bit but nice to have someone looking fit and clearly a cut above his marker. Kirkland's save from him in the first half was incredible. Henry 7- solid, reliable, unspectacular but necessary. Faurlin 7- kept it well, tackled well. I think one of him or Henry needs a bit more going forward but he's a classy player at this level. Our Joe 6 - can't fault his effort and two passes in particular were sublime but I felt he didn't give Simpson enough help with Maghoma and was lucky not to give away a pen. Zamora 4- can't seem to jump. He can hold it up ok to feet but really isn't up to it IMO and surely Austin will be first choice with Johnson. Johnson 7- really lively and took the goal well. Not at his best but, if he can stay fit, a big if, he's one of the best in the league. SWP 8- couldn't have asked any more of the talentless yet industrious dwarf. Austin 6- not 100% but promising though I'd have been an improvement on Zamora. Jenas 6- the invisible man but not on the pitch long enough to demonstrate just how invisible he can be.
Great credit to Barton today for his work rate and skills, but he does seem to have periods of the game where a red mist comes down. Today he gave away what most days would have been given as a penalty soon after he got his yellow card. But for a bit of luck for us, the penalty wasn't given, they didn't have a chance to equalise and Joey wasn't sent off. But we could have been talking about a different game tonight. Harry needs to resolve that part of his game if we keep him
When was Bosingwa comfortable on the ball? When he was mishitting back passes or when he was slicing crosses out of play while holding his sleeves to keep warm?
Absolutely sober, Totally. Even Harry Redknapp was conceding tonight that we were fortunate that the pen wasn't given. It could have been a different story. We were the better team overall, but on that incident we rode our luck
I agree with you even though I am not 100% sober (about 30%). Our problem today was that when we should have finished off the game, we didn't. Hoilett should have put us 3/4-1 up, and then we panicked. I think that we will sort this out and start winning comfortably. Don't you think?
But the slow mo replays I saw showed very clearly the SW player dived, he got a yellow should have been a red. Barton had his leg up, but no more which luckily the Ref today was good enough to see.
Just got back from a long drive home from the match. IMHO your rating of Green is too high, should have done better for the goal. Was near post after all. But distribution and positioning was good thereafter. Rating for Joey is too low. At least a 7, tired towards the end and was lucky with the pen. Henry rating must be a joke right? Trying to stay positive but struggling, he was the worst player in a hoop shirt today. Poor distribution, kept standing off his men, only made 1 notable tackle. If Barton hadn't been booked im sure it would have been him making way for Jenas. Agree Traore cant defend but linked upwell with hoilett going forward. Both centre halves were great today and well done Nedum for the strikers instinctive finish. And Finally Ale was outstanding today, passing was spot on, composed as always, and put himself about with the challenges. Up there with Hoilett as Rangers MOTM for me. Kirkland was the stand out owls player, he saved them from a hiding. Save from Hoilett second half was frankly world class!
Radio 5 live was reporting that Barton had admitted it was a pen, Oslo, and Harry conceded it in his interview. I haven't seen it in slow mo, so I'll say no more until I watch the telly tonight
Yeh, Barton thought he was off, because he'd raised his leg I think, but if there was contact at all it was minimal, and from the dive.
What did the team spirit look like Goldie? From the highlights I've seen, it appeared as though there was some togetherness there?
