Ricardo 4 - Jesus H. Christ, there is no way he should have started. Again he had nothing to do in the first half. Again he flapped at every cross. Again he nearly cost us a goal with his poor goalkeeping. Naughton 6.5 - Was a lot more effective going forward than Van Aanholt, defended quite well but got caught out a bit when Bristol broke on us. Bamba 8 - Can't think of anything he did wrong....great cross for the goal, he skinned their forwards like they were my Nanna, he even had a chance to fall over the ball and still recover. What a legend. Mee 8 - Since his first game he's been immense. Wins everything in the air. Gets tight to their forwards. Shows bravery in a battle. Van Aanholt 5 - This was more reminiscent of his first 2 performances. He was often out of position. A lot of Bristol's attacks in the second half came down the right. And he didn't have the confidence to beat anyone further up the field and use his pace. I wasn't impressed tbh. Oakley 6 - Had a solid game. Gave the ball away a lot in the second half but then again who didn't. Played a part in the winner by closing them down. Didn't get forward as much as Abe has started to do. Wellens 6.5 - First half he was excellent. Second half he was less effective. The midfield seemed non-existant in the second half. King 6.5 - That was one of his 'passenger' games. He huffed and puffed and drove forward from midfield but tbf to Bristol they nullified his threat. Vassell 6 - Ran at them more than usual, but final ball let him down. Still doesn't get involved enough for me though. Again you could question his effort at times unfortunately. Or maybe his fitness. Yakubu 7 - Scored, as he's paid to do, didn't do much else though. Barely touched the ball in the second half. But the goal was vital in a game of such tight margins. Gallagher 6 - Did ok, like King wasn't greatly involved. Set-pieces were decent. Subs Dyer 5.5 - Didn't really make an impact. Abe 5.5 - Can't remember anything he did really in the short time he was on. He's not really an impact sub tbh. Waghorn 8.5 - Well what can you say? The lad hasn't been given many chances in the last few months, but I'm delighted he's taken one. Delighted for him, and obviously delighted for this vital 3 points. And it really could be a vital 3 points. He did everything right when he came on, he chased down everything with purpose and won some crucial 50-50s. You could see he really wanted it. And that is exactly why he is loved. He's certainly staked a claim for a starting place now. Ref 5 - We've had a lot worse. Atmosphere 8.5 - Night games are usually crap for atmosphere but the pies and pints obviously tempted/rallied a few thousand! And as I suspected Friday night is more conveniant for most people. I could be talking about our poor second half performance, our failure to kill off games or our lack of guts. But instead I'm talking about the best moment at Fremman's Wharf since Big Steve's goal against Leeds. Stoppage time winners are just so sweet, especially when we are chasing the play-offs, and even more so when it's a crowd favourite like Waghorn, who a few weeks back we'd all accepted was going to the bastard Sheep Shaggers. You know it's a great moment when you end up 2 rows down. This could be such a massive 3 points come the end of the season. And btw I predicted a 2-1 win with a last minute winner in the pub beforehand. One important lesson though - kill the bloody game off! Thoughts
Ricardo - 4 - **** me up that man does! Naughton - 6 - Average for him. Bamba - 8 - Played like Bamba plays but a few second half errors. Mee - 8 - I liked him today, not a fan but good today. PVA - 5 - Shocking today Vassel - 5 - Ineffective on the wing, he is a striker! Oakley - 6 - A few errors and probs trying too hard but always puts his foot in for the tackle!! Wellens - 6 - Didn't really notice him today. King - 5 - Didn't appear to be at the races. Gallagher - 5 - Same as above. Yakubu - 7 - Comes alive when ball at his feet, apart from that you wouldn;t know he ws there. Abe - 6 - Did what he had to do and kept the ball moving. Dyer - 5 - Didn;t get a real chance to have an impact but could have done better. Waghorn - 10 - Best player on the pitch when he came on and what a goal! BOOM! Ref - Can go **** himself Atmosphere - Was ****! As usual!
As I was there, here are my ratings. Ricardo - Awful, send him back to wherever and lets get Weale in. Naughton - ok, good going forward. Sol Sol Bamba - What a legend! He's got to be the best centre back since...... I dont know who. Brilliant defensively, awesome bringing the ball into midfield, wins headers up front - and the way he skinned their full back for the opening goal. It was like watching Jackie Sinclair/Lenny Glover/John Farrington (if you dont know, ask your dad!). If we could clone Sol and make another nine, we'd be top of the Premiership. Only downside is, if he keeps playing like that someone will offer stupid money for him in the summer. Mee - Very impressive, I can see why Sven let Hobbs go. Ben is a class above Jack. PVA - Thinks he is better than he actually is. Lets get Cunningham back asap and let the Chelsea boy go back to the bright lights of London. I would say 'jumped up tosser', but I dont know the lad. Oakley - Did ok, as he always does. Wellens - Did he play? King - Think he was stood near me in J3, he certainly wasnt on the pitch. Instead, Sven picked his useless brother 'For King'. Vassell - I'm afraid one stepover and cross is not enough to warant a starting place. Yakubu - Ok, shoot me down in flames, but here goes. As I shouted last night at a particularly quiet period towards the end of the game, YAKUBU, YOU ARE USELESS! Lazy, cant head the ball, or even attempt to head it, just all-round useless - except of course, 4 goals in 6 games. Thats nearly as many as Fryatt has scored for Hull! Gallagher - I've seen him play better, but he is quality, and he works hard for the team - Yak, take note. Dyer - Did nothing so nothing to say. Abe - He's good, but needs to close players down, gives the opposition too much room. Waghorn - Stunning. Did more in 10 minutes than Vassell and the Yak did all night. He made a tackle at left back at one point, then pops up with the winner. But for me, the best bit of the night was when he came over to the East Stand, grabbed the badge on his shirt and patted his chest. Gave me goose bumps then ,and has done again just thinking about it. He has to start on tuesday in place of DV. Crowd - Good support early on, went a bit quiet towards the end, but when Waggy scored - well, it was amaizing. The Poznan seemed really good, anyone out there that saw it from afar, perhaps you could comment? And the folk in the Family stand, good on yer! On their feet joining in withe J, K and L right at the end. Brilliant night all round. Who was that idiot though in the Hobbs shirt seen in the Counting House and Local Hero prior to the game? Oh yes, that'd be me!
If we did lose Bamba for big money. The money would have to be BIG. And with that Sven coukd buy another "Bamba" with it and still have alot of change
Joe - where did you sit mate? I thought the atmosphere where I was was great. Though my dad ws sitting in J3 and said it was crap.
Emilio, there's your dads problem, he was SITTING in J3. Those of us who stood in J3 had a great time.
Kill the game off..................exactly thats what we need to do. Finger nails don't taste very nice, but its these games that show our determination. We suffered against Preston at the death. Had to feel sorry for Bristol City though, they tried in the second half.
If we all sang as one it would be good but you end up getting about 3-4 different songs in the KOP at the same time now and again.
