Some comments from last night's game as I saw it: Taylor - jury still out. Not a lot to do. Berardi - solid RB, hope he's here for years to come. No idea what he was doing for the red. Should only have been a yellow. Wooton - jury still out. Didn't set the heather alight, but no howlers either. I'm actually coming to the conclusion that Pearce is the problem. Pearce - still has same old problem - opposition sail past him all the time. Should have got a red for his crazy challenge that earned him the yellow. Passed ball to keeper more than any other player. I'll repeat - he may be the problem, not Wooton. Time will tell. Taylor - excellent shift. Can see him as our LB for a long number of years. Big, strong, fast, good tackler, great crosses, wonderful engine. Warnock shouldn't get a look in. Tonge - always been a fan of his & he's still got it. Not a world beater, but a very good Championship midfielder. Full range - tackles, digs, marks, creative, link man, can put his foot on the ball & always unruffled. Might not be our #1 midfielder, but great to have in the squad. Cook - is he really only 17? You're looking at the future here, chaps. Hope he gets maximum game time. Bianchi - quieter game, possibly at fault in preventing cross for their goal (gave up). On the positive side, I genuinely believe that my first impression of him is correct - a new Gary McAllister. Best in CM, wasted as RM, IMHO. Ajose - good addition to the team. Lively, skillful, confident. Need to see more of him before I can give an honest assessment. Smith - loved him last season. Seems to have got better this season. Fitter & better on ground. #1 choice of striker for me. Doukara - great goals. Most impressive thing was the first touch to set himself up for the second goal. More to come, hopefully. Most impressive. Subs Benedicic - looked very skillful warming up at half time. Didn't do a great deal when he came on as LM. Appears to be scared to tackle, but I'll forgive him as he's a newbie. Not next time. Didn't seem to get involved - almost like he didn't know what he was doing in the system. Big lump of a lad for 18! We'll see what the future brings. Hunt - as ever, he was a headless chicken with the first touch of Douglas Bader (Google him, kids). Absolutely clueless. Got booed when he came on. Got sarcastic cheers if he managed to do something right. And yes, you're right, it didn't happen often. Only one word left regarding him -. WHY? Poleon - Mr Hustle & Bustle. Didn't do much with his 10 mins that's worth commenting on, either positively or negatively.
Good analysis Jock. Hope Cook doesn't get too much gametime this season, or he'll be burned out by the time he could be first name on the teamsheet. A win's a win. We're still work in progress. Hock's i/v after the game was a bit worrying in that he still perceives a role for Hunt. Mind you, with Sharp arriving, Doukara scoring, Poleon/Smith offering different things, even if Hunt were to play through the middle, who gets dropped to make way for him?
