Pretty much the end of the season, as a fairly new poster I thought I would put my 2 cents in with a towards end of season view on the team and managers Rob Green. Has to be contender for player of the season, despite a few howlers he has made some great saves. I do like Rob but with McCarthy in the wings and the club moving forward I think it should be a thanks for all you have done for us and all the best. B- Alex McCarthy. Not exactly had a chance mostly down to Robs decent performances, the one thing I think he has accomplished this season is to keep Rob on his toes and I’m hoping he will be our No 1 for next season and many thereafter. C Brian Murphy. Nice enough bloke however surely we have a youth keeper that would have done for 3rd choice, took up a space we could have used for someone else? No grade Armand Traore. His issue for me is that he can be such a liability in defence, but this is hardly news to anyone, probably under used when at times he could have been a decent weapon playing more advanced on the left, hardly a position we have been able nail someone down to. D Steven Caulker. For me at times he looks fantastic, however nowhere near consistently enough. I’m sure there is a class centre back in there, maybe lack of confidence? Who knows, one major problem is with the price paid you have to expect more than what he has given. D+ Rio Ferdinand. Never really stood a chance did he? Classed as an old boy wanting a last pay check, personally don’t think that was the case and he wanted to play, think he has probably done ok for the dressing room but this hasn’t worked out for all parties involved, amazed to see he has played 12 times this season. E Richard Dunne. Nooo for the injury, was playing well, his brain is still there sadly the legs not so much, does what he can under difficult circumstances. C Clint Hill. Love the man like Dunne does what he can puts 100% in and does what is asked of him, hoping he stays in some capacity and really glad he got his Prem goal finally. C+ Suk-Young Yun. At times looks a natural fit in the prem and why he wasn’t playing last season is beyond me, however at times he is exposed and has been caught out by let’s face it some amazing footballers, another one I want to stay on. C+ Mauricio Isla. Difficult to be overly critical considering he wasn’t played in what is his natural position and his 1st season in the UK, a few MOM performances IMO, however he can be sloppy and has been caught out a few times. C Nedum Onuoha. Hit and miss, do like Ned but again prone to getting caught out, another one to keep though. C Darnell Furlong. Looks promising, however the manager putting him against Sanchez in his second game was a crazy idea, With Isla going back and the Championship beaconing next season could be the making of him. C Matt Phillips. Poor start to the season, however since he has been back he has been amazing, must have watched the goal against Palace 100 times, despite his shaky start I think mismanagement has cost him and us. C+ Joey Barton. Hollywood passes, getting a stupid 3 game ban yet still a lot saying he is our player of the season, and to be fair he has to be in with a shout over the whole season, would like to see him stay next season at a vastly reduced pay. B- Leroy Fer. When he, and a lot of the people came in I thought Arry was getting some great players in. it soon became apparent the squad was so badly unbalanced and Leroy got stuck out of position! Has shown what he can do, what we could have done if he had been played in the correct position all season. C+ SWP. Nutmeg against Sunderland I think it was, was a highlight, apart from that a Ramsey mistake to bring him back, he will be gone next season, considering he refused to go out on loan, it can’t come soon enough F- Alejandro Faurlin. Unluckiest player in football, cracking lad I would retain him on a pay as you play contract, hopefully he will prove himself a bit with friendlies and the U21 side in the next month. Adel Taarabt. Poor attitude? Bad man management, the answer is likely to be a mixture of the 2, how we could have done with his talent this season. D- Karl Henry. Frustrating at times, never seems to pass forwards, create chances, but that’s not him or his job. Think most have been impressed with his performances, shame he is such a limited player. C+ Sandro. Gets grief for costing an amount I think a lot are guessing, I heard it was 6m not 10, either way his injury has been very costly, think if he had been in all season we would have looked a lot more solid. C- Niko Kranjcar. One cracking goal does not make the man, don’t think he’s up to it these days and wonders round the pitch like a lost sheep. E Junior Hoilett. Disappointing we all know there is a good footballer in there somewhere, just hasn’t produced the magic for us. D- Charlie Austin. Great season in the most part, natural goal scorer and we haven’t had many of them in recent years, looks like he is off, good luck and I hope you get us the transfer fee we deserve and more. B OBZ. At times has been an excellent foil for Charlie, but when hoofball doesn’t work we’re in trouble, not his fault we needed more forwards this year and he should have been a bit part player. D+ Eduardo Vargas. Played out of position, however linked up well with Isla at times down the right, he looked so exciting at times, was the lack of end product to do with him or the players around him? I don’t know. C- Harry. Backed him, for too long, I knew he is prone to telling the odd porky or a hundred, but mismanaged our club buying an unbalanced squad, negative set ups especially away, poor team selections, poor tactics and no plan B amongst other things. Finally threw his toys out of the pram when he couldn’t sign anyone on deadline day, far too late. F Chris Ramsey. Some poor team selections (SWP being the biggest), bad decisions in games especially with subs and didn’t really push a couple of games when it has been a win or bust situation. However has brought the best out of Phillips, proved we can win away (although the way the fixtures were set up this was likely) but brought us some positivity, would I have in charge next year, don’t know but I don’t want him to leave the club. C- Sorry this is a lot longer than I expected
Good post Tim even if it is difficult to read and a bit long (hope you don't mind constructive criticism). I am going to keep my reply to one line about each player and try to space it out a bit to make it easier to read. Due to the number of players, it is a bit long also. I haven't given grades but my overall opinion on each player. Green - agree with you. Has had a really decent season. Not my POTY. Deservedly back in the England squad. Wages too high so I suspect we will sell. McCarthy - Didn't see much of him but the little I did see, he looks promising. Keep. Murphy - think I saw him play once or twice in 3 years. I know from his time at Bohemians that he is decent. As you say, replace him with a younger keeper. Traore - not the best defender but decent attacking. Get rid quick. Caulker - when is he going to get on the end of a free/corner? He did it regularly last season at Cardiff. I would keep but I suspect he will be sold. Ferdinand - hang up the boots Rio. Dunne - has surprised me. I thought his career was over. Would give him a 1 year contract. Hill - Great attitude but the legs have gone. Would be super coaching the kids. Yun - To me, is simply not good enough. I would sell. Isla- Is only on loan. Love his attacking play. Would like him to stay but can't see him leaving Juve to play in the Championship. Has been badly utilised by us. Onouha - I like him as a centre half but not as a full back due to his limited attacking skills. Keep as a centre half. Furlong - not quite ready for the Prem but I would hope next year in the Championship might suit him more. Has potential. Keep. Philipps - Had a great second half of the season. Would like him to stay but I expect he will be sold. Barton - one stupid moment at Hull cost us but has been by far our best player in so many matches. My POTY. Keep but reduce his wages. Fer - played some bad matches and missed some sitters but I like him a lot. Doubt he would go down to the Championship with us and will be sold. SWP - Nothing to say about him except, get rid asap. Faurlin - The opposite to SWP. Keep at all costs. He could be our best midfielder if he returns to form. Superb player and super lad. Taarabt - I have always been pro Adel but he has had a terrible 12 months. Breaks my heart to say it but, sell. Henry - What a season he has had. Really surprised at how well he has done. Keep. Sandro - when fit, he is a very combative midfielder but very limited attacking wise and too injury prone. Due to suspected high wages, get rid. Kranjcar - Nice lad but just hasn't produced. Like Taarabt, overweight. He had a mare at Villa. Get rid. Hoilett- very frustrating player. Thanks for producing the winner at Wembley. Just hasn't delivered. Get rid. Austin - Great return in goals. I am sure he will be snapped up. 2 great seasons from Charlie. Will be hard to replace. Zamora - Like Rio and Clint, it is time to hang up the boots. He has battled well but just past it. Vargas - Like Isla, not fully utilised by us and as he is on loan, he will return to Napoli. Not sure we saw the best of him. Frustrating as he could be very good. Harry - Stayed 9 months too long and brought in some duds. Destroyed his own legacy by staying too long. Ramsey - doesn't have the experience for the job. Blame TF for appointing him in the first place. Terrible decision by TF. Out of his depth. Get rid.
Oh I know it was too long, kinda got in the flow of writing and found it hard to stop, most of my others are a lot shorter. found it very difficult a lot of them I liked as individuals and saw the talent there but as a team we just haven't cut it this season
finglasqpr: You would keep Dunne for another year when he s clearly past it and sell Yun who has looked a promising prospect, I don't get that one. Employing oldies and not youth is a lot of the reason we have struggled. The premiership as all about speed,
Yes Northlondonqpr. I would keep Dunne ahead of Yun by offering him a 1 year contract. Dunne is much older and slower but he is still a proven player. I can not recall Yun playing well for more than an odd game here or there. To me, Yun is not proven at all. I don't think the Championship would suit his game either whereas Dunne should still be good enough for the Championship. I just don't think Yun has cut it.
I am going to be generous in some of my marking in order to make a clear distinction between our successes and our duds Green: A : POTY contender. Premier League quality. Wages may mean he has to give way to younger, up and coming player (McCarthy). Traore: D : usually tries hard but not very intelligently. Very average defensively. Caulker: B : Has looked good on occasion but not as often as his fee would have lead us to expect. Ferdinand: E : Probably genuinely wanted to play for us but well past his sell by date. Dunne: B: Has done well. I'd give him another year but only as a squad player due to his age. Hill: C: Full marks for effort but time to retire. Exposed when helping out as a FB. Need younger option. Yun: B: Inconsistent but a valuable asset. Isla: B: Inconsistent but a valuable asset. Onuoha: B: Keep him as a CB, he offers little offensively as a FB. Furlong: D: Promising but out of his depth. Phillips: A: terrific second half of the season. Barton: A: POTY. Our most consistent performer, faultless for his effort. Premier League quality. Fer: A: Mark based on him playing in his correct position for only a handful of games. SWP: F: Mark says it all. Taarabt: C: not enough appearances to judge but fitness and commitment questionable. Henry: B: a rare success story. A little limited but very effective. Sandro: C: Disappointing and injury prone but may now be finding his feet. Kranjcar: D: Looked fitter early on but often ephemeral when brought into the team. Hoilett: C: Early on, he frightened some defences when running at them but poor control and even poorer crosses. Austin: A: Goal tally is a considerable achievement, playing in a struggling team. POTY contender. Zamora: C: Lots of effort, sometimes effective but his presence encourages us to play hoofball. Vargas: C: Promising start, albeit out of position, but seemed to lose his way. Harry: E: Team selection, tactics, motivational technique, body language and timing of departure all negative. Ramsey: C: Upbeat, eloquent and a strong motivator but his points tally per game is even worse than Harry's.
I know we need some experience but I really hope we get rid of the old brigade Dunne, Zamora, Hill, etc and buy some young lower league players. I know Yun has made a couple of errors but I put that down to him mainly having to make up for the speed of others, plus he has looked good at times, been confident and has speed. I I guess we all have our different views.
