Bunn - 5.5 (did very little, but should have done much better for the goal IMO) Martin - 5.5 (didn't do anything wrong, but really struggled against McCleary at points) Turner - 4 (nothing wrong, but didn't last long enough) Bassong - 6 (generally a good game, but two or three really silly errors/poor clearances let him down) Garrido - 7 (got forward plenty, didn't get beaten and generally very solid. One poor pass doesn't take away from a much improved performance) Johnson - 6 (poor first half, but really strong second half, passing crisper than usual and a couple of very nice passes) Howson - 5.5 (anonymous first half, came into the game a bit early in the second half, which goes to show how much better he is going forward) Bennett - 6 (got a bit of a lucky deflection, but took his goal well, looked good early on in each half, but also went missing when we were playing defensively - I feel this was another strong performance from him though) Snodgrass - 8 (everywhere defensively, lively in attack, one very poor free kick at the beginning belied his superb delivery generally - injury a real worry) Kamara - 6.5 (thought he was fantastic going forward, won everything in the air - touch still a little shaky and his finishing leaves something to be desired) Holt - 7 (a very poor first half, but his second half performance really made up for it, showed some of the vision of old, better at sucking in the foul as well, and generally played like a captain) Bennett (R) - 7.5 (very well taken goal, positionally very good and generally good decision making - still looks a little lightweight to me, but I'm confident with him coming on now) Tettey - 3 (pretty terrible ten minutes from him, you could argue he came on at the wrong time, but it wasn't great all the same) Pilkington - 5 (looked quite sharp for his four minute cameo, one nice run that came to nothing because we clearly weren't looking for a goal, but showed he has recovered) Thoughts?
I'll take it everyone agrees then! Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh- certainly skysports are a bit more generous. Bassong particularly I docked marks for poor play even though it didn't hurt us, generally he was as fantastic as usual. I don't think this alters the reality that this match didn'show a resolution to our problems creating chances (though I thought Holt was unlucky not to score) and also that we really suffer when teams press us high up the pitch. On a different note, it seems Garrido just needed a well earned rest
I didn't see or hear any of the game (Kids Birthday party). What was the set up, I heard Mcveigh say we were smashing it forward a bit to much. Was Bennett wide or in the middle?
Was a brilliant performance today we really wanted it. Ryan Bennett came on and was so cool wasn't phased at all. Holty played so much better, just goes to show you what a partner can do. It's so basic that if holt goes wide kamara goes on the middle. Kamara wide, holt goes in the middle. Either one up front, no-one goes in the middle. Much happier with the overall performance. We'll be fine , was never in doubt. Atmosphere cracking as well.
Pretty much agree with your ratings Rob - thought KK was good today - rasping drive brought an excellent save out of McCarthy early in the second half and ran his nads off (as did Holty). Both Anthea and Snoddy getting injured is a bit of a worry so hopefully they are not too serious and they'll be back for the Potters game. Brilliant atmosphere today, even when it got nervy towards the end. The crowd must have lifted the lads today - we were in fine voice all game !!
Wide. Very much 4-4-2, Howson and Johnson holding deep though and all the threat was from the wide areas (and set pieces). I think we could have possibly afforded Hoolahan, as really Reading offered little, and weren't very physical. Despite Reading having some of the tallest CB's in the league, the plan was definitely to bombard them with crosses.
I'd rate KK more like 7.5-8, as he had 3 cracking shots on target: (1) Stinging volley out of nothing that McCarthy saved well, (2) his pacey run at the defense after Holt put him through leading to the shot from the edge of the area that was going into the top corner until McCarthy got a desperate hand to it and turned it around the bar for the corner that produced the first goal, (3) the fierce header that was somehow blocked on the line. His awareness of play was also much better (MotD included him in the team of the day). Holt, Snods, BJ, and both Bennetts also did very well.
Sorry, but I really don't agree with those at all. If I'm being picky you can't give someone a 4 just for not playing very long but I'd say: Bunn - 5.5 - your assessment probably fair. Rusty - 7.0 - I thought he was very good yesterday. Got forward as far as the opposition box on some occasions (not that that is a judge of his performance) and made a handful of vital tackles, interceptions and blocks. R. Bennett - 7.5 - shouldn't really judge defenders on a goal, but a composed defensive performance. Bassong - 6.0 - can't argue with your assessment. Garrido - 6.5 - Didn't have much to do. Made the tackle when needed and actually nearly scored. E. Benno - 6.0 - agree with that one too. Johnson - 8.0 - I thought he was the best on the pitch. He always breaks up the play really well, and for someone who is about average size he is great at winning headers. And by his standards, his passing was decent too. Howson - 6.0 - agree with your core sentiments. Snodgrass - 7.0 - I feel eight is probably generous, but every game he is one of our best players. His defensive contributions shouldn't be underestimated, his delivery from dead balls was good and he is also capable of beating a defender. He was back on the pitch at full-time so I didn't think he was badly injured. Kamara - 6.5 - lively is probably the fairest description. His pace and touch got him in good positions, but he should have bagged a handfull of goals and didn't. Holt - 6.0 - he was effective without being anything more. Nice to see him finally getting something resembling service.
I thought it looked more like a 4-3-3 with Benno, Johnson and Howson in the middle with Snodgrass and Kamara playing off Holt
I can see where you're coming from, but I'm not really sure. Benno seeemed to be playing wide rather than through the middle, although he popped up on either wing, whilst Kamara was frequently ahead of Holt. Snodgrass also tracked back an awful lot more.
Without Hoolahan there was never going to be any creativity in the middle, which was a shame as the wingers often cut in to get into good positions, and early on Bennett wasn't afraid to try his luck from distance. With Wessi in their as well we might have stood a chance of some neat play to create openings, but it very rarely happened. It did get me thinking though, when was the last time we actually released a striker to run through on goal? I know it's not really Holt's game, but Kamara should be capable of it, but we had nobody in midfield capable of playing a pass to release a striker past the last defender. Reading did defend deep in places, but I can't remember it happening all season.
I thought about the very same thing earlier in the week, the through on goal is the hardest to set up (apart from passing through a densely poplulated defence). To be honest we don't have the strikers to use it as a regular ploy. My criticism which we do have the players for is getting the ball to the byline closer to goal and pulling it back. The fact we so rarely do this is indicative to the way we play with the cross early philosophy. Our wingers are just given the ball way to early and are expected to create chances.
Very much agree with this, and I think the problem is that lack of support from central midfield, or the other wing. When Snodgrass makes the byline, you've maybe got someone front and back post, but around the 6 yard box. We then try to force the ball to one of them, rather than playing it back towards the edge of the area for someone to take a shot.
You're right, you need runners from midfield to break in behind the central defenders. We're not going to do that however with defensive midfielders however. It the thing that really bugs me about Hughton the fact that he expects us to score goals. Absolutely infuriates me.
Bit of contradiction going on there DM! Other than that I gave a meaningless rating to Turner, I think we pretty much agree on everything except for Rusty. I personally thought McCleary gave him a torrid time, but he was hardly bad.
