Couldn't catch the game at all today as no access to radio or Internet! Desperate to hear your player ratings as feel like a kid at Xmas who hasn't seen his present but has been told what it is but not in much detail yet!
My verdict: Boruc - few shaky moments but solid enough and a terrific save at the end - 7 Shaw - didn't really put a foot wrong, looked a threat going forward, and won the penalty - 9 Lovren - looked assured and made some great tackles - 8 Fonte - solid enough but sliced a few clearances - 6 Chambers - good debut, didn't make more than a couple of minor errors and looked composed - 7 Schneiderlin - quietly effective as usual - 8 Wanyama - put himself about well, a couple of dodgy clearances but overall performed well - 7 Rodriguez - good application but didn't really get any chances - 6 Lallana - again good effort, but gave away too many fouls and didn't really create much - 5 Ward-Prowse - very assured performance, intelligent play and good set pieces which is something we tend to be poor at - 7 Lambert - had a quiet game, didn't really do much other than smashing in a fine penalty of course - 6 None of the subs really had time to make an impression.
Agree with most of that but a bit harsh on Lallana. He was definitely better than Fonte who was our worst player.
Boruc - 7 - Made a questionable save at the start when the ball was going well wide, but saved all 3 points with a classy save at the end. Chambers - 6.5 - Solid start, combined well with JWP down the right side with some nice one-two's. Could improve upon his crossing. Wasn't tested too much by West Brom as they play very narrow. Made a block at the end which was crucial for us. Fonte - 5.5 - Might sound harsh but I was getting so frustrated with the amount of times he plays an unneccasary pass, ala Gerrard, which kept going for throws. Defensively fairly sound. Lovren - 7 - Quality start, looked very assured in possession, and finally we have a centre back who can pick a nice pass!! Made a crucial interception to stop a certain goal. Shaw - 8 - Menacing all game long. Quality in the tackle, on the ball and going forwards, won the penalty and generally was one of our key outlets when Jay cut inside. Wasn't really tested at the back like Chambers as West Brom played very narrow. Wanyama - 8 - the General. Bossed midfield, knocked Mulumbu off of the ball at one point and strolled past him like he wasn't a beast! For me, adds more with Cork when he drives forward with the ball. That direct power we lacked last season in the middle. Schneiderlin - 7 - Picked up the pieces nicely, a performance we've come to expect of Schneid. Complemented Wanyama very well, seemed to have good understanding already. JWP - 8 - Set pieces were causing problems all game. He is techniquely superb and some of his passes and general 'bite' to his game remind me of Scholes.. Especially the shot he hit in the first half - an absolute scorcher, 2 feet either way could be a contender for our goal of the season! Lallana - 7 - As ever worked very hard, few excellent pieces of skil and tight dribbling as we expect from Adam. Jay Rod - 7.5 - Our best offensive player, always works and runs. excellent shot hit the bar, lacked any other real chances, but looked more threatening than Lambert and Lallana. Lambert - 6.5 - Thought he was bossed out of the game by Olsson and McAuley, who were excellent for West Brom. However, another excellent spot kick boosts his rating quite a bit. Pochettino - 8- He knew West Brom would be a tough midfield battle. Wanyama and Schneiderlin suited this game very well. And the youth blooding in to the side is very exciting and gives a new fresh dynamic edge. Excellent start. Onwards and upwards. COYR. MoM - Shaw probably for winning the assist. But I thought JWP pushed him all the way right up untill that point.
Proves it's a game of wildly varying opinions because I thought Fonte had a good game, might have been a bit untidy sometimes (Especially his passing) but thought he was effective and 5 interceptions (2 more than anyone else) and 14 clearances (twice as many as anyone else) isn't too shabby by any means in my book. *EDIT* Boruc - 8 - His usual eccentric self but earned us the three points just as much as anyone else did with a huge save. Chambers - 7 - Didn't look that assured defensively but overall a very good debut. Lovren - 8 - Very solid defensively and good distribution. Fonte - 7 - Didn't make things look easy and passing was sloppy but did a good job defensively. Shaw - 8 - Usual self really, didn't look any worse for wear for his now seemingly phantom ligaments problem. Wasn't quite the brick wall he can be defensively but never had too much trouble. Schneiderlin - 7 - Didn't quite get stuck in as much as he usually does but very efficient with his passing. Wanyama - 8 - Started off looking very threatening carrying the ball forwards but didn't run with the ball much after the half an hour mark or so, but really put himself about, few silly fouls but a constant thorn in WBA's side. Lallana - 6 - Good pressure as we like to see but gave a way a lot of daft fouls, and after being very involved in the play and looking very neat early on he faded out of the game. *DOUBLE EDIT* Bloody forgot JWP didn't I! Ward Prowse - 6 - Possibly a little harsh, right on the edge of a 7, whipped in some good set pieces and very tidy and efficient all in all, but didn't quite provide enough at either end. I do worry he's a little lost in a 4-2-3-1, he'd be perfect for a 4-4-2 but he's a bit of a round peg in a square hole in our system wherever he plays. Rodriguez - 6 - Like Lallana he is the kind of player you know is going to naturally give the ball away fairly frequently in search of penetration but didn't quite balance out today, just gave it away too many times. Looked dangerous but never really looked like setting anything up for anything other than himself. Good rasping shot against the bar though, although it was offside anyway. Lambert - 7 - Tempting to keep him at a 6 as that was the level he performed at for 85 minutes or so and it almost seems a given that he'll bang the penalty in, but in the end won us the game so earns at least a 7.
That's a fair view, he started the game well with lots of energy, I was just annoyed by all the niggly fouls, and he faded a bit before being subbed. I'm sure he will have better days.
Good stats for Fonte, and I agree he did his job well, just one mistake too many dropped him a point for me.
I agree with all of this except for Lallana's rating whom I would give a 6 after a few glimpses of skill and trickery.
Again, that's a fair comment. He tends to flatter to deceive though in terms of those tricks, I can't remember the last time one actually led to a chance, though they are fun to watch.
Unfortunately his clearances were often to the opposition or the crowd which is why I'd give him a 6.
Mauricio deserves a lot of credit. He set up the team to dominate a good WBA team...not his fault we couldn't take advantage of the possession as he can't put the ball in the net himself. It sounded like it was the Everton game all over again. Very promising start for this season.
Yeah, last season in particular I remember the majority of his twists and turns leading to nothing but he won a corner after on piece of skill today and a free kick from another so hopefully he grows in confidence this season.
Even though he wasn't our best player today, the goal should take Rickie a step closer to the next England squad.
Oh and the only other rating to give is Pochettino who I'd give a 7. Set up with a very strong and physical midfield who fought very well against one of the best midfields we came across last season. My only criticism is his substitution to bring on Davis when we were crying out for fresh legs up front. Rickie was visibly tired (although not too tired to slam home the penalty!) and there was very little movement from the supporting players in the final third.
I thought our attacking movement was great! It was the quality going forward that sometimes lacked. With Jay and Adam you will never lack for effort. Rickie was certainly the 'weak link' today, against 2 very physical CBs he can struggle, another example was QPR at home last year where Samba kept him out of the whole game as he is taller, stronger and more mobile than Rickie.
Like I said he was certainly untidy but none of his clearances put us directly in danger and did the job well enough in the end. Certainly think personally he's hovering just between a 6 and a 7, just thought calling him our worst player was a little unfair.
I admit "worst" is a bit unfair, but he wasn't as good as anyone else so I couldn't think of a better word to use!
