Jose also came out joint top rated with Dejan on WhoScored, with Luke third. They aren't great for rating players though, they tend to bear out better over time with a larger sample, but the individual ratings can be a bit dodgy and their weighting also can throw up some odd ones even across a whole season. But since it supports my opinion I will wholeheartedly back it's validity.
Sometimes just clearing the ball into touch is the right thing to do...over confidence and trying to make a worldy pass which backfires on you is the wrong thing to do. Fonte looked the least accomplished ball player on the pitch, but did his job. Impressed with Wanyama, but I can see him accumulating yellow cards and missing games. Lovren looks a class apart.
Yeah hoofing it into the crowd has its place, there was a great example by Lambert in stoppage time, got it really high into the stand and it took a good 5 or 6 seconds to come back! The issue with Fonte though is that he wasn't trying to hit the ball where he was hitting it, he kept slicing it out for corners or throws in dangerous positions. They may all count as clearances and appear positive in stats but often they just brought more pressure onto us.
I would like to point out that it was the first game of the season, and Fonte hasn't had that much game time. I was impressed with him defensively, and he has done enough to start next weekend for me.
I'm just going to give a team rating as these individual rating threads always end up being a witch-hunt for one particular player... It was an above average, clinical away performance against the team that finished 8th last season, the defence was well organized and calm and Boruc made the saves when required. The midfield were dominant in the first half and came on strong in the closing stages to help to force the win, Rickie had a fairly quiet game up front, but, as always, kept his composure for the crucial spot-kick winner. Poch's tactics were spot on and the substitutions were well timed... All in all it was a promising display which bodes well for the rest of the season....7.5/10
Right, I've got some time before I head off for a family get together, so here goes... Boruc - 7 - Came for the crosses and cleared well, distribution a little iffy but comfortable enough. Super save late on. Chambers - 7 - Solid debut. Comfortable on the ball, a few good headed clearances and blocks. Grew into the game. Fonte - 6 - Sloppy passing. Kept hitting cross-fielders into the stands. Solid enough at the back, killed our rhythm at times. Lovren - 8 - Commanding display. Organised the back-line and the one time Anelka beat him he put in a superb tackle. Shaw - 9 - Great defensively and good going forward. An all-action display from Luke, great stuff. Schneiderlin - 7 - Morgan was Morgan. Not his greatest game but formed an effective duo in the middle with Big Vic. Wanyama - 9 - First half was the Wanyama show, 2nd half the game fell flat and WBA tried to target the flanks instead. Superb. Ward-Prowse - 7 - Was well involved in the game. Good set-pieces and always made sure to support Chambers. Intelligent player. Rodriguez - 7 - Some good direct running and a rasper off the bar. Struggled to get behind them but worked well with Lallana. Lallana - 7 - Better from Adam than what we saw at times last season. Less circling and more effective. Great bit of skill down by the corner. Lambert - 7 - Would have been a 6 but for the penalty. Never really got into it but reliable as ever from the spot.
Wanyama was excellent but I think that Schneiderlin and Cork are a better pairing than Schneiderlin and Wanyama on that showing. Its as if Wanyama is almost too imposing, slightly subduing Schneiderlin. Very early days though, way too soon to make such comments really
