Match Day Thread Still major flaws, but promising signs and good performance. - My thoughts on the Reading game

First off... Rafa.... Dummett Captain? LOL!

But seriously I think we were pretty good for spells during the game. There are some weak links that need cutting out, but Rafa seems to be making relatively quick progress.

We looked a lot more confident at the back and we looked much better with 4 attacking players spreading the play.

With only one striker before with Anita as a winger, we weren't going to create anything, now we look much more potent up front.

Ratings -

Sels - 3 - I'm not impressed with him so far. He's not commanding his box at all well, and the only save he made was a weak attempt to push away.

Anita - 8 - Apart from a few moments he was excellent today. He's much better defensively than Janmaat, despite his physical disadvantage. He reads the game well, and knows when to go forward, and him and Ritchie look like a cracking partnership. His best position is obviously fullback either RB or LB, and he's much better than anything else we have. He's probably the most intelligent player we have in terms of reading the game. He actually offers more to the attack than Janmaat because his passing is also much better than Janmaats.

Clark - 6 - This guy needs to calm down on the slide tackles, but he was relatively solid.

Mbemba - 7.5 - Solid performance, good movement forward.

Dummett - 2 - Woeful. Needs to be sold and fast. Major weak link. His positioning is even worse than Janmaats

Goufran - 6 - Great work rate, decent covering and decent running. Nothing amazing but solid enough.

Shelvey - 7 - Some great vision at times and good work rate. We look much better with him spreading the ball out.

Hayden - 7.5 - A bit soft, but he could have had 2 goals easily. Good movement, decent goal, good assist.

Ritchie - 8 - Great spreading of the ball, good work rate, good penalty. Was all over the place and works well with Anita. Great display.

Perez - 4.5 - Not in it very often. Some poor touches let him down.

Gayle - 6.5 - I know he scored two goals, but he was very quiet most of the game. Doesn't deserve a 7. Glad he's scoring goals though. He needs to put himself about a bit more.

Lascelles - n/a

Colback - n/a

Benitez - 7 - Apart from the appalling decision to make Dummett captain, he got the lads up for the game and seems to waste no time making changes and picking up after the mess we've made. Good decision to play 4-4-2.

MOTM - Ritchie. Although Hayden and Anita were both also great.

 

Did he really make dummett captain?
WThonesttogodfuck!

Ritchie would make a better captain as he leads by example!

Shelvey on 80K a week... captain?

On a side note...... Le Gouf ALWAYS gives 100% and although he aint premiership class... he would be a weapon in this league and possibly an unsung hero this seaosn. MAYBE OUR DIAMOND IN THE SAND!

 

I agree with Sel's - Darlow should be starting. Sel's doesn't talk or come off his line.
Dummett - He really is the worst player at the club now. The guy isn't even Conference standard.
Ritchie - Jesus. We have robbed Bournemouth.

 

Generally agree although a bit harsh on Sels. Not been impressed by him but deserves time to settle. Not much longer though as harsh on Darliw who did ok last season. Suspect Darlow will play in league cup game next week to stake his claim. Thought Hayden was excellent. I think this lad will prove to be a steal too like Ritchie. Also thought Gayle did really well and did put himself about. Shelveys passing outstanding in first half. Faded a bit second half and although he worked hard needs to concentrate more on his marking to go with that effort.
We were still shakey at the back, got lucky with the shot that hit the bar but grew in confidence to dominate and get the win we needed. 4-1 probably flatters us but who cares. You take your good luck with your bad. Hopefully onwards and upwards with new confidence, new signings and Mitro back next wed

 

So i like stats.... And the key one is we won 4-1.

But we where second best at everything else. We had so little possession and at home as-well.
We had less chances also....

We won, and thats a good sign... but it still concerns me how we are not bossing games!

 

In fairness in the previous 2 games we bossed possession and lost so as long as we're converting chances I'm happy we can work on the overall performance as confidence rises.

 

Funny that, that he suddenly becomes excellent at full back as opposed to being crap as winger....oh hang on, Rafa already knew that from last season! Seriously WTF has Rafa been doing with this guy for the first 2 games?!

On a more positive note though, it's good so see Rafa has the balls to drop under performing players sooner rather than later, ie Laecelles, Hanley and Colback. Clark looks like he might be useful, Hayden and Shelvey in centre mid look like our best option ATM, and Ritchie is awesome, easily our best player in every game so far. Plenty of nervy moments, but I guess you can allow that after the last 2 games, this needs to be a springboard now.

We still seem to be missing a winger and a striker, and I can't see us mounting a significant challenge without them, more signings needed!

 

Why is Sels starting? I don't quite get it...we have 3 decent keepers in the squad, why did we go out to buy another and start him right away? I know two are injured but..

 

I think we have to show a bit of patience rather pillaring this player or that player. I would never have started Gouff, but the lad did ok. Dummett as captain was a strange one but again the whole back four were better tonight - even though he struggled a bit (2 is ridiculously harsh by the way). Kudos to Rafa for spotting the obvious with Anita. It was a failed experiment based on pre season form and tactics which went well. Real games are different.

Ritchie is standing out a mile at present. Clearly a PL footballer operating at a level below his capabilities.

 

Gayle isn't in the team to run around like a winger or central mid-fielder he's there to score, did his job against Reading so saying he had a quiet game is a bit of a let down. Good free kick an'all.

 

Getting worried about Ayoze - when was the last ok game let alone a good game?

We need a creative midfielder still!

Plus Gayle was brought in to score goals - 3 games 3 goals.

 

Other than a couple of brief periods for Reading I thought we controlled that game completely. We're still having a little trouble breaking down the opposition defence but we got the goals in the end and hopefully we will get more and more effective as the new team settles. I think Shelvey and Hayden both played well and are our best partnership in the middle. Ritchie is great little player and the one who is most likely to make things happen, but we are crying out for the same on the left side and Ayoze isn't really doing enough right now, but we don't have better alternatives and maybe it would be best to just stick with him and give him the time to figure out how to play in this league.

 

Can't quite see where you're coming from on the fewer chances.

They had 3 shots on goal. We had 4 shots in goal, plus a disallowed goal plus several promising moments in the first 30 minutes.

For me we bossed the first half hour then wobbled for about 20 minutes. The last segment of the game neither team looked terribly good but we scored twice. I don't recall Sels having to make a save in the last half hour or so. Not a 4 - 1 performance but we were comfortably the better side.

 

They had 58% possession and 13 shots of which 3 where on target. We had 42% possession and 11 shots of which 7 where on target according to bbc stats.

I like the fact that we where more clinical and i know stats don't show the true story. The result is the only stat that will go down on records I just think we should be controlling games a bit better.

 

Its all about confidence, once the second goal went in for you, you were always going to walk it...

Really looking forward to the Newcastle - Leeds game. MOT.

 

Very honest assessment.

Shelvey and Ritchie are class players

 

Gayles doing his god damn job, which Perez ain't. Don't see why they both should be in the team.

 

I would still consider Perez as pound for pound our best player. Not sure why he is struggling lately.

 

Some odd ratings imo, but I suppose everyone sees things differently.
Thankfully, Anita was around to keep the defence and keeper out of bother.

 

I think he's not getting any space/time on the ball to play so is just running into dead ends. It's going to happen if every team we play stick two banks of 4 on the edge of their box. I'd give him another game through the middle on Saturday and then Mitrovic is back after that so he'll probably lose his place, unless he is played on the left (which may give him more space to play to be fair).