Ratings vs Villa

[steve]

Good today, very good. Yes Villa are poor but we started well with excellent intent and pinned them back in their own half - the passing was good, the pressing was good, first half the finishing didn't quite come.

Playing away makes such a difference - At WHL, Villa would've been reasonably happy at HT - at home in front of their own fans a performance like that isn't acceptable and so (thankfully) they came out and had a go 2nd half. They played more offensively, pressed higher, brought on Ireland and Albrighton and left themselves vulnerable to the counter attack - we were ruthless and a bang and a wallop later the game was pretty much done. Naughton's ball for Defoe was excellent and he finished well (did he mean the nuts?). Bale took his goals very well also and we could've had more. The pressing was good (and noticeable) and we looked like a proper team - more of the same please AVB, Freund (why do they never celebrate goals together?) and the squad. Bring on the dour Mackems - sadly they'll happily park the bus for 90 minutes...

Ratings:

Hugo - 7 - Feck all to do apart from the offside save but did it well - a proper keeper in every way.

Walker - 7 - A great ball for Sig for the 4th, some good running and some decent defending - still has wtf moments but not a big deal today against a poor side.

Verts - 7 - Comfortable.

Gallas - 7 - Ditto.

Naughton - 7 - A nice footballer playing out of position. Like Walker not really stretched today. Nice ball for the first goal.

Lennon - 6 - Worked hard but little impact offensively - needs to get himself into games more.

Dembele - 7 - Better today, saw more ball and used it more effectively generally - composed and strong he's one of our most important players without doubt.

Sandro - 7 - Good game, does what he does and generally did it well.

Bale - 8.5 (MOTM) - Still makes the wrong decisions at times but he's a genuine threat and match winner as he showed today in both halves - corners were a breath of fresh air after Walkers as well.

Ade - 7 - Some very good some not so good. First touch let him down at times but he worked hard on and off the ball and as always created space for his mates. Needs a goal.

Defoe - 7 - A decent shift, saw some ball, retained possession well in tight areas and even laid it off a couple of times around the box. Also made some bad passes from team mates good ones. Took his goal well (if he meant it).

Parker - 7 - The game was done but he did well and it's good to see him back. Uses the ball well and works hard as always.

Sig - 7 - Another example of a player beginning to grow in our colours. Excellent intelligent movement for the last goal, moved towards the ball, sucked the defender in and then sharp movement into space made the ball for Walker possible. Nice lay off for Bale also.

That was one of our best performances, probably our best over 90 minutes this season. Villa were piss poor and Sunderland won't be so hospitable but we're moving in the right direction without doubt - let's hope DL sees it the same and is able to back his man in the window...

 

[Pringle]

Lloris - 7 - very little to do but good in all he did
Walker - 7 - better today, his pass to Sig for Bales 3rd was sublime
Vertonghen - 6.5 - Couple of errors that could have been costly (if Benteke knew the offside rule)
Gallas - 6.5 - Doesnt look like the old Gallas, slower and less composure
Naughton - 6.5 - Great ball for Defoe's goal but suspect defensively
Lennon - 6.5 - Works so hard defensively but his form going forward wasnt there
Sandro - 7 - Played well as always
Dembele - 7 - As above
Bale - 9 - Tore Villa to bits throughout. Won us endless corners in the first half.
Defoe - 6.5 - Took his goal well but aside from that did very little and missed a 1 on 1
Adebayor - 7 - Worked hard and kept the ball well but never really a goal threat

Parker - 7 - Great to have him back, really makes us tick
Sigurdsson - 7 - Good on the ball, hope to see him really kick on
Townsend - NA

 

[Show Pony]

Lloris 10 - clean sheet on his birthday
Walker 6 - started very attacking, AVB calmed him down to focus on defending
Gallas 7 - poor first half but man of steel in second when needed
Verts 6 - lucky bentakie doesn't understand what offside is
Naughton 8 - best game for us, lovely assist
Lennon 6 - bit meh tonight, had as much chance as Bale to open them, seems scared to shoot
Dembele 6 - I want to see him grab control of a game and make something happen
Sandro 7 - worked hard, ran miles
Bale 10 - unplayable when on form
Ade 7 - worked hard, opened villa up
Defoe 7 -took his chance, should have buried one in first half

Gyfli 7 no time to do much but showed enough
Parker 8 - magnificent. His leadership made the difference we have missed
Andross n/a

 

[Capocrimini]

Lennon did run at Villa and assist bale for a goal, I think his ratings have been harsh thus far.

 

[Show Pony]

Lennon and Bale were key players to unpark a bus....one did it better than the other.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I half knew it would happen. I ummed and arred about writing my piece, post Everton. I’d spent weeks watching what seemed some pretty headless clucking, desperately seeking the susan that was evidence of the seedlings of some tactical masterplan, begging others to show me the light too, to no avail. So I said what was on my mind.

Subsequently we’ve faced three different challenges, three very different types of teams (though Villa are much closer to Stoke’s kick everything that moves philosophy than Swnasea’s footballing one) and I have to say I’ve seen those green shoots. We just played three very promising games IMO, games that featured coherent, collective centric football. High line, higher more coherent pressing, better movement and total control over each game.

I am starting to see what I desperately wanted to see, that even though individuals can be a little frustrating, and we are lacking certain attributes, like wit, the collective is starting to become more promising.

Another thing I am noticing is that Bale, Defoe and Lennon are all working that little bit harder when we don't have the ball. I've waited before saying this, but three games now I've noticed it. When Bale makes the effort to press a bit, you know something's been said. And Defoe's last three performances have averaged about 20 passes a game. This is double/triple his lifetime average. Something has definitely been said and worked on IMO.

Early days still, long way to go, and other cliches, and this team still has the ability to drive you a little nuts, particularly people like Defoe and Lennon. These guys are superior to a lot of what floats around the middle and lower reaches of the league, but that superiority is often only very marginal, mostly their superiority lies in what they advertise not what they deliver. When they do deliver it’s good, but it’s at a cost and too infrequent. They are nearly men.

Lennon today was lively, lots of zip, but his choices and end product were severely lacking quality, and with his back to the goal he does really stupid things, tries flicks to no-one, where he should actually just control the ball and keep it or draw the foul, instead he flaps and conceded possession with a daft flicky flicky.

He was lively and did some good things today, like the assist for Bale, but his correct/incorrect decision/delivery process is still frustratingly weighted toward the negative. I’d like to keep him in the squad but we desperately need to upgrade for someone who’s decision making process and contribution is of a higher and more consistent level.

The move for Bale’s 3rd was easily the best. A very clever run by Sigurdsson was found by an excellent ball by Walker and what Sigurdsson did next was keep his head and not flap at the shot, but lay the ball perfectly for Bale.

When the opposition have the ball Sigurdsson is a poor player. On the ball he’s possibly the cleverest player we have right now.

Gallas was excellent today. If we needed evidence of why he gets the nod over Dawson most weeks it came when Benteke was played clean through, Gallas read the play, stepped out instantly and caught him offside. Dawson has qualities but he just doesn’t read and react that quickly.

Mention for Naughton. Constantly played out of position, and usually looks compromised but he played well today, was constantly involved, supported Bale well, made more passes than anyone else in our team today and played the best ball of the game for that vital first goal. When Ekotto’s fit, he deserves to get a chance of a few games at RB because Walker, despite his good part in the fourth, was once again incredibly erratic at either end.

Ratings:

Lloris 7 - Default

Walker 6.5 - Really nice ball for the 4th, but another performance littered with poor moments, like giving the ball away stupidly and getting himself out of position when defending.

Gallas 7 - Very good game.

Vertonghen 6 - Was OK but not his best game. Occasionally makes a poor decision (like Everton) when he should just be more decisive and humped a couple of wasters too today.

Naughton 7.75 - Well played kid. Constantly involved today and made the vital break with a perfectly weighted through ball.

Lennon 6.5 - The usual mixed bag of revels. Some hard chewy toffee, some wishy washy coconut ice, a couple of nice milk chocolate buttons and one honeycomb.

Dembele 7.5 - Worked hard enough, did simple things well. Carried the ball at times.

Sandro 7 - Worked hard, lacked a bit of finesse when needed a couple of times.

Bale 8.5 - Worked hard, great hat rick but was a bit selfish for the second goal, seemed to look up and see Adebayor had an open tap in and decided to go round the keeper. It came off, but the logical percentage call was square for a certain goal IMO. Still saw more ball than Lennon, and unlike Lennon, consistently delivers end product.

Adebayor 7 - Good effort. Not top notch Adebayor and didn't always happen but, as I said last game, we just look a more balanced team with him as the focal point. He misses someone like VDV to interchange with, someone who sees his runs and moves too, but he still gives us more hold up, team play and muscle in the final third. Also played Defoe in 1v1.

Defoe 7 - For Defoe, this was again, a decent knock in terms of effort. His brain lets hime down too often still for my liking, but points for the extra effort.

 

[walton]

If Sandro had an eye for a pass he'd be the complete CM...all other aspects of his game are pretty immense...

 

[Erudite]

Lennon did run at Villa and assist bale for a goal, I think his ratings have been harsh thus far.

Agreed he puts in a massive shift every game for us now and his defensive abilities have come on leaps and bounds. Granted he hasnt got the best shot and isn't the physical specimen Bale is but we could do a lot worse than having him. He's been a very loyal servant tbh.

If he worked on his shooting and was more positive at times I wouldn't have any qualms over keeping him

 

[elDiablo]

id say naughton was pretty key as his pass and the first goal forced villa to be more adventurous.

Id say walker deserves an 8. Decent defending, but looked very lively going forward and played a few good attacking passes.

Also great to see Parker come on. I had forgotten about his calmness in possession, great cameo.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Typical, the one time I do a fucking poll for all the whiners.

 

[Boots22]

Bale was unplayable today, absolute machine

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Laughing at Beecie already...

I thought it was our best performance of the season, the problem with getting carried away at the moment and being over positive is that at half time we were 45 minutes away from being genuinely 7th. Its the problem with this league being as poor as I can remember it in terms of quality. As it was, Villa needing the points as well, opened the game up even further and we punished them superbly. There were lots of decent performances, I wouldn't say anyone was poor, and I thought the most positive thing (Bale's finishing aside) was the return of Parker, I made a comment in the match thread that doesn't need repeating in full but the difference in our pass and move when he came on took it up another notch and we played some superb stuff. Makes such a difference when someone wants the ball constantly, he was criminally under rated by some on here last season.

I thought our pressing was brilliant today, I don't agree that Bale is working harder off the ball, but the others definitely are, Defoe especially.

Lloris - 7
Walker - 7.75 Well played kid, constantly involved today and made a great pass for the third goal.
Gallas - 7
Vertonghen - 7
Naughton - 6 Great ball for the first, but another performance littered with mistakes, giving the ball away and getting himself in the wrong defensive positions.

Lennon - 6.5
Dembele - 6.5
Sandro - 7
Bale - 9

Adebayor - 7
Defoe - 7

Parker - 7
Sigurdsson - 7

 

[Mr Pink]

Laughing at Beecie already...

I thought it was our best performance of the season, the problem with getting carried away at the moment and being over positive is that at half time we were 45 minutes away from being genuinely 7th. Its the problem with this league being as poor as I can remember it in terms of quality. As it was, Villa needing the points as well, opened the game up even further and we punished them superbly. There were lots of decent performances, I wouldn't say anyone was poor, and I thought the most positive thing (Bale's finishing aside) was the return of Parker, I made a comment in the match thread that doesn't need repeating in full but the difference in our pass and move when he came on took it up another notch and we played some superb stuff. Makes such a difference when someone wants the ball constantly, he was criminally under rated by some on here last season.

I thought our pressing was brilliant today, I don't agree that Bale is working harder off the ball, but the others definitely are, Defoe especially.

Lloris - 7
Walker - 7.75 Well played kid, constantly involved today and made a great pass for the third goal.
Gallas - 7
Vertonghen - 7
Naughton - 6 Great ball for the first, but another performance littered with mistakes, giving the ball away and getting himself in the wrong defensive positions.

Lennon - 6.5
Dembele - 6.5
Sandro - 7
Bale - 9

Adebayor - 7
Defoe - 7

Parker - 7
Sigurdsson - 7

Agree with lot of that...but really?

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Agree with lot of that...but really?

You'll see it in a minute...

 

[Mr Pink]

You'll see it in a minute...

i watched it mate, albeit I've been on the liquor

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Agree with lot of that...but really?

He was being (post) ironic.

 

[Mr Pink]

He was being (post) ironic.

i better lay off the drink...

 

[Bus-Conductor]

He's just trying to divert attention from the fact that he said walker's shit but Naughton's an even worse footballer in the team thread.

 

[L-man]

Lloris 7
Walker 6.5
Vert 6.5
Gallas 6.5
Naughton 7
Lennon 7.5
Sandro 7
Dembele 7
Bale 9
Defoe 7
Ade 7

Parker 7.5
Sig 7
Townsend NET

 

[ShelfSide18]

In the last 3 matches we have had 72 shots and conceded 10. Keep doing this, and we won't be losing many games.