Ninja Elephant
Doctor Elephant
- Feb 16, 2009
- 18,855
Stockdale - 6 Clearly at fault for the first goal but nothing more he could have done with the second. Good distribution and I disagree with a lot of the other comments on this thread about his performance, and his overall performances for us so far.
Bruno - 7 Some nice touches as always, graceful in everything he did and offers an outlet down the right.
Greer - 6 Not at his commanding best today but wasn't really tested. The fact we conceded two is really unforunate today but highlights the difference between us and a lot of other teams at this level, we need several chances to score.
Dunk - 9 Just about the best centre back performance I've seen, two goals scored and countless interceptions, tackles distribution was fantastic, clearly the best player on the pitch today.
Bennett - 6 Gave the ball away quite often and his final pass was quite often misplaced or ineffective. Not his best performance, but he didn't play badly.
Holla - 8 Classy, skillful, brave, hard in the tackle and can pick a pass with either foot. Top class player, very good find but needs better players around him to get the most out of his talent.
Crofts - 4 Offered nothing. Deservedly withdrawn at half time and doesn't offer enough in this current formation - not at home at least. He'll run all day and he'll put in the shift you want of him but the midfield 3 were too negative in my opinion and there's not enough balance. Gardner adds more to the team as he can contribute more going foward creatively. Crofts will contribute goals, as we saw last season, but I don't think this system best utilises him.
Forster-Caskey - 6 Ordinary performance today but he's getting a lot of unfair criticism. Realistically he's only got Teixiera, CMS and Colunga (today) to find with forward passes and that doesn't give too much scope. He's a good player but needs to work on offering more in the final third.
Teixiera - 7 I disagree with the man of the match award, I thought he did a lot of things well but flitted in and out of the game too often for my liking and didn't effect it as much as he did against Bolton. Great player though!
Colunga - 7 About the same as Tex really, did a lot of things well but didn't really affect the game too much where it really matters. Obviously a good player and with more games, training and coaching by Sami and the lads, he'll be a useful weapon for us.
Mackail-Smith - 6 Disappointingly withdrawn at home when you're pushing on to get something from the game, and it would have been good to see what sort of understanding he could have forged with Baldock.
Subs
Gardner - 6 A cracking ball early on and then a few other neat passes, but no real impact.
LuaLua - 6 I'm done with him now. And playing him in the middle? Not for me. Exciting but rarely delivers.
Baldock - N/A Not given long enough but looked neat and tidy.
Overall, it was a good game of football and a whole lot more enjoyable than the majority of games last season! Decent cheeseburger post match too, so I have no complaints at all from my Amex experience today.
Bruno - 7 Some nice touches as always, graceful in everything he did and offers an outlet down the right.
Greer - 6 Not at his commanding best today but wasn't really tested. The fact we conceded two is really unforunate today but highlights the difference between us and a lot of other teams at this level, we need several chances to score.
Dunk - 9 Just about the best centre back performance I've seen, two goals scored and countless interceptions, tackles distribution was fantastic, clearly the best player on the pitch today.
Bennett - 6 Gave the ball away quite often and his final pass was quite often misplaced or ineffective. Not his best performance, but he didn't play badly.
Holla - 8 Classy, skillful, brave, hard in the tackle and can pick a pass with either foot. Top class player, very good find but needs better players around him to get the most out of his talent.
Crofts - 4 Offered nothing. Deservedly withdrawn at half time and doesn't offer enough in this current formation - not at home at least. He'll run all day and he'll put in the shift you want of him but the midfield 3 were too negative in my opinion and there's not enough balance. Gardner adds more to the team as he can contribute more going foward creatively. Crofts will contribute goals, as we saw last season, but I don't think this system best utilises him.
Forster-Caskey - 6 Ordinary performance today but he's getting a lot of unfair criticism. Realistically he's only got Teixiera, CMS and Colunga (today) to find with forward passes and that doesn't give too much scope. He's a good player but needs to work on offering more in the final third.
Teixiera - 7 I disagree with the man of the match award, I thought he did a lot of things well but flitted in and out of the game too often for my liking and didn't effect it as much as he did against Bolton. Great player though!
Colunga - 7 About the same as Tex really, did a lot of things well but didn't really affect the game too much where it really matters. Obviously a good player and with more games, training and coaching by Sami and the lads, he'll be a useful weapon for us.
Mackail-Smith - 6 Disappointingly withdrawn at home when you're pushing on to get something from the game, and it would have been good to see what sort of understanding he could have forged with Baldock.
Subs
Gardner - 6 A cracking ball early on and then a few other neat passes, but no real impact.
LuaLua - 6 I'm done with him now. And playing him in the middle? Not for me. Exciting but rarely delivers.
Baldock - N/A Not given long enough but looked neat and tidy.
Overall, it was a good game of football and a whole lot more enjoyable than the majority of games last season! Decent cheeseburger post match too, so I have no complaints at all from my Amex experience today.
