Lincoln City - Away - Player Ratings

[Piglet_Phoenix]

A defeat squarely handed to us by our own manager. Dropping Joyce (who’s been excellent this season so far) and our best player (Adams) – playing Liddle in midfield. Tactical incompetence of the highest degree. We should play our own game and let the opposition worry about us instead of trying to beat Lincoln at bully-ball – which we obviously failed to do. Even with ten men we looked better when Hope and Liddle went off – which says it all.

As Curle said last week, apart from Grainger this is 100% his team now - so the buck stops with him.

Bonham – 2 – decent kicking, but horribly exposed for all of the goals. Asleep for the first, caught in no-man’s land for the second, a pathetic attempt at a penalty save and hopelessly embarrassed for the fourth. Not a league standard keeper.

Miller – 5 – Some decent tackles.

Grainger – 4 – lumbering, awkward.

Ellis – 5 – decent in the air, fairly solid defensively, but poor use of the football.

Parkes – 3 – Unprofessional. Obviously frustrated by the ponderous nonsense in front of him – he lost his head. Needless first booking and poor tackle for the penalty. Deservedly sent off. Needs to pull his socks up and keep his head.

Liddle – 0 - Possibly one of the worst midfield performers I’ve seen in a Carlisle United shirt in over forty years. Milling about aimlessly making up the numbers, can’t win a header or a tackle, can’t pass the ball – embarrassingly copying Jones’ pointing and shouting and having to be told where to stand. Midfielder or defender – it doesn’t matter – he’s an abysmal player and frankly, not a footballer. Get rid.

Jones – 6* – Having to carry the midfield himself, thanks to the manager.

Lambe – 4 – Not involved until his goal, flitted in and out.

Devitt – 2 – Lightweight and pointless.

Hope – 1 – Ran about a bit, but utterly clueless in front of goal. He wears the number nine shirt – which is a p_ss-take.

Bennett – 3 – Still failing to step up to the standard. Won a few headers, but needs to be clinical in front of goal.

Subs

Adams – 6 – Made a difference
Miller – 6 – His assist was more quality than Hope provided all afternoon
Cosgrove – 5 – Doesn’t look good enough.

[griff]

Sounded worse than poor and, from what I've seen and heard, I agree that Hope isn't up to the shirt. I'm never quite sure what he's for. Curle's trying to rotate the midfield and it works half the time, which won't be good enough to get out of this league upwards.