D_D's Player Ratings vs. Rotherham

[D_D]

Not a great start to the season performance wise, but awesome to get a clean sheet and the win. The old "sign of a good team": winning when not at your best. The ratings:

Grant 7- His distribution was poor early on but he grew into the game and pulled off a very good save late on to save us the points.

Christie 7 MOTM- Close to an 8, Cyrus wasn't tested at all defensively, and bombed on well throughout the game. He flashed a couple of excellent crossed across the box, but to no avail. He had had the intelligence to learn from this, and pick of Hendrick for the winner, after he made a terrific challenge on Pringle to start the move.

Keogh 6- Shaky early on, and lost out on a few headers to Revell. He grew into the game well and made a couple of good clearances/interceptions late on.

Buxton 7- Not a bad game by Jake, but it was very impressive considering he hasn't trained for 2 weeks. He's essential to our defense and I expect to to reach top form very soon.

Forsyth 6- He wa

[ellafella]

[quote="D_D": winning when not at your best. The ratings:

Grant 7- His distribution was poor early on but he grew into the game and pulled off a very good save late on to save us the points.

[b]Christie 7 MOTM[/b]- Close to an 8, Cyrus wasn't tested at all defensively, and bombed on well throughout the game. He flashed a couple of excellent crossed across the box, but to no avail. He had had the intelligence to learn from this, and pick of Hendrick for the winner, after he made a terrific challenge on Pringle to start the move.

Keogh 6- Shaky early on, and lost out on a few headers to Revell. He grew into the game well and made a couple of good clearances/interceptions late on.

Buxton 7- Not a bad game by Jake, but it was very impressive considering he hasn't trained for 2 weeks. He's essential to our defense and I expect to to re

[Toddo]

Like - both of the above

[yamyamram]

[quote="ellafella": winning when not at your best. The ratings:

Grant 7- His distribution was poor early on but he grew into the game and pulled off a very good save late on to save us the points.

[b]Christie 7 MOTM[/b]- Close to an 8, Cyrus wasn't tested at all defensively, and bombed on well throughout the game. He flashed a couple of excellent crossed across the box, but to no avail. He had had the intelligence to learn from this, and pick of Hendrick for the winner, after he made a terrific challenge on Pringle to start the move.

Keogh 6- Shaky early on, and lost out on a few headers to Revell. He grew into the game well and made a couple of good clearances/interceptions late on.

Buxton 7- Not a bad game by Jake, but it was very impressive considering he hasn't trained for 2 weeks. He's

[ramspride]

Thought Steve got it slightly wrong today with hughes. Its not his position he was too deep. Christie very good agree MOM. Bucko was also first class. Again though missing someone who can head the ball and Bea threat from free kicks and corners. We waste so many free kicks now just kick the ball sideways as though no free kick has been given. Still satisfied with a win. Rotherham fans very good too. Pleased we didn't see their manager running round with his trousers falling down like the playoff final

[ellafella]

Thought Steve got it slightly wrong today with hughes. Its not his position he was too deep. Christie very good agree MOM. Bucko was also first class. Again though missing someone who can head the ball and Bea threat from free kicks and corners. We waste so many free kicks now just kick the ball sideways as though no free kick has been given. Still satisfied with a win. Rotherham fans very good too. Pleased we didn't see their manager running round with his trousers falling down like the playoff final

RUFC were obstinate, awkward & stubborn today and gave a good account of themselves. They resisted an onslaught in the opening 10 minutes and then set their stall out to grind a result out to match their performance. It nearly worked; they can count themselves slightly unfortunate but overall Derby deserved the 3 points.

It does concern me that we don't have more threat from corners and free kicks. A couple of seasons ago both Keog

[Ramstein]

I agree, for the amount if corners / free kicks we win very little genuine goal threat prevails, although Rotherham were sticking to our boys like glue for corners. When was the last time we scored from a corner?

I expected more teams last season to do what Wigan did to us and just stop us playing our game, under Rosler they did a tactical master stroke - I suspect this will be the tactic for most teams this season and the Millers were early evidence of this I feel. The key to our play is getting that first/early goal, the opposition then have to attack and our counter attacking prowess can exploit this. IMO we have enough to get goals against anyone in this league, we were a little rusty yesterday but we will become more fluid and dynamic.

Just one thing that really stuck with me was Dawkins...clear to me why this boy is a nomad and cannot hold down a consistent starting role - he flashes for merely seconds in a game, relying a lot on confidence - too much for my liking.

Rotherham

[Toggles]

Some good posts here, and top ratings again d_d.

I think Ella touched on wasted crosses again, and how Christie learnt to cut it back instead. ThIs is something of a bugbear for me, I always feel we look much more dangerous when we play into th box form out wide (I think it would of won the game for us if we'd done it more at Wembley) as we never have enough bodies, and certainly tall bodies in the box who can get something on most of our crosses. Mentioning Christie, he looks good, very paced and comfortable on the ball. His defensive style is quite aggressive, he seemed to commit himself early to bold tackles quite a bit, a good winger might exploit him at times, but he timed every interception perfectly yesterday.


As for Dawkins, He's rammle. Not sure what he really offers. He ruins tempo, dwells on the ball, rarely uses the pace and skills he has and actually beats a man, no vision and not a great finisher. I'm not a bit Ward fan, but he offered us more I felt, and is def

[ellafella]

[quote="Toggles"]Some good posts here, and top ratings again d_d.

I think Ella touched on wasted crosses again, and how Christie learnt to cut it back instead. ThIs is something of a bugbear for me, I always feel we look much more dangerous when we play into th box form out wide (I think it would of won the game for us if we'd done it more at Wembley) as we never have enough bodies, and certainly tall bodies in the box who can get something on most of our crosses. Mentioning Christie, he looks good, very paced and comfortable on the ball. His defensive style is quite aggressive, he seemed to commit himself early to bold tackles quite a bit, a good winger might exploit him at times, but he timed every interception perfectly yesterday.


As for Dawkins, He's rammle. Not sure what he really offers. He ruins tempo, dwells on the ball, rarely uses the pace and skills he has and actually beats a man, no vision and not a great finisher. I'm not a bit Ward f