Player Ratings v Chesterfield

[freemuzzy]

Here you go:

Slocombe 6 - Unless the replays show him to be at fault for their second, I don't think he did a lot wrong.
Brindley 5.5 - not up to his usual high standard defensively or going forward.
Baldwin 6 - I thought he did ok, don't really get the criticism.
Cameron 5.5 - some good forward bursts, but didn't look comfortable defending.
Nemane 6 - he was our only threat early on, and his defending was adequate considering he's really a winger.
Palmer 6 - probably the pick of the midfield even though not at his best.
JOB 5 - can't fault his effort, but as many poor passes as good ones.
Rodrigues 5.5 - Couldn't get involved past the halfway line first half, improved a bit in the second. Set pieces again poor.
Chicksen 5 - I feel for him, because he's a defender trying to play wing back.
Mitchell 5.5 - he did put himself about a bit, but got no sort of service.
Langstaff 8* - maybe a generous mark considering he was barely in the game for an hour, but that wasn't his fault. An alert poacher's goal for his first, and the ability to lose his markers and bury the second. Denied a hat trick when Fitzsimons saved with his legs and didn't seem to know much about it. Early days, but this lad looks a real find.

Austin 7 - added that bit of spark when he came on, another who looks a promising signing.
Scott 7 - first time we've seen him on the pitch with Langstaff, looking forward to seeing more.
Bajrami 7 - an extra mark for that block. That must have hurt!

These are definitely a fairer reflection in my view than some of the 2/10s etc being bandied about. Get that there’ll always be different opinions but it feels like in some cases the ratings may as well be written before the game due to the preconceived opinions about certain players (Slocombe, O’Brien, Mitchell and - weirdly - Baldwin). Blaming Slocombe for their opener is absolutely laughable!

For me the broader issue is that other than bringing in a goal scorer (fair play), it’s hard to see where we are stronger currently than we were last season, in terms of set-up, style or personnel. We are crying out for a CM to partner Palmer and at least one wing back (if TAR is apparently being written off without even playing a game). Goalkeeper is an issue but personally I would stick with Slocombe unless we unearth a gem on loan like Patterson which is unlikely.

Our back three are all excellent footballers rather than outright defenders which means on occasions like yesterday they can be out-muscled. Personally I would have Bajrami starting and move Brindley to RWB, if we’re insisting on maintaining the back 3 - but it’s pretty clear the personnel we have is much more geared up to a back four currently. 4-2-3-1 would solve the wing back issue as Brindley and Chicksen are both good full backs, and enable us to get all of our better players on the pitch.