Match Ratings

[irish_pie]

Been a long time since I did one of these so let's see what you guys think...


Slocombe.. 7. Not a bad game, few saves and good handling, could do nothing with their goals
Cameron.. 6. Nothing overly bad, 1 great tackle in the second half saved a sure fire goal
Baldwin... 7.5. Best of the back bunch, comfortable on the ball, very unlucky with the og but nothing he could do about it
Brindley... 6. Didn't do anything to stand out, got forward a few times but generally quite
Chicksen...6. Same as above only he should of done better right at the death
Bajrami.. 5. Largely anonymous in the first half, subbed early in the second so seems LW thought the same
Nemane...5. One of this seasons stand out performers but terrible tonight, twice at fault for their goals and did nothing in advanced positions before being hooked
Palmer... 6. Kept things ticking along in midfield but also did nothing to stand out, brilliant player and should be stamping more authority on games like this
Rodrigues..6 tried hard all game and some neat touches but just not happening for him
Scott... 7. Buzzed around all night and scored a cracker, always available for the ball and worked his socks off
Langstaff..6. Scored a decent goal and always looked to make space, ball rarely came near him so he can't be blamed.

Subs
Austin...5.. got the last 30 minutes and didn't do a lot of anything, cracking player but just not his night
TAR.. 5.. same as Austin above, did tighten up the back line and limited their effect on the left
Castro..4. Ideal opportunity for him to show us what all the hype is about and once again didn't do a thing, free kick was simply awful...offers very little when he does get a chance

Overall it could be a handy point, Sarfend are not a good side but they can hurt teams at home... we didjt deserve the 3 points if I'm honest but now we really need a result on Saturday against Eastleigh who scored 5 tonight ☹

[jackal2]

TAR.. 5.. same as Austin above, did tighten up the back line and limited their effect on the left

I think TAR was a 6. He put in two great balls in relatively little time on the pitch, one of which Chicksen should have converted. I think he's really pushing for a place now, not least because his end product (i.e. the quality of the ball into the box) looks better than Nemane's at this point in time.

[BigFatPie]

Slocombe. 6 Handling and shot stopping faultless but Christ he still looks like a bloke who’s never seen a football before when it’s at his feet. Doesn’t command his box enough when we’re under pressure.

Brindley 7 Good to have him back, and his pace came in useful on a couple of occasions.

Baldwin 8 Class defender at this level. OG was one of those things. Should maybe have done better with his chance near the end.

Cameron 6 Unlike virtually everyone else he hasn’t been quite as good as he was last season and tonight was a good example. Great block before they scored, but back heels 20 yards from goal from your captain?

Nemane 5 Good going forward in the first half but Bridge had him on toast the whole game and at he was at least partially responsible for both goals. Should have been subbed earlier.

Chicksen 6 Didn’t have a lot to do defensively and missed a great chance at the end.

Palmer 7 Another Palmeresque performance, was at the centre of much of our good work, rarely gave the ball away.

Bajrami 5 Had a couple of shockers since his goal against Torquay. Gave the ball and easily dispossessed. Justifiably subbed.

Rodrigues 6 Saw a lot of the ball, but one of those games when you wish he was playing a bit further forward.

Langstaff 7 Good finish and some some decent work off the ball.

Scott 8 MOM Linked up play really well always involved and a cracking finish. Will claim the foul for their first goal but went down a tad easily imo after watching it a couple of times.

Subs

Austin 5 Thought he was poor against Bromley and again tonight. A strange sub after going 2-1 up but must have been planned before the goal.

TAR 7 Strengthened our right hand side defensively and should have got an assist for a last minute winner.

Castro 4 Waste of a sub. Hardly touched the ball other than an appalling free kick.

Good point etc etc but Champions don’t lose 2 leads and that’s what we’re after.


Seeing us on telly shows up a few things you don’t see at games. If was Eastleigh’s gaffer I know how I’d play against us on Saturday but that’s maybe why I’m not a football manager…

[Magpies1959]

As good as AN has been, I think TAR gives a more physical presence in defence, and height too. He is probably quicker too going forward and has good end product from his forays forward.

[magpie2k4]

Austin 5 Thought he was poor against Bromley and again tonight. A strange sub after going 2-1 up but must have been planned before the goal.

Austin didn’t play against Bromley (if you thought he was anonymous it’s because he sat on the bench all game)

[irishpete]

I think the ratings given are a very good balance of the performance, tried & had to dig in at times. No one stood out. Thought Ruben probably deserved a bit higher. Always looking for the ball battled for it when lost & trying to thread balls in for Langstaff that would come off on another day

[BigFatPie]

Austin didn’t play against Bromley (if you thought he was anonymous it’s because he sat on the bench all game)

Correct. I must have been thinking of when he came on against Torquay.

[Notts78]

Castro got injured very soon after coming on. It will be (un)funny if he scores a 4 and we have found out he’s broke his arm or something. He stayed on and braved through the pain barrier - LW confirmed as much.

[ThaiPie]

A few days ago Luke Williams said JOB was getting close to a return?.
JOB for Bajrami and possibly TAR for Nemane could be possible changes. No disrespect to Bajrami or Nemane who have had some great games. It just seems like our form has dipped slightly (only draws!), so a bit of rotation maybe?
I'm also thinking that if the recruitment team can add the defensive midfielder often discussed at the start of the season, this would be great. I'm not sure if Ed Francis is injured, but he doesn't seem to be in the frame at the moment.

[laddo]

I think the ratings given are a very good balance of the performance, tried & had to dig in at times. No one stood out. Thought Ruben probably deserved a bit higher. Always looking for the ball battled for it when lost & trying to thread balls in for Langstaff that would come off on another day

Agree overall with the above ratings. Agree with Pete, would have Ruben as a 7 as he was as involved as anyone in an attacking sense, battled hard, always offered, often provided the impetus when we broke quickly, but not everything he tried came off which appears far more common this season than last.