Bristol City match report 2 - player ratings

Player Ratings:

Collins 7: in because Radlinger was reported ‘ill.’ Did fine, but, in truth, had little to do, which tells you something about our dominance throughout the game, although City did miss three, or four good chances later in the seconf half, as the game became more stretched with both sides looking for a winner – pleased that we played with this mind-set, so well done Struber for instilling this into the players, rather than going into a ‘let’s see this out for a draw’ approach, which nearly always seems to back-fire. We need wins and this was the right way to go about it.

Jordan Williams 7: he has improved beyond all recognition in this key role, which gives us almost the only width in the team. Still a work in progress, but he used the width well, especially when attacking and some of his flicks and dummied to keep our attacks going out wide were a joy to watch. The coaching staff will, no doubt, look at what happened to concede the City goal, but, on balance, this was an impressive performance from a rapidly improving young player.

Halme 8: looked very assure in moving back to central defence and won most in the air. Kept Djediuo in his pocket almost all afternoon. Good header from the corner routine from which Chaplin so nearly scored a spectacular goal.

Andersen 6: no errors today and got most of his passes to a red shirt. A steady performance and he still looks a bit ponderous at times, both with his feet and his decision-making, but I have no doubt that the coaching staff will continue to work with him and they obviously trust him to perform and to improve.

Ben Williams 6: maybe slightly rusty, having not played first team for a while, but did ok. He really needed to do down our left what Jordan was doing down our right, but he was not as sharp as Jordan, so our left flank was less of a source of threat to the City back line. Did ok and was replaced by Ludewig in the second half.

Dougall 7: did fine on returning to the first team for a starting place. At the hub of the start of a lot of our neat passing moves.

Thomas 9 and my man of the match: he is like a little dynamo whenever he gets the ball. Constanly playing on the front foot and asking the City midfield and defence questions. A real threat throughout the game. I thought about giving him 8, as he should have buried a couple of chances, but I think he still deserves 9 for his non-stop action and skill.

Ritzmaier 5: still finding his feet, which is hardly surprising after such a dramatic move. A neat footballer and naturally left-sided. He did his bit and fitted well into our neat passing moves. One pass in first half which put Chaplin through was just superb – we need more of that! He did have good scoring chances and should have buried at least one of those, but that will come as the coaching team develop him

Mowatt 7: typical all-action from captain. Another key dynamo in the side, like Thomas on the left and fitted pretty well into the ‘number 10’ role between the strikers. Would have been the icing on the cake had he scored one of his chances, but he still played well. I think that I would prefer to see him play left of the diamond, as he then balances what Thomas does on the right.

Brown 5: rather well held by the City defence, but good skills on show at times and he is one who has exceeded all expectations at the higher level this year. I think that City must have identified him as a threat and Jay DaSilva did counter him quite well. Few scoring chances today and also few chances to put in one of those wonderful assists.

Chaplin 6: sublime scissor-kick, which would have deserved a goal of the season vote at least. Good movement throughout and the characteristic high work-rate, but few chances to score against an experienced City central defence in Williams and Baker.

Ludewig 6: not really on long enough for a fair rating, but did ok. It seemed to me at the time a huge challenge for a young player, who is mainly right-footed, to be brought on with twenty- thirty minutes remaining and put him on the left, but he did ok. I would need to look again at the City goal to see if there was anything he might have done to prevent it. He will game-time in order to develop and is very highly rated, but let’s not put too much pressure on a nineteen-year-old. Hope he comes good and helps us survive.

Summary:

So, there you have it. A very impressive performance with, therefore, a disappointing result. The team deserve a positive report for such a positive performance.

What do we need to develop in order to be assured of survival? I think that the front five (in this case Brown, Chaplin, Thomas, Mowatt and Ritzmaier) all need to see themselves as potential goal-scorers and not just providers of assists. There were a few too many times when the three advanced midfielders all had chances to shoot, but shied away and tried the next pass, sometimes losing the chance. At others, their finishing only needed to be slightly more clinical for us at least to have drawn the game and, really, to have won it. Struber has done a good job in improving the mind-set and skills of the team. He now needs to instill into the front five and, especially the advanced midfield three, the attitude of hitting the target. If all three of those were to hit six goals apiece in the remainder of the season, we should be ok. We need Woodrow in the number 10 role for sure and I would prefer Mowatt to slot into the left side, which should increase the goal threat. Thomas should score a few if he gets the idea that he is a scorer. The other thing we need to stand the best chance of survival would be better depth of squad, whether on the bench, or the pitch. We have trimmed down the squad, but, given the injuries and suspensions which inevitably come as the season progresses, we will need at least a couple more before the window closes. I would say a minimum of one central defender and one striker.

Final thought – Struber’s ‘Thinking Hat,’ a-la ‘Hogwarts. The club shop are missing a trick here. We all need one of those and it could be produced in Reds colours. I would definitely wear one, as I am convinced that it is large enough to contain memory chips and USB keys of all the spreadsheets and team permutations in the whole world of football. Bit of an unfair advantage when he has all that stored away in his hat. I can imagine that, when he put it on for the first time, the words ‘midfield diamond’ came into his mind and he has kept with it ever since.

Onwards and upwards.

COYR.

 

Brown 5? Bit harsh.

 

Agree with a lot of that but the Brown mark is not right imho.

 

I sent it to VAR and revised it to 6. Ok?

 

Ritzmaier was our best player, in my opinion. To give him a 5 yet Ben Williams a 6, who was bloody awful, well.... it's all about opinions.

 

Chaplin, Thomas, Brown and Williams were the names getting mentioned in the most positive liget on the Bristol city board.

 

On the whole a very good assessment. Ever thought of being an assessor for the tabloids. Would knock spots off em. Other than Ritzmaier (6/7) Agree about Brown but he was up against a very good defender.

 

If you’d sent it to VAR, you’d still be waiting for a decision