my thoughts on yesterdays game..... and player ratings

Positives, most importantly we didn't lose and we kept a clean sheet. I thought Steele, Foster, Nyatanga, Howard, JCR, Macken, Hassell and Odejayi all did well today.

Negatives, we didn't score or test there goalkeeper at all during the game. To many players had an off day i.e. Nardiello, Van Homeot and Kozluk, and need to have a good look at themselves.

Ratings:

8 - Steele - 2/3 class saves that kept us in the game, commanded his area, claimed well from corners, punched well and good rush out to prevent further chances. He did make one mistake i.e. dodgy kick, but got away with it and could be forgiven baring in mind the conditions.

4 - Van Homeot - Thought he was poor today, gave away to many corners and set peices. Looked out of his depth.

7 - Foster - Mr Consistency, teamed up well with Nyatanga. Cleared his lines and defended well.

7 - Nyatanga - same as Foster.

3 - Kozluk - His worst game in a reds shirt. He was totally off the pace and sending off was enivitable. Personally thought he should have been subbed at half time he was so poor

7 - JCR - Did all that could have been asked of him today, worked v-hard and crossed well.

8 - Howard - A big well done to our Bri today, worked hard and tackled hard. Forget this talk of him holding back from tackles etc because of the yellow card situation. I think he has actually played better these last few games whilst walking tightrope.

8 - Hassell - Probably my MOM today, has adpated to position well. Especially considering the mare he had first time he played in that position. Still it does make you wonder about futures of Togwell and Johnson. Personally I was a big fan of Johnson when he was at Forest and WBA and was excited when he came. Thought he was just the kind of player we needed but SD hasn't given him a chance.

6 - Leon - struggled today in the conditions. He can play wide but best position is in the middle. Problem is if he plays central Howard will no doubt take on the holding midfielder, and so we won't see the best of him.

5 - Nardiello - very dissapointing today. I wouldn't go as far as to say he didn't look interested, what was he doing. What puzzled me was when a long ball was played towards him he ran on as if ball was going to be flicked on to him, problem being he was the only one nearby wearing a reds shirt. So effectively he didn't make ariel challenges and looked like he was running away from the ball???? Good tactic if another reds shirt making a challenge but sadly there wasn't.

8 - Macken - out classed defenders for ariel balls, did some great little turns and worked very hard for the team. Unfortunately he hasn't had much support from his strike partners.

Subs:
7 - Odejayi - is he a new signing? looks a different player than the one from early season. Made a real nuisience of himself again when he came on. Still needs to work on his first touch though.

7 - Devaney - made some good runs and gave full backs a torrid time. Came on to late to make a major impact (would have liked to see him 10mins earlier). Seems to get a real hard time from alot fans near me, easpecially last few games which I suspect is down to the fact that he was given the shirt from JCR. He performances are inconsistent, but there is no doubt he is a match winner and the majority of this season he has played out of position on the left. Give him a break!!!!

6 - Coulson - difficult to comment, came on late and played out of position and did ok.


6 - Simon Davey - Tactically ok, but should have subbed Kozluk before he was enevitably sent off and Nardiello and even Leon should have been subbed earlier in second half.

 

RE: Howard? 8/10?????????

I agree has was ok on Tuesday, but yesterday you and i were clearly watching different games. Maybe he had flu because he maintained a 10 yard quarantine zone for most of the 90 minutes.

Just seen him interviewed on ITV for Championship Goals... "I'm on 9 yellow cards so had to get through today without being booked, to make sure i could play against Chelsea".

At least he's honest i suppose, but Davey should've done something about playing the match with 10 men, and taken him off imho. He could've brought Leon inside and played Devaney out on the left.

 

Hassell MotM?!?!?!

Thought he was ok but prone to always trying to turn with the ball and getting caught out.

JCR for me.

 

Newsflash. Odejayi is 26. His first touch will never get better nt

 

Howard was poor yesterday IMO

They did a good job on him, crowding him out at every opportunity and it worked. Just look how much space Kavanagh seemed to have for them.