read some of the comments on here and it always surprises me how people can come to completely different conclusions on the same 90 minutes. O Grady was outstanding, his first touch might not always be adept, but he led the line like a proper target striker should, assist for Scotlands goal, battered former England international centre half Matthew Upson all game, worked his blood to water and still had enough in the tank to run the remaining minutes off the clock through sheer strength and determination. Wiseman had a reasonable game at centre half, used his pace well to cover but still got caught out twice which couldve resulted in goals had the Brighton striker hit the target. Ghosted past in first half and left a one on one with keeper that striker put wide. He moved to right back for the last 10 mins and proceeded to give the ball away just when we needed to keep it. In once particular instance, he took a quick throw in straight to their full back ffs. Did no-one else see that? Football is about opinions, obviously this will across as negative, but we were very lucky last night, albeit due some luck, so fair play.
I too think Wiseman was average at the back, but average against those forwards is some performance. LuaLua was ripping us apart down the right, once Wiseman was moved there he stopped being a threat. This from a bloke who had just done 80+ minutes as centre back against a fresh young winger.
When the players were announced, I could not recognise a team shape from the names. When they lined up as 4-4-2, it was a surprise to me. My mate arrived and was very negative, particularly about Utuhu and O'Grady. It turns out Foster was not fit to play and the team was forced to play with Wiseman back at CH and Delap at RB. Due to existing problems at LWB, we were also forced to play 4-4-2, a system that does not suit the players because we do not have the top quality wide players to play this system effectively. In view of the problems we faced, and the fact the we were up against a very combative unit, we did very well to get 3 points. However, this should not disguise the fact that we were lucky. Had Brighton scored from the early chance from Crannie's weak header, we would have lost. We were put under pressure for most of the second half as Brighton changed their system and our mid-field was swamped. To my eyes, Utuhu played well in the first half but was as swamped as the rest in the second. However, Wiseman held our defence together throughout and was my man of the match. Only the very antiest of the anti-Wiseman sect could fail to be impressed by his performance.
O Grady earned his pay last night, no doubt, header on for Scotland's goal, constant nuisance in the box and I believe it was all the hassle he took earlier in the game that persuaded the ref to give us a pen, however, his touch and passing was woeful at times. Steele saved a penalty - you don't do that very often in your career as a goalie, so he was my MotM.
He did the difficult part, winning the ball, chesting it down and shielding it but then he sometimes gave it away. I remember a couple of bad touches that rolled out of play. He was still exceptional last night though, he won everything in the air and it was a great flick on for the assist. He deserved a goal.
I'm sorry but 'Wiseman held our defence together' and should've been MOM. Really? He did well for the most part tonight apart from the 2 clangers he dropped where his header fell straight to Hammond who should've scored and where he let Ulloa get the wrong side of him (luckily Delap saw the danger and got accross). Steady 7 out of 10 for me, did well at full back when he moved there. It's beyond me how anybody can say he was MOM ahead of Cranie, Etuhu, Perks, O'Grady & Steele though. I hope he can build his confidence up and perform well regularly but people are making a fairly solid performance out to be an exceptional one.
True. I agree. But he was better than I expected, for once. Fair play to him, hope it's a sign of things to come.
