Player Ratings - Blackpool (H)

[Lush]

What I like about our squad is that we have competition for places, but the players competing for those places all have slightly different strengths, which we can employ depending on the system/opposition/turn of the game.

This is why the players talk so much about it being a squad effort, not just the 11 on the pitch. The whole squad IS involved.

We do have a few roles still to fill IMHO (a) tall, target man striker (b) attacking midfielder/free kick/corner taker (presuming that Cook is adequate defensive cover) to make the squad complete.

 

[Acker79]

Ankergren 6.5 - He's ok with catching balls dropping into arms, but high crosses are a weakness and they cost us. He was indecisive and could have done more with he first goal if he made a decision, but he seemed to move as if coming for it, then stopped and left himself out of position and lost. His long ball distribution was not great today, but still comfortable on the ball, and we had the first 'stand with the ball in play and wait for them to make a move' moments.
Painter 7
Dunk 6.5
Greer 6 - Again, a lot of misplaced passes
Calderon 7
Bridcutt 7
Dicker 7
Noone 8 - ran the game for us, imo.
Vincelot 7.5 - Some brilliant touches to take balls
Barnes 6 - Noted several times just stood to the side of midfield watching the game. I'm one of those who always seem to be defending him, but even I find it incredible that he has 4 goals already. Good awareness and well positioned for an easy tap in.
CMS 8 - Marked down a point because there were a couple of minutes he wasn't running.

Lualua 6 - he seemed too scared to run as fast as he can. So many times he got the ball on the wing and seemed tentative. Is he back full fitness? Has the constant fouling and lack of protection from refs got to him?
Navarro 6.5


I thought we edged the first half, though Blackpool had a period of dominance (during which we scored). While we started strongly in the second, I felt we sat off them and invited pressure, and they edged the second. While Blackpool's second goal was a good finish from Phillips, it is disappointing to see how many defenders the shot went through.

While overall a draw is probably fair, and although I'd've taken a draw before the game, being 2-0 up, especially given how we were controlling the game when the second went in, I felt disappointed with the draw.

 

[blue2]

I like Painter reads the game well but left a bit exposed when Noone went off

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I like Painter reads the game well but left a bit exposed when Noone went off

People talk about Painter being slow - which he certainly looks - but I agree, his positional sense is great. Calde is more showy with his attacking, but he is caught out more often than Painter and their first goal could be down to him not picking up Phillips. They're both good enough - but neither are the best in this league.

PS Not complaining - I love both these players.

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Ankergren 6.5 - Did ok

Painter 7 - Solid

Dunk 6.5 - Will be a very good player in a couple of years

Greer 6.5 - Ok

Calderon 7 - Solid

Bridcutt 8 - Great as ever

Dicker 6.5 - Some good pases tired as game went on

Noone 8 - Caused them problems every time he got on the ball

Vincelot 7 - Some good touches but needs to toughen up a bit

Barnes 7 - Did ok some nice link up play and got a goal

CMS 8 - Great header and work rate needs to be a bit cleverer with his runs as he gets caught offside a bit to much

Lualua 6 - Not quite in his stide yet although put in a couple of good crosses.

Navarro 6 - Did ok

 

[seagullwedgee]

Sorry, but the real point is that Painter is being burnt for pace, and everyone we've faced so far quickly changes shape to exploit our weakest point. Painter has great positional sense, and a cool head, and this got him through at league one level, but with the higher pace of the Champ he is being badly exposed.

He is not helped by having relatively weak defensive cover in front of him (Nooney and KLL yesterday) and I think we can expect this defensive weakness to continue to be exploited. Seeing that Sesignol fella for Sunderland on MOTD this morning, blimey,,,

 

[public school boy]

Calderon was my MOM yesterday. Quality. Hope he didn't have to wait long getting out of the car park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Sad ever to give up a two goal advantage.

Ankergren - well personally I have serious concerns about him.
It's difficult to make some of these observations, especially that to the point of Greer and Dunk covering KP because none of us knows what was said to the team in terms of containing him (KP). It certainly was disappointing of that there is no doubt.

Painter will, sadly, prove not quite up to it so I don't agree that he was equal to Greer and Dunk (who despite doing a great defending job, needs to discipline himself to reduce silly fouls and yellows.

I think that CMS is above all others, 'brilliant' and capped that today with a fine goal today.

Barnesy is putting in a lot more effort than he ever did before and 4 goals this season so far ? I am more impressed.

Kaz did not merit an 8 in his 30 minutes where, apart from a couple of decent crosses and one which should have bulged the opposition net, he was not his usual self.

Personally, I think that unfortunately, we don't start to defend until the opposition is knocking on our penalty area rather than addressing the situation earlier. The likeliehood of the opposition scoring (especially with the likes of KP on) is so much greater if we allow them to come right into our 'backyard' .

All of these posts / replies are of course personal opinion !

Why's that then? I personally don't think he's done anything wrong in all the games I've seen him play in this season. Maybe you don't like his haircut?

 

[ATFC Seagull]

The person I sit next to and I were counting the fantastic tackles, lay-offs and opening-up passes (including being the architect of the first goal) Dicker made today, and noticed the TWO times he lost possession, of which nothing came of. And we both predicted NSC's finest would have completely overlooked everything positive and say he had a bad game. Unfortunately, I am proven right.

 

[Silent Bob]

The person I sit next to and I were counting the fantastic tackles, lay-offs and opening-up passes (including being the architect of the first goal) Dicker made today, and noticed the TWO times he lost possession, of which nothing came of. And we both predicted NSC's finest would have completely overlooked everything positive and say he had a bad game. Unfortunately, I am proven right.

I think maybe people are confusing Dicker with Vincelot, who did give the ball away quite a bit (but did other good stuff too).

That's the only logical explanation I can think of.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Ankergren 6 - Shameful attempt at defending the cross for the first goal and misplaced a few passes, but still our best goalkeeper.
Calderon 7 - Solid and capable, but not playing as well as he did when we first signed him in my opinion, I miss the original Calderon.
Painter 6 - The weak link in our defence, and I suspect we'll sign another left back soon who will get in the team and stay there.
Dunk 8 - Good composure on the ball and defended well, only one overexcited tackle!
Greer 8 - Clearly Championship class, but will be rightly disappointed we conceeded 2 goals, given how the game went.
Bridcutt 9 - I think he's our best individual. Amazing player, he will be Premier League class after a season at this level.
Dicker 8 - Superb through ball to Noone which led to the first goal, made some quality interceptions and his passing was almost flawless.
Vincelot 6 - Lovely first touch and got into good positions in the middle of midfield but wasn't involved in attack or defence...
Noone 9 - Magician. Noooooooooney.
Barnes 7 - Pointless playing him wide on the right when we're under the cosh, he's not a good defender! Took his goal well.
Mackail-Smith 8 - Good goal and again, leads the line well. Quality player!

Navarro 6 - A couple of nice touches but ineffective really. Ambitious shot!
LuaLua 7 - Had a couple of good runs and put some good crosses in but falls over as often as possible.

 

[Langley]

If Nooney doesnt help out in defence, then who was that bloke who looked like him I saw often down by the corner flag ?

 

[Acker79]

Averages

Blackpool away (5 ratings)

Noone 8.40
Mackail-Smith 8.20
Bridcutt 8.00
Calderon 7.40
Vincelot 7.30
Barnes 7.00
Painter 6.80
Dunk 6.60
Dicker 6.50
Greer 6.50
Ankergren 6.40
Lualua 6.40
Navarro 6.13