Player Ratings Blackpool

[Seagull over Canaryland]

An interesting day out. Firstly a chance to exercise some fan power in the anti-Oyston protest. I feel for the Blackpool fans, they deserve better. Plus it sadly took the gloss off their celebration of the Stanley Matthews centenary. We've had enough pain of our own from rogue owners and only underlines just how lucky we are to have Tony Bloom. To think only a few weeks ago there were punters on here questioning TB's commitment...........take a look at Blackpool's current plight and get real folks.

As for the game it was an annoying result that interrupts our recent momentum. Having reflected for 24 hours or so makes me hope it was a 'one off', due to many mitigating factors.

The pitch and wind were significant, as was the feeble Ref. who missed so many on and off the ball incidents, plus made some bizarre decisions. Yes, these factors were the same for both teams, but we should have coped better and made the most of our slight dominance over the first 75 minutes. Blackpool were poor and offered little threat, but credit to them for taking their chance.

O'Hara's winning free kick was simple in concept and execution. No fannying about, just do the obvious thing - launch a curling free kick into the swirling tail wind and let it dip beyond Stockdale into the far corner. The Albion had an almost identical free kick in the first half - but surprise, surprise instead of letting our dead ball specialist Danny Holla test their keeper it was JFC, plus one other who faffed about with a training ground routine (wasted on this dog of a pitch) that JFC then scuffed harmlessly towards the defensive wall. Doh..... Any decent free kick specialist would have been desperate to test the keeper in such conditions, FFs!!!

The inclusion of JFC and Calde was probably intended to shore up things and grind out a result on a dog of a pitch but also denied us any sort of flair. To be fair the pitch would not have suited a ball player like Tex - but then Orlandi didn't seem to suffer too much for the home side, but didn't create much either.

There were some encouraging performances from Stockdale, Baldock, COG, Best and March.

Baldock and COG caused the home side problems and IMO we faltered once Sam was taken off.

Stockdale - 7 Not his fault for the goal, it was a well placed free kick.
Bennett - 6
Dunk - 6.5
Greer - 5 some typical scary moments.
Bruno - 6
Holla - 6
Ince - 6.5 Not his best game but still showed some classy moments and one brilliant tackle. Plus another where he hunted down a twisting and turning Orlandi before having the final word.
JFC - 5 Often outmuscled by the diminutive Perkins, who showed more hunger and awareness and seems to relish playing against us.
Calderon - 5.5
Baldock - 7 Some good interchanges with COG that caused Blackpool problems but could not capitalise
COG - 7.5 For the first hour he was a decent target man, hustling the defenders, winning many 50/50 balls, holding up play nicely and making some lovely flicks on for Baldock etc. However nothing quite fell for them.

Best - 6.5. A mixed bag of a cameo. Initially tended to get in COG's way but also showed some interesting touches, including some fancy turns with the ball that left defenders floundering (or it might have been the dodgy pitch). I will be interested to see how he develops, given a bit more match practice.
March - 6.5. One mazy run.
CMS - 5. Tended to get in Best's way.........

It will be interesting to see how Hughton reflects on yesterday. On this performance Tex, Kayal, KLL and Stephens will be pushing for places. I can see Calde being a fall guy for one of them.

 

[BensGrandad]

O'Hara's winning free kick was simple in concept and execution. No fannying about, just do the obvious thing - launch a curling free kick into the swirling tail wind and let it dip beyond Stockdale into the far corner.

Stockdale - 7 Not his fault for the goal, it was a well placed free kick/QUOTE]

Although somewhat obvious where it would go from the position on the pitch with a left footed taker.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

O'Hara's winning free kick was simple in concept and execution. No fannying about, just do the obvious thing - launch a curling free kick into the swirling tail wind and let it dip beyond Stockdale into the far corner.

Stockdale - 7 Not his fault for the goal, it was a well placed free kick/QUOTE]

Although somewhat obvious where it would go from the position on the pitch with a left footed taker.

Errrrr............inside the near post, maybe?

We had already seen enough crosses and corners earlier in the game to see how the effect of the wind on the ball into the south goal was causing problems.

In 'normal' calmer conditions you would expect the combination of keeper and wall to keep out 90% of free kicks, unless you see a real peach like Spanish Dave's inch perfect goal against Palace.

I gave Stockdale the benefit of the doubt as in the conditions it could equally have gone inside the near post......the defensive wall was made redundant by the loop, dip and swerve on the ball. Just get the ball airborne with enough pace and curl on it and let the wind do the rest, it was beautifully executed. Stockers had to try and cover both posts.

The sad thing is that Holla could have done just as well in the first half, such was the swirl on the wind. He could have curled it the other way in those conditions. The group of fans I was sat with all said this is nicely set up for a curling shot into either corner of the goal - but we never gave him the chance. FFs.

I suggest that anyone that has played football would fancy their chances wrapping their best foot around a free kick in those conditions.

BTW for all the criticism of Stockdale's distribution (much of it justified) this season - yesterday some of his upfield passes were extraordinary, he used the same wind to skim a series of really accurate balls that screamed 60 yards at real pace direct to COG that were world class, given the crappy conditions. COG also had the skill to control them. Brilliant.

 

[BensGrandad]

I am not blaming DS but feel that as the most obvious spot to put a kick from there i.e. keepers top right corner he could have got nearer to it than he did.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I am not blaming DS but feel that as the most obvious spot to put a kick from there i.e. keepers top right corner he could have got nearer to it than he did.

We now know that O'Hara had the skill to execute the free kick into the far corner - but equally he might have curled it inside the near post. I also recall from my side on view the wicked dip on the shot and sensing that DS had been trying to cover both sides of the goal..... In his current form I might have put money on him to save the FK - but it was so well placed. As I suggested in my player ratings I give credit to Blackpool - and frustration that The Albion did not seize their similar chance.

Anyway I'd rather save my annoyance for JFC insisting on a fancy training ground routine ending in a shot that feebly bobbled along the deck, rather than let Holla have a pop at goal.

 

[BensGrandad]

Seagulls over Canaryland. What was your general impression of Jamie O Hara? I said before he extended his deal at Blackpool that if CH could get him motivated he would have been a good signing for us. Wages wise he is earning a pittance compared to our players. No doubt he will move in the summer for a more lucrative contract.

 

[El Presidente]

Could have been the wind, but Stockdale did seem to misjudge the flight.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Seagulls over Canaryland. What was your general impression of Jamie O Hara? I said before he extended his deal at Blackpool that if CH could get him motivated he would have been a good signing for us. Wages wise he is earning a pittance compared to our players. No doubt he will move in the summer for a more lucrative contract.

Fair question. I did look at O'Hara and wondered why he isn't playing at a more fancied Club. Yesterday showed he has the experience and guile to have an impact at this level, and would probably be wasted in Lge 1. He looks like another Andy Reid sort of player, who hasn't quite made it at the highest level and is now content to drift around the Championship. He could lose a few pounds too. However he tries to make up for this with a series of questionable challenges and was able to con the Ref on a few occasions.

We might need a street fighter like him but I don't think he fits our supposedly cultured style of play.

 

[Acker79]

Any more?

 

[loco61]

Stockdale 4: Distribution good, but I think he was caught on his heels for the goal. Tried to give one of their players a right hook but missed, would have been red carded had he connected.
Bruno 5: Textbook Bruno, some great close control, bonkers challenges, ridiculous shanks and LOTS of long throws a as our one attacking weapon
Greer 5: Had our only chance on target, otherwise little to do
Dunk 6: One mazy dribble, could have conceded a penalty, looked our most likely scorer
Bennett 5: Less attacking than usual
Ince 6: Great winning the ball, dreadful once he had it
JFC 5; Some very neat touches at times, but fell into the trap of launching it to deal with the farmer's field masquerading as a pitch
Holla 4: match passed him by
Baldock 5: Quite direct when he had the ball
COG 6: Held ball up very well, but didn't get enough support.

Subs:
Best 6: Looks a real handful, keen to take on defenders
March 5: If only he had a right foot....
CMS 4: First thing he did was to run into Best going for a high ball, it didn't get any better

yes agree with this ... cms would have got three if he had been on longer

bruno´s long throws were a feature but we won nothing with them
lots is very conservative!

and i thought baldock and ogrady were similar ... 6 from me but 5 fair too!

the pitch 0,5

 

[Acker79]

Average Ratings

Highest Rated:
<O'Grady 6.58 (87mins, 6 votes)

The Rest:
Ince 6.42 (96mins, 6 votes)
Dunk 6.08 (96mins, 6 votes)
>Best 5.88 (40mins, 4 votes)
J. Bennett 5.50 (96mins, 6 votes)
>March 5.38 (18mins, 4 votes)
Greer 5.33 (96mins, 6 votes)
Stockdale 5.17 (96mins, 6 votes)
Bruno 5.00 (96mins, 6 votes)
Holla 4.83 (96mins, 6 votes)
<Baldock 4.75 (56mins, 6 votes)
Forster-Caskey 4.33 (96mins, 6 votes)
>Mackail-Smith 4.33 (9mins, 3 votes)
<Calderon 4.25 (78mins, 6 votes)


Squad average: 5.27