Player Ratings - Colchester

[Guy Fawkes]

No that is what people who dont understand football would have written.

completely agree, 1234 is obviously only someone who can base a judgement to stats but football is far more than that.

To him a striker only plays well if they score or a dender plays well if they keep a clean sheet, or the team only play well if they win, its all black and white, no grey area to them so they are impossible to reason with.

 

[fozzie's headband]

Define understand. Murry was shocking last night. Back to his lazy indifferent worst. And how was he unlucky not to have scored, particularly when the defender obligingly fell over in front of him when he was in the six yard box. Presumably the poor dear was too distressed by the sight to manage a toe poke past the goalkeeper.

Murray had a decent game last night. Yes he should definitely have scored with a great chance in the second half when he hit the post but his overall play was good.
He was putting himself about, getting stuck in and his build up play was good.
He also wins a lot in the air and gets in the right postions. All his performance was lacking was a goal to round it off.
Great to see him back to full fitness after his injury problems, one of the first names on the teamsheet for me.

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Murray is an inigma as far as Im concerned.

Can be totaly indifferent for many matches. Giving away the ball, free kicks and silly yellow cards for persistent fowling or not using his brain and being petulent.

Consistenceny is what he needs to work on otherwise he is a bit of a luxury.

Shame we don't have a Clive Platt type player at the club.

 

[BensGrandad]

Shame we don't have a Clive Platt type player at the club.

Why would we want such a lump at the club unless you are advocating that we start playing route one football.

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Why would we want such a lump at the club unless you are advocating that we start playing route one football.

What effective winning football no I would never advocate that.

I would have him in like a shot, pulled our centre backs all over the place and created space for others.

Big strong athelte up front? No I would rather watch some fancy dan piss about for 90 minutes.

 

[Spider]

Murray had a decent game last night. Yes he should definitely have scored with a great chance in the second half when he hit the post but his overall play was good.
He was putting himself about, getting stuck in and his build up play was good.
He also wins a lot in the air and gets in the right postions. All his performance was lacking was a goal to round it off.
Great to see him back to full fitness after his injury problems, one of the first names on the teamsheet for me.

I don't want to revert to crap old "GET ONSIDE MURRAY" argument, but I did think he was poor last night and there were several occasions where I couldn't believe his lack of willingness to get onside. Not talking about from long balls or free kicks, but a few attacking moves especially one wicked cross from Forster, I think, where Murray remained offside the entire move. He also missed a sitter, but to show balance I thought Forster was poor last night as well and should also have scored at least one.

P.S. I hope I've criticised Murray in a constructive enough way not to be labelled as a Murray basher, I'm just not so jilted that I refuse to accept any criticism of him.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

P.S. I hope I've criticised Murray in a constructive enough way not to be labelled as a Murray basher, I'm just not so jilted that I refuse to accept any criticism of him.

To be honest, every time there is a hint of criticism towards Murray you're all over it - I don't see HOW you can not have the "Murray basher" label!!

 

[Big Ernie McCracken]

Bennett and McNulty stood out for me. Tunnicliffe looked sound but not sure about the second goal (it was so damn fast). El Abd........never seen a defender subbed within 20 minutes before.

El-Abd was subbed because he has 7 stitches in a face wound and it would have been 10 mins before he was ready to come back on...total shambles by the medical team!!

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

Why would we want such a lump at the club unless you are advocating that we start playing route one football.

We could do with a striker like him actually. It would be good if for a change when the ball got played up to the strikers it actually stayed there rather then coming straight back and putting us under pressure. Platt and Lisbie linked up well for them early on.

 

[Spider]

To be honest, every time there is a hint of criticism towards Murray you're all over it - I don't see HOW you can not have the "Murray basher" label!!

Because unlike you I can talk about players without needing to resort to abuse or 1 word sentences. I'm not a massive Murray fan but I think he is sometimes a great player and clearly talented. It's just the NSC attitude that anyone who gets even mildly frustrated by Murray apparently doesn't understand football and anyone who suggests he doesn't work hard enough is grouped in with with some idiot Murray basher label because of a stupid Murray vs. Revell argument from about two years ago.

 

[Mellotron]

Brezovan - 7 - Looked solid, got down well, not at fault for either goal

Hoyte - 7 - Best game I've seen him play for the club, worked hard.
Elphick - 5 - Always terrifies me when given the ball, and again a couple of time he booted it out for a throw when a simple 5 yards sideways pass would've been easier.
Tunni - 6.5 - Looked solid, won some good headers.
McNulty - 8 - MOM. Completely changed the game when he came on. Has a great football brain, and fantastic engine to overlap and get forward.

Navarro - 3 - Has no fitness whatsoever. Was completely skinned for their second goal and has to take full blame for that one. Good on the ball, terrible off of it. Does not cover enough ground to be a defensive "battler" midfielder.
Dicker - 6.5 - Fairly good game, goal was a tap-in (head-in).
Crofts - 6 - Worked hard but will be disappointed, especially with his miss.
Bennett - 7 - Set pieces were excellent last night, corners very dangerous and unlucky not to score the first half free kick, but for an excellent save.

Murray - 6 - Mixed game, and you would've banked on him to bury that chance. Some sublime touches, some not.
Forster - 6 - Similar. Had possibly an even better chance near the end and blazed it over. Worked hard though and linked up well with Murray and Dicker a few times.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Because unlike you I can talk about players without needing to resort to abuse or 1 word sentences. I'm not a massive Murray fan but I think he is sometimes a great player and clearly talented. It's just the NSC attitude that anyone who gets even mildly frustrated by Murray apparently doesn't understand football and anyone who suggests he doesn't work hard enough is grouped in with with some idiot Murray basher label because of a stupid Murray vs. Revell argument from about two years ago.

What a load of drivel.

Just because you dont "resort to 1 word sentences" doesn't mean that you aren't a "murray basher", you just spend 3 lines giving him a "polite" caning instead.

 

[elwheelio]

Forster 6 - not one of his better games. plenty of effort, but no real chances to score.

No real chances? He had a fair few excellent chances which, on on any other night, you'd expect him to take. He had an off night for sure.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Brezovan - 6 - ok

Hoyte - 6 - better than of late
Tunnicliffe - 6 - Steady
Elphick - 5 - Distribution woeful
El Abd - subbed too early for rating

Navaro - 4 - 2nd goal his fault. Does not give the back 4 any protection.
Crofts - 6 - Quiet
Dicker - 6 - Also quiet, though moved to the left to accommodate Navarro.
Bennett - 6 - Looks dangerous, but not on the ball enough

Forster - 5 - Poor game by his standards
Murray - 6 - Bad misses, but arguably still got into the right positions. Looked a bit lazy at times last night.

McNulty - 7 - Best player for me.
Dickinson - 6 - Should be starting.
Cox - 5 - buzzed about but offered nothing. Difficult when you come on late.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

El-Abd had a 3" gash on his face (cheekbone) and presumably they couldn't stop it bleeding in time. The ballboys MUST NOT recycle the ball quickly when we are down to ten men..! Bring back Keith Cuss!!

 

[Jim in the West]

I would have said Murray had a pretty decent game last night. He won countless flick-on headers against significantly taller defenders. He also frequently moved into space to receive balls from the midfield (which he doesn't always do). His disallowed header was a peach. The miss from 6 yards cost us at least a point, but Murray doesn't often miss that sort of chance. He and McNulty are a class above the rest of the team. Forster, Bennett and Crofts are decent enough players. Unfortunately the rest are some way behind.

 

[albionalex]

Brezovan - 7 - Didn't have much to do but looked soild.

Hoyte - 7 - Best performance for a while, didn't look troubled against theier winger.
Elphick - 5 - Responsible for their first goal and had a few dodgy moments.
Tunnicliffe - 6 - Looked assured at the back and wasn't troubled by Platt.
McNulty - 8 - Changed the match when he came on. Great delivery with either foot and despite some great attackig play he also defended well.

Navarro - 5 - Disgraceful defending for the second goal and a few dodgy passes during the game. Apart from that was decent enough.
Dicker - 7 - Another good game with some clever passing. Really seems to make the team tick.
Crofts - 6 - Superb work rate but didn't really do that much.
Bennett - 7 - Deilvery was excellent and had a couple of good free kicks. Not only was he a threat going forward but ran the length of the pitch to make defensive tackles.
Murray - 6 - Really should have scored. Had some good play but also miffed a few important moments. Needs a gaol soon I think.
Forster - 6 - Same as Murray really.

El-Abd- 6 - Looked fine until his injury.
Cox- 5 - Didn't have much time but still wasn't very impressive.
Dickinson- 6- Did alright. Looked good when running at thier centre halfs.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

El-Abd was subbed because he has 7 stitches in a face wound and it would have been 10 mins before he was ready to come back on...total shambles by the medical team!!

I heard this subsequently - couldn't see this from the front of J block

 

[Spider]

What a load of drivel.

Just because you dont "resort to 1 word sentences" doesn't mean that you aren't a "murray basher", you just spend 3 lines giving him a "polite" caning instead.

We obviously have a different opinion on the meaning of the term then. I would take "Murray basher" (or that phrase in any context) as someone who has a more than irrational hatred of the player and is therefore disregards any positives and constantly slags him off. Pretty sure that's not what I do, much as you would not call yourself a Murray licker for more often than not seeing more positives than negatives. I don't much like the player, but I'm not stupid enough to say he's a crap player, I just think he performs badly more often than certain people would like to admit.

 

[logan89]

Brezovan - 6 - Didn't have much to do.

Hoyte - 6 - Bit Lazy, but actually wanted to pass the ball out of defense.
Elphick - 5 - Couldn't deal with the big lad in first half.
Tunnicliffe - 6 - didn't have to mark the big lad so wasn't really troubled.
McNulty - 8 - Easily the best player at the club.

Navarro - 4 - Terrible game.
Dicker - 6 - Got the goal, but apart feom that a bit anomalus. Plus where was he supposed to be playing, looked like a LM that tucked in far too much and left McNulty with nothing to pass to up the line.
Crofts - 5 - Didn't really do that much.
Bennett - 6 - Average game.
Murray - 5 - Should have scored a couple. Didn't link up with Forster at all.
Forster - 5 - Same as Murray really.

El-Abd- n/a - Looked fine until his injury.
Cox- 5 - Didn't have much time.
Dickinson- 6- Did alright. Looked good when running at thier centre halfs although should pass much earlier than he does.

Gus - 3 - We constantly played a weird 442 where we had no LM as Dicker tucked in. Despite the face that we had 3 CM's we lost the midfield battle and they won all the 2nd balls, 50/50's. Gus didn't change it untill it was too late then when he did he put Dickinson on as a left winger and Cox as a CM?? why?? McNulty had absolutly no outlet up the wing and we left ourselves too narow. Wasn't impressed with our shape or tactics at all.