Player Ratings from Huddersfield

[Mendoza]

Kuipers
4 - lots of communication problems with Virgo in particular which lead to the first goal. The penalty, was a rush of blood, although a dive, was a penalty. His reaction was disgraceful. A long ban awaits possibly

Whing
5 - an off game, but probably the best of the bad defence. Looked good going forward, but thats not what we needed. Gave away a penalty too

Elphick
4 - off his game, lost lots of aerial challenges, and dragged all over the place by their strikers

Virgo
4 - was terrible, looked slow and off the pace. If he wasnt captain he probably would be dropped on Saturday. He did well getting Kuipers away from the ref.

El Abd
2 - why he plays is a bit of a joke. he has no ability to play at left back, and cost us a few goals. The penalty was the start of it, and the serial backing off and letting attackers run at him winds me up no end.

Cox
4 - didnt do anything of note, at least his corners were beating the first man

McLeod
5 - looked a threat, had a great effort on goal from about 30 yards which was saved. Looked out of position, but he was playing on the right wing

Crofts
5 - the best of our centre midfielders, but took a heavy knock in the second half. At least he got stuck in when he could

Navarro
4 - terrible game for him, almost gifted them a goal with a back pass from the school of El Abd. Lost the ball in the middle of the park a few times which lead to them attacking

J Smith
5 - I thought he looked quite good even though he looks about 11. Was key to our early attacking play, but was subbed when Kuipers was sent off

Dickinson
6 - tough upfront on his own, but scored a blinding goal. He ran the channels well, but had no support. Got injured and came off, hope he is ok for Saturday

G Smith
5 - althoguh he let in loads, he didnt play badly at all. made some great saves that kept the scoreline under double figures. Booked for picking the ball up off the penalty spot and clapping at our fans within 5 seconds of coming on

Forster
no time to make an impact, i dont think he touched the ball

 

[KrustyKrab]

Whing
5 - an off game, but probably the best of the bad defence. Looked good going forward, but thats not what we needed. Gave away a penalty too

Are you serious the guy is the laziest right back ever he didnt make one overlap all night and i dont think i saw him break into a sprint only when the back four played too square and the huudersfield strikers were in on goal did he actually sprint!

 

[Jimbo26]

Everyone will have a different opinion, so what is the point !!!!.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Put it this way, if it had happened at the other end, we'd have been absolutely SCREAMING for a penalty and red card.

Can't think of many that have been more clear cut, IMHO. Regardless, Kuipers' reaction was wrong- whatever you think, having a monster paddy in the referee's face is never going to change his mind, and the fact it's now being suggested the Chef has apologised to the officials already indicates he knows he's in the shit and is attempting to minimise the damage.

I disagree. My initial reaction last night, and still my view having seen it on SSN today, was that Novak pushed it too far ahead so it was not a professional foul or a red card. Probably was a penalty although Kuipers had a reason to be upset as Novak made the most of minimal contact at best.

As for the game, we matched them until the sending off and it could have been 2-2 as their keeper made a good save from McLeod just before the first penalty. It could have been a really good game but was ruined as a contest by the sending off/penalty. The referee made a bad decision there in my view and had a poor game including ridiculously booking Graeme Smith. If he had not sent off Kuipers we would probably have lost, but not anywhere near 7-1.

I thought Graeme Smith played well on his debut. Good penalty save, not at fault for any of the goals and made a really good save near the end to stop it being 8-1 (although he almost let a header from a corner go through him). Dickinson played his best game for us and scored a really good goal although he was very isolated after the sending off. I thought Jamie Smith had a decent debut and looked lively in midfield and was unfortunate to be taken off when Kuipers was sent off. The rest all played okay for an hour (ignoring El Abd's mistake) but it all fell apart when they scored their fourth. If anything we probably pushed forward too much with 10 men and left ourselves exposed at the back.

Overall, I know at 7-1 it is strange to say, but I am not too worried. That scoreline would have been very different if Kuipers had not been sent off. I thought we matched them for the first half and they will certainly be up there at the end of the season.

 

[ali jenkins]

Brett,

You say that Kuipers sending off was a dive AND a penalty. Surley it has to be one or the other?

 

[CheshireSeagull]

first ever game i have been too were i left before the end. awfull!!!!!!!

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Brett,

You say that Kuipers sending off was a dive AND a penalty. Surley it has to be one or the other?

I think he's bringing up the ugly subject of "intent" again. Do you not remember Steven Gerrard's dive at Sheffield United on the opening day a few years ago? Oh, what a "to-do" there was about that one...

 

[SeagullofKent]

I think he's bringing up the ugly subject of "intent" again. Do you not remember Steven Gerrard's dive at Sheffield United on the opening day a few years ago? Oh, what a "to-do" there was about that one...

im sure kuipers didnt intend to bring down the striker, why would he do that ?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

A striker knows that by drawing the foul from the goalie and him being the last man , not only does this result in a penalty but also a red card. The opposition is reduced to 10 men for the rest of the game.