[Albion] Player ratings v Newcastle

[Jim in the West]

What utter nonsense. He has mostly been excellent this season - one of our best players, in fact. If you are looking for a weak link, I hardly think it is in defence. We have the 7th best defensive record (equal with Arsenal). Bruno's overlapping runs with AK also remain a significant attacking threat, particularly in home games. Seeing as you consider a large number of our players are simply not good enough at this level, I wonder if you could explain how we are 12th in the table? We are hardly setting the EPL alight, but what did you expect? Of course some of the players find it more difficult playing against top class opposition (FWIW, I think Stephens is one who has struggled a bit), but on the whole the squad are doing just fine.

Agree with almost all of that - but I think Stephens is really finding his feet. Our problem at the moment (imho) - and apart from the obvious striker issue - is that neither AK nor March has great pace. Probably half a dozen (or more) times today we had opportunities to break in numbers, but ended up getting nowhere due to a lack of pace. I assume Izquierdo will start on Monday - hopefully we'll be a bit more threatening.

 

[kevo]

Agree with almost all of that - but I think Stephens is really finding his feet. Our problem at the moment (imho) - and apart from the obvious striker issue - is that neither AK nor March has great pace. Probably half a dozen (or more) times today we had opportunities to break in numbers, but ended up getting nowhere due to a lack of pace. I assume Izquierdo will start on Monday - hopefully we'll be a bit more threatening.

Yes, agree that Stephens has improved over the last couple of weeks. Good news that Kayal is back too. I'd like to see Iz given a run in the side as March is going through a tough patch and he does have pace.

 

[sydney]

Only kept a clean sheet because of the man in orange.

On another day with that display, would have lost 3-0

I cannot believe Jose didn't get at least 20 minutes.

yep......with March so obviously off the boil it seemed ridiculous to me to have our record signing sat on the bench ......perhaps he starts v boremuff

 

[Nobby]

Ryan - 7 - played well, and carried a couple of good, if not wonder, saves. Can he only just about kick it to the halfway line? Proving his doubters wrong, for the most part.

Bruno - 6.5 - a steady performance. Lacking his occasional guile, but our wideman/fullback teams weren’t in their usual togetherness, so the options didn’t appear to be many.

Duffy - 7 - a strong centrehalf showing, but kicks himself for not putting the odd set piece home. That mans wants a goal, and soon.

Dunk - 8 - a classy showing. Some of his long passes perfectly to feet, and looked in control with the ball in tight areas. He’s like a less erroneous, unstupid haired David Luiz.

Bong - 6.5 - most of our attacks seemed perhaps oddly to go down our left, which wasn’t working well. Don’t remember any bad cock ups from Herr Bong though, and Ritchie had a pointless game under his watch.

Stephens - 6.5 - some tidy passing in the neat interchanges, but in the second half gave the ball away sloppily a few times. And this was a game in which the opposition put up little fight.

Propper - 8 - I liked the cut of his jib today. Really good performance and got himself involved as well as being slick.

Knocky - 5 - barely there today. Not sure if the plan for the main part was to draw, but his style was rarely apparent, and both he and March played 90 minutes doing it.

March - 5 - far busier than Knocky, but that first half was like a Lua Lua first half on his bad days. His touch was poor and his decision making has to develop. A bit better in the second half, but that left him to cross into an empty space or only a series of Geordie heads. Needs his confidence constantly lifted, it seems, and he has to start to realise his potential as a game changer.

Gross - 6 - disappeared a bit as the game went, but worked hard and flung in a few half decent set pieces.

Murray - 5.5 - one good flick on, but too many miscontrols, silly falls to the ground and offsides. I can see why he went off, but the substitution had us less attacking, as long balls to the head of Hemed were never to be won.

Hemed - 5 - not his fault, this grading. What was he to do up there on his own.

Hughton - 6 - yes, we gained the point, but Newcastle were there for the taking. Our aim was one without adventure, and I grew frustrated as the game went on with our lack of ambition, as another sub or two may have made a difference, may have injected a smidgen of final third magic into our labour.

This

Apart from Bong probably a 7.5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DJ NOBO]

It's difficult at times to be critical of Albion players without the inevitable backlash from some NSC regulars.

But I don't really care about them....

You never really know who is capable of the step up to the Premier League until they have actually competed at this level.

On the whole, Bong and Ryan have surpassed my expectations, while Stephens, Propper, Gross and our magnificent centre back pair have slotted in well.

However, surprisingly, AK has struggled. I can't decide if he's just too easy to predict at this level or whether he's still suffering from mental angst following the death of his father. I still believe he will come good and no-one can deny his spectacular talent.

As for Bruno, and more so March, I always doubted either would bridge the gap to the Premier League. Bruno would have perhaps got by five years ago, but he now looks a clear weak link. March, in my view remains one of the most over-rated players of recent times. There are some bursts of brilliance but in the main he looks lightweight and ineffective at this level. There is a complete lack of consistency and for an attacking winger, his goal threat is impotent. I can see similarities with JFC.

It’s not that surprising knockaert is struggling. Leicester obviously didn’t think he was up to it , and let him go when we went up.
Personally I believ he has been consistently unlucky and was heavily marked at the start of the season.
He is simply too talented not to spectacturly turn it on at some point.

 

[neilbard]

Ryan 7
Bruno 7
Duffy 7
Dunk 7
Bong 7
Stephens 6
Propper 6
Knockaert 5
Gross 7
March 5
Murray 4
(Hemed 62, 4)

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm in the Family Stand, in line with the 6 yard box, about 10 rows back.

v Watford I spent the second half marvelling at AK, Bruno and Gross, triangling their way through the Watford left.
Between the 3 of them they created enough space for one to regularly supply a quality cross.

Which is exactly what I distinctly remember happening twice as Solly kicked the ball straight at me, across the 6 yard line.

As I said earlier if these fellas were getting the assists they deserve, all the negativity being levelled at them now would be laughed off this board. (and someone else would be getting slated instead)

 

[Mo Gosfield]

It’s not that surprising knockaert is struggling. Leicester obviously didn’t think he was up to it , and let him go when we went up.
Personally I believ he has been consistently unlucky and was heavily marked at the start of the season.
He is simply too talented not to spectacturly turn it on at some point.

Leicester could see he was one dimensional at PL level...far too predictable. The one thing you cannot afford to do at this level is to over-play and Knocky cannot stop himself over-elaborating. Teams know that he will inevitably try too much and give the ball away.
He will not spectacularly turn it on at some point ( he has had over half a season to do it ) and will eventually become a bit part player, frustrating all and sundry. The PL is all about playing it quick, playing it simple and playing it accurately and Knocky can't do this. The twisting and turning works at a lower level. These defenders won't fall for it.

 

[The Birdman]

Need to a little bit better at corners that's all.

 

[Milano]

Leicester could see he was one dimensional at PL level...far too predictable. The one thing you cannot afford to do at this level is to over-play and Knocky cannot stop himself over-elaborating. Teams know that he will inevitably try too much and give the ball away.
He will not spectacularly turn it on at some point ( he has had over half a season to do it ) and will eventually become a bit part player, frustrating all and sundry. The PL is all about playing it quick, playing it simple and playing it accurately and Knocky can't do this. The twisting and turning works at a lower level. These defenders won't fall for it.

He's got everything required, the rest is called coaching, he needs to be prepared to learn/improve, all the top players have that about them.

 

[bhawoddy]

Ryan 9
Bruno 6
Dunk 7
Duffy 7
Bong 6
March 3
Knockhaert 5
Propper 8
Stephens 8
Gross 6
Murray 5

March looks like he has lost all confidence and seems to be going backwards quickly. Needs confidence to attack full backs, especially ones who are already on yellows. Delivery is poor mostly too.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

What utter nonsense. He has mostly been excellent this season - one of our best players, in fact. If you are looking for a weak link, I hardly think it is in defence. We have the 7th best defensive record (equal with Arsenal). Bruno's overlapping runs with AK also remain a significant attacking threat, particularly in home games. Seeing as you consider a large number of our players are simply not good enough at this level, I wonder if you could explain how we are 12th in the table? We are hardly setting the EPL alight, but what did you expect? Of course some of the players find it more difficult playing against top class opposition (FWIW, I think Stephens is one who has struggled a bit), but on the whole the squad are doing just fine.

Quite. We have been in the Prem, just 4 months. It's a learning curve, & Chris will add more quality which will enhance the quality we already have.

It’s not that surprising knockaert is struggling. Leicester obviously didn’t think he was up to it , and let him go when we went up.
Personally I believ he has been consistently unlucky and was heavily marked at the start of the season.
He is simply too talented not to spectacturly turn it on at some point.

How many more times? Leicester didn't release him, they offered him a new contract which Knocky turned down. He went to Standard Liege, because it was near his home town on the French/Belgium border. His Dad was ill but made a recovery (then).
He wanted to play in England so came to us 6 months later (geographically near Channel ports & Gatwick). Unfortunately his Dad then lost his battle, & the rest is history.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Leicester could see he was one dimensional at PL level...far too predictable. The one thing you cannot afford to do at this level is to over-play and Knocky cannot stop himself over-elaborating. Teams know that he will inevitably try too much and give the ball away.
He will not spectacularly turn it on at some point ( he has had over half a season to do it ) and will eventually become a bit part player, frustrating all and sundry. The PL is all about playing it quick, playing it simple and playing it accurately and Knocky can't do this. The twisting and turning works at a lower level. These defenders won't fall for it.

Why did Leicester offer him a new contract?

 

[scousefan]

Ryan 8 MOM
Dunk 8
Duffy 7
Bruno 8
Bong 7.5
Stevens 6
Propper 6
March 5 not adventurous enough
Knockaert 5 a few touches early on but faded
Gross 6
Murray 5 not quick enough

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Quite. We have been in the Prem, just 4 months. It's a learning curve, & Chris will add more quality which will enhance the quality we already have.



How many more times? Leicester didn't release him, they offered him a new contract which Knocky turned down. He went to Standard Liege, because it was near his home town on the French/Belgium border. His Dad was ill but made a recovery (then).
He wanted to play in England so came to us 6 months later (geographically near Channel ports & Gatwick). Unfortunately his Dad then lost his battle, & the rest is history.

That's the truth but it doesn't fit with the anti-Knockaert agenda.

 

[Is it PotG?]

That's the truth but it doesn't fit with the anti-Knockaert agenda.

There is no agenda whatsoever. If anyone feels a player is underperforming (on a more regular basis) then this should be commented upon, as it should be with any other player. It's called an opinion on a team forum.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

That's the truth but it doesn't fit with the anti-Knockaert agenda.

Just to confirm, it was a 4 year contract offered by Leicester.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-league-champinship-leicester-standard-liege

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

There is no agenda whatsoever. If anyone feels a player is underperforming (on a more regular basis) then this should be commented upon, as it should be with any other player. It's called an opinion on a team forum.

Yes - but 'the agenda' is to spread lies that :

1 - Leicester didn't offer AK another deal as they didn't rate him

Or

2 - AK stropped off from Leicester to go to Standard Liege when the truth was that it was to be near his very ill father.


Nothing wrong with not rating AK. It is the associated lies that make up 'the agenda'.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

There is no agenda whatsoever. If anyone feels a player is underperforming (on a more regular basis) then this should be commented upon, as it should be with any other player. It's called an opinion on a team forum.

By all means have an opinion, but base that opinion on the truth, not made up fantasy.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Yes - but 'the agenda' is to spread lies that :

1 - Leicester didn't offer AK another deal as they didn't rate him

Or

2 - AK stropped off from Leicester to go to Standard Liege when the truth was that it was to be near his very ill father.


Nothing wrong with not rating AK. It is tge associated lies that make up 'the agenda'.

Fair enough. I have neither knowledge nor view upon the Leicester contract, my only point is that AK has done less than hoped this season so far.