Player ratings vs Oldham

[goldstone]

Very good game. I didn't get to the Cheltenham game, but from what I hear this was obviously a BIG improvement.

Kuipers 8. Not sure he had any shots to save, but commanded his area well and handled crosses very confidently.

Whing 7. Good game.

Elphick 8. Outstanding ... again.

El-Abd 7. Would have got an 8 except from a couple of dangerously bad balls. Apart from that he was excellent and we saw some very nice touches in the first half. He and Elphick are a good partnership.

Richards 8. Great run to set up the goal and played well all game.

Bowditch 7. Excellent first half, not quite up to the same standard in the 2nd.

Fraser 7. He was playing well until his injury.

Thomson 8. Class, but maybe faded a bit in the second half.

Cox 7. Some excellent crosses and corners, but let himself down with a couple of crap passes plus going for the corner flag with ten minutes left to play ... stupid!

Forster 7. Missed a couple, but played well.

Murray 8. Really well taken goal and some excellent touches with feet and head. Our best striking partnership since

Subs:
Martot 7. Did OK. First time I've seen him play in the centre.
Robinson 5. Not much time, but enough to give the ball away in a dangerous position.
Lynch. Not enough time.

Manager 8

Crowd 7. Better!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Kuipers 7
Whing 7
Elphick 9
El-Abd 8
Richards 8
Bowditch 7 - looked tired in 2nd half. Should have been subbed earlier IMO
Fraser 7
Thomson 7.5
Cox 7
Forster 7
Murray 8

Subs:
Martot 7.5
Robinson 6
Lynch - no time

 

[Spider]

Kuipers - 6 - Not tested but did everything well

Whing - 6 - A solid if not particularly notable performance
El-Abd - 7 - Looked assured at the back other than a few token cock ups
Elphick - 8 - Wins everything
Richards - 8 - Played well today and a lovely run for the goal, the kind of quality he should show more often

Bowditch - 6 - Started well but faded quickly and looked tired
Fraser - 7 - Looked promising and unfortunate to take a knock
Thomson - 6 - Quietly solid
Cox - 6 - In turns creative and frustrating, certainly far from his best

Forster - 6 - Has forgotten where the goal although still works hard
Murray - 8 - Looked threatening, won balls in the air, and a beautiful finish for the goal

Subs:
Martot - 8 - For once a central midfielder who is prepared to take the ball and pass it short - showed a range of passes and skill on the ball and rarely lost it.
Robinson - 4 - An inappropriate substitution, Robinson is okay pressing for a goal but his defensive work today was shocking.
Lynch - No time


Going back to Martot, I'd be interested to hear what the Martot haters have to say after his performance today. I thought he really looked decent and assured, and I hope the management take note because I'd start him in that position next match. To be honest the haters will probably still fail to recognise his skill and say "what's the point in having him on the pitch?" but it's time the reasonable amongst us recognised he's a decent player.

Also, I know Robinson is popular on here but I can't think anyone thought he was good for the time he was on, and it highlighted exactly why he shouldn't be in our team. His defending is woeful, and when you're protecting a 1-0 lead he isn't the man to bring on.

 

[Icy Gull]

I think he gave the ball away just about everytime he had it, and that wasn't often.

We played like a team today which we certainly didn't on Tuesday. Give em all 6 apart
from MK, Elphick. Murray, Forster, El Abd, Thomson who I'd give 7

 

[Napper]

Kuipers - 6 - Not tested but did everything well

Whing - 6 - A solid if not particularly notable performance
El-Abd - 7 - Looked assured at the back other than a few token cock ups
Elphick - 8 - Wins everything
Richards - 8 - Played well today and a lovely run for the goal, the kind of quality he should show more often

Bowditch - 6 - Started well but faded quickly and looked tired
Fraser - 7 - Looked promising and unfortunate to take a knock
Thomson - 6 - Quietly solid
Cox - 6 - In turns creative and frustrating, certainly far from his best

Forster - 6 - Has forgotten where the goal although still works hard
Murray - 8 - Looked threatening, won balls in the air, and a beautiful finish for the goal

Subs:
Martot - 8 - For once a central midfielder who is prepared to take the ball and pass it short - showed a range of passes and skill on the ball and rarely lost it.
Robinson - 4 - An inappropriate substitution, Robinson is okay pressing for a goal but his defensive work today was shocking.
Lynch - No time


Going back to Martot, I'd be interested to hear what the Martot haters have to say after his performance today. I thought he really looked decent and assured, and I hope the management take note because I'd start him in that position next match. To be honest the haters will probably still fail to recognise his skill and say "what's the point in having him on the pitch?" but it's time the reasonable amongst us recognised he's a decent player.

Also, I know Robinson is popular on here but I can't think anyone thought he was good for the time he was on, and it highlighted exactly why he shouldn't be in our team. His defending is woeful, and when you're protecting a 1-0 lead he isn't the man to bring on.

I'm not particularly a Martot fan and as you asked for opinion I reckon he was actually OK when he came on. Unspectacular but didn't make any mistakes and was alright.

Agree Robinson was poor when he came on , never really got on the front foot at them

 

[Albion Edd]

Kuipers 7
Whing 7
Elphick 8
El Abd 7
Richards 8
Bowditch 6
Fraser 7
Thomson 7
Cox 6
Forster 8
Murray 8

Martot 7
Robinson 5

Really good performance today, and an entertaining game. Proves that when we get the ball down and play we're a decent team. Martot looks alot more comfortable in the centre of midfield than out wide. Robinson was disappointing when he came on but it's not surprising as he's an attacking player and we were defending out lead when he came on.

 

[SeagullRic]

Kuipers 6 - Good handling and command of area but poor kicking

Whing 7 - Worked hard, good in the air but distribution could be better

Elphick 8 - Brilliant again, nothing got past him and won everything in the air

El-Abd 7 - Some awful passes from defence but looked solid when defending

Richards 8 - His best game for a while, great run for the goal and looked assured in playing the ball out from defence

Bowditch 6 - Cracking ball which Forster should have scored from, but didn't do too much other than that.

Fraser 7 - Ran hard and kept the ball well, hopefully his injury is not too bad

Thomson 7 - sat in the middle of the park well and hardly lost the ball

Cox 7 - A few good set pieces in the first half but squandered other chances to put the ball in to waste time, which ended up with us losing it anyway

Forster 6 - Linked up well with Murray again, should have scored from the ball Bowditch put through to him and got his free header on target

Murray 8 - Held the ball up well and frequently layed the ball off for the on rushing Forster and Cox. Took his goal brilliantly.

subs:

Martot 7 - Looked at home next to Thomson and did the simple things well

Robinson 6 - Not given that much time to make an impact, gave the ball away stupidly towards the end

Lynch 6 - Had nothing to do

Wilkins 8 - picked the right team in my opinion, got it tactically right and will have hopefully shut up some of the 'Wilkins out' crew on here.

Crowd 7 - Not great attendance but reasonably good atmosphere within the ground

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Fraser 4 - not on long, but didn't do much

I have to pull you up on this. Frader was having an excellent game until he got injured. Very effective half an hour, and only Martot's good performance meant we didn't miss him. Giving him a 4 is ridiculous

 

[1066familyman]

Kuipers 7
Whing 7
Elphick 8
El-Abd 7
Richards 8
Bowditch 7
Fraser 7
Thomson 7
Cox 6
Forster 8
Murray 8

Subs :

Martot 7
Robinson 5
Lynch - n/a

 

[Robdinho]

I have to pull you up on this. Fraser was having an excellent game until he got injured. Very effective half an hour, and only Martot's good performance meant we didn't miss him. Giving him a 4 is ridiculous

I agree, our passing game suffered noticably after he went off. We resorted to hoofing it for the remainder of the first half. This was my first Withdean game for a few years (living Sheffield and having no cash makes it tricky!) and I was pleasantly surprised by how we played given the horror stories I read on here after the Cheltenham game.

Kuipers 7 - No real saves to make but caught everything and looked comfortable
Whing 7 - Looked secure and supprted the attack well on occasion. Slightly worrying tendency to dive in rather than stay on his feet but got away with it today.
Elphick 9 - Rock solid, deservedly MOM
El Abd 7 - Also solid, couple of mis-placed passes but also some excellent blocks.
Richards 8 - Classy display. A lot of ouor attacks seemed to start with him and his run for the goal was quality.
Bowditch 6 - Started well but then disappeared completely. Tended to drift inside too much, he needs to stay wide to give us real width.
Fraser 7 - Looked good til he was forced off.
Thomson 6 - Kept things simple but did not really impose himself on the game.
Cox 7 - Excellent delivery on crosses & set pieces. Otherwise a bit inconsistent was was involved in most of our best moves I thought. In no way did he deserve the level of abuse he got from the fellow sat in front of me!
Forster 8 - Unlucky not to score, looked dangerous.
Murray 9 - Very impressive. Won every header, cool finish for his goal.

Martot 6 - As with Thomson, did nothing wrong but nothing particularly good either.
Robinson 5 - Gave the ball away too cheaply.

Finally, I don't like to criticise referees (having been one in the past) but todays was appalling, no consistency whatsoever.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Kuipers - 8 - some good saves
Richards - 7 - solid, fantastic run for goal
Elphick - 9 - fantastic
El-abd - 7 - fairly tidy
Whing - 7 - comfortable
Cox - 7 - started brightly but faded
Fraser - 6 - looked pretty solid in the short time he played
Thomson - 6 - beginning to remind me a bit of Charlie Oatway! Got stuck in well
Bowditch - 5 - offered little
Forster - 8 - loads of running, great workrate, shame the goal doesn't seem to want to come for him. Should have scored.
Murray - 8 - good movement, lovely finish for the goal. Link-up play is impressive.

Subs:
Martot - 4 - Must have been watching a different player to the rest of you. I thought he'd be able to do a job in the middle, but evidently not. The game went past him. Our latest 'anonymous' midfielder
Robinson - got stuck in but gave the ball away a couple of times in his short period on the park. Maybe the more defensive Hart would have been a better option at that stage.


Still, can't complain really. Generally a good performance, and a very impressive first 20 minutes or so. If Forster starts scoring then there might be hope yet

 

[Barry Izbak]

Kuipers 7
Whing 7
Elphick 7
El-Abd 7
Richards 7 I have never een him make a run like that for the goal. Well done
Bowditch 7
Fraser 7
Thomson 7
Cox 5
Forster 7 - no one will be more gutted at the chances he missed
Murray 8 - this is a class striker

Subs:
Martot 7
Robinson 6
Lynch - 6

 

[dougdeep]

All 7's except El Abd 6.

 

[Silent Bob]

Kuipers - 7 Commanded his box well, couple of dodgy kicks though.

Whing - 7 Less of the hoofball today which is good, he is always solid.
Elphick - 8 Very good.
El-Abd - 6 Generally good with a couple of "El-Abd moments" as usual. They should've scored from the chance he gifted them first half.
Richards - 8 Solid and as with Whing, less of the hoofing. Great run and perfect little ball for the goal.

Bowditch - 6 Better than Cheltenham but faded.
Thompson - 7 Very tidy performance, tackled well and moved the ball about.
Fraser - 7 Started very well indeed I thought, and when he went off it prompted a little spell from Oldham as we lost control of the midfield. Still a promising glimpse of him and Thompson as a pair though IMO.
Cox - 5 This is as frustrated as I've been with a Cox performance. Still a few quality balls (most set pieces and cross which Forster should've scored) but overall not great.

Murray - 8 Showed his class whenever he got the ball.
Forster - 7 Overall decent, but should've scored at least once and arguably three times in the first half! It will come though.


Martot - 6 Did ok, I was glad to see him used to replace Fraser rather than El-Abd or Mayo, it showed a commitment to continuing to try and pass the ball. Not the most eyecatching game but he did decently enough.
Robinson - 6 It seemed a positive sub, but he ended up playing quite defensively.... he's always worked hard, but also made a couple of tackles Although passing backwards is not in his nature, so he lost possession a couple of times. Should NEVER try and protect the ball at the corner given how lightweight he is.


Overall a good performance, happy with it, just a shame we didn't make more of our chances. Roll on Orient.

 

[SeagullTim]

Martot - 4 - Must have been watching a different player to the rest of you. I thought he'd be able to do a job in the middle, but evidently not. The game went past him. Our latest 'anonymous' midfielder

I thought he did really well defensively, and always played short, simple balls, starting off attacks. He won the ball back for the goal and started off the move with 2 short passes.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Kuipers 6 : A few very dodgy kicks, but caught all the hoofed balls into the box with minimum of fuss.

Whing 6 : Did his job well.
Elphick 8 : Played brilliantly, solid as a rock, deserved MOM.
El-Abd 7 : A few dreadful passes but generally solid and seemed really confident.
Richards 8 : First time I've seen him, but ran Elphick very close for MOM. Good defending, drifting into the centre when needed, good ball control and what a run for the goal!

Bowditch 6 : Great ball for Forster in the first half. Didn't see enough of the ball and wasn't that involved in the game, but looked good when he was.
Fraser 6 : Was he injured? I thought he did very well up until the substitution, confident in possession.
Thomson 7 : First time I've seen him and I was very impressed. A very understated, efficient midfielder.
Cox 6 : Did alright today, some great crosses. Starting to waste time 10 mins before the final whistle is not a good idea, we would have been sick had we conceded.

Forster 7 : Worked really hard and some great lay offs, but it really wasn't his day. Was presented with some difficult chances, hopefully will put one away soon.
Murray 7 : Played pretty well, wouldn't say he won everything in the air. Was forced wide when he took it round the keeper, but did brilliantly to put it in. Some great touches towards the end of the game, looks the part.

SUBS:

Martot 7 : Haven't been impressed with him before, but thought he did a very good job in midfield. Seems to have a good engine and capable of just playing the simple ball.
Robinson 5 : Didn't get much joy, gave the ball away a few times.

I was really happy with the performance today, I think we dominated a team who were on quite good form themselves. The strike partnership of Forster and Murray is hopefully one that will serve us well for the next few years and Thomson looked very good in the middle. Cox and Bowditch was a slightly more balanced approach in midfield, the defence was good, Kuipers was pretty solid - I think we have the makings of a very good team.

 

[Spider]

Subs:
Martot - 4 - Must have been watching a different player to the rest of you. I thought he'd be able to do a job in the middle, but evidently not. The game went past him. Our latest 'anonymous' midfielder

And there we go. You really do get boring don't you! I think you were watching a different game to most people. Either that or you have, for some unknown reason, have a chip on your shoulder about Martot and therefore criticise him despite his performance. Maybe because you're so intent on finding reasons to carry on your vendetta you pick up on every single mistake he might make or time he went missing and judge him much more harshly. I notice you gave both Cox and Bowditch higher marks, who both went out of the game for long periods, and give most other player decent marks simply for being 'solid'.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

And there we go. You really do get boring don't you! I think you were watching a different game to most people. Either that or you have, for some unknown reason, have a chip on your shoulder about Martot and therefore criticise him despite his performance. Maybe because you're so intent on finding reasons to carry on your vendetta you pick up on every single mistake he might make or time he went missing and judge him much more harshly. I notice you gave both Cox and Bowditch higher marks, who both went out of the game for long periods, and give most other player decent marks simply for being 'solid'.

I don't WANT to give Martot bad marks, and i'll admit if he does well. See the Huddersfield game for an example.

I gave Cox and Bowditch higher marks because i actually REMEMBER several contributions from them. The same applies for players i've previously considered 'solid'. From Martot however, i recall virtually NO contribution. One misplaced pass, one completed pass and one successful tackle is literally ALL i recall him doing in just over an hour. As i remarked during the match, "I forgot he was playing". Not good enough for me.