Player Ratings vs Barcelona

[AKCJ]

Zieler - 5 - Made a few smart saves, made a bit of a suspect start. Average performance, I think Kasper has the gloves for now.

Simpson - 4 - Ripped a new one by Munir. Didn't get near him.

Morgan - 6 - Made a few crunching tackles (notably on Suarez and Messi). Gave the ball away a lot but nobody really got past him.

Huth - 5 - At fault for the second (even if it was a fluke).

Chilwell - 5 - Marked the best player the world has ever seen and struggled. Still got forward well and looked calm on the ball.

Gray - 7 - Was very tidy. Made a few brilliant passes. Would have scored had the pitch not been shite, was unfortunate with that bobble.

King - 5 - Covered ground but was anonymous. Poor for the first goal.

Drinkwater - 8 - Covered every blade of grass, pinged the ball around wonderfully. Looks fit again.

Albrighton - 4 - Didn't do much.

Mahrez - 4 - Didn't do anything.

Vardy - 5 - Harsh to judge him because he's evidently nowhere near match fit.

 

Musa - 9 - MOTM - Just superb.

Kapustka - 6 - Tidy on the ball. Didn't get much done with the ball but he was okay.

Hernandez - 7 - He's going to be this year's Fuchs IMO.

Fuchs - 6 - Still doesn't look right. I think he needs a break, I think we'll start the season with Chilwell.

Mendy - 6 - I personally didn't notice him too much. Others in the match thread raved about him.

Amartey - 5 - Didn't have much to do.

Wasyl - 6 - Did what he had to do quite tidily.

Schlupp - 7 - Looked a threat but his final ball, as always, was poor.

Okazaki - 8 - Added substance to his inevitable work rate. Looks sharp.

 

[Fox42]

Agree although a little harsh on Simpson. Thought he had decent spells throughout the game, despite the fact he handed the tempo of the game to Barca in that first half. Mahrez gets a 3 for me.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

Shinji looked class. Think we'll see the very best of him this year.

 

Musa looks a real threat - defenders will have nightmares about playing against him and Vardy together.

 

Hernadez looks a great player - what a find.

 

Zieler had a couple of moments but looks like great competition.

 

Drinky looked good - still think we need an all out box-to-box to compliment him as Mendy appears very much as a sitter.

 

Amartey and Gray both look very promising.

 

Kaputska showed some good touches. Did well considering how recently he joined.

 

The rest of last seasons team look ok albeit a tad sluggish. Hopefully this was just to preserve some energy for the start of the season.

[TJB-fox]

Zieler- 6- Made one really smart save but distribution did look a bit ropey and sometimes plays us into danger. Didn't have much chance with any of the goals to be fair but nearly set up Suarez in the first half.

 

Simpson- 5.5- Too many aimless long balls that contributed to us having none of the ball. Great pass from Messi but awful awareness for Munir goal. Wake up Danny!!!

 

Wes- 6- Looked a bit tired but made a few ok challenges and blocks. Given the run around by Suarez.

Huth-6- see Wes^

 

Chilwell- 6.5- really like the lad and the confidence he has on the ball and his composure. Will be a great left back one day but really needs to sort out his positioning defensively. We get caught down his side far too often.

 

Gray- 7.5 - motm first half. Looked sharp, composed and very quick. Great little player

 

King-6- meh made a few ok interceptions. Overrun by a quality barca midfield

Drinkwater- 7 - Really put himself about and sprayed a few beautiful diagonals to the wingers. Great to see him captain at one point.

 

Albrighton- 5.5 - looked a bit tired. First touch and passing was awful. Might be being a bit harsh with him.

 

Mahrez- 5.5 CAM not his position. Maybe something to try in a match later on but we have to start him on the wing. Never got into the game.

Vardy- 6- not much to say until he gets his fitness back is there.

 

Amartey- 7- really starting to like this guy. Bit loose on the ball but his reaction is always to win it back and drive forward. Relax Dan and you'll be a top player here either in fullback or midfield

Was-7- standard brute Was. Good chop on Suarez at one point 

Hernandez- 8- our best defender all day. Fantastic distribution and relaxed but comfortable defending. His best performance for us so far. Spanish opposition might have suited him well? (Hence why I think he'll do well in the CL this year)

Fuchs-7- better from him.

Schlupp- 7.5- wasted a great opportunity with a classic Jeff first touch but got Into great areas and wasn't utilised enough. Good pressing for Musa's second

Mendy- 6.5- couple of decent touches to slow the game down and retain possession. Apart from that very quiet. Did like his pressing in fairness

Okazaki- 8- great performance Shinji! Linked midfield to attack fantastically and got in some great areas

Kapustka- 6.5 -tidy player

Musa-9- boom man of the match overall. 2 fantastic goals and ran the Barca defence ragged on and off the ball. 

[Fox92]

Second goal wasn't a fluke for me, Huth (and Chilwell) just weren't strong enough. Suarez is one of the best players in the World but he shouldn't have beat those two (and then the goalkeeper at the near post) from that position. 

 

Albrighton quite clearly picked up a knock. I'm surprised he didn't come off, then again we haven't played enough games so I'm guessing he just wanted match fitness.

 

Thought Drinkwater looked good, some of his passes were delightful.

Okazaki was class when he came on, he's got to play in that whole for me.

Hernandez looked good at centre half.

Musa looked like a threat through the middle.

As I've always thought, Mahrez can't play central.

[Guest]

Zieler - 6 - slightly better than Kasper but won't take his spot yet

Simpson - 5 - No help from Mahrez

Morgan - 6 - below average performance for him

Huth - 6 - as above

Chilwell - 6.5 - I like what I see.

Gray - 7.5 - Another very good performance. Mahrez needs to get his act sorted or we'll be offering him to Arsenal in the Jan window.

King - 5.5 - Got forward once

Drinkwater - 8 - was the class player in white - messi-like!

Albrighton - 5 - poor game for him.

Mahrez - 4 - Was he on the pitch?

Vardy - 6 - put a shift in for his first 45mins back

Musa - 8 - Great goals

Kapustka - 5.5 - I didn't see what so many others saw but he only signed the same day so wouldn't have known where to go.

Hernandez - 6.5 -Best game he's had for us so far. Always looks great on the ball , defence was better.

Fuchs - 6 - May need a couple of weeks on the beach.

Mendy - 6.5 -Good work-rate. I think he's going to fit in well next to Drinky.

Amartey - 6 -looks better in midfield than at RB. Looks good going forward.

Wasyl - 7.5 - Really impressed with his game yesterday and looks more likely to score from a corner than everybody else.

Schlupp - 7 - looked better today than against PSG. Power and speed - a great sub for the PL campaign.

Okazaki - 7.5 - One of his best games for City but not convinced he can score enough to maintain his place.

 

Can anyone tell me if James was there or if he is still ill/injured? 

[Guest ttfn]

Thought Shinji was the best player on the pitch in the second half.

 

Far cleverer player than he's given credit for.

[Rusko187]

Glad to see Shinji getting some good praise, spoke to many a people who never seem to rate him. He's not in the team for his goals, he's in there to defend from the front and support. 

[VLC86]

Shinji is a fkin hero and anyone that doesn't look at his smiley face and melt can FOAD in my opinion.