Player ratings v Dirty Cockney's

[Joe.]

Pearson 7 (Tried everything to attack the game when things went wrong although I'd have given DJ longer. Had I been rating his coaching staff though they'd have had been blasted, and especially over our corners and free-kicks. From today's evidence they're drawing money for nothing because there wasn't any evidence at all that we'd either worked on devising different free kicks or on practising them).

I disagree.

Pearson got it wrong yesterday, and I'm sure he'd admit it himself. He never tried to change things properly until DJ came on, and that was far too late. And even when DJ came on, it was Gradel who came off and even though he wasn't having a great game he's still a threat. Once he was off it was more hoofed football.

And that leads me onto my next point. The standard of football from us on display yesterday wasn't good enough. We were happy to revert to old ways and lump meaningless balls up to either Fryatt or Howard and it was never really going to bring us a goal.

[Ultra]

Please tell me that * isnt to represent Man of the Match?

The star player for us.

Although on yesterday's evidence, the word "star" is used somewhat loosely..

[Uncle Albert]

The star player for us.

Although on yesterday's evidence, the word "star" is used somewhat loosely..

Very loosely if you think Howard deserved to be our star player. Had a good first touch yesterday but he gave possesion away far to eaisly passed the ball backwards alot instead of going forward.

[Ultra]

Very loosely if you think Howard deserved to be our star player. Had a good first touch yesterday but he gave possesion away far to eaisly passed the ball backwards alot instead of going forward.

And the rest of the side didn't?

Despite an appalling lack of service from the midfield and wingers, Howard was by far our liveliest player, winning a few challenges in the air despite the appalling treatment dished out to him by Millwall defenders (and sanctioned by criminally negligent match officials). Under proper rules, he would have earned us at least one penalty and maybe two.

Maybe it would be more accurate to say he was our least worst player.

[Uncle Albert]

And the rest of the side didn't?

Despite an appalling lack of service from the midfield and wingers, Howard was by far our liveliest player, winning a few challenges in the air despite the appalling treatment dished out to him by Millwall defenders (and sanctioned by criminally negligent match officials). Under proper rules, he would have earned us at least one penalty and maybe two.

Maybe it would be more accurate to say he was our least worst player.

Yes I can see what you are saying and its a valid point but surely Howard is in the team to attack not a midfielder who recieves the ball and plays backwards instead of looking to play forwards.

Yes you are right he was lively but he wasnt on his game and he should certainly of had a penalty.

[Thracian]

And the rest of the side didn't?

Despite an appalling lack of service from the midfield and wingers, Howard was by far our liveliest player, winning a few challenges in the air despite the appalling treatment dished out to him by Millwall defenders (and sanctioned by criminally negligent match officials). Under proper rules, he would have earned us at least one penalty and maybe two.

Maybe it would be more accurate to say he was our least worst player.

Standard defence against Howard is to keep the big man as far from goal as possible, let him win the headers and have defenders ready to pick up the pieces.

It really is too easy to neutralise him unless there are threats coming in from other areas and people prepared to do the things necessary to drag organised defenders apart.

Someone has to take people on to force mistakes and there also has to be a fast player capable of getting behind or between big, strong defenders and who's pace puts them under pressure and, again, encourages mistakes. Then there needs to be someone to deliver the passes and with King playing too far back and Oakley ineffective it wasn't going to be.

I'm truly amazed that the need for such contingency plans haven't been addressed any more than the situation with dead ball kicks.

Winning things really is about dotting i's and crossing t's. Opponents watch the videos and make plans. Good manager's and coaches have to anticipate reaction and stay one step ahead. But we were sloppy. We must have had 10 corners and only threatened from one. Appalling because that sort of thing is all in our own hands.

Attacking is all about presenting different problems and giving defenders no peace. It does help though if the defenders move forward in support but we're becoming less and less relevent as an attacking force from the back. Our defence is now simply breaking up attacks rather than launching them as well and this is making life that much easier for our opponents just as in the past.

Did Gilbert ever overlap Gradel or offer him any assistance as an attacking back-up or decoy yesterday before his departure? Or Powell for Dyer? It's simply not good enough.

Being a full-back is not simply about defending any more than a centre-back can shine if he wins the ball but then consistently gives it away again.

You talk about Howard being our least worst player but I'd want my number nine having some impact at corners. And having some shots I can remember. Where was thaat impact and where were those shots?

Just as they've won together in previous games our team lost together yesterday and I wouldn't say anyone was exempt from blame.

It wasn't like Fulham when we had heroes in defeat or like Stockport away when we attacked in droves but failed to get a break.

Yesterday Leicester were lukewarm right through. There were no heroes. No-one was even close. City posed no difficult questions so Millwall could stick with simple answers.

[knowitall]

I would like to add a couple of things to correct points in here.

Hendo and Martin "being as bad as each other." Hendo has not let a goal in yet! We can all say "well he would have if!!! but the fact is he has not had a goal put passed him in the league.

Then theres stick for Max Gradel. Well for a start he has just come back from injury. Therefore he is not going to be match sharp. In a perfect world he would play a reserve match(which we no longer have) then we would bring him on for 20 minutes in a match then the next match 45 minutes etc. etc.

To dump him in game when so many players are having their poorest match for Leicester and expecting him to shine I believe is asking to much.

All match he was marked by two players. So logic tells you we must have a man advantage somewhere else on the pitch. Not once did we attack from the back using either the fullbacks or the central defenders.

Why did he(NP) not play Tunchev instead of Morrison in Central defence. Tunchev came back from international duty with an injury. Np could not start with him as he did not know how long he could last or if this would make the injury greater.

[lildave3]

Yes I can see what you are saying and its a valid point but surely Howard is in the team to attack not a midfielder who recieves the ball and plays backwards instead of looking to play forwards.

Yes you are right he was lively but he wasnt on his game and he should certainly of had a penalty.

'Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards'

[Stuliasz]

A quick post to let you know the results for this one are gonna be a bit delayed - spending most evenings in Leicester Royal at the moment. Not that you want to see them for this game, they are ruddy awful.

[volpeazzurro]

You must have been at a different match,

He missed one good chance, not multiple.

2 good chances, one he blasted over the bar going for glory and the second was more of a pathetic pass back to their goalkeeper. He's been bloody useless since he got here. Get him out on loan or get rid, absolutely surplus to requirements.

[hairy]

2 good chances, one he blasted over the bar going for glory and the second was more of a pathetic pass back to their goalkeeper. He's been bloody useless since he got here. Get him out on loan or get rid, absolutely surplus to requirements.

The one back to the goalie was truely awful. I couldn't tell if he was trying to chip him from close range on trying to put a lofted cross along the six yard line. Either way it was wrong and he should have blasted it past the goalie from that range if he wa any sort of stricker.

[Tilley]

2 good chances, one he blasted over the bar going for glory and the second was more of a pathetic pass back to their goalkeeper. He's been bloody useless since he got here. Get him out on loan or get rid, absolutely surplus to requirements.

Give him four or five consecutive 90 minutes, he might come good.

He can't live off ten minutes here and there.

[dandannieldanok]

He can't live off ten minutes here and there.

I agree but as of last season, the fear for me would be that once he's forced his way into the team the effort and work-rate will just evaporate. Atm he's obviously not doing enough in training to impress NP or else he'd be playing.

[BigGibbo]

Because he was very poor today (and for what its worth, poor and over-rated generally IMO)

LOUD NOISES!!!!!