Academy Player Ratings v Spurs

[Thracian]

Ambusics 6.5 (Breathtaking penalty save, and several other decent stops kept City in the game but was partially at fault for their third and not always convincing in other phases).

O'Neill (John 45) 5 (Not the sort of performance that will help a potential first teamer. Just didn't get tight enough when it was needed and rarely had chance to get forward against an always-threatening opponent).

Bolger 4 (Won some headers but was otherwise awful. His indecision cost us the third goal, the marking in the centre of defence was shoddy and some of his passes were so underhit as to be embarrassing. Hopefully it will just have been a bad day at the office but too often we failed to close down the shooters and were shown up for being sluggish by Spurs' livewire attackers)

Garner 5.75. (Parks 51) (One outstanding block to save a potential goal from Parrett and another vital interception didn't completely cancel out some slipshod marking and indifferent passing in a backline that often looked sluggish and always seemed vulnerable on the floor).

Cobb 5 (Gave away a penalty but a decent headed clearance saved a goal. Not a memorable performance)

Hicks 5 (Never won the midfield battle against some accomplished opponents but still showed a bit of promise)

Cox 6 (Tale of two halves. Struggled with Hicks at first but did some good work as O'Neill's replacement second half)

Vasey 6.5 (One goal, and a worthwhile shot or two paid testimony to a busy performance although as DavieG mentioned, he sat too deep at times which limited his effect)

Burns 7 (0ne goal and involved in another. Looked as if he wanted to win)

Craig King (Yusef 82), 5 (Might have made a goal for Cox but too often played the wrong ball or made the wrong decisions. Simply doesn't seem to dominate or link play in the way McKay or Andy King did in the past. I still look forward to seeing the qualities which the club seem to believe mark him out as a potential first teamer)

Sappleton 7 (One goal, one assist. Looked woeful first half and might have been a candidate for replacement when, suddenly he made a goal, scored a penalty and looked a real handful. He actually had the ball in the net twice to confirm that, however cumbersome he looks at times, he does make an impact on so many games. However, I also feel that his presence so limits the mobility of our attack).

John 6 (Made the goal which started our comeback with a moment of near genius but I don't know that he showed sufficient faith in himself at times, choosing to pass inconsequentially instead of taking people on and asking questions which is how that first assist came about).

Yusef (Not on long enough to make an impression)

[Hullfox]

Yusef (Not on long enough to make an impression)

What, not even a quick Tommy Cooper?

[Salieri]

What, not even a quick Tommy Cooper?

[Austin]

Sounds pretty shocking .. The futures bright

[Thracian]

Sounds pretty shocking .. The futures bright

Not shocking. Standards have been set pretty high in the Academy and League leaders Spurs were tough opposition. They were generally quicker to the ball, stronger in the tackle, passed better, had more dangerous individuals, offered more pace and movement and they had people who could and did shoot on sight.

But for all that City almost fought back to steal a point, sometimes with some good football of their own, and they did contribute to what was always an entertaining game with lots of incident at both ends.

As for the future? We'll see. O'Neill has played for the first team and Craig King has been on the bench. Bolger is one big centre-half who'd quite impressed me before yesterday and then there are the likes of Jorrin John, Adam Vasey, Robbie Burns and perhaps even Lee Cox who may yet make their mark.

I certainly don't see the individual or collective brilliance that existed in the team of Gradel, Mattock, Beswick, Andy King, Chambers, McKay, Odhiambo etc. The current crop will doubtless improve in time but I rather feel that the Gradel team will prove to have been exceptional.

[shen]

Not shocking. Standards have been set pretty high in the Academy and League leaders Spurs were tough opposition. They were generally quicker to the ball, stronger in the tackle, passed better, had more dangerous individuals, offered more pace and movement and they had people who could and did shoot on sight.

But for all that City almost fought back to steal a point, sometimes with some good football of their own, and they did contribute to what was always an entertaining game with lots of incident at both ends.

As for the future? We'll see. O'Neill has played for the first team and Craig King has been on the bench. Bolger is one big centre-half who'd quite impressed me before yesterday and then there are the likes of Jorrin John, Adam Vasey, Robbie Burns and perhaps even Lee Cox who may yet make their mark.

I certainly don't see the individual or collective brilliance that existed in the team of Gradel, Mattock, Beswick, Andy King, Chambers, McKay, Odhiambo etc. The current crop will doubtless improve in time but I rather feel that the Gradel team will prove to have been exceptional.

How is he coming along? I noticed you had two John's in your line-up... Or were they one and the same? In which case Parks hasn't got a rating/mention ?

[Thracian]

How is he coming along? I noticed you had two John's in your line-up... Or were they one and the same? In which case Parks hasn't got a rating/mention ?

Jorrin's clearly a skillful player. He's still looks a bit fragile alongside some of his opponents and the club seem to be taking it quite slowly with his development by not giving him too much pitch time.

However, the goal he made was quality. He showed skill, pace and vision to evade three defenders and provide a perfect opening and there were other occasions when I thought he might have done something similar but, instead, he elected to play simple passes.

Depending on how strong he proves in time, he's a decent prospect.

Yes, sorry about Parks. He was a 51st minute sub for Garner who I didn't know as I was watching him for the first time. He was busily involved and would have rated a 5.5 - steady without being in any way outstanding.