Rovers Player Ratings

[Jimmy]

One positive contribution that Jack Hobbs made was that super crunching tackle on Aaron Lescott. Unfortunate for Lescott that he got injured in the process, but it was on old school, old fashioned hard tackle and he got the ball. That was great to see. Steve Walsh would've been proud of that.

no Walsh would of been disappointed, there was no blood drawn

[Jimmy]

Because I see Howard as a centre-forward, a guy whose first job is to be a threat in the box. His flick-ons are a bonus. If they come off, great. If not, they're no bloody use. Bottom line for a striker is how many goals he scores and how many assists. He drew a blank today on both.

so basically if it were up to you Emile Heskey wouldn't be playing for England then ...

[Jimmy]

Paul Henderson 6

Jack Hobbs 6

Joe Mattock 4

Patrick Kisnorbo 6

Aleksandar Tunchev 7

Max Gradel 4

Lloyd Dyer 6

Matt Oakley 7

Andy King 6

Matty Fryatt 8

Steve Howard 6

Nicky Adams 7

Barry Hayles 6

Bruno Berner 5

other way around surely?

[reynard]

The problem for Max is that he's always getting clatterered and if it happens in the first 10 minutes referees allow defenders to get away with it.

Gradel knows he's been cheated, remember the cynical foul against Northampton, and, presumably takes the view that if they're going to cheat him he'll try to make them pay.

The answer lies with the referees, of course. And they might as well be on a time study. No bookings for half-an-hour; three or four bookings in all and not so many that too many players get sent off and the game abandoned...

The very fact that it so often happens like this pays testimony to their inconsistency.

They're just puppets on a piece of administative string.

There is alot in what you say but Gradel's problems run deeper than that at the moment. Currently he is playing very very poorly. His first touch is simply not good enough and though his crossing from set pieces is sometimes ok his crossing from open play is woeful. Probably 75-90% don't beat the first defender. several times today he had loads of space but simply stopped when he got to the half way line. This illustrates a player low on confidence. Quite how this is sorted out without regular proper reserve team football is another question.

He started well against MK Dons but it has been downhill ever since.

It could be a case of second season problem. last season he was an unknown quantity in this league but several teams will have had a chance to work out how he plays and how to combat that this season. It could also be that he simply isn't as good as we on here think he is only time will tell.

[hebangsthedrums]

The problem for Max is that he's always getting clatterered and if it happens in the first 10 minutes referees allow defenders to get away with it.

Gradel knows he's been cheated, remember the cynical foul against Northampton, and, presumably takes the view that if they're going to cheat him he'll try to make them pay.

The answer lies with the referees, of course. And they might as well be on a time study. No bookings for half-an-hour; three or four bookings in all and not so many that too many players get sent off and the game abandoned...

The very fact that it so often happens like this pays testimony to their inconsistency.

They're just puppets on a piece of administative string.

If a player dives they are responsible and them alone, it may be frustrating to be kicked about but tough plenty of players put up with it without resorting to gamesmanship. Diving is diving and I don't want to see City players doing it whatever the reason. Don't see refs as being massively relevant here - if they're not giving you anything why does rolling around make a difference?

Wrong thread so I won't say any more than that.

[Thracian]

so basically if it were up to you Emile Heskey wouldn't be playing for England then ...

Some of Heskey's touches have been coming off (he was dropped when they didn't) and the bloke has the valuable additional assets of speed and the stamina to last 90 minutes. Today's touches by Howard didn't come off and he doesn't have speed or stamina.

Careful not to make more of this than necessary. I'm not anti-Howard. I've already decided I was a bit too harsh and given him 5. But he needs to get in that box and he needs to be more effective.

[Jimmy]

Some of Heskey's touches have been coming off (he was dropped when they didn't) and the bloke has the valuable additional assets of speed and the stamina to last 90 minutes. Today's touches by Howard didn't come off and he doesn't have speed or stamina.

Careful not to make more of this than necessary. I'm not anti-Howard. I've already decided I was a bit too harsh and given him 5. But he needs to get in that box and he needs to be more effective.

no he lost his place due to injury after the Russia game at Wembley

[SamL]

Henderson 6

Hobbs 5

Kisnorbo 6

Tunchev 7

Mattock 7.5

Gradel 5

Oakley 7

King 7.5

Dyer 6.5

Howard 6

Fryatt 7

[colbo68]

4. are you trying to take the piss or summet? Howard won 90% of his headers whilst he was being pushed in the back, yes his flick ons didnt go to anyone but thats because no one gambled!I'll tell you know if it was Craig King or McKay or porter who played like howard today you would have given them 9

are you taking the piss?? if you are saying that no-one gambles on Howards' flick-ons then non-one has been gambling since he joined the club - HE DONT KNOW WHERE/who HE'S FLICKING IT ONTO! - well done Pearson for bringing the big lump off and giving us a chance to win

[Thracian]

no he lost his place due to injury after the Russia game at Wembley

The point still stands. He remained out, even when fit, because people perceived that he didn't score often enough. But like I say, the two players are totally different. I don't think Heskey slows his team up, while Howard certainly does.

[Lovejoy]

are you taking the piss?? if you are saying that no-one gambles on Howards' flick-ons then non-one has been gambling since he joined the club - HE DONT KNOW WHERE/who HE'S FLICKING IT ONTO! - well done Pearson for bringing the big lump off and giving us a chance to win

Bollocks they're like fooking statues.

[Unabomber]

Paul Henderson 6

Jack Hobbs 6

Joe Mattock 4

Patrick Kisnorbo 6

Aleksandar Tunchev 7

Max Gradel 4

Lloyd Dyer 6

Matt Oakley 7

Andy King 6

Matty Fryatt 8

Steve Howard 6

Nicky Adams 7

Barry Hayles 6

Bruno Berner 5

How the fook did you come to that conclusion?

[termite111]

Paul Henderson 6

Jack Hobbs 6

Joe Mattock 4

Patrick Kisnorbo 6

Aleksandar Tunchev 7

Max Gradel 4

Lloyd Dyer 6

Matt Oakley 7

Andy King 6

Matty Fryatt 8

Steve Howard 6

Nicky Adams 7

Barry Hayles 6

Bruno Berner 5

just wondered if others agreed with mattocks score. radio was sayin man of match and made some important tackles??????

[dilko2008]

just wondered if others agreed with mattocks score. radio was sayin man of match and made some important tackles??????

i can only assume ths person has hobbs and mattock mixed up!!, Mattock was good today!

[Stuliasz]

I was very impressed with Mattock today. He played the odd hoof to no-one but this was a rarity and his general all round distribution was good. He supported the attacks very well and was pretty defensively sound - can't really remember their right winger getting in behind at all.

[Unabomber]

just wondered if others agreed with mattocks score. radio was sayin man of match and made some important tackles??????

He was solid throughout and offered a support in attack.

[Thracian]

just wondered if others agreed with mattocks score. radio was sayin man of match and made some important tackles??????

Radio's wrong. Fryatt was Man of the Match and no-one else was close.

Mattock did a solid enough job defensively but Bristol were hardly the Mongol hoardes in attack.

As for supporting Dyer, he seemed restrained.

A contributive but average day at the office, I'd say.

[dandannieldanok]

I understand the 4 for Mattock, I thought he gave the ball away far more than any other City player.

[Head Honcho]

Over 60 posts probably equates to around 40 sets of marks and I think all 40 were watching a different game!

I'm confused

[syston_fox]

Radio's wrong. Fryatt was Man of the Match and no-one else was close. Mattock did a solid enough job defensively but Bristol were hardly the Mongol hoardes in attack.

As for supporting Dyer, he seemed restrained.

A contributive but average day at the office, I'd say.

On that statement, will you admit that you could have been wrong when you say King contributed a lot because he was mentioned more than others on the radio?

[Joe.]

Oakley - 4.5 - Anonymous for large periods again, yes he made a few tackles and actually ran a bit but where was he when they scored? Firing the team up? No in the centre circle, hand on hips. Passing under pressure is poor for a player of his supposed pedigree.

No chance.

[Daggers]

Over 60 posts probably equates to around 40 sets of marks and I think all 40 were watching a different game!

I'm confused

You're not the only one.

I am going to labour under the assumption that apart from me 60% were drunk, 30% are cranially challenged, 9% were picking fights with the Rovers fans and 1% were Thracian.

Which brings me to my point - Thracian,

Gradel played directly under L1 throughout the first half and nothing that you state about him holds water. He was utter gash and it had nothing to do with him being challenged physically...he was simply unable to take a ball past a defender without running straight into him. Josh Low would have done a better job today. Seriously.

Max produced one decend dead ball into the box today during the first half, and that was his total contribution to the match. He was nothing short of shocking by virtue of not being any good - nothing to do with physical intimidation. He seemed to have no touch, no awareness, limited passing and no desire to get to the by-line.

[Nod.E]

Hendo - 6 - Didn't have a lot to do, but he was organised, and his distribution was top notch.

Hobbs - 5.5 - Their left back probably needs a new hip! Brilliant challenge. Not a right back though.

Tunchev - 7.5 - Solid. How good is he in the air? Brick wall. Would have been 8 if he was more aware for the goal, that said - I doubt anyone in the ground expected that.

Kisnorbo - 7.5 - Kept Lambert out of the game. Gets a little close to his man if i'm being fussy.

Mattock - 7 - Did his job. A few vital challenges and got forward, but his crossing could have been better at times.

Gradel - 4 - Nothing he did worked. Lost the ball almost every time he got it, seemed incapable of taking on his man, crossing and set pieces were awful.

King - 5.5 - For me he wasn't good enough today. I've been a big fan of him of late, but today the game seemed to surpass him, plus his shooting was woeful, can't fault his effort though.

Oakley - 8 - I thought he was brilliant. Some intelligent passes, hard challenges and darting runs towards the end.

Dyer - 6 - He didn't really stand out as much as we've come to expect. Can't really fault him for his miss - the keeper closed it down well. Good running and tracking back.

Fryatt - 7.5 - To go near to 90 minutes doing hardly anything due to bad service and then get two chances and bag them both really does show ability. He's scored 12 goals this season, i'll admit I was pissed at him for missing at Walsall, but other than that - get off his back.

Howard - 6.5 - He wasn't brilliant, but that's not the point. He's vital to the way the team play. He gives a presence up there that draws out defenders, and we need that. Again, get off his back.

Subs

Adams - 6.5 - Better than Gradel. More came of his passing.

Hayles - 7 - More seriously, he could have scored, and could have been sent off. But he made the impact that was needed.

Berner - 6 - Can't say I really noticed him. But he came on and we scored two, so I can't really fault him.

Ref - -546000000000 - No balls. The female linesman has more balls than that ****.

[Thracian]

You're not the only one.

I am going to labour under the assumption that apart from me 60% were drunk, 30% are cranially challenged, 9% were picking fights with the Rovers fans and 1% were Thracian.

Which brings me to my point - Thracian,

Gradel played directly under L1 throughout the first half and nothing that you state about him holds water. He was utter gash and it had nothing to do with him being challenged physically...he was simply unable to take a ball past a defender without running straight into him. Josh Low would have done a better job today. Seriously.

Max produced one decend dead ball into the box today during the first half, and that was his total contribution to the match. He was nothing short of shocking by virtue of not being any good - nothing to do with physical intimidation. He seemed to have no touch, no awareness, limited passing and no desire to get to the by-line.

You should perhaps read what I said again. I said he had a bad game and that it was right that he was substituted. That seemed pretty unambiguous to me.

Tht doesn't mean he should be dropped. Gradel is the most talented footballer at our club and will show it in time. You can lose faith if you like but I shan't.

[syston_fox]

You should perhaps read what I said again. I said he had a bad game and that it was right that he was substituted. That seemed pretty unambiguous to me.

Tht doesn't mean he should be dropped. Gradel is the most talented footballer at our club and will show it in time. You can lose faith if you like but I shan't.

I'll try again shall I?

Radio's wrong. Fryatt was Man of the Match and no-one else was close. Mattock did a solid enough job defensively but Bristol were hardly the Mongol hoardes in attack.

As for supporting Dyer, he seemed restrained.

A contributive but average day at the office, I'd say.

On that statement, will you admit that you could have been wrong when you say King contributed a lot because he was mentioned more than others on the radio?