Player Ratings vs Alex.

[Bert]

Martin 6 - I can't believe he got beat at his near post - Kicking was a lot better today, and a good one-on-one save.

Edworthy 6 - Steady, tried to support the attack when he could.

Mattock 7 - Great work for the first goal, always tried to support the attack, some silky skillz, and did ok in defence.

Morrison 5 - Shocking distribution, many mistakes.

Tunch 7 - Beaten for pace, and in the air a few times, but still solid as ever.

Oakley 7 - It's like he;s been given a new lease of life, playing well.

Dyer 6 - Always looked dangerous, broke away quick, failed to produce anything of note.

King 7 - Only just though, had a very sloppy first half, but he improved greatly in the second half, and again sealed the 3 points for us.

Berner 7 - I'm liking Berner, works hard, does the dirty work, not afraid to put his foot in and make a cynical foul.

Fryatt 7 - Cracking finish, some good flick ons too, great work rate.

DJ 6 - Seemed to link well with Fryatt, made some good runs that went un-noticed. (I watched him closely tonight) Largely at fault for their goal.

Howard 7 - Won everything when he came on, he certainly does bring a different dimension to us, some very nice touches.

Gradel 6 - Needs to start beating his man, another assist though, and a good exciting run at the end when he stole it from one of their players.

[davieG]

Martin 6

Edworthy 6

Morrison 6

Tunchev 7

Mattock 7

Dyer 7

King 6

Berner 6

Oakley 7

Fryatt 7

Campbell 5

Howard 7

Gradel 7

Looks like I've marked Mattock and Gradel generously by most peoples' standards but I thought their forward drive was crucial to us winning that game.

I thought Mattock had a decent game, I certainly can't understand him warranting a thread of his own slagging him off.

[Thracian]

Martin 6.5 (Good distribution and one vital save but shouldn't have been beaten at the near post for their goal).

Edworthy 6 (Steady enough but I cannot remember anything exceptional)P.

Tunchev 7 (One defensive clearance from an awkward through ball was coolness itself and he generally read the game so well although both centre-backs had their problems coping with Zola).

Morrison 4.5 (Worst game he's had in a Leicester shirt. Never comfortable against Zola and no-one could have backed him with confidence to deliver a 10-yard pass never mind anything adventurous).

Mattock 6.25 (Had a hand iin the goal but too many of his more probing passes didn't find their mark. For me he takes too long to get on the ball and make his pass. Often by the time he's allowed the ball to run left of him, the space has been closed and his options limited. He's be a better player if he worked on becoming two footed)

Oakley 6.5 (Some good moments including a decent header from a Dyer set up and almost set up a goal for King).

King 7.25 (Another match winner and conjured up two decent if difficult chances in the box, one a snapshot from Oakley's pass which went wide and another where he tried to chip the goalkeeper but just hit it too high and too hard. Otherwise he sprayed the ball around well enough but just lacked a bit of urgency a and the movement necessary to make himself a bit more space on occasions).

Berner 6.75 (Quite busily involved but spoiled some of his best work with a poor final pass).

Dyer 6.5 (Involved with the goal but Crewe had clearly done their homework on him and did reasonably well in closing him down quickly and creducing his effect).

Fryatt 6.5 (His 16th goal of the season was the big moment of his night and he might have had another after a clever flick over the defence by DJ (I think). Otherwise he didn't get many openings and I do wish he'd pass the ball quicker instead of running with it into blind alleys).

DJ 6 (Might well have made a goal and showed some good skills but his defensive lapse cost us).

Dyer 6.25 (Played a part in the goal and might have made another for Oakley but his impact was spasmodic and Crewe did quite a good containing job).

Subs:

Howard 7 (Soon took Crewe out of their comfort zone when he came on and helped give our side just the lift that was needed).

Gradel 7 (His direct assist for the winning goal emphasised what a productive player he can be. And despite an indifferent first five minutes he eventually put three really dangerous crosses into the box, one of which resulted in a glancing header that was well tipped over. By the time he finished all his confidence seemed to return and he was making his opponent look distinctly uncomfortable. Definitely gave us a lift along with Howard).

[Durnerz]

Martin 6 - Good save at 1-1 but beaten at the near post for the goal.

Edworthy 7 - Solid display, really like this guy, has a great touch and does the sensible thing.

Morrison 6 - Some iffy passing but won his tackles and headers well.

Tunchev 7 - Decent display and got away with the most blatent penalty i've ever seen!

Mattock 6 - Never delivered anything from the wide positions and played us back into tight corners, frustrating.

Oakley 7 - The most creative player and deserved a goal.

Berner 6 - Terrific first half but seemed to fade a bit in the second, his position in the team has given us a new lease of life though.

King 6 - Aside from the goal and one decent effort did very little, one of those quiet players who suddenly pops up with a vital goal.

Dyer 6 - Delivery was awful, looked threatening on a few occasions but came to nothing.

Campbell 4 - Terrible performance despite some great early promise, he does 10 minutes work then filters out of the game, responsible for a terrible mistake for their first goal and nearly cost us tonight, I hope we get rid in January.

Fryatt 6 - In and out of the game, good finish for his goal.

SUBS:

Gradel 4 - Awful, just awful.

Howard 5 - Did his job, won the flick ons and held the ball, DJ look and learn.

[Daggers]

I'll be in the Swan just as soon as I can get there! biggrin.gif

Gradel 7 (His direct assist for the winning goal emphasised what a productive player he can be. And despite an indifferent first five minutes he eventually put three really dangerous crosses into the box, one of which resulted in a glancing header that was well tipped over. By the time he finished all his confidence seemed to return and he was making his opponent look distinctly uncomfortable. Definitely gave us a lift along with Howard).

Drinking good was it Tone?

[Lovejoy]

Martin 6

Edworthy 6

Morrison 6

Tunchev 7

Mattock 6

Oakley 7

Berner 7

King 7

Dyer 6

Fryatt 7

Campbell 6

Gradel 6

Howard 6

[lildave3]

Well I thought DJ was actually pretty good tonight, some of these ratings are very harsh.

[Lovejoy]

Well I thought DJ was actually pretty good tonight, some of these ratings are very harsh.

Because of his part in the Crewe equalizer. When push comes to shove, goals decide matches, and he was badly at fault.

[Bert]

Because of his part in the Crewe equalizer. When push comes to shove, goals decide matches, and he was badly at fault.

That is very true - people don't like him anyway which'll make it worse.

[Thracian]

Drinking good was it Tone?

I wish it had been good enough for me to mark him twice - or did you think that WAS a combined score?

[Thracian]

No I agree completely. Cardinal sin for a keeper to be beaten at the near post.

Whips?. Men of the Cloth? Potentially very dangerous ground!

[clazkel]

Martin - 6 Should've done better with their goal, good throw outs tho

Edworthy - 6.5 Decent performance

Morrison - 6 Afew dodgey balls played forward

Tunchev - 6.5 Was beaten afew times by Zola, he's lucky he didn't give away a penalty

Mattock - 6 Some great runs but some poor runs, doesn't seem as fit and motivated, seems to be lacking confidence

Oakley - 7 Much improved on the right

Berner - 7 Another good performance

King - 6.5 Good goal, annoys me that he constantly passes the ball back and not forward

Dyer - 6.5 Wasn't as influencial as normal but decent game

Fryatt - 7 Good goal, great touch

Dj - 6.5 Better partner for Fryatt than Howard imo

Howard - 6.5 Put himself about, won afew headers

Gradel - 6 Frustrates me, one good cross then 2 poor crosses, etc

[Hullfox]

Martin 6

Edworthy 6

Morrison 5.5

Tunchev 7

Mattock 6

Dyer 6

King 5.5

Berner 6

Oakley 6.5

Fryatt 7

Campbell 5.5

Howard 6.5

Gradel 5

Sorry but I'm not buying into Andy King again tonight. He and Morrison were poor. Campbell was ineffective too.

Also, all of those people who were screaming for Gradel to come back and save us from relegation last season should now offer a public apology on live tv.

[Thracian]

Martin 6

Edworthy 6

Morrison 5.5

Tunchev 7

Mattock 6

Dyer 6

King 5.5

Berner 6

Oakley 6.5

Fryatt 7

Campbell 5.5

Howard 6.5

Gradel 5

Sorry but I'm not buying into Andy King again tonight. He and Morrison were poor. Campbell was ineffective too.

Also, all of those people who were screaming for Gradel to come back and save us from relegation last season should now offer a public apology on live tv.

With another (match-winning) assist tonight and fewer games played than many I think Gradel's contribution speaks for itself and it would have taken very little to have made the difference between relegation adn survival.

http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Assi...0274~25,00.html

Gradel remains one of the most exciting players we've had here in years because he makes things happen. And while others might have done more those seven assists have helped us climb two points clear at the top of the table. Which is a good deal better than fighting the relegation battles of last year and the year before.

As for King, both his six goals and his shooting stats speak volumes. And tonight was no diferent. There weren't many clear cut chances but King was not that far from scoring twice or even a hat-trick. And midfielders who do that are invaluable. Cos we've not had one since Gudjonsson and he relied a bit on penalties and free-kicks if memory serves.

As for King's passing, it wasn't faultless but it was different class to Morrison's.

[Bert]

King scored his most difficult chance tonight.

[Thracian]

King scored his most difficult chance tonight.

Perhaps I should give him another point then!

[Bert]

Perhaps I should give him another point then!

[El_Thief]

well i thought it was a good performance tonight apart from the trying to play it out form our own box rather than clearing it approach. I thought fryatt played well but was abit to ball greedy at times when he had better options. Dyer was good bar a few poor few first touch's from time to time. This probaly not a view of many but i thought dj for most of the game did really well, ran in space and dragged defenders well and made few good flicks and touch's which created spae for others, when howard came on fryatt didn't read any of his flicks and we lacked pace getting behind them, gradel and dj would maybe have linked up well. thought gradel looked good but took till about his 6th cross to cause danger, needs to work at it, better teams will not allow him so many chances to cross first. King again got a vital goal while been understated in midfield without doing to much. I hope we can build from here as we have all said before but if we ever do start playing to our full potential then i see nothing but promotion for us, anyway lets hope we can keep it up and maybe a signing in jan, striker with pace would do as we are so lacking there as seen when howard came on tonight

[Daggers]

Well I thought DJ was actually pretty good tonight, some of these ratings are very harsh.

That is very true - people don't like him anyway which'll make it worse.

I'd love someone to point out to me how he is good during a match - but even standing next to a DJ fan doesn't help me.

He has undoubted skill and some great ball control but he is not playing as a centre forward, he is not shooting at goal and seems to have no desire to score any. Most of his passing is negative, he contributes nothing in the air and most of what he does appears to me to be pretty and pretty irrelevant; we moved up a gear when Howard came on.

I may be missing something obvious but I currently reckon Campbell is (as Reynard put it) one of the biggest wastes of money we have ever spent.

Maybe we simply aren't playing to his strengths but I dread to think what will happen if Fryatt goes in January and we don't replace him with a goal-scorer.

[The Stig]

Martin 5.5 - Should have done better

Edworthy - 7 - Solid

Tunchev 7.5 - Won everything in the air but done for pace a couple of times

Morrison 5.5

Mattock - 5.5 - Average and poor getting forward

Oakley 7 - Good delivery

King 6.5 - Goal saved him

Berner - 7 - Solid enough, not afraid to do some work

Dyer - 6.5

Fryatt 7 I think he would have benifited from better supply, lovely finish

DJ 5

Howard - 6.5 - Much better than DJ after coming on. Nice to have a bit of physical presence and held the ball up well at times

[Munzie]

Martin 5.5 - Should have done better

Edworthy - 7 - Solid

Tunchev 7.5 - Won everything in the air but done for pace a couple of times

Morrison 5.5

Mattock - 5.5 - Average and poor getting forward

Oakley 7 - Good delivery

King 6.5 - Goal saved him

Berner - 7 - Solid enough, not afraid to do some work

Dyer - 6.5

Fryatt 7 I think he would have benifited from better supply, lovely finish

DJ 5

Howard - 6.5 - Much better than DJ after coming on. Nice to have a bit of physical presence and held the ball up well at times

What the Stig said (although King did produce more than just the goal).

20 minutes of intelligent passing football in the first half and then we made it extremely uncomfortable for ourselves for the rest of the match. Too complacent for my liking. Could have been a world of pain had we drawn that. DJ, Morrison and Martin need their legs slapped.

[breadandcheese]

I must have watched a different game to everyone else last night.

Morrison getting a slating. Originally, it was Tunchev on Zola. Tunchev couldn't handle his size and power so they swapped.

Mattock didn't have a bad game. He was fairly decent.

I'm still not convinced about King. Undoubtedly he has quality, but it only shows if we're controlling the play. When the other team start to gain the ascendancy, he doesn't stamp his authority on the game to regain control of the play and instead seems to disappear.

Last night, I thought we became very complacent as soon as we went 1-0 up. We need to become more professional.

The other thing that annoyed me was the lack of support when players were under pressure. I can think of at least 4 or 5 times when one of our players was being closed down when in possession by 2 or 3 crewe players. Too many times, not one of our players actually rushed over to give him an outlet to pass to. If they had, we would then have taken 2 or 3 of their players out the game with a single pass. I felt King and Berner were the most guilty of this.

[adam]

Martin - 5 - Should of done better with their goal

Edworthy - 5- Dont seem fit enough. Looked buggered half way throught the 1st half. Why isnt Gilbert playing?

Morrison - 3 - Dangerous

Tunchev - 7 - MOM was a rock at the back as usual.

Mattock - 3 - Sooner we get rid the better. Get Powell back in

Oakley - 6 -Some nice touches

King - 6.5 Didnt do much until he scored.

Berner -5- Very average. Not sure what he offers at home

Dyer - 6 - Very quiet

Fryatt - 6 - Took his goal well

DJ - 5 - park player at best. Didnt get much service though to be fair to him!

Howard - 6 -Thing he is needed in the team.

Gradel - 5 - Good corner, every thing else he tried was terrible.

Hobbs - Didnt play long enough

[The Stig]

20 minutes of intelligent passing football in the first half and then we made it extremely uncomfortable for ourselves for the rest of the match. Too complacent for my liking.

[Koke]

I must have watched a different game to everyone else last night.

Morrison getting a slating. Originally, it was Tunchev on Zola. Tunchev couldn't handle his size and power so they swapped.

I've noticed Tunchev struggles with big men. And Zola was no different. The strange thing for me is that he's same size as Kisnorbo and both are 6'2" or so but Kisnorbo would have won the aerial battles with Zola. If there is one weakness in Tunchev's, it lies heavily in his inability to deal with big men. The rest of his attributes are top notch, reads the game perfectly, tackles are spot on and often he closes people down rather than go for the crucial tackle. His ball handling and passings are most welcome as well. He's a damn good player.