FA Youth Cup player ratings

[Thracian]

Ambrusics 6 (One brilliant save at the feet of Hemmings, another brave block but otherwise a bit lacking in presence).

O'Neill 6.75 (City best defender, first half at left-back, second half at right-back. Always sharp and involved he coped well with some tricky opponents and still found time to attack).

Bolger 4 (Gave away the decisive goal and, apart from his ability in the air, always looked vulnerable against the fast and tricky Wolves attackers. Two or three times he made rash challenges which left him right out of the game).

Parkes 6 (Well-taken headed goal and some important blocks and clearances but his distribution was wayward at times).

Moore 5 (Beaten too easily for pace and this led directly to the Wolves equaliser at 2-2. Full-backs need to be quick).

John 5.5 (Decent free-kick (at least I think it was him) for Parkes' goal and showed himself to be a willing worker with some good touches. But didn't really catch the eye).

Ben Milnes 6 (Worked hard to contain a potentially rampant Wolves midfield).

Nathan Hicks 5.75 (Splendid somewhat trademark goal from outside the area but couldn't wrest control of central midfield).

Burns 6 (Industrious without being outstanding).

Craig King 6.75 (City's man of the match. His persistence enabled him to set up Hicks' goal and he ran himself to a standstill. Sometimes seemed to be taking on the work of two men but, for a striker, he didn't get enough shots off and didn't see the pictures well enough to really make his ability count).

Hoban 5 (Hit a dipping free-kick just over the bar and had another shot deflected but didn't really impact on the game).

Subs:

Yussuf 4 (Had one encouraging run but was mostly anonymous).

Chamberlain 4 (Came on when his team-mates were starting to feel the heat and never really had the chance to shine).

Schlupp (Not on long enough).

[Milky]

Schlupp (Not on long enough).

Deserves a 2 then surely?

[jonno24]

Schlupp ?

Hopefully will now become a world class player and the thaught of john motson saying his name is making me giggle

[Thracian]

Deserves a 2 then surely?

He can have a 2 if you like.

[Ross-Kemp]

Ambrusics 6 (One brilliant save at the feet of Hemmings, another brave block but otherwise a bit lacking in presence).

O'Neill 6.75 (City best defender, first half at left-back, second half at right-back. Always sharp and involved he coped well with some tricky opponents and still found time to attack).

Bolger 4 (Gave away the decisive goal and, apart from his ability in the air, always looked vulnerable against the fast and tricky Wolves attackers. Two or three times he made rash challenges which left him right out of the game).

Parkes 6 (Well-taken headed goal and some important blocks and clearances but his distribution was wayward at times).

Moore 5 (Beaten too easily for pace and this led directly to the Wolves equaliser at 2-2. Full-backs need to be quick).

John 5.5 (Decent free-kick (at least I think it was him) for Parkes' goal and showed himself to be a willing worker with some good touches. But didn't really catch the eye).

Ben Milnes 6 (Worked hard to contain a potentially rampant Wolves midfield).

Nathan Hicks 5.75 (Splendid somewhat trademark goal from outside the area but couldn't wrest control of central midfield).

Burns 6 (Industrious without being outstanding).

Craig King 6.75 (City's man of the match. His persistence enabled him to set up Hicks' goal and he ran himself to a standstill. Sometimes seemed to be taking on the work of two men but, for a striker, he didn't get enough shots off and didn't see the pictures well enough to really make his ability count).

Hoban 5 (Hit a dipping free-kick just over the bar and had another shot deflected but didn't really impact on the game).

Subs:

Yussuf 4 (Had one encouraging run but was mostly anonymous).

Chamberlain 4 (Came on when his team-mates were starting to feel the heat and never really had the chance to shine).

Schlupp (Not on long enough).

I disagree with them two, I thought O'Neill was awful tonight, he didn't look interested. Made one good tackle down the side in the 2nd half, but overall I thought he was crap.

And Ambrusics impressed me last night, he needs to be a bit more confident at coming out, but all in all i thought he was one of our better players.

[JakeShingler]

I disagree with them two, I thought O'Neill was awful tonight, he didn't look interested. Made one good tackle down the side in the 2nd half, but overall I thought he was crap.

And Ambrusics impressed me last night, he needs to be a bit more confident at coming out, but all in all i thought he was one of our better players.

[Ross-Kemp]

Sorry Mr Shingler. I forgot how literate you are. And how you spell every word correct

[JakeShingler]

Sorry Mr Shingler. I forgot how literate you are. And how you spell every word correct

That's all right.

[Lillehamring]

Sorry Mr Shingler. I forgot how literate you are. And how you spell every word correct

awesome.

[Thracian]

I disagree with them two, I thought O'Neill was awful tonight, he didn't look interested. Made one good tackle down the side in the 2nd half, but overall I thought he was crap.

And Ambrusics impressed me last night, he needs to be a bit more confident at coming out, but all in all i thought he was one of our better players.

Ambrusics was marked as one of our better players (joint third) and, with three goals conceded at home and not a whole lot of memorable saves to make, I don't think you've made a case for his being marked higher.

As for O'Neill it was significant to me that Wolves made so much progress down the right in the second half when O'Neill had been switched to the other side.

Not only did Wolves score their equaliser for 2-2 past left-back Moore but there were two or three other occasions, in quick succession where they almost did the same to score again.

Pity, on the night, that O'Neill couldn't have played on both flanks cos I was a bit disappointed in Moore.

He had struck me as a really combative individual on the other occasion I'd watched him. But he looked distinctly vulnerable last night although he did have an excellent opponent and will hopefully be the better player for his experience.

O'Neill, by contrast, held his area quite securely, kept getting a foot in and frustrating Wolves, didn't get dragged into tackles he couldn't win (like others) and, far from being disinterested, got well forward in support when he could and took his share of free-kicks as well.

[BoneHead.]

Ambrusics 6 (One brilliant save at the feet of Hemmings, another brave block but otherwise a bit lacking in presence).

O'Neill 6.75 (City best defender, first half at left-back, second half at right-back. Always sharp and involved he coped well with some tricky opponents and still found time to attack).

Bolger 4 (Gave away the decisive goal and, apart from his ability in the air, always looked vulnerable against the fast and tricky Wolves attackers. Two or three times he made rash challenges which left him right out of the game).

Parkes 6 (Well-taken headed goal and some important blocks and clearances but his distribution was wayward at times).

Moore 5 (Beaten too easily for pace and this led directly to the Wolves equaliser at 2-2. Full-backs need to be quick).John 5.5 (Decent free-kick (at least I think it was him) for Parkes' goal and showed himself to be a willing worker with some good touches. But didn't really catch the eye).

Ben Milnes 6 (Worked hard to contain a potentially rampant Wolves midfield).

Nathan Hicks 5.75 (Splendid somewhat trademark goal from outside the area but couldn't wrest control of central midfield).

Burns 6 (Industrious without being outstanding).

Craig King 6.75 (City's man of the match. His persistence enabled him to set up Hicks' goal and he ran himself to a standstill. Sometimes seemed to be taking on the work of two men but, for a striker, he didn't get enough shots off and didn't see the pictures well enough to really make his ability count).

Hoban 5 (Hit a dipping free-kick just over the bar and had another shot deflected but didn't really impact on the game).

Subs:

Yussuf 4 (Had one encouraging run but was mostly anonymous).

Chamberlain 4 (Came on when his team-mates were starting to feel the heat and never really had the chance to shine).

Schlupp (Not on long enough).

There winger must have been bloody fast because Liam comfortably won the 100 meters at our school sports day this year up against some very quick kids in his year group.

[Thracian]

There winger must have been bloody fast because Liam comfortably won the 100 meters at our school sports day this year up against some very quick kids in his year group.

Maybe the lad was unfamiliar with the left-back role and was made to look sluggish. Whatever, the Wolves lad left him for dead for the goal and later kept showing him the ball and darting beyond him as soon as he committed to the challenge.

One poster mentions that one of our players was injured so I suppose it's possible it might have been Moore, but I don't know. Certainly manager Steve Beaglehole was concerned enough to play number two Luke O'Neill at left-back in the first half and to move him back to his more familiar right-back in the second.

I only reported what happened. I don't have a down on the lad. In fact after his previous Academy match I thought he looked quite promising and his determination earned him a goal.

[BoneHead.]

Maybe the lad was unfamiliar with the left-back role and was made to look sluggish. Whatever, the Wolves lad left him for dead for the goal and later kept showing him the ball and darting beyond him as soon as he committed to the challenge.

One poster mentions that one of our players was injured so I suppose it's possible it might have been Moore, but I don't know. Certainly manager Steve Beaglehole was concerned enough to play number two Luke O'Neill at left-back in the first half and to move him back to his more familiar right-back in the second.

I only reported what happened. I don't have a down on the lad. In fact after his last Academy match I thought he looked quite promising and his determination earned him a goal.

He's a quality player when played in midfield were he belongs

The boy will come good of that i have no doubt.

[Thracian]

He's a quality player when played in midfield were he belongs

The boy will come good of that i have no doubt.

Yes, he played midfield in the game I mentioned when he scored. I presume he was moved to left-back cos Joe Cobb was injured, Lee Cox ineligible and we weren't exactly flushed for alternatives.

[Ross-Kemp]

Thrac, just out of interest, Claudio Hoban, looked quite tricky, wondered if you had seen him play before ?

[JakeShingler]

Yes, he played midfield in the game I mentioned when he scored. I presume he was moved to left-back cos Joe Cobb was injured, Lee Cox ineligible and we weren't exactly flushed for alternatives.

Is he still injured from the Port Vale game?

[Thracian]

Is he still injured from the Port Vale game?

Yes. He was quite badly injured.

[Thracian]

Thrac, just out of interest, Claudio Hoban, looked quite tricky, wondered if you had seen him play before ?

Yes, once. He looked a clever player on that occasion and scored an excellent goal from a free-kick if memory serves.

[JakeShingler]

Yes. He was quite badly injured.

Yes got streched off but what did he do?

[Thracian]

Yes got streched off but what did he do?

I forget the details of the medical bulletin now - it was mentioned on here - but I rather think it was a compression fracture of his cheekbone or somesuch thing. Apologies if I'm mistaken.

[JakeShingler]

I forget the details of the medical bulletin now - it was mentioned on here - but I rather think it was a compression fracture of his cheekbone or somesuch thing. Apologies if I'm mistaken.

Oh cheers for that