Swansea Player Ratings

[Nath]

Weale 7 - Never troubled, Not at fault for goal, good kicking.

Morrison 6 - Never looked comfortable on the ball...

Hobbs 7 - Quiet game i thought... did what was needed and won plenty of headers.

Brown 8 - Solid as a rock. Cracking tackle as their player went through!

Berner 8 - Not played much in this position for us, but i was very impressed.

Oakley 7 - Not in the game first half, good second half. Set peices improved too!

King 5 - Poor.

Wellens 9 - Great addition. Very lively on the ball, and always looking for a forward pass.

Dyer 6 - Drifted in too much... got to up his game to keep his place.

Howard 7 - Won everything. abysmal peno.

Fryatt 5 - Lacked fitness

Waghorn 9 - This guy has everything we've lacked up front in years!

N'Guessan 8 - Very positive and strong... let's see if he is consistent!

Adams 7 - Seems to have learnt from his loan spell, and should add some competition on the bench.

[smokey]

Weale 7 - Never troubled, Not at fault for goal, good kicking.

Morrison 6 - Never looked comfortable on the ball...

Hobbs 7 - Quiet game i thought... did what was needed and won plenty of headers.

Brown 8 - Solid as a rock. Cracking tackle as their player went through!

Berner 8 - Not played much in this position for us, but i was very impressed.

Oakley 7 - Not in the game first half, good second half. Set peices improved too!

King 5 - Poor.

Wellens 9 - Great addition. Very lively on the ball, and always looking for a forward pass.

Dyer 6 - Drifted in too much... got to up his game to keep his place.

Howard 7 - Won everything. abysmal peno.

Fryatt 5 - Lacked fitness

Waghorn 9 - This guy has everything we've lacked up front in years!

N'Guessan 8 - Very positive and strong... let's see if he is consistent!

Adams 7 - Seems to have learnt from his loan spell, and should add some competition on the bench.

Must admit thats about how i saw it!

Fryatt needs a few more games but coming off the bench as he isnt match fit at all!

Cant understand people who are saying Morrison had a good game, he did ok as i like the lad as he gives 100% but i only see him as a back up at centre half and he is way out his depth at Right back, we could do with 2 full backs now Mattocks going, one either side as cover.

Thought Wellens was best player on the pitch by far! Looks a class act and what a key figure he is going to be this season.

[DanTheFox07]

Wellens - just the sort of player city needed - tough, a menace and a good distributor of the ball - looks a great signing

Morrison - solid enough but his distribution was woeful, especially first half

Waghorn - at last!!! we have a striker with strength AND pace - if he continues to chase everything down like he did

yesterday (and he stays at the club), then its bye-bye Dickov and even Fryatt could be worried

Howard - well done big man - apart from the shit penalty you were everywhere yesterday

Adams - seen him in pre-season and he's playing with a swagger that denotes an injection of self-confidence that I didn't think he could attain - could be the dark horse this season

Fryatt - I'm afraid, as I thought last season, that Fryatt's inadequacies at this level are not all based on the fact he was unfit yesterday. I reckon a fully fit Matty is gonna struggle this year

Well let`s wait Until he is fit, give the guy his due hardly gonna be sharp after 30 mins of pre-season.

[The Doctor]

Weale - 7 - didn't have to do much but did what he had to fairly well.

Berner - 7.5 - great run to win penalty, dealt with their winger well

Brown - 8 - Absolutely heroic foul, good enough to cause four consecutive rollie pollies by the swansea player before he got up, waddled of the pitch and came back on after a treatment from the magic sponge!

Hobbs - 7 - Didn't stand out for good or bad reasons. average

Morrison - 7.5 - fairly good defending and made good breaks forwards

Dyer - 5 - Constantly drifting inside and poor crossing

Wellens - 7.5 showed bite in the takle and played some good passes as well

King - 5 - absaloutely anonymous

Oakley - 7 - same as hobbs

Fryatt - 5 - no where near as sharp as he should be. needs to recuperate from injury more before hes played next

Howard - 6 - Penalty miss only real action infront of goal but held ball up well.

Subs

Waghorn - 8.5 - Changed the game, ran his socks off chasing everything, caught offside a few times but still a better understanding of the rule than DJ

N'guessan - 8.5 - Along with waghorn really changed the game, showed skill, willingness to get into the box and support strikers and could cross reasonably well (better than dyer and gradel and least)

Adams - 7.5 - best i've seen from him ever

[Salieri]

Well the guy writing the report for Sunday Mirror must have watched a different game to you lot! Here's his ratings :

Weale 6

Morrison 6

Brown 6

Hobbs 6

Berner 7

Oakley 6

King 5

Wellens 5

Dyer 5

Fryatt 4

Howard 5

Subs : N'Guessan 8, Waghorn 6, Adams 5.

Okay, not all of his ratings were wide of the mark, but Wellens, 5?! The write up also contained the gem : "The Foxes looked out their depth in the first half as Paolo Sousa's classy side called the tune and Keith (?!) Wellens, another debutant with Weale, was bypassed in the midfield"

[The Doctor]

Well the guy writing the report for Sunday Mirror must have watched a different game to you lot! Here's his ratings :

Weale 6

Morrison 6

Brown 6

Hobbs 6

Berner 7

Oakley 6

King 5

Wellens 5

Dyer 5

Fryatt 4

Howard 5

Subs : N'Guessan 8, Waghorn 6, Adams 5.

Okay, not all of his ratings were wide of the mark, but Wellens, 5?! The write up also contained the gem : "The Foxes looked out their depth in the first half as Paolo Sousa's classy side called the tune and Keith (?!) Wellens, another debutant with Weale, was bypassed in the midfield"

its a well known fact that journalists do their work while on crack so i wouldn't bother listening to what he has to say.

Reason for Edit: Grammar mistake and fear of grammar nazis.

Edit: Apologies to anyone offended by that last statement about nazis

[Cobbo]

Hmm, Wellens is getting lots of high marks - he looked good for the most part but he was a bit hesitant in the first half with a couple of bad passes and poor touches. One setting Swansea up for a counter. So I would give him a 7. He did look class for the most part.

Weale - 7 - good kicking and no chance with the goal. Did not have anything else to do.

Morrison - 7 - solid.

Hobbs - 6 - decent defensively but needs to leave the 50 yard cross field balls to others! He shanked about 4.

Brown - 7 - strong mofo. He is a defender. And a solid one.

Berner - 8 - showed Mattock how to play left back. Superb

Oakley - 7 - certainly more effective in the second half. Do not think him playing right wing will work so well without a quick full back to overlap (ie. Gilbert last year).

Wellens - 7 - As above.

King - 5 - Not there today. Sure he'll be back.

Dyer - 6 - tireless worker but was not as effective as he'd have liked.

Howard - 7 - won his headers worked his arse off and missed a penalty.

Fryatt - 6 - only one half chance which was well blocked. Could see he was not fit.

Subs:

N'Guessan - 8 - gave us a genuine winger on the right and created numerous chances.

Waghorn - 9 - who spotted this lad? Quick, worked hard, good touch and strong as fork! Great stuff.

[Corky]

Weale- 6

Morrison- 7

Hobbs- 7

Brown- 7.5

Berner- 8

Oakley- 7

King- 4

Wellens- 8

Dyer- 6

Fryatt- 5

Howard- 6

Waghorn- 8

N'Guessan- 8

Adams- 7

[Sparky]

Weale- 6

Morrison- 7

Hobbs- 7

Brown- 7

Berner- 7

Oakley- 7

King- 5

Wellens- 7

Dyer- 6

Fryatt- 5

Howard- 7

Waghorn- 8

N'Guessan- 8

Adams- 7

[lcfc81]

Must admit thats about how i saw it!

Fryatt needs a few more games but coming off the bench as he isnt match fit at all!

Cant understand people who are saying Morrison had a good game, he did ok as i like the lad as he gives 100% but i only see him as a back up at centre half and he is way out his depth at Right back, we could do with 2 full backs now Mattocks going, one either side as cover.

Thought Wellens was best player on the pitch by far! Looks a class act and what a key figure he is going to be this season.

Think people sympathise with him playing out of position and having Oakley playing in front of him (allegedly) first half. Oakley left him exposed alot imo and often stiched him up by passing him the ball and not offering a return pass. In the second half N'Guessan offered support defensively and the simple out ball for Morrison and hence Morrison looked much better.

imo our shape worked against Morrison 1st half but helped him 2nd half.

[Thracian]

Weale 6 (Quiet afternoon. I just didn't like the way Swnsea found the centre of our six yard box opening up the like the Biblical legend of the parting sea, thus allowing free headers or potential free headers without intevention by either goalkeeperor defenders).

Morrison 6 (Got caught out once when being run at but was otherwise fairly competent).

Hobbs 6.5 (Ponderous at times in possession but played he part in a defence which generally covered well and looked organised.

Brown 6.5 (Again his lack of pace was occasionally exposed but he was resolute and an important "presence".

Berner 7 (Desperately unlucky with a meteoric volley which shook the crossbar - even if a goal would have been disallowed - and generally enjoyed one of his best games for the club. I didn't seeMattock as being missed at all.

Oakley 5.5 (His lack of pace and penetration was very much part of our problem in the first half when we looked lethargic, less than urgent and second to the ball far too often. His limitations meant Kingy had limited options on the few occasions he was in possession and with Fryatt/Howard also lacking speed and elusiveness our attack looked like a busted flush until Pearson's inspired changes. Second half Oakley looked like a man revived and suddenly he was part of one of an exhilerating 45 minutes football).

Wellens 7 (Made mistakes, particularly in dwelling on the ball and being caught in possession but he looked the sort of in-your-face but skillful midfielder we have much needed. Never let mistakes dishearten him and a guy who will clearly add strength and attackin potency to our squad).

King 4.5 (Now facing his first major challenge at the club in the he has genuine challengers for his place. His one-paced style may prove a handicap at the higher level and yesterday he looked less than his sharpest which he just won't get away with this season. He will have to show a lot more attitude and urgency to retain his place because it was hard to remember him making a single telling contribution yesterday, especially in an attacking sense. Needs to be at peak fitness and to start supporting attacks and shooting once again to have any chance of staying in the side.

Dyer 6.5 (Dangerous at times but so much of his better work petered out and will have a much harder job making an impression on the Championship than Division One, like various others.).

Howard 5 (Poor. His penalty was a schoolboy effort - easily read, half-paced and the perfect height to be saved and he was so lucky not to be resposnible for a goal conceded when he allowed the opposing centre-back an unchallenged run to the near post from a corner which resulted in a flick-on which could so easily have cost a goal. Only one shot of note that I remember and contributed to our so-laboured attacking in the first half.

Fryatt 4 (I've rarely been impressed with Fryatt as a Championship player and have explained why lots of times. All those reasons were in evidence yesterday and it was significant that we improved so much when he went off. He had one nice run, knock-down and half-chance but his marker read the situation perfectly and blocked his effort with ease because Fryatt simply didn't have to explosive pace to get away. Unless he's fully fit and sharp there's no point in playing him as has been demonstrated countless times in previous Championship campaigns even though he has bagged a long contract.

Subs:

Waghorn 8 (I was pleading for the manger to introduce players with pace and penetration after barely 25 minutes and Pearson finally produced the perfect match-changing decisions at half-time. Waghorn delivered all the in-your-face harrassment that had been previously missing and his busy style and constant pressurising of defenders soon had the visitors in a panic. Played a major part in a total transformation and his goal and another near thing were no more than he deserved.)

N'Guessan 8.5 (Strong, positive, skillful, direct and eager to shoot...that's a lot of qualities for a winger and enough to make him man-of-the-match for me. Yes he should have two goals instead of one because one of the first lessons for a professional footballer is to head the ball down but there was nothing wrong with the way he got into position to get the chance and, apart from failing to make the simple pass in defensive situations, he looked like another quality signing.

Adams 7 (Looked determined to try and take his chance this season. So often a seeming apologist for a winger he looked quick, confident and direct yesterday and had his move which involved the taking a pass from the corner flag, nutmegging a defender and his final deadly pass into the penalty box actually produced goal it would have been something special to remember. As it was it wasn't the only genuine chance he created in a spell of football when Leicester might have scored five.

Altogether the (now bottled) Barbars tasted like nectar afterwards as I was able to savour 45 minutes of the sort of football that offered City fans real reason to be optimistic for the season.

As for Pearson I was disappointed that he presided over such a staid start and a first 45 minutes which simply reflected the limitations we showed in much of the second half of last season especially at places like Peterborough and Milton Keynes.

But he sure waved the magic want at half-time and deserves an 9 for changing the direction of the game and securing a confidence-building three-point start.

[Webbo]

:w00t: Thracian's back!

[C-man]

I thought Tony from Leicester thought Waghorn was a joke signing...

[Thracian]

I thought Tony from Leicester thought Waghorn was a joke signing...

I did read that but can assure you it wasn't my comment.

[Fez of Mahrez]

He's been in solitary confinement, preparing himself mentally for the low marks he's going to have to give King in the Championship.

[Bert]

He's been in solitary confinement, preparing himself mentally for the low marks he's going to have to give King in the Championship.

Correct.

People will see that even after last season King isn't all that. Certainly not "The Championships Lampard"

[acooling08]

Weale - 6. Looked OK but where was he for the corner?

Brown - 8. Best defender, great tackler. And that foul was a beauty.

Hobbs - 7. Won a lot in the air, bad distribution.

Morrison - 6.5. Not sure about Morrison. Rather have Tunch.

Berner - 7. Played pretty well.

Oakley - 4. Under par performance.

Wellens - 5. Not impressed. Caught often.

King - 5. OK defensively but never noticed him.

Dyer 5. Run with the ball and sort out your positioning!

Fryatt - 4. Not against league 1 defense anymore ay Matty?

Howard - 7.5. He won a lot of headers and had an assist. Missed penalty.

Subs:

N'Guessan - 8. Great finish for the goal. I like him on the wing.

Waghorn - 8.5. Love him. Nigel sign him up!

NP - 9. Perfect double substitution turned the game.

[Joe.]

Correct.

People will see that even after last season King isn't all that. Certainly not "The Championships Lampard"

I said I had my doubts a while back, and I still do. He'll go missing in games regularly throughout the season, especially when the team's not playing well.

[Flynny]

[Things]

Good to see you back Thracian.

Correct.

People will see that even after last season King isn't all that. Certainly not "The Championships Lampard"

Seems a little bit harsh, he's had one bad half. He's not a complete player but hopefully he'll mature and get better as the season progresses. On yesterday's showing he's more likely to come in for Oakley than Wellens - I'd be very interested to see that partnership, I think it'd give King license he's not had whilst playing with Oakley.

I'm not saying he's better than Oakley, just to hastily point that out, just that it'd be interesting to see those two, perhaps on Wednesday even.

[RowlattsFox]

I said I had my doubts a while back, and I still do. He'll go missing in games regularly throughout the season, especially when the team's not playing well.

I thought he did that quite a bit last season to be honest, but then he'd pop up with a goal. Hopefully if he gets the chances, he can still manage to get himself on the scoresheet.

[lildave3]

King will be fine.

I'll back him.

[Bert]

Good to see you back Thracian.

Seems a little bit harsh, he's had one bad half. He's not a complete player but hopefully he'll mature and get better as the season progresses. On yesterday's showing he's more likely to come in for Oakley than Wellens - I'd be very interested to see that partnership, I think it'd give King license he's not had whilst playing with Oakley.

I'm not saying he's better than Oakley, just to hastily point that out, just that it'd be interesting to see those two, perhaps on Wednesday even.

How's that "harsh?

I know he's matured greatly since then, but he hardly set the championship alight the first time around and after a great season last term, people are expecting exactly the same from him again this season, heaping pressure on him. Wasn't King playing with Wellens in the first half on Saturday btw? Vastly improved when Oakley went inside.

The big thing that's letting King down, is the fact he's probably our slowest midfielder.

King will be fine.

I'll back him.

I certainly hope so, and whilst he's in a Leicester shirt, I'll back/support him too, but it won't stop me saying what i think is what. I like King don't get me wrong, just a tad over-rated imo.

[Flynny]

How's that "harsh?

I know he's matured greatly since then, but he hardly set the championship alight the first time around and after a great season last term, people are expecting exactly the same from him again this season, heaping pressure on him.

The big thing that's letting King down, is the fact he's probably our slowest midfielder.

I said a little bit! I'm probably just not used to hearing him criticised, but it seems a bit early to dismiss what he did for us last season based on one half. I agree he has flaws both to his game and physically but those were just as concerning last year and he wound up an ever-present.

Also "first time around" he was only 18 and only got the one game, which I believe went quite well for him as memory serves.

[Bert]

I said a little bit! I'm probably just not used to hearing him criticised, but it seems a bit early to dismiss what he did for us last season based on one half. I agree he has flaws both to his game and physically but those were just as concerning last year and he wound up an ever-present.

Also "first time around" he was only 18 and only got the one game, which I believe went quite well for him as memory serves.

He had more than 1 game in the Championship for us....

In no way am I dismissing what he did last year, by the way.

[Flynny]

He had more than 1 game in the Championship for us....

In no way am I dismissing what he did last year, by the way.

Fair enough. I swear it was only the one start, did he get sub appearances? I might have accidentally scrubbed those out of my memory while desperately trying to forget Bruno N'Settee's stint in midfield.