SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
Firstly I would like to point out Leicester lost 2-0 at home to a side that have just lost there top scorer and their star centre half from last season. This really puts into perspective out result and performance last week.
Secondly I thought Birmingham looked a decent side, better than leicester, but did not look like world beaters. I expect them to challenge for the playoffs but I don't see them as automatic contenders. They moved the ball well and pressed hard in packs to try and stop us.
I thought we were much improved on the Leicester performance but are still a few notches away from where I would like us to be. Juke led the line well and O'donovan playing behind him was just looking for knock downs and didn't contribute much to the forward play, a player playing behind a front man needs to be a link man and O'donovan is not this. Going forward we were better and our players tried to get in behind the opposition full backs and defence at times. Bell for large parts was a complete passenger and we are not good enough to carry players through the game.
Ratings
Murphy-7- Made a routine long shot save and was unlucky with the goal as he had produced a magnificent finger tip save seconds before
Christie-6- Is not ready for championship football yet, he is a good prospect but Clarke is still young and better than Christie. Dived in a few times and got beaten
Keogh-7-I thought he was excellent today, made some crucial interceptions and blocks and defended brilliantly
Hussey-6-defended well got into some good positions but never delivered the ball with any quality.
Cranie-6-Solid, made one great headed clearance from a corner under immense pressure
Clingan-8-Passed well and controlled the midfield well, forced the keeper into a good save with a good free kick. Looked to attempt the forward pass alot more times than last week.
Gael-7-Looked calmed and composed next to Clingan, made a couple of great tackles early on
Bell-5- let the game pass him by, never does anything creative every time he receives the ball he just plays a simple 5 yard pass. His most notable contribution was an overhit cross.
Mcsheffery-5-A good long shot which forced the keeper into a good save, looked better on the left hand side than upfront but still not the Mcsheffery I saw at the end of last season. Seemed to drift in and out of the game
O'donovan-5-Worked hard but little quality, played behind Juke which was an odd choice by Thorn
Juke-7-Worked hard and gave the Birmingham defenders a torrid time, he seems to be the sort of player that defenders hate playing against but he is not a natural goal scorer. Missed our best chance of the game in the first half when he shot wide when he should have really scored. Looked very tired after 75 mins.
Again much improved on Leicester performance but still a long way to go to replicate the performances of last season under Thorn, again as I said last week if we are relying on players like Bell and Mcsheffery to create our chances I am worried.
I think against Palace on Tuesday will give us a good indication of where we stand as a team, if Palace comfortably get the better of us on Tue I would start to worry.
Secondly I thought Birmingham looked a decent side, better than leicester, but did not look like world beaters. I expect them to challenge for the playoffs but I don't see them as automatic contenders. They moved the ball well and pressed hard in packs to try and stop us.
I thought we were much improved on the Leicester performance but are still a few notches away from where I would like us to be. Juke led the line well and O'donovan playing behind him was just looking for knock downs and didn't contribute much to the forward play, a player playing behind a front man needs to be a link man and O'donovan is not this. Going forward we were better and our players tried to get in behind the opposition full backs and defence at times. Bell for large parts was a complete passenger and we are not good enough to carry players through the game.
Ratings
Murphy-7- Made a routine long shot save and was unlucky with the goal as he had produced a magnificent finger tip save seconds before
Christie-6- Is not ready for championship football yet, he is a good prospect but Clarke is still young and better than Christie. Dived in a few times and got beaten
Keogh-7-I thought he was excellent today, made some crucial interceptions and blocks and defended brilliantly
Hussey-6-defended well got into some good positions but never delivered the ball with any quality.
Cranie-6-Solid, made one great headed clearance from a corner under immense pressure
Clingan-8-Passed well and controlled the midfield well, forced the keeper into a good save with a good free kick. Looked to attempt the forward pass alot more times than last week.
Gael-7-Looked calmed and composed next to Clingan, made a couple of great tackles early on
Bell-5- let the game pass him by, never does anything creative every time he receives the ball he just plays a simple 5 yard pass. His most notable contribution was an overhit cross.
Mcsheffery-5-A good long shot which forced the keeper into a good save, looked better on the left hand side than upfront but still not the Mcsheffery I saw at the end of last season. Seemed to drift in and out of the game
O'donovan-5-Worked hard but little quality, played behind Juke which was an odd choice by Thorn
Juke-7-Worked hard and gave the Birmingham defenders a torrid time, he seems to be the sort of player that defenders hate playing against but he is not a natural goal scorer. Missed our best chance of the game in the first half when he shot wide when he should have really scored. Looked very tired after 75 mins.
Again much improved on Leicester performance but still a long way to go to replicate the performances of last season under Thorn, again as I said last week if we are relying on players like Bell and Mcsheffery to create our chances I am worried.
I think against Palace on Tuesday will give us a good indication of where we stand as a team, if Palace comfortably get the better of us on Tue I would start to worry.
