Final match of the season, reflecting the league season as a whole really - Terrible in the first half, found a second wind of revival and ended a little bit dull.
Here are my ratings:
Scmeichel: 7 - Made one fantastic save and tried to drive the team forward.
Simpson: 6 - Had a shocker in the first half; improved as the match went on.
Benalouane: 5 - Looks half the player without the experience of Morgan or Huth next to him.
Fuchs: 5 - With the best will in the world, he is not a centre back and shouldn't be playing there.
Chilwell: 7 - Another good performance to back up the one against Spurs where he was pretty much the only player to emerge with any credit.
Mahrez: 5 - Was playing in his own Algerian world. With him and Slimani, it was like having two separate teams on the pitch wearing blue shirts, one with 2 players and the other with 9. That said, it was pathetic of L1 to boo.
King: 6 - Must have passed to Simpson about two dozen times, but there was little movement in front of him. One of the few players to actually try and get his foot into a challenge in the first half.
Ndidi: 6 - Needs a rest to reflect on what has been an eventful half season for a young player.
Albrighton: 7 - Harried a lot an injected pace into the play as usual.
Slimani: 6 - A box of paradoxes. One minute he's going all out, the next he's standing around doing nothing. He missed a great chance near the end, but he also did really well to get there and make it a chance when it looked like a horribly over-hit cross. Not really interested in where anyone else but Mahrez is on the pitch, but plays well with him. Difficult to work out.
Vardy: 7 - Unable to coordinate with Slimani at all, but worked hard and was in the right place to score his goal. There's not much in it, but he's my choice for our MOTM.
Amartey: 7 - Looked quite composed at centre back, although Bournemouth's attacks had become more sporadic by then.
Gray: 6 - Not bad, but didn't run at the defenders in front of him like he might have done. Still not really passing the audition as Mahrez's replacement.
It was a shame not to see Wasilewski playing one last time, and there was an argument for both him starting or coming on for Benalouane. But then again there's no real place for sentiment when Shakespeare might have to answer to the board if such a decision costs them half a millions pounds in league placement.
Overall, a performance that leaves far more questions than answers.
Player ratings vs. Bournemouth
posted on 22/5/17
Just about spot on.
posted on 22/5/17
Didn't watch the game but caught the highlights, we did seem unlucky not to win with a goal wrongly ruled offside, as you mentioned a shame not give to Wasil a couple of minutes for a send off, a dead rubber of a game if there ever was one.
Cannot see Shakey getting the job personally, I think the owners will go for an outright manager. Silva seemed coy on his future when asked, but recent results there have been iffy too, really cannot think of anyone else half decent who would come to us.
posted on 22/5/17
I mostly agree with your assessment, as usual, DM.
There are just one or two that I saw slightly differently:
King - I’m not usually a great fan of AK’s, but I thought he had a pretty good game. I was quite surprised that you didn’t take the opportunity to score him a bit higher. I think we need more midfielders in the summer (only Drinkwater and Ndidi are good enough), but AK showed that he can probably bring more than Amartey – at least for the time being.
Mahrez – 5 seems a bit harsh. Even when he’s at his most unpredictable he’s still probably our greatest creative outlet. I actually thought he did ok.
Chilwell – A 7 seems a little bit high to me. He supports the attacks well going forward, but defensively and position wise he still worries me a bit. In his defence, however, he probably didn’t know where Fuchs and Benny were going to be either and that wouldn’t have helped his defensive discipline.
Finally I must compliment you on your match ratings over the season. Always a good read and provoke some good discussion. I hope we get the same service next season.
posted on 22/5/17
YH - Was it really onside? Granted I wasn't at the right angle but my initial reaction when the ball went in was that I expected the flag to go up.
posted on 22/5/17
I thought Mahrez was much better than a 5. I would give him a 7 as he was one of the few who looked like they could and would create something.
Thought Albrighton was very hit and miss again. 6 at best.
posted on 22/5/17
Replays on MOTD confirmed it was onside, the panelists concurred as well.
posted on 22/5/17
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 2 minutes ago
YH - Was it really onside? Granted I wasn't at the right angle but my initial reaction when the ball went in was that I expected the flag to go up.
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No, he was level and it also came off the defender, still, most attackers given Slow's chance would have blasted it in the top of the net first anyway!
posted on 22/5/17
Finally I must compliment you on your match ratings over the season. Always a good read and provoke some good discussion. I hope we get the same service next season.
i second and third that sentiment
thank you Dunge
posted on 22/5/17
I also think a bit harsh on Mahrez.
If we'd won the game with Vardy's second goal we would have been 3 places higher and the club apparently £3.7M better off.
What price not paying the reported extra £3M for Keane?
Incidentally did you hear the boos which appeared to be aimed at Rudkin when he came on at half time?
Finally, thanks for your efforts over the season Dunge.
posted on 23/5/17
comment by dublin fox (was london fox)(now Cambridge fox)(can not spell fox) (U1131)
posted 11 hours, 36 minutes ago
Finally I must compliment you on your match ratings over the season. Always a good read and provoke some good discussion. I hope we get the same service next season.
i second and third that sentiment
thank you Dunge
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Me also,I've been reading the match ratings since the BBC days and always look forward to them so thanks Oh but get an away season ticket too