This felt at the beginning like a match where I’d take a point, and that’s what we achieved. It was a fair result, with both managers likely disappointed at the goals they conceded.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 5 - Doesn’t look on it right now; doesn’t seem imposing or a challenge to beat. Distribution wasn’t great either.
Ricardo: 7 - Energetic and quality on the ball. Provided good support and won some fine tackles.
Evans: 8 - Kept is in the match early on. Important influence throughout, despite missing a great chance to win it. My choice for our MOTM.
Soyuncu: 6 - Made some mistakes today and caught in no man’s land several times in the first half. Improved in the second.
Chilwell: 7 - Still a nervous watch because of his recent form, not helped by his first touch of the match dribbling off his foot and out of play. Better today than recently though, with a bonus point for a goal.
Choudhury: 6 - Better than last time he played that role. Kept things simple and concentrated on his defensive responsibilities over any build-up play. Limited but reasonable contribution.
Perez: 6 - Good in build-up play and pressed well. Just couldn’t entirely affect the final third.
Tielemans: 7 - Decent performance as a team player and forced a good save out of Caballero. Had one eye on helping out a Choudhury.
Maddison: 6 - No criticising his commitment and he did well, but I felt he was fortunate not to get sent off. Made absolutely no attempt at the ball picking up his yellow and then raised his boot and went into tight challenges several times afterwards. Got away with one.
Barnes: 7 - Despite Black Starr’s assessment, his finishing is coming on, and part of that is confidence to get into the position to take it on. Will of course be disappointed not to win it, but at least has some confidence back these days.
Vardy: 6 - An in-form Vardy scores that chance in the first half. Carried on to create a great chance for a Barnes later on but not at his best.
Iheanacho: 6 - Fought well; didn’t get the chance we needed to fall to him.
Praet: 6 - Did little notably right or wrong.
There were at least signs today of improved performance levels, and the draw doesn’t do any real harm. I think the break comes at a good time for us, giving the players a chance to get away for a while and come back fresh of mind ready to finish well in the league, take on the FA Cup challenge, and (hopefully) unleash holy hell on Wolves in an important next match.
Player ratings vs Chelsea
posted on 2/2/20
Generally agree Dunge, but I'm not giving Chillers a bonus point when he's failed miserably to challenge Rudiger twice at the back post for their goals, really poor.
I might also give Hamza a bit more, he was considerably improved from the last outing and he wouldn't have been expecting to start being a late change. So 6.5 for Choudhury.
Not sure how much worse Kasper has to play for Ward to get a chance? Appears to be hanging on more for his 'leadership' qualities rather than outstanding goalkeeping at present.
posted on 2/2/20
I don’t think dropping goalkeepers works well in the long run. Palace regularly swap around their keepers to no great end, Chelsea did it yesterday and Caballero committed a howler.
I like to build defences on consistency, and that means a goalkeeper and centre back pairing who play together regularly and know what the others are going to do.
posted on 2/2/20
I didn’t see the game yesterday so I’m good to agree entirely with Dunge and Joby’s post.
Happy with a point, but we need to follow it up with a win in the next two games and that will be very difficult. Out form needs to improve and fast.
posted on 2/2/20
I would say based on what I’ve seen from Leicester recently and with Spurs now 12 points behind us, we will be out of the top 4 by the beginning of March.
Can’t see any points from the next 2 games and then it’s Villa (who have our number), Watford away coming up (different proposition now) - all games I expect us to struggle in
posted on 2/2/20
I think your expectation of Chelsea and Spurs may be too high.
For us to be outside the top 4 come the end of the first week in March, Spurs would need to P4W4 (with a 20 GD swing around on us), Chelsea would need to lose their game to Spurs but win the other three and we would need to lose, probably by several goals each time, 4 in a row (including games against Norwich and Villa).
posted on 2/2/20
...think Wolves have only won 1 league since the 27th December as well.
I would imagine, because of everyone picking up points against each other, all of the other clubs around us will probably have the same feeling and slight pessimism.
posted on 2/2/20
Think it’s only 2 wins for Spurs since Boxing Day as well.
Bet Liverpool can’t believe their luck this season!
posted on 3/2/20
comment by Keep_the_faith1 (U8129)
posted 5 hours, 49 minutes ago
I think your expectation of Chelsea and Spurs may be too high.
For us to be outside the top 4 come the end of the first week in March, Spurs would need to P4W4 (with a 20 GD swing around on us), Chelsea would need to lose their game to Spurs but win the other three and we would need to lose, probably by several goals each time, 4 in a row (including games against Norwich and Villa).
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Yep the teams outside of the top 4 are quickly running out of games. they need to make a move soon and win numerous games on the bounce. none of them look up to that at present showing as little consistency as we are
posted on 3/2/20
I’m more worried about our form which has been poor for weeks now. Maybe early March is a little early, but lose to Man City and Wolves and the gap narrows - players get nervous and suddenly the whole atmosphere changes
We need to really improve
posted on 3/2/20
I think we definitely need to worry about our form for our own morale, progression and momentum going into the summer but comparatively, no one else is pulling up any trees. Man City have won 4 since Boxing Day, Leicester and one or two others - 3, and then it’s 1 or 2 wins in that time for any other teams who could plausibly catch us. None of those teams are playing particularly well either.
At this stage of the season, we have got to be clinical in matches and start showing our mettle when we are winning games. Ndidi coming back will help with this and a two week reset has come at the right time.