Well, it happened: We found a team that wanted to be there even less than we did.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 8 - Has earned some criticism recently, but made several important saves in the first half.
Castagne: 7 - Came to the realisation as the match went on that he was a lot more dangerous if he crossed first time instead of taking a touch. Had a decent game.
Amartey: 6 - Won headers, but up against Pukki that's not a giant achievement. Also got ripped apart at one point by the same player, and had errors in him through the first half. I toyed between a 5 and a 6, but settled on a 6 to reward the clean sheet.
Evans: 7 - Given problems in the first half because of the lack of a recognised DM in front of him. Solid overall.
Justin: 7 - Energetic, although not his tidiest match.
Tielemans: 7 - A mixed bag. Remains the player most likely to read the game well and spot a pass to open up an attack. Won some tackles, while others went past him, a bit like how Cambiasso was. Needs a DM next to him.
Dewsbury-Hall: 7 - Solid enough engine room performance. Kept things ticking.
Maddison: 7 - Has taken to sometimes dropping deep to get on the ball. Sometimes found it a struggle to find any meaningful space, but finished his goal nicely.
Lookman: 6 - Bustled, but gave the ball away a bit too much. I'm not convinced Brendan likes him that much, although for me the half time sub was more about bringing Mendy on than taking anyone off.
Barnes: 8 - Visibly boosted in confidence after assisting the first goal, then assisted another. Struggled up until that point. The main difference being he started getting a bit of speed up to attack players rather than trying to go by them from a standing start. The kind of match where he could do with watching the videos to see the difference between confident Barnes and ineffective Barnes, because both were on display at different times.
Vardy: 8 - The game might have been meaningless, but surely more fun being here than in a courtroom. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he gets sent off in the next few matches. Still, my choice for our MOTM.
Mendy: 6 - Not astonishingly brilliant or anything, but helped to provide some needed balance to the team and facilitate other players to up their game around him. The right sub.
Not a lot more to add really, except to say that the game understandably lacked bite, except for Vardy flying in a couple of times. Probably the easiest match the ref's had all season.
Player ratings vs. Norwich
posted on 12/5/22
start of the match
posted on 12/5/22
No protest; just the result of it being a nothing match on a school night. Some people I know didn't attend, as much as anything because they had no enthusiasm for it after last week and this season.
posted on 12/5/22
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
posted on 12/5/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Rodgers stays in charge I won’t be renewing our 3 Memberships, still, won’t need them as getting tickets is so easy now. 😉
posted on 12/5/22
comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Rodgers stays in charge I won’t be renewing our 3 Memberships, still, won’t need them as getting tickets is so easy now. 😉
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you JohnGee in disguise?
posted on 12/5/22
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Rodgers stays in charge I won’t be renewing our 3 Memberships, still, won’t need them as getting tickets is so easy now. 😉
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you JohnGee in disguise?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He hasn't posted a long, overwritten article trying to excuse his hypocrisy yet.
posted on 12/5/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Rodgers stays in charge I won’t be renewing our 3 Memberships, still, won’t need them as getting tickets is so easy now. 😉
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you JohnGee in disguise?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He hasn't posted a long, overwritten article trying to excuse his hypocrisy yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
None of which explains why TB posted that in response to the Peter Andre tangent, however.
posted on 12/5/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
The first half had the penetration of Peter Andre.
The second half had the penetration of Jamie Vardy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Poor Peter.
(That has two meanings.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If Rodgers stays in charge I won’t be renewing our 3 Memberships, still, won’t need them as getting tickets is so easy now. 😉
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you JohnGee in disguise?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He hasn't posted a long, overwritten article trying to excuse his hypocrisy yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
None of which explains why TB posted that in response to the Peter Andre tangent, however.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At least TB is indicating they will still go to matches rather than changing support to another team (Forest anyone?)!
posted on 12/5/22
It was in response to the half filled stadium, a sign of the times to come if Rodgers stays 😉
posted on 12/5/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 13 hours, 57 minutes ago
Mersey - I thought last night was two seasons in a microcosm.
The first half was us: Too many touches, not moving the ball fast enough, get hit on the break, should have been behind at half time.
The second half was them: Concede a goal and then collapse.
We were a lot better in the second half; perhaps the team needed reminding that the opposition had already been relegated and were not Barcelona. But really the play just improved and got a lot quicker, started asking them some proper questions. The first goal was unfortunate for them but it was coming in some form. After that, Norwich never looked like recovering.
So it was cohesive play, but only second half. First half was Puelball.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry Dunge - got waylaid today but want to respond to your post and this thread which I think has been excellent.
Balance is the word I’ve been repeating a lot recently. I’ve said many times we have too many of our best players playing below themselves because the balance is wrong. Assuming Tielemans leaves in the summer we must find a way of getting Maddison creating and more central, our strikers with actual service and our wing forwards more dangerous.
During PuelRodgersBall that’s not happening right now.