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Hart - 7- nothin to do
Zab-8- pure city player
Lesc-8- steady eddy
Komp-8- top as usual
Kol-8- wasnt askd to defend but distribution was good
Johnson-6- weak show again
De Jong-6- getting worse i dunno why
Silva-9- magic
Yaya-8- tour de force
Kun- 8- carried us through roufh spot
Balo- 8- busy even ran back to defend

Subs- 7
Mancin-8- looked relaxed for a change
Support- 9 - top notch

I'm not having that for Nige...thought he was back to his usual self today. Also think you're a bit harsh on Jonno, but other than that ok.

yeah fair enuf but Nige has gotta learn to pass forward at least 5% above the equator- and jonno in a game that u should rape a full back hardly did at all

Johnson doesn't seem to want to take people on anymore

THOUGHT JONNO HAD A BAD GAME MYSELF TOO

AJ did very little going forwards, but I was impressed with his workrate today, which is probably the first time ever. He tracked back - properly as well rather than the half arsed runs he sometimes does, and he closed their defenders down.

Whether that had an impact on his forward play I don't know, but I liked the effort if not the product.

AJ tried really hard but lacked that bit of quality a few times.

Nige did his job well and we conceded nothing. To give vinny and lescott 8's you gotta give Nige one too IMO.

I think you were a bit harsh on Nige.

He looked fantastic out there for me. He was intercepting passes and cutting off runs (the few BBurn had). Just because he doesnt go forward too often and may slow down our play doesnt mean he's performing badly..that's what he's supposed to do. That's why he's in the side. He's a true defensive mid. If Mancini wanted two center mids who can track back but also drive us forward he'd play Milner and Yaya together..but he doesnt want that, today at least. He wanted Nige to sit behind Yaya and in front of VK and JL and cut out anything that Rovers tried to do. I doubt Mancini is going to make the same mistake he did against Everton and underestimate a team, regardless of their table position, players, and how bad/mediocre they may appear..that's why he needs his safety net in NDJ/Barry.

Just my 2¢

Longball wrote:De Jong-6- getting worse i dunno why

Hmmm

give them all a 10. Did Blackburn even touch the ball?
Brilliant performance and nobody stuck out as being shite.

halnone wrote:give them all a 10. Did Blackburn even touch the ball?
Brilliant performance and nobody stuck out as being shite.

Nah give dzeko a 3 just so pauls might spontaneously combust!

Nig has started to play like he did last season, good to see. He was excellent today.

AJ was essential to todays game. You're all fucked in the head.

phips wrote:I think you were a bit harsh on Nige.

He looked fantastic out there for me. He was intercepting passes and cutting off runs (the few BBurn had). Just because he doesnt go forward too often and may slow down our play doesnt mean he's performing badly..that's what he's supposed to do. That's why he's in the side. He's a true defensive mid. If Mancini wanted two center mids who can track back but also drive us forward he'd play Milner and Yaya together..but he doesnt want that, today at least. He wanted Nige to sit behind Yaya and in front of VK and JL and cut out anything that Rovers tried to do. I doubt Mancini is going to make the same mistake he did against Everton and underestimate a team, regardless of their table position, players, and how bad/mediocre they may appear..that's why he needs his safety net in NDJ/Barry.

Just my 2¢

Completely agree, he was fantastic. The defence-splitting pass to Silva (where he tripped over his feet) was beautiful as well.

Very harsh on Johnson too. One or two poor/unlucky moments but I thought all three wide players were great.

Ted Hughes wrote:AJ was essential to todays game. You're all fucked in the head.

I'm often highly critical of Adam Johnson but I thought he played really well yesterday. It was great to see him actually overlap and go past his full back and use his right foot to cut back the ball for Balotelli's early chance but I agree with Ted...he was a big part in all that was good about yesterday's performance. Work rate was much better and he combined really well with Zabba on that side and Silva as he drifted across.

Also agree with those supporting Nigel. I think he's looked really strong again the last couple of games. As the robustness and sharpness of his defensive game has come back up to match-speed I also don't think his distribution is anywhere near as weak as some are trying to portray it. He's working tirelessly across the back four and is constantly helping us keep the ball alive and move it around well. Nothing fancy but I dispute the claim that he slowed our play down at all yesterday

Sorry, there is a problem with Johnson.
Excellent positioning for Yaya's pinpoint crossfield passes, and great control. Then almost always made the wrong decision, or the right one too late. Zabaleta overlapped a few times and was never used.
Having said that, it was AJ who supplied Balotelli for the first, but from the left wing on a break.
Either he's not the quality we need to win European Cups, or he might do better on the left.
Can we at least try it Sir Bob?

As for Nige, excellent performance. 6? You're having a f. laugh there mate.

NDJ looked back to his best. Superb game.

Another fine performance from Nige. Thought he was motm meself. Also thought AJ and Mad Frank looked a real threat down that flank.

SmallTimeCharlie wrote:Sorry, there is a problem with Johnson.
Excellent positioning for Yaya's pinpoint crossfield passes, and great control. Then almost always made the wrong decision, or the right one too late. Zabaleta overlapped a few times and was never used.
[highlight]Having said that, it was AJ who supplied Balotelli for the first[/highlight], but from the left wing on a break.
Either he's not the quality we need to win European Cups, or he might do better on the left.
Can we at least try it Sir Bob?

As for Nige, excellent performance. 6? You're having a f. laugh there mate.

I'm afraid to say that was Kolarov, who had an excellent game and deserved the MoTM. Nige and Zaba, for me, ran him close though.

craigmcfc wrote:

SmallTimeCharlie wrote:Sorry, there is a problem with Johnson.
Excellent positioning for Yaya's pinpoint crossfield passes, and great control. Then almost always made the wrong decision, or the right one too late. Zabaleta overlapped a few times and was never used.
[highlight]Having said that, it was AJ who supplied Balotelli for the first[/highlight], but from the left wing on a break.
Either he's not the quality we need to win European Cups, or he might do better on the left.
Can we at least try it Sir Bob?

As for Nige, excellent performance. 6? You're having a f. laugh there mate.

I'm afraid to say that was Kolarov, who had an excellent game and deserved the MoTM. Nige and Zaba, for me, ran him close though.

I think he is referring to the 1st chance after 1 minute