Ricardo's report v Bournemouth

[ricardo 7,395]

Another ludicrously warm and humid evening here in Norfolk. I've just about had enough of it and can't  wait for the weather to break and luxuriate in some lovely rain. I don't know about other parts of the country but here in NR2 we've had less rain than Timbuktu.

Smith said it would be about giving fringe players minutes so it was good to see Sara, Byrom, Hugill etc getting starts.

It was fairly even early on with a Cantwell inspired raid down the right which the visitors defended at the expense of a corner. Then at the other end a dangerous low cross missed everybody before being cleared.

A couple of times Bournemouth nearly came unstuck trying to play out of defence and Hugil was inches away from turning the ball in. At our end Gunn almost did the same with a loose ball to the edge of the box but the shot was deflected and the following header looped over.

Sara had a quiet start but became more influential as the half wore on. In the 23rd minute he powered forward to the edge of the box before hitting a shot that the keeper could only parry for an inrushing Jordan Hugil to slot into  the net.

It might have been two when Sara put Rashica away but has pass inside didn't  reach Hugil. From here on the visitors began to call the tune and Gunn again saved the day with a couple of superb reaction saves. Just before the half ended, City couldn't clear the pressure and the ball fell kindly for an easy tap in. On balance of play it was hard to complain.

City began the second half with Gibbs and Max replacing Kenny and Sam Byrom. For while it didn't make much difference as Bournemouth continued to dominate and Gunn  continued to defy them with further fine saves. First parrying a shot from 12 yards then clawing a close range effort off the line.

Slowly City came back into the game and were giving as good as they got when Teemu and Adam Idah replaced Hugil and Ramsey. Rashica had a cross come shot saved and Cantwell's free kick from the left was punched away under pressure. 

With ten minutes left the visitors were again denied when Gunn's arm kept out a point blank effort and whe City broke clear they appeared to have wrapped up the victory. Rashica was blocked out on the right but Cantwell picked up the loose ball and slipped it through for Pukki and Idah tucked in the pass from six yards. That should have been that as the home side had further chances to seal it. 

With time added ticking away, a hard low cross ricocheted between a defender and a forward and into the net. At the death Pukki might have restored the lead but the narrow angle shot deflected over

And so  onto penalties and a disappointment for Cantwell who was the only failure with a shot that hit the bar. He put a lot into the game but its still not quite clicking for him. On balance however Bournemouth probably just deserved the win.

Gunn  clearly MOM

Sara some nice touches and will get better. Tomkinson looked assured and Gibbs made a difference when he came on.

And so to bed.

 

 

Edited August 23, 2022 by ricardo

[Jason Shackell’s Limp Tack 75]

What did you reckon to Tony Springett? I felt he had a bit of a torrid time, certainly will know he's been in a game.

[Branston Pickle 3,658]

The problem playing makeshift players is that you can only get away with it for a few games. I think we absolutely need a l/b, decent sides will otherwise make us pay.

[Jason Shackell’s Limp Tack 75]

Actually, more to the point, what did you think about Rasica? I can't remember a more frustrating player in recent times. He also appears utterly disinterested. 

[ricardo 7,395]

10 minutes ago, Jason Shackell’s Limp Tack said:

What did you reckon to Tony Springett? I felt he had a bit of a torrid time, certainly will know he's been in a game.

He's  not a left back and he a Ramsey were clearly the weakest links. I thought Rashica did ok but the final ball never picked out a yellow shirt. Specialist left back now top priority.

[Van wink 2,994]

Thanks for the report, agreed that Bournemouth just about deserved to win. Two lingering thoughts for me, does Gunn deserve a start and why can’t we beat the first man with a corner!!

[rock bus 851]

IF Byram is back fit, can he not cover left back for a few games?

[kirku 1,332]

Tomkinson was far from assured - looked extremely shaky in possession and (I think) was partially at fault for the 1st. Gibson wasn't much better.

Springett is clearly not a fullback and didn't look good there, at all. Rashica was pretty awful, hard to see what he adds at the moment.

Gibbs looked so assured when he came on and agree that Sara was a positive influence and that Gunn was clear MOTM.

[Duncan Edwards 2,236]

37 minutes ago, Jason Shackell’s Limp Tack said:

Actually, more to the point, what did you think about Rasica? I can't remember a more frustrating player in recent times. He also appears utterly disinterested. 

I thought he was dreadful. The odd flash that had you thinking “Well go on then…!” quickly followed by a “FFS”.

The only positive I can come up with is that the fact he played the full 90 suggests to me that he won’t be involved from the start on Saturday. So disappointing. 

[TIL 1010 4,746]

Yet to see anything in Ramsey to suggest he is worth a season long loan.

[Duncan Edwards 2,236]

1 minute ago, TIL 1010 said:

Yet to see anything in Ramsey to suggest he is worth a season long loan.

I’d play the ghost of Alf Ramsay ahead of Rashica. 

[Canaryonthecommon 5]

Not sure I agree that Bournemouth deserved the win but they took their penalties faultlessly.

We were seconds away from a 2-1 win and had the better chances really. Didn’t Idah hit the post as well before his goal? I was at the other end. Draw maybe fair.

[AJ 1,221]

11 minutes ago, TIL 1010 said:

Yet to see anything in Ramsey to suggest he is worth a season long loan.

He still looks better than Gilmour though!

[Newtopia 517]

1 hour ago, Jason Shackell’s Limp Tack said:

What did you reckon to Tony Springett? I felt he had a bit of a torrid time, certainly will know he's been in a game.

He did well considering he was playing out of position.

[Mason 47 1,379]

I think the Ramsey hate is a bit much. I thought he started well with some nice touches, good vision, faded as the half wore on but then absolutely cacked it second half.

Generally good games, Tomkinson showed he's not quite there yet and I don't know what's happened to Gibson, quality seems to have dropped like a stone. Springett will never offer to play left back again I think.

Rashica is the big one for me. He shows quick movement and a bit of nous, works some space for himself, and then always does the wrong thing. May as well be using semaphore to forecast his shots and couldn't find a decent cross in a church. He put the miles in, fair play for that, but he just cannot produce.

[Petriix 2,835]

12 minutes ago, Canaryonthecommon said:

Not sure I agree that Bournemouth deserved the win but they took their penalties faultlessly.

We were seconds away from a 2-1 win and had the better chances really. Didn’t Idah hit the post as well before his goal? I was at the other end. Draw maybe fair.

You watched a different game to me. Angus Gunn made a series of excel saves, otherwise it would have been a (deserved) mauling. 2-4 wouldn't have been an unfair reflection of the balance of play. 

[Unthank Canary 11]

13 minutes ago, Canaryonthecommon said:

Not sure I agree that Bournemouth deserved the win but they took their penalties faultlessly.

We were seconds away from a 2-1 win and had the better chances really. Didn’t Idah hit the post as well before his goal? I was at the other end. Draw maybe fair.

Idah did hit the post but the offside flag had already been raised. 

[Branston Pickle 3,658]

1 minute ago, Petriix said:

You watched a different game to me. Angus Gunn made a series of excel saves, otherwise it would have been a (deserved) mauling. 2-4 wouldn't have been an unfair reflection of the balance of play. 

“Mauling” is overstating it, surely.  

Actually, Gunn doing his job and making saves is a good thing - he needs to be worked to keep sharp. He looked rusty when called on last season.

[Newtopia 517]

34 minutes ago, Duncan Edwards said:

I thought he was dreadful. The odd flash that had you thinking “Well go on then…!” quickly followed by a “FFS”.

The only positive I can come up with is that the fact he played the full 90 suggests to me that he won’t be involved from the start on Saturday. So disappointing. 

I really did not think he dreadful.  He worked hard and carved out some chances.  Is he the electric winger who stretches defenses as we hoped.  No the thing which surprised me is he doesn't look very quick

[Newtopia 517]

3 minutes ago, Branston Pickle said:

“Mauling” is overstating it, surely.  

Actually, Gunn doing his job and making saves is a good thing - he needs to be worked to keep sharp. He looked rusty when called on last season.

Gunn was ace, there must be pressure on Tim now, his distribution was excellent as well.

Edited August 23, 2022 by Newtopia

[Canaryonthecommon 5]

2 minutes ago, Petriix said:

You watched a different game to me. Angus Gunn made a series of excel saves, otherwise it would have been a (deserved) mauling. 2-4 wouldn't have been an unfair reflection of the balance of play. 

Agreed our defence was extremely soft so Bournemouth didn’t exactly have to show much quality. I just felt our attacks always seemed more threatening but then perhaps showed the limitations of the starting front 3 that we couldn’t make the right decision or final pass more when it mattered

[Mason 47 1,379]

1 minute ago, Branston Pickle said:

“Mauling” is overstating it, surely.  

Actually, Gunn doing his job and making saves is a good thing - he needs to be worked to keep sharp. He looked rusty when called on last season.

Im not so sure. I said to a friend just before Bournemouth scored their first that it could/ should arguably already be 3-1 and though I was far away it felt like Angus saved some things he had no right to second half too. We didn't play altogether that badly but on chances missed/ great saves we could have ended this 7-2 losers 

[Canaryonthecommon 5]

6 minutes ago, Unthank Canary said:

Idah did hit the post but the offside flag had already been raised. 

Thanks missed that!

[Branston Pickle 3,658]

Just now, Newtopia said:

Gunn was ace, there must be pressure on Tim now, his distribution was excellent as well.

It is good to hear/see - could even argue he should be no1.

[Petriix 2,835]

9 minutes ago, Newtopia said:

I really did not think he dreadful.  He worked hard and carved out some chances.  Is he the electric winger who stretches defenses as we hoped.  No the thing which surprised me is he doesn't look very quick

What? Which chances? He literally fluffed every opening. Even our second goal came from Rashica taking too many touches and losing the ball before Cantwell picked up loose ball and played Pukki in down the right. 

[Duncan Edwards 2,236]

10 minutes ago, Newtopia said:

I really did not think he dreadful.  He worked hard and carved out some chances.  Is he the electric winger who stretches defenses as we hoped.  No the thing which surprised me is he doesn't look very quick

Each to their own. We all see things differently but my lasting impression was that he gave the ball away time and time again and when he DID find himself in a good position he was extremely wasteful.

Agree about the pace aspect but I’m not sure how much is lack of pace and how much is lack of enthusiasm and application. 

[dylanisabaddog 4,921]

Not for the first time I'm left wondering why Archant doesn't offer Ricardo a job

[kirku 1,332]

8 hours ago, Mason 47 said:

Im not so sure. I said to a friend just before Bournemouth scored their first that it could/ should arguably already be 3-1 and though I was far away it felt like Angus saved some things he had no right to second half too. We didn't play altogether that badly but on chances missed/ great saves we could have ended this 7-2 losers 

Why do you credit Bournemouth with scoring 5 more, but us exactly the same?

Hugill could/should have done better when he tackled their keeper about 7 yards from his goal. Sara had a good chance with a header, Pukki nearly snuck one in right at the end, and Rashica conspired to royally screw up an interception on the edge of their box.

I agree that Bournemouth had the better overall chances, at least one sticks out in the first half that they should've scored, but neither of their goals were particularly high quality. 

[Newtopia 517]

27 minutes ago, kirku said:

Why do you credit Bournemouth with scoring 5 more, but us exactly the same?

Hugill could/should have done better when he tackled their keeper about 7 yards from his goal. Sara had a good chance with a header, Pukki nearly snuck one in right at the end, and Rashica conspired to royally screw up an interception on the edge of their box.

I agree that Bournemouth had the better overall chances, at least one sticks out in the first half that they should've scored, but neither of their goals were particularly high quality. 

I know footy is not about stats but looking at the figures last night, they suggest Bournemouth should have scored twice as many as we did.

[kirku 1,332]

45 minutes ago, Newtopia said:

I know footy is not about stats but looking at the figures last night, they suggest Bournemouth should have scored twice as many as we did.

Which stats?

Regardless, 7-2 isn't "twice as many"