MATCH RATINGS Vs. CARDIFF

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

My first view of the City team this season from the Barclay Lower and here are my ratings....6 is average.

Ashdown: I want to see him as our future keeper. Big, imposing and unfussy. He didn''t have much to do but seems to organise his defence. 7.

Drury: I don''t know who received the MOTM award but Adam was mine. He was struggling to make the game, he had a laboured Hucks in front of him and I thought he was superb. If anyone can shout and organise on the pitch then he is Captain because of his all round attitude. 9.

Shackell: Part of a defence which starred today. I loved the way we recovered from dropping too deep for a while in the second half and I''m giving Jason credit for holding the line. 8.

Doherty: Interesting, seeing him for the first time from behind I can see he manhandles more than a viking raiding party. In spiderman there is a multi armed character named Doc Oc. and this is our Gary. 7.

Colin: I can see just how much he has improved since last season. Jurgen has really adapted to the English game but could still do more going forwards. 7.

Huckerby: Not Darren''s day and he looked not fully fit, but... he kept two defenders interested and freed up the midfield for Etuhu. He had to play with his back to goal most of the time so had little freedom. I was disappointed with his general play but for heart he gets. 6.5.

Croft: He impressed me with his work rate. He was stupid in getting booked and could have got himself sent off...keep your arms down Crofty. He was, however, out main outlet and relief during that 2nd half so did a great defensive job for the team. 7.5.

Safri: Got rave reviews on the phone in and in the first half seemed to be getting a little further forwards. However, i felt this was his game to shine and I was disappointed he didn''t pick up more loose balls in the second half when we were headles chickening it out of defence. 6.5.

Robinson: A solid game but for me he fails to take responsibility. He should have had a shot in the first half but as always passed the ball if he could. I hope Grant can improve him, I think he will and as a result we will have an effective player. 6.5.

Etuhu: Top midfielder on the day. Cardiff couldn''t pick him up. Scored a great goal after a ''lining up'' effort. Disappeared for too long in the 2nd half though which cost him the MOTM IMO. 8.5.

Earnshaw: Should have punished his old Club and on another day would have had a couple, however, he worked impressively hard for the team and showed great attitude for his task. For his sheer work rate and heart he gets. 8. (PS Has anyone else noticed the dental work?).

I am not going to comment on other players but for the team as a whole I will give an 8 as a median for the first half 9 and the second half 7.

1-0 wins are underrated; they are the bread and butter of all good teams and to get two on the trot says more than erratic high scoring games. Personally 2-0 or even 3-0 would have been fair as we made a confident table topping team look ordinary. This was an efficient and hard-working win which on reflection was better than it seemed at the time as Cardiff were barely given a look in.

Peter Grant. 9.5. Even when the game was uninteresting Grant was pure entertainment. he was like a tic-tac man on speed and never missed an opportunity to coach. You can see the higher line, the more forward playing Safri; vitally, the discipline and the shape; the fear and respect of his players; the instructions working (Croft being told to cut inside second half) etc, etc. None of out players will be taking Grant for Granted. Great start Peter...I hope our Board trusts and FULLY backs you. And what a quote “I won''t be afraid to make changes when we are winning and I won''t be waiting for people to make mistakes. If you wait until you are losing to make changes, it''s too late.”

Ipswich: I see they still have those bloody awful shorts. But while i was enjoying low-lights of their last home game it occured to me that not only do they have a donkey on their shirt badge but their sponsor e-on is spelled in such a font that it looks like e-or....especially if the shirt is ruffled. Thought I might just share that.

Oh! And before I forget. The Barclay Lower. 5. I haven''t been here since the 70''s and what a disappointment. Stlll the same eclectic mix but the atmosphere disappointed me. Yes, some tattoos were spelled correctly but, intellect wise there are more characters in the Cathedral Bar than in the whole Barclay Lower. The stand steps are etched with knuckle blood and if you come out with a little joke you just get a blank expression back. As for diet, this is a two pie per person area. And as for emotion the most I saw was when the betting slips ran out.

For the rest of you here is a question. They have no known military links and there was no known person of suitable standing in the ground today but in the first half only the majority of the Barclay Lower stood up and saluted on numerous occasions....why???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[nutty nigel 7,902]

Cracking post as usual, I never do player ratings but couldn''t argue with yours or most of the comments you put with them. I agree that Drury was MOTM too, but I often think he is MOTM when others criticise him. I wonder if he looks a better player when watching from behind the goal? I also agree that Doherty often does appear to manhandle his opponent but he doesn''t get penalised as often as I would expect. Even a fussyish referee like today seemed to let it go a fair bit.

There could have been no complaints from Cardiff if we had been three up at halftime. Even though they did come into it more in the second half, the whole team defended better than of late, and I never felt like we were hanging on at 1-0.

One thing though Rudolph......... You was ON MY LAND!!! [;)] I fear that too much time in the Cathedral Bar has clouded your judgement because we only salute during the brighter periods of the game. Were you really a 70''s Barclay Boy? I was too, then I spent years trying to fit in with the strange folk that inhabit other stands before my daughter guided me back to E-Block in the late nineties. Now nobody ever notices my sleeves are too short, I''m back home, amongst friends, and LUVIN'' IT!!!! [:)]

 

[Dicky 0]

Brief ratings:

Ashdown - 8 faultless although distribution a little dodgy

Drury - 10 awesome today

Shacks - 9 - leader on the pitch

The Doc - 9 - as Shacks

Colin - 8 - best game I have seen him play - gaining confidence

Hucks - 7 - good in patches - good passion

Croft - 7 - like Hucks, good in patches.  Looks a committed Canary.

Saf - 6 - tackling good - passing awful at times.

Robinson - 6 - OKish

Etuhu - 10 - world class

Earnie - 6 - missed a couple of sitters, but lively

Subs:   McVeigh - 0 bloody awful - time to move on to a club you care about?

Dublin - 8 - fantastic organisation when he came on and kept us tight at the back.

Grant - 10 out of 10 for aftermatch comments.

Fans - 9.

[San Miguel 0]

I take it these ratings are just for the first half?

The boss said it best - first half, all of them 10 out of 10

second half, all of them 2 out of 10

 

still, we''ve won 2 of the hardest fixtures of the season in a row, COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!

[Largey 0]

Ashdown 7 - dint want to tempt fate but had very little to do. Shouted a lot which was good.

Drury 9 -Official MOTM, and my MOTM. Won lots of tackles against a quick winger, and got a lot of goal-kicks from his sliding tackles, which was very good.

Colin 7 - Good heading and tackling, good game

Doc 8 - Wins a lot in the air, and is 2nd quickest player over 40 yards for Norwich (OFFICIAL!)

Shacks 9 -Great tackling and heading, kept a stron backline when under-fire.

Saffers 7 - Soem good movement, quite quiet.

Robbo 7 - Had a great chance to score, but blasted wide. Passed and looked up nicely

Etuhu 9 - Tackled excellently, super goal.

Croft 8 - Stronger than Hucks, but not as quick. Some great runs.

Hucks 7 - Looked off, but still a threat

Earnie 7 - Missed 2 glorious chances, makes his shooting too obvious at times, but work-rate 10/10

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

I take it you either didn''t see the game or don''t have an opinion of your own then Spanish St. Michael?

[Chris Meadows 0]

doherty must be 1 of the slowest over 5-10 yards though

[Baldyboy 1]

ashdown 6  not much to do but calm when called upon. however he kicks worse than andy marshall!!!

colin 7 has been our most improved player this season and was good again yesterday

drury 9 considering he was a doubt up until kick off he was brilliant, back to his best and long may it continue.

shax 8 also back to his best, amazing how much more confident he was

doc 7  still giving away too many free kicks and playing too many high balls

croft 7 another solid game but was lucky to stay on for the slap in the second half

hux 7 still didnt look match fit but worried them each time he went forward

etuhu 8 again getting better with more confidence, fantastic goal but went missing in 2nd half

robinson 7 ok but missed a sitter and needs to be more assertive

safri 7 best game for ages but again not assertive enough

earnshaw 7 finishing was woeful but at least he kept plugging away

subs  mcveigh 0 complete idiot enuff said

dublin 6 wise move by grant and calmed things down at end.

 

[Largey 0]

I read in a magazine, in the 40 metre sprint the players did pre-season, Hucks was 1st, and the Doc was second.

 

Now do my eyes decieve me, or in a 40 metre sprint, id think Earnie was quicker!

[Dicky 0]

[quote user="San Miguel"]

I take it these ratings are just for the first half?

The boss said it best - first half, all of them 10 out of 10

second half, all of them 2 out of 10

 

still, we''ve won 2 of the hardest fixtures of the season in a row, COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!

[/quote]

We battled very well second half I thought.  Showed steel and character (apart from McVeigh).

[USAcanary 0]

[quote user="Dicky"]

Brief ratings:

Ashdown - 8 faultless although distribution a little dodgy

Drury - 10 awesome today

Shacks - 9 - leader on the pitch

The Doc - 9 - as Shacks

Colin - 8 - best game I have seen him play - gaining confidence

Hucks - 7 - good in patches - good passion

Croft - 7 - like Hucks, good in patches.  Looks a committed Canary.

Saf - 6 - tackling good - passing awful at times.

Robinson - 6 - OKish

Etuhu - 10 - world class

Earnie - 6 - missed a couple of sitters, but lively

Subs:   McVeigh - 0 bloody awful - time to move on to a club you care about?

Dublin - 8 - fantastic organisation when he came on and kept us tight at the back.

Grant - 10 out of 10 for aftermatch comments.

Fans - 9.

[/quote]

LOL

So PG is now the second coming after you slated him before he even had a chance to show what he could do.

http://new.pinkun.com/cs/forums/771699/ShowPost.aspx

 

 

[Largey 0]

And in the Sun Sport they gave Drury a 5/10.

 

Open your eyes!

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

If it was in ''The Sun'' then it MUST be true!