An Assessment of Player Performance v Leeds

[tonyoz]

An assessment of player performance v Leeds

Each player was judged on the following criteria:

Instance of excellent play                                      *

Instance of decent/good play                               *

Instance of disappointing/poor play                    *

Instance of terrible play                                          *                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  E&OE

 

Ratings                                                                                                                                            whoscored.com ratings

Raya                      *********                                                                                                          6.8

Bennett                 ************************                                                                                7.0

Lenihan                 *****************                                                                                            7.9 (MoM)

Mulgrew               *****************                                                                                             7.0

Bell                        *****************                                                                                             6.8           

Reed₍₆₇₎                ****************                                                                                               7.1

Smallwood₍₅₆₎       *************                                                                                                    5.9

Evans                    **********************                                                                                    6.9

Armstrong            *******************                                                                                         7.7

Dack                      *************                                                                                                    6.6

Graham₍₆₂₎               ************                                                                                                     7.7

 

 

Rodwell₍₅₆₎           ***********                                                                                                          6.3

Brereton₍₆₂₎          ********                                                                                                               6.2

Conway₍₆₇₎           ****                                                                                                                      6.9

 

Highlights and Lowlights

(A justification for the main ratings above)

 

0.      Weak tackle from Smallwood on halfway allows the Leeds man a run on goal but Bell manages to cut out his poor pass and sets Armstrong off on a long run down the wing. He blitzes 2 defenders with his pace and he’s into the box. He attempts to square the ball to the waiting Graham but it’s blocked for a corner.

 

1.      A second corner but from the right. Reed’s delivery is perfect as Graham runs in from around the penalty spot to power home his header into the top of the net. Great goal and one from the training ground!

 

4.      Leeds’defence looking nervy but some good play in midfield sets up an attack. Armstrong is a spectator as Bell is outflanked. Bennett clears the incoming cross for a corner.

 

6.      Smallwood, Bennett and Reed are all bamboozled just outside our box by the Leeds midfield. Roberts puts the low cross well past the post under pressure from Mulgrew.

 

7.      Good long ball by Mulgrew to Graham who controls beautifully to lay back to Armstrong just outside the box. His shot is blocked. The ball comes back to Armstrong, he drives into the box, sidesteps the defender but his attempted curler is weak and easily blocked.

10.  Smallwood is really looking off the pace today. Saiz rounds Evans too easily on the edge of the box and Raya tips his shot over the bar. Graham and Mulgrew both misjudge the corner and Jansson has a free header from 10 yards……over the bar!

 

12.  Another galloping run by Armstrong down the wing. His push and chase tactic is working well here. He shoots from the edge of the box, it’s blocked but breaks for Dack. Good save by the keeper. Reed picks up and delivers a fine square ball from close to the touchline but Leeds bundle it away as Smallwood slides in.

 

21.  A long ball bounces way over Graham’s head…….but Reed doesn’t give it up as a lost cause! He chases towards the flag, harries the defender and wins a corner!

 

22.  Reed wins the ball again and flicks a lovely ball to Graham on the edge of the box. Armstrong crosses and Smallwood, in the box , makes an awkward attempt at a volley but it looks like he got a nudge in the back. It’s saved. (I gave Smallwood credit for being in the right place. It’s the second time he’s been in there sniffing!)

26.  For the second time in a minute Armstrong leaves Bell exposed. Evans and Lenihan clear up.

 

36.  Lenihan and Smallwood get in each other’s way and there’s danger! The low cross comes in and Bennett is there with a vital challenge, 2 yards out, to save the day. Offside anyway.

 

39.  Lovely run and cross into the box by Bennett towards Graham. It falls to an unmarked Armstrong who drives the ball against the nearest defender. I’m getting a bit frustrated with that outcome but at least he won a corner!

 

42.  Some nice midfield interplay between Evans, Reed and Bennett. Eventually Bennett’s beautiful cross finds Armstrong in the box. He controls well, beats his man and hits a nice shot but it curls over the bar.

 

44.  Commentator noting how important it is that we don’t concede before half-time!

 

45.  Saiz avoids Evans again and lobs the ball into the box. A totally unmarked Berardi squares and Klich scores! Difficult to say who was supposed to be covering Berardi. Armstrong?

 

 

55.  Some nice play by Reed so far this half. Here he launches a long ball for Armstrong to chase. The defender fluffs it and a persistent Armstrong tries to chip it over the outrushing keeper from a tight angle. Good save.

61.  Full-blooded challenge from Rodwell wins a throw and lifts the crowd!

66.  Nice interception and lay off by Rodwell. Brereton, under pressure, sets off on a long drive down the wing but there’s no support and he lays it back.

68.  Corner. Conway’s first touch and he places it perfectly for Lenihan who rises tallest to head into the net.

70.  Bell’s headed clearance only just leaves the box and Klich strikes it first time but it’s straight at Raya.

77.  Berardi sneaks round the back of Rodwell deep in the box………..offside phew! Then there’s a poor pass from Rodwell and Leeds stream forward. Evans slides in brilliantly on the edge of the box to deflect Clarke’s shot for a corner.

78.  Rodwell eases the defender out of the way with his body allowing Evans to release Armstrong who again uses his pace to drive into the box. He shoots from a tight angle but the keeper saves with his legs. That’s the problem Armstrong seems to be having! He does a brilliant run, outpaces the defender but as he’s a centre-forward attacking from the wing, he’s invariably too wide and his shot has little chance of beating the keeper. It was the same in the last home match.

79.  Bennett wins the ball and Brereton drives forward strongly, covering half the field! His final pass is weak though and doesn’t reach Dack. If only!

84.  Armstrong is not covering back and Bell is again outnumbered. Eventually the ball falls to a completely unmarked Klich, central and just inside the box. Rodwell seems to be the guy marking no one but he isn’t the only one at fault. Raya pulls out one of his top saves to tip the ball over the bar!

95.  Not very much has happened recently but that’s a pleasant change for the endgame! Game over.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2018 by tonyoz

[Bigdoggsteel]

Great reading on a Monday morning