Stoke Match Ratings

[Bladeinleeds]

Overall a solid performance against a strong stoke side. Felt like we carried on where we left off last season with everyone knowing what to do.

Stoke may be a week or so behind fitness/ prep wise and you felt they could probably step it up another level had it been a competitive game, but make no mistake that was an established premier league club at full strength.

Eastwood - didn't look overawed, did everything asked of him for me and if you hadn't know different it could have been Moore in goal. Still think we'll need established competition but maybe he can compensate for the loss of ramsdale - looks a perfectly competent keeper.

Bash - defended well where he had too and tried to go forward - as we've come to expect.

Stearman - First look was encouraging enough for me. Other than one misplaced pass didn't do much wrong and put his body on the line

O'Connell - looks a class player now and seems to have so much more confidence than this time 12 months ago. Will make the step up comfortably i'm sure - did everything asked today.

Freeman - as ever up and down. Tried a few more tricks and flicks today.

Stephens - Again my first look at Enda, tidy little player. Defended well and tried to get forward - neat and tidy in everything he did. Like the look of him and think he may well take the LB spot.

Coutts- again showed the composure we have come to expect - like fleck better once stoke made a few changes

Fleck - felt he started slowly and didn't have lots of space but grew into the game.

Caruthers - Fitness looked noticeably improved and he certainly put himself about. An exciting player who's always trying things. Not everything came off but he looked impressive to me I suspect he could have a big impact this season. One of the few players we have where you're not sure whats going to happen when he gets the ball.

Sharp - pounced on some sloppy defending.

Lavery - Played ok but i'm not sure he's quite clinical enough to be first choice. Had a couple of chances where I felt an in form Clark / Sharp would have put away.

Subs -

Duffy - full of his usual close control and body swerves. People who thing he wont have an impact next year will be mistaken I feel - still has a lot to offer.

Clarke - Felt he suffered as the game became a bit disjointed.

Brooks - Goal and one superb body swerve to ghost past a defender with his first touch. Hope we keep him because he does look to have something about him.

 

[bikerblade]

Pretty much agree with that. Again with Duffy, don't know why people write him off, I love watching him play, proper entertaining footballer, I'm sure he's got plenty to offer this season.

 

[mancunianblade]

Very satisfying performance glad you noted Stoke never really getting out of 1st gear but we held our own and took the game to them, very entertaining game if I was to pick at anything it would be the following

Bashams entertaining runs out from the back resulted in him being caught in possession and losing the ball putting us under pressure and him out of position,just hoping he realises the level of opposition next season will be better than last year and as much as I enjoy seeing the gangly Berk attempt cruyff turns half way into the opposition half it could prove costly.

And also there were a good number of Miss placed passes fleck being unusually responsible for a high % of thesewhich I suspect was just pre season rust.

Couple of negatives for the sake of balance after a very impressive performance I'd say.

Very very well do to Jake Eastwood too not much to do but did well when called upon

 

[Slim Man]

I like Lavery too but he isn't really clinical. If he can develop that we've got a serious player but you're usually born with it.

I'd still like another forward. Doesn't look like Ched will feature much.

 

[Pinchy]

Ched is injured. It's difficult to "feature much" when you're not fit to play.

 

[Superblades]

Pretty much agree with that. Again with Duffy, don't know why people write him off, I love watching him play, proper entertaining footballer, I'm sure he's got plenty to offer this season.

You get the feeling that cause Clough deemed him not good enough for Burton, a certain section of our fans are adopting the same approach. Give it a few games where things aren't going well and those fans will be straight on his back. I think he will hold his own in this league, quality player on his day.

 

[LSF]

Very satisfying performance glad you noted Stoke never really getting out of 1st gear but we held our own and took the game to them, very entertaining game if I was to pick at anything it would be the following

Bashams entertaining runs out from the back resulted in him being caught in possession and losing the ball putting us under pressure and him out of position,just hoping he realises the level of opposition next season will be better than last year and as much as I enjoy seeing the gangly Berk attempt cruyff turns half way into the opposition half it could prove costly.

And also there were a good number of Miss placed passes fleck being unusually responsible for a high % of thesewhich I suspect was just pre season rust.

Couple of negatives for the sake of balance after a very impressive performance I'd say.

Very very well do to Jake Eastwood too not much to do but did well when called upon

Hmm.... No mention of big jack doing similar a couple of times and costing us a goal?
Bit of balance required if criticism is needed. (Which is unfair in both instances).

 

[mattbianco1]

I came here expecting ratings

 

[Esablade]

I came here expecting ratings

7/10 for the report...would have been 8, but no ratings

 

[Bladezz]

The main thing that pleased me is that we stopped them from passing it out, and dictating play. We pressed so high up the pitch again! These are premiership standard and we made them go long.

They ended up having to bring Crouch on (which other teams won't have that option).

When people say they could have had another gear in them most of there chances were from us pulling out of 50/50s in the middle of the park. I can assure you in the league that won't happen.

We hussle teams and in a friendly it's a bit more difficult as people don't want to be hacked down.

Individuals performances were good but we won the league as a group and with our style of play and we seem to be able to implement it with the new players against quality opposition.

 

[mancunianblade]

Hmm.... No mention of big jack doing similar a couple of times and costing us a goal?
Bit of balance required if criticism is needed. (Which is unfair in both instances).

Im no Basham Basher, I genuinely didn't recall JOC doing such. Not saying he didn't. also I'm not a negative supporter just felt there was a couple of issues that could cost us down the line,I mean ironing out the creases is the whole point of a pre season friendly is it not?

 

[LSF]

Im no Basham Basher, I genuinely didn't recall JOC doing such. Not saying he didn't. also I'm not a negative supporter just felt there was a couple of issues that could cost us down the line,I mean ironing out the creases is the whole point of a pre season friendly is it not?

Of course, and we all see/ miss stuff compared to other watchers.
Jack's error led to their goal undoubtedly imho. He also got caught out trying to bring it out in the second half, easily missable these days when folk are glancing at phones etc..
Every player makes mistakes every game, some more often than others. Fwiw, most of our current crops strong points outweigh their error rate.

 

[elgoog44]

Overall a solid performance against a strong stoke side. Felt like we carried on where we left off last season with everyone knowing what to do.

Stoke may be a week or so behind fitness/ prep wise and you felt they could probably step it up another level had it been a competitive game, but make no mistake that was an established premier league club at full strength.

Eastwood - didn't look overawed, did everything asked of him for me and if you hadn't know different it could have been Moore in goal. Still think we'll need established competition but maybe he can compensate for the loss of ramsdale - looks a perfectly competent keeper.

Bash - defended well where he had too and tried to go forward - as we've come to expect.

Stearman - First look was encouraging enough for me. Other than one misplaced pass didn't do much wrong and put his body on the line

O'Connell - looks a class player now and seems to have so much more confidence than this time 12 months ago. Will make the step up comfortably i'm sure - did everything asked today.

Freeman - as ever up and down. Tried a few more tricks and flicks today.

Stephens - Again my first look at Enda, tidy little player. Defended well and tried to get forward - neat and tidy in everything he did. Like the look of him and think he may well take the LB spot.

Coutts- again showed the composure we have come to expect - like fleck better once stoke made a few changes

Fleck - felt he started slowly and didn't have lots of space but grew into the game.

Caruthers - Fitness looked noticeably improved and he certainly put himself about. An exciting player who's always trying things. Not everything came off but he looked impressive to me I suspect he could have a big impact this season. One of the few players we have where you're not sure whats going to happen when he gets the ball.

Sharp - pounced on some sloppy defending.

Lavery - Played ok but i'm not sure he's quite clinical enough to be first choice. Had a couple of chances where I felt an in form Clark / Sharp would have put away.

Subs -

Duffy - full of his usual close control and body swerves. People who thing he wont have an impact next year will be mistaken I feel - still has a lot to offer.

Clarke - Felt he suffered as the game became a bit disjointed.

Brooks - Goal and one superb body swerve to ghost past a defender with his first touch. Hope we keep him because he does look to have something about him.[/QUOTE]

Brooks is a little revelation, hopefully one of the amazing prospects we get to selfishly keep for a few years, we never saw enough of players like Lawton, Walker, Naughton and Maguire amongst a list of talents that have left the academy and been sold, but hopefully Brooks now gets to shine in a united shirt for a few years, so we his home club can enjoy and marvel at his footballing talent.

 

[Bladezz]

Yeah JoC was at fault for the goal yesterday but the way they countered with such pace was a joy to watch.

I want JoC to continue to do exactly what he's doing yeah mistakes will happen if they didn't he would already be in the premiership.

 

[Maidenhead]

Very satisfying performance glad you noted Stoke never really getting out of 1st gear but we held our own and took the game to them, very entertaining game if I was to pick at anything it would be the following

Bashams entertaining runs out from the back resulted in him being caught in possession and losing the ball putting us under pressure and him out of position,just hoping he realises the level of opposition next season will be better than last year and as much as I enjoy seeing the gangly Berk attempt cruyff turns half way into the opposition half it could prove costly.

And also there were a good number of Miss placed passes fleck being unusually responsible for a high % of thesewhich I suspect was just pre season rust.

Couple of negatives for the sake of balance after a very impressive performance I'd say.

Very very well do to Jake Eastwood too not much to do but did well when called upon

I only recall Bash driving forward and losing the ball once.

When it happened I looked straight back to where he had come from thinking we may be in bother but all was well.

Coutts had slotted in at the right of the back three.

This team knows what it's doing and I for one would much rather have defenders that are not afraid to bring the ball forward rather defenders that are scared to make a mistake and always take the safety first option.

As a matter of interest why is it necessary to add negatives "for the sake of balance"?

Is it not possible to have a good performance without negatives or are you just a complete perfectionist?

 

[Maidenhead]

Yeah JoC was at fault for the goal yesterday but the way they countered with such pace was a joy to watch.

I want JoC to continue to do exactly what he's doing yeah mistakes will happen if they didn't he would already be in the premiership.

Completely agree, and his mistake wasn't half as bad as Shawcross,s that handed Billy his goal.

 

[Houso]

Very very well do to Jake Eastwood too not much to do but did well when called upon

My favourite sentence ever written on this board.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Young brookes features in all the friendly matches and catches the eye each time, looks like being a bonus this season for wilder and knill, and us!

 

[mancunianblade]

Is it not possible to have a good performance without negatives or are you just a complete perfectionist?

Personally no, but do you think Wilder will have watched the game and gone I can't find a single fault with that performance well done lads pat on the back, or will he have made a point of noting all the minute details he wasn't happy with and addressing them in time for season? no such thing as perfection so everything can be improved can't it?

I was very impressed with the performance, I think Stoke went about it half arsed but we still played extremely well.

 

[WalkelyFan]

Brooks is a little revelation, hopefully one of the amazing prospects we get to selfishly keep for a few years, we never saw enough of players like Lawton, Walker, Naughton and Maguire amongst a list of talents that have left the academy and been sold, but hopefully Brooks now gets to shine in a united shirt for a few years, so we his home club can enjoy and marvel at his footballing talent.

Harry played 134 games over 3 years. Sure I'd like to have seen more of him too. But hardly a talent that missed the first team and was sold. Lowton played more games for us (78) than any other team he has played for so far. Of course it's shame we cannot hold onto players. But we can't hold onto any players who want to go. Nor can any other club. I think we may have just stopped selling them at low cost.

 

[Pinchy]

I came here expecting ratings

Were u erd dis, pal?

 

[Pinchy]

Brooks is a little revelation, hopefully one of the amazing prospects we get to selfishly keep for a few years, we never saw enough of players like Lawton, Walker, Naughton and Maguire amongst a list of talents that have left the academy and been sold, but hopefully Brooks now gets to shine in a united shirt for a few years, so we his home club can enjoy and marvel at his footballing talent.

He's a very exciting prospect but his goal was mainly about the vision of the Rolls-Royce man.

 

[Maidenhead]

Harry played 134 games over 3 years. Sure I'd like to have seen more of him too. But hardly a talent that missed the first team and was sold. Lowton played more games for us (78) than any other team he has played for so far. Of course it's shame we cannot hold onto players. But we can't hold onto any players who want to go. Nor can any other club. I think we may have just stopped selling them at low cost.

Interesting to hear Mark Hughes saying exactly the same about Arnoutovic.

"when a player wants to go all you can realistically do is get the best deal you can for the club"

Expect to see Leonard here some time soon unless Ron wants to be the exception that proves the rule and write off the rumoured £750k we have offered on a mad gamble.

 

[elgoog44]

He's a very exciting prospect but his goal was mainly about the vision of the Rolls-Royce man.

It was indeed and very please we get to see his talents at the lane as well, we have a fine bunch at the moment and I personally take heart to see we have a team, an actual team we can be proud of playing football the right way, long may it continue.

 

[Pinchy]

It was indeed and very please we get to see his talents at the lane as well, we have a fine bunch at the moment and I personally take heart to see we have a team, an actual team we can be proud of playing football the right way, long may it continue.

Yes, absolutely right. We need to stick with them as tight as Ron's rug does to his scalp when the inevitable lean spells come. However, we can safely ignore the 'survival at best' nonsense. I've said that consistently, of course (as have plenty of others); not as a knee-jerk upon beating Stoke in a friendly.

 

[elgoog44]

Yes, absolutely right. We need to stick with them as tight as Ron's rug does to his scalp when the inevitable lean spells come. However, we can safely ignore the 'survival at best' nonsense. I've said that consistently, of course (as have plenty of others); not as a knee-jerk upon beating Stoke in a friendly.

Agree completely Pinchy I don't think we will be in a fight for survival, but I can see why years of disappointment with the blades would cloud how we all think as blades, and lead some down the road of thinking the hard times are yet again around the corner.

I can see us keeping this going for a good few years and once foundations are laid should we ever part with Wilder we will have the solid ground for the next Manager to keep the momentum going and build on.

 

[Rodley]

My favourite sentence ever written on this board.

Outstanding!