Blackburn 0 United 2- report/ratings

[Charlieblade]

I always look forward to these detailed reports. It provides a much needed dose of realism, especially when we get a result.
I’m expecting us to drop points agains Bristol City, because they have more of a threat than Blackburn offered. We cannot afford to start so slowly against a side capable of taking advantage of a few players lacking self confidence individually.
We could easily drop points mid week, and give the other side a real lesson next weekend!
Thank you deadbat for showing our side, warts and all.

 

[Coolblade]

A few observations from the stats:

- Burrows possibly the best stats all season. Defensively most successful tackles, joint most interceptions and second most clearances. Offensively, 5 shots, 2 key passes, and twice as many accurate crosses as anyone else (with 4). Awesome. To balance that, Robbo, loved as he is, does not stand out positively with only one tackle, no interceptions and no aerial duels won. Anel must come back in, although it’s hard to criticise a defence which stopped a strong home team having a single shot on target.

- Arb’s stats offensively are great, despite mixed reviews, with 6 key passes (most all season) and second most accurate crosses. Indeed his overall stats score for contribution is higher than Vini’s. At his age some inconsistency is to be expected, but I love him, for his fantastic footballing ability combined with complete commitment to the cause.

- Moore has best stats for a while with joint most shots (with Burrows) most on target snd second most key passes. Obviously the number of improved crosses helps him. This is in very stark contrast to our other forwards, with the lowest two overall scores being O’Hare and Brewdog. Unsure how Wilders review of O’Hare matches against no shots on target, no key passes, no crosses, one dribble, with only 19 passes at a low pass completion rate of 68% (and a booking). I know stats never paint the full picture, but surely we need improved output. Finally a mention of Rak-Saki, with most crosses (6) but with only one accurate. Clearly getting in great positions, and supporting our attack well - but there is scope for significant improvement in delivery.

 

[Barmyblade]

Thanks both to Deadbat and Cool - very interesting analysis.

I think we need to enjoy this season as best we can, as if we go up it will be then be the usual Premiership misery, but if we stay down, we will lose a number of key players like Arbie, Souza and Anel.

On a separate point, Souttar has made a phenomenal difference to our defence. Just waiting for him to cause similar havoc on the opponents penalty area.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I thought we looked a lot better yesterday , we were aggressive & on the front foot & could have added a couple more . At times this season we’ve dropped too deep defensively but that was absolutely not the case yesterday as we pressed the ball a lot higher up the pitch and looked a lot better for it .
Moore was outstanding , completely bullied their 2 centre backs & for me was MOTM closely followed by Souza . We seemed to strike the right balance yesterday of looking dangerous up top while looking defensively strong . Tough game Tues night but play like that & there’s no one to fear in this division . UTB

 

[Freddie]

I thought we looked a lot better yesterday , we were aggressive & on the front foot & could have added a couple more . At times this season we’ve dropped too deep defensively but that was absolutely not the case yesterday as we pressed the ball a lot higher up the pitch and looked a lot better for it .
Moore was outstanding , completely bullied their 2 centre backs & for me was MOTM closely followed by Souza . We seemed to strike the right balance yesterday of looking dangerous up top while looking defensively strong . Tough game Tues night but play like that & there’s no one to fear in this division . UTB

Souza 9.5. A goal and it’s 10
Moore 9 Superb
Brewster 1. I like the guy but he created nothing ,gave the ball away and Kay in the pitch a lot. We have better options.

 

[Silent Blade]

Souza deserved at least a 9 for me. As someone said above, he didn't put a foot wrong. Glad to see Moore getting some credit, his best game so far. Even though Cooper didn't have a save to make, you can tell he instills confidence in his defence with his decision making.

Deadbat's ratings are different to the Sunday People and News of the World ratings you and I remember from the 1970s and 1980s.

 

[Newbury Blade]

CW said post match O' Hare outstanding, received a standing ovation from the away support. DB reports busy but ineffective. I'm somewhere in between those 2 views. Worth one more mark for his industry and pressing. Pigs have just got battered second half when Watford pushed up and pressed. O'Hare provides that from the front.

He's not the Duffy replacement I'd hoped he'd be getting in between the lines, defence splitting passes and goals. What O'H provides is the link for our passages of play around the oppo. box. He gets us up the pitch quickly on the counter. Problem is he tends to run down blind alleys on the edge of the area. Not helped by playing him just behind Moore and expecting him to pick up knockdowns. Imo he would benefit from having both Campbell and Moore around him as a 10 with Campbell on the left. When his mate Hamer is on the pitch they tend to over elaborate with their keep ball tactics when getting a cross in first time would be better. Burrows has proven last 2 games by whipping the ball in first time it plays to Moores strengths. Agree with the view trying Hamer in a deeper role alongside Souza to give Arblaster a rest, as an option is worth considering. A conundrum for the manager to solve after a good away result.

Bristol City will be a sterner test having only lost twice so far. We don't need to overthink. Just concentrate on our game unlike Weeds where the stats men got inside the managers head. Mboro's result today 0-3 at Home to SISU drives a coach and horses through CW's view that Boro are one of the stand out teams in the division. With Souza playing our result may have been very different. Stay positive, don't worry about our opponents and we will continue to progress.

O’Hare is just the latest scapegoat for some of our fans. He did OK today especially winning the ball for the second goal.

 

[1973Blade]

A few observations from the stats:

- Burrows possibly the best stats all season. Defensively most successful tackles, joint most interceptions and second most clearances. Offensively, 5 shots, 2 key passes, and twice as many accurate crosses as anyone else (with 4). Awesome. To balance that, Robbo, loved as he is, does not stand out positively with only one tackle, no interceptions and no aerial duels won. Anel must come back in, although it’s hard to criticise a defence which stopped a strong home team having a single shot on target.

- Arb’s stats offensively are great, despite mixed reviews, with 6 key passes (most all season) and second most accurate crosses. Indeed his overall stats score for contribution is higher than Vini’s. At his age some inconsistency is to be expected, but I love him, for his fantastic footballing ability combined with complete commitment to the cause.

- Moore has best stats for a while with joint most shots (with Burrows) most on target snd second most key passes. Obviously the number of improved crosses helps him. This is in very stark contrast to our other forwards, with the lowest two overall scores being O’Hare and Brewdog. Unsure how Wilders review of O’Hare matches against no shots on target, no key passes, no crosses, one dribble, with only 19 passes at a low pass completion rate of 68% (and a booking). I know stats never paint the full picture, but surely we need improved output. Finally a mention of Rak-Saki, with most crosses (6) but with only one accurate. Clearly getting in great positions, and supporting our attack well - but there is scope for significant improvement in delivery.

Is Robbo's lack of tackles necessarily a bad thing? I remember when we had Paul McGrath, he read the game and anticipated things so well that he often didn't need to make tackles?

 

[Coolblade]

Is Robbo's lack of tackles necessarily a bad thing? I remember when we had Paul McGrath, he read the game and anticipated things so well that he often didn't need to make tackles?

With McGrath, I completely agree. Putting Robbo in the same bracket is more than a stretch! Also with great anticipation, you get increased interceptions…..Robbo had none

 

[Deadbat]

Sheffield United 2-0 Blackburn (A)

Big away win for the Blades, and Riley Roberts dishes out the marks out of ten.

www.thepinch.uk

Riley Roberts from the pinch gave Souza a 7...to balance things out!

He did see the same as me in terms of O Hare and Brewster. Admittedly O Hare won the ball in the build up to the 2nd which I omitted to mention but still feel he has been a disappointing signing. He and Brewster offer nothing in terms of supporting Moore and/or setting anything up or looking a goal threat.

O Hare does run about a fair bit but not sure he is worrying defenders at all. If we are playing him as a harrier, presser then that's not what we probably envisaged what we were signing? I recall at Coventry he was a dribbler, ball carrier and would take shots and be a goal threat. We are not seeing any of that.

Their complete lack of goal contributions or attacking threat means there is so much placed on JRS or Moore. We were much better after Campbell came on as he occupied defenders and got close to Moore.

The defence continues to be rock solid though meaning we can sort of get away with ineffective performances from a few further up the pitch.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

A few observations from the stats:

- Burrows possibly the best stats all season. Defensively most successful tackles, joint most interceptions and second most clearances. Offensively, 5 shots, 2 key passes, and twice as many accurate crosses as anyone else (with 4). Awesome. To balance that, Robbo, loved as he is, does not stand out positively with only one tackle, no interceptions and no aerial duels won. Anel must come back in, although it’s hard to criticise a defence which stopped a strong home team having a single shot on target.

- Arb’s stats offensively are great, despite mixed reviews, with 6 key passes (most all season) and second most accurate crosses. Indeed his overall stats score for contribution is higher than Vini’s. At his age some inconsistency is to be expected, but I love him, for his fantastic footballing ability combined with complete commitment to the cause.

- Moore has best stats for a while with joint most shots (with Burrows) most on target snd second most key passes. Obviously the number of improved crosses helps him. This is in very stark contrast to our other forwards, with the lowest two overall scores being O’Hare and Brewdog. Unsure how Wilders review of O’Hare matches against no shots on target, no key passes, no crosses, one dribble, with only 19 passes at a low pass completion rate of 68% (and a booking). I know stats never paint the full picture, but surely we need improved output. Finally a mention of Rak-Saki, with most crosses (6) but with only one accurate. Clearly getting in great positions, and supporting our attack well - but there is scope for significant improvement in delivery.

In defence of Robbo, he won a key defensive header late on, getting his head to the ball ahead of Guehi, in a dangerous position. It wasn’t his fault that the ref gave us a goal kick

 

[Frank the tank]

Souza 9.5. A goal and it’s 10
Moore 9 Superb
Brewster 1. I like the guy but he created nothing ,gave the ball away and Kay in the pitch a lot. We have better options.

The Brewster mark is stupid unnecessary childish and mind blowingly inaccurate

 

[Freddie]

The Brewster mark is stupid unnecessary childish and mind blowingly inaccurate

Apologies for my opinion. Should have been a 2 perhaps. Must do better (him not me).

 

[Geordie Blade]

Souza was superb.
Didn’t put a foot wrong and while I do t think he’s a premier league player he’s a big player in this league.

Souza deserved at least a 9 for me. As someone said above, he didn't put a foot wrong.

Souza was a 10 today, did everything right, zero mistakes.

He played well, but he definitely wasn't flawless. He let Hedges drift past him for what should have been a certain goal. Souza started five yards ahead of Hedges, but made no real effort to change his pace until it was too late.

I still think he had a great game, but let's not pretend it was perfect. Had Hedges scored, we'd be blaming Souza for not doing the basics.