Regular rating man Niall McDonald is now on duty with his own assessment for today’s game – here’s how he marked the boys.
Hart: Unlucky with their 2nd after a great block ricochet’d to Kane. Dealt pretty well with a number of balls played back to him 5
Ogbonna: No disasters at the back. One mazy dribble in the second half 5
Reid: Looked under pressure today. Key protagonist in the mêlée in stoppage time 5
Fonte: Lovely flick on for our first goal 6
Zabaleta: Best of our defenders I thought, again 6
Kouyate: Did his good deed by picking up the refs red and yellow cards. An unstoppable header 7
Noble: Amazed the skipper lasted the full 90 mins. Got away with his usual crunching London derby foul as ref had already stopped play 5
Cresswell: Always willing but he just doesn’t seem to have the energy of a few seasons ago 5
Arnautovic: Our best outlet going forward for 60 mins 6 Hernandez: A frustrated figure before scoring then he was everywhere – can we get the ball into his areas more often??!! 6
Antonio: Pulled up with injury and by the time we’d reorganized to any extent were 2 down 4 Subs
Carroll: Forced into action after only 26 mins. Gave it his all but it really wasn’t his day 4
Ayew: Buzzed around without really getting into an area to affect the game 4
Masuaku: A peach of a cross gave us real hope of a miraculous comeback 6
Apart for Alice, felt all th players did well today, shame to see Antonio go off, thought he could have had a big influence on the game….. not as much as the linesman though…
Chicharito’s rating? Am j missing it I’ll give him a 7
Found it NM. Well engerised lil guy and has some power on is headers. Yes if we get the ball to him he will score
If played as a CF he’ll be a 20 goal/season man. Playing him off position is a total waste.
Thought we were competitive without being much of a threat for most of the game, we are seriously lacking a playmaker through the middle, Hernandez gave everything but to get the best out of him we have to hold onto the ball in midfield and put the ball into space for him to run onto. Noble had a decent game but again why does he refuse to put the ball into space in front of players for them to break onto, today the best team won, would have been nice to beat them but they were more clinical and played better, well done to all of you in the stadium could definitely hear the atmosphere was where it should be COYI !!!
Also was surprised to see Carroll come on for Antonio when Sakho can play wide right and stretch the defence.
Agree AC slowed is down and we needed Pace and press and he made some really bad decisions. Def wasn’t his best game but he is Slav’s guy. Not of fan of what Sahko has done but his is in the line up and we have 3 diff strikers of talent haven’t had that in years so to not use it is mad bc Sahko is fast can get in the channels create space and score so if not sell him use him. What was the whole point of if u score 6 goals and play so many games by Jan Bilic said he will give him new contract have to play more then 5 mins to do that.
I think him and Chic up front would be a better partnership then AC and Chic. Sahko more rounded and his pace
Arnautovic was lethargic and in good situations did not deliver the cross needed.For a guy his size he is too easily brushed off the ball.
thought Noble was one of our best players tbf to him.
Antonio going off changed the game today unfortunately.
Arnatouvic was frustating as nothing he done worked at all, shoulda taken him off sooner
I agree I think Noble was good not great but he knows the derby. He has lost some pace and needs to make up in decision making. I don’t think he should be home but be a squad player… For me Cressie has been poor just hasn’t found his form since injury 16mo ago. Agreed Noble was ok but think Obiang and Kouyate should be main and work on partnership.