Niall McDonald hands out the marks
Adrian: Couple of very sharp saves in the first half 6
Ogbonna: Marshalled another new back line very well 7
Collins: The goal aside, restricted Benteke to very little. One mammoth clearance before the break just about reached the upper tier – no mean feat 6
Rice: Another reassured defensive display 7
Cresswell: Was able to get forward consistently with the support of Rice behind him. Crossing improved as the game went on 6
Byram: Impressive after a long time out. Gave mobility down the right and reigned it in sensibly after a booking 7
Zabaleta: Well hands up if you had Pablo down as holding midfielder. Moyes’ simple genius of deploying our slowest defender in front of the back five paid off tonight 6
Noble: A crucial, nerveless penalty from the skipper . Very decent performance all round 7
Kouyate: Is there greater evidence of bravery than the bloodied head bandage? Played really well 8
Mario: An unspectacular debut. Got a few murmurs of encouragement when deemed not showing the requisite commitment. Better to come I think 6
Hernandez: Much sharper and more involved than I’ve seen him in a long time, won the penalty and even had a chance of his own well saved 7
Subs
Oxford: 5 mins at the end on for Kouyate 5
Mario
“An unspectacular debut”
F***K me , he’s only been with the squad for a couple of games.
I think you need a new guide dog fella.
I thought he had a good game
Don’t no how you came to them rating rice was caught out a few times and he was the one who caused the goal not Collins and Mario was the one who laid off to Hernandez for the penalty he also always looked for a forward pass not backwards he was one of the better players today not bad for some one who has hardly been here long
Your random number generator is working just fine but your comments on Mario are about as accurate as Antonios timekeeping.
Was i watching the wrong game? I would give Mario 7/8. He had a fine league debut.
Agree Morro & others thought Mario was very good Moyes did too & don’t even think he wanted move def wansnt sure about it.
But he added much needed creativity & him & Chic linked well & one hopes will only get better then be wishing had lower real buy out clause.
Been saying should use Zab as DM for a while is one beat tacklers & passers can read the game & has played their before for City thought everyone did well.
Just hope doesn’t make them think we don’t need anyone bc we got point still need 1-2 players in bc never know w our injuries.
Questions about Lewin?
I only listened to the game on radio but every time Mario was on the ball I heard the crowd getting excited, so even as effectively a blind man I can tell he had a good game, radio commentators also said he looks like a real player.
its easy to put the rose coloured blinkers on with the youngsters because we want them to do well but rice should have stopped the cross for their goal. otherwise he had a good game. mario was on a par with noble and kouyate as one of our better performers on the night. it was marios endeavour that led to the penalty.
I liked what saw from Byram last night. Not been involved much this season, but put in a good shift. Going forward he was a real handful, and usually ( apart from a couple of times ) got back to help out in defence.
I would suggest that they ask someone else to give the ratings in future as this has happened a number of times now where the marks given are not what has been deserved according to the majority of fans replies!
I think the whole team did well last night, as a team and with their individual performances. We didn’t have that usual weak link that the opposing team identifies and exploits. I was struggling to pick a MotM from Chiek, Nobes, Ogbonna & Mario. Even Zab who i have been critical of lately, handled being played out of position and covered the hole well sitting in the middle there and helping Nobes, Byram & covering the back 3. Hernandez looked a lot more lively, helpful, productive and composed than he has been, especially linking up well with Mario. A few more games like that and he might even keep his starting position.
I thought Noble had another very good game too. A real influence as always, he kept our game going even not considering his penalty.
I must say, whoever does the ratings, baffles me. I seem to always be incredible shocked at some of the ratings.
I honestly don’t know what game they watch, Mario was by far our best player on the pitch. I do agree, the best it to come from him however. Very impressive first game in the premiership.