Hugh hands out the marks
Randolph: Little to do apart from a couple of decent saves but occasional uncertain moments 6
Johnson: Looked over his Bournemouth disaster and had a very good game, showing some fine forward movement trickery 7
Balbuena: Good performance from the Paraguayan who was always on top of his game, save one header over his own bar which could have gone anywhere! 7
Top performance from the winger
Diop: Had no pre-season and needed this 90 minutes. No real complaints 6
Masuaku: Defended well on the rare occasions he was needed and very exciting going forward 7
Cullen: Top performance to keep everything buzzing in midfield. The fella may have arrived. We’ll see 7+
Anderson: Looked thrilled with his goal and always looking to make something happen 7
Lanzini: Great to see him going past players and showing some wonderful trickery particularly for Anderson’s goal 8
Yarmolenko: A constant threat. Best I’ve seen him in the shirt 8+
Snodgrass: He maybe 33 years old but you always get 100 per cent – good set pieces and always on the move 7
Haller: Scored two missed a couple and thrived on the Lanzini/Anderson axis 7
Subs:
Coventry: On for 10 mins and generally competent
Ashby: Young full back who arrived with Coventry and looked a very decent player
I loved the team tonight and the way they played. I really hope the manager has woken up and realised he is going nowhere with the likes of Fredericks, Cresswell and Noble. The young lad who came on at the end is a better RB than Fredericks. He needs to get Lanzini in at 10 playing close to the CF or even better behind a front two, he and Anderson are so much better in the final third. I keep saying the signing of two top FB’s is more important than the signing of a CB. If we signed two top FB’s we would see a totally different Anderson, Lanzini, Yarmo etc.. We seemingly have a 30m budget. Just go and put in bids for two top full backs and pay 15m upfront for each with the balance in installments. It is a no brainer instead of spending 30-35m on a CB when in fact we could play Rice there.
Josh Cullen ready to step into Nobles boots excellent
‘If we signed two top FB’s we would see a totally different Anderson, Lanzini, Yarmo etc..‘ Spot on!
Sounds ok, hopefully a few got some confidence.
Unbelievably Wilshire injured in training when he was due to play, will it ever end for the poor lad.
Great game without the pressure of the Premiership.
Fantastic to see the Lanzini of old with signs that we may have got our Former Lanzini back.
Yarmo looked like he was on fire and if he gets up a head of steam, he could be one hell of a game changer for us this season.
Josh Cullen who many were willing to back him…. is kicking down the door… every team needs a player like him that becomes the oil that lubricates the machine. Hope to see much more of him this season.
Coming on late Coventry has shown me enough to suggest that we have a real player on our hands….. But shock of shocks was Harrison Ashby, who came on for Johnson…. I’m a fan already from what I’ve seen in just 10 minutes of him on the pitch.
I do believe that we need to bring at least two Good defenders in, as this could make all the difference to our attacking play and make us a more solid team going forward.
Great relief without too much pressure this evening. COYI
Nothing poor about Jack Wilshire. He’s stealing £100 k a week!
Great game, and as mentioned without the pressure and pace of premiership. I did think Alfie Doughty was a great player for Charlton; surely worth a punt?
Was Moyes watching ???? Cullen is so much better than Noble and Johnson and Ashby were excellent . . We are going nowhere but down with Cresswell , Fredericks and Noble so lets have a try with some young blood instead of giving them away . Noble MUST step down as skipper and give it to Rice . Give Noble a job as an ambassador … not as a coach as he has not got the technical ability … amazing how much better people play in their proper positions isn’t it !! … Yarmo, Lanzini , Anderson and Haller …. 5 days of feeling more enthusiastic but my mortgage goes on the same team as last weeks debacle on Saturday !!!
Agree with comments..but carabowe cup against Charlton not enough for me ..glad of result but changes nothing…another day slips by and still no signings or even bids ch