Hughie hands out his marks
Areola: Superb performance – four or five top saves at vital times. My man of the match 9
Johnson: Once again a good performance – one or two misplaced passes but defended well and got forward whenever the opportunity was there. 7
New Fulham signing Alphonse Areola
Diop: His 100th performance for us and he didn’t let himself down – rock solid at heart of defence 7+
Dawson: Ditto above 7+
Cresswell: Got found out defensively now and again as City stormed forward 6+
Soucek: Missed a couple of chances he would have put away last season but effective in midfield 7
Noble: He was all over the place – lasted the 90 minutes, saw a fine shot saved and set us on our way in the shoot out 7+
Masuaku: Excited when on the ball but couldn’t make it count when he twice advanced on goal 7
Vlasic: Showed lots of energy and always battling hard to make an impact 7
Lanzini: His best game for a while but perhaps pushed off the ball a little too easily.
Yarmolenko: Let’s be frank – he is not a striker – doesn’t link the play at all. Plenty of touches but no real impact 6
Subs:
Benrahma 5, Bowen 6, Fornals 5, Coufal 5
Got to agree with Areola being the MOTM and as high profile performances go, I think his performance has cemented his place with us.
I do think he is “THAT” keeper who opposition teams hate, athletic, awkward, tenacious, all the things that strikers don’t like.
I was NEVER Yarmolenko’s biggest fan, and everyone knows that he isn’t perfect for the position that he was played in, but he has changed my opinion of him with the way that he has brought into Moyes’s ethos and puts in a shift. Also, I have a sneaking feeling that he will get the chance at some point to prove many people wrong in their assessment of him this season, possibly in the Europa league where his experience and nous will prove invaluable.