Hughie hands out the marks
Fabianski: Saw the woodwork rattled twice – made a couple of great saves and let down by his defence for the goals. 7
Coufal: Just ok to honest, Beaten here and there occasionally and couldn’t get any killer balls into the box 6
Diop: Poor game – saw him nowhere for the first goal and responsible for the foul that led to the second. Hurry back Zouma 3
Dawson: Did ok at the heart of defence on a day when Palace really piled the pressure on at times 6+
Johnson: Brilliant first half defending well and providing much ammunition in the shape of crosses despite being on his wrong side. Assuming he was injured cos Masuaku came on for him at half time 8
Rice: Here there and everywhere and outstanding run for the second goal. Fabulous stuff 9
Soucek: Still not at his best but there was some excellent defensive stuff to admire today 7
Benrahma Decentish first half before going off in what is his last game before Afcon 6+
Lanzini: Real high quality stuff generally and a classic goal which showed what brilliant feet he has 9
Bowen: Quiet by his standards but the usual high endeavour stuff when on the ball 7
Antonio: Coming back to his best and the goal will help him 7
Subs
Masuaku: We have become too used to seeing him and surely only a Johnson injury could have brought him on 4
Vlasic: Really looking forward to seeing more of him. His one big run saw him, head down, running straight at the defence. 6
Noble: Very late arrival, don’t think he got a touch. No rating
I thought Johnson was very poor defensively and cant see how he scored 8 and Coufal 6. I also thought Rice was not at his best and neither was Bowen. Benrahma and Lanzini showed their class which won the game for us. Soucek needs a rest and I think we need to see Lanzini/Rice combination in CM for a game or two. We looked extremely tired second half but with some quality signings we it will bring that additional energy back into the squad. I am hopeful if Newman has been left to his own devices, he will bring in what we need.
I’m not sure that Diop will ever be good enough at the highest level as he doesn’t have the awareness that top defenders need at this level. Moyes has taken a bit of stick at times for his reluctance to play Diop, but it should be obvious by now, why Moyes (ex centre-half) doesn’t fully trust Diop.
Can’t argue with the ratings, but I hope that Johnson is being eased back to fitness, rather than injured as he didn’t play a full game his last time out either.
Lanzini seems to have gotten his mojo back and he will probably be licking his lips at Benrahma’s upcoming absence.
Phew… Diop singlehandedly gave them a chance, a point probably noted by opposition managers.
IMHO Fabs was responsible for Palaces 2nd goal.
A keeper should never let an in-swinging cross go straight into the goal…..
Spot on. He stood and watched the ball go in. Had he moved even a foot to his right he’d have saved it. Also his distribution was (and always seems to be) awful.
Johnson was good but was yellow carded for a silly tackle.His crosses and passes have so much more about them than Masuaku’s. A 7 in my book because of the yellow.
Masuaku got worse as the game went on. Stood off for the first goal and no effort for the 2nd Palace goal.If he had played the whole game we would of lost.
Diop looks half the player when he is there.
Another wasted opportunity by Moyes to give a youngster and alterantive some game time. Why does he think Masuaku is of any use anywhere on the pitch.
I honestly thought the majority of Johnson’s crosses were overhit, and that’s often the case. Definitely an area of his game he needs to work on.
In successive games now Diop has been nervy and making bad decisions when Masuaku is at L/B. The cross for the first came from that side and Diops positioning was awful. Then Diop covering left side made s bad decision to challenge, giving the free kick. Masuaku is a big liability sadly.
Having dominated defensively for the first 35 minutts or so, Johnson slowed down noticeably and Ayew started getting past him. Wonder if that was the point where the injury kicked in. Moyes game is based on system and discipline. All that disappears when one weak link (Masaku) is introduced. If he doesnt want to try a junior, why not Fredericks.
Generally a pretty poor performance . Johnson ,Diop and Fabianski were poor and deserve 5 at best . Soucek was better than Rice and Lanzini was better than Bowen . We were second best in every department apart from the LUCK element and could easily have been well beaten . Master stroke by Moyes bringing on the shortest , slowest player in the squad to help shore up a terrible defensive display … . Hope we get a run of luck and some fresh blood for the New Year
COME ON YOU IRONS
Bowen didn’t get that much of the ball- probably cos he was up against a very good LB.