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Reader Comments (18)

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George Carroll
1 Posted 01/09/2019 at 21:37:33
An excellent report and spot on, in my opinion, with your player ratings.
John Dingle
2 Posted 01/09/2019 at 21:50:32
Good accurate report. Can't agree with 5 for Moise. I know a lot of what he tried did not come off but no way was he 2 points worse than the previous lowest rated player at 7. I thought he looked a threat, occupied defenders, and is going to be a star.
Danny O'Neill
3 Posted 01/09/2019 at 22:40:14
I said on the live forum, I will eat humble pie on Delph. I don't generally buy into the Sky generated transfer frenzy, but will admit to being underwhelmed when that was announced.

He looked great today; a true link man who was making things tick and showing leadership even when not on the ball. Him and Gomes can really make a 4-2-3-1 hugely effective.

Mick Davies
4 Posted 02/09/2019 at 02:30:24
Delph 7!!!! Are you serious?
Jay Harris
6 Posted 02/09/2019 at 04:04:30
Paul,

I can't agree with your rating for Digne who I thought had his worst game in a blue shirt and was directly responsible for their 2 goals.

I thought it was between Delph and Richarlison for MotM with Sigurdsson running them close.

I think a lot of people underestimated Kean's contribution today. It wasn't a great debut but he kept 3 defenders occupied, giving space for Iwobi, Sigurdsson and Richarlison to work.

Brent Stephens
7 Posted 02/09/2019 at 04:42:47
Little mention so far on the various threads of Kean's contribution in our first goal. He chased down the defender and keeper and got his foot in to deflect the ball to Richarlison.

Paul, I like your reports but I find myself often disagreeing with your ratings. Gomes had a poor first half half so 8 is OTT for me. Iwobi was much better and his 7 is a surprise. Digne a curate's egg in this game with some significant contributions but led a merry dance by Traore so 8 surprises me, especially given Delph (MotM for me) gets only 7.

Jim Harrison
8 Posted 02/09/2019 at 06:05:44
I get the impression you will be getting a lot of puzzled looks regarding the Delph rating!!!! 8 at least, possibly even a 9 given that he wasn't fully fit and making his full home debut!
Dale Rose
9 Posted 02/09/2019 at 09:08:54
On the money, Paul. Wolves are a difficult side. I thought we did really well. Gomes was very much the unsung hero and Delph outstanding.
Rob Dolby
10 Posted 02/09/2019 at 09:45:44
Totally agree with Jay @6.

No doubting Digne is a quality footballer who has set such high standards for himself but he did mess up for both goals, though redeemed himself with setting up the 3rd.

Calvert-Lewin 6 for 15 mins whilst Kean only gets a 5. It's obvious where our weakness is in the team. We are relying on Kean an awful lot this year. I thought the signs were very promising: his movement is good and he looks a threat.

John Raftery
11 Posted 02/09/2019 at 10:12:02
Thanks, Paul, for an excellent report. Like others, I thought Delph was worth an 8 and Gomes only a 7.

Gomes was fairly anonymous in the first hour but picked up late on when he made some vital interventions to disrupt the Wolves attack. Delph was superb again building on his form at Lincoln. He was the midfielder who kept the play flowing and marshalling the team when we lost possession. Finally, we have a worthy replacement for Gareth Barry; providing he stays fit of course.

Moise Kean is learning just how hard it is to make an impact in central positions with defenders marking tightly. The Italian's time will come but in the immediate future I would not be surprised to see Calvert-Lewin start the next two games with Kean coming off the bench for the final half-hour.

Mark Murphy
12 Posted 02/09/2019 at 10:47:46
Anyone else concerned that our players were in the pub before the Lincoln game???
😬
Daniel A Johnson
13 Posted 02/09/2019 at 11:48:35
Digne's performance was part genius, part horror show: I'd give him 6/10.

For both goals he was at fault it shouldn't be glossed over.

As for Gomes scoring higher than Delph... madness.

What stuck out for me was our effort and application every single man put in a shift, the prime example being Richarlison. Say what you like about Silva but the players play for him alright.

Just sours me watching the forward lines of Arsenal and Spurs yet we have Calvert-Lewin and an unproven 19-year-old Italian kid. The gulf in class in terms of firepower will hold us back AGAIN this season. So frustrating it hasn't been addressed again by Brands & Silva.

Liam Reilly
14 Posted 02/09/2019 at 12:40:32
Kean never a 5 Paul; that first goal doesn't happen if he's not running at the defender and Goalkeeper and the Wolves defense were run ragged by our front 4; all of them contributing massively.

Gomes and Delph is looking like a quality partnership, but there's a worry about strength in depth if either gets injured.

Still feel that the defense (minus Pickford, who is looking the real deal) is susceptible to crosses and the long throws won't go unnoticed by up and coming opposition, so that needs addressing quickly.

Tony J Williams
15 Posted 02/09/2019 at 12:51:43
Simply cannot agree with your marks for Richarlison, I was thinking that he should have been subbed just before he banged in the winner.

Yes, he gets lots of free-kicks but he also lost the ball on numerous occasions trying to be clever or trying to take on too many men.

He is definitely a great player but I thought his overall play was quite poor yesterday.

Christopher Timmins
16 Posted 02/09/2019 at 14:27:06
Paul, a great report and your ratings were close enough to being on the money.

One thing which is obvious from yesterday and which is going to take some time to change is the manner in which we use the long ball. Without Calvert-Lewin, it simply keeps coming back. We need to keep the ball on the floor and given what Calvert-Lewin has given the team by way of a long ball option over the past 15 or so games; this will take time to develop and perfect.

Looking forward to continued improvement during the month of September.

Robert Workman
17 Posted 02/09/2019 at 17:30:58
Very good report with nice personal touches along the way. Like Mark 12, I had to read the bit about the players being in the pub twice!

My only disagreement would be about the referee, who I think is one of the worst. Why wasn't VAR consulted when Coleman was clearly pulled back in the penalty area off the ball?

Brave of you to, once again, give player ratings. I see that I am not alone in rating Delph higher than 7. I also thought it was a close call between Delph and Richarlison for MotM.

However, despite my observations, I am in no way criticising you, as you were at the match whilst I was only watching on an Internet stream.

Danny Broderick
19 Posted 02/09/2019 at 23:25:38
I loved what Delph brought to the team on Sunday. Take him out and put Schneiderlin in, and we simply would not have won that game. He worked his socks off, was probing with his passing and he cajoled the other players throughout. When was the last time we had a midfielder like him, taking responsibility like a captain in the middle of the park? Off the top of my head, Barry, and before him Neville. Certainly in the last few years, we have lacked leadership in central midfield, the most important area of the pitch for me.

If he can stay fit, i’m looking forward to seeing him link up with Digne and Iwobi/Bernard down the left. He really gives us another dimension in midfield.

Francis van Lierop
20 Posted 05/09/2019 at 15:38:04
A good report once more Paul.

For the ratings I would have given Fabian Delph an 8. It's been said before, let's hope he stays fit.

As for Moise Kean, a lot hasn't quite come off, like his shot on the post. But it'll come. I'd given him a 6 for sheer perseverance.


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