A win is a win, and Rafa will take this back-to-basics victory, however it wasn't a good performance by the team, and a very ordinary Birmingham made us work hard for the result. My team ratings were:
Dudek - 7 - Good game from the Pole in the Goal, did everything that was required, and made one excellent save in the first half from DJ Campbell, and was in the right place at the right time in the second half to stop Julian Gray's shot. Also interesting to see him take over the captaincy when Fowler went off!
Peltier - 7 - Mentioned on another thread that we *might* be a new Carragher, and on last night performance you can see why, composed on the ball, decent turn of pace, and positioned himself intelligently in both attack and defence. Doubtful that we'll ever break through into the regular first team squad in his favoured CM position, however he might get a few more lookin's at RB.
Warnock - 6 - Great tackler, but got caught out of position a few times and generally used the long ball on too many occasions. He also seemed to make the wrong choices on a few occasions, by picking the wrong pass. Still a decent run out.
Agger - 8 - Didn't really put a foot wrong, and organised what was a very raw, and young defence, amazing for a 21 year old. Took his goal very well also, and made Chris Kamara look like a bigger plank than what he is by the comments that Agger wasn't wearing his bandage in the first half - what game were you watching, Chris?
Paletta - 7 - Performed well alongside Agger, nice to see a guy prepared to do the dirty work, and yes he made a couple of mistakes, but overall was tidy in his distribution and a player that uses the old fashioned shoulder charge gets a thumbs up in my book.
Pennant - 5 - Should really sort his foot wear out, it's embarrassing the amount of times he loses his footing. Very frustrating to watch, and the Birmingham defence easily snuffed out any threat he possessed. Poor game.
Gonzalez - 7 - Good game from "Speedy." Started off sluggishly, but by the end of the game, can be pleased that he was our main attacking threat throughout the game. Made a great run from the Penalty, and he can be well pleased with his performance.
Zenden - 8 - Amazed to say that I thought, alongside Agger, he was easily our best player on the pitch. Broke up play well, his distribution was shockingly good, and made some excellent forward runs with the ball. Unlucky not to get a goal. Shocked (in a good way!)
Sissoko - 6 - Usually good Sissoko performance until bad luck struck - get well soon Momo!
Fowler - 4 - Very poor last night. You can argue he didn't get the service, and to some extents that was true. But he seemed to give the ball away on virtually every touch, and the game largely passed him by. Not Fowler's best game by a long shot!
Bellamy - 4 - Pretty much see above! Although Bellamy gave the ball away less than Fowler, he didn't do well. Poor penalty by a player either unsure of himself or badly out of form. Didn't link up well with either wide player either, often picking the wrong pass.
Subs
Alonso - 6 - Put in a lot of hard graft but didn't get on the ball as much as I'd like. Neat and tidy as you'd expect on the ball, and performed a good defensive job.
Kuyt - 6 - Didn't really have much time to do anything on the pitch, but never stopped running.
Guthrie - ?? - Couple of mins isn't long enough to give a rating!
Dudek - 7 - Good game from the Pole in the Goal, did everything that was required, and made one excellent save in the first half from DJ Campbell, and was in the right place at the right time in the second half to stop Julian Gray's shot. Also interesting to see him take over the captaincy when Fowler went off!
Peltier - 7 - Mentioned on another thread that we *might* be a new Carragher, and on last night performance you can see why, composed on the ball, decent turn of pace, and positioned himself intelligently in both attack and defence. Doubtful that we'll ever break through into the regular first team squad in his favoured CM position, however he might get a few more lookin's at RB.
Warnock - 6 - Great tackler, but got caught out of position a few times and generally used the long ball on too many occasions. He also seemed to make the wrong choices on a few occasions, by picking the wrong pass. Still a decent run out.
Agger - 8 - Didn't really put a foot wrong, and organised what was a very raw, and young defence, amazing for a 21 year old. Took his goal very well also, and made Chris Kamara look like a bigger plank than what he is by the comments that Agger wasn't wearing his bandage in the first half - what game were you watching, Chris?
Paletta - 7 - Performed well alongside Agger, nice to see a guy prepared to do the dirty work, and yes he made a couple of mistakes, but overall was tidy in his distribution and a player that uses the old fashioned shoulder charge gets a thumbs up in my book.
Pennant - 5 - Should really sort his foot wear out, it's embarrassing the amount of times he loses his footing. Very frustrating to watch, and the Birmingham defence easily snuffed out any threat he possessed. Poor game.
Gonzalez - 7 - Good game from "Speedy." Started off sluggishly, but by the end of the game, can be pleased that he was our main attacking threat throughout the game. Made a great run from the Penalty, and he can be well pleased with his performance.
Zenden - 8 - Amazed to say that I thought, alongside Agger, he was easily our best player on the pitch. Broke up play well, his distribution was shockingly good, and made some excellent forward runs with the ball. Unlucky not to get a goal. Shocked (in a good way!)
Sissoko - 6 - Usually good Sissoko performance until bad luck struck - get well soon Momo!
Fowler - 4 - Very poor last night. You can argue he didn't get the service, and to some extents that was true. But he seemed to give the ball away on virtually every touch, and the game largely passed him by. Not Fowler's best game by a long shot!
Bellamy - 4 - Pretty much see above! Although Bellamy gave the ball away less than Fowler, he didn't do well. Poor penalty by a player either unsure of himself or badly out of form. Didn't link up well with either wide player either, often picking the wrong pass.
Subs
Alonso - 6 - Put in a lot of hard graft but didn't get on the ball as much as I'd like. Neat and tidy as you'd expect on the ball, and performed a good defensive job.
Kuyt - 6 - Didn't really have much time to do anything on the pitch, but never stopped running.
Guthrie - ?? - Couple of mins isn't long enough to give a rating!
Bollocks
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