A frustrating night, as general dominance ended up counting for little and needing the do the business away in Europe. Always a tough ask.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 6 - Ultimately didn't have a lot to do following an early save from close in.
Ricardo: 7 - Provided good forward impetus in the first half and threatened to break the PSV defensive line on several occasions. Looked suspiciously like he might have got away with a penalty in the second half; I would need to see the replay to be sure.
Fofana: 8 - Showed his class. Won a lot and anticipated well in the back line. My choice for our MOTM.
Evans: 8 - Quietly always in the right place to enable Fofana's more aggressive defending. Provided leadership that has been lacking too often this season.
Castagne: 7 - Didn't maraud like Ricardo but dealt with Madueke pretty well.
Tielemans: 6 - Struggled at times with not having an Ndidi or a Mendy next to him as cover, but generally linked the play well. Whether we can play the same system away is uncertain; we may need Choudhury or Amartey assisting him as a dedicated defensive midfielder in Holland.
Dewsbury-Hall: 6 - Grew into the game after a dodgy start; not helped by some of the play in front of him.
Albrighton: 6 - Really good at helping the defence out and preventing PSV counterattacks in the first half. Couldn't really create anything going forward.
Maddison: 6 - didn't have a bad game as such and was influential in the first half, but like others couldn't find the killer pass or shot.
Barnes: 4 - Credit does have to go to Junior, the PSV right back, who showed fine agility and played Barnes well. Barnes never really got a look in against him.
Iheanacho: 6 - Some good hold-up play, but missed a big chance. For me he's running too straight at the goalkeeper in those situations and not affording himself the room to properly manoeuvre his shot.
Justin: 6 - Doesn't look entirely up to speed yet, and couldn't exact the same influence as Ricardo as PSV tightened up their defence in the second half.
Lookman: 4 - As poor as Barnes, although played out of position for a while. Playing himself out of a contract.
Daka: 6 - Not sure why he didn't come on directly for Iheanacho, instead of the wasted experiment of Lookman as a striker. Touch was poor at times however, although his work rate was good.
PSV were an odd team, seemingly utterly committed to a 0-0 draw and turning down several counterattack opportunities, instead turning and passing backwards to afford themselves a breather. Toward the end of each half they looked like they needed it, first looking tired and in the second with half their team cramping up. Unfortunately we had also run out of steam by late in the second half, and the substitutes added nothing.
Hopefully we'll see 8 or 9 changes for Palace and then go at PSV fresh in the away leg next week.
Player ratings vs. PSV
posted on 8/4/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 19 minutes ago
Do you think if I give KDH a 2 and Tielemans a 9 that True Blue might actually explode?
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Don't. Ffs few enough on here as it is 🤣😂🤣
posted on 8/4/22
Rebuild
3 premiership players
3 to develop
My problem with the 1st bit
Your targeting the second string of player
Who are waiting to see if they can sign for
Utd, pool ect who are waiting for top players
To decide where there going
Going to be a long summer with out all the
Paper gossip
Who's going to buy our rejected players
Perez, Söyüncü
Who else goes
Imagine this season without
Amerty Albrighton Mendy
Not going to be an easy task 🤔
posted on 8/4/22
Some random thoughts of mine- I largely agree with all the players' scores as variously posted. It was one of the most enjoyable 0-0's that I have watched over the years. As the man next to me said, these are not normal home and away fixtures- more like it's now half time. The return match could go either way.
A bit rough on the away fans having to stay behind for 30 mins. I noticed that the sniffer dogs were all over them on their way in- perhaps they assume that all the Dutch folk are on cannabis!
I enjoyed seeing the new statue of Vichai, it is a very good likeness- unlike some statues- but I think they have spoiled it by making his head slightly too big for his body.
Regarding Brendon, in terms of how long managers last at one club nowadays, I have a feeling that he may depart for some new venture at the end of the season, having won us the FA Cup (finally), he will feel he has achieved something. He's not one for sticking around too long.
posted on 8/4/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 53 minutes ago
Do you think if I give KDH a 2 and Tielemans a 9 that True Blue might actually explode?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m surprised you didn’t, I mean Tielemans looks so cool , deserves so much for that alone.
So cool he does he own Stadium tour to milk the applause 😎
posted on 8/4/22
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Do you think if I give KDH a 2 and Tielemans a 9 that True Blue might actually explode?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Try it. It might work.
posted on 8/4/22
Agree with most of what's been said including about Kasper and KDH. We did create a couple of decent chances, also hit the bar - one of those goes in and we're looking a lot happier.
I reckon you're being a bit unfair about Lookman, he came on with 25 minutes to go and spent the first quarter of an hour in a ridiculous, fruitless Brendan experiment of playing as a striker, so I'd give him a bit more than Barnes got.
posted on 8/4/22
The squad overhaul could be interesting given that our wages to revenue ratio is 105% and it needs to be 70% to comply with UEFA wage cap in a couple of seasons time.
posted on 8/4/22
comment by dublin fox optimistically pessimistic, (now a Cambridge fox)(still can not spell fox) (U1131)
posted 4 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 19 minutes ago
Do you think if I give KDH a 2 and Tielemans a 9 that True Blue might actually explode?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't. Ffs few enough on here as it is 🤣😂🤣
----------------------------------------------------------------------
😂😂😂
posted on 9/4/22
comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 17 hours, 38 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 53 minutes ago
Do you think if I give KDH a 2 and Tielemans a 9 that True Blue might actually explode?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m surprised you didn’t, I mean Tielemans looks so cool , deserves so much for that alone.
So cool he does he own Stadium tour to milk the applause 😎
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If it’s about being cool Periera gets an 11 every match!
posted on 9/4/22
Nah, he doesn’t get his own personal Lap of Honour like Tilly does every match