11-10-2018, 10:37 AM
(10-10-2018, 09:14 PM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: Following up on the post from Duncan where he challenged us all to post more.
I will therefore try to do a rating of all our players this far into the season. I will split it up per position as it will be too much initial work to try to do it all at once. I will start with the keepers and then take the defenders, midfielders and ending up with the strikers.
First of all I would like to state that I strongly believe that we turned a corner after the first international break. From the Swansea game and onward we have gradually improved game by game except for the odd slip up (read the last 15 minutes against Millwall). In this period we have played 7 games, drawn 3 and won 4. Our form has been excellent and we have seen some very strong individual performances but the most pleasing thing has been that the team now seems to play as ONE team both in defense and in attack. Forest going to Middlesbrough and outplay the home team says it all really. Great feeling all around.
Okey then, let's start with the keepers.
Pants: 6
Done okey I guess and is very engaged and vocal on the pitch but I'm really disappointed about his distribution. His kicking (and throwing) leaves a lot to be desired as he rarely is able to find a Forest player with his long kicks. When our defenders get pressed while trying to play out from the back and they are forced to give the ball to Pants I'm quite certain that at least in 80% of the time that is equal to giving the ball away. I can assure you that this assessment is not heavily colored by the Millwall game but an objective observation from all the games Pants has played in. Sadly enough, I don't think he will improve in this area and because of that I believe we should be looking for a better overall keeper.
Steele: 7
Not seen as much of Steele but I believe that he has played quite well in his two cup appearances. Looks confident and seems to have settled in well at Forest. Would like to have seen him get a chance in the league as well. From what I have seen I think he's better than Pants at distribution but then again who isn't (a bit harsh maybe but Pants is really pants in this area :D ). Maybe Steele should be our number 1 keeper or maybe Smith should get another chance. I for one fail to see that Pants is an upgrade from Smith.
Now girls and guys, do you agree with my assessment or do you see it differently?
Good dissection, Red Garibaldi. Pants is a presence, vocal and has some stopping ability which he demonstrated against Boro'.
However, increasingly, I feel he's very static. He's been culpable for a 'few' goals now where he let 'emotion' get the better of him (but I guess is that any worse than mouthing at the ref' or kicking the ball away or diving and getting yourself sent off...) which led to a goal at Wigan because his mind wasn't on the ensuing corner.
For 6.7 he should come and claim every ball but often remains rooted. A couple of times he's tried to come and claim it and it's led to a goal. His fast redistribution vs Millwall gave them a quick and easy counter attack goal that boosted them. And for the 2nd goal he doesn't get off scott free either, but neither does Jack Robinson or Heff or Fox or Yanko or Dias who was stood watching...ie it's a team game to defend...
He's 'good enough'. His saves vs Boro kept a clean sheet vs the mistakes vs Millwall that cost Forest the win. Smith didn't do that well in the cup game...which didn't inspire confidence. He doesn't talk. And any decent keeper has to be able to do that...not kung fu the opposition and get sent off. Steele has done ok in the cup games but wasn't invincible either. ...will get a chance only if Pants keeps doing a 'Millwall.'
Aitor has ridden a few choppy waves knowing that a settled side and time develop into the promise Forest currently have. We can see the improvement.
Pants will stay between the sticks. He talks. ;)
SA.