" Player ratings v Blackpool "

In summary I think 3-1 was a fair reflexion on the game. It been a while since we played so poor. The effort was there but it just simply wasn’t our day. Blackpool where far the better team today.

Our passing was unbelievable today. I think in the first half only Conway and Ralls seemed capable of keeping the ball. The sub was needed but I did feel sorry for Ralls who was one of the better “performers” of the first half.

All players have off days just all ours decided to have them in the same game.

Marshall 5 struggled on crossed, and rarely used the ball well.

McNaughton 6 very strong defensively, passing poor but not as bad as others and gave us width. I felt he got stronger and stronger as the game went on and was surprised he went off unless he was injured

Gerrard 4 - out ran by Kevin Phillips who is 38 :/ Good in the air but his positional play was amazingly poor and distribution unbelievable. The worrying thing is he thinks he is good with the ball.

Turner 6 - strong in the air and the better of the defenders today.

Taylor 4 - looked lost today and struggled throughout, did ok going forward but defensively poor – everyone has an off day.

Cowie 6 worked hard and one of few players who looked like they could do something.

Witts 4 - did nothin all game, poor touch, passing and closing down.

Gunnarson 4 -terrible and did nothing at all of any note.

Ralls 6 - I felt it was harsh to take him off. Probably the best passer in the first half (not saying a lot).

Conway 6 - always felt he could do something when on the ball. Did well.

Miller 6 - held up play pretty well but had no help from the middle.


Subs
Mason 6 did well and got his goal. One thing that really annoys me is his inability to read the game and stay on side.

Blake 6 - did well when he came on. Neat and tidy.

Rudy 5 - won one good header.

Also a few other things
I don’t mind us signing “don’t worry about a thing” but with that drum it sounds so slow and morbid, its depressing.

Secondly music after a goal??????????
NO

Think we need to give Malky a score 5/10- Quick to change at half time, but we are quite predictable.

Think we need to give Malky a score 5/10- Quick to change at half time, but we are quite predictable.

6/10
Mason sub worked well.
Kev one made no sense unless he was injured
Miller going off when 2-1 was just crazy

only person who would get a 6 from me would be the silver fox and then MM took him off at 1-0 up for some reason and that was that ,phillips kept running off blake inside and he didnt follow him at all and he scored two,what makes it worse is we bid a supposed 3million for sordell yet bid 800k for matt phillips and didnt go back for him really odd

Think Miller ,may have been a risk and under the weather.

But dropping Kiss for Ralls wasn't the best idea when we needed steel against a good midfield.

Hudson must come back and a serious look at Heaton/Marshall must be done.

A poor performance for a team who appeared to me at least to have one eye on the Carling Cup Final, no problems with the result as the best team on the day won. But having now lost 21 points this season from a winning position I'm beginning to get just a little concerned about that.

Marshall 5 One good stop in the first half but looked nervous throughout the second half and well his problem with crosses is back. Hmmm is it time to give Heaton a go.

MacNaughton 5 Looked a car wreck waiting to happen did a couple of good things defensively, one good header tostop a goal just before he was taken off. How many times does he have to give the ball away before we realise he just cannot play this attacking fullback role. Darcy Blake put in a couple of decent performances against Portsmouth and Crsytal Palace and gets dropped what must he be thinking.

Gerrard 4 Looks like he wants to be Franz Beckebauer but really is no more than a bulk standard awkward centre back, got turned inside out by Kevin Phillips when he came on. Sure to lose his place in the team afer that performance and for me deservedly so.

Turner 6 Looked nervous at times but our best defender today he deserves some support but got very little from his fellow defenders.

Taylor 3 Obviously got both eyes on the Carling Cup Final and when he allowed Matt Phillips to run through without showing an ounce of effort to chase him. Unacceptable we all have off days and he has been consistent but today was his worst performance in the shirt.

Cowie 6 Tireless as usual but playing this wide role sometimes the game seems to pass him by when Whiits and Gunnarson are having days like today we desperately need his energy in the centre midfield. Did OK well done Don.

Whitts 3 Least said the better I think.

Gunnarson 3 looked well out of sorts.

Ralls 6 I thought he did well he was the only centre midfield player today to put his foot on the ball and look to pass it to a player in Blue. Very unlucky to be taken off.

Conway 7 Another good showing from Craig lots of energy a looked likely to make something happen. One of few I would add.

Miller 6 Quality player who had to work off less than scraps because our Centre Midfield took the day off. Like Ben Turner deserves more help from his team.


Mason 6 Did his best to make things happen and took his goal well but like Miller deserved better service.

Blake 6 Did well when he came on and on the last few performances deserves a starting place.

Rudy 5 Same as Miller and Mason did little because he had virtually nothing to work with.

Terrible day at the office best forgotten and hopefully Malkay will bang a few heads after that. We are a better team than the one we saw today but credit Blackpool deserved winners of the game

only person who would get a 6 from me would be the silver fox and then MM took him off at 1-0 up for some reason and that was that ,phillips kept running off blake inside and he didnt follow him at all and he scored two,what makes it worse is we bid a supposed 3million for sordell yet bid 800k for matt phillips and didnt go back for him really odd

I thought this too

I thought the whole team looked tired.We need some quality loan signings,and asap.

hopefully huds,kiss and mcphail being available will help,definetly need loan additions at least 2 and definetly a striker that is going to help kenny miller out as it seems quite obvious earnie isnt in contention
Would certainly consider giving Heaton a shot as marshalls now costing us goals and im afraid Gerrard will only start again this season if huds and turner get injured or suspended
I honestly dont think we will play that poorly again all season,what a contrast to earlier in the season when we played Blackpool off the pitch at Bloomfield Road