Doncaster v City: Player ratings

Paul Handler

September 21, 2005

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James - Barely had a save to make in open play but did not get close to any penalties 6

Thatcher - A solid if unspectacular display 6

Dunne - Won City's penalty and defended well, but missed his spot-kick 7

Distin - Defended well and can feel hard done by for the penalty he conceded 7

Onuoha - A typically assured performance and was unlucky to be dismissed 7

Reyna - Saw a lot of the ball but didn't really hurt Doncaster 6

Ireland - Threatened but did not provide the spark City were searching for 6

Sun - A sloppy performance and should have won the game in normal time 5

Hussein - Grew in confidence and did not shirk any challenges 6

Vassell - Full of running but his control let him down at times - scored and missed a penalty 6

Sibierski - Missed his penalty in the shoot-out and endured a frustrating night 5

Substitutes

Croft - Tried hard down the right but struggled at times 5

Jordan - Little impact on proceedings 5

Agree with the ratings? Have your say

| Submit Comments | Comments (38) |

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Carl, M/c (22/09/2005 at 09:41)

I thought Croft's contribution when he came on was 1 of very few positives and he gets 5?

Blue Tiger, Virginia (22/09/2005 at 09:51)

Take it outta Newcastle on Saturday.
Forget this disappointing game and move on.

Cookie, Droylsden (22/09/2005 at 09:55)

MUEN has something against Jihai Sun. He played in 4 different positions on the night and was one of the few good performers.

PaulC, Bolton (22/09/2005 at 09:58)

Agree Carl, when Croft came on he actually tried to run at Doncaster. There must be some underlying reason why SP just won't pick him, but we need a proper right sided player while Trev is out and Sun isn't it!

Ste, Warrington (22/09/2005 at 10:07)

Only Dunne, James, Onuaha and Distin did ok for me.

The rest were poor.

Mike, Stockport (22/09/2005 at 10:08)

Carl, you're absolutely spot on. Unlike last night's three penalty-takers.

Al, Macc (22/09/2005 at 10:13)

Where was Robbie?

Realist, DIsmay (22/09/2005 at 10:26)

All you mugs who keep shouting "give hussain a chance, play the kids etc etc". you got your answers last night. Half the first team are not good enough, the fringe players are rubbish, end of.

This is what happens when you embark on a policy of selling yer best players without replacements (of any standard).

Shambolic, toothless and inept performance from start to finish. What about that subs bench, comedy genius !!

RJKS, Stretford (22/09/2005 at 10:27)

TYPICAL !

Tim, Winchester (22/09/2005 at 10:33)

I thought Croft was our best attacking player when he came on. It was a mistake for him to play 90 minutes in the reserves on Monday, he should have started and played the whole game. I'd have given him 7 out of 10.

steve, m/c (22/09/2005 at 10:48)

Firstly - according to GO on Legends last night RF injured his back warming up against Bolto which is why he never came on.
The markings are rubish - The defenders and James were fine and kept Doncaster very quiet. Sun did a job and kept running in all positions but he is no right winger. Reyna and Ireland did a lot of running but the service and support to the front two was none existent. Vassel worked hard but he needs to find some sort of scoring ability (this was his problem at Villa), Sibierski was pathetic (one of worst penalties i've ever seen)and should never be played up front again, i'd rather see a 16 year old given a run out. Hussain huffed and puffed but in reality didnt offer much on the left. I wouldnt have given anyone in front of the defence more than 4. Croft at l;east ran at players and created problems for the fullback (this lad must be disliked or something as i cant see why Sun should have ever been in front of him for right wing position). What this showed is we're very similar to Everton last year - Good if we are at full strengh and relegation material with a couple of key injuries. SP made a big mistake not bringing in an additional forward knowing Fowlers condition before the season started.

used to it, after all these years (22/09/2005 at 11:19)

I think you missed the decimal point off Hussein's score. Sibierski - contributes nothing. Reyna - utter rubbish. Let's face it, only "the kids" actually put anything into it last night - Croft, Ireland, Onuoha (& Dunne)were our best players.

Big Dave, East Stand - CoMS (22/09/2005 at 11:58)

When will we ever learn - another miserable night akin to Oldham, Shrewsbury, Halifax etc etc etc

CTID, LEEDS (22/09/2005 at 12:10)

Ben Thatcher - 6 - "A solid if unspectacular display." Do you get 5 points for turning up and putting your shorts on the right way round?

Neil Allen, Gibraltar (22/09/2005 at 12:17)

NO I don't agree with some ratings in there, in my opinion it should have been:
James 6 - had nowt to do and what he did have didn't do very well
Onuhra 8 - Solid and effective
Thatcher 2 - he was ACTUALLY better than someone else on the park
Dunne & Distin 7 - not best of games and looked a little unsure at times, but still coped quite well
Sun Jihai 1 - He turned up didn't he??
Ireland 8 - star showing of a young lad who should be a first team regular by now
Reyna 8 - ran the show for City in midfield alongside Ireland
Hussien 6 - showed decent signs, needs bigger studs
Sibierski 5 - Won everything in the air from long punts, useless at anything else
Vassell 5 - Needs to realise he has 10 other team mates......or 9 if Sun is playing

Croft 6 - got himself about and put a few good crosses into the box and laid on a plate a sitter for Sun the muppet Jihai

Jordan 3 - did nothing in an unfamiliar midfield role.

TAXI FOR PEARCE!!...that was management decisions right out of the Klulas Keegan textbook, withdraw 2 of your better players and sub them, leaving the true rubbish on the pitch

Ref 1 - Couldn't give enough to Donny, penalty and sending off decisions were a disgrace

sanks, Stockport (22/09/2005 at 13:40)

Vassell and Sibs should get 4 each, they were appalling against mediocre defenders! I cannot agree with the comments about Croft. There is no way this lad will make a decent Premier league player, he found his level at Oldham and should have looked half decent when he came on last night agianst tiring lower league defenders! Thought the criticism of Sun was harsh (as he keeps getting moved from pillar to post) until his last minute meeting with the crossbar when it was easier to score.

Ian, Manchester (22/09/2005 at 13:40)

Jihai Sun - once again proved he has no absolutely ability, can't run, can't tackle, can't pass, can't control a ball. Premier League player - never. Also, watched the Reserves on many occasions and Croft has been performing far better than Hussein, yet still does not get a start in a game. 6 month contract' I've seen enough of him already to say he won't make the grade, but then again the first team contains players like that; Sibierski, Sun, Musampa

steve, sale (22/09/2005 at 13:41)

what a bunch of loosers. quiet crowd, nice pitch & very poor opposition & we still can't hack it. Is it any coincidence that sibs & sun are back. Appalling miss by Sun. Defensively we were fine but creatively shocking.
Wardle has got to get that cheque book out in Jan & attract 3QUALITY players who are better than we already have who will go straight into the team. Pearce should be looking at, or have already identified these players.This squad is paper thin as was proved last night.Players like Sibs, Sun, Mills & Sinclair should not be anywhere near the regular starting XI whilst players like Jordan, Hussein, Flood & Croft should consider themselves very lucky to be anywhere near the bench. Sort it out City & lets not let this previously good start to the season against some mediocre sides fool us.

Jason, London (22/09/2005 at 13:47)

Excellent, we're out of the Cadburys Cream Egg Cup or whatever it's called. Now for that top 6 finish! C'mon City!

Andy, Work In Eccles (22/09/2005 at 13:57)

I'm trying not to be too negative but last night's performance was awful. We looked comfortable all game without really looking like we were going to score but thought we would push on when we scored the penalty. We didn't have a true striker on the pitch all game and I was panicking when I saw Vassell putting the ball on the spot for the first penalty to be honest. Speaking of Vassell, I don't think I've ever seen anybody play the game with less passion. Each time the cameras were on him, he had the same bored expression on his face and not once did you see him speaking to or encouraging/cajoling the others - he might be quick and full of running but surely you also need a bit of talent to play at Premier League level?

Kevin, Tralee, Eire (22/09/2005 at 14:23)

Steve, Sale. You mention Willo Flood as being lucky to be anywhere near the bitter bench. Kind of hard as i believe he's on loan at Coventry at the moment, not very near the citah bench at all!!

George, Manchester (22/09/2005 at 14:37)

we are out! lets face it, we were near enough conned out of the game by a poor referee. croft was in actual fact 1 player who looked interested and played well. get sibierski out, sun jihai is total rubbish and will never be a premiership player, let alone play against a minor division team! jordan.....left wing....no chance!croft and ireland seemed the only players who looked like creating something!

Jay, Manchester (22/09/2005 at 14:52)

City Fans!!!! Take a look at that headline on the right! James: Teams will fear Citys unbeaten run! Yea yea, beaten in last two games and one of those against DONCASTER! James is shocking, 6ft 5inch and cant get any where near penalties, cost England against Portugal on Pens in Euro 2004 and couldnt get near any against awful Doncaster. HA HA

mark, chesterfield (22/09/2005 at 16:02)

The jurys definitely out on Vassell. He was brought to score goals, but his return so far has been poor. Two goals, one a penalty, doesn't look too clever to me. Yet again another cock up in the transfer market.

Mike Kelly, Ashton Manchester (22/09/2005 at 16:10)

Croft is rubbish ...
end of story!

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