Half term report

[Toronto Villa]

At the start of the season most if not all us would have been delighted if we finished around 12th and just never involved ourselves in the relegation conversation. We moved on a couple of players and brought in an untried but promising striker from Brentford, a Championship right back, the Arsenal back up keeper, a winger with an iffy reputation in France and a central midfielder from Chelsea who had lost his way. Yet after 19 league games we sit in 8th position, 3 points off 5th spot with a game in hand against a West Ham team we will play very soon.

In those 19 games we have only conceded 21 goals. In three games; Leeds, Southampton and Burnley we conceded 10 of those goals. So in the other 16 we conceded 11. That's absolutely remarkable when you consider we conceded 67 goals last season. A big reason is our keeper who is the signing of the summer for all teams in my opinion. The confidence he brings let alone the pure ability has made a defence that was already getting better even better.

After 19 games we have scored 34 goals. We scored 41 goals all of last season. We score goals now from every position. You cannot simply mark Jack out of the game as he will bring in other players just by his presence.

My ratings for the main players:

Emi Martinez - 8.5 - Has made very few errors this season. There has been very few times he has been out of position. He doesn't drop anything (ok, maybe that one at Fulham) but his hands are very sure. He is brilliant at crosses and his distribution is just first class. His presence gives everyone so much confidence.

Matty Cash - 7.5 - has played way above expectations. Incredibly brave. Defends really well and gets forward too. Still learning the game and will need to improve his positioning but the chemistry he has with Konsa on that side will only improve.

Matt Targett - 8 - Most improved player at the club. A player that looked so uncomfortable with the expectations of being a first choice PL LB but has grown into that role so well. Again brave but what's been most impressive is his positioning to stay with top quality wide players. It's rare any more to see him get beaten one on one.

Ezri Konsa - 8.5 - Like Emi just so confident and assured. He makes the game look easy because of his awareness. Almost never gets beaten one on one and is the perfect foil for his CB partner who is more all action but prone to the odd error. But Konsa is only going to get better.

Tyrone Mings - 7.5 - Probably a victim of how high we regard him and the way he commanded everything in the Championship. We all think he should be better but in truth he's very good now. Yes he can make the odd error and those errors have led to us getting into trouble or conceding goals. But lets not dismiss the influence his brings to that defence and when he's on his game, he's still a very dominant player.

Douglas Luiz - 7 - Very unsung and does a lot of unnoticed work. He probably doesn't get the credit his work deserves and he's not scored any of those spectacular goals because he plays in a deeper position. But he's been critical to our defensive record and his reliability allows our attacking players to have the confidence to get forward.

John McGinn - 7 - Has blown hot and cold. When he's on, he's very good, but he's had games where he has not really imposed himself. We all love SJM but I think he is most at risk with the arrival of Sanson.

Ross Barkley - 7 - I can’t give him a higher rating than this...yet but his ceiling is much higher. Much will depend on his ability to stay fit. A concern he’s carried with him throughout his career. But the chemistry he already has with Jack and Ollie and the moments he produces suggest that we might still see the player that broke on to the scene with Everton turn into a consistently high performer in the PL. He gets into a lot of excellent positions and knits that space between Douglas and Jack very well while SJM does the clean up around him. We’ve not seen his best. Just glimpses. But those glimpses are pretty good.

Bertrand Traore/AEG/Trezeguet - I'm going to group them together and give them a collective 7 - They have all contributed in some way. Trez was very unlucky to get injured. While he didn't have the goals his workrate was incredible prior to the injury. AEG was a player on the outside looking in, but then got his chance and should have been voted the best player in the league in December. Unfortunately like Trez another one who got so unlucky, this time with Covid and he's not got back in. But made a brilliant contribution with some big goals. As for Bert, a player that makes you tear your last hairs out or stand up and applaud with some of things he does that others just don't think of. His goals have been so important and some of them just incredible. For me, the right player to be starting because he is so imaginative and unpredictable and always a threat going forward. His defending is getting better too.

Jack - 9.5 - I'm not giving him a 10 because he hasn't been perfect, but goodness me it's come close in many, many games. Effortlessly floats on the pitch. Drags defenders out of position. Great quick feet, a mind that is 2 chess moves ahead of his opponent. Very arguably the best player in the league this year and one of the best in Europe. Needs to add a few more goals to his game but what he does in assists and just chances created is so very impressive. Not one defender wants to face him one on one so it usually takes 2 or 3 and that's a huge compliment.

Ollie Watkins - 8 - A young lad leading the line in his first PL season. 10 goals this season in all competition is a great return at the half way point and he is only getting better. It should be a lot more. But for some dodgy VAR decisions, some bad luck, and some poor finishing he could easily have 15 which would be a sensational return. Works so hard all game, never gives the defence a moments rest. Plays with a smile and wonderful attitude.

Dean Smith and coaching staff - 9 - what a turnaround. I wanted him gone last year and I couldn't have been proven any more wrong. And the thing is he is still learning, improving and making mistakes that he will reflect on and come back even better. Our recruitment has been good to support him also but he's made a side that were nailed on to go down at the Covid break into a challenger for a Europa position in the space of 9 or so months. It's just unbelieveable.

All in all, I would say 8.5/10 or B+ rating. It's been very good indeed so far but we have a way to go and room to improve. By average age the youngest squad in the league which is also amazing given that we came up with one of the oldest. It's going to fun to see how we continue to grow and mature.

[TelfordVilla]

Nice one. Not much to argue with there.

[Steve67]

No Barkley TV?

Can't argue with your marks.  The recruitment also deserves a high mark too.  The club is on the up in just about every single department and it's exciting to watch.  We play a nice brand of football and like any up and coming team, show a bit of naivety at times, but whilst a bit frustrating at times, is also fun to watch.  I think many of the players are still improving and others will need to be replaced with extra quality further down the road.   The owners are amazing too. 

[Toronto Villa]

Shit forgot Ross. Will add

[cdbearsfan]

10s all round. Expect them to go up to 11 by the end of May.

[Risso]

Martinez - 9  Brilliant signing, and a huge impact on the defence and results in general.
Cash - 7.5 Good start to his career, doesn’t look out of place at all
Konsa - 8 Cool, calm and collected. England call up soon.
Mings - 7 Mostly great, still needs to cut mistakes
Targett - 9 Most improved player at the club, defensively rock solid, links well with Jack, up and down the wing like a locomotive.
McGinn - 6 A more disciplined role for him, some nice passes but still not 100% of what he’s capable of.
Luiz - 7 Another not quite at his best but still very good
Traore - 8 with the ball, 4 without it.
Barkley -7 Important goals but capable of a lot more.
Grealish - 10 Best player in the league. Best player we’ve ever had.
Watkins - 8.5 Super start to his PL career, and only going to get better.
El Ghazi/Trez A collective 7

[eamonn]

Nice work TV. Agree with every word and rating.

[PhilVill]

After last season it's been a breath of fresh air to see this team in action. It's an A minus from me with Jack Grealish now firmly entrenched as one of the top players in the league. Aim should now be for 60 - 65 points.

[Baldy]

Excellent analysis TV, agree 100%.

Would add that we have become a lot more streetwise. One example of many is kicking the ball away when we commit a foul. We don't kick it too far to warrant a booking but far enough to give us a few seconds extra to re-group. Another is feigning injury. Top teams have done it for years and created their own Basketball like 'time outs' when backs against the wall. I think this has the John Terry influence written all over it.

I also think Deano has taken a leaf out of the Alex Ferguson book. His outburst after the Man City game was exactly what we needed. Doesn't go unnoticed by referees, only a small fine and makes referees think twice about giving every tight decision against us. Ferguson did it for years, was the master of histrionics and Man Utd certainly gained. Who knows, we might have gained already against Southampton yesterday.

Overall, my half time report gives an A+. 
 

[Neil Hawkes]

Spot on assessments.
For what it's worth, I have a feeling in my bones that Morgan Sanson will have a big part to play in the second half of the season.

[Brazilian Villain]

10s all round. Expect them to go up to 11 by the end of May.

Shouldn't be a problem for McGinn with his Big Bottom.

[clash city rocker]

Well they have all exceeded my expectations.

[olaftab]

Martinez: 8 Generally been one of the best in the League but needs to dominate more at crosses.
Cash:  8 He has surprised me by being as good as he is.
Konsa:  9 Very very impressed with this young man, Going to be a legend.
Mings: 5 I am disappointed in him. Been the source of most of our defensive problems.
Targett:  8 I thought he was the biggest weakness in defence at the start. Totally proved me wrong.
Luiz: 8 Much much better than last season and improving everyday once he learns to shoot again.
McGinn:  5 Low score because he is yet to sparkle.
Barkley:  6 Could be great but so far I am not impressed.
Traore:   7 Pure talent and despite his obvious weakness we need flare on the pitch.
Grealish:  10 Nothing to say.
Watkins:  8 Great attitude. Will carry on improving.
Mahmoud Hassan: 7 An honest a professional as we have ever had. Reliable despite being a little short of talent at this level.
El Ghazi: 6 Frustrating. Comes and goes in bursts. May be that's his best use.
Jacob Ramsey: 6 Keep him in and around please.

[TopDeck113]

A spot-on opening post.

I'm really pleased with what has happened so far.  No reason why we shouldn't aim for another thirty points in the second half of the season, injuries permitting. 

Yes, we're inconsistent, still prone to costly individual errors and collective bad days at the office.  However, when we click, we are a joy to watch and the sense of collective purpose is self-evident. 

I guess the only clouds on the horizon are the continued speculation surrounding Jack and the prospect of Europa League qualification.  As far as the second is concerned, I'd rather not have an autumn of Thursday nights playing unpronounceable names from the Hungarian and Belorussian top flight to the detriment of kicking on again domestically. Let the likes of West Ham or Everton have that "privilege".   

[nigel]

Martinez: 8 Generally been one of the best in the League but needs to dominate more at crosses.
Cash:  8 He has surprised me by being as good as he is.
Konsa:  9 Very very impressed with this young man, Going to be a legend.
Mings: 5 I am disappointed in him. Been the source of most of our defensive problems.
Targett:  8 I thought he was the biggest weakness in defence at the start. Totally proved me wrong.
Luiz: 8 Much much better than last season and improving everyday once he learns to shoot again.
McGinn:  5 Low score because he is yet to sparkle.
Barkley:  6 Could be great but so far I am not impressed.
Traore:   7 Pure talent and despite his obvious weakness we need flare on the pitch.
Grealish:  10 Nothing to say.
Watkins:  8 Great attitude. Will carry on improving.
Mahmoud Hassan: 7 An honest a professional as we have ever had. Reliable despite being a little short of talent at this level.
El Ghazi: 6 Frustrating. Comes and goes in bursts. May be that's his best use.
Jacob Ramsey: 6 Keep him in and around please.

I don’t know how you can mark Mings so low when he’s an integral part of a defensive unit that’s kept 10 clean sheets.
Yes, he’s dropped a few clangers, but the positive side of his game far out weighs those.