Ratings thread

[Sid Bishop]

It would have been impossible for Widdowson not to have a better second half given the way he performed in the first! Other than that I pretty much agree with your assessment. One point, anyone else think Wilkinson looks a better player without Angol alongside him?

It does seem that way. Perhaps he's relishing being the main man, no longer just a head on a stick to facilitate Angol's tricky feet.

Need a quality striker signed in January to create an effective partnership. Harrold did well today but was looking tired by the end. 45 mins is about his limit fitness wise but without doubt lifted the side with his physical presence and hold-up play.

Also he is another ''Captain'' like player on the pitch !

[The Big Shot]

A strange game that. Rather entertaining by the end, perhaps for the wrong reasons at times. As usual Ross' tactics meant we were only at the races for half the game. He doesn't learn does he

Brill - 5 - not much chance with any of the goals but doesn't look mobile
Ling - 5 - not great
Ekpiteta - 3 - as poor as he's played this season. Rightly hooked at HT
Happe - 5 - can't score much higher than that when you concede 3 goals
Coulson - 5 - as per Happe
Widdowson - 5 - better second half
Wright - 7 - two vital goals, glad he's here
Marsh - 5 - some good interceptions but had a battle on his hands out there. Probably our best partnership if we play two in CM
Clay - 3 - why is he starting? Game passed him by.
Dennis - 5 - has potential but nullified by the formation
Wilkinson - 6 - seems to be stepping up in Angol's absence. Great goal. Lucky not to be sent off though.

Brophy - 6 - gave Vale something to think about with his pace second half
JMD - 6 - as above, gave enough injection of threat towards the end to keep us going
Harrold - 7 - changed the game and made the ball stick upfront. Proved why he should've been playing ahead of Alabi

Embleton - 2 - same old same old from Ross. Doesn't learn from his previous mistakes. Lucky the players dug out a point once freed from his negative tactics.

Wilkinson I thought deserved an 8 - IMO was MOTM.

Agree with the rest though.

No idea why Ross went back to 5 at the back at home, we even took the lead and still looked disorganised with it. He deserves credit for changing it and bringing Harrold on though.

We're actually not a bad side with the ball - We create chances and score goals.

We are a proper car crash without it though, a new gaffer to get us organised is needed quickly.

[Byways1]

Martin Ling needs to look at his performance in every aspect of his role. Do yourself a favour Martin and tender your resignation now.

You you chuck in a cushy job like that?

[MrB]

A strange game that. Rather entertaining by the end, perhaps for the wrong reasons at times. As usual Ross' tactics meant we were only at the races for half the game. He doesn't learn does he

Brill - 5 - not much chance with any of the goals but doesn't look mobile
Ling - 5 - not great
Ekpiteta - 3 - as poor as he's played this season. Rightly hooked at HT
Happe - 5 - can't score much higher than that when you concede 3 goals
Coulson - 5 - as per Happe
Widdowson - 5 - better second half
Wright - 7 - two vital goals, glad he's here
Marsh - 5 - some good interceptions but had a battle on his hands out there. Probably our best partnership if we play two in CM
Clay - 3 - why is he starting? Game passed him by.
Dennis - 5 - has potential but nullified by the formation
Wilkinson - 6 - seems to be stepping up in Angol's absence. Great goal. Lucky not to be sent off though.

Brophy - 6 - gave Vale something to think about with his pace second half
JMD - 6 - as above, gave enough injection of threat towards the end to keep us going
Harrold - 7 - changed the game and made the ball stick upfront. Proved why he should've been playing ahead of Alabi

Embleton - 2 - same old same old from Ross. Doesn't learn from his previous mistakes. Lucky the players dug out a point once freed from his negative tactics.

Wilkinson I thought deserved an 8 - IMO was MOTM.

Agree with the rest though.

No idea why Ross went back to 5 at the back at home, we even took the lead and still looked disorganised with it. He deserves credit for changing it and bringing Harrold on though.

We're actually not a bad side with the ball - We create chances and score goals.

We are a proper car crash without it though, a new gaffer to get us organised is needed quickly.

That’s a great description

[Proposition Joe]

Can't be arsed doing full ratings but, much as it pains me to say it, Coulson needs to be taken out the back and put out of his misery, along with Clay. I love them both dearly for last season but it's not happening.

JMD was his usual flash in the pan - did knack all apart from provide good advertising for his local barber and tattoo artist but then pops up with a vital assist.

The fact Wright ended up with a brace is nothing short of inexplicable but he put them away neatly so credit to him for that.

Harrold changed the game as other have said but that's also down to the formation change. 532/352 should be canned forever (or until we have players who suit it).

Wilkinson MoM for me, even though he drifted in and out a bit. Looked dangerous when given the chance to drive at the Vale defence, great assist for Wright's first and great goal for 2-2.

[Bergen]

Brill - 6
Ling - 6
Ekpiteta - 5
Happe - 6
Coulson - 5
Widdowson -6
Wright - 7
Marsh - 6
Clay - 4
Dennis - 5
Wilkinson - 8

Harrold - 7

[essexfootball]

Brill - 5 - Not much he could do
Ling - 5 - not great, some very odd backward passes at times
Ekpiteta - 3 - when a ball playing cb goes wrong, also getting physically outplayed
Happe - 7 - thought he played well second half, didn't let the striker physical man handle him
Coulson - 6 - Meh
Wright - 7 - Two goals, when he gets the ball he shows his worth
Marsh - 6 - Solid at what he does, guaranteed booking every week
Clay - 4 - Doesn't look this level
Dennis - 5 - Never got in the game, partly of his own fault and the teams
Wilkinson - 9 - Brillant cross for the first, lovely finish for the second, he is a footballer not a target man, I think him being tall just makes people think he should be a target man but on the deck he looks far better

Brophy - 6 - Meh tbh but he did drive with the ball, run round more
JMD - 8 - Came on, setup the equaliser not bad for 20 minutes
Harrold - 9 - Showed what a target man actually is, if he didn't win the ball he stopped the defender getting full contact so it went around that area, brought others into play, won a few three kicks, unbelievable at any point Alabi has been on ahead of him

[redintheface]

Harrold is under utilised imho. Always makes life difficult and uncomfortable for opponents and could be used off the bench more frequently.

[Proposition Joe]

Brill - 5 - Not much he could do
Ling - 5 - not great, some very odd backward passes at times
Ekpiteta - 3 - when a ball playing cb goes wrong, also getting physically outplayed
Happe - 7 - thought he played well second half, didn't let the striker physical man handle him
Coulson - 6 - Meh
Wright - 7 - Two goals, when he gets the ball he shows his worth
Marsh - 6 - Solid at what he does, guaranteed booking every week
Clay - 4 - Doesn't look this level
Dennis - 5 - Never got in the game, partly of his own fault and the teams
Wilkinson - 9 - Brillant cross for the first, lovely finish for the second, he is a footballer not a target man, I think him being tall just makes people think he should be a target man but on the deck he looks far better

Brophy - 6 - Meh tbh but he did drive with the ball, run round more
JMD - 8 - Came on, setup the equaliser not bad for 20 minutes
Harrold - 9 - Showed what a target man actually is, if he didn't win the ball he stopped the defender getting full contact so it went around that area, brought others into play, won a few three kicks, unbelievable at any point Alabi has been on ahead of him

9s?

Oh come on.

[essexfootball]

9s?

Oh come on.

I thought Wilkinson was absolutely superb when he had a chance, great cross for the first, superbly taken second, what else can he do, that's a great day at the office for a striker

[RedDwarf 1881]

A strange game that. Rather entertaining by the end, perhaps for the wrong reasons at times. As usual Ross' tactics meant we were only at the races for half the game. He doesn't learn does he

Brill - 5 - not much chance with any of the goals but doesn't look mobile
Ling - 5 - not great
Ekpiteta - 3 - as poor as he's played this season. Rightly hooked at HT
Happe - 5 - can't score much higher than that when you concede 3 goals
Coulson - 5 - as per Happe
Widdowson - 5 - better second half
Wright - 7 - two vital goals, glad he's here
Marsh - 5 - some good interceptions but had a battle on his hands out there. Probably our best partnership if we play two in CM
Clay - 3 - why is he starting? Game passed him by.
Dennis - 5 - has potential but nullified by the formation
Wilkinson - 6 - seems to be stepping up in Angol's absence. Great goal. Lucky not to be sent off though.

Brophy - 6 - gave Vale something to think about with his pace second half
JMD - 6 - as above, gave enough injection of threat towards the end to keep us going
Harrold - 7 - changed the game and made the ball stick upfront. Proved why he should've been playing ahead of Alabi

Embleton - 2 - same old same old from Ross. Doesn't learn from his previous mistakes. Lucky the players dug out a point once freed from his negative tactics.

Wilkinson I thought deserved an 8 - IMO was MOTM.

Agree with the rest though.

If we could just tighten up the defence a bit we'll be fine .

No idea why Ross went back to 5 at the back at home, we even took the lead and still looked disorganised with it. He deserves credit for changing it and bringing Harrold on though.

We're actually not a bad side with the ball - We create chances and score goals.

We are a proper car crash without it though, a new gaffer to get us organised is needed quickly.

[Millennial Snowflake]

Martin Ling needs to look at his performance in every aspect of his role. Do yourself a favour Martin and tender your resignation now.

A bit too far with that comment. He did get a team together very quickly when we went into the National League and also did well with his second choice manager.

Not at all. He hasn’t got a strategy for anything - that is clear. His video the other day was an embarrassment TBH.

Time for Teague and co. to stop the amateur hour.

Very unlike you to judge someone on a 10-minute video clip from a Monday morning

[Rambling Man]

Considering Ross must have gone to bed after Swindon saying "Right. 5-3-2, never again', today's formation came as a surprise to say the least. Interesting that two of the three highest goals against so far belong to ourselves and Salford. 41 goals between us in 21 matches. With hindsight we ought to have strengthened defensively in the Summer and handing out extended contracts to our National League stalwarts looks like a mistake (Happe excepted).

[Disoriented]

A bit too far with that comment. He did get a team together very quickly when we went into the National League and also did well with his second choice manager.

Not at all. He hasn’t got a strategy for anything - that is clear. His video the other day was an embarrassment TBH.

Time for Teague and co. to stop the amateur hour.

Very unlike you to judge someone on a 10-minute video clip from a Monday morning

I know, but there you go.

[Disoriented]

Martin Ling needs to look at his performance in every aspect of his role. Do yourself a favour Martin and tender your resignation now.

There's always one
What a W@nker

Touching that you and Downminster seem obsessed with my posts.

[gshaw]

Wilkinson - 9 - Brillant cross for the first, lovely finish for the second, he is a footballer not a target man, I think him being tall just makes people think he should be a target man but on the deck he looks far better

Nail on head with this one. Think that's the reason we're seeing more from him with Angol out; he's getting to play rather than being reduced to doing the donkey work and getting physically battered the whole game.

Harrold is under utilised imho. Always makes life difficult and uncomfortable for opponents and could be used off the bench more frequently.

Another mystery of Ross' time as manager. He saw how Harrold was utilised last season, then proceeded to ignore him for the bulk of his time running the team. Bizarre.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Same old same old.

An immobile keeper that refuses to come off his line to collect crosses, a defence getting pulled all over the place by a bang average side, an ineffectual midfield full of shirkers, a forward line that cant keep the ball. Completely inconsistent over the 90 mins, at times playing some great stuff yet still leaking 3 goals and could have been more.

The sooner someone comes in to organise this shambles, the better.

Although it was fun in parts, for sure, and Wilkinson is entertaining.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Wilkinson - 9 - Brillant cross for the first, lovely finish for the second, he is a footballer not a target man, I think him being tall just makes people think he should be a target man but on the deck he looks far better

Nail on head with this one. Think that's the reason we're seeing more from him with Angol out; he's getting to play rather than being reduced to doing the donkey work and getting physically battered the whole game.

Harrold is under utilised imho. Always makes life difficult and uncomfortable for opponents and could be used off the bench more frequently.

Another mystery of Ross' time as manager. He saw how Harrold was utilised last season, then proceeded to ignore him for the bulk of his time running the team. Bizarre.

He’s getting battered more than ever when leading the line?

[gshaw]

Wilkinson - 9 - Brillant cross for the first, lovely finish for the second, he is a footballer not a target man, I think him being tall just makes people think he should be a target man but on the deck he looks far better

Nail on head with this one. Think that's the reason we're seeing more from him with Angol out; he's getting to play rather than being reduced to doing the donkey work and getting physically battered the whole game.

Harrold is under utilised imho. Always makes life difficult and uncomfortable for opponents and could be used off the bench more frequently.

Another mystery of Ross' time as manager. He saw how Harrold was utilised last season, then proceeded to ignore him for the bulk of his time running the team. Bizarre.

He’s getting battered more than ever when leading the line?

You could be forgiven for thinking that but...

If we play 4-3-3 there's more of a focus on speed and movement using the two wingers rather than hoofing long (as we would playing 5-3-2 with him and Angol up top) so less of a battle for him with pointless long balls.

Similarly today Harrold comes out and does the dirty work, leaving space for Wilkinson to get the ball in a bit more space and he procured that cracking equaliser. Nearly had another at the end but for a smart save.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Not thinking that, it’s what’s been happening.

First half today he led the line and thought he looked great, although getting ‘battered’. I thought he disappeared second half when out wide right, although wasn’t getting battered.

Great goal though.

[RBMarshall]

For all the nonsense spouted on here it always strikes me as strange that almost without fail the first post on the ratings thread is extremely accurate.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Really?

He gave Wright a 7.

[Tom Chance]

Really?

He gave Wright a 7.

How can you not give someone who scores two at least 7 ?

[OKPete]

Wilko clear mom for me, not sure how Harrold was given it, although he did make a difference. Couple of well taken goals by Wright, as well. Bit of a strange game. Obviously there were going to be criticisms of the formation but, for me, the first half was more about poor individual performances. Subs made a difference, although I was surprised to see Clay come out second half. I think some of the players that are struggling could still be good enough for L2 but you’ll be a better man than I am Gunga Din if you can get them playing at the right level. In the meantime, the players who do look up to scratch have to start. That means Brophy and possibly Gorman as well.

Will be interesting to to see what the new boss makes of this bunch of players.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Really?

He gave Wright a 7.

How can you not give someone who scores two at least 7 ?

Because he was awful for the rest of the game.