Newcastle United vs Blackburn Rovers: Player ratings and extended highlights.
Posted on September 26th, 2011 | 28 Comments |
It was pretty much good stuff all round with a decent showing from a team that’s starting to gel. Very few black marks, the odd smudge, but nothing we couldn’t surmount.
Here goes!
Tim Krul 7.5:
Tim is fast becoming yet another top Toon ‘keeper and Toon legend at a young age. He did most things well, well, he didn’t have too much to do! Maybe needs to bark at his retreating defenders a bit to get them into position when facing an attack, as it was a case of players stood waiting for the shot that got Blackburn back into the game with a goal. Not wholly his problem though.
Danny Simpson 7:
Getting better with every game. His only smudge was backing off a bit when Olsson put the cross in for Hoilett to score. Got up the field to support (even in the dying minutes), but got back to defend. Good fitness too.
Fabricio Coloccini 8:
Captain Colo put in yet another imperious display, marshalling the defence, bringing the ball out, keeping it on the ground, picking his passes and keeping a cool head throughout. Top work!
Steven Taylor 8:
Great stuff from Saylor boy, got his head on the ball to assist Ba’s second goal and did his work at the back. He’s really starting to play controlled football under the the wing of Colo. about time!
Ryan Taylor 7:
Doing a great job in an unfamiliar LB slot. Not really being a weak link even though teams have tried. He was guilty of the initial loss of the ball for their goal at about the half way line though, but put in another good shift and deserves some credit. Also, All the best with the birth of your son mate.
Cheik Tiote 8:
Yes! Cheik seems to be back on song after a couple of early bad games. Rarely lost the ball, if he did I didn’t notice it. A top flighted cross for Demba’s third, great to see some deft crosses recently from him. He showed he’s more than just a DM destroyer. Oh! and no yellow, not even close to one. Good lad!
Yohan Cabaye 8:
I love this guy! How many years (games) has he played in the Premier league? Was man-marked, but it still didn’t stop him having an influence on this game. Some sweet passing on show, he really can nail a pass. Just makes the game look easy, hates losing the ball, keeps it simple what more can you say about him so far. Time for a goal, maybe?
Gabriel Obertan 7.5:
Great energy from the lad, it’s not gonna be long before he finds the net. Always gave us an out ball that put the opposition under pressure. Full of running all game. Can’t wait ’til he’s right in the groove, he’s getting there. just needs to hold on and pick the killer ball sometimes. He has skill as well as speed too.
Jonas Gutierrez 7.5:
Had a better second half than fisrt, but like Obertan, gives us an out, wins free kicks cos he’s tricky, helps out defending left with Raylor and always contributed.
Leon Best 8:
Some great CF work by Leon. Holds up play well, has skill and power, bullied defenders. Top strikers cross for Ba’s first, early with pace. On another day would have had a couple himself, maybe snapped at his chances a little. Cementing his place though.
Demba Ba 9.5:
What can you say? A home turf hat-trick! I’m saving half a point back for…a 4 goal game? Showed pace, skill, determination, got on the end of things, upset their defence. Great to see him bed-in and get his goals to games average looking good. He really clicked with Best and looked up for it a got his just desserts. Made up for the lad and his family that flew in from Paris to see him claim his first Premier league triple and signed match ball. Excellent! Man of the match.
Hatem Ben Arfa 7.5:
Didn’t have too much time on the pitch for his home come-back game, but he did a lot with it. Some proper neat skill with vision. Might have scored, but unselfishly tried to set up a team mate late on. Drool!
Sylvain Marveaux 7:
I can’t wait to see this lad get more game time. Pops up all over the pitch, keeps it simple and always carries a threat, Your time will come Sylvain!
Right!
That concludes the ratings for Newcastle v Blackburn.
I feel there’s still plenty to come with this set of players. Everyone of them put in a great shift and didn’t let anyone down. It was a resounding win against a team that’s held a bit of an Indian sign
over us in recent seasons, so it was good to get things turned around. You may think i’ve marked a little on the high side, but i feel that the overall performance was a worthy 8.
What did you think?
How would you rate them?
match report and post match interviews, match facts / stats etc
Howay the Lads!
Newcastle United vs Blackburn Rovers extended highlights
NU3-BR1 by heybs
Yes, a fantastic peformance all round!
Raylor & Simpson the weak links on 7! Bloody heck, that’s setting a hight standard!
HWTL