Player Ratings vs Barnet

I think it’s only fair if the players get three scores. One for the first half, one for the second and then an average of the two

Rhys Evans – 4, 7, 5.5
The first goal was diabolical, the second wasn’t really his fault and he was lucky not to get booked for complaining about the third that was definitely over the line. He needs to take more responsibility and command of his defence but he kept us from losing by a greater margin. Also, his kicking and distribution was atrocious so maybe I’m being too generous.

TJ Moncur – 5, 5, 5
TJ played OK even in amongst the nightmare of a match. Two beautiful balls for two beautiful goals offset his horrendous back pass that resulted in the first goal.

Graeme Lee – 5, 5, 5
Spike was solid once more but it wasn’t his afternoon with everything coming back at him and his defenders. As captain he needs to take command of his midfield and strikers, not just his defence.

Tom Clarke – 4, 4, 4
Where was the Tom of Tuesday night? A very poor game that was capped off, for me, by his obvious lack of stomach for the fight. This is where loan players begin to show their lack of value. His jogging back from a broken down corner was an insult to Paul Arnison, Simon Ainge, Mark Bower or Matt Clarke who are currently forced into the wings.

Luke O`Brien – 5, 5, 5
Not at fault for any of the goals but struggled all day long because he had noone to provide any cover whatsoever in front of him. Didn’t help himself though by continually playing it to the non-existent Omar Daley.

Nicky Law – 7, 5, 6
Began the beautiful move that led to the opening goal and was one of the few players to look like he knew what his reponsibilities were on the pitch. Didn’t see much of the ball in the second half as Barnet came down the right and we did nothing to bolster our left.

Dean Furman – 6, 5, 5.5
If loan players don’t get stuck in, Dean Furman is the exception that proves the rule. His injury is going to be a blow (although thebradfordian will be glad as he’ll no longer win man of the match)

Paul McLaren – 6, 5, 5.5
Beautiful set piece for Thorne’s goal (one of these days our opponents are going to get wise to him ghosting in at the back post) but all day he wanted too long on the ball and was caught in possession. He and Dean didn’t seem to know where the other was playing.

Barry Conlon – 8, 5, 6.5
First half was incredible but clearly the real Barry Conlon was brought back at the break as he did his best to become a dying swan, not regain possession when he lost it and looked like he was dining out on two excellent first half goals.

Peter Thorne – 7, 5, 6
Another game, another goal. He didn’t do too much but he was where it counted. However, struggled to know where he was meant to be and was too often covering for Boulding on the left wing which rendered much of his contribution meaningless. He’s doing what he’s paid for, it’s time the rest of the squad did.

Michael Boulding – 4, 4, 4
Contributed nothing and wasn’t sure where he was meant to be playing. Was it in a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2 with him wide on the left. In the first half we got away with this bizarre tactical decision, in the second we got what we deserved.

Subs
Kyle Nix
His arrival on the field for the departed Furman showed how much the Rangers man did even if he wasn’t spectacular yesterday. Nix had the ball once, was fought off it and then flounced at the referee for it not being a foul. That’s all he did. Also, and not for the first time, we conceded within minutes of him coming onto the pitch. As injuries have taken their toll now is the time for Kyle Nix to not be this season’s Paul Evans and avoid being the colossal let down that, in my eyes (and maybe my eyes only) he has been thus far.


Today I’m going to do something I don’t often do and that is give Stuart a rating. And it’s not a very good one.

Stuart McCall – 6, 4, 5
Without wingers Stuart had to try another tactic. It was either 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. If it was 4-4-2 then Michael Boulding is singularly responsible for our dreadful second half showing as he was never on the left wing. If it was 4-3-3 then Stuart hadn’t told his central midfield two that one of them would need to take responsibility for the left flank. Nicky Law was supporting TJ Moncur and occupying the right hand side of the pitch (mostly) so he looked like he knew what he was doing.

The problem was clear at the end of the mad first 45 minutes so presumably Stuart addressed it at half time? Except that Paul Fairclough had noticed what 12,510 had done and told Albert Adomah to fill his boots and terrorise Luke O’Brien because he would be easily outnumbered. Despite this going on underneath Stuart’s nose he made no alteration except when forced to by Dean Furman’s injury.

10 minutes before that happened it was clear we needed to boost the midfield. Clear that we needed to definitely go to a 4 man, or more, central tactic because Barnet were having everything their own way. But Stuart didn’t do a thing.

Does anyone know what formation it was we were actually playing? Come and let me know in the Vital Bradford forum. Or have I got it completely wrong, was our managerial team without criticism yesterday?