My best mates are Blues fans so have had a great day out but from a football perspective we were poor today. We had this bizarre plan to play everything and I mean everything through McDonald, all tight passes through midfield in pretty triangles which had zero penetration. There was even a free kick from 30ish yards out in the first half that we took quickly and lose the ball from. We didn't utilise our power, pace or movement. They weren't any better than us, but that says more about the way we played than them, a goal win either way you couldn't complain about.
I was stood 3 rows from the front behind the goal so it was difficult to see everything, but from what I did see, these are me player thoughts.
Ikeme, solid enough, may have done better with their first, but where I was there were too many people in front of him to properly judge.
Iorfa, defensively strong, good going forward, but cannot cross a ball, he scuffs it or balloons it over everyone's head. He isn't a career right back to date, but has to add this to his game next pre season to be the player we think he could be
Golbourne, had a mare, all players have them, shocking defending for their second goal and awful crosses, but in 18 months how many poor games has he had? Our best left back and needs to stay in.
Stearman, no issue apart from a 5 minute spell in the first half when he had a knock. As with all our markers would need to see the first goal again to see who got beat for the initial header for the first goal
Batth, had a right old battle with Donaldson, which I'd say ended 50/50
Price, couldn't handle the runs and play of the Watford lad in the mask who was the best player on the pitch today. Took many cheap fouls.
McDonald, as I said above to much went through him, he didn't do badly, but had 2 men on him constantly
Henry, our best player, Kenny has two formulaic subs, we all know what they are, today it was completely the wrong thing to do.
Sako, he had one today, nothing went for him, spent the first half too deep and the second half running into brick walls
Dicko, did wonderfully well for our goal and the first half in general, seemed to spend the second on his heels with the defender always getting to the ball before him
Afobe, scored a simple chance, played too deep. Play 442 and go at teams or play Edwards please, this halfway house because they had a midfield 3 didn't work
RVLP, had some decent positions without ever really capitalising on them. Our lack of movement in general made it easy for them to double up on players which he was a victim of. If we'd moved it quicker in general we could have moved it around more, but whether it were Sako, RVLP or McDonald they all had 2 players on them instantly
Before and after the game was some weird 1980's throwback, kicked off everywhere and in the main those doing it were born in the 60's.