Stevie_J Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Smithy was awesome but young Winchester for me a shaky 10/15 minutes apart whilst he adjusted to arriving into a frenetic tie…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshOWTB Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Could easily be Smith, Wes or Winchester but I think I'm going to have to go for Wabara. While Smith was brilliant in attack I think Wabara was good in attack, defence and in-between. Also gotta say that any other day Baxter would have been MotM for his block of some of Liverpool's shots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie_J Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'd written Smith off but his performance made me think maybe he's not a non-league player. He won near enough everything launched up towards him in he air, laid off the ball intelligently, put himself about a lot more than I've ever seen before, didn't give Coates and Skrtel (who resorted to trying to maim him) any peace. He still needs to become a lot more mobile if he's going to make it at this level or above and work on how he uses the ball at his feet but that was a match-winning performance yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slystallone Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Smith for me; for the goals and for the fact he absolutely bullied Skertl & (Get Your) Coates. But, to be fair - I also thought Byrne, Wees, Grounds, Winchester & M'Voto all had very good games. Makes a change for their to be plenty of deserving options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcprozac Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 That was not Matt Smith, that was Ivan Drago in a Latics shirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannydguzman84 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Whole team for me, dont think any player did anything wrong, 1 or 2 bad passes but nothing to big, great team effect, need to put that into the league now for the next 2 weeks and then again against Everton. Lets go on a run of 4 or 5 games now and kick start the season, 6 months late but better late then never. OWTB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancy lad Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Smithy every day of the week. Ran his bollocks off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostofcecere Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Grounds for me, a very accomplished performance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Thought Croft had a very good match. Went for Smith though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 8 - Bouzanis 9 - Wabara 10 - Grounds 8 - Byrne 7 - M'voto 8 - Wesolowski 7 - Croft 7 - Baxter 9 - Smith 9 - Simpson 6* - M'changama 8 - Winchester 6* - Taylor 6* - Mellor *not enough time to do more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_ragg1984 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 8 - Bouzanis 9 - Wabara 10 - Grounds 8 - Byrne 7 - M'voto 8 - Wesolowski 7 - Croft 7 - Baxter 9 - Smith 9 - Simpson 6* - M'changama 8 - Winchester 6* - Taylor 6* - Mellor *not enough time to do more. 6 is a bit harsh on M'Changama. He was only on the pitch for about 5 minutes and he set up a goal. Smith was a beast. The best player on the pitch by some way. He bullied international defenders and looked unplayable. Made up for him because he puts a shift in week in week out. Yesterday all his hard work paid off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'd written Smith off but his performance made me think maybe he's not a non-league player. He won near enough everything launched up towards him in he air, laid off the ball intelligently, put himself about a lot more than I've ever seen before, didn't give Coates and Skrtel (who resorted to trying to maim him) any peace. He still needs to become a lot more mobile if he's going to make it at this level or above and work on how he uses the ball at his feet but that was a match-winning performance yesterday. He needs the system around him. That's the best support and supply structure he's had. He's never going to be a world beater but lobbing it at his head and then standing around is a sure fire way to have people talking about how :censored: he is. On Boxing Day he was just as effective at winning the ball in the air but was completely isolated and his flick ons would land with the deep centre half or the keeper. Yesterday Simpson ran like a man possessed to make it to the flick and Baxter and Croft made sure they were tight for the controlled lay off. It was simple but effective as Liverpool for some reason didn't know what to do to stop it. Once they worked that out, and tucked in their full backs to stop the flick on, Smith just moved wider (Philiskirk's doing if I am interpreting his gesturing from the sidelines right) and started laying it off to Croft. Then moved back inside later. But, overall I gave MOM to Grounds who was brilliant throughout. Calm and composed which given he spent the entire first half (aside from the first ten mins) without the protection of a winger (a system which we got away with thanks to Rodgers' ineptitude to not stick someone with pace out there to just run at him) was phenomenal. He will ache today, burned out from an intense and committed performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Everyone From Youseff to Mellor they were amazing But my men (and women) of the match were the ones who gave up their Saturday (or part of it) to clear the pitch of snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_ragg1984 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Everyone From Youseff to Mellor they were amazing But my men (and women) of the match were the ones who gave up their Saturday (or part of it) to clear the pitch of snow. I did say whilst we were clearing the pitch on Saturday that if we won I was taking the credit (and I told a few of the others to do the same). So yeah, cheers, it was probably the best performance of my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Dave Ragg aside, it's Smith by a country mile for me. He set the tone from the off, getting stuck into them and piling in when the handbags kicked off. It showed that we were in there to give them a game. The direction of his flicks and lay-offs was frankly awful when he first started appearing but yesterday he hardly fluffed one of them. As well as everyone played he was the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I'm boycotting the vote because I genuinely cannot decide on one particular player - there were too many outstanding performances! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossrocks Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 (edited) Has to be Smith for his goals and his dominating of the Liverpool centre backs. Baxter I thought had a (relatively) quiet game - he uncharacteristically gave the ball away 4 or 5 times and it shows the measure of respect that Liverpool gave him as they had 3 men on him giving him no time every time he got the ball. He was unlucky with a couple of cracking shots. The stage is set for him in the next round against his former club, be great if he could score against them. Simmo deserves a mention too - ran his socks off and caused a lot of problems himself. Have we found the position to get the best out of him this season (supporting Smith)? He needs to start bringing it in league games and not just important cup games! Edited January 28, 2013 by bossrocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stargazer Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Wes & Mvoto the pick for me , just ahead of Smith. Mind if Byrne hadn't been partly at fault for their opener , I would have picked him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Amazing team performance, they all deserve it but it's got to be Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disjointed Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 still thinking this one over, absolutely made up for the players that gave everything, it would have been harsh if we had only drawn the game (although at 3-1 i thought they would force a tie). Normally it is just a case of picking the best of a bad bunch. I like this problem, more of the same please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Sinnott Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I think Brad Jones was our best performer yesterday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 (edited) 7 - Bouzy - should have saved the first, one cross a game has to go sailing over his head when he's come for it but I loved the two safe takes near the end. Didn't time waste enough. 9 - Wabara - lovely header for the goal, but covered a hell of a lot of turf defensively too. Picked out Brad Jones superbly for Smith's second. 9 - Grounds - a couple of sliced clearances aside, that was as good a left ack performance as I've seen at Latics in years. 15 - Byrne - life on the line merchant. Gave it everything. Not his fault Suarez scored. Wound Sturridge up too (who I swear smacked him one, even if the cameras suggest otherwise). Immense and my motm. 10 - M'Voto - another immense performance by JYM and another couple of pieces of skill bringing the ball out of defence that left my underwear at risk but were actually quite lovely bits of football. 9 - Wesolowski - immense until Gerrard came on, then had to chase a bit. 10 - M'Changama - exactly the kind of cross Matt Dmith should be getting every game. Rahim Sterling should have got a straight red for the tackle that's ended the lad's season. 10 - Winchester - he's put in a couple of great performances in a Latics shirt that many forget. This one will be remembered for a long time. Not sure if the cross for the third was just a wild swing or a pinpoint effort to a player he knew was approaching, Regardless, with Smith or Simpson on the pitch the delivery was right. 10 - Croft - the ball for Smith's second was an example of his true talent. The mis-hit shot to Changy to create the first was quite funny too. But he ran, harried, defended, chased etc all game. Tremendous. 8 - José Baxter. Baby - not his best game but valuable in keeping the ball in tight spaces and, although it didn't all fall into place for him, clearly showed he's got more than a hard working League One player. Should have made it 4-1. 12 - Smith - immense. And playing as part of a front two helped him significantly. As did the service into him. If he plays, he's part of a strike duo. 9 - Simpson - I'm quite pleased the ref didn't send both Simpson and Brad Jones off for his reaction to the late challenge in the first half. I'm all for roughing up the opposition but Simpson really did run the risk of getting another red himself there. Great supporting role alongside mighty Matt Smith. Should have made the game safe when the ball landed kindly for him. 8 - Taylor - did what was needed when he came on. 7 - Mellor - thought he should ave come on for Changy. Glad he didn't! 8 - Me - snow clearing efforts amounted to just short of two hours. I know many others did a lot more. I'm so glad I was able to stand up all game though. The pain and effort of actually having to sit / stand / sit / stand would have wiped me out. Never did pick up the MK Dons ticket either! Edited January 29, 2013 by opinions4u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukka Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Matt Smith - If he doesnt win sports personality of the year, Ill be pissed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBigDog Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Has to be Smith for his goals and his dominating of the Liverpool centre backs. Baxter I thought had a (relatively) quiet game - he uncharacteristically gave the ball away 4 or 5 times and it shows the measure of respect that Liverpool gave him as they had 3 men on him giving him no time every time he got the ball. He was unlucky with a couple of cracking shots. The stage is set for him in the next round against his former club, be great if he could score against them. Simmo deserves a mention too - ran his socks off and caused a lot of problems himself. Have we found the position to get the best out of him this season (supporting Smith)? He needs to start bringing it in league games and not just important cup games! This sums it up for me from an attacking perspective - but defensively we also played top football - the back four were solid and gave their all. As Diego says - not a poor performance from anyone - but Matty Smith, Smith, Smith was the man for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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