Burnley v Bristol City - Player Ratings

[Tricky Trevor]

I start with a 7 and go up and down from that. Nobody had worse than a 7. Any problems I had with the performance were more system related than individual. Passing is far too slow, possession is everything, looking to score the perfect goal, etc.,
My main complaint, since Tripps left, our widemen refusing to get the ball in at the earliest opportunity. I’ve just watched all this weekends highlights shows and so many goals are scored from the early cross with the defender chasing back to his own goal. GET IT IN.
Right I’ve got that of my chest so ratings.
Muric…….7 did nothing wrong.
Roberts…7 Better second half. As our kid told me, works much better with JBG.
THB……….7 Looked comfortable all afternoon. Saved us 2 points at the end.
Beyer…….8 we’ve found a player in this guy.
Maatsen..7 Held his LB position first half much freer second half.
Benson….7 I just want him to get the ball in faster. The opportunity is always there.
Brownhill.7 Worked his socks off.
Cork……….8 MoM
Cullen…….7 Did his job but seems more restricted now Cork has taken the central role.
Tella……….7 Patchy. Should have done better with his big chance.
JRod……….8 Proper line leading CF. Deserved his goal. Makes too many runs out wide.

Zaroury…..7
JBG………….8 A class above.

[ashtonlongsider]

Muric 7
Roberts 6
THB 8
Beyer 8
Maatsen 8
Benson 7
Cork 9*
Brownhill 6
Cullen 7
Jay 9
Tella 5

JBG 7
Zaroury 7

[Big Vinny K]

Muric 7 - couple of big important saves. One in each half.
Roberts 5 - wreckless foul at the end which could easily have cost us another 2 points. Countless times he could have put the ball in or drove forward but he took the easy option of passing it back. I understand we want to keep possession and need to be selective when we do put the ball in or get forward but he needs to do it more in a game than he has done this season.
THB 8 - another really good game with another 2 or 3 great switches of play which I think only him (and Muric !) have in their locker.
Beyer 7 - looked solid and comfortable on the ball. Made a couple of really good challenges too. Looks to have a good all round game but again he’s not the tallest.
Maatsen 6 - not quite got back up,to the standards he set at the start of the season. When he is pushing forward as much as he sometimes does our communication needs to be a bit better in terms of one of the team covering the acres of space he has left. Near the end there was a couple of times where they just hit it long into the space he had vacated and from nowhere we looked in trouble. Their goal was partly down to him too as it was not the best of corners and we should have cleared it.
Benson 7 - good goal and looked dangerous.
Cork 8 - really good game following a brilliant performance midweek. Loving the class and leadership he is showing this season.
Brownhill 6 - been great all season but just had a couple of average performance against his ex clubs. Sure he will come back firing after international break.
Cullen 7 - another good game and he is consistently important to the way we play.
Jay 9 - MOM - what a brilliant performance today. He has earned his rest in these next 2 weeks. He was coming deep today and won the ball back on numerous occasions. His link up play was great. His touch was brilliant and his passing was also very good. Topped off a great performance with an excellent header which gave their keeper no chance.
Tella 6 - love him as a player but think he might be either not fully fit or carrying a bit of a knock. Again hopefully benefit from a couple of weeks of rest from match games.

JBG 7 - wasn’t sure he was what we needed when he came on but proves what the hell do I know ?!!! Good cross for the goal and showed some good touches and sensible play when we were under a bit of pressure.
Zaroury 7 - really good when he came on. Excellent feet in some really tight positions and he looks like he has got an end product too. To have quality like this on our bench is great.

We are developing as a team who for the most part have hardly played together and who are working for a new manager, under a new system for many and also for a number in a completely new country. We have seen many times how difficult it can be for overseas players to settle in a new country often moving family, learning a new language and living in hotels etc for the first few months. For us to perform how we have in the first couple of months is very promising for me. We will still probably concede silly goals for a while and very probably get beat in games we have dominated possession. But if we can hang round the play off places till January we could be one of the few clubs who can spend decent money. And even if we don’t we can see from the quality of our bench and some of the players not even marketing the bench like Twine and Churlinov who will be back from injury that we have a big and better quality squad than many teams in this division. Some teams who are doing ok now like Sunderland have no money to spend and may begin to drop off as injuries hit them. In contrast I think we will get stronger as the season goes on and everyone gets more experience of playing together.

[MrTechno]

Muric 7 - probably should have done better for the goal but made a really important save and good distribution. Some fans need to get off his back.
Roberts 6 - not his best game but solid enough, slowed the game down at times and should have fed benson more when he was causing all sort of problems
THB 7 - roll Royce of a player. Some of the balls into feet are delicious
Beyer 7 - very promising
Maatsen 6 - quiet by his standards but still put a couple of dangerous balls in
Cork 8 - brilliant. Kept things ticking along well made some very difficult bits of play look easy
Cullen 8 - brilliant next to cork, broke play up well and relieved the danger
Brownhill 7 - solid
Benson 8 - they couldn’t handle him. Don’t understand the negativity on here about him. A total myth that he hasn’t got a right foot. A very exciting player
Jay 8 - perfect in this system, perhaps our most important player? MoM just
Tella 6 - quiet again after the Preston game but he’ll come good again.

JBG 7 - totally proved me wrong, thought he was finished. Fantastic ball in
Zanoury 7 - there’s something about this boy, he could be a very special player, his touch is top class

First game of the season for me, really enjoyed it. Can’t get on as much as I’d like to due to family commitments, but loving it, really look forward to the games, like being 15 again. My eldest is 5 and he’s just starting to like football, what a side he’s able to watch and still feel we’ve got a couple more gears to go.

[Vino blanco]

Muric 7 still get nervous with his keeping, but he is doing a good job.
Roberts 6 poor first half, improved after the break.
THB 8 hard to believe he is only 20
Kaiser Beyer 7 glad he is in the team, I would keep him at cb and put Charlie at lb when he is fit.
Maatsen 7 good going forward
Benson 8 what a first half
Cullen 7 another solid job done.
Cork 9 another master class
Brownhill 7 got through a lot of hard work
Tella 6 should have scored, one of his quieter games
Jayrod 8 great link up play for a striker, plus he scored again

JBG 7 good to see him back to form, plus he did a lot of Dychesque defending.
Zaroury 7 another young, talented youngster. He could become a future star player.

[claret59]

Good to see that Ashley Barnes was in his place, nowhere near the Squad.

I look forward to reading how fans rate the players on here and obviously opinions will vary. I never contribute myself but I thought the above comment was sickening.

[Swizzlestick]

Perhaps a little harsh, but hardly ‘sickening’.

[theonlywayisup]

Muric 7
Roberts 6
THB 8
Beyer 7
Maatsen 7
Cork 9*
Cullen 7
Brownhill 7
Benson 8
Rodriguez 8
Tella 6

JGB 7
Zaroury 8

[the_magic_rat]

Muric 6

Roberts 6
Harwood-Bellis 8
Beyer 8
Maatsen 7

Benson 8 MOM
Cork 7
Cullen 8
Brownhill 7

Rodriguez 8
Tella 6

JBG 7
Zaroury 7

[JimmyRobbo]

Muric - 7 - Occasionally less than convincing in his own 6 yard box (certainly for 6'5") but overall he is good and played well. Crucial stop for 1v1.

Roberts - 6 - Game of 2 halves. He's not as bad as some dramatise. Did tend to force passes unnecessarily at times.

Maatsen - 7 - Better than recent. Good header to set up 1st. Still seems to come inside too easily. Steady overall, might need to lose one for not dealing with the corner for the goal.

Harwood Bellis - 8 - I think he fits the system superbly. Unlucky with the corner; it's one of those you'd love to have back.

Bayer - 7 - As someone else commented: he has all the tools. Looked assured. Can play with both feet. A good debut.

Cork - 9 - As I've said many times over the years, I love watching him play. Smooth and calm. He'd have been great in this system for years.

Cullen - 7 - Another game where he keeps us ticking. Might not be playing many cutting passes like his debut but he is an excellent partner for Cork.

Brownhill - 7 - Not deadly but covers lots of ground and helped to give us an edge. Another drag onto the other foot which could have provided a goal.

Benson- 7 - He was brilliant for the opening quarter. Direct, exciting and a brilliant shot for the goal. We've been missing his type for years. Went quiet later.

Tella - 6 - Didn't happen for him. You have days like that. A couple of very good chances wasted.

Rodriguez- 8 - Really has matured into a beautiful player. Great touches and layoffs. Superbly taken goal. I hope he keeps his fitness.

JBG - 7 - A tame effort earlier but a fantastic cross for the goal. Another player whom I hope keeps his fitness.

Zaroury - 7 - We appear to have another player who will terrify fullbacks this year. A very dangerous, albeit short appearance, showing how direct he can be.

This will be a familiar pattern for a while. We dominate but can't make it pay.

There are a number of scenarios for concern. Will teams eventually play Dyche-ball and punish on set-pieces when we force passes and concede possession cheaply? How will some of our flair players deal with the damp and miserable climate when it hits for the middle half of the season? Can we keep Cork and Jay fit enough for long enough?

Some fans will be frustrated by our new style. I'm very happy to give it plenty of time. We'll have games, like Preston, where we will not win and we will have games where we will lose (as could so easily have happened yesterday). That is football. As Clarets, we've had plenty of periods of losing. Enjoy us being more likely to win than lose, for a while. Keep the faith and keep positive. It always pays off when the important people have direction, a plan and know what they are doing.

[Luppy]

Muric - 6 - Don't care what anyone says, he has to be stronger in his own 6 yard box. Has to be

Roberts - 6 - it's a strange one. If you're playing out on the left, Cullen is always available. There's no similar easy way out for Roberts. I think he's getting stick from some that is probably not deserved.
THB - 8 - the lad is just a class act
Bayer - 7 - A solid full debut. Good on the ball too
Maatsen - 7 - Good performance

Cullen - 7 - Ticks it over
Cork - 8 - another top performance
Brownhill - 7 - quiet first half, good second

Tella - 6 - Should have scored. Didn't quite work for him
Jay - 8* - a top player at this level. Great finish. Movement and hold up play outstanding
Benson - 7 - Good game.

JBG - 8 - thought he was excellent when he came on
Zaroury - 7 - this lad will be some player

Thought it was a good performance all round. We just have to be patient at times