Ranking our Squad - 28 Willock

[gbandit]

In this era to not be able to kick a football or receive a football is criminal. His sweeping is his massive saving grace but when you combine his kicking with his inability to dive to his left and his age, it’s a clear D for me 

[gbandit]

Saying that, if he makes some wonder saves or saves a pen on Sunday, I’ll love him forever. I do already love the lad but he’s just over the hill now

[David Edgar]

C-

[Cf]

Apologies for the delay. I'm ill at the moment

 

Nick Pope scores a C- thus narrowly outranking Dubravka.

 

Up next is Jacob Murphy...

[gbandit]

Hmm, Jacob. I’d say for large parts of his career with us he’s been a D and even an E. This season he’s definitely been a C. Find it hard to give him a C because of the obvious basic weaknesses in his game. Going to be harsh and give him a D as I think that’s probably his average level 

[Vedder]

Early in his time here, I thought he’d always be an E. Now I’d give him C- but that is an incredible transformation for him. 

[TheBrownBottle]

I think I might be one of Murphy’s biggest defenders on N-O - but he’s still a D for me on the basis of how the rankings work.  I’ll happily state that as a pro and as a bloke he’s an A, mind - and it is all credit to him and Howe just how well he’s performed in this side.  He’s a PL quality player, but only as a squad member

[TheBrownBottle]

49 minutes ago, Cf said:

Apologies for the delay. I'm ill at the moment

 

Nick Pope scores a C- thus narrowly outranking Dubravka.

 

Up next is Jacob Murphy...

Sorry to bother a sick person - but how are the rankings looking so far based on the players rated to date?

[Cf]

32 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Sorry to bother a sick person - but how are the rankings looking so far based on the players rated to date?

 

They're all in the OP.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Between a D and E for me on Murphy. Squad option, but not a ‘good’ squad option.
 

And ‘not good enough’ for the PL definitely applies for me. He’s technically very poor and gives the ball away for fun. 
 

That said, he’s somehow made himself useful to us and deserves a lot of credit for that. He’s also super fit and a great pro. 
 

Overall went D to be positive. 

[Sibierski]

Tough. Gone with C, because I think for bottom half sides him playing direct RW will yield an output as we’ve seen.

 

But then he’s really limited and the extra 10% we get could be because it’s his hometown club. Like a c- for me but unbeatable d+ for others.

[La Parka]

He's a C-. Played out of his skin this season. A threat because he's an athlete, dedicated and unpredictable. He's been as low as an E here and I think this season is his ceiling.

[Nepharite]

Obviously has ability and skill but can't execute consistently. The gulf between the highs and lows must be a mentality thing? C

[Zero]

Murphy is a D, but is having his best season playing like a C.

[Roids]

Higher level Champ/bottom 6 Prem player. Solid D

[midds]

His numbers may be pretty good but his general play doesn't reflect it imo. Along with a new keeper a new RW is another huge priority for the first team. Having a genuine threat in open play on that side of the pitch also creates more space for Gordon and Isak too, too often moves break down on the right hand side and I think we channel more attacks down the left and teams know this. A better balance would be nice. 

 

He's a D

[The College Dropout]

2 hours ago, midds said:

His numbers may be pretty good but his general play doesn't reflect it imo. Along with a new keeper a new RW is another huge priority for the first team. Having a genuine threat in open play on that side of the pitch also creates more space for Gordon and Isak too, too often moves break down on the right hand side and I think we channel more attacks down the left and teams know this. A better balance would be nice. 

 

He's a D

His G/A is of a solid B. Does he not have more G/A than Murphy in less minutes?

 

Off the ball he's great too.

 

But often - it's clear he's not a top PL player. Maybe not a PL player at all. He's like Pope - we should avoid passing to him in our own half unless on a break. Him, Longstaff and Tino on the right hand side is so painful to experience.

[Kid Icarus]

A D here a C elsewhere 

[Shearergol]

Our squad is shite like.

[gbandit]

1 hour ago, Shearergol said:

Our squad is shite like.

Been an excellent exercise in showing consensus opinion that our squad has way more holes than purples. Should count as a major argument for Howe being a magician 

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, gbandit said:

Been an excellent exercise in showing consensus opinion that our squad has way more holes than purples. Should count as a major argument for Howe being a magician 

Then they'll say this squad should finish in Europe.

 

But also.. classifying players as ABCD etc. is reductive. 

[gbandit]

7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Then they'll say this squad should finish in Europe.

 

But also.. classifying players as ABCD etc. is reductive. 

It’s clearly reductive but then there’s no categorisation system that wouldn’t be. I think if you don’t take it too seriously the consensus grades that have been assigned so far are very accurate for their levels and don’t show major biases in fan perceptions. Whether that translates to people’s views on Howe’s achievements remains to be seen 

[TRon]

12 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Then they'll say this squad should finish in Europe.

 

But also.. classifying players as ABCD etc. is reductive. 

 

Depends who they are up against really. If Spurs and Man U were performing according to their status it would make our job a lot harder. I'm sure those clubs would be classifying their big money signings as D's as well.

[TheBrownBottle]

2 hours ago, gbandit said:

Been an excellent exercise in showing consensus opinion that our squad has way more holes than purples. Should count as a major argument for Howe being a magician 

Which only works if you analyse the other squads around us in the same manner.  Our squad is better than that of Bournemouth, Fulham or Forest for starters. 

[gbandit]

6 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Which only works if you analyse the other squads around us in the same manner.  Our squad is better than that of Bournemouth, Fulham or Forest for starters. 

You say that but I’d have absolutely no confidence assigning ratings for a single player outside of NUFC. I will comment on individual players a lot when I watch them in the “other games” thread but realistically you only know your own players well enough to score