That was every bit as dreadful as I expected. No cohesion whatsoever, no commitment from anyone other than Spearing (who never hides but always loses the ball) and Carroll (who put in 100% more effort than anyone else). Highly questionable subs, keeping Maxi (over Kuyt for Sterling) who was as invisible as ever and removing Aurelio who at least did something on the left (unlike Enrique who never does).We bring on Downing and then refuse to pass to him. Sterling spent most of the time running into space only to watch the ball going the other way.
Carroll LFC motm by an absolute mile.
But you could see the players out there knew they would not be playing on Saturday, and so no one gave a rat's arse about the game other than Carroll. Couldn't keep the ball for more than a few seconds at a time, crossing was woeful, nobody getting forward even though Carroll was winning every header. Just pathetic from our B team. If that's an indication of our "strength in depth" we should be very worried, dead rubber game or not (Everton 3 clear now). I'm sure we have a reason for hitting corners barely within reach of Carroll well beyond the far post, but given that they never amount to anything that reason cannot be good enough to do it time and again.
Disappointments for me:
Coates - no situational awareness whatsoever, jogged back when behind the play, out of position several times, including for the goal, can't pass more than 10 yards accurately
Henderson - for someone I've felt was good defensively in recent times he sure made me look like a fool tonight, clearly confidence totally shot which is exactly why you do NOT play your 20 year old players in every game most often out of position (look at Flanagan for another player who should be a lot better than he's been this season) - poor management
Spearing - is he able to pass to a red shirt?
Kelly - average game by his standards, didn't cut out the cross that led to the goal, but did provide our cross of the game - I expected much better
Maxi - Mr Nowhere Man as usual when he's not poaching goals
Kuyt - worked hard, but seemed determined to waste good ball by passing into touch instead of to Kelly
Shelvey - not good enough again - was that one good showing the exception or the rule?
Highs:
Carroll - looked confident, won the ball often and well, even put in a great sliding tackle
Doni - stopped us losing by 3, could do nothing for the goal
Skrtel - dominant in the air defensively, could do nothing for the goal, but didn't have any presence at corners
I will try not to dwell on Carroll too much, I agree he put in a tonne more effort and is ever improving, but I honestly can't see how you build him up that much if your being objective. By all means give him credit for effort, but he is playing so far below a top half no.9 should its insane. He is rarely in the right place, doesn't make the runs he needs to, I could go on, but quite simply we absolutely need a better no.9 next season.
There were very few positives to take from that game. Sterlings cameo however showed he wants take people on. Giving him 15 minutes with players like Carroll and Kuyt won't boost him, nor get the best out of him, nor convince him to stay.
The biggest highlight for me was shelvey though.
Sure his execution at times was off (well off to be fair). But he was nearly always in the right place trying to do the right things (unlike Carroll for instance). I have high high hopes for Shelvey, and he's still so young.
Henderson is was an absolute nothing player again, Downing woefully under performing. Spearing showing heart and breaking up play but can't pass or keep the ball. Coates did well a couple of times but his partnership with Skrtel looked uncomfortable (tbf not had time together).
