CITY PLAYER RATINGS (V WATFORD)
Sat Dec 15, 2018 6:34 pm
The Cardiff City player ratings versus Watford and Neil Etheridge stops a rout and Bobby Reid makes a difference
By Dominic Booth
How the Bluebirds' players rated in the 3-2 defeat at Watford
Cardiff City lost away from home again, despite a late rally in their 3-2 defeat at Watford.
The Bluebirds trailed 3-0 - and might have trailed by more - but rallied through Junior Hoilett and Bobby Decordova-Reid's goals towards the death.
Football writer Dominic Booth rates the players from a strange defeat...
STAR MAN - Neil Etheridge 8
Three sublime saves to deny Roberto Pereyra, but little he could have done about any of the goals. Clearly the very best of a fairly bad bunch.
Bruno Manga 5
Some big defensive interventions but looks clumsy and awkward at right back, a weakness Watford cruelly exposed.
Sean Morrison (capt.) 5
Looked slow and vulnerable to Watford's pace, as the Hornets targeted the Cardiff centre back pairing once they'd made strides through midfield.
Sol Bamba 6
Some erratic challenges but then played out nicely from the back in the final 15 minutes and proved a nuisance factor in the Watford box, leading to Bobby Decordova-Reid's goal. A very mixed day.
Joe Bennett 5
Not helped in the first half by Josh Murphy's inability to track back and help him out. Went off injured in the 60th minute but Cardiff looked more solid with Lee Peltier at left-back.
Aron Gunnarsson 5
Possibly his worst display since returning to the side. Looked rushed and flustered in the middle and couldn't get his passing going. Replaced by Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Harry Arter 6
Energetic and purposeful whenever he got his foot on the ball. But that wasn't often - until the dying moment when Cardiff flickered to life.
Victor Camarasa 6
Always classy on the ball but this game seemed to pass him by until Cardiff got that late jolt of confidence. Skidded a second half shot wide and drove the Bluebirds forward late on.
Junior Hoilett 6
Hoilett barely had any attacking impact on the game whatsoever... until the moment he curled home another brilliant strike from distance, a la his Wolves goal.
Josh Murphy 6
For all his attractive wingplay, he has serious deficiences defensively which Warnock cannot abide away from home. It was still a little surprising when he was replaced, mind.
Callum Paterson 5
Rarely involved, but stayed on and provided some physical distraction which the Watford defenced appeared to fall for.
Subs
Mendez-Laing (for Murphy, HT) - Made a difference with some direct running and physicality. 6
Peltier (for Bennet, 60) - Strong in the tackle on his return to the side. 6
Decordova-Reid (for Gunnarsson, 78) - Brilliantly taken goal and made a difference in the final third. Must play more often. 7
Subs not used: Smithies, Ralls, Harris, Zohore.
By Dominic Booth
How the Bluebirds' players rated in the 3-2 defeat at Watford
Cardiff City lost away from home again, despite a late rally in their 3-2 defeat at Watford.
The Bluebirds trailed 3-0 - and might have trailed by more - but rallied through Junior Hoilett and Bobby Decordova-Reid's goals towards the death.
Football writer Dominic Booth rates the players from a strange defeat...
STAR MAN - Neil Etheridge 8
Three sublime saves to deny Roberto Pereyra, but little he could have done about any of the goals. Clearly the very best of a fairly bad bunch.
Bruno Manga 5
Some big defensive interventions but looks clumsy and awkward at right back, a weakness Watford cruelly exposed.
Sean Morrison (capt.) 5
Looked slow and vulnerable to Watford's pace, as the Hornets targeted the Cardiff centre back pairing once they'd made strides through midfield.
Sol Bamba 6
Some erratic challenges but then played out nicely from the back in the final 15 minutes and proved a nuisance factor in the Watford box, leading to Bobby Decordova-Reid's goal. A very mixed day.
Joe Bennett 5
Not helped in the first half by Josh Murphy's inability to track back and help him out. Went off injured in the 60th minute but Cardiff looked more solid with Lee Peltier at left-back.
Aron Gunnarsson 5
Possibly his worst display since returning to the side. Looked rushed and flustered in the middle and couldn't get his passing going. Replaced by Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Harry Arter 6
Energetic and purposeful whenever he got his foot on the ball. But that wasn't often - until the dying moment when Cardiff flickered to life.
Victor Camarasa 6
Always classy on the ball but this game seemed to pass him by until Cardiff got that late jolt of confidence. Skidded a second half shot wide and drove the Bluebirds forward late on.
Junior Hoilett 6
Hoilett barely had any attacking impact on the game whatsoever... until the moment he curled home another brilliant strike from distance, a la his Wolves goal.
Josh Murphy 6
For all his attractive wingplay, he has serious deficiences defensively which Warnock cannot abide away from home. It was still a little surprising when he was replaced, mind.
Callum Paterson 5
Rarely involved, but stayed on and provided some physical distraction which the Watford defenced appeared to fall for.
Subs
Mendez-Laing (for Murphy, HT) - Made a difference with some direct running and physicality. 6
Peltier (for Bennet, 60) - Strong in the tackle on his return to the side. 6
Decordova-Reid (for Gunnarsson, 78) - Brilliantly taken goal and made a difference in the final third. Must play more often. 7
Subs not used: Smithies, Ralls, Harris, Zohore.
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Re: CITY PLAYER RATINGS (V WATFORD)
Sat Dec 15, 2018 6:34 pm
Pretty much agree with all of the above! 
Re: CITY PLAYER RATINGS (V WATFORD)
Sat Dec 15, 2018 6:47 pm
I would have given Murphy a 4, he was poor, very poor. He can't get a premier league reputation for going down so easily.
Watford are a good outfit, they just had too much for us but having no release ball hurts us. Patersons occasional flick-ons to no one just gives the ball back to superior players. Paterson tries his guts out for us, so no criticism, bu its easily sussed by the better teams.
Thought Holliet deserved a far higher score, I would have given him a 7.
Watford are a good outfit, they just had too much for us but having no release ball hurts us. Patersons occasional flick-ons to no one just gives the ball back to superior players. Paterson tries his guts out for us, so no criticism, bu its easily sussed by the better teams.
Thought Holliet deserved a far higher score, I would have given him a 7.
Re: CITY PLAYER RATINGS (V WATFORD)
Sun Dec 16, 2018 5:38 am
Etheridge 9
Manga 4
Morrison 2( the worst game he has had for us)
Bamba 6
Bennett 4
Gunnerson 4
After 5
Camarasa 6
Murphy 4
Patterson 5
Hoilett 6
NML 5
Peltier 5
Bobby 7
Manga 4
Morrison 2( the worst game he has had for us)
Bamba 6
Bennett 4
Gunnerson 4
After 5
Camarasa 6
Murphy 4
Patterson 5
Hoilett 6
NML 5
Peltier 5
Bobby 7