One of the really heartening and impressive things for me is the team ethos, the workrate. We missed loads of chances, several times I was sure we would score but we didn't -- and despite this, the team KEPT ON GOING for the equaliser.
Great point, shame MOTD was all about the "penalty" on Rooney - typical Sir Alex deflecting from their performance by criticising the lino.
Agreed completely. That MOTD was an effing disgrace, as per usual, barely gave us any credit for our performance, which, as you said, was excellent.
Anyways onto more positive things:
Lloris: 6. Generally very solid, love the sweeper keeper moments... for their goal, I'm undecided. Ultimately it's a great header from RvP, but if you watch Lloris' movement carefully he's moving across his goal but stops someway short of the post RvP is nearest (presumably covering any header returned back across goal). If he'd carried on he might have saved it. I'm nitpicking perhaps, but I don't think he's faultless.
Walker - 6. Overall solid from Walker IMO, although again he definitely has to shoulder some of the blame for their goal, he definitely got slightly sucked in and lost RvP, then was in completely the wrong position to deal with it. Some good recoveries and challenges though, plus adventurous going forward
Dawson - 7. Pretty solid game from Daws IMO.
Caulker - 6.5. Mostly the same as Daws, but a couple of slightly hesitant moments. Penalty incident was a 50-50 call IMO... not stonewall like Old Whiskey Nose reckons
Naughton - 6. Some really poor distribution (several aimless and misguided long balls), but otherwise quite solid, untroubled defensively. Only problem is he gives us no balance due to being placed out of position, which is unfortunate and not his fault per se...
Lennon - 8.5. Really good from Azza. Gave Evra a torrid time with his pace and skill, took him to the cleaners on more than one occasion. Several key piercing passes, some good crosses, and a well deserved assist too (and should have had two, as JD should have banged in at least one of his two chances created from a Lennon pass). MOTM.
Dembele - 8. Solid first half... superb second half. Won countless duels, intercepted a sh!t load, beat people for fun as per usual... highlight was his graceful slalom through the heart of Manure defense to set up Dempsey.
Parker - 7. Solid return to the first team - worked well with Dembele, lots of good defensive work, largely calm on the ball although it is noticeable his offensive play isn't the best.
Bale - 6. Quiet most of the game from Bale, struggled against tactics clearly designed to limit his impact on the game. Had no space, was double or tripled marked all the time, then resorted to coming inside more and more as the game went on. Good shot forcing good save, one great cross (which JD completely failed to attack, infuriatingly), occasional glimmer, nothing more.
Dempsey - 8. Industrious, a threat, got the key goal, nearly (and should have) got another one on at least a couple of occasions. Like this guy's attitude and game intelligence, although long-term he isn't creative enough for the positon he takes up in our team.
Defoe - 6.5. Not JD's best, although he was a threat at times and should have scored at least once. Struggled to get into the game at times (not that many touches?), showing why against top teams he isn't the long term answer as a lone CF... but we knew that already.
BAE - 6. Looked a bit rusty, although some nice cameo moments... and he gave us balance/width out on the left again... good testing ball for our goal! Glad to have him back.
