Player Ratings vs Liverpool (a)

By Martyn Osmond
May 16 2004

Liverpool vs Newcastle United: Player and support ratings from message board regular, Martyn Osmond. Newcastle finished the game 1-1, booking a place in the UEFA Cup, with Liverpool having secured a place in the Champions League.

Given - 8: Commanded the box well, couple of good stops and holds.

Griffin - 8: On this evidence he should be staying, tough-tackling, hard working, solid. Will get a good welcome if he ever returns to SJP as an opposing player.

O'Brien - 8: Had the Toon army singing 'anyanyany O'Brien' a few times, couple of telling interventions and blocks.

Bramble - 7.5: Seemed like he had a point to prove after horror displays at Anfield in the past in his Ipswich days. Came running out with the ball a couple of times, was up alongside Shola for the goal. Couple of misplaced passes but overall good.

Hughes - 7: Better than his previous displays at left back, did well in a foreign position.

Ambrose - 7: Seems to drift in and out of games (mainly out) but shows promise. Still haven't made up my mind on him. Missed from about a yard out, but it was more an excellent clearance by Carragher than a bad miss by Ambrose.

Bowyer - 9: The home crowd were so sh|te that they didn't even give Bowyer much stick! If they had done, he would've shut them up. Was excellent, tackled well, one every 50/50 and a few 40/60s as well! Made the goal after nutmegging Hamman.

Speed - 7: Decent enough. Looked a bit tired.

Dyer - 7: Ditto

Shearer - 7: Ditto

Ameobi - 8: Good goal, we were singing 'Do the Ameobi' for about 10 minutes afterwards, and when he went off!

Subs:
Bellamy - 7: See Speed/Dyer/Bellamy.

Caldwell - 5: had to play out of position because Griffin went off injured, so he was stuck at RB. Not good.

Misc:
Support to team from the Toon army - 9: Great backing, high spirits straight from the off, lots of Ameobi-ing, Pogo-ing and Shoes being taken off. Songs of the day:

"4th place, and you still don't sing"

"Out in the first round, you're going out in the first round" (in reply to extremely witty scowse version of 'Champions League you're having a laugh')

"Heskey for Sunderland"

"Sit down Pinnochio" (classic, directed at old Big Nose)

"You're not famous anymore"