Player Ratings vs Norwich

By Martyn Osmond
August 26 2004

Ratings for all of United's players in last night's match:

Given - 5: Hard to blame Shay for the goal (although it was his fault and his error) as mistakes like this can happen to any keeper, but for it to happen at the time of the match that it did, right after our second, it let them back into a game which we should've been able to kill off. The challenges from our so-called midfielders on Bentley weren't all that great either mind. Was his usual solid self their first goal aside.

Carr - 8: Impressive going both ways, put in the cross for the first goal and solid at the back. Dealt well when Huckerby was put out on the left to trouble him.

Hughes - 7: Solid as always, nice goal.

O'Brien - 6: Decent game, little shaky.

Bernard - 6: Ditto.

Milner - 6: Showed only glimpses of what he can do. Crossing poor, shooting excellent with both feet. Needs to improve his delivery of crosses to be a top class winger.

Dyer - 1: Gets 1 for making a decent challenge near the beginning. Did **** all else right. Weak challenging, tracked back slowly if at all, contributed nothing to the attack except missing two good chances. Terrible. Whinged that he was a central midfielder and refused to play, when most managers would have got rid of him on the spot, Bobby caves in, gives him a chance in CM ahead of Bowyer, and he plays like he couldn't give a toss. SELL HIM SELL HIM SELL HIM SELL HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Butt - 8: Again impressive, at £2.5 he looks like signing of the season to me.

Robert - 6: Delivery of set pieces much better than on Saturday, and looked threatening at times. Wasn't in the game enough though, and after failing to really test 17 year old Ifill on Saturday, today failed to test the less than excellent Edworthy.

Bellamy - 8: Continued his good form, well taken goal. Although what he's saying in the press is right, no good comes from him saying it. Should just keep shtum.

Shearer - 4: Aside from winning a few headers, notably the one to set up Bellamy for the goal, did very little. Missed a good chance near the end. Howay Al, where's the real Lion of Gosforth??