Player Focus

WTBM…’s new series of articles will see writers looking at just one player in particular.

The Ipswich game saw me (Barnsey) cast a beady eye on Graham Alexander. I cannot say whether this was done from the Cricket Field Roof, as my parachute got in the way.

Passes completed :34 (85%)
Passes astray :6 (15%)

Headers won :0 (0%)
Headers lost :3 (50%)
Headers equal :3 (50%)

Tackles won :5 (83%)
Tackles lost :1 (17%)

Throw-ins completed :3 (100%)
Throw-ins astray :0 (0%)

Free-kicks completed :2 (50%)
Free-kicks astray :2 (50%)

Fouls committed :0
Fouls won :1

Overlapped winger :0

Graham actually had quite a good game, in my opinion, and I am not usually a fan.

He did his defending quite well, but was unlucky to probably guide the second goal home whilst trying to tackle Kevin Lisbie, but will probably let the Ipswich striker claim the goal. Could have – along with his defensive colleagues – dealt with the goal situations better.

This system does not seem to encourage full-backs to overlap their winger. This may not be a bad thing for Alexander, who seems to lack pace these days. I wish he could recapture the form that he showed in those seasons at Preston, I really do.

Mark out of ten: 6 (average)

Next match: Crystal Palace
Next player: TBA