Posting this here as I don't think the blog page gets much visibility.
STEVEN CAULKER - West Brom vs
Swansea - 04/02/12
http://i40.tinypic.com/29g1s74.jpg
Steven Caulker played the whole game, of his 13th game of the season, in the right central defender position, as Swansea beat West Brom 2-1.
Guardian rating (10 votes): 7.8 (joint 2nd lowest with another player)
Goal.com rating: 7.0 - Impressive at the back as he dealt with the many strikers thrown on by Roy Hodgson to try and find a goal.
SEBASTIEN BASSONG - QPR vs
Wolves - 04/02/12
Sebastien Bassong made his debut for Wolves, playing the whole game, in the left central defender position and being booked on the stroke of half time as Wolves beat QPR 2-1.
Guardian rating (10 votes): 4.6 (joint 2nd lowest with another player)
Goal.com rating: 7.0 - Looked calm and composed on debut and always looked for the short option when in possession. Should be a good addition for the remainder of the season for Wolves.
"Looked like a bloody solid signing today. He could well be the difference between staying up and going down."
"Massive difference in the defence, but it has to noted that they were at an advantage for nearly an hour. Still, I hope he can help keep us up and sign permanently at the end of the season."
"He's a top player. Should be playing in top 6 team, if we manage to sign him permanently (if we stay up), it would be a massive signing."
"He's obviously a very talented player, I'd put a portion of the blame for the goal on him but it was collectively a poor goal to concede. He's composed, always looks for a pass and is quick and strong."
"To be fair though, you can't expect him to be at his best for another few games. He needs to build a partnership with Rog. For a debut, he did very well."
"Bassong for me, gave us the ability to play from the back through midfield to out wide or up front."
"Bassong for me. Looked class, passed the ball out of defence and worked well with Roge. "
STEVEN PIENAAR - Wigan vs
Everton - 04/02/12
Steven Pienaar made his second debut for Everton, playing the whole game, in an advanced left midfield position as Everton drew 1-1 with Wigan.
Guardian rating (8 votes): 7.4 (joint highest with another player)
Goal.com rating: 7.5 (MOTM) - The South African looked like he had never been away from the Everton first team. He was very comfortable in possession, always keen to have the ball and effortlessly glided past challenges from the Wigan defenders.
"One positive for the visiting fans was the performance of Steven Pienaar and the introduction of Nikica Jelavic but neither player was able to inspire the Toffees to victory."
"Great to see Pienaar back making a nuisance of himself."
"there were flashes of the old Baines Pienaar partnership down the left that will get better in games to come."
VEDRAN CORLUKA -
Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart - 04/02/12
Vedran Corluka made his debut for Bayer Leverkusen, playing the whole game, in an attacking right back position as Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with Stuttgart.
Goal.com rating: 6.0 (Fans MOTM)
"Vedran Corluka was making his debut for Leverkusen and it was clear that he had only trained with his new team-mates a handful of times as his misplaced pass was met by Shinji Okazaki, who missed the invitation by shooting wide in the first minute.
Corluka made up for that mistake with his contribution to the first goal in the 11th minute. His cross was headed towards goal by Simon Rolfes, but Sven Ulreich made the save, parrying the ball to Kiessling, who managed to bundle it over the line while on the ground."
KYLE NAUGHTON -
Norwich vs Bolton - 04/02/12
Kyle Naughton played the whole game, of his 21st game of the season, as Norwich beat Bolton 2-0. He initially started in the right back position but had to be moved out to right central defence in the 40th minute after Norwich had lost both their central defenders to injury during the match.
Guardian rating (8 votes): 8.6 (joint 3rd highest with another 2 players)
Goal.com rating: 6.5 - Out of position at centre-back for much of the match, he did well to cope with Ngog and preserve Norwich's narrow lead towards the end.
"Injuries to Whitbread and Ayala are a cause for concern, but Naughton and Russell coped admirably and denied Bolton the opportunity to provide any threat through the middle."
"The two injuries are a worry but Naughton and Martin were great and up against Davies too."
RYAN MASON & HARRY KANE - West Ham vs
Millwall - 04/02/12
Both players started the game on the bench with Harry Kane losing his place to new signing Andrew Keogh and Ryan Mason to defender Shane Lowry as Millwall lost 2-1 to West Ham. Ryan Mason came on in the 81st minute for his 2nd appearance for Millwall and Harry Kane in the 56th minute for his 8th.
Guardian rating (20 votes): 2.8 & 2.4 (highest Millwall player rating is 3.8)
ADAM SMITH & ANDROS TOWNSEND - Bristol City vs
Leeds - 04/02/12
Andros Townsend was an unused sub with Danny Pugh replacing him on the left side of midfield and Adam Smith made his debut at right back as Leeds beat Bristol City 3-0.
Guardian Rating (1 vote): 6.0 (lowest rating along with another 2 players)
"good start to his leeds career sounded like he did well linking up with snodgrass, can only improve as he gets to know his new team mates better."
YAGO FALQUE - Birmingham vs
Southampton - 04/02/12
Yago Falque was not even on the bench for Southampton in this match having been an unused sub in their previous match against Cardiff and having played 55 minutes on his debut against Leicester. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
JOHN BOSTOCK -
Sheffield Wednesday vs Yeovil - 04/02/12
John Bostock started his first match, after making his debut against the MK Dons as a substitute a few days earlier, and played the whole game as Sheffield Wednesday beat Yeovil 2-1.
DEAN PARRETT & JONATHAN OBIKA - Sheffield Wednesday vs
Yeovil - 04/02/12
Jonathan Obika made his 15th appearance and scored his 2nd goal of the season as Yeovil lost 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday.
Dean Parrett made his 4th appearance, playing for 75 minutes before being subbed off for the 3rd game in a row.
"Obika gave Yeovil a 41st minute lead, poking the ball past Stephen Bywater following an incisive through ball from Ryan dingdongson."
MIRKO RANIERI -
Viareggio vs Taranto - 05/02/12
Mirko Ranieri was an unused sub as Viareggio drew 0-0 with Taranto. It seems the young keeper has recently lost his first-team spot in the side.
KUDOS OYENUGA - Hearts vs
St Johnstone - 05/02/12
Kudos Oyenuga was an unused sub as St Johnstone drew 1-1 with Hearts.
DAVID BUTTON -
Doncaster vs Reading - 04/02/12
NATHAN BYRNE -
Bournemouth vs Exeter - 04/02/12
JORDAN ARCHER - Colwyn Bay vs
Bishop’s Stortford - 04/02/12
THOMAS CARROLL -
Derby vs Nottingham Forest - 05/02/12
Matches postponed due to weather.
