Alright, so I decided to sit down and really get into the player ratings for that Club Tijuana vs Club América game. It’s not just about watching the match and throwing out some numbers, you know? There’s a bit of a process, at least for me, when I try to do it properly.
Getting Started: The First Pass
First things first, I watched the game. Obviously. But the first watch is usually just for the experience, to get the flow, see who stands out immediately, good or bad. I’m not taking furious notes yet, just absorbing it all. You get a general feel for the game’s rhythm and which team had the upper hand at different points. Sometimes a player looks great in the moment, but then you think back and wonder what they actually did.
The Nitty-Gritty: Rewind and Scrutinize
Then comes the part where I might rewind certain bits. If there was a controversial goal, a key defensive play, or a moment a midfielder completely bossed it, I’ll watch it again. This is where I start to jot things down. I try to look beyond just goals and assists. For example:
- For attackers: Sure, goals are king. But what about their movement off the ball? Did they create chances for others? How was their hold-up play? Were they making smart runs?
- For midfielders: This is often the toughest. How well did they control the tempo? Were their passes progressive? What about their defensive contributions – tackles, interceptions? Did they link up play effectively or just pass sideways?
- For defenders: Positioning is huge. Were they caught out? Did they win their individual duels? How was their reading of the game? Any crucial blocks or clearances? And what about their distribution from the back?
- Goalkeepers: Saves are the obvious one. But also, how did they command their box? Were they decisive on crosses? How was their kicking and throwing to start attacks?
I also try to consider the context. Was a player constantly under pressure? Did their teammates let them down? Sometimes a guy can have a decent individual game even if his team gets hammered.
The Actual Rating Bit: Pen to Paper (or Fingers to Keyboard)
Once I’ve got a good mental (and written) inventory of what went down, I start assigning numbers. I generally go with a 1-10 scale. A 5 is usually average, like they did their job but nothing special. A 6 is slightly above, 7 is good, 8 is very good, 9 is outstanding, and a 10 is like a perfect, match-winning performance, which is rare. Below 5, well, things weren’t great.
It’s not an exact science, mind you. Sometimes it’s a gut feeling. A player might not have amazing stats, but their work rate and influence were undeniable. Or a guy scores a hat-trick, but two were tap-ins and he offered nothing else – he’ll get a high rating for the goals, but maybe not a 9 or 10 if the overall play was lacking.
I also think about consistency throughout the 90 minutes. Did someone start bright and fade, or vice-versa? Substitutes are tricky too. If they only played 10-15 minutes, it’s hard to give a full rating unless they made a massive, game-changing impact.
Final Review and Thoughts
After I’ve got a rating for everyone who played significant minutes, I’ll look over the whole list. Do these numbers make sense relative to each other? Does it paint a fair picture of the game I just watched? Sometimes I’ll tweak a rating up or down a half-point if something feels off after a bit of reflection.
It’s a bit of effort, more than just glancing at the scoreline. But I find it helps me appreciate the nuances of the game and individual performances a lot more. It’s my way of sort of documenting what I saw and making sense of it all. And hey, it’s always interesting to see how my ratings compare to what others think!
