My Take on PSG vs Newcastle Player Ratings
Alright, so the other night, I settled in to watch the PSG vs Newcastle United match. Big game, you know? Champions League stuff. As I was watching, I thought, “Hey, why not try doing my own player ratings?” Seemed like a decent way to really focus on the game and see who actually stood out, for good or bad reasons.
First thing I did was grab my trusty old notebook and a pen. Some people use apps or whatever, but I like doing it old school. Helps me remember things better, I guess. Found a comfy spot on the couch, got the stream going, and made sure I wouldn’t be interrupted too much.
During the match, I wasn’t just watching the ball. I really tried to track specific players. You know, how’s Mbappé moving off the ball? Is Guimarães bossing the midfield like usual? What about Trippier’s crosses? I jotted down quick notes whenever someone did something noticeable – a great tackle, a bad giveaway, a sharp pass, a missed chance, stuff like that. It wasn’t super organized, just scribbles next to player names as things happened. Like, “Donnarumma – big save!” or “Almirón – worked hard but final ball poor.” Little things.
Watching Closely
It’s funny how much more you notice when you’re actively trying to rate players. You see the work rate, the positioning mistakes, the moments of brilliance you might otherwise miss if you were just casually watching. I paid attention to consistency too. Did a player have a good 10 minutes and then disappear, or were they involved throughout?
Once the final whistle blew – and what a dramatic end, eh? – I let things settle for a minute. Then I went back through my notes. This is where the actual rating part starts. I decided on a simple 1-10 scale. Nobody’s getting a 10 unless they were absolutely perfect, which rarely happens. Nobody gets a 1 unless they basically sabotaged their own team.
Assigning the Numbers
I went through player by player, starting with PSG, then Newcastle. Looked at my notes for each guy. Okay, Donnarumma, made some crucial saves, maybe a bit shaky with his feet sometimes? Give him a 7. Mbappé, got the late penalty, always a threat, maybe an 8? Then for Newcastle, Pope was immense, right? Easy 8, maybe even a 9 considering the saves. Bruno Guimarães, solid as ever, controlled things well? Probably a 7.5 or 8. I tried to be fair, considering their role and what was expected of them.
- Looked at key involvements (goals, assists, errors leading to goals).
- Considered overall work rate and influence on the game.
- Compared players in similar positions.
- Read through my scribbled match notes again.
After assigning a number, I wrote a short sentence or two for each player, just summarizing why I gave them that score. Something like, “Hakimi (6): Got forward well but crossing was off.” Or “Isak (7): Took his goal well, looked isolated at times.” Kept it brief, just the main points.
And that was pretty much it. Reviewed the whole list one last time to make sure it felt about right. It’s subjective, of course, everyone sees the game differently. But going through this process, writing it down, it really makes you think more deeply about the performances. It’s a good exercise if you’re really into the game. Gives you a solid basis for arguing with your mates later too!
