Sheffield United 2-2 Queens Park Rangers

Riley Roberts rates each player's performance as the Blades draw their opening home game.

These ratings will follow after every game of the Championship season, and they will — depending on your outlook — be harsh or too kind. Any 1-10 rating should make use of every number, and as Riley explains below, the ratings system starts at a 5 (when a player enters the field) and goes up or down depending on their contribution.

Riley Roberts

Having barely seen the game thanks to forgetting to pick up my glasses, today’s player ratings follow a rewatch on SUTV and you know what, I think I may surprise a few with my positivity after what was, on second viewing, a very good performance.

Player Ratings vs QPR (H)

Adam Davies – 4

Think it would be pretty harsh to say he should have done anything about either of the goals, but I think a better keeper probably could have done more…

Alfie Gilchrist – 5

Thought he was poor in real time but having watched it back I don’t think he really did much wrong and made some nice blocks. His best game in a United shirt imo.

Anel Ahmedhodzic – 6

Saw someone say he was poor and think that is an absolutely ridiculous shout. Was decent throughout the game and his ability to carry from deep has become so normal for him I don’t think people realise how unique it is.

Jack Robinson – 5

Massive overreaction because of one mistake that, in my opinion, wasn’t even his fault? Yeah, that’s Sheff United for you. There’s a reason QPR spent the large majority of the game struggling to get the ball into dangerous areas.

Harrison Burrows – 4

Feels harsh because he did do a lot of good stuff, especially in the first half, but he was beaten too easily at times and was, to me, more at fault for QPR’s second goal.

Oliver Arblaster – 6

Played some good passes and did a bit defensively but was less effective in terms of progression than he was against Preston, seemed a bit reluctant to take it on the turn for some reason.

Vinicius Souza – 6

Was running all over the pitch like a madman, especially in the first half but a lot of that energy was positive, and he was fine in possession.

Andre Brooks – 5

Another who benefited from the rewatch, Brooks wasn’t bad at all and in fact has some very nice touches. Still feel as if he lacks belief in himself though but I don’t think his performance was worth complaining about.

Callum O’Hare – 8

Really, really impressed me. Every time he touched the ball, he looked like making something happen. 

Gustavo Hamer – 8

Obvious MOTM, a goal and an assist to cap an all-round decent performance. He lost his way a bit near the end but, combined with O’Hare, was ridiculous I the first 20 minutes.

Kieffer Moore – 6

Couldn’t really give less than a 6 with him scoring while also having some good moments but I was still underwhelmed with his general play. Wasn’t as dominant in the air as you’d expect and he had some really horrid first touches.

Average rating – 5.73

…same as the first game funnily enough.

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Ratings system:

• 0 – Reserved for anyone who has a wayward effort at goal smash me in the face, unlikely to ever happen.

• 1 – Worst of the worst. Saved for disastrous performances, with result-altering mistakes.

• 2 – A terrible performance. Performances where a player offers very little and has many unsuccessful actions, ultimately proving to be a major detriment to the team’s overall performance.

• 3 – A bad performance. Negative contribution. Like a 2, just a bit less rubbish.

• 4 – A below-average performance. Not necessarily having a negative impact on the game; it could just be a player who struggled to impact the game at all.

• 5 – The baseline rating. All players go into a game starting on a 5 — it’s bang average, given out for an unremarkable yet solid performance, for a postman delivering the post.

• 6 – A decent performance. A player who gets a 6 has positively contributed to the game, and at the very least has had some impressive moments while being generally solid outside of them.

• 7 – A good performance. Awarded for players who had a noticeable positive impact on the game.

• 8 – A very good performance. A player who made significant contributions to the outcome of the game with their performance and consistently displayed a high level throughout.

• 9 – An outstanding performance. To score as high as a 9, a player needs to be dominant throughout the match, performing at a level well above the standard and/or making multiple game-changing contributions.

• 10 – A perfect 10, unlikely to ever see the light of day as nobody has a flawless game. For me to even think about giving out a 10 it would probably have to be a player doing something historic or unheard of.