A marginal improvement, but this is relegation form.

You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “A marginal improvement, but this is relegation form.”.

This entry was posted in Down in the dugout, Out on the pitch and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to A marginal improvement, but this is relegation form.

  1. Graham says:

    I agree completely. Main points for me yesterday were : Revell working so hard throughout but little real support from Whittingham and whoever plays in the position he started yesterday must give far more – there were so many moments when Revell had no City player within 25 yards of him [oh, and I prefer Revell to start : Jones has scored goals and – perhaps equally importantly – has often cleared the other team’s corners, but when he’s there we usually resort to belting the ball towards him in the air and most of those come straight back!] But whether it’s Revell or Jones ‘up front’ there HAS to be someone else up there or thereabouts – and that Slade thought Whittingham could fill that role is alarming.

    Yes, we passed the ball to each other more often yesterday but our player who received most passes was the goalkeeper!!

    Noone and Harris too often take that extra little touch and lose the ball – they should both practise centreing the ball accurately.

    When they all sit down to look at the video of the game, they should work out why and how Derby had so much room to build attacks especially down the wing [as we used to call it] and we didn’t.

  2. Big Al says:

    Failing better? We must try again. RS my advice to you is to try improving the Quality of your management team. Only then will the results get better. Can Bellamy help in this area? I am sure his experience could help you and the team. Ever tried. Ever failed. You know the rest by now.
    Big Al

  3. Anthony O'Brien says:

    A very well thought-out dissection and clear analysis of the game yesterday, Paul, ably backed up by the comments from Graham.

    Just one or two points I should like to make. As mentioned above, Noone was more effective in the second half. Is this because he was playing on the left and could simply run down the wing and cross the ball without too much thought? On the right he tends to come inside but then run into traffic and fail to get in a shot or find a team-mate with a SEARCHING pass.

    Noone’s cross did give Kenwyne Jones a chance to head towards goal (or rather, the goalkeeper) but he also had another chance when the ball fell to his feet near the area. However, he then lumbered forward rather like a Sherman tank and lost the opportunity to shoot. His lack of mobility surprises me because he looks very athletic and certainly has the ability to perform quite breath-taking somersaults.

    I agree with Graham that Revell is the better option – but he desperately needs support. In the 54th minute yesterday he chased down a loose ball on the right wing, brought it under control, and looked for a Cardiff player for assistance. I don’t think there was one any closer than thirty or forty yards from Revell, and so all he could do was thump the ball against a defender and win a corner.

    Some time later he was in acres of room on the Cardiff left with a good chance of threatening the goal. His arm was up for what seemed like ages as the Cardiff players passed a square ball to each other before rolling it back to the keeper who hoofed it up field – to the very spot where Revell had been signalling. BUT by this time the defenders had closed him down and Derby cleared the ball with typical ease.
    His frustration, not for the first time, was obvious and understandable.

    Incidentally, have you ever seen Cardiff take a QUICK free kick or throw-in recently, especially since Pilkington has been sidelined?

    For most of the game there was a depressing – and predictable – lack of urgency about the Cardiff display, so why was a man with energy to spare, namely Ademyemi, not used earlier? Indeed, why was he merely on the bench in the first place?

    Having said all that, and metaphorically biting my tongue about so many other issues which might tar me as a grumpy old man, I thought the new signings did quite well, including the unfortunate Malone who showed an awareness in defending which augurs well for the future. Nevertheless, how we still miss Gary Medel, the Pitbull!

  4. Mike C says:

    I normally read the Wales Online comments about City as I’m unable to get to most of their games but some of the comments on the site are so abusive and ill informed by fans and media that in future I shall follow Paul’ s comments in future – maybe he could replace the Wales Online team?
    An excellent dissection and analysis.

  5. Dai Woosnam says:

    I think Paul, that between you and – at the time of writing – the three contributions from your regulars, all has been said on the game as far as I am concerned.
    So I will say nowt as it would be re-echoing previous comments.
    Will just add two comments CCFC-orientated, but not re current players.
    Point 1 – Did you note who captained Sheff United yesterday? The man who should have been Cardiff’s captain! A natural leader …if ever I saw one.
    A proper football player.
    Point 2 – I was lucky enouhj to see Trevor Ford play many times. He taught Gerry Hitchens all he knew. And when younger people ask me “is there a player today whose playing style resembles his?” I always say NO.
    But not any longer.
    I swear that this season I have seen someone who is so close – in EVERY aspect – as to be a playing Siamese twin.
    That player is Diego Costa.
    Kindest,
    Dai.

  6. The other Bob Wilson says:

    Again, thanks to you all for your feedback. Interesting comments about Kenwyne Jones, I’ve read in the mainstream media this morning (including from Nathan Blake) that leaving him out on Saturday was an act of madness. Now, I would have picked Jones over Revell as it turns out, but it would have been a close call with only the latter’s lack of goals at this level being the decisive factor. However, apart from his recent scoring record, there is little in Jones’ play that would make me favour him and I still believe he should have done better with his header – Graham’s point about Jones making us play with more of a route one style is a very good one as well.
    I remember that incident where Revell won a corner Anthony. It was embarrassing that he had the ball for what seemed like fifteen seconds and still not one of his team mates got anywhere near him – as you say, his frustration was plain to see.
    Al, I’ve seen a few posts on messageboards mentioning Craig Bellamy, can’t see it happening myself. Dai, Trevor Ford was my Mum’s favourite player – my Dad liked him, but used to call him a “dirty sod”!

Comments are closed.