Weekly review 21/5/17.

7 Responses to Weekly review 21/5/17.

1. Anthony O'Brien says:

   May 21, 2017 at 9:09 am

   I am disappointed that Noone has been chosen to leave. In every game in which hje plays his willingness and work-rate have been exemplary, but — because of managers’ insistence he plays on the right (note I say “managers”} his effectiveness seems to be measured by the number of goals he scores. If he played on the left it would be measured by the number of crosses into the area he produced, and believe me, they would be many. Wherever he goes, I hope he is played on the left and has forwards who can consistently feed on his ball into the area. If that happens, he will be a bargain buy for whoever signs him, even the transfer fee be comparatively high.

   I see, too, that the mystery of Gounongbe’s disappearance has at last been explained — a long term pelvic injury, no less! I have said previously, he and Saadi are the best natural strikers on Cardiff’s books, and I sincerely hope that both men get their chance to shine in the coming season. If they do, and if there is adequate support from the midfield or wide, then Cardiff will be a much more effective team than they have been in recent years. I really hope this be the case.

   Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to the new season — and more gems in the MAYA blog — with great anticipation.
2. Russell says:

   May 21, 2017 at 10:19 am

   Thank Paul , phew , I was beginning to worry we may not have a post today, as my usual pre season withdrawal symptoms are kicking in already .

   I’ve never really rated Noone ,way too predictable , I would have sold him years ago when that alleged million pound bid came in for him, Norwich if my memory serves me right, or was it mischievous January agent chatter, strange no one has really bid and bought him , my guess is on learning his true wage it’s turned a few heads, and we have had to keep him on .

   Your mention of wingers reminded me of two greats one you mention Anderson ,but my favourite was Dave Bennett.

   Transfer chatter in co

   Transfer chatter us quiet , other than Lee Camp and the Preston lad .

   I am hoping we will see Saadi line up he looks a powerful unit ,not sure about Fred ?

   I’m probably on my own but I think we will get good value out of Halford,next year along with Richards and Bennett ,I’d load off Manga .

   Love to be a fly on the wall when two hugely opposite cultures meet , Warnock and Tan . Just imagine the bluntness of our Neil and the regalia of Tan , wonder if they sell pork scratchings downed by a pint of double hopped Proper Job . On a serious note I think this meeting could be critical for our clubs future as neither man suffers fools easily, and Tan has seen a few off . For all his faults , Tan remains a loyal supporting owner , and better than many in the modern game of football.
3. Colin Phillips says:

   May 21, 2017 at 12:34 pm

   Not surprised that there differing opinions on Noone. I have to ask the question, does he himself prefer playing on the right? Under each manager we’ve had it has been very rare to see him played on the left. The problem being his that just gives him the one option of cutting back inside and I would think every defender in the Championship knows how to play him now. I like Noone for his worth ethic and pace, more than once he has cleared off our line and when the ball is delivered to him with a bit of space a buzz goes around the ground. He is too lightweight to try and play him anywhere but wide, too easy to “ease” of the ball. Will he stay or will h……..

   I watched the play-off between Millwall and Bradford yesterday and it struck me that the Bradford mid-fielder Nicky Law could do a job for us. Affordable and now that Bradford have missed out on promotion he might want a move so that he can play Championship football. At 29 not in the first flush of youth but he looked to have plenty of energy left when he was substituted second-half, thought the side were directionless after he went off. He seemed to boss mid-field throughout the game and had time to play some nice passes. Could he do the job that Whitts used to do?
4. Anthony O'Brien says:

   May 21, 2017 at 1:50 pm

   There are times in life when someone says or writes something which stops you in your tracks, and you say to yourself, “Why didn’t I realise that possibility?” Colin has unerringly made me do just that, and I have to hold my hands up and confess that I had never thought that Noone PREFERRED to play on the write. In other words, I have missed the obvious. Apologies
5. BJA says:

   May 22, 2017 at 6:25 pm

   Paul – an absolute masterpiece on our right, or is it left winger. If I remember correctly, when he joined us from Brighton, he was played on the left and was pretty effective. But his best performance was his effort as a right winger against Man City away where he gave their left sided defenders a torrid afternoon. But that was then, three years plus ago, and since then he has not really delivered the goods. An occasional goal, his equaliser against Fulham on an opening day being special, but if NW is seeking a regular goalscorer coming from the flanks, then sadly, Nooney is not the answer. And regrettably, neither is Hoilett. As for Harris ( Kadeem variety ) I think he is worth persevering with, but not on any huge wage. Where do we go from here, goodness only knows, but NW has to find a system with the players he ultimately ends up with. So many names linked with us, Ricky Holmes a goalscoring winger at Charlton the latest, that it is hard to become over excited until the deal is actually completed. The sooner NW meets Mr Tan to learn his budget, the better.
   I watched the Championship play-offs, as did I suspect your other contributors, and was way off the mark when estimating Huddersfield’s chances. Where did that performance come from bearing in mind their capitulation to the Bluebirds on the final day of the League season. And Fulham, what happened to their classy play over 46 matches? Most surprising.
   The more I watch the Championship, the more I realise that to leave it in the right direction needs a team with a solid defence, we may be just about OK there apart from an outstanding goalkeeper ( Millwall’s lad looked good but he will be in our division next year ), but an energetic, vibrant midfield with pace in abundance. Anyone over 29 plus would not be my preference as they will need to have that drive for the best part of 50 matches, so a more youthful midfield that can move around the pitch is the answer. Think Chelsea with Hazard, Pedro and Willian fulfilling that role. ( NW ask the aforementioned Mr Tan for £250m! ). Quite where we find these young nuggets will not be easy, but surely we are able to sell such starlets our dream.
   Our attack with Kenneth, Idriis and perhaps Fred could prove acceptable as long they receive the service they need.
   I look forward to your next epistle.
6. The other Bob Wilson says:

   May 23, 2017 at 11:15 am

   Just a few quick thoughts in reply to some of the points raised.
   1. Anthony, I suppose I’m becoming cynical in my old age, but I can’t help thinking there may be more than just footballing matters behind the absences of Messrs Saadi and Gounongbe from City’s team for much of the season just ended. It’s only a feeling I have, but I wonder if one or both of them have had trouble settling in South Wales? I’ve heard stories about Gounongbe going back to mainland Europe a few months ago after a bust up about his lack of game time, but I’m more inclined to believe that, as reported recently, he was injured for the closing months of the season – I’d like to see them both given the opportunity to establish themselves during pre season training, but I think the more likely outcome will be them both heading off to the continent on loan.
   2. Russell, I’ll hold fire on my praise of Mr Tan until it becomes clearer what sort of players we’re looking to sign this summer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hoping for more of what we saw before our Championship winning and Premier league seasons, but I do expect to see evidence of a more ambitious approach whereby we look for better than we have done for the last two or three years – finishes of eighth and twelfth in the last two seasons reflect well of Russell Slade and Neil Warnock if you look at how few sides in this league had smaller budgets than they both had to work with.
   3. Colin, I expect Noone to leave now, but his contract situation may mean that we’ll only get a modest fee for him. With regard to what you and BJA say about the Play Offs, I’ve not seen anything of them – in fact apart from the Bundelsiga, Channel Five’s EFL highlights and Match of the Day, I don’t watch any football these days since I stopped my subscriptions with Sky and BT. Money is very tight with me at the moment until the situation about my house move is settled as I’ve spent close to a grand on the whole thing already and there’s plenty more to fork out yet before I get around to moving! Once it’s all settled, I should be a bit more solvent as the flat I’ve had an offer accepted for is costing less than my third share from the sale of the house – there’ll be more spending on “essentials” at the flat, but, hopefully, I’ll be in a position to be looking for, cheaper, ways to start watching live televised football again in time for the new season.
   I’ve always thought Nicky Law played a bit deeper than the sort of midfield player most say we need – if I was offered a choice between him and Bradley Dack, I’d go for the younger man despite his possible off field issues.
   4. BJA, Ricky Holmes sounds a bit like Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes to me – late developers who’ll both turn thirty before we start playing again. I don’t know enough about either player to say categorically that we shouldn’t be signing them, but their age does put me off them – I’m far from convinced we’ll get him, but Callum Paterson at 22 strikes me as a better and more versatile OPTION as long as the club’s medical staff were satisfied that he will make a complete recovery from his injury.
7. Michael Spear says:

   May 23, 2017 at 8:52 pm

   BJA has a most valid point and per my thoughts :- an energetic, vibrant midfield with pace in abundance.
   Midfield, the engine of the team needs a big shake up.
   Spedger

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