I can’t begin to explain it, but the performance of my internet connection seems dependent on whether there’s football on or not. All through the summer I was able to watch the cricket World Cup, Wimbledon, the British Open etc. without a single problem, then football starts again and it’s been playing up for the past fortnight.
Today was the worst so far with the problems starting about half an hour before the kick off Cardiff City’s third game of the season at Reading today and they got gradually worse until it reached the stage where I gave up watching Sky’s coverage of the game after about ten minutes of play.
Judging by what happened in the next half an hour or so, I could well have decided to switch to the England v Australia test match anyway, but, as it was, things improved to the extent that I was able to start watching again just in time to see Reading score their final goal in their 3-0 win and then miss a penalty in added time as Alex Smithies dived to his left to keep out Meite’s effort – it was a good save, but just about the most meaningless spot kick stop you could wish to see.
After the poor showing in the opening day 3-2 defeat at Wigan, I said that the only away display from our promotion season which may have compared with it was Derby, well, from what I have read and seen of today’s match, that was like one of those 3-0 defeats on a Tuesday night at Preston that we have been prone to in recent seasons. The point is though that two away games played so far in 19/20 and the level of performance in them appears to be on a par with, perhaps, our two worst ones of 17/18.
I’ve now seen brief highlights of the game and I can only say that it could have been worse than three and I’m sorry, but it seems to me that much of the damage from Wigan and Reading strikes me as self inflicted.
Before I get into what, by my standards anyway, is going to be a rant, I should say that the loss of Marlon Pack, described as the man who never gets injured when he signed for us, to an injury after a quarter of the game must have had an effect on proceedings, given the influence he had on last weekend’s generally unconvincing win over Luton.
Once again, our musclebound, lumbering land of the giants side were run ragged by mobile, speedy and technically proficient attacking players. In central defence, our centrebacks are being left exposed in positions where my guess is that they are least comfortable, Joe Bennett is struggling at left back, our midfield looks one paced and our wingers are just not consistent enough to justify the faith our manager has in them – I’m talking here about the concept of playing with two wingers, not the wingers themselves because Neil Warnock is forever changing them.
Okay, I accept that I’m jumping to some conclusions there about today’s showing despite having not seen a great deal of it, but what I have seen is pretty instructive.
For example, what on earth was going on with the first goal? Will Vaulks, withdrawn at half time today as he endures a tough start to his Cardiff career, was made to look so slow by George Puscas as he raced past our midfielder and proceeded to beat Smithies with a cross shot, but how did it get to a stage where Vaulks was left so isolated against a forward who obviously had too much pace for him?
Mind you, having done so well to inject some real pace into a squad which was seriously lacking in that commodity when he arrived at the club, Neil Warnock now seems intent on getting things back to how they were under Paul Trollope and Russell Slade!
Yes, we still have some quick wingers, but defensively we look so short on the speed front, while it’s instructive that our two signings in central midfield, Vaulks and Marlon Pack, while being largely appreciated by supporters at their former clubs, were both criticised by them for their slowness.
While I accept that it is early days yet and we do have a lot (too many?) new faces to bed in, I do have serious concerns about the nature of the squad Neil Warnock has put together for this season.
Nathan Blake called what we can expect from this squad over the coming months “Warnockball on steroids” which is a good line, but I would rather see it as a case of putting all of our eggs in one basket, because I genuinely don’t think there is another way of going about playing that we could employ well enough to be moderately successful in the Championship.
My fear is that in what seems to me to be, increasingly, a young man’s league, we are going for experience with what I wouldn’t mind betting is the oldest first choice back four around at this level.
In a division where attacking wit, movement and quick feet are on the increase, we have a defence which I fear a lot of Championship forwards will be rubbing their hands in anticipation at facing and I can’t help thinking that managerial stubbornness is at the heart of that as, in what he says will be his last season, Neil Warnock seems to be determined to bow out by creating a team which will outWarnock any other one he has managed.
I’ve not seen the incident our manager was referring to in his post match press conference when he said ” “But for whatever reason we go away from what we were doing, take a short free-kick and end up losing a goal. It’s terrible defending.” and so it might well be that he has a point (I presume he’s talking about the first goal there?).
However, those words of our manager’s do give a clue to his thinking in that, instinctively, he appears to think that taking a short free kick has to be a bad thing. Such regimented thinking seems to epitomise the Cardiff approach under this manager. While there has to, of course, be an acknowledgement that, initially, his methods were successful here, as of today, we are coming off a relegation and occupy a position just four places higher in the Championship than when Paul Trollope was sacked.
When Neil Warnock was questioned about criticisms concerning his side’s approach in his pre match press conference on Friday, he replied that his team attack as much as they can, but isn’t that what every team does? It is not a denial of a defensive philosophy.
I have seen it said that it was an unWarnocklike performance by Cardiff today – I can only think that we could be in serious trouble if it was, because, as mentioned earlier, I can’t see us being much good if we tried to start playing in a way less in keeping with our manager’s philosophy.
Who knows, maybe nearly three years of playing in such a pragmatic, essentially defensive, fashion where you spend most of the time not having the ball and rely so heavily on attacking set pieces for your goals, has worn down a few of the old hands in the squad and they are yearning for a chance to “break free”, hence the short free kick which so upset the manager – having suffered from a couple of seasons of Russell Slade’s version of Warnockball before the man himself turned up, I know I am!
As I keep on saying, the only thing that makes the way we play worthwhile is gaining three points enough times to make us a successful team. Without that, it has nothing to commend it whatsoever – football would be dying on its feet if every side played like we do.
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“Regimented thinking”, to use Paul’s brilliant phrase, perfectly sums up the Cardiff — or rather, the Warnock — way of playing. Yesterday was an embarrassment. Why, for example do we continue to rely on long throws into our opponent’s overcrowded goal area, when in fact one of the biggest dangers facing our defence is when throwins or set pieces are followed by speedy and skilful breakaways from the other side? I suggest that the Cardiff manager be fined heavily for every long throw we take!!!!
In 1953 an international team from Eastern Europe with a forward named Puskas highlighted for all and sundry the ingrained shortcomings of British football: in 2019 a team with a forward named Puskas from Eastern Europe highlighted the shortcomings of Cardiff City. Where is the light at the end of our tunnel?
I thought Saturday had depressed me enough as it was, but Paul’s brilliant report has just deepened the gloom – and, it’s SO early for that.
Blimey – invoking the names Trollope and Slade is enough to make a man pull the duvet back over his head.
I’m with AO’B – lights and tunnels…right now, the latter looks a long, dark, one.
Good morning Paul and others – You were lucky that you missed so much – it was the most dire, awful, wretched ( I’ll stop there) performance from the City that I have witnessed in a league match for some time, more so as it was against a time who had yet to win in the Championship this season. Second best everywhere, and by some distance.
We know NW likes wingers, but yesterday’s selection of Hoilett and Mendez-Laing was disastrous as neither seemed particularly capable of any aspect of modern wing play with the latter looking decidedly unfit. Pack’s departure from mid-field was unfortunate, but I do not think this was the reason for our thumping. His replacement in that position was Bacuna who was moved from full back where he was having a torrid time anyway, but whose performance once in that new position failed to improve, but others around him fared no better. Perhaps performances will improve once the players have a better knowledge of each other, but after yesterday they surely could not be worse.
I know what I am about to write is repetitious as I have been stating this comment for far too long, but we are at our most susceptible when we attack from set pieces for as we move our heavy artillery into the opposition penalty area and when such an aerial assault fails, our lumbering “big guns” have insufficient pace to become defenders once more and swift counter attacks cause untold problems. It was this very situation that resulted in Reading’s third goal scored by the aptly named Swift whose speed ( no pun meant ) and clinical finishing clinched the victory for the Royals demonstrated our defensive naivety. And it could have and should have been worse, for their were great opportunities for Reading to score two more.
I am not sure how many would have watched the match yesterday what with all of the other sporting events taking place, but our display will not encourage too many impartial viewers to switch on when we play Fulham in eleven days time. Huddersfield, with Mark Hudson in charge, will have the “bounce”, and Blackburn will not be easy. Difficult times ahead.
Morning All,
Hard to disagree with any of the comments or Pauls piece. The bit that I really find difficult is when the manager buys players but then proceeds to rarely play them or play them out of position.
As for some of the decisions Warnock made… Nelson came on and I have to say to put him at right back (despite playing there occasionally for Oxford) looked desperate; at one point he gave away two corners and then passed straight to a Reading player in three touches.
Yes Paul, the first goal was the one where we simply had a free kick and gave away a well taken goal but one where few players seemed to be busting a gut to get back… the players generally did not look convinced they could beat Reading. The lack of players covering / getting back did not improve as the game went on and we got desperate
With Pack on the field we looked more solid (Bacuna is not a RB or a DM)… but as soon as we meet a team that makes us have to break them down or they go three at the back, we have no plan / way forward.
Our new German striker looked lonely and hardly got passed to.. and when a cross rarely came in was isolated enough to have to find the ball amongst three centre backs on his own….
No idea where to even start to put this right
Peter
Thanks, Paul.
I don’t know how you worked up the enthusiasm to write a report on yesterday’s offering of Warnock-ball.
Does anyone want to buy a slightly-used season ticket for very little? For the thought of watching another twenty or so similar offerings is thoroughly depressing me.
Don’t know whether to feel embarrassed or ashamed by that performance and what makes it worse is that it was on Sky! so everyone can laugh at us.
How can people who have been in the game as our management have be so naive? At least two of the goals (can’t recall the build-up to the second) came from over-commitment at set-pieces, something we have been guilty of before in this division. As we saw yesterday if we lose possession at that set-piece we are immediately outnumbered in the counter-attack (the same thing has happened twice in home games to Fulham). Doesn’t matter whether it is a short free-kick, long free-kick or corner it is a terrible mistake to make and when on one occasion our lone defender was Bacuna then the outcome is inevitable (he ain’t going to put his life on the line to save you).
I’m not a big fan of Joe Bennett but I felt sorry for him being left isolated on numerous times yesterday, someone in front of him wasn’t doing his job, don’t feel Ralls can be expected to be every where so that leaves whoever was playing left-wing at the time. Don’t think Smithies was blameless in the first two goals but then again who knew Puscas would do a fair impersonation of Puskas. The Sky pundit Keith Andrews mentioned early on the excellent shape of our defence! that didn’t last long. Pack pulling a muscle whilst taking a free-kick was typical Cardiff and obviously didn’t help the cause.
Having had to make that early subbing it came as something of a surprise to make two more at half-time. It came as more of a surprise when he took Faulks off, another case of the manager having a lack of confidence in a player he was, presumably, involved in buying? I hope it wasn’t a case of being hooked for his part in the first goal. The two that came on contributed little, don’t know what to think about Paterson – slow overweight headless chicken perhaps whose only purpose in the team is to provide long throws in the attacking-half. Talking of long-throws, Morrison down the line to a forward who is double-marked, what’s that all about Neil?
It’s been stated many times how predictable we are but it is becoming ridiculous. Opposing teams have no need to scout us we do the same thing in every game. Reading packed their box in defence yesterday and we didn’t have any ideas or the means to break them open, I despair.
I can’t see the boss changing his approach (too stubborn?) so unless he sees the light himself and says I have had enough I can see it being a very long season fighting relegation. The emperor’s new clothes have worn out.
I could go on but I’ll cede the floor to others.
You thought you were having a rant, Paul!
We are stuck with it. The players bought were brought in to play dire football so if we change manager how can we change that style with these players.
NW has a dubious record of paying for players. Madine, Tomlin, Cunningham, Reid, Murphy, Bacuna. 30 million ish. Yet only one in yesterday’s team. The worst one.
Going by the performance we are candidates for the drop. 3 points with a last minute goal against a team who have 1 point. Wigan one win. Us. Reading. One won, us.
Huddersfield must be rubbing their hands at the prospect of playing a one dimensional team who are lacking confidence, style , technique, ability, leadership and direction.
I agree with comments regarding set pieces but NW tries to use wingers who generally have no final ball. Opposition just have to defend set pieces well and close down wingers and that’s Cardiff knackered.
We need a young coach, soon.
Thanks Paul and others for your input. It was a dire performance, not helped by the purchase of players from league 1 etc. We were fortunate against Luton to get the three
points. You just wonder in our scouting system who would recommend BACUNA(Do they watch these players?) We paid £3m plus and also offer a 4 year contract – unbelievable that is down to Warnock and the transfer committee.
Perhaps give it another 5 games and see what happens!!!!!!!
Thanks Paul for finding the stomach to write a report after yesterday’s gruesome offering.
Back in late June our lack of any purposeful activity in the transfer market had caused me to imagine I could hear the faintest of alarm bells ringing in the distance. Our somewhat incoherent transfer activity and three pretty dire opening league performances since and those bells have got steadily louder and clearer and are certainly not imaginary any more.
The question is of course, are similar alarm bells are ringing in the ears of Messrs Tan, Dalman and Choo ? If they are, you have to wonder whether they have the bravery and confidence to grant our manager the well-deserved earlier retirement than he had himself planned – let alone the football-wisdom to appoint the right kind of person to lead the club forward. If they are not then I’m left wondering what exactly is this season for. Is survival in the second tier the true limit of their ambitions ?
Lots of stats from our opening games cause considerable concern. For me one of the most telling is the use of 22 players in our first three league games – I’m sure a club record though I haven’t had a spare two hours or so to check that. That gives all the signs of a manager who has little idea of his strongest line up and a squad riddled with mediocrity at this level.
Thanks Paul and others.
Have to admire your ability to write and analyse so effectively when a) early in the morning and/ or b) totally depressed with yesterday’ s showing.
All points have been eloquently made by everyone above on top of Paul’s usual high-quality analysis.
Think we have all seen this coming over last couple of weeks but trying to be in denial, hoodwinked by the last-gasp Luton won.
Pattern and style of play so repetitive and we all know limitations but prepared to accept if the up and at em style keeps providing points. Fear now is that we have been well and truly rumbled in every area and mid-table mediocrity would be all that is left to aim for if we don’t sort things quickly. Like others – and the manager- I have no clue as to our best starting team but just hope we can pull off a rousing performance on Wednesday.
Small additional intervention from me.
Last Saturday, I noticed the excitement at Bramall Lane and Carrow Road, the sense of freshness.
It brought sharply into focus how our Club just hadn’t taken our two recent Promotions seriously.
We were supposed to be ‘grateful’ to be there, pretty much giving up without a whimper – one season each time, and we were gone.
That, together with the thoughtful and articulate contributions from so many MAYAns make me wonder if the Club is run by undoubtedly clever people who have no clue or competence football-wise.
Our Manager is a notably charmless individual whose style of personality and football requires success, or it’s all a highly resistible bore…our communal passion undeserved by them, and wasted.
Morning everyone and, as always, good to see so many high quality responses. Before getting around to commenting on points you have made, I’d just like to make a general observation about the response to Sunday’s match and that is that I’m surprised to see so many supporters being so critical of our manager. It’s got the feel of a sea change of opinion to me, but, I daresay, a good win tomorrow will see the dissent quieten down again – for myself, even a 5-0 win would not alter the fact that the deficiencies shown at Wigan and Reading had me thinking that this is a squad which will finish nearer to the bottom of the table than the top unless a few people start pulling their finger out.
Anthony, according to Neil Warnock, we were interested in Puscas in the summer (I would have said he was too young and too small for us), but he would have cost us too much and he wanted too much. I’m not going to comment on how good or bad the player will be this season, but that comment goes to the heart of our poor transfer dealings in the last three windows – people talk about us having a target on our back now, but we don’t behave like we do, there is still the same “plucky little Cardiff City” mentality which has it that survival in the Premier League (something that Bradford, Oldham and Blackpool have done in the past) would have been some sort of miracle.
Lindsay, Russell Slade used to get absolutely slaughtered by supporters, myself included, yet I see little difference between what he produced and what we are getting now from a manager who is still venerated by some – Slade’s sides cost a fraction of what this squad has as well.
Regarding counter attacks BJA, I was talking to a friend yesterday who said that you wouldn’t see that sort of three onto none and four onto one type situations Reading had in parks football. I agreed with him to the extent that they resembled the sort of goal a side a single goal down well into added time might concede, but these were occurring with plenty of time left – I knew you want your side to attack when they’re a couple of goals, but for Reading to be able to get past a last City player who was about fifteen yards inside their half and then have a clear run in on Smithies was ridiculous and embarrassing.
Peter, welcome to the forum – good to see you posting here. You make a good point about players not busting a gut to get back. I heard Neil Warnock call himself “the great motivator” in an interview last season, I don’t believe he said it in a arrogant way, more as an acknowledgement of the quality I would say most people would say was most instrumental in bringing him success, but I must say that I don’t think we’ve looked that motivated a team in either of our away matches in particular. I think everyone would expect a Warnock side to come flying out of the traps in the next match after a beating like Sunday’s – it’ll be very interesting to see how we start tomorrow.
Yes, that was an impressive rant Colin! You touched on a lack of support for our left back and I really think it is time now for some serious thought to be given as to whether our insistence on playing with two wingers in every game is costing us. I can’t comment on Whyte yet, but we have three of them who can be match winners on their day at this level, but they are so inconsistent with a recent tendency to disappear in away games becoming too much of a habit now.
Paul, I think you put things very succinctly and accurately when you said how opposition teams can “knacker” us – I also agree completely with you how often we take the field without a single player bought for a fee by this manager in the team, what an indictment that is of our transfer dealings.
Geoff, regarding Bacuna, a look at who his agent is might explain things.
Richard, your question “what exactly is this season for” goes to the nub of the matter – last year there was talk of a plan being in place in the event of us going down, but the events of this summer blew that one out of the water. I saw that stat about us having used twenty one players in our first two matches on the BBC website and didn’t pay much attention to it because I assumed someone had cocked up, but what more proof do we need that, if nothing else, our manager doesn’t seem to have a clue what his best team is.
Huw, it does look like we’ve been rumbled doesn’t it, at other clubs you could see a manager tweaking a few things if he suspected that had happened to his team, but, basically, we only have a plan A – “Warnockball on steroids”!
I think you are so right about the attitude at Cardiff towards Premier League football last season Lindsay. I’ve taken to using the phrase “plucky little Cardiff City” to describe the way the manager and others at the club viewed events last season, but your “grateful” does the job equally as well, if not better. I’ve seen some supporters saying they are prepared to give the manager a pass for what happened last season, but that’s something I cannot and will not do – how can I when, as I mentioned earlier, teams like Bradford, Oldham and Blackpool were able to avoid the drop?
Our manager continually praises the support his team gets home and away and I’ve no doubt that at times the comments are heartfelt, but there are also times when they sound like something that is trotted out almost on autopilot to keep the support onside – I get the feeling we are rapidly reaching a stage where it’s going to need more than soft soap to keep the critics at bay.