Is it possible to be happy with your team when they lead 2-0 at half time and then concede five minutes into added time to finish at 2-2? The obvious answer to that question is no, but today’s 2-2 draw at Leeds for Cardiff City has to be viewed in a positive light I feel as it was a very testing season opener against a newly relegated side who are tipped by many to regain the Premier League place they lost in May.
For forty five minutes, City were very good today, they defended intelligently and with character to deny Leeds attacking momentum even though they had most of the ball. City belied their image of being feeble in front of goal by scoring twice from what I would say was only three worthwhile opportunities in the match.
It was always going to be tough after the break though, especially as the home side reduced the arrears early in the piece and from there, it became a siege on our goal. A siege which, to be honest, needed a combination of what was Jak Alnwick’s best performance for us so far by a distance, desperate, last ditch blocks and some luck to ensure that we led going into added time.
One of the features of the opening weekend of the EFL was the number of matches which went on for ages as a result of a clampdown by officials on time wasting. In truth, I don’t think you can really get too wound up by anything which tries to ensure that you see as near as damnit, ninety minutes football (City fans were originally going to be charged £47 for a ticket to today’s match), but I think we should all prepare for goals in City games against and, hopefully, for beyond the hundred minute mark (as I type this the board has gone up showing an extra 13 minutes to be played at the of the Sunderland v Ipswich match over the coming months
So, conceding in the ninety fifth minute is going to be pretty small beer I reckon by the time we get to May- nevertheless, we’ve all lived our lives thinking that when the clock ticks past the ninety minute mark as you’re team is holding a single goal lead it feels like you’re almost there, I’m not sure that we’ll ever get used to the new reality that it now means nothing of the sort.
Anyway, back to today’s entertaining affair at Elland Road, so many games that your team plays can be analysed in a glass half full or empty perspective depending on your feelings regarding a variety of things like, for example, your manager, Board, team’s league position, style of play and kit! My view as I’m writing this though is that, on the first day of the season, with a new manager and what are generally reckoned to be a good set of recruits including a much heralded return for the club’s best player of the twenty first century, I really should be accentuating the positive!
Erol Bulut’s first selection for a competitive match contained a surprise or two. We knew already that Alnwick would be playing because Ryan Allsop’s injury from the Wycombe game looks set to keep him out for about a fortnight, but the absence of Sheyi Ojo from the twenty man squad was a surprise (as far as I can tell, our manager gave no explanation for it after the game) and, possibly, the inclusion of Josh Bowler from the start was as well – the Forest loanee had only trained with his new team mates for a few days after all.
With Bowler on the right, Karlan Grant on the left and Aaron Ramsey through the middle supporting striker Ike Ugbo, there was no starting place for Callum Robinson and I’ll return to him later.
One of the things that struck me in our pre season was that we seemed a more organised side and there was evidence of that in the opening half today as it seemed everyone looked aware of their duties when we weren’t in possession (Leeds had seventy two per cent of the ball).
When we did have the ball, we passed it quite nicely, as we did for most of our pre season, but, as was remarked upon by the Sky commentators, it was noticeable how many players we got in the box on the rare occasions we were able to mount attacks – something which suggests we are also fitter than last season..
After a pretty even first quarter of an hour, Leeds had a good spell of five minutes when Wilfried Gnonto, who was playing through the middle, began to look like he could cause us the sort of problems he did in the FA Cup replay on the same ground last season, but City responded in the best possible manner by ending their goal drought which was stretching towards the three hundred and fifty minute mark.
Bowler had seen very little of the ball until then, but he was in the perfect position to score a goal which owed much to creativity and coolness on our part, but also some distinctly dodgy defending by the home team as captain Joe Ralls’ fine pass sent Callum O’Dowda into a huge gap down the Leeds right. A Sky graphic had shown that City had only just shown that we had not touched the ball in Leeds’ penalty area until then, but as soon as he became the first of our players to do so, the Irishman pulled the ball back to Bowler whose shot from around the penalty spot was blocked only for Ugbo to show good awareness by calmly returning the ball to the winger who side footed past the helpless Meslier in the Leeds goal from ten yards.
Leeds centreback Hjelde was having an uncomfortable time of it (he was substituted at the interval) and a mistake by him presented Bowler with the ball inside the Leeds penalty area soon afterwards. However, disappointingly and unusually, the new man’s first touch was poor and the. chance had gone as quickly as it had arrived.
Around this time came the moment that Bulut thought had a major influence on the outcome as Ralls’ problematic hip packed up and he had to make way for Ebou Adams. As the game became more of a battle for City in the second half, Adams’ qualities came in handy, but, in a team that have not enjoyed much of it in recent years, it seems to me that one of the lessons of the last few games is that we can show an element of control when Ramsey, Ryan Wintle and Ralls are together in our midfield, but it’s rarely there with any other three man combination we use in midfield in that area – in that respect, this “dominant” midfielder we’ve read so much about in recent weeks cannot come soon enough..
Nevertheless, City we’re able to double their lead with another goal which featured some nice build up play, some more ropey defending and a pleasing number of blue shirts in the opposition penalty area. Bowler and Wintle worked a one two that opened up the Leeds backline a little too easily and the ball found its way to Ramsey whose shot was half blocked into the path of Ugbo and the striker, so much more impressive than he was pre season, scored easily from four yards.
Alnwick had made the first of his fine saves to deny Crysencio Summerville at this point and although Leeds stepped up the pressure in the minutes before half time, the break came with them showing little sigh of solving the conundrum City we’re setting them.
Sides that are a couple of goals down at half time tend to make a big effort in the minutes straight after the interval and, if that can be repulsed, then the rest of the match often turns out to be pretty comfortable. So, Leeds needed a fast start to the second period and they duly got it when captain Liam Cooper nodded in a corner on forty nine minutes.
Ordinarily, such a goal leads to plenty of recriminations in the defending team, but it really was a prodigious leap by the home defender which he hurtled into with no thought for his own safety – indeed, Cooper damaged an ankle in scoring and had to leave the pitch when play resumed three minutes later.
The game had changed now though and City either stood back or were forced back as Leeds poured all over them and Alnwick took centre stage with his best save being to turn a Gnonto effort on to the woodwork, closely followed by an effort to deny Dan James.
It looked like an equaliser had to come and when it did, City could begrudge their bad luck, but also have to admit it was a quality finish by Summerville after the ball broke to him sixteen yards out with deflections off as many as three defenders.
Daniel ,Farke, the Leeds manager thought it was a “scandal” that his team didn’t win, an understandable response from his perspective I suppose, but this is a Cardiff City blog and I think there were grounds for encouragement in today’s performance. That said, I don’t think a top half Championship side would have been quite as powerless in the face of an onslaught as we were – other teams would have found ways to lift the siege from time to time.
I’ll finish on the game by saying that Callum Robinson was thought to have a minor injury that explained his non selection, but it was a surprise that he did not come on. So you have to wonder how fit he was – It seems odd to have a player like Robinson on the bench and then not use him. This gives me a chance to get on my hobby horse and have a moan about the non inclusion of Academy products Rubin Colwill and Keiron Evans, both of whom are creative Robinson type players – you would have thought one of them could have been named on the bench if Robinson wasn’t going to be able to be used.
Away from the first team, the under 21 side played at Haverfordwest today in the Nathaniel MG Cup and made it through to the Third round against a weakened home team by winning 4-0 with all four goals coming from Cian Ashford who has made a fast start to the season – let’s see him play a part in the League Cup against Colchester in a few days time as a reward!
Finally, the start of the season is the time I ask readers to show their support by making a voluntary donation towards the blog’s running costs and to help towards things like book projects that I’m working on. Back in 2018, the blog would not have survived without the contributions of some of its readers as I just did not have the financial means to pay the web hosting bill I received that summer.
Since then, my finances have improved and, with me now receiving the state pension to go with my works one, I can say that there is no longer any need for anyone to donate towards running costs – touching wood, the blog will never ever be in a position again where it’ll need help from readers to survive.
So, with nothing in the pipeline in terms of new projects this year, I can say to all readers, and especially those who do still donate towards the blog, there is no need to do so this year at a time when many need every last penny to make it through the cost of living crisis.
That is not to say you cannot still make a contribution if you want to – they can be made through cash, bank transfer, cheque and PayPal. Many of you who do contribute will already have my bank details, but anyone wishing to make their first contribution can contact me at paul.evans8153@hotmail.com for more information.
As always a big thank you to all those who have made donations in the past and especially to those who still do (particular thanks go to the Owl Centre for their continued very generous sponsorship), a happier Cardiff City season than last time around to all of you!
Thanks Paul, as ever for a most comprehensive report. And I am particularly pleased you have survived like me, to get your OAP.
When in 1889, Otto von Bismarck introduced the first OAP in Germany, he had no idea that in Britain chaps like you and me would one day toast his memory after our fellow Welshman, David Lloyd George, would emulate his largesse… though what was popularly described as ‘five bob a week for cheating death’ seems less like largesse and more like a widow’s mite, in these days of crazy inflation.*
Anyway, preamble over, down to business.
What an interesting game that was. Were Leeds not to have equalised at the death, it would have been a travesty of a result. And in boxing terms, after all 97 minutes, we were well behind on points… so I agree with you that we should not feel sore that we left Elland Road without that away win. Indeed, we left with a point more than the zero I had anticipated.
Immediately after the final whistle, I got to thinking who was the Man of the Match. Most judges would I reckon figure the choice would be between Summerville, Gnonto or McGuinness. Not me though. To me, the clear winner was Josh Smith.
Paul, you were kind enough to say the other day that you had faith in my ability to spot a player. I thank you for that. But I am more sure of my skills in spotting a future FIFA referee.
And gosh, were we not lucky to have such a strong referee…!! Actually, to quote the TV ad, ‘MORE than lucky’. I have no doubt that most EFL refs would have given Leeds at least one penalty, and some would have given two… but not Josh Smith. He commendably withstood the crowd and player pressure, and made the right decisions every time.
I can only fault the ref on two instances of yellow cards… one he granted, and one that he did not.
I thought Méïté, who had been on about 5 minutes, was incredibly unlucky to get a card for his first offence… if ‘offence’ it was, for it was not clear to me whether he was holding the arm of his opponent or whether the opponent was keeping his arm there and playing for a professional foul.
And a little later we saw Ampadu scream in pain, in a clear attempt to get a City player booked… when there was manifestly no injury whatsoever. I thought that this season such behaviour would automatically face official censure… so why no card?
But that apart, Mr Smith gets my admiration for his performance.
Now Paul, I know we have some history with this guy. He reffed both our games against Blackpool last season, including the game where he allegedly missed the Gary Madine stamp. He also reffed the derby with the Swans at CCS. And there could be other games, I have forgotten.
But I have to speak as I find… yesterday his was a 9 out of 10 performance from him. Methinks he will be fast-tracked to the EPL. Has he had some shockers in the past, and will he have the occasional nightmare game in the future? Yes, no doubt. But I saw enough yesterday to tell me he will be the new Michael Oliver.
As for individual City performances… judging by yesterday, I would like to see Adams as possibly even the FIRST name on the team-sheet, when it comes to midfield. (Yes, I know: one swallow maketh not a summer, etc…!!)
I would like to see Méïté and Bowler as our wingers… and hope we can get Kieffer back as centre forward, because I am not persuaded by Ugbo, Grant, Robinson or Etete as strikers.
I am also unsure about our Greek centre half, and would swap both our keepers for one Mark Etheridge… though I am inclined to think that Alnwick should definitely keep the jersey pro tem… as yesterday he rivalled McGuinness for the title of ‘the CCFC man of the match’… he was very competent at Elland Road… and I especially appreciated him kicking it long when he realised our defenders were getting into a terrible kamikaze pickle trying to escape the Leeds press.
As for Aaron… let’s just say I hope that he has sufficient self-awareness to be sorely disappointed by his off-the-pace personal performance. He was as pedestrian as when he disappointed the Ibrox faithful of my second club, after they had been given the ‘big sell’ by the local media… I recall the hype I heard from Gordon Dalziel on Clyde 1 (radio) just before his loan move there.
Let us hope that the slower pace of Serie A – and his time since in Ligue 1 – is what is to blame , has made him forget the frenetic demands of The EFL Championship…!!
And finally, I do hope that Mark McGuinness gets the armband sooner rather than later. He is the only good thing that Mick McCarthy did for us.
And yes I know that when James Rowberry left us for Rodney Parade, he paid special tribute to MM, calling him a ‘wonderful human being’. This made me splutter in my cornflakes somewhat, and made me laugh imagining an acerbic aside from a certain Mr Roy Keane, had he heard that… but, let’s face it, Mick could indeed well be a saintly man… (oh yes he could)… but he was a heck of a sinner when it came to managing Cardiff City.
*up in the loft, I have my ticket stub for the 5 day festival at The Isle of Wight in 1970. It was attended by 520,000 people… a figure that is still the biggest for any ticketed (as opposed to free) musical event in The West… indeed it drew more pilgrims than the famous Woodstock of the previous year.
And most of us were happy to pay the admission price… (the massive site was so primitive in its lack of basic facilities- I daren’t mention what passed for toilets – that I felt I was one of the extras in some biblical epic movie)… yet on the last day, anarchists stormed the fences, and almost succeeded in burning down the stage…
… calling it (wait for this…)
… a ‘capitalist rip off ‘… and insisting it should be a ‘free’ event.
And the cost of my ticket? Just £3.
Yes, you read that right.
And to think of the astonishing £335 Glastonbury charge today… for an event with, I admit, stellar performers, but nothing remotely like the number of world stars that appeared at Freshwater in that one event back then.
Dear me…!! And don’t get me started on The Beano, which when I stopped reading it in 1959, was just 2d a copy (less than one new pence)… and now sells at an eye-watering £2.99 a copy in your local newsagents… an increase of over three hundred fold!
Stop the world, I want to get off. Messrs Bricusse and Newley have indeed made the move… and thank God I too will soon escape this madness, as at 76 the sands of time are all but run out for me.
Right… will sign off now Paul. Not proof reading as I must dash as I have a pressing appointment to visit my dentist… so apols in advance for any typos.
TTFN,
Dai.
I was impressed by the ref on Sunday Dai, but that decision not to send off Madine down here last season was an absolute shocker. Nevertheless, the fact that Josh Smith was chosen to officiate one of the most high profile games in the EFL on the opening day of the season in front of the TV cameras suggests he is a referee on the rise (as long as we ignore the woeful Bobby Madley being chosen for the opening match of the campaign between Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton on Friday!).
Regarding Mick McCarthy, I was one of thousands of City fans who said they liked his persona when we appointed him and I still do despite the fact that he was a disaster of a manager for us. More than most, I’d say McCarthy is proof that managers tend to have a definite shelf life, for about two thirds of his career, he was a fair Premier League manager, a good Championship boss and he didn’t do badly at all in his first spell in charge with Ireland.
However, for about ten years now he has struggled badly and has retreated to a defensive type of anti football of which the unbelievable five centrebacks ploy was the the apex. I would say in his defence that the jobs at Ipswich (where he did pretty well under the circumstances), Cardiff and Blackpool were tough ones at the time he had them, but I hope for his sake that his experiences with us and Blackpool have convinced him to walk away from management now because when the term “dinosaur” gets thrown at a certain type of boss these days, I daresay he is one of the first people who spring to mind as an epitome of the term.
With regard to prices, I’ll say first that I take off my hat to City who manage to keep their season ticket prices at a more than reasonable price by modern standards and there’s other little things like streaming under 21 games free of charge for supporters and not charging an admission price at the ground for such games (here are plenty who do). It’s impossible to argue with you on the subject though = there are plenty of examples of how costs in most areas of life have risen out of proportion with inflation compared to fifty years ago, but a personal bugbear of mine is test cricket.
I must have watched about ten days test cricket in the flesh in my life, but I won’t be seeing any more because I refuse to pay the sky high prices they now charge, but the least that should be done for those who do is that they get to see at least the advertised ninety overs in a day, not the eighty three or eighty four they got during the recent Ashes series/
There’s much talk about England being the “moral winners” of the series, but it’s hard to have much sympathy with that view when, for example, there could have been another twenty overs or so played in the rain ruined Old Trafford test if both sides (but England were the worst offenders) bowled the number of overs they should have done when it was dry during the first three days.
Paul,
You are probably right about Mick McCarthy. His record is actually better than I gave him credit for. Thinking back, he did a great job taking Wolves back up to the Promised Land… and pleasing Jack Hayward the owner (in the Bahamas?) who had not so many years longer to live.
As for cricket admission prices…
I wonder now how I – the son of a man killed by King Coal when I was just ten – could finance my Cardiff City every home game* for 8 years, and about 7 away games a season after I was about 13… and my Glamorgan CCC season ticket… all out of my after-school wages… not to mention train fares to Ninian, St Helen’s and Cardiff Arms Park? And how did my late brother Clive Woosnam, an impecunious student at The University of London, pay for me aged 12 to stay with him at his lodgings in Bayswater and take wide eyed me all around the sights of London… including buying admission tickets to Madame Tussauds (gee what a price that is today… 36 quid) … and the first day of the 2nd Test at Lords in the series against South Africa. We sat high up behind the bowler’s arm at the Nursery End… where the space age looking Lord’s Media Centre stands today.**
Certainly no student could afford those admission prices today for himself and kid brother.
Incidentally, that Test featured my cricketing hero… the late Peter Walker. We watched him score a splendid 50 that first day.
Gee, what a pair of hands he had…!! I can never recall him dropping a catch.
* including Happy Tappy’s 6 goals in one match for City…
** Clive was a stickler for sitting behind the bowler’s arm and looking through his binoculars to gauge the amount of movement off the seam, or in the air…. Indeed, I have the same view today… I would far to watch a cricket or tennis match on TV, than in the flesh… if ‘being there’ meant I was having to spectate from level with cover point (cricket) or the umpire’s chair (tennis)…
TTFN,
Dai.
Can I just say how I’m loving these exchanges between Bob and Dai, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. But where have DJ, Huw Perry and others gone? I still go down, but road and parking so bad I prefer to go late and leave early. I’m running out of steam. My longevity matches Dai’s but not really my interest any longer. I wouldn’t have said that even five years ago. Bob, you’re an absolute phenomenon.
Ttfn
Royale