Much better from City, and Whittingham in particular, as Slade influence shows.

8 Responses to Much better from City, and Whittingham in particular, as Slade influence shows.

1. Graham says:

   October 19, 2014 at 9:07 am

   Yes – what a huge relief to watch a game where all our players looked as if they really wanted to be there .. they worked hard and for each other, and kept going even though obviously tiring in the second half .. for me the greatest pleasure was in seeing Whittingham playing upfield and creatively and making good passes forward and shooting himself .. and I was impressed by the utterly involved touch-line performance by our new manager – throughout he showed he cared and the hugely improved performance by the team must to some extent be due to what he asked for from them. And his enthusiasm spread to the crowd – we didn’t quite match the superb support Wales received last week, but we were miles better than we’ve been lately, because our team gave us something yesterday that we simply had to cheer .. and yes, of course, in South Wales the “UDM” is remembered – nor should we forget ..
2. Geoff Lewis says:

   October 19, 2014 at 2:05 pm

   Hi Paul,
   Best footballing in a long time from a Cardiff City side, especially in the first half.
   There was more of a shape and commitment and the players seemed to cover each other if mistakes were made.
   Whittingham was back to his old playing style, which made a big difference when we were going forward and attacking their midfield.
   Burke caused us quite a few headaches and unlucky not to score in the first half, thanks to Noone saving on the line. Not to sure why we sold Burke to Birmingham, I always felt he was one to “keep”.
   Early days yet , but hopefully Slade, Scott and his young coaches can turn us around. Ole’s support staff seemed a bit on the old side and did not have that desire that is required in this day of fitness and attitude needed in the game.
3. The other Bob Wilson says:

   October 19, 2014 at 4:08 pm

   Thank you both for your replies. Graham, I’m not sure what happened with Chris Burke when his contract ran out – did he say he wasn’t interested in signing a new one or did we say we didn’t want to keep him? I suspect it was the former. That was the best he has played so far in his visits back to Cardiff (all of which have seen his side beaten), but he wasn’t in the game too much after we scored. As for the staff Ole bought with him, it was pretty certain they were going to leave if he did – Ole will get all of the stick for what happened in his time as manager, but I wouldn’t say whoever was supposed to be doing the defensive or tactical coaching and fitness training covered themselves in glory either.

   Graham it was better as far as atmosphere goes yesterday, but it was still a long way short of what we saw for the Wales v Bosnia match. I agree that what the Nottinghamshire miners and others did thirty years ago shouldn’t be forgotten. The strike was arguably the defining event in South Wales history in the latter years of the last century so, by all means, remind those supporting Forest of that, but it seemed to me that we only really got the improved atmosphere you talk of when there were songs about the scabs – there have been times this season when the team has not deserved the backing of the crowd, but they did yesterday and I don’t believe they got what they merited.
4. Dai Woosnam says:

   October 20, 2014 at 9:28 am

   I saw the game in the delightfully named The Bow Legged With Brass pub in the centre of Halifax. After 30 minutes, I was the only one watching the game from Cardiff…a hundred other pairs of eyes were on the game from The Etihad.
   But like you Paul, I liked what I saw.
   Fitness is still a problem though: they ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes. And I am sure it WAS lack of fitness rather than a lack of concentration.
   And as you say, Antonio who had been outshone by Chris Burke yesterday, suddenly came alive with a vengeance! One could see what an amazing player he is and that last few minutes explained why he seemed to be DJ’s first name on the teamsheet at Hillsborough.
   Re The Owls BTW: you have been proved right Paul in thinking that I was being overly optimistic in thinking they might make the top six! Since I made that suggestion, they have lost most of their games.
   Re Chris Burke: I lamented City not offering him a contract to match Birmingham’s: for he is a fabulous player.
   When I think of the stupidity of the last year or two and money poured down the sink …and yet we could not match Alex McLeish’s Birmingham’s offer.. Burke was big Alex’x first signing following relegation from the EPL.
   Alex had brought him through at Glasgow Rangers and had seen him really show his talent in Old Firm games.
   Talking of the past: I still have not got over City’s unnecessary relegation. I waited HALF A CENTURY the last time I saw them go down from the top flight: I fancy I may have to wait as long again. But fear not Methuselah, I am not going to take your record…even if I am coming up fast on the rails.
   But if only they had not played silly buggers with John Brayford and frozen him out! And I realise that Hudson and Connolly were injured several times during last season, but between them there would usually have been ONE fit to partner Turner. The repeatedly drawn-out-of-position Caulker need never have been bought.
   And just with those changes alone, Cardiff would have stayed up …albeit by a whisker.
   BTW, I see that Steven Caulker is proving to the world that at QPR that he will never make a central defender. But his physique, engine and passing ability will one day make him a fine defensive midfield performer.
   Thanks again for your report, Paul.
   Kindest,
   Dai.
5. Rod Groves says:

   October 20, 2014 at 10:47 am

   Good Morning all Cardiff City fans ,I have been on holiday with my wife to Spain for 11 days nice hotel nice food great weather but there is always something that goes wrong on holiday ,in this case it was my visit to the sports bar in the hotel were I sat down with cold beers to watch the Blackpool game live on SKY holiday ruined .On wards and upwards we were very good on Saturday in the first half and did ok in the second ,the players showed much more desire to win a football match ,even Whittingham started to put a foot in witch was great to see he is a good player and always will be and deserved his MOM award . Well done to the new manager Russell Slade he got a great win and took Nottingham,Forests unbeaten record off them ,now win at home on Tuesday and get something at Millwall and Cardiff season will be up and running and we as fans can start the healing process after the worst manager in the clubs history mr OLIE GUNNER SOLSKJAER.
6. The other Bob Wilson says:

   October 21, 2014 at 11:37 am

   I’m not sure what happened with Burke Dai, I think you are probably right about us not offering him a new contract, but I also seem to remember that the club saying that neither player had shown any interest in negotiating new deals when they confirmed they would be letting them both go.

   What success Antonio enjoyed on Saturday only when he switched away from John Brayford’s side of the pitch, I’ve not seen anything yet which tells me Brayford would have been worse than the right backs we used in the Premier League – I’m still not convinced he was left out last year for footballing reasons. As for Steven Caulker, I’ve seen quite a bit of QPR this season and, to be honest, they look a worse team than we did at that level most of the time, but he’s been far and away their best central defender on what I’ve seen (Dunne and Ferdinand are on their last legs).

   I think you are kidding yourself if you think we would have stayed up with two out of Hudson, Turner and Connolly playing centreback – under Ole in particular we had problems all over the pitch and he and his coaching staff were pretty clueless in terms of defensive coaching. Ben Turner’s game went backwards under Ole, Hudson struggled when he got a chance and, although I like Connolly, his career so far shows him to be someone who doesn’t quite have what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.

   Rod, welcome back and I hope you enjoyed your holiday. I wouldn’t be quite so critical of Ole, but I suppose when you take into account the resources, both playing and financial, he had to work with, maybe you have got a point – I wouldn’t be surprised at all if history judges Ole to be one of our worst ever managers.
7. Dai Woosnam says:

   October 22, 2014 at 4:08 pm

   Dear Rod, I share your opinion of Ole’s staggering incompetence, but think I know of a Cardiff City manager who was even worse.
   I refer to Mr. Alan Durban.
   What made his failure so surprising was his clear intelligence and ability to express himself before the media. I would have put my house on him being a winner.
   And like Ole, he had one vital ingredient that one might have thought would bring him success: I refer to both men having played under the best manager of their day.
   Alas Cloughie and Fergie’s know-how did not rub off on either.
   Kindest,
   Dai.
8. The other Bob Wilson says:

   October 23, 2014 at 10:19 am

   I fire off the name Alan Durban as soon as I’m asked about the worst City manager I’ve seen Dai, but I suppose that when you consider the financial resources Ole had to work with (only Malky Mackay had a bigger budget than him even if you factor in the players who left during the summer), then maybe Rod has a point – I see Adam LeFondre is accusing Ole of over complicating things this morning

   http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-star-adam-le-7983172?

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