It makes a change I suppose to say that Cardiff City departed a cup competition in a game they had a right good go at winning, but, even so, it must be said that the manner of their dismissal from the FA Cup tonight was typical of their season.
Two up early in the second half, they allowed Reading to score twice to force the extra time which always seemed inevitable and then after they hit the front again in the first period of the additional thirty minutes, they again couldn’t see things out, so the tie went to the equally inevitable penalty shoot out.
We can all remember the three dramatic shoot outs (two won and one lost) that were highlights of our 2012 league Cup campaign – Leicester, which finished up at something like 11-10, the thrill of making it to a fourth Wembley date in four years to see off Palace and the heartbreak of losing the Cup after a great fight against Liverpool which included the unforgettable Ben Turner equaliser, but I’m afraid Cardiff v Reading 2020 will only be recalled in any list discussion about the most anti climactic penalty shoot outs ever.
The, very, abridged version of how the shoot out panned out is that Reading went first and scored easily from their four attempts, while we took three, one of which just about made it in, while another was smashed against the crossbar and another was easily saved.
To add a bit more detail, Will Vaulks, who was good otherwise, was the villain when it came to the spot kick whacked against the bar, while, bafflingly, Aden Flint was the choice to take our first attempt in the mini competition which forced a decision in a tie which probably would have gone on for weeks in the days where sides just kept playing replays until there was, finally, a winner.
Credit to Flint for volunteering to take a penalty, but was anyone really surprised at what happened? I’m sure Danny Gabbidon on Radio Wales wasn’t the only one who was saying they weren’t a fan of centre halves taking penalties once it became clear who was stepping forward.
Such a damp squib of an ending was harsh on City in many ways because their performance showed that, perhaps, the much talked about change of approach under the new manager may not be quite as demanding a task as many expect it to be.
City, with Academy team captain Joel Bagan enjoying a polished first team debut at left back until he was hit by cramp, played some nice stuff in dominating a first half where it could be said they were worth more than the single goal scored by Josh Murphy after Reading had been sloppy in playing out from the back.
Murphy’s low shot from not far short of twenty five yards was the clearest evidence of a far better contribution from the team’s wingers than the one we saw four days earlier when the sides last met, but both he and Gavin Whyte prospered on the back of a better than expected service from Vaulks and Marlon Pack which must have come as a shock when it was seen that that they were up against three opponents in the middle of the park.
Reading reacted by changing their shape to the something like 4-4-2 that we had started with and while they soon went 2-0 when a lovely, outside of the foot pass by Vaulks picked out Robert Glatzel who went on to net in a manner which suggests he’s got the ability to score consistently for us with a service which suits him more, they improved after that with City’s defensive work being undermined by a lessening of its denial of room from which crosses could come in. Omar Richards’ powerful near post header got the visitors back into things and sub Rinamhota levelled things with a snap shot which flew past Neil Etheridge before he could move.
Reading would have had momentum going extra time, but City, with Tom Sang doing well on his debut after he was introduced for Whyte, had the better of things for most of the remainder of the match. They were ahead again when blunders by defenders Blackett and Oshi gave Murphy the chance to nip in before keeper Walker and make it 3-2.
When Reading had got back their two goal deficit, it could be claimed that they were suggesting that a goal was coming, but City were looking pretty safe at 3-2 when Meite got his third goal against us within the space of eight days from nowhere with another snap shot type finish to set up that non event of a shoot out.
Thank-you, Paul for your report. Much appreciated.
What of last night? Clearly the first 65 minutes was the best sustained period of play by a Harris’ City team, but in context it was achieved with a few of Reading’s regulars on the bench. Though that may be true, City played with a fluency that would have caused better opponents trouble.
Bagan, though should have been withdrawn earlier than the 82nd min, due to cramp, had an excellent debut, combining well with Murphy, who had his best game for ages. I’ve always felt that Murphy should share the Tomlin-role duties rather than his lonely furrow on the left. His movement caused Reading problems in the first hour. Sang, another youngster, introduced for extra time had a most pleasing 30 mins. Older readers may get the idea if I say he had a little bit of the Peter King about him in running style and movement. Etheridge was faultless, still my #1, but has Harris already decided he will be off in the summer? Vaulks offered good vision so Pack’s limitations were not exposed as of late. Glatzell scored a lovely goal from Vaulks’ pass and Murphy’s two were of the highest order.
What of the last hour of the game? If Harris is saying that Richards is a better bet at full back than Peltier then I beg to differ. Already at fault for a probably 3 goals (against WBA & Reading) we seem shorn of defensive stability down that flank. Peltier and Richards is a far better option than Richards and Sanderson. My two in the centre of midfield would be Ralls and Vaulks whilst Tomlin and Murphy (if not on the wing) would play behind the striker. Flint does so much that is good during games but always seems to have a mistake in him. We obviously need another striker who can be guaranteed to score 15-20 goals a campaign.
It was postulated on a City mb that what if we approached Liverpool’s-23 Manager. Just the thought of it would have me drooling but with the elite at this club, it is as remote a possibility as anything could be with City. Even if by some miraculous thought process the Club arrived at that decision to want to approach him, and Liverpool FC miraculously gave permission to talk to him, our financial package to him (salary, transfer kitty, scouting network and Academy) would, almost certainly, be unacceptable to him and make the whole process a non-starter. Hence enter Harris. You get what you are prepared to pay for.
The Good Book says, ‘Without a vision the people perish.’ Cardiff City, even if they have a vision, which I doubt, would not spend to achieve it. We hear we can’t afford the £15m for the Sala situation, apparently, so where has the approximate £150m parachute payments gone? Contrast us with Leicester City and Wolves who were in our situation a few short years ago, and with sound planning, investment and choice of manager have arrived where City could be. Oh if we had that vision and investment.
The hierarchy and football are sucking the hope out of supporting City. Its just a case of when people have to free themselves from hopelessness. As for me after supporting and watching City since the 1959/1960 season I’m at a point where even when we lose it doesn’t even hurt anymore. It doesn’t hurt at all. The bland nondescript manager-speak we get about, ‘the group,’ (clearly the in vogue word when we used to say squad) means very little. It seems to be an excercise of bigging up the little.
Oh I would love a new brand of football. Harris may tinker with things and get a bit of an improvement but the situation we are in it needs major surgery. Is the first 65 mins against Reading going to be built on? It will need a miracle at our Club.
Thanks for the reply Steve and apologies for my delay in getting back to you. Like you, I can see Etheridge leaving in the summer and it would appear that Celtic’s reported interest in Josh Murphy may be resurrected at that time as well.
Regarding the right back position, I thought Jazz Richards did well when he first returned from his long term injury problems, but it now looks like Adrenalin was getting him through those matches, because, since then, he has been unconvincing in my opinion and is doing little to justify Neil Harris’ apparent faith in him – maybe having a full pre season behind him may make a difference next season, but, based on what we’re seeing so far, Richards represents a downward step from Lee Peltier.
As for your comments on recruitment of non playing staff, I think it’s pertinent to note the report/rumour that City were interested in appointing Chris Houghton when Neil Warnock left, but he was not remotely interested in coming here. This has a ring of truth to it for me. because I think we have a certain reputation in football and it is not a good one – just as we hear that certain club’s won’t loan us players, I feel that we only fish in pretty restricted waters when it comes to managerial appointments etc.
I only made the comment that this squad doesn’t often disappoint me because I never expect anything from them on a messageboard yesterday, but I do so want to expect something from them!