Answer, when the “giant” in question is Cardiff City.
No one can deny that Cardiff City’s achievement in reaching the FA Cup Final in 2008 and then following that up four years later with an appearance in a League Cup Final was a praiseworthy one, especially when you consider that they were a Championship club at the time.
However, it seems to me that the attitude of the various managers and squads of players we’ve had since then has been one of “well, you’ve had your fun in the cups now, so you won’t mind if we go a bit easier in these games from now on will you – we don’t like playing in these matches you see”,
Maybe there are City fans who have no problem with that. After all, as embarrassing loss has followed embarrassing loss in cup competitions since the heartbreaking penalty shoot out defeat by Liverpool, there are always supporters only too willing to express their contentment that we can now “concentrate on the league”.
Coming from a generation that used to count down the days to the FA Cup Final because it was the one club game you could watch live on the television every season, I just don’t get that attitude.
Today’s depressing 1-0 defeat in the Third Round of that competition by League One strugglers Gillingham hurts me as much as all of the other miserable losses we’ve suffered in recent years – just because the losses have become so predictable now doesn’t make it any more easy to take.
Five years ago, we had what by modern standards is a very long run in The FA Cup when we reached the Fifth Round before letting ourselves down again by losing at home to a Wigan side who were a division below us at the time.
The Third Round that season saw us gain what may well be our best result in the competition since we won at Middlesbrough in 2008 when we came from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1 at St. James’ Park. At the time, I can remember being struck by the amount of vitriol hurled at their team by Newcastle supporters after that match, but I understand it more now, because they were sick and tired of watching their team bow out of the cup in the early rounds with yet another limp display – I understand it more because it’s a habit my team has got into now.
Many of the Cup defeats we have suffered recently annoyed me because it looked like some in the team weren’t trying, but I wouldn’t accuse any of today’s side of that. Sadly though, all I’m doing there is paying the team a very back handed compliment because it wasn’t effort that was missing today, it was quality.
Week after week I check the possession figures in our matches and see that we have struggled to keep possession of the ball for more than a third of the game. While I’m doing that, I’m always thinking wouldn’t it be great if we were the ones having 60 and 70 per cent possession for a change.
Well today it happened and all I can say now is be careful what you wish for! After the now traditional threat on our goal within the first two minutes (this time goalscorer Elliott List shot straight at Alex Smithies after working himself a promising position following some flimsy City defending), City spent the rest of the first half almost completely dominating possession.
For a while, I was thinking this is fantastic, we’re bound to score soon, but gradually it began to dawn on me that, for all of the possession and passes, there was very little threat to the Gillingham goal. People who didn’t watch the match may well look at the stat which says we had twenty one goal attempts and think I’m being unduly harsh on City there, but the really telling figure is that only four of them were on target.
Despite the domination of ball and territory in the first half, the only real chance we created came early on when our best player, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, played in Joe Bennett who should have scored rather than allow home keeper Tomas Holy to block an effort which displayed a lack of belief from the full back. Apart from that, our goal attempts in the first half consisted almost exclusively of long range efforts from a variety of players that flew high, wide and not very handsome – all that was on display for most of these efforts was a lack of technique from the City players when it comes to hitting shots cleanly and accurately.
Although outplayed in many ways, Gillingham could justifiably claim that they had created the better chances with top scorer Tom Eaves headed wastefully over just before half time after a quick and direct move by the home side which revealed more of a cutting edge than anything City had shown.
The second period saw Gillingham get more of the ball and they were soon creating the best chance of the game so far as Parker fired over from close in. By now, I was resigned to us losing the game because that’s what we tend to do in Cup competitions, yet, with less of the ball, we were having more chances.- Mendez-Laing came closest with an effort which came back off the woodwork and there was a Callum Paterson shot from close in that was cleared off the line. Generally speaking though, there was the same lack of technique in shooting which ensured that efforts were not going where they were intended to and the same applied to final passes that were not accurate enough when it looked like the obdurate home defence could be opened up – it was all far below what you would expect from Premier League footballers.
The goal when it came was a very sloppy one from a City point of view – Morrison might have been fouled in the build up to the goal, but it somehow looked wrong to see our big centre half and captain stood still as he reacted to what looked like a minor injury while play was going on around him in a very dangerous part of the pitch for his team. Bruno Manga’s tame challenge which followed didn’t look good either, nor did Bennett’s supposed attempt to block the shot or Smithies’ dive to one side as List’s effort from fifteen yards out flew into the middle of the net.
City had chances to get back on terms in the quarter of an hour which remained, but were let down by the same lack of precision that haunted them all game and it was Gillingham that came closest to getting the match’s second goal when a shot was deflected on to our crossbar.
So, congratulations to any Gillingham fan who may be reading this, but you didn’t kill a “giant” today, you beat the usual modern day Cardiff City cup team which can always be overcome by any lower league team which shows a bit of spirit, desire and organisation – the only difference between this cup exit and all but one of the embarrassments we’ve suffered since 2012 is that we happened to be a Premier League team when it happened this time.
There’s one other thing I should mention about the match– completely predictably, Cameron Coxe, Lloyd Humphries and James Waite, the three youngsters that travelled to Kent as part of a nineteen man squad, didn’t make it on to the pitch. In fact, Waite didn’t even make it onto the bench, as he was the one in the nineteen to miss out completely.
Given the way we dominated possession in the first half especially, it turned into a game where Waite’s lack of size would not have stood against him as much as it would in a “typical” game under Neil Warnock’s management. Also, considering the miserable standard of finishing displayed by the more established players who were used, Waite’s ability to usually hit the target when presented with an opportunity would have been most welcome, as, indeed, would have been Humphries’ impressive technique when striking a shot from distance – the recent goal he scored for the Under 23s against Colchester put the attempts by the first teamers seen today into their proper perspective!
At least the Under 18s managed to consolidate their position at the top of the table following a 3-2 win at Watford. The in form Dan Griffiths notched another goal while it was good to see Sion Spence get back into scoring form after his injury lay off with a couple – with second placed Ipswich beating Millwall 5-3, the top two have now opened up a cushion of five points (that gap is eight points in City’s case) over the pursuing clubs and so must be strong favourites to qualify for the end of season play offs. Also, congratulations to Blaenrhondda FC who made it into double figures with an 11-0 hammering of bottom of the table Llangwynyd Rangers BGC which keeps them in fourth place, five points behind the side in third and six adrift of the team in second, but with five matches in hand on both of them.
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Paul – through gritted teeth, thank you.
I haven’t seen a second of the utterly predictable fiasco, but you reflect my feelings precisely.
This ‘story’ led the sports section of last evening’s Radio 4 6pm news bulletin – THAT was the surprise, not the ‘shock’ of the result.
Pathetic, humiliating, insulting – the Club’s contempt for we followers can only result in raising OUR contempt towards THEM.
Absolutely inadequate and unprofessional.
And NW’s queasy “Maybe I SHOULD have tapped him up” response to the Clyne farrago reminded us that he can be a be an exceedingly charmless presence when he feels adolescent enough.
Cheers Paul. I totally agree with your report. Lack of desire, lack of technique and worst of all a distinct lack of heart shown by Morrison.
It may have been a foul but until that ball is out of play scrap for everything. Fight for that right to be allowed the privelidge to wear a Cardiff city shirt. Morrison was walking around holding g his throat, bless him.
I used to do karate and fighting as England international I was kicked full i the throat. I could not take a breath but carried on as I was not showing him I was hurt of my lack of spirit and desire. I had to go down in the end as my throat was in spasm and was not allowing me to breathe.
It was not as bad as that for Morrison so why let his team mates down. Why fail us supporters by displaying that attitude. I supported him last week by staging with better players around him we may see a true player. Perhaps its he who is letting down the other defenders.
Still we are out, like you I hate it but it’s too late so let’s get players in and concentrate on survival.
Regarding the other players. It is tough for them as they knew it was their chance so if they failed it was over for them at city. Instead of playing, passing or shooting instinctively they were trying to be too perfect. Hence extra touch or too long to shoot. I feel sorry for them I’m a way as they are under pressure from before kick off.
Huddersfield next let’s pray for 3 points.
Thanks for the write up Paul. A very predictable outcome. If we’d gone there and shown our ‘premier league class’ (irony here by the way) and won by a hatful – now that would have been a shock. Only consolation is that a draw could have been worse – we’d have probably lost the replay. Another disappointment was Neil Warnock’s response to the Nathan Clyne failed loan bid – undignified and unnecessary.
As to any potential team strengthening during the transfer window, if I were Vincent Tan I’d be very wary about giving our manager much to spend. Warnock has been very good at unearthing free transfers from lower leagues (Etheridge, Mendez-Laing) and made some good loan signings (Camarasa, Arter etc) but his record when paying money for players leaves something to be desired. The £35 million or so spent on Murphy, Reid, Cunningham, Smithies and Madine during 2018 hardly suggests a shrewd eye when it comes to the transfer market.
One other anorakish point about yesterday’s game. Gillingham used no subs – the first time an opposing team hasn’t used subs against us since Watford on Boxing Day 2011. I daresay there are some gutted Gillingham squad players today who missed the opportunity to test themselves against us premier league giants.
Thanks, Paul.
Same old, same old predictable pathetic exit to a side a couple of divisions below us.
What is it with Warnock and cup competitions?
Why not give one or more of the youngsters a run out?
An opportunity for some confidence building slips away.
I agree with Richard above that Warnock’s whingeing is not good for the clubs image.
I feel we need someone younger in the management. The ones there at the moment are very set in their ways. Did we use the “long throw” tactic yesterday?
Where do we go from here? As has been said it is difficult to have a lot of confidence in our recruitment of new players. Let’s hope we have some luck in that field this month.
P.S. Paul I was watching Sky’s transfer news on Friday morning and I believe I saw that Tottingham Hotspurs are looking at Jarrod Bowen and a fee of 20 million???? appeared on the screen.
Thanks Paul and friends for your comments. I was gutted with the result, but not unexpected as the game went on . I felt that they would grab one towards the end. Warnock not to bothered in his post match chat, usual excuses. To be honest if i was him, I would have apologised to the travelling fans to the club and the supporters who follow Cardiff city. I may have tendered my resignation.. He is on about the Chairman and Ken Choo, looking at prospective players, What experience have they got!!
To be honest I am not sure if he is the right guy to push us forward. No doubt things will change if we beat Huddersfield on Saturday with our new striker(joking)
Having won 5 FA Cup matches on route to the final in 2008 we’ve only won a further 6 in the 11 seasons since then! That includes defeats at the hands of lower league sides Shrewsbury, Wigan, Macclesfield and now Gillingham.
Then in 2012 we won 6 matches to reach the League Cup final, and have won 5 further matches in the 7 competitions since then. That includes losses to lower league Northampton, Bristol Rovers and Norwich.
So I would completely agree with you Paul, you can’t call anyone beating us in a cup game a shock any more, regardless of who they are.
Striker wanted? Have we tried Arthur Scargill?
Being ancient, I have become accustomed to disappointment watching City over the years and can generally take it in my stride – particularly if they have been hard fought defeats. Sadly, the FA Cup is a different matter – not because of another early exit but because of the disrespect shown by the Club to the competition and our fans after yet another limp display against a team we should have beaten. To add insult to injury, I then have to listen to Neil trotting out the usual lame excuses and trying to divert attention to an alleged disrespect shown to him by Liverpool (I don’t think slagging off the Premier League leaders is an altogether sensible idea). He still has my support but my patience is being tested.
Turning to the team, Sean was getting up from the deck as usual when we conceded (sorry PR!) and I’m not sure why Smithies dived out of the way of a straight shot. Up front, Callum sadly seems to have shot his bolt although to be fair to him, he’s usually getting a poor service – I love his wholehearted approach but we desperately need a proper striker so he can be utilised elsewhere, although I’m not sure where – right wing back perhaps? As for Joe Ralls, please try passing to a team mate.
I’m writing this watching the first half of County v Leicester with Newport giving it everything and the Foxes providing a passable imitation of ourselves, hope it continues in the second half.
Finally, being a typical football fan, a win against Huddersfield next week will make the world a happier place, right all previous wrongs and ensure survival this season thanks to Saint Neil.
Agree with your analysis Paul and with all the comments re-enforcing it from all contributors. Like Clive, I am writing this while watching a spirited performance from Newport who have been my “second team” as far as support is concerned. Nothing will ever make me change my priorities but I was pretty fed up yesterday and, if I was to pick out just one aspect it would be to support your view that yesterday was an ideal opportunity to give at least one of our younger players a start. I ask myself what wold I do if I was a really talented 16 year old living in South Wales and approached by City and a club further away and I don’t like the answer! Still 1-0 to Newport: can they hold out – or even get a breakaway? Come on County!
Paul – Following from Clive’s comments at the half time interval of the County match, I write this now that match has ended. What a victory! And what determination in defence. How we could do with some of that.
So a few of the ‘giants’ have been eliminated from the F.A.Cup this week-end by so called lesser teams. I don’t know why, but I feel marginally better now than I did 24 hours ago. Perhaps it is because our capitulation was echoed by many of the teams battling for Premiership survival. can we survive? Seven points from our next three will help and they are attainable but only with a more dedicated and committed approach. Tips from Mike Flynn would help.
I share the views of others concerning NW and his opinions about Liverpool. Such statements will hardly endear him to those from whom he seeks additions to our ranks. He needs to be somewhat more circumspect with his comments.
I too was disappointed with NW’s remarks about Liverpool.
Thanks for your replies and the first thing to say is that I’m a little surprised to see what appears to be 100 per cent agreement regarding attitudes towards the game – there doesn’t appear to be one “okay, we can concentrate on the league now” type among you!
Interesting as well to see agreement among those who have expressed an opinion on Neil Warnock’s post game comments regarding Liverpool and Nathaniel Clyne – just to say that I feel the same way as you and would also add that I found our manager’s comments about the Premier League ensuring that Spurs play all of their remaining home matches at Wembley to be plain weird and I can only assume that it was, yet another, diversionary tactic from him. There are also criticisms of him for not having signed any one yet (which I find somewhat harsh) on the messageboard I read, but it is a sign that although I think, in general terms, the fanbase is right behind Neil Warnock, there are a few, sometimes justified in my view, rumblings about him being heard now.
Lindsay, I wouldn’t go too far out of your way to try and watch any of Saturday’s match – although we, supposedly, “dominated”, I don’t think any highlights package would include too much action in the Gillingham penalty area.
PR, you’ve graphically captured what was going through my mind as I was watching the build up to the goal live – as I said in my piece, there were quite a few aspects of that goal which didn’t look right from a City point of view.
Richard, your mention of the lack of impact of the six players who cost us a total of 35 million pound last year is one of the justified rumblings I mentioned earlier – I’d also say that, although not using any subs wouldn’t always mean this, I reckon Gillingham not turning to their bench at all was indicative of a team which felt their opponents didn’t have a great deal to hurt them with.
Colin, the sum of 5 million was mentioned in the article I read about Bowen, Hull have money problems and I reckon they’d sell well below 20 million. I still don’t think any of us can have much clue as to how much we are willing to spend this month, but I’d be very surprised if it was significantly above the sort of figures we saw in the summer.
Geoff, I think many clubs in the Premier League have specialists employed to deal with negotiating transfers, so your comment about Ken Choo and Mehmet Dalman is another indication of a club that seems to be unwilling to behave like a Premier League club yet – we’re seeing this in terms of the wage bill and transfer spending on the pitch and things like youth development and the non hiring of specialists off it. I always mention that we should not forget Vincent Tan’s debt to equity conversion of around 75 million pounds since we got promoted, but since last May we’ve behaved like a club which is expecting just a one year stay in the Premier League again.
Ian, welcome to Feedback section with your contribution which translates the general disatisfaction with the level of our cup showings into facts.
Anthony, at eighty, I think Arthur Scargill might be a little long in the tooth for even our ageing side, but I wonder if Rhys Healey (who has just returned from his loan at MK Dons) will be in our twenty five come the first of February?
Clive, you’re right, it is only a week ago that we were all feeling very optimistic following two good away results and what I rate as our best perfromance of the season so far at Leicester, so things could well change again with a win over Huddersfield, but I find the nature of our latest two defeats to be be very annoying – Spurs because we just don’t seem to be learning anything when it comes to playing the better sides in the league and Gillingham because it was the latest in a long line of truly dismal cup defeats that no one at the club appears to be too concerned about.
Mike, you ask a very pertinent question about the decision you would have to make as a sixteen year old. Time was the better young players in this area would look further afield than Cardiff because we were in the lower divisions, now we’re at a level when we could, perhaps, have been realistic contenders to get the likes of Bale and Bellamy to stay in their home city, we have a system which is completely failing to produce first team players from within the club.
BJA, yesterday Newport were everything we weren’t on Saturday. Although it was a case of hanging on for much of the second half, Newport, as a Fourth Division side, caused First Division Leicester problems every time they were able to attack and in the first half they worked the sort of clever and original move from a set piece (it was a corner) that you would never see from us to force Danny Ward into one of the number of saves he had to make in the opening forty five minutes. Contrast Newport’s attacking vibrancy and skill with our offerings against Third Division defenders – it was like chalk and cheese, Newport are making a habit of emphasising how feeble our cup displays have been under Neil Warnock.