Lots of talk about tonight’s game with Queens Park Rangers being a must win one for Cardiff City and in particular for Omer Riza (is there a job title for an interim manager who stays in charge for months despite the hierarchy at the club not wanting him there?) whose six game unbeaten run, which had City as the form team in the Championship for a short while. However, the pressure has ratcheted up on Riza falling three poor performances from his team which yielded just one point and now there must be a good chance that his days will be numbered following a poor 2-0 home loss against a team that had won just once before tonight.
My thoughts for what they’re worth are that Riza, having got City playing the most watchable football I’ve seen from us for years, has been let down by Vincent Tan and co and the air has leaked almost completely from the balloon that lifted all of those who support the club. Riza may or may not be the man to lead us for the rest of the season, but those who first gave him the job have given no indication that they want him as a medium or long term appointment (quite the opposite in fact).
Consequently, Riza has been in a state of limbo while he was meant to be managing us. Okay, I accept that, to an extent, that goes with the territory when you’re a caretaker/interim boss, but you would think that being nominated for Championship manager of the month within five or six weeks of him taking on the temporary managership would have earned him some brownie points with the Board, but that’s clearly not the case.
Senior professionals like Callum Robinson, Callum O’Dowda and Perry Ng all spoke in favour of Riza before he was summoned over to Malaysia, but it made no difference and two weeks after the event, apart from the little Riza has said about it, we’re none the wiser as to what happened.
That said, what can we deduce apart from the fact that Riza has been left to go on from one game to the next while not knowing where he stands? I find it impossible to believe anything other than such a situation would have a negative effect in the dressing room. It would be daft to think that the players would carry on in the same frame of mind they had a month ago while the current uncertainty continues.
That is not to exonerate the team of blame for the current mess. They have been playing very poorly and looking like a relegation side for much longer than their good spell lasted, but I firmly believe that the current lack of enthusiasm (the attendance was barely over 16,000 tonight) and sense of failure that hangs over the club at the moment is rooted in the ineptitude of those at the top.
As for the game itself, it offers more proof that football statistics can be very misleading.The BBC stats show City having sixty eight per cent possession and twenty four goal attempts to QPRs ten, we had seven on target efforts to their five and more than twice as many touches in the opposition penalty area as them.
Yet, it didn’t feel like that. The only way you may be able to claim City were unlucky was in how Perry Ng’s shot from inside the six yard box in the opening minutes was kept out by the ball hitting goalkeeper Paul Nardi in the face and then in the way the keeper just about kept out Robinson’s second half header as it was about to cross the line.
Even then, that wasn’t really bad luck, it was a goalkeeper doing what he is paid for and, perhaps, City players not doing well enough with their finishing.
Games like tonight’s really bring out the absurdity of the situation we find ourselves in with strikers or, more precisely, the almost complete lack of them. Again, someone could look at our injury list and say that we’ve had bad luck in that two forwards who would have been in and around the first team squad have been missing all season with injuries. However, the reality is that Isaak Davies and Kion Etete picked up those injuries over a month before the transfer window closed and it was known before a ball was kicked in competitive action that they would be out for months not weeks.
Despite this, all City did was bring in the dud that is Wilfried Kanga (left out of the squad completely tonight for young Michael Reindorf) on loan and a Croatian, viewed as a “project”, who was promptly loaned out to Kortrijk where he struggled for game time before picking up an injury that is going to keep him out for some time.
The fact that Yakou Meite is still awaiting his first goal at Cardiff City Stadium despite him being almost halfway through his second season with the club rather tells its own story and so you’re left with Robinson who does possess some of what may be a good striker’s most important asset, finding space in a crowded penalty area, but he seems happier dropping into number ten type areas to help in the build up play.
Even when we had a few strikers to pick from last season, it was noticeable how few times they would get on the end of things or really attack the ball from crosses and those faults were there in abundance tonight. For example, the standard of crossing wasn’t great in the first half, but there were two or three that were played to the far post in good areas, and yet there was no City “attacker” within yards of them.
Early in the second half, Joe Ralls knocked in a free kick that was crying out to be attacked as it had whip, pace and accuracy – it should have been an awful ball to defend, but no City player was busting a gut to get on the end of it and it flew harmlessly out of play for a goal kick. There was also a clever dummy by Robinson from a dangerous low cross by Rubin Colwill, but, in reality, Robinson should have known there would not be anyone in blue there to take advantage because there barely ever is with this team.
Up the other end, Paul Smyth forced Jak Alnwick into a save in the first fifteen seconds, but that proved to be very much an isolated incident as the visitors, hardly surprisingly given their record, concentrated on defence, but when a routine long throw by Smyth was not defended well enough, Zan Celar got his first goal for QPR with a shot which looked like it may have had an element of a miskick to it as it rather looped over Alnwick from fifteen yards.
Smyth forced another save out of Alnwick after the break, but the visitors, no doubt aware that they barely ever lose at our ground these days (they’ve only conceded one goal in their last five visits to Cardiff City Stadium now) were generally happy to sit back and defend their lead which they did with few alarms despite those stats which suggest otherwise.
QPR are a club whose likely finishing position in the Championship is nearer the bottom of the table than the top of it these days and yet, rather like teams such as Hull, Preston and Blackburn, they come here and avoid defeat as a matter of course lately – our consistent failure to beat sides such as these on our own pitch is one of the surer signs of our decline in the past five years especially.
After the game, Omer Riza said City could have gone on playing until the cows came home and still wouldn’t have scored. Seems to me he’s not wrong there, but all his comment does is beg the question under what circumstances does Reindorf actually get on the pitch? I’m not saying he could have transformed the game to the extent that we won, but wouldn’t a bit of youthful enthusiasm have shaken things up a bit?
Celar sealed a deserved win in added time with a goal which rather summed up City’s night – he would have been offside without Callum Chambers’ mistimed header which played him on and left him free to neatly chip Alnwick for the goal which probably confirmed that the hierarchy at the club are going to get the, probably losing, relegation fight that, judging by their actions (or should that be inaction?), they appear to want.
Another good report Paul and many salient points made.
I said to my mate coming out of the game, that we could have played for another week without scoring, such was the lack of penetration & quality of our attempted finishing.
It was also incredible given our lack of quality in the QPR box, that Reindorf wasn’t at least given a chance to change things. As you say, it could have shaken things up a bit.
Also disappointing, was the reemergence of our poor passing & lack of retention of the ball when it mattered. Far too often, like earlier on this season, Colwill, Tanner, Ng and O’Dowda ended up down blind alleys only for QPR to come out with the ball, with no end product from us. Very frustrating.
Hard to see where the next point is coming from at the moment.
Paul, compadre,
Thanks for doing the hard yards, as ever.
Reading the reports in WOL, and reader comments, I spotted one very special one and wrote this: “I salute 27Red for this zinger of a line from him, viz… ‘Seems like we’re back on the Bulut train, only someone else is driving.’
Brilliant, and so true”.
After last night’s snorefest defeat to QPR, my first thought was for those contributors to the WOL site, who less than a month ago were urging the club to give the job to Omer.
I hope they feel suitably ashamed now. Methinks some of them six months ago were the same people who were clamouring for Bulut to get a new contract… and we all know how THAT worked out.
When you consider that this season even Hull City crushed us by putting three goals past us… then let’s be realistic, we will need a miracle to avoid the drop.
I point a finger at our close season recruitment. What world does WOL’s Glen Williams live in? I see he says Chambers had a ‘sound game’ last night. Eh?
Chambers may have a not unimpressive CV, but to me he has always been a journeyman player at best… and even then, a better full back rather than a central defender.
And don’t get me started on Willock: money down the drain. Same thing for Turnbull.
The clue to knowing how good a player is when you sign him, is to always make a beeline for his former club’s fans forum… and see how many fans lament his departure. In the case of those three, I could not find a single one.
Personally, I would not give five bob for the three of them collectively.
And Robertson is no Tommy Doyle… or for that matter a Gavin Rae.
His near namesake Robinson irritates the heck out of me. For a striker he doesn’t cause any headaches for his opposing defenders, and finds it impossible to rough them up, like a true striker can. To boot, he is hopeless aerially, and I’d get a taxi for him tomorrow.
Tanner has not enough pace to be a class winger… but as soon as I say that, I try to breathe the words back in… for I remember the great cigarette smoking John Robertson… and know immediately that ‘speed in itself is not what makes a winger’.
Michael Reindorf looks a real prospect who needs to be brought on every game around the hour mark. The boy Kanga should be given a one-way Wizz Air ticket to Berlin. And Méïté a National Bus ticket to Reading… what a disappointment he has been.
The Colwill brothers clearly have great qualities… but people should stop whispering in the elder brother’s ear that he is the new Ivor Allchurch. It is going to his head with all his flicks and flourishes. He has a long way to go to be LEN Allchurch, let alone Ivor.
Were I Vincent Tan, then I would think that only O’Dowda and Alnwick are the real deal… and in the case of Callum, only in wide midfield… and not as a defensive left back.
As for the new manager…
Me? I would give the top job to Ramsey. He is finished as a player… and is currently stealing a living. Would he save us? Not sure. But at least he would not be on the treatment table all the time.
TTFN,
Dai.
Another new low in the club’s history last night for me. After more than 60 years following the club I asked myself this morning whether any of the present team/squad would last anytime at all in the memory of the fans…..I think NOT
There have been very many over the 60 years that were a pleasure to watch and caused a sense of excitement on the way to the ground. We have had some fantastic captains and leaders of men proud to wear the shirt. Don’t feel this is the case any longer and see no signs of it changing soon. The complete lack of a striker of any consistency or real ability has been evident now for some time and yet nothing has been done to rectify this. Furthermore we have allowed some players go who were in a different league to those on the books now. The excuse of bad luck with injuries doesn’t wash.
The hierarchy that exists is similar to those in the WRU in very many ways. Blaming or changing the manager every year or so will in my opinion not improve matterrs. There needs to be a far more professional approach to bringing new players to this club otherwise relegation is inevitable.
Good morning Paul and others – For the first time, I did not renew my season ticket this year and I congratulate myself on making such a wise economic decision, but also regret that I will not be at the CCS to give the vocal support that the current team would appreciate. Because there are now so many games available to watch on Sky, I suspect that many others have also done likewise, and if Wednesday’s sparse crowd is anything to go by, it is quite probable that there will be even less in the ground by the time the next home game comes around, and quite honestly who could blame them.
Because of the new TV arrangements, I have now seen the City many times this year from the comfort of my living room and I truly wonder what are the real benefits to the football clubs of the EFL for selling their product to TV. OK, I know it is about cash, and I suspect that a few at the top of leagues will still have good support at home and away and there may well be more Sheff Utd followers than our own at our ground quite soon, but the point is if what our lot are serving up such tripe on a weekly basis, just where is the encouragement to fork out hard earned dosh to be there in person when it is available at home, or in the pub, or wherever. Sad times.
But back to the game itself – Paul as always, a most accurate summary. I admire your skilful reporting. Dai, your summary of the current crop of “Bluebirds” is so accurate, and I too have seen enough of “deRIZAory” ball, and silly substitutions. But who and what next – but surely, surely Meite and Kanga not in any starting squad and recall Colwill the younger and someone teach his brother how to head the ball.
Finally, looking forward to watching the Welsh ladies tonight, at least they have some skill and energy.
Oops… correction.
I meant we LOST by 3 goals at Hull. We actually shipped FOUR.
Apols.
DW
Morning everyone and thanks for the comments, Iain, I think our good spell was based on a better pressing game, some good right sided attacking and an improvement in movement and anticipation by our front four which saw us getting more players into goalscoring positions. However, over the last four games all of that has, largely disappeared – there was very little pressing on Wednesday, Tanner, after playing less poorly than most of his team mates last Saturday, was largely anonymous, Colwill continued his very uninspiring form of recent weeks (it’s as if he’s learned nothing from what he was doing through October and is back to trying “Hollywood passes” left, right and centre as well as not coping with the extra attention he is getting from the opposition) and I mentioned good crosses being played in with no attacker within yards of them.
Dai, I saw a podcast yesterday where the presenter said that, having watched the game back a second time, he thought we had played better than he originally believed. I’ve no wish to watch it again, but I can sort of see what he may have meant. I think there has been an improvement from Bulut’s time, I can’t remember us having as much as sixty eight per cent possession under Bulut and there were times when we managed to work the ball out of potentially awkward positions in a way that I don’t think we would have under Bulut, but, certainly on Wednesday, any improvement compared to a Bulut bad day was marginal and had no effect on the outcome. A month ago, we were a lot different from a Bulut team especially in an attacking sense – we had spells of attacking football at Bristol City and West Brom and in the home games against Plymouth, Portsmouth and Norwich where we were able to open up the opposition defence, but that’s not been there in our last four games – we were timid in the face of a physical challenge by a limited Luton team, had long spells of pressure against Blackburn which never threatened to come to much, were slipshod and uninspired at Sheffield and did nothing with all of the possession we had against QPR. As I mentioned before to you, I think this squad has a higher level of what I’ve called optimum performance than all but one of the sides we’ve had since our second relegation from the Premier League, but we’ve only seen it in about twenty per cent of our fixtures so far and the signs are that percentage is going to fall further in the coming weeks.
What is very concerning in my book is that, as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t think anyone played well last Saturday and only O’Dowda could have maybe been said to have had a good game on Wednesday – it was amazing that we managed to get a draw last weekend, despite the whole team having an off day, but that was a freak that will, surely, not be repeated.
As I mentioned earlier Roger, I see some potential in this squad to suggest we can finish clear of the bottom three, but you’ve got right to the crux of the problem when you mention the lack of strikers and we’re going to either have to spend a lot of money in January, be very lucky or a combination of both, to come up with someone who will get the ten or twelve goals that would make such a difference for us. Of course, you’d hope Isaak Davies and Kion Etete will be available for much of the second half of the season and that will lead to an improvement in our chances of staying up compared to what we have currently, but there is very little chance that one of them will provide that dozen or so goals we’ll need – in fact, the reality is that they’re unlikely to get twelve between them. Agree completely with your WRU comparison.
Brian, I’m not giving up on Riza just yet, but, increasingly, that’s down to me having sympathy for him having been given a near impossible job with a coaching staff which is low in numbers and looks pretty ordinary by Championship standards. Where i would be critical of Riza is in his lack of faith in a group of youngsters who are showing themselves to be the best we’ve had in years. Ashford has disappeared from the scene despite the complete ineffectiveness of Kanga and Meite, Reindorf really should have got on the pitch at some time on Wednesday (otherwise, why was he on the bench?) and I can’t help thinking that, even if we did recall Joel Colwill (currently the highest scorer in adult football this season on our books I believe), I fear it would only be to play for the under 21s.
You mention the Welsh Ladies, I watched it all, it wasn’t a classic by any means, but I enjoyed it more than Wednesday – incidentally, did you notice that last night’s crowd was a few hundred more than the one announced for the QPR game? In truth, of course, there were probably at least a couple of thousand more there because City count all season ticket holders in their attendances whether they turn up for games or not.