I posted earlier about getting the ball back on and other thread. When you look around the team, we have some really tidy footballers, good on the ball, low on confidence though. However, that team tonight looked about as lightweight as any I have ever seen. We would look different with, Morris for 90 mins, Woodrow, Brittain etc but we've signed 2 lads who although look good on the ball, are at best dwarves. Not exactly the kind of players you look towards in the deep shiz of a relegation battle. We were by far the best team today, but we are so powder puff, we couldn't create anything of note. Also, why we went to smashing it 60 yards in the air to McGuinness and Flint is beyond me. I don't think I've ever seen a game where one player (McGuinness) has won over 100 headers in a match.
Yeah we needed to sign a couple of men but it looks like we’ve gone down the lightweight route all be it both new lads looked decent on the ball it’s way too little too late.
Totally agree. We aren't anywhere near being able to compete physically. That's an absolute necessity in the Championship or you get nothing. Some neat and tidy passing but no end product at all. The forwards never got a sniff all night. Never looked like scoring imo.
Relegation teams never win penalties. Not that I think we should have had one tonight, but I think it's a pretty good indicator - we never threaten in the box. The minute Cardiff/ Bournemouth ... fill with in any team in the division take a lead, against us, we aren't getting it back, because they have the know how to see it out, play the ref etc. We are so naive it's untrue. I think Val shook that out of us temporarily, but wow we do get bullied.
I think my old man would have kicked them up and down the changing room back in the day. They'd have definitely toughened up after it. Absolutely woeful defending from 2 of our perceived better players. Both have been as equally dog toss as the rest this season.
I saw your dad win more headers at Craven Cottage, playing against Johnny Haynes and wing wizard, Cliff Jones.
Agreed. Their striker should have had far too much to do on his own, but he somehow got the ball down and then just brushed Helik and Andersen out of the way.
Its that old thing "experience "again. Cardiff, Stoke, Luton have that in spades and know how to play the ref and when and how to be physical. We are for all intense and purpose an under 23 team in a mesters league. Look at Flint.....Benson crosses near post.....Cole and Flint go in ....potential corner....but no, The bluebirds cb does an old man dive....result free kick Cardiff. This is what experience buys you.....plus their ability to pass on that knowledge to the young uns.
I wouldn’t say Quina is a dwarf, he’s 5’10” and looks pretty strong on the ball, I don’t think height is a good guide to how strong a player is. Thinking back to previous teams, Josh Scowen, Gwyn Thomas, Darren Sheridan to name but three were all vertically challenged but very rarely got pushed off the ball. Williams, Benson and Styles got brushed aside pretty easily at times. Styles will make a very good player but he’s struggled since moving into centre midfield. We definitely do need some muscle in the middle of the pitch.
When you consider the amount of stick that Moon and Kitching get, I think these two have been massively disappointing recently. Looking at some of the goals we've conceded; Birmingham - Striker wins the ball ahead of Andersen. Helik then decides to run towards his left, behind Andersen, leaving an even bigger gap between and an already out of position Williams. Forest - Helik stands square of Andersen, and about 2 yards away. Andersen then inexplicably attempts to dab a pass to him, despite pressure from the striker Bournemouth - Collins comes out, misses it, and the ball goes wide. Both Helik and Andersen hesitate, as if they don't know who should close the player down. Then both run out wide, and get nowhere near stopping the cross. Cardiff - Doesn't even need comment The club screwed up in not replacing Mowatt, but they could be forgiven for thinking that these two would step up after Sollbauer left. Helik's a full international, yet seems to lack basic positional sense.
There is no way Quina is 5ft 10, no matter what Wikipedia says. Bilic is 6ft 2 and here he is with Quina.
That’s what I thought after their goal, couldn’t imagine Big Eric, Macca , or Mal Shotton making way like that