Both new signings looked decent really. Defo an improvement on what we had. Watched Styles closely today and he is so off form its unbelievable. Has to be dropped next match and hopefully Morris brought in up top. Benson tried but again another off form, maybe start both Quina and Bassi, see how it works out. No way should we have lost that, but the overall performance was far far better. Having said that, Cardiff offered nowt so hard to judge any improvement.
Agree with styles, waste of a shirt tonight..... I thought Benson was better but still very 'sideways'..... The two new lads looked decent, we'l soon knock that out of them
We’ve played better of late but we were playing much better earlier in season even though we were still losing games . We’ve gone from narrowly losing games with stupid mistakes or sloppy passes and dubious tactics but at least making chances and scoring a few goals to being absolutely gash choose which tactics are used .
That's a typical Cardiff performance. They've never been known for playing an expansive game. As the 2nd half progressed and it remained 0-0 then I could always see them nicking it
Someone must have spiked my Bovril, I thought Styles was okay. Good first half, average second. Was impressed with the new lads
Bit harsh on Styles. He played a good chunk of tonight’s game as a striker. He definitely isn’t a striker and he’s about 5’2’’ so was always going to struggle against two giant centre halves. On that subject, how massive are most of Cardiff’s side? Majority of them look like they could’ve been spawned by Saruman in the pits of Isengard.
Trouble is even in midfield or at wing back his passing has gone to pot and is brushed off the ball far too easy. I don't want to be too harsh on him but I think he needs a few matches starting on the bench.
Yeah don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he was great, just thought he was played massively out of position against a group of guys who look like they live at the top of a beanstalk
Thoroughly enjoyed tonight apart from the result. We need to shoot if we are to score but Benson decided not to when well placed on numerous occasions. Very impressed with Bassi.
It's a bit harsh saying Styles was played as a striker. Think he played a little bit higher tonight but Poya seemed to try and get him into the half-spaces with Williams and Vita pushing so high. That forced the Cardiff wing-backs deep. Reminds me of the tactics Swansea used at Oakwell earlier on in the season.
Tactics were good tonight, performance was good. It’s frustrating but other than our finishing there’s nothing much you can criticise? We’ve had a goal incorrectly chalked offside, Kitching & Iseka have put free headers wide, Cole’s hit a shot wide when he had two lads he could play in for one on one’s at the side of him, Benson’s had a great chance saved, we’ve had Cole somehow not converting Williams ball across the six yard box. They’ve had one chance & scored. With the chances we’ve had & a different linesman you expect to score at least 3 goals tonight. It’s just a sickener when they win a game they should never win. I’ve moaned loads about us this season but I’m not moaning about tonight & the Bournemouth game.
I like Callum and think he's a great little player but I would concede he's been up and down and looked lost and out of sorts at times this season eg on Saturday he was poor in the first half but excellent in the second. Tonight I thought he was just okay. He was a bit unlucky to be WWE style clothes-lined twice by the Cardiff thugs in the opening part of the game with no action taken against the perpetrators by the perennially disgraceful Eltringham and his clueless assistants. However, I think Callum's plight this season is symptomatic of the approach ownership has taken and left us with in terms of imbalances in all kinds of characteristics in the squad. I make it that Callum has now played in just about every position bar centre back, crazy. He's only ever had a consistent successful run of games prior to this season in one position which is left wing back. He, understandably, wants to play in central midfield and was given chances there earlier in the season but had to (a) alternate between there and left wing back due to our never-ending failure to sign a natural left (wing) back; (b) play in central midfield with another equally inexperienced colleague; and (c) was typically part of a two up against opponents often playing three in midfield. I think Callum playing consistently centre midfield with an adequate Mowatt type replacement or a Matty James under a manager who could react quickly tactically to what the opposition were doing would have thrived (the same goes for a couple of the other young centre midfielders too). Instead we have been left with all sorts of two man combinations in centre midfield all of which could not unfairly be described as 'inexperienced youngster, plus inexperienced youngster' - unsurprisingly they've been eaten alive by the sharks in this league, probably lost a decent chunk of confidence and, as most young players are without some guiding experience alongside, been inconsistent. I must say that I liked Bassi when he came on - lively and had some 'go forward' which has been sorely lacking. Quina clearly skilful, maybe I'd like to see him a bit further up the pitch also where he can take a man on and hurt the opposition.
Saturday same team except Morris for styles Iseka for Cole Bassi for Benson might as well play both loan players and see what there about in the fa cup.
Only thing I would add to this is that if I were a coach I would spend half an hour every single day having them practice their close control receiving the ball, the amount of times we fail to control a ball is surprising.
I actually enjoyed the first half, but everyone could see that Styles was on a dining to nothing. Thought the new guys played well. We looked vaguely competent in the LWB, so we’ll done there. Thought Williams had a decent game too and actually ran hard on at least 3 occasions to get back to cover/outpace their runners. for me, play Bassi instead of Benson and big Vic instead of Styles. Don’t think Morris is fit. I think we missed any sort of physical presence up front last night, but we still looked the better team. It’s better, but quite obviously still not good enough what’s the news on Vic and Brittain?
