Right, that's me off to work now. I didn't watch most of the second halves of the matches last season due to working in the evening at the weekend. So might be a good omen already!
Oz/ USA I follow commentary very positive. Your views on tactics? who's been quiet? who's our player of the first half? is there a noticeable difference from the hoof ball of last year? how pressing is the press? have we coped with cardiff's physicality? what would your half time team talk be?
Good half of football. My only comment would be that Cardiff didn’t have to work as hard for their chances as we did.
Disagree mate. After Palmer’s purple patch I think they’ve bossed the centre of the pitch. We were towing a little bit that last ten minutes after a really good five minute spell. So I can see what they mean - I think Mick got them to stand on Palmer after he started controlling things, and since then they’ve got the ball of him before he’s had time to get it down and play. We’re a bit headless chicken at times defensively in the middle of the pitch. I’ll take that though as a marker for the season. Very similar to last season, with less long ball but not overplaying for the sake of it. Same players who impressed last season looking good again. Like Ben Williams and Kitching, but Brittain and Sibbick need to have a better understanding this second half. Brittain gets drawn to going out to the ball before Sibbick has covered the player hugging the touch line.
That made me laugh... not a single Cardiff player appealed, but the commentators - 75yds away - knew better, apparently!!
Overall, very impressive. The tactics spot on so far. Styles has been quiet, so has Frieser. But they haven't been poor. Palmer has been standout superb. Alex who? We don't seem to have a strong bench but Jordan Williams could really finish off this match with his pace.
Ok first half pretty even' i think we're looking a bit week in the middle of the park' Palmer getting caught in possession a lot and styles very quiet' onwards and upwards in 2nd half..
Half time team talk would include: - Come on Callum Styles. You can get in to this game - Woodrow/Frieser/Morris can we have more of the same but try and not play so narrow. Don’t be afraid to bring in Brittain and Williams - Brittain/Williams don’t be afraid to get on the ball and burst in to some of the space being left by us not adopting a wide front three - Be wary of their wide players but more of the same. Don’t get caught out and don’t lose you men in the middle if they do get it wide - Taking over more in midfield is the key to drawing/winning vs. losing
Well we now look much more like a "normal" team. Not hoof, not busy bee. We probably gave more than we got in that half. Although we look vulnerable to set pieces and breakaways. Williams B looks better than before.
Decent first half performance. Pretty even overall, I'd say. It's nice to see us playing out from the back again, but also realising when to get rid of it. Kitching looks comfortable at the back. Ben Williams playing well on his return. I love Frieser's work rate and what it brings to the side, but his decision making in the final third lets him down.
Extremely happy with the first half performance - a few shaky moments but overall I thought we played well with some lovely football in places. Bodes well for the second half and the rest of the season
Happy with the 0-0 scoreline at halftime. It's disappointing that we have no major striking options on the bench, considering the signings wev made. Styles looks abit lost in the Middle, Palmer keeping it together well at the moment. Would like to see more from the front 3, abit of quality needed in and around the box.
Agree with that. It's one of the reasons I think Jordan Williams could be a great substitution. I'll have to watch for what you were saying about them closing down Palmer. Cardiff certainly finished stronger. But for long periods when we dominated, it was us that were coming away from tackles. Opinions!
Risky that. He will only have a year left at that point and we run the risk of another Mowatt situation of getting nothing for a key player.
Not risky at all. Might be different if Mads wasn't injured but the primary purpose of a football club is to win games and you can't do that without a defence!