FT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 1 BARNSLEY

[Rjk]

Re: FT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 1 BARNSLEY

As you say, a host of errors. But why the **** didn't Nelson try to make a play on that ball? It was definitely playable but he just stood there like a statue. For me, he is the biggest culprit.

looks like he thinks about going for it and then pulls away, as though he was worried about an OG

[Tuerto]

Re: FT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 1 BARNSLEY

There's a whole host of errors that led to that goal, just blaming Bagan is unfair imo. Yes, he's followed his man inside (probably too far), but had he kept his width then odds are people would complain at Bagan's man being given too much space in midfield. For some reason Bacuna had vacated the left flank which allowed such a huge run, hence Collins being the one chasing back. Pack, our experience sitting midfielder, decided to go on a mad rampage and was miles out of position (this seems to be a feature of our play, I don't really get why we send the slow midfielder to close down, but whatever), leaving an ocean of space behind him which McGuinness (I think) went to fill. Suddenly Barnsley have acres of space. Flint & Nelson, being the experienced defenders they are, probably should have shuffled across to fill the space but didn't. What was particularly infuriating is that Barnsley took an age to play the ball wide and half the Canton Stand were screaming for someone to fill the huge gap in our defence, but it just didn't happen. It was really poor by the whole team and probably indicative of a team who haven't properly practiced pressing as a team, they're all over the place.

On the other hand, it was very clever play from Barnsley to pull us onto them like that, create a gap and exploit it, but it was far too easy.

I think that the easiest way to look at is that both Collins and Bagan were out of position. Bagan reacted to Collins getting caught ball watching and having zero awareness of what is going on around him. Bagan Should've probably called Collins and told him to get back in, although he doesn't because he's inexperienced and making Collins poor play his problem. Bagans's natural position for that play would probably be half way between the man Collins should've picked up and the player who made the run, albeit, a little deeper.