So much better to watch than last season, considering the amount of new faces and how early in the season it is I’m happy.
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So much better to watch than last season, considering the amount of new faces and how early in the season it is I’m happy.
Cardiff manager Steve Morison said: "It was an excellent performance, we just didn't cap it off with a goal.
"They defended their box really well and, if we keep playing like that, we'll win more than we lose.
"Performance first and the result will follow. To a man, we were fantastic but just didn't have that one [chance] fall to us.
"Everyone in our team had a chance today and they [Preston] put their bodies on the line and defended really well. It was just one of those days."
Lol - probably 🙄Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Gillis
Waters played well today and did the full 90 minutes. He didn't have a clear cut chance but a couple of half chances which were defended well. However, he worked hard, ran the channels well, held the ball up well and brought other players into the game with good lay offs. His general movement was good. He just needs a goal and will be off and running. Any criticism of his performance today would just be for the sake of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
I agree with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
A golden example of criticism just for the sake of it. You obviously didn't watch the game properly, if at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Buchanan
I didn’t see it, but a goal any time soon would be nice and entirely reasonable to expect as he is a striker.Quote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
‘Great movement’ 🙄
How is that comment wrong? What crosses did Watters actually get on the end of?Quote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
Well said.Quote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
Spedger
I actually think he did ok today but he never makes that run across the front post, he doesn’t anticipate chances and is flat footed. When O’Dowda got to the byline, Watters should be breaking his neck to get in front of the defender. Instead he is waiting. That will take a defender out, Watters might score and it could open up space in the middle of the box for an onrushing CMQuote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
Our biggest issue is the lack of a striker, and a midfielder that breaks the lines. We don’t commit enough numbers into the box and that’s why we aren’t scoring
I watched the game. All of it. Properly. With my eyes. As is the way.Quote:
Originally Posted by dml1954
I wasn't criticising anybody. I thought every player on the pitch put in a good shift and played well. I responded "no" to the movement question because I did not see as many slick attacking runs from Watters as I have previously. But maybe it was not that sort of a game. And he more than made up for it in other ways as has been described well by others.
My main point was simply questioning (not criticising) the number of crosses that go into the box when we don't have the right type of strikers to get on the end of them. I was just saying maybe it would be better to play it back infield and go through the centre more and/or hit some shots on target.
So spot on,but i do think if Watters does score,could open up the flood gates.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pedro de la Rosa
We had 3 more attempts on goal than Liverpool who won 9-0 today.
I think we look like playoff contenders. If we start scoring. We're not top two but we are capable of being "better than the rest"Quote:
Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK
Yes, but we could also look like relegation candidates if we keep on not scoring and our defence struggles.Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCBlue
DeffoQuote:
Originally Posted by NYCBlue
Did you study satanism at school ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee
Do the flood gates ever open for crap strikers?
You hear it all the time but i think it's better suited to those who have a proven ability and maybe need to settle in a new environment. Others are just sh1t and ever the optimist football fans will cling to anything.
Watters whilst wasn't bad today, he wasn't good either and he has no credit in the bank. We need to try something else.
Good post.Quote:
Originally Posted by OurManFlint II
We're signing/loaning at least one striker. This team is too good to waste.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee
A team scores three goals in seven games and it’s all the fault of one striker (who played no part in one of the four we haven’t scored in) - all seems a bit too simplistic to me.
It runs deeper than Watters.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
No one else looks likes scoring. There have been many seasons where we haven't had the luxury to rely on a 15 or even 10 goal a season striker, other players have chipped in. I struggle to see any of these hitting 4 or 5.
Our corners are just to restart the game than any genuine chance of scoring. In previous years these and free kicks were very fruitful.
The midfield needs to be brave and go beyond the front 3, it's all too safe at times.
There was a counter attack yesterday where only two of our players made any effort to break, rest hanging back.
Some positives though, we are certainly playing a lot more football which is something I think we can all get behind.
It's fantastic to see us pass and move and be able to pin teams back at times. Our closing down is as good as it has been for a while. Based on yesterday we may even score more than Preston this season.
Frustrating not to win games like that but despite the domination in most areas their keeper wasn't really needed.
Good points Trigger, I switched off at every corner as we didn’t look a threat at all. Every shot outside the box was pathetic too.
I’m not complaining though, definitely better to watch. Just seemed to be a lack of urgency yesterday, no one trying to take their defenders on, Ojo does this really well.
I’ve always been in the “football is all about winning” camp but you know what, entertaining football is definitely nice to see, even if we draw.
Ryan Lowe has been paying us a lot of post match compliments - e.g.
"We needed to get another striker on to the pitch because the ball just kept coming back didn't it? Again, credit to Cardiff, I think they are going to be a different force this season with the way they're playing and I cannot credit them enough. When we were getting out, we were giving the ball away cheaply because we get up the pitch and then we started sinking."
It was very frustrating but still entertaining. We obviously have a problem in attack but we need to be patient as we all said we'd need to be at the start of the season. We're work in progress.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesp
Honestly can’t deal with the continued defence of Watters, seems to be the in thing at the minute- strikers are paid good money to score goals, and, having played 17 games at Championship level, Watters has 1, a consolation at Bristol last season. He is blatantly not good enough for this team or this level. It was said earlier in the thread, no other Championship team would play Watters as the lone striker- I can’t think of a Championship team that would play Watters full stop. We are one decent striker away from really getting a grip of this league- someone needs to come in this week, or Morison may as well dust his boots off against Millwall.
I happened to watch a bit of Luton vs Sheffield Utd recently and was stuck by how much of a nuisance the strikers playing were, even the non-scoring McBurnie (who I dislike as former JB) who then scored of course, and Ndiaye. Just their hold up play and physical presence kept the Luton defenders on their toes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin'sReversibleHat
We have nothing even remotely like that.
My view, well, the 1st thing that stood out for me is just how disciplined, organised and committed Preston were at the back and defending in general. They didn't carry much of a threat up front but it's easy to see why 6 clubs including Watford haven't been able to score against them this season. Despite that City hit the post and had 3 chances of which 1 I'd rate at easier than the other two ; Watters in the 1st half when he shot over, Ralls in the 1st half when he received the ball just inside the penalty area and shot on the turn, whereas he had space to run at goal, and in the 2nd half when Watters failed to control a good through ball. Which brings me to the 'type' of striker Morison is looking for. I don't think we are side that's going to create lots of 'random' chances throughout a game - all our goals and chances this season though relatively few, are coming from passing movements, so it's a Watters-type player but who can finish a decent percentage of chances that come his way. For this stage in the season they may not be may, but if he'd buried the one at Bristol, the one yesterday, that could have been 4 more points.
All that aside, I've still got to pinch myself sometimes to believe I'm watching the kind of football last played over a decade ago under Dave Jones - with considerably richer talent at his disposal, and once again, thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon watching a 0-0 draw. Only 6 games in, the season's just begun.
Watters isn’t up to it, but he doesn’t get much support from centre midfield in attacking areas and that is a big problem. Static in the middle of the park.
I can't understand why anyone believes this will be the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by jeepster
So far, there is no evidence to suggest Watters will ever be a regular goalscorer at Championship level. Good strikers are frequently in the right place at the right time. They instinctively find space for themselves in and around the penalty area as attacks are developing. Watters rarely does that. On the contrary, his movement if often lethargic. He looks nothing like a natural goalscorer to me.
Seems a bit too simplistic to me too, but I think you're being dramatic for the sake of it. Has anyone actually said it's all the fault of one striker?Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
However, Watters is quite obviously a significant part of the problem. To suggest otherwise is just plain daft.
Well, to read this board during and straight after games, you might think that it's all down to the one player. Of course Watters is part of the non scoring problem, but I still say that only against Birmingham and Bristol have the chances a striker could be blamed for missing been created.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
I am 100% convinced his lethargic movement in and around the penalty are a major factor in bringing about that situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
:thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Friday's Ghost
Careful though, any semblance of optimism could get you in trouble on here.
Some shooting practice this week wouldn't go amiss mind.
As has already been alluded to by TLG, whilst Watters may not have had a load of out-and-out chances, his movement and often what looks like flat out refusal to get into the box/a decent position contributes greatly to the fact he’s been short on chances. I am not having that it’s the midfield’s fault in the slightest, nor is it the fault of the wingers. The midfield has been an infinite improvement on last season, and the wingers have each played their part in at least one game or more, which is far more than can be said of Watters.
Went to the match yesterday. Didn't see any goals. Came home. Had a great time. Will go again.
I don't think its all his fault but he's obviously not good enough and nothing in his past suggest he will be good. Our overall XG is bad so we need somebody when those few chances come, something happens. He's not Andy Cole where missing 10 doesn't matter as another 10 will come in the second half.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Harris has a much better record at this level and whilst i don't think he's the answer if he doesn't start instead of Watters next game i might have to write a strongly worded complaint to the club.
Didn't go to the game yesterday. Watched a stream. No goals. But still dominated. Enjoyed it. Will watch again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
:thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl Dale's Mole
:thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Glad to see people like you on here after a performance like that! Thought it would be all doom and gloom because we didn't score.
I think the goals will come. Not sure I buy into the "the goals will come thick and fast for Watters after he scores his first" argument but I do think someone's going to score goals if we keep creating this many chances.