FT: WATFORD 1 - 2 CARDIFF CITY. Match thread

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

I started a thread about Ashford, complimenting him on his goal, his all round play in the move, I was really impressed with his composure and awareness. Then I said that we need to go easy on him, not to big him up to early (He may not be the Messiah) and that he may need protecting and used properly in order to benefit his development. You came along and said that the only players that needed protection were those over the age of 25, so I think you know what or who you were referring to. You didn't think that by coming out with that, that nobody was going to mention Colwill considering he's been an ever present in the terrible run we have seen over the past 2 monitor so? C'mon, you're way to intelligent to think that.

---

Truth is, I was thinking primarily of Robertson, (plus Daland and Fish) when I said that because I’ve been having a go at players who signed in the summer since we played Oxford and I wouldn’t want to include the younger players in any criticism about recently signed players with a dodgy attitude.

I named players who I think have been letting the team down in recent games in my Oxfordblog piece and included Colwill to show that they weren’t entirely senior or recently signed players. I may have fought Colwill’s corner in the past and will do in the future if he gets his act together, but, albeit at a lower level, his younger brother, with his nine goals, is affecting games far more than he is at the moment.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluebirds17

Christ you are boring.

Slag Colwill off because some fans rate him, slag him off because someone didn't mention him in their match report, slag him off when he's only played 10 minutes in a win.

There's no point having a genuine discussion over him because you act like a scorned lover.

---

I haven't done any of that you complete menace of a clown. Go back on my posts and see what I have written, I always give Colwill credit for the good things he does. You're part of the weird crew that seemingly takes it personal whenever someone mentions him, there's a fair few of you, you stifle any debate with your emotive nonsense. I'll leave it to you and the rest of the crew.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Truth is, I was thinking primarily of Robertson, (plus Daland and Fish) when I said that because I’ve been having a go at players who signed in the summer since we played Oxford and I wouldn’t want to include the younger players in any criticism about recently signed players with a dodgy attitude.

I named players who I think have been letting the team down in recent games in my Oxfordblog piece and included Colwill to show that they weren’t entirely senior or recently signed players. I may have fought Colwill’s corner in the past and will do in the future if he gets his act together, but, albeit at a lower level, his younger brother, with his nine goals, is affecting games far more than he is at the moment.

---

Ok Bob, I apologise for getting the wrong end of the stick, I respect you, enjoy your contributions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

I haven't done any of that you complete menace of a clown. Go back on my posts and see what I have written, I always give Colwill credit for the good things he does. You're part of the weird crew that seemingly takes it personal whenever someone mentions him, there's a fair few of you, you stifle any debate with your emotive nonsense. I'll leave it to you and the rest of the crew.

---

A couple of observations from this post, firstly Colwill was introduced into this thread by the the anti-Colwill brigade not the polar opposites.

Secondly, Colwill was not responsible for our loss against Oxford, actually he wasn't great but he was also not amongst worst performers. That said, whilst I am in the pro-Colwill brigade, I understood the reasons for him being dropped; even agreed with it.

Thirdly, you use the word 'debate'; that would be welcomed. But the irrationals who champion Th Colwillcaust rarely debate his (obvious) failings or his (obvious) strengths. All we get is "he's sh1t" etc

Finally, what's with the word 'weird' again; people are allowed to have a different opinion to you without having some character flaw. 95% of your posts suggest that you are better than that.

Can I suggest that Colwill has a new nickname -'Brian'? 🤔

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AdrianAlston

A couple of observations from this post, firstly Colwill was introduced into this thread by the anti-Colwill brigade not the polar opposites.

---

One observation: Colwill was introduced into this thread by me and I'm not anti-Colwill in any way, shape or form. I think he's overrated by some City fans, I reckon the continual defence of his performances by certain individuals borders on the bizarre, I believe he's been in poor form since early-November, I've found some of his recent performances irritating due to his habit of trying flicks and tricks when a basic pass would be more suitable, and I thought he was really poor at Oxford. None of that means I'm anti-Colwill, but the fact that you think it does highlights just how odd the discussions about this particular player have become.

In the words of Colwill's international manager, who doesn't select him: "I've expected more."

It's no more complicated than that as far as I'm concerned.

He is a fascinating one though.

If he left here it wouldn't surprise me if a much better side took him and he excelled. Mind you also wouldn't surprise me if ended up wandering around leagues 1 and 2 having the occasional good game and amazing goals that went viral every now and then.

I wonder had he been around when we had mcphail ledley chopra bothroyd Burke bellamy mccormack et al if he would have been outstanding and added to it or just been left behind by them. I have no idea.

In his defence for a player like him the city of the last 6 years must be a pretty depressing place to try and play and show what you have. Would take someone pretty damn special to excel in this set up- nobody else has after all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Father Dougal

He is a fascinating one though.

---

He is, which is why he gets talked about so much.

I very much enjoy watching him play when he's on form. By contrast, I find him frustrating to watch when he's out of form (and let's be honest, he's very inconsistent).

What amuses me is the excuses some will make for him when he's not at his best. And it also tickles me if people suggest he's played well when he obviously hasn't. For instance, after the Oxford game, Busby Dandruff posted: "Colwill was decent today. He made plenty of misplaced passes but was still head and shoulders above the rest..."

Absolute nonsense of course, but by no means an isolated opinion. Some fans seem to believe Colwill can do no wrong and when he fails to perform (which, sadly, has been more often than not this season), it's down to the players around him, the team formation, the position he's playing, his manager, etc etc.

I'm with Craig Bellamy. By now I would have expected more, especially given the promise he showed when he initially arrived on the scene.

So, Colwill isn't the problem it is those that defend him. Bloody weirdos.

In fairness to Mr Dandruff if he remembers the long throw specialist (just before my time), after whom is named, he has witnessed a fair bit of mediocrity over the last 50+ years and the (all to) occasional glimpses of premiership quality offered by Colwill, offers a bit of escapism amongst the gloom.

Is Colwill destined to be the new David Giles or is he just a very naughty boy?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

He is, which is why he gets talked about so much.

I very much enjoy watching him play when he's on form. By contrast, I find him frustrating to watch when he's out of form (and let's be honest, he's very inconsistent).

What amuses me is the excuses some will make for him when he's not at his best. And it also tickles me if people suggest he's played well when he obviously hasn't. For instance, after the Oxford game, Busby Dandruff posted: "Colwill was decent today. He made plenty of misplaced passes but was still head and shoulders above the rest..."

Absolute nonsense of course, but by no means an isolated opinion. Some fans seem to believe Colwill can do no wrong and when he fails to perform (which, sadly, has been more often than not this season), it's down to the players around him, the team formation, the position he's playing, his manager, etc etc.

I'm with Craig Bellamy. By now I would have expected more, especially given the promise he showed when he initially arrived on the scene.

---

I like him. He's not the real deal and sometimes can be frustrating, especially when not on form but when he clicks we look a far better team for his contributions.

He definitely shouldn't be immune to criticism but
I do think he is judged differently to others because he is inherently higher quality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Father Dougal

He is a fascinating one though.

If he left here it wouldn't surprise me if a much better side took him and he excelled. Mind you also wouldn't surprise me if ended up wandering around leagues 1 and 2 having the occasional good game and amazing goals that went viral every now and then.

I wonder had he been around when we had mcphail ledley chopra bothroyd Burke bellamy mccormack et al if he would have been outstanding and added to it or just been left behind by them. I have no idea.

In his defence for a player like him the city of the last 6 years must be a pretty depressing place to try and play and show what you have. Would take someone pretty damn special to excel in this set up- nobody else has after all.

---

I think that last sentence summed it up nicely.

Colwill reminds me of a kid who played football at my school.

He was talented and capable of (comparable) brilliance in our school yard kick-abouts.

But he was also capable of a bit of selfishness, or showboating, or doing some unnecessary trick when it was far easier to pass to someone else nearby.

He would frequently find himself on his arse when some (far less talented) kid would shoulder-charge him and speed away with the ball.

Colwill should, by now, have developed beyond the schoolyard way of showing his abilities. He should be more intelligent in his decisions.

I truly get excited by his football, and hope he benefits from the input of people like Ramsey and Bellamy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Father Dougal

He is a fascinating one though.

If he left here it wouldn't surprise me if a much better side took him and he excelled. Mind you also wouldn't surprise me if ended up wandering around leagues 1 and 2 having the occasional good game and amazing goals that went viral every now and then.

I wonder had he been around when we had mcphail ledley chopra bothroyd Burke bellamy mccormack et al if he would have been outstanding and added to it or just been left behind by them. I have no idea.

In his defence for a player like him the city of the last 6 years must be a pretty depressing place to try and play and show what you have. Would take someone pretty damn special to excel in this set up- nobody else has after all.

---

What a great post, you're spot on in my opinion. Colwill is talked about because we don't know what we're going to get from week to week, he's talked about because he has flashes of brilliance, he's talked about because he has natural abilty, flair etc. He's also talked about because it doesn't happen enough, because he can look like he's sometimes lost out on the playing field, because he can make basic mistakes that he should have ironed out by now, and because for someone who looks composed in possession, he struggles in front of goal. So, for me, he' worth talking about in the same way there were endless posts on players like whittingham and Mc Phail, although he's not at their level yet. The thing is, i've raised legitimate points about him and his game, because that's what we do here, and it almost upsets ome people, they rarely talk about his game, just say he's a game winner and they'd play him every week. Not enough really, is it? Fair play to you for raising some really good talking points.

Did someone say Colwillcaust :hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

Ok Bob, I apologise for getting the wrong end of the stick, I respect you, enjoy your contributions.

---

:xmasthumbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

What a great post, you're spot on in my opinion. Colwill is talked about because we don't know what we're going to get from week to week, he's talked about because he has flashes of brilliance, he's talked about because he has natural abilty, flair etc. He's also talked about because it doesn't happen enough, because he can look like he's sometimes lost out on the playing field, because he can make basic mistakes that he should have ironed out by now, and because for someone who looks composed in possession, he struggles in front of goal. So, for me, he' worth talking about in the same way there were endless posts on players like whittingham and Mc Phail, although he's not at their level yet. The thing is, i've raised legitimate points about him and his game, because that's what we do here, and it almost upsets ome people, they rarely talk about his game, just say he's a game winner and they'd play him every week. Not enough really, is it? Fair play to you for raising some really good talking points.

---

It’s another well thought out assessment of Colwill and some really good points raised in your post

One question I’d ask is do you think Colwill would get to the levels expected if he’d had better coaching?

Let’s be honest about it even with the current one, we have endured some absolute rubbish served up for the last 4-5 coaches in charge

The fact that Colwill is playing is probably in-spite of them rather than because of any real quality coaching that’s been offered

The one thing that I think fans appreciate about him is his willingness to always look for the ball, he doesn’t hide

Should he have scored more goals, probably
Should we have seen more assists, definitely, but there again who has had in front of him who’s on the same page? Certainly not Kanga, Meite or El Ghazi (didn’t I get that one completely wrong 😑)

You don’t know what you’re going to get when Colwill gets the ball, and that’s half the excitement of watching a skilful player with talent

There’s been very little to get you off the edge of your seat for the last few seasons

It maybe that he does drift away down the leagues, I hope not, The Lone Gunman says in this thread that he expects more from him, and he’s probably right in terms of goals and assists

I still think he’s a special talent and enjoy watching him play, I can’t think there’s too many others that fans genuinely love to see

I’d start him, build a team around him, there again I’d have more of the U21’s in the team rather than the journey men we currently allow to steal a living

I think Colwill needs threads and threads because he is so unique.

Youth to U18 football is no indicator of future success we all know that, but i think an almost Josh Meggennis reset is needed.
I don't think his growth spurt has done him no favours and Rubin, Wales and the club need a review.
His goals and assists tell us he isn't an attacking midfielder, we can blame anyone and everyone else but the facts are the facts.

He is not scared of the ball, can travel with it, and hits delightful wonderfully weighted passes. He can steal the ball, days of Midfield hardmen vanished with mass hooliganism. He isn't quick but visibly quicker than Chambers.
The crux is responsibility. He can't lose the ball cheaply when deeper and i feel the Riza "go and express yourself" instruction was great but weighed down on him as he seems unable to make a basic pass without stepovers and feints.

He is nowhere near the Wales squad as an AM, we desperately need a deep-lying playmaker, Ampadu is a stopper with a ropey long pass.
He is only 22 so repurposing him can't be that much of a jump. Whether its with us is another story

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by llan bluebird

I think Colwill needs threads and threads because he is so unique.

Youth to U18 football is no indicator of future success we all know that, but i think an almost Josh Meggennis reset is needed.
I don't think his growth spurt has done him no favours and Rubin, Wales and the club need a review.
His goals and assists tell us he isn't an attacking midfielder, we can blame anyone and everyone else but the facts are the facts.

He is not scared of the ball, can travel with it, and hits delightful wonderfully weighted passes. He can steal the ball, days of Midfield hardmen vanished with mass hooliganism. He isn't quick but visibly quicker than Chambers.
The crux is responsibility. He can't lose the ball cheaply when deeper and i feel the Riza "go and express yourself" instruction was great but weighed down on him as he seems unable to make a basic pass without stepovers and feints.

He is nowhere near the Wales squad as an AM, we desperately need a deep-lying playmaker, Ampadu is a stopper with a ropey long pass.
He is only 22 so repurposing him can't be that much of a jump. Whether its with us is another story

---

Josh macgennis reset? You mean play colwill in goals?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Father Dougal

Josh macgennis reset? You mean play colwill in goals?

---

I was exaggerating a bit :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Father Dougal

Josh macgennis reset? You mean play colwill in goals?

---

He's tall enough and I've never been convinced by Alnwick.

:hehe:

My final word on colwill is I would love to see him in the team with his brother.

It may not work but his brother looks a better player to me and would be a shame if we never got to see that midfield.

Particularly as most of our other options are so unappealing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by llan bluebird

I think Colwill needs threads and threads because he is so unique.

Youth to U18 football is no indicator of future success we all know that, but i think an almost Josh Meggennis reset is needed.
I don't think his growth spurt has done him no favours and Rubin, Wales and the club need a review.
His goals and assists tell us he isn't an attacking midfielder, we can blame anyone and everyone else but the facts are the facts.

He is not scared of the ball, can travel with it, and hits delightful wonderfully weighted passes. He can steal the ball, days of Midfield hardmen vanished with mass hooliganism. He isn't quick but visibly quicker than Chambers.
The crux is responsibility. He can't lose the ball cheaply when deeper and i feel the Riza "go and express yourself" instruction was great but weighed down on him as he seems unable to make a basic pass without stepovers and feints.

He is nowhere near the Wales squad as an AM, we desperately need a deep-lying playmaker, Ampadu is a stopper with a ropey long pass.
He is only 22 so repurposing him can't be that much of a jump. Whether its with us is another story

---

Didn't Bellamy suggest his future could be as a deeper midfielder?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by City123

Didn't Bellamy suggest his future could be as a deeper midfielder?

---

Everything he does is so off the cuff, it'll be tricky I reckon. Maybe he can make it, I don't think playing in a succession of shambolic sides has helped him but then again, we shouldn't let him completely off the hook. He needs to kick on but it would obviously help (anyone not just him!) if he had better players around him. Our current wingers don't run away from the ball, they all come towards it and it isn't helpful. Tanner and him link up well as Tanner is direct, we need to sign more direct players if you want Colwill to flourish as Willock, AEG etc all occupy the same position as Colwill, it becomes way too congested and just stops any of them doing anything. Grant, Colwill and Tanner behind Robinson might work for example

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by olderblue

It’s another well thought out assessment of Colwill and some really good points raised in your post

One question I’d ask is do you think Colwill would get to the levels expected if he’d had better coaching?

Let’s be honest about it even with the current one, we have endured some absolute rubbish served up for the last 4-5 coaches in charge

The fact that Colwill is playing is probably in-spite of them rather than because of any real quality coaching that’s been offered

The one thing that I think fans appreciate about him is his willingness to always look for the ball, he doesn’t hide

Should he have scored more goals, probably
Should we have seen more assists, definitely, but there again who has had in front of him who’s on the same page? Certainly not Kanga, Meite or El Ghazi (didn’t I get that one completely wrong 😑)

You don’t know what you’re going to get when Colwill gets the ball, and that’s half the excitement of watching a skilful player with talent

There’s been very little to get you off the edge of your seat for the last few seasons

It maybe that he does drift away down the leagues, I hope not, The Lone Gunman says in this thread that he expects more from him, and he’s probably right in terms of goals and assists

I still think he’s a special talent and enjoy watching him play, I can’t think there’s too many others that fans genuinely love to see

I’d start him, build a team around him, there again I’d have more of the U21’s in the team rather than the journey men we currently allow to steal a living

---

Thankyou mate for the considered post. I don't really know what to make of it all if i'm being honest, but if i had to hazard a guess, i'd say that previous coaches just didn't know what to do with Colwill. His style, shape, play is very unique. For a big bloke he doesn't do the things 'Big blokes' are supposed to do. He's not great in the tackle, he's one of the worst at heading the ball i've ever seen, in fact he does everything not to head a ball, on a par with Ken zohore. He has no idea how to impose his size, even his running style is odd, and i don't think that any of that is his fault, it's his body shape and level of athleticism in my opinion. I do believe that coaches throughout his footballing life just haven't known what to do with him, his greatest asset is with the ball at his feet so he's been put in a position (10) that compliments that, although i'm not sure he is a 10, and i'm not sure his coaches and managers have invested the time a patience into getting him to play in a way and in a position where he can be more effective, dictate things from deeper, use his size. So, without really knowing i would say that he's probably been let down and that coaches and managers have taken the easy route.

https://youtu.be/_Al-SJOMPCw?si=dUrMVXm62S5lT-J2