Subs made a huge difference tonight

[Citizen's Nephew]

I think it's a stretch to call it an assist; it was a pass, Bagan did all the work.

It looked like a total solo effort to me and I had a very good view from behind him. As soon as he struck it I knew it was going to be in the back of the onion. Great strike.

[Optimistic Nick]

He was asked how the game went. He said something like "pretty well from the 37th minute". He couldn't even wait for the inevitable question about the substitution before sticking the boot in.

Edit: my mistake. He said 25th minute, so not a dig at Watters. My error.

I didn't recognise the qotes from the WOL article. Presumably from the press conference. Here is what he said in the post match interview.

"he wasn't doing good enough. Wasn't winning first contact, wasn't being physical enough. The ball just kept coming back every time it went forward so I needed to make a change, I couldn't wait, I didn't want to wait. I'm quite a black and white guy, if I decide something in my head that I need to do, uh, so yeah. I made the call and it had an instant impact I felt. [goes on to praise Hugill].

He was then told Watters was clearly upset and was asked how he is going to ensure it doesn't affect his confidence:
"It will affect his confidence. It's my job now and my staff, we are a close-knit group [goes on to say the staff work hard] we will all sit down and we will go through it with Max. And we will show what we mean. And waht it looks like to be a top drawer championship striker. It's something he wants to be, he's got a price tag on his head coming to us, and,uh, he was unlucky because he could have scored in the first minute of the game and if he'd done that his performance might have changed a little bit." [goes on to say he didn't want to take him off, but he did and it worked]

All of this, by the way, before going on to say some really positive things about Bagan.

[Optimistic Nick]

They gave Bagan MOM; Vaulks presented him with the trophy.

Ah thanks - only caught it out of the corner of my eye! Still think he had a decent game tho.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Ah thanks - only caught it out of the corner of my eye! Still think he had a decent game tho.

He did. I've seen him play well in the past, this season he's been abject but tonight there was a more composed player out there. He seemed happier to me too and his body language was good.

[Dorcus]

He did. I've seen him play well in the past, this season he's been abject but tonight there was a more composed player out there. He seemed happier to me too and his body language was good.

I suppose it's weird how we all see different things in games. I'm not disagreeing with how you two saw the play but for me Vaulks was ok(ish) and didn't have a bad game. For me he doesn't contribute much and all the time I was thinking how much we missed Ralls.

He's a defensive midfielder and to my mind Wintle does what he does so much better so Vaulks for me is taking the place of a better, more creative midfielder. I'd like to see him moved on in the summer and I hope we recruit better. However, I appreciate we all see things differently and that's what makes these posts interesting.

[the other bob wilson]

The thing is Morison isn't wrong. To be a centre forward at this level you need to be physical and you need to be able to look after the ball. I'm not saying you need to be a target man, but he's knocked off the ball so easily. There's no fight with him. Davies isn't a big lad either but he competes physically.

So Watters has a choice. He can stew over this, and end up in league 1 for the rest of his career. Or he can add that side to his game and be a success here, because he has a lot of other good attributes.

I don't buy into the "poor man management" thing either. If you're going to be successful you need players who are mentally strong, regardless of their age. Look at Bagan and Davies. Bagan taken out of the team, but he's taken on board what's being asked of him and he's improved massively. Since he got dug out at Bournemouth, Davies has been superb.

These guys are being thrown in at the deep end and being asked to get results. Coddling them isn't going to help anyone. Morison works with these players every day and knows their personalities far better than any of us.

But, unless I’ve missed something, all of the evidence of the past four months or so says that Morison only has a go at a certain group of players in public - those qualified by age to play for our under 23 team. Yet, for me, it is an experienced group of players who have let us down more this season - presumably, the thinking at he start of the season was that we would be able to bed in the number of young players we’ve used this season because there was an experienced nucleus to the team capable of doing enough to prevent the very type of season we’ve had. Clearly, they haven’t been able to that, yet Morison stays silent about that week after week.

[UNDERHILL1927]

I remember the days when we used to moan about the manager because we were losing all the time, playing appalling "football" and sliding towards relegation...

100%, convinced that some on here thrive off doom and gloom. Ridiculous mardy bastards

[City123]

Would he have done it to a more senior player? I don't think so

I agree with some that some criticism of SM is OTT, but equally some of the praise is and almost amounts to hero worship! I don't think this tough guy act will work for him long term, would it have been so hard to hold his hands up and say he got the starting XI wrong? (Which he had). He has a tendency to deflect any blame which some bafflingly think is him being honest!

[LeningradCowboy]

I remember that Warnock substituted Bacuna in the first-half of a game on a Friday evening against Sheffield Wednesday. Bacuna was playing like shit, but Warnock blamed himself after the match for picking him after he'd flown halfway around the world a couple of days earlier on his way back from international duty.

[WJ99mobile]

A classic 'rope a dope' game. Sit back, take all they have, then score on the break. And a masterclass in substitutions. Who's complaining what the starting line was? It worked.

Is this sarcasm? We didn’t intentionally play crap I’m sure of that

[Nobody's Rep]

100%, convinced that some on here thrive off doom and gloom. Ridiculous mardy bastards

That's CCMB for you - Curmudgeon Central Message Board

Difference of opinion is what makes this board interesting but a few posters obviously can't stand Morison that's okay but some do and that's okay

I've listened to the full press conference on City TV and don't see anything wrong with what he said - he didn't bring it up the Media did and he gave an honest answer - let's see what happens next

For me watters does need to add physicality to his game - I said recently at a home game I was surprised how strong and combative Davies is for quite a small guy but if even if he isn't going to win the ball he makes a nuisance of himself but watters doesn't compete and he doesn't press when he could and he has to for this style of play to work

Hopefully this works as like others I think there's a real goal scorer in there but he needs a wider game than just that

[WJ99mobile]

Watters wasn't working for the team, he makes good runs and looked quite lively but out of possession is lazy (or maybe not fit enough).

Same as my thoughts.

He was far better than Davies offensively and his runs off the ball often not spotted.

It seems he was hooked for his defensive and off the ball work which wasn’t up to scratch. Was it he the worst player on the pitch. Probably not.

Maybe a bit of humiliation will make him listen to SM tactics and instructions more but it’s a very very risky strategy.

[Optimistic Nick]

I've listened to the full press conference on City TV and don't see anything wrong with what he said - he didn't bring it up the Media did and he gave an honest answer - let's see what happens next
t

It's the post match interview, not the press conference. His comments were s lightly better measured in the press conference, if that is the one that is being quoted in the media. But still amounted to kicking a man when he's down, needlessly.

[BLUEAWAY]

I've just got back and the general consensus from those I was with, and around at the game was Morison got it absolutely right. On Saturday we were leggy and looked a yard off the pace having had only 2 days between games, so it wasn't a surprise that he rested players with 10 games in 30 days ahead. It made sense to bring on Hugill for 40 minutes rather than have to bring him off after 50, and giving Ralls a rest was a bonus. King didn't do much, but didn't prove a disaster, and gave Doyle a breather too.

I thought Morison played the game very well. God knows why this guy gets so much stick on here..

I wonder what the view would have been had we gone behind in the first thirty minutes and ended up chasing the game against a team who could keep hold of the ball.

[BLUEAWAY]

He defended Bacuna after a shocker

[Citizen's Nephew]

"You have two choices in life. You either suck it up, get on with it and get better and make me not do it again, or you don't. It's very simple."

Actually, no it isn't that simple. He's talking like a 'one size fits all' manager and people aren't like that. Why does someone think it's OK to say this stuff in public? It is their workplace after all.

8 minutes until halftime he humiliates a lad. He picked the starting eleven. We were rubbish. He could have made all three substitutions within 10 mins it was so bad. The lad was set up to fail last night.

I know I'm vocal about this stuff but I really, really hate it. I can't stand the 'never did me any harm' school of pseudo-psychology. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it. Ask yourself why he never treats the senior players this way? It's blatant age discrimination. I'd love to have seen him do it to Flint, Nelson, or Morrison when they're having a mare and leaking first-half goals for fun. It never happened. He's never taken Bacuna or Vaulks off just before the break and told them to 'suck it up!'

He's a bully to these younger players and bullies are cowards. They find excuses. They don't take ownership. It's his job to protect that squad. He needs to keep his mouth shut.

[poc]

Amazing that your best centre forward makes an improvement over two small strikers asked to do Hugill's job. I am stunned he didn't start Hugill or Uche. It was so predictable what would happen and to make matters worse, he's absolutely killed Watters because he isn't good at holding the ball up and bringing others into play, which isn't his fault. I bet Morison blames Watters rather than himself.

thats how i feel he picked the wrong team

[Bobby Dandruff]

We didn't play great football tonight.

No, we really didn’t.

It was an excellent result and we played some very good football against Peterborough and Forest, but not tonight.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Same as my thoughts.

He was far better than Davies offensively and his runs off the ball often not spotted.

It seems he was hooked for his defensive and off the ball work which wasn’t up to scratch. Was it he the worst player on the pitch. Probably not.

Maybe a bit of humiliation will make him listen to SM tactics and instructions more but it’s a very very risky strategy.

Would humiliation work in any other working environment on any of us here? Imagine your boss doing it to you in front of everyone 8 minutes before he could have made that call and framed it differently in private? 8 minutes! I think people are getting confused as to what's really happening in front of their eyes. This has nothing to do with whether Watters wasn't having a great game. The substitution needed to be made. He just needed to do it at halftime and keep his mouth shut to the media and deflect the attention off the lad. Who needs a boss who doesn't have your back? What kind of a team is that?

[FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead]

But, unless I’ve missed something, all of the evidence of the past four months or so says that Morison only has a go at a certain group of players in public - those qualified by age to play for our under 23 team. Yet, for me, it is an experienced group of players who have let us down more this season - presumably, the thinking at he start of the season was that we would be able to bed in the number of young players we’ve used this season because there was an experienced nucleus to the team capable of doing enough to prevent the very type of season we’ve had. Clearly, they haven’t been able to that, yet Morison stays silent about that week after week.

My honest thought - and I could be way off here - is that he wants to build a team around these young lads and he wants to get them to fulfill their potential. And, dare I say it, he's emotionally invested in seeing them succeed.

Thats why he'll dig out Davies and Watters but not, say, Vaulks. Because Vaulks won't be here next season, but the young lads could go on to have the next 5-10 years here.

If he was slagging lads in public and then freezing them out (like Warnock with Declan John or Jones with Adam Matthews), I'd agree that it's poor management and he's a bit of a knob. But as Morison himself has pointed out, you don't see behind the scenes where he's sitting down with these lads for hours at a time explaining in detail what they need to do to succeed.

Besides, people talk about him letting the senior pros off lightly. Davies and Bacuna both got criticism at Bournemouth. People said he went in too harsh on Davies and Bacuna got off lightly. But which player has been a regular starter since then, and which hasn't had a single kick? I would say that's the real litmus test.

I think Morison is old school and mental strength is a big part of what he looks for. He talked about it the other week; these young lads don't know what it's like to play 2 games in the week and then have some shit house career pro snarling at you at Millwall on the Saturday.

And I think those young players are tougher than they're given credit for. Morison did an interview years ago where he explained the changes he'd installed in the 23s and how he'd completely overhauled the mentality. These lads are all a product of that environment and they are in the first team now as a result of it.

As I said, Watters can buy into it and crack on as Bagan and Davies have done, or he can sulk. But he will be coached and told exactly what he needs to do to improve and be picked.

[the other bob wilson]

My honest thought - and I could be way off here - is that he wants to build a team around these young lads and he wants to get them to fulfill their potential. And, dare I say it, he's emotionally invested in seeing them succeed.

Thats why he'll dig out Davies and Watters but not, say, Vaulks. Because Vaulks won't be here next season, but the young lads could go on to have the next 5-10 years here.

If he was slagging lads in public and then freezing them out (like Warnock with Declan John or Jones with Adam Matthews), I'd agree that it's poor management and he's a bit of a knob. But as Morison himself has pointed out, you don't see behind the scenes where he's sitting down with these lads for hours at a time explaining in detail what they need to do to succeed.

Besides, people talk about him letting the senior pros off lightly. Davies and Bacuna both got criticism at Bournemouth. People said he went in too harsh on Davies and Bacuna got off lightly. But which player has been a regular starter since then, and which hasn't had a single kick? I would say that's the real litmus test.

I think Morison is old school and mental strength is a big part of what he looks for. He talked about it the other week; these young lads don't know what it's like to play 2 games in the week and then have some shit house career pro snarling at you at Millwall on the Saturday.

And I think those young players are tougher than they're given credit for. Morison did an interview years ago where he explained the changes he'd installed in the 23s and how he'd completely overhauled the mentality. These lads are all a product of that environment and they are in the first team now as a result of it.

As I said, Watters can buy into it and crack on as Bagan and Davies have done, or he can sulk. But he will be coached and told exactly what he needs to do to improve and be picked.

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, I'd get rid of all of the senior out of contract players this summer, except for Ralls - if we do that, then you may have a point about Morison's attitude towards the older players.

[The Lone Gunman]

Morison did an interview years ago where he explained the changes he'd installed in the 23s and how he'd completely overhauled the mentality. These lads are all a product of that environment and they are in the first team now as a result of it.

Years ago? Are you sure? Morison arrived at Cardiff City in February 2020. He had just one full season in charge of the under-23’s.

[City123]

My honest thought - and I could be way off here - is that he wants to build a team around these young lads and he wants to get them to fulfill their potential. And, dare I say it, he's emotionally invested in seeing them succeed.

Thats why he'll dig out Davies and Watters but not, say, Vaulks. Because Vaulks won't be here next season, but the young lads could go on to have the next 5-10 years here.

If he was slagging lads in public and then freezing them out (like Warnock with Declan John or Jones with Adam Matthews), I'd agree that it's poor management and he's a bit of a knob. But as Morison himself has pointed out, you don't see behind the scenes where he's sitting down with these lads for hours at a time explaining in detail what they need to do to succeed.

Besides, people talk about him letting the senior pros off lightly. Davies and Bacuna both got criticism at Bournemouth. People said he went in too harsh on Davies and Bacuna got off lightly. But which player has been a regular starter since then, and which hasn't had a single kick? I would say that's the real litmus test.

I think Morison is old school and mental strength is a big part of what he looks for. He talked about it the other week; these young lads don't know what it's like to play 2 games in the week and then have some shit house career pro snarling at you at Millwall on the Saturday.

And I think those young players are tougher than they're given credit for. Morison did an interview years ago where he explained the changes he'd installed in the 23s and how he'd completely overhauled the mentality. These lads are all a product of that environment and they are in the first team now as a result of it.

As I said, Watters can buy into it and crack on as Bagan and Davies have done, or he can sulk. But he will be coached and told exactly what he needs to do to improve and be picked.

Colwill and Sang spring to mind. Evans has been sent to Northern Ireland, Sang to Scotland and Patten to the regionals

As TLG pointed out he only took over about 2 years ago, I think you're confusing that with an interview Bellamy gave where he said much the same thing

Incidentally I used to think Bellamy's character mean he wouldn't make it as a manager, I've changed my mind about that since Morison took over

[Maurice Swan]

Amazing that your best centre forward makes an improvement over two small strikers asked to do Hugill's job. I am stunned he didn't start Hugill or Uche. It was so predictable what would happen and to make matters worse, he's absolutely killed Watters because he isn't good at holding the ball up and bringing others into play, which isn't his fault. I bet Morison blames Watters rather than himself.

Absolutely agree.....Watters is all about Confidence - he must be very low right now. Just about everyone here could see from the lineup that the front pair wasn't going to gel....Watters needs a target man alongside him....that is not Davies.
Keep your head up son - we can see your strength even if SM cannot.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Incidentally I used to think Bellamy's character mean he wouldn't make it as a manager, I've changed my mind about that since Morison took over

Exactly the same for me.