FT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY. Match thread

[The Lone Gunman]

Well done Tuerto, glad someone has taken the time to write something like that. I’ve just finished writing my blog and I’ve been critical of Riza in it because I believe he made errors today, but, as you say, sometimes there’s too much emphasis placed on managers - too many of this season’s squad have been failing to take responsibility for things happening on the field for months now

That’s true to a degree and I understand and agree with much of what you are both saying, but at the end of the day it is a manager’s responsibility to create an environment and a mindset whereby the players do take more responsibility.

I firmly believe that the squad City fielded today is more naturally talented than the squad Sheffield Wednesday had available to them. I also firmly believe that Sheffield Wednesday’s manager is significantly superior to Cardiff City’s.

[Tuerto]

That’s true to a degree and I understand and agree with much of what you are both saying, but at the end of the day it is a manager’s responsibility to create an environment and a mindset whereby the players do take more responsibility.

I firmly believe that the squad City fielded today is more naturally talented than the squad Sheffield Wednesday had available to them. I also firmly believe that Sheffield Wednesday’s manager is significantly superior to Cardiff City’s.

That's true, but this lot are so weak, they look lost for passages during games, they get desperate, and not one of them takes control, not one of them is dishing it out when needed, there's not one of them where we could say that he rarely lets us down, even when that player has a shit game. Maybe it's just footballers changing and i'm just getting old, the days of strong characters has long gone, and maybe it's like that with all clubs now, i don't watch enough football to make that comparison. What i am sure of though is that this lot are easy to play against, alright when the sun is shining and the opposition allow us to play, but we lack bite when we're in the shit, and we fold regularly.

[Dorcus]

That's true, but this lot are so weak, they look lost for passages during games, they get desperate, and not one of them takes control, not one of them is dishing it out when needed, there's not one of them where we could say that he rarely lets us down, even when that player has a shit game. Maybe it's just footballers changing and i'm just getting old, the days of strong characters has long gone, and maybe it's like that with all clubs now, i don't watch enough football to make that comparison. What i am sure of though is that this lot are easy to play against, alright when the sun is shining and the opposition allow us to play, but we lack bite when we're in the shit, and we fold regularly.

The last time we won 2-1 away (Watford) we went on an 8 game unbeaten run. I'm just trying to keep myself positive by hoping lightening strikes twice.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

That's true, but this lot are so weak, they look lost for passages during games, they get desperate, and not one of them takes control, not one of them is dishing it out when needed, there's not one of them where we could say that he rarely lets us down, even when that player has a shit game. Maybe it's just footballers changing and i'm just getting old, the days of strong characters has long gone, and maybe it's like that with all clubs now, i don't watch enough football to make that comparison. What i am sure of though is that this lot are easy to play against, alright when the sun is shining and the opposition allow us to play, but we lack bite when we're in the shit, and we fold regularly.

In the first half I reckon we won more than half of all 50-50s. In the second half, there were several occasions where they seemed to get to each ball first many times in succession. That's all about desire. We didn't seem to come out with the same desire in the second half.

[Jordi Culé]

That's true, but this lot are so weak, they look lost for passages during games, they get desperate, and not one of them takes control, not one of them is dishing it out when needed, there's not one of them where we could say that he rarely lets us down, even when that player has a shit game. Maybe it's just footballers changing and i'm just getting old, the days of strong characters has long gone, and maybe it's like that with all clubs now, i don't watch enough football to make that comparison. What i am sure of though is that this lot are easy to play against, alright when the sun is shining and the opposition allow us to play, but we lack bite when we're in the shit, and we fold regularly.

I agree with you and TLG to an extent but let's be honest here both the players and the coaching staff/manager didn't have the bollocks or/and brains to work out City were getting absolutely shagged up the arsse in midfield in the second half.

From my view, the players nor the staff recognised the shagging they were having. You'd have thought if they had one of the players on the pitch would've been a bit more robust in *cough* challenging for the ball?

I'm not going to rant about Riza, he's fuucking delusional or did acid if he thinks he's not culpable?

[Tuerto]

I agree with you and TLG to an extent but let's be honest here both the players and the coaching staff/manager didn't have the bollocks or/and brains to work out City were getting absolutely shagged up the arsse in midfield in the second half.

From my view, the players nor the staff recognised the shagging they were having. You'd have thought if they had one of the players on the pitch would've been a bit more robust in *cough* challenging for the ball?

I'm not going to rant about Riza, he's fuucking delusional or did acid if he thinks he's not culpable?

The biggest mistake Riza is making is not owning it, even if he genuinely believed that it had nothing to do with him, he still has to take responsibility for the 2nd half performance, that's his job, he's the last one to leave the sinking ship. It tells us a bit about his character, and he has to be careful, precious footballers don't like being criticised.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I agree with you and TLG to an extent but let's be honest here both the players and the coaching staff/manager didn't have the bollocks or/and brains to work out City were getting absolutely shagged up the arsse in midfield in the second half.

From my view, the players nor the staff recognised the shagging they were having. You'd have thought if they had one of the players on the pitch would've been a bit more robust in *cough* challenging for the ball?

I'm not going to rant about Riza, he's fuucking delusional or did acid if he thinks he's not culpable?

Riza is just like the players, they're miles off it. Someone is going to have to stand up and be counted if we're to survive

[Madassa]

The truth is if we'd defended the corner from which they scored with even a basic level of professionalism we probably would have won.

[Jordi Culé]

The biggest mistake Riza is making is not owning it, even if he genuinely believed that it had nothing to do with him, he still has to take responsibility for the 2nd half performance, that's his job, he's the last one to leave the sinking ship. It tells us a bit about his character, and he has to be careful, precious footballers don't like being criticised.

100% agree about him "not owning it." He should've either said, it's on him or kept quiet. Throwing the players under the bus may bite him on the aarse as you pointed out they appear to be a little bit precious these days?

I think Riza has had them on side, it'll be interesting to see how they react?

I wonder though if any of them question Riza's tactical knowledge?

[Dorcus]

Watch this space! Riza won't be out manager next season

[Tuerto]

100% agree about him "not owning it." He should've either said, it's on him or kept quiet. Throwing the players under the bus may bite him on the aarse as you pointed out they appear to be a little bit precious these days?

I think Riza has had them on side, it'll be interesting to see how they react?

I wonder though if any of them question Riza's tactical knowledge?

He looks to me like he's levelled out, i don't know if he has the ability to get any more out of this group of players, i wouldn't say that any of them are improving, the best compliment i could give would be to say that players who may have had something about them have stagnated, none of them are performing to a high standard, there's no real stand out players, and we need a few of them to step up with some big performances, i just can't see it happening, it's like Riza has run out of ideas.

[Dorcus]

He looks to me like he's levelled out, i don't know if he has the ability to get any more out of this group of players, i wouldn't say that any of them are improving, the best compliment i could give would be to say that players who may have had something about them have stagnated, none of them are performing to a high standard, there's no real stand out players, and we need a few of them to step up with some big performances, i just can't see it happening, it's like Riza has run out of ideas.

Were in to high stakes football now: in other words shit or bust! Personally I'd leave it to the youngsters and make a sacrificial offering: Tan would do!

[Tuerto]

Were in to high stakes football now: in other words shit or bust! Personally I'd leave it to the youngsters and make a sacrificial offering: Tan would do!

Ken Zohore is without a club.........

[Dorcus]

Ken Zohore is without a club.........

Grab him!

[Bobby Dandruff]

I enjoyed that, despite the result. I thought we looked really good in the first half, and very exciting to watch.

they had a 15-20 minute spell in the second half and then it was more even until the end of the game.
we had like 8 or 9 corners and didn't do much with them, while they scored from their first?
you could tell they would score too, our defenders didn't seem to know how to deal with it.

if we play like that until the end of the season I think we will be ok. massive overreaction on here and other social media

It looks like you are entirely on your own here :-/

You DO realise that continuing to draw games that we need to win, will probably get us relegated, don’t you?

And that there are only 7 games left.

[Bobby Dandruff]

I agree with you and TLG to an extent but let's be honest here both the players and the coaching staff/manager didn't have the bollocks or/and brains to work out City were getting absolutely shagged up the arsse in midfield in the second half.

From my view, the players nor the staff recognised the shagging they were having. You'd have thought if they had one of the players on the pitch would've been a bit more robust in *cough* challenging for the ball?

I'm not going to rant about Riza, he's fuucking delusional or did acid if he thinks he's not culpable?

And he brings on Turnbull before Robertson……

I can only assume that Robertson wasn’t fully fit as I have’s seen anything to suggest that Turnbull is player who can shore up midfield (because you have to have a bit of pace and be able to tackle to start with)

[the other bob wilson]

The truth is if we'd defended the corner from which they scored with even a basic level of professionalism we probably would have won.

We had nine corners to their one - given how we defended that one, I dread to think what the score would have been if those figures had been reversed.

Just six years ago we had Morrison, Bamba, Peltier, Gunnar, and Ralls. People say you don’t get leaders among modern day footballers, but that’s not true - they’re still around, there’s not as many of them around now, but we’re living proof that they still exist. As the promotion team broke up, we added Flint and Pack, two more players who were leaders, but who do we have now? I mentioned Ralls, but accept that he’s an arguable one and, anyway, he’s always injured, the same applies with bells on to Ramsey if he qualifies in the first place. The other one I’d mention is Alnwick, who I’ve heard described as a dressing room presence, but, if he does have leadership qualities, he plays in a position where it becomes difficult to beat that influential during a game - there’s no one else I can think of.

[the other bob wilson]

He looks to me like he's levelled out, i don't know if he has the ability to get any more out of this group of players, i wouldn't say that any of them are improving, the best compliment i could give would be to say that players who may have had something about them have stagnated, none of them are performing to a high standard, there's no real stand out players, and we need a few of them to step up with some big performances, i just can't see it happening, it's like Riza has run out of ideas.

I’d say Bagan has definitely improved under Riza’s management, but the strong suspicion is that he would have done this anyway whoever was in charge.

[olderblue]

He looks to me like he's levelled out, i don't know if he has the ability to get any more out of this group of players, i wouldn't say that any of them are improving, the best compliment i could give would be to say that players who may have had something about them have stagnated, none of them are performing to a high standard, there's no real stand out players, and we need a few of them to step up with some big performances, i just can't see it happening, it's like Riza has run out of ideas.

As we walked through the concourse yesterday we were talking about the lack of leaders on the pitch, and what we would give for a Sean Morrison, Sol Bamba type player now!

That said within the first 10 minutes of the second half you could see how they had changed and were winning the midfield battle, well almost everyone else in the ground could see it apart from the guy who’s job it is to get the win.

If you’re leading a team or a group of people, the chances are they will follow and support you, unless they don’t buy into your tactics or ideas

Do any of this lot, look at the manager and really believe he’s the guy that has the potential to make them better players?

Do any of them think they are following instructions because this guy is the real deal?

To me it comes down to respect and professionalism, I think a more experienced manager would have got more out of this squad and probably identified there is a weak underbelly in the squad and rectified that with his recruitment

There’s no hiding place now for anyone
Board, coaching staff or players

Collectively they have 7 games to get the points required,

I’m not sure the best way to get everyone on side is for the head coach to come out and publicly distance himself from the result and performance of his team selection and tactics?

[Crisp White Lines]

How can it be that Cardiff City ends up with two charlatan managers on the trot? In ONE season!?

Actually, scrub that, I think we know why.

[goats]

How can it be that Cardiff City ends up with two charlatan managers on the trot? In ONE season!?

Actually, scrub that, I think we know why.

And that is all you need to know…..

[A Quiet Monkfish]

You can fault Riza for some questionable substitutions yesterday [what the hell does he see in El Lazy], but I doubt Ng would have thrown himself to the ground looking for a free kick, but ended up giving away the corner, with a manager like Warnock in charge.

[The Lone Gunman]

You can fault Riza for some questionable substitutions yesterday [what the hell does he see in El Lazy], but I doubt Ng would have thrown himself to the ground looking for a free kick, but ended up giving away the corner, with a manager like Warnock in charge.

Ng would do what Ng does regardless of who was in charge. It's how he plays the game. He's a cheat, plain and simple.

[Rjk]

It looks like you are entirely on your own here :-/

You DO realise that continuing to draw games that we need to win, will probably get us relegated, don’t you?

And that there are only 7 games left.

yes I can see that I'm entirely on my own here, that doesn't bother me in the slightest.

to me it just seems like an air of desperation, that people want to blame everything on the manager if we got anything other than a win because we are in the last chance saloon.

the way I see it we played really well in the first half, and we're very fun to watch.
the start of the second half they were getting on top, and scored from an inventive free kick.
then on about 60 minutes we brought on subs and they weren't dominant any more, we finished the stronger of the 2 sides (albeit not as dominant as the first half)

people criticise the subs, and I can understand that, but it did stop Wednesdays dominance.
so really there was a 15 minute period at the start of the second half where they had got on top- I don't think thats too long to trust your players to work out how to work that out on the pitch before you need to change it yourself.

yes it's a disappointing result, especially given the others around us but we were actually pretty good yesterday.

if we had Wednesday's set piece coaches (I believe it's Purse and Ward in charge of ours?) then it would have probably been a very comfortable win.

[jeepster]

Ng would do what Ng does regardless of who was in charge. It's how he plays the game. He's a cheat, plain and simple.

Agree he is a liability