Cardiff City play pretty well, but relegation gloom is settling over the club.

[the other bob wilson]

Rohl's half time changes transform the game while Riza watches on.

https://mauveandyellowarmy.net

[bluesp]

Great work as always Bob Definitely a game of two halves, and like you, I found the first half very positive, but we clearly needed to get that second goal with all the possession and set pieces. It was clear to see the changes Wednesday made at half time nullified our dominance and allowed the 35 year old Bannon time and a lot of space to start pinging balls around and controlling the midfield. Taking off Alves and replacing him with Turnbull would have made sense to reduce Wednesday's freedom in midfield. Tanner definitely didn't look sharp, unfortunately, and El Ghazi had an absolute horror show of a performance. There were a lot of positives especially first half but I don't think the referee helped either side with his inconsistency, especially by not giving NG the free kick before their having given Wednesday one a few minutes beforehand for a similar slight contact. We have a good cluster of younger players, mixed in with decent recent signings, and I would like to see them utilised more in the last 7 games rather than hoping some of the more experienced players finally justify their wages.

[the other bob wilson]

Great work as always Bob Definitely a game of two halves, and like you, I found the first half very positive, but we clearly needed to get that second goal with all the possession and set pieces. It was clear to see the changes Wednesday made at half time nullified our dominance and allowed the 35 year old Bannon time and a lot of space to start pinging balls around and controlling the midfield. Taking off Alves and replacing him with Turnbull would have made sense to reduce Wednesday's freedom in midfield. Tanner definitely didn't look sharp, unfortunately, and El Ghazi had an absolute horror show of a performance. There were a lot of positives especially first half but I don't think the referee helped either side with his inconsistency, especially by not giving NG the free kick before their having given Wednesday one a few minutes beforehand for a similar slight contact. We have a good cluster of younger players, mixed in with decent recent signings, and I would like to see them utilised more in the last 7 games rather than hoping some of the more experienced players finally justify their wages.

Thanks, I agree, the ref was not at his best (been quite impressed by him before) and, if anything, I thought Wednesday had slightly more grounds for complaint about him than us - maybe Ng’s reputation went before him as far as any foul against him (not convinced there was one mind) before the corner went?

[bluesp]

Thanks, I agree, the ref was not at his best (been quite impressed by him before) and, if anything, I thought Wednesday had slightly more grounds for complaint about him than us - maybe Ng’s reputation went before him as far as any foul against him (not convinced there was one mind) before the corner went?

It was definitely “played for” by NG but so was the one at the other end. The best refs I feel don’t become a big part of the game like the one yesterday. He was pretty erratic - witness the yellow for O’Dowda first half then nothing for their centre half committing a similar foul, and the other one kicking the ball away. I’d rather not have to talk about the ref at all

[PontBlue]

I'm pretty sure their players were pushing our players into their keeper safe in the knowledge the ref would give a free kick to them.

[LA Bluebird]

Great article as always. Any comparison of Rohl to Riza as rookie managers (and I know you weren't trying to suggest it was equal) has to consider their experience beforehand - we could probably only dream of getting a manager who had been an assistant at Leipzig, Southampton, Bayern and Germany. It's the kind of appointment the club wouldn't even have the contacts or the vision to even attempt, presumably anyone with that kind of resume wouldn't even bother answering the idiots in charge of our club.

Also I've seen a few posts now suggest it's just bad luck that Tanner had to go to RB where he looked like he'd never kicked a ball before in his life. I'm sorry but for me that's on the manager again to go into a game with no cover. He could have had Kpakio or Rino instead of one of the other central midfielders on the bench, especially as he had multiple players covering other positions, we must have had 6 or 7 players in the squad who could play the wing positions.

[The Lone Gunman]

I’d rather not have to talk about the ref at all

But you do so pretty much every game….

[bluesp]

But you do so pretty much every game….

I’m feeling like I’m being stalked now. I never used to in previous seasons so either I’m getting old and cantankerous about such things or the standard of officiating is declining…

[the other bob wilson]

Great article as always. Any comparison of Rohl to Riza as rookie managers (and I know you weren't trying to suggest it was equal) has to consider their experience beforehand - we could probably only dream of getting a manager who had been an assistant at Leipzig, Southampton, Bayern and Germany. It's the kind of appointment the club wouldn't even have the contacts or the vision to even attempt, presumably anyone with that kind of resume wouldn't even bother answering the idiots in charge of our club.

Also I've seen a few posts now suggest it's just bad luck that Tanner had to go to RB where he looked like he'd never kicked a ball before in his life. I'm sorry but for me that's on the manager again to go into a game with no cover. He could have had Kpakio or Rino instead of one of the other central midfielders on the bench, especially as he had multiple players covering other positions, we must have had 6 or 7 players in the squad who could play the wing positions.

Kpakio’s not played since he went off injured at half time in the FA Cup game at Sheffield United and I believe he’s out for the season. I suppose Rinomhota wasn’t involved because he was late back from international duty - don’t think he arrived until Friday. Chambers could’ve played there, but I’m beginning to think he’s got it written in his contract that he mustn’t play right back.

[The Lone Gunman]

I’m feeling like I’m being stalked now. I never used to in previous seasons so either I’m getting old and cantankerous about such things or the standard of officiating is declining…

It seems to me like you’re constantly looking to make excuses for the team’s obvious deficiencies.

The standard of officiating at this level has never been brilliant but the problem is that cheating has increased exponentially. The officials therefore have an impossible job no matter how good they are.

One thing’s for sure, though - City are not in their current position because of refereeing decisions.

[Loramski]

Kpakio’s not played since he went off injured at half time in the FA Cup game at Sheffield United and I believe he’s out for the season. I suppose Rinomhota wasn’t involved because he was late back from international duty - don’t think he arrived until Friday. Chambers could’ve played there, but I’m beginning to think he’s got it written in his contract that he mustn’t play right back.

Again, Conte would've been a useful option yesterday I'd have thought. Going from winger to full back, on either side, would be natural for him and surely this won't be the last time we need a goal late on. We obviously had a look at him and felt he wasn't ready in January but we're still going on a 24 player squad, as far as I'm aware, and we're short of an attacking right back option so it seems odd to ignore him.

Tanner was so far off it yesterday it was painful. He was well off the pace as a winger. Ashford rolled him a pass early on but he wasn't on his toes and got nowhere near it, there were other errors too and that got worse when he went to full back. I know there hasn't been a u-21 game to give him some match fitness but he didn't look anywhere near ready yesterday.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Rohl's half time changes transform the game while Riza watches on.

https://mauveandyellowarmy.net

I agree, the 2 sets of substitutions influenced the eventual outcome. Like all fans I can wonder and puzzle at a manager's selection, but for the life of me I am utterly perplexed why he sees anything of value in playing El Ghazi. We were hopelessly outnumbered in the middle of the pitch. For what it's worth I do think we've been playing under pressure all season and it shows in crucial stages of games, perhaps something this squad isn't too good at handling. What must not be ignored however is that in the 32 games in charge we've accumulated 39 points - that would place us above Preston on points-per-game..

[LA Bluebird]

I totally forgot about Conte and didn't know about the injury or unavailability of the other two but the point stands... especially now with 7 subs, it's negligence to have a total lack of cover at a key position and then go so heavy on others. Far too often it feels like Riza's squads are generated with a bit of a random number generator to be honest, just chopping and changing trying to find something that will work for a few games. And that's even while admitting he got the starting lineup right yesterday, at least until Wednesday made their changes.

[Don Corleone]

It seems to me like you’re constantly looking to make excuses for the team’s obvious deficiencies.

The standard of officiating at this level has never been brilliant but the problem is that cheating has increased exponentially. The officials therefore have an impossible job no matter how good they are.

One thing’s for sure, though - City are not in their current position because of refereeing decisions.

I certainly agree with your last statement but you must admit the ref was erratic with his decision making yesterday, even though in the end it had little effect on the result. I thought the worse one was when he let play go on for us and then blew the whistle a good 20 seconds to bring it back for a foul to them. Not often you have both sets of fans singing “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the same time

[The Lone Gunman]

I certainly agree with your last statement but you must admit the ref was erratic with his decision making yesterday, even though in the end it had little effect on the result. I thought the worse one was when he let play go on for us and then blew the whistle a good 20 seconds to bring it back for a foul to them. Not often you have both sets of fans singing “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the same time

He was erratic. If anything, I thought he slightly favoured City overall, but he had a pretty poor game and made some odd decisions. I don't think he was wrong when Ng was trying to blag a free kick instead of doing his job properly, though. The ref got that one right.

[the other bob wilson]

Again, Conte would've been a useful option yesterday I'd have thought. Going from winger to full back, on either side, would be natural for him and surely this won't be the last time we need a goal late on. We obviously had a look at him and felt he wasn't ready in January but we're still going on a 24 player squad, as far as I'm aware, and we're short of an attacking right back option so it seems odd to ignore him.

Tanner was so far off it yesterday it was painful. He was well off the pace as a winger. Ashford rolled him a pass early on but he wasn't on his toes and got nowhere near it, there were other errors too and that got worse when he went to full back. I know there hasn't been a u-21 game to give him some match fitness but he didn't look anywhere near ready yesterday.

Must admit, I’d forgotten about Conte. I thought Conte was good for the under 21s in that game with West Brom that was decided on penalties, but, like most in that side lately, he’s not making a great case for inclusion in the first team squad apart from that. I suspect that the truth is that,apart from pre season friendliest and those two League Cup ties in August, Riza has barely seen Conte play. It’s probably not helping Conte’s cause that he’s not always played right back in recent games for the under 21s - I’d definitely play him there in Tuesday’s game with Peterborough.