FT: COVENTRY CITY 1 - 0 CARDIFF CITY. Match thread

[Citizen's Nephew]

I just don't see how we play an attractive style of play with senior players we have. Think ideally we end up with Wintle and Bowen as midfield two but forcing them into the spotlight wouldn't be the best for their development, and anyway one isn't currently our player.

What to do with defence though? Some ask for Bagan as the LCB but LB/LWB is definitely best position for him currently, some ask for Pack as RCB but he's not quick enough especially if next to Flint...or are we dropping Flint moving Morrison central and having Pack RCB? Still think that exposes us too much and our defence would become leakier without significant improvement if Ralls/Vaulks are the options directly ahead of them.

What do you do when best performing players weren't bought to play style of football fans want but you have no money to buy new and kids who can aren't fully ready yet? Do you sacrifice results? Huddersfield did last year and only just stayed up but by becoming more pragmatic towards end of the season. Or do you make changes but in a slower way?

It's a long ol' season if you're not looking for the positives: currently 9th place and lots of minutes for kids we have high hopes for. And TLG keeps telling us we're destined for play-offs. It would be unrealistic to say anything other than plenty more negatives than positives tonight.

It's hard to know where we can fix anything. Pretty depressing TBH. There were so many times when Coventry's final pass almost ended in the back of the net with an easy goal. A slight heavy touch or a foot out by a defender stopped them from scoring a hatful. I thought their direct play was great to watch tonight. Other teams watching this will know that pace will kill us. Just look at the number of fouls we conceded.

[surge]

It's hard to know where we can fix anything. Pretty depressing TBH. There were so many times when Coventry's final pass almost ended in the back of the net with an easy goal. A slight heavy touch or a foot out by a defender stopped them from scoring a hatful. I thought their direct play was great to watch tonight. Other teams watching this will know that pace will kill us. Just look at the number of fouls we conceded.

Huddersfield and Coventry were bad enough to go down last year but 7 games in and their fans are ecstatic this season. Think we're taking a slower approach to changing things but, fingers crossed, if it goes right we'll look back on this season as hugely significant.

Best not over-react and review where we are at Christmas, imo. Two steps forward, three steps backwards to be expected until then but hopefully we see a bit more of what we're trying to do as year progresses...and a side always makes a late charge for play-offs.