Honest post here guys - I had the impression that under DJ, Cardiff just played a direct game with great firepower at the front, scored loads of goals, but downfall was defense and ability to control the midfield (my impression). I get the impression now that the team play a more balanced game (admit I've not watched any games) - just from what I've read with Malky's style and how the team has been rebuilt, also case of possibly getting rid of any ego's.. I for one think if this is the case, it is the right way to go and can see over the next few seasons the club moving forward - hopefully for you to the premier league (preferably with us still there of course)... What I want to know is, what do you think of the style and how the team plays these days compared to the DJ game play? Do you enjoy it more now? Are you happy with how things are progressing? or do you feel bring DJ or any of the old players back??
From the three home Champ games I've watched in the flesh and just highlights from the others, this team has a far better balance than recent years. "Work in progress" may be the best label to put on it. There are a couple of missing elements though. Our goals are coming from all over the pitch, and unless we get an out and out front man (no disrespect to Miller intended), we could struggle to put matches away like against Blackpool. A speedy wide man on the right to take on his full back is definitely necessary as Conway on the left does not seem to have that in his armoury - he makes up for that by taking up excellent positions and is a supreme crosser of the ball. Lack of pace in defence is still a worry, though with Gunnarsson and/or Kiss in the side this year, they should be better protected. As far as your Malky/DJ question is concerned, Malky is the way forward - DJ's ways had become stale. Decent thread.
DJs time was up and from my limited exposure to live matches I agree with Sparkey, work in progress but it does appear to be a more entertaining style but I only see highlights on ccplayer
Malky definitely the way forward, no prima-donnas or favorites with this guy, you have to earn your place in the team. I was not expecting any more than consolidation this season but I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by everyones efforts so far.
Agree with all the above. DJ (thankfully) took us to a point but we faded (especially last year). Under Malky, I think if we get to the same point, the players we have now would sweat blood to get over the line... at least thats the impression I get. Add a bit more quality and the futures looking bright.
Quick question H Bomb, and sorry for going away from thr thread, but can you delete your post from a certain category, as you can see I've dropped a right clanger.
Cheers H Bomb Going back to the thread, the last season under DJ was all or nothing, he gambled by signing loan players with high wages rather then looking at good grafting players at a high championship level. Tactically he got it wrong on a few occasions and made strange choices in substitutions, he was never vocal enough in his technical area and this proved on and off the pitch. Still, can't take away the fact he worked season after season with next to nothing budget and made a lot of good business with selling players to keep us a float. It's early days yet to fully access MM, but the general consensus is so far so good, brought in players young , experienced, proven goal scorers and that they all want to play for the shirt. We play a more passing game which we lacked with DJ, but still have the option to play the long ball if needed to. We have three tough games with Leicester twice than high flying Southampton so see how we get on within the next week.
Good question Swansman I agree with everything said already but add that we need more of a goal threat. Last season whenever we attacked we looked like scoring becuase we had several people who knew how to find the back of the net. Against that we crumbled at the abck too often. This term we keep the ball better and try to build progressively but for my way of thinking don't get the ball into threatening scoring positions often enough. With Parkin going out on loan and Jarvis already gone we need another front player as 3 is not enough so hopefully Malky has someone in mind to add to the strkeforce having reduced the wage bill, albeit temporarily. As already said, we also need a pacey, tricky winger to inject some speed going forwards.
DJ did a lot of good things as everyone has pointed out. I had a lot of time for DJ, but ultimately his methods failed to get us promoted, which is the ultimate aim of the club. MM is stamping his own personality on the club and introducing his own methods, will he more successful than DJ? Only time will tell, but quite happy with the progress so far
Pleasantly surprised by progress so far.... The style we are playing at the moment is generally easier on the eye than the last couple of years but I did find myself getting frustrated in the Doncaster game that we weren't shooting when given the opportunity and were almost trying to do an Arsenal and walk the ball into the net... As much as I rated DJ, last year was pretty much his last throw of the dice as he finally received decent backing in teh transfer market (albeit mostly loans). I was sad to see him go but by the same token, having Malky come in has been like changing the light bulb in a room from a 50watt to 100 watt... everything just seems brighter somehow Regarding old players we'd like to see back.. Bellamy was the obvious one as he had the skill AND the workrate to suit this team. I'd also still like to have both Burke and Bothroyd.. burkie for obvious reasons and Bothroyd as despite his ego and tendancy to hit the deck he is a very good player who'd also flourish with teh ammo supplied by Conway and Co... Good thread mate
dave jones was an excellent manager for a period of time, but after a while i think it became clear that he couldnt take us any further. we dont yet know if MM is the man to deliver that, but he looks more of a manager that has the ability to actually do it IMO. however thats mainly because at the end of DJ's tenure it became clear that he needed to go, and whoever would have come in would have seemed like a step forwards, as Brizzle says. back to DJ, he got something like 6 seasons to get on with his job, completely unheard of at this level. under the malaysians he got the chance to get us up, and didnt. to be fair the in first 2 or 3 seasons it was more of a firefighter job for jones, and he kept us up when perhaps others wouldnt have. he bought good players but he also brought alot of cr*p, so theres a case for and against him tbh.
"As already said, we also need a pacey, tricky winger to inject some speed going forwards." God how much would I love to see burkey in this side!
Impossible question to answer I guess, as Jones brought in so many of the players! I've been really impressed by the way Mackay has gone about his business. The players he's brought in might not have massive reputations, but they're all regarded as good footballers. To anyone going to the games regularly, what's the biggest difference? Are players more focused on retaining possession? Are you still playing 4-4-2?
As shown in the Blackpool game Malky isn't afraid to change it around and make BIG decisions (dropping our current top scoring striker for tactical reasons)... The formation usually is a 4-4-2 but more of a diamond in the middle rather than flat. Retaining possession rather than getting forward quickly does seem to be more of a focus for us so far.. but it is still very early and this may change as the season goes on. Saying that, I can't remember which game it was but if the keeper can hit the front men quickly they are not averse to a long but accurate kick up field to turn the opposition defence (think i remember Heaton doing this once or twice in a match).. It is certainly going to be a very interesting season, especially if we can bring in a couple more "flair" players to compliment the work ethic and now with the Beast at least partially off the wage bill for a short time we may well see some movement (in more ways than one )
One thing I've noticed is the amount of times we win headers on free kicks & corners, far more than last year. The quality of crosses is far better.
Gotta say, Conway is superb at pinging it in. Hopefully he can teach Super Kev a thing or 2 in that department...
Agree the crosses are superb, but nobody on the end of them ! we need a target man. Hulse would suit our game at the moment, just a thought.
