Next up we have Millwall at home – not knowing quite what will have happened on Saturday we may well be going into this one buoyed by our 1st victory or could just be trudging despairingly towards another home game full of dread. I will of course be checking from the beach, raising a glass to all Bluebirds and praying that it’s the former! Who Are You? The return of Neil Harris once again. Our ex-gaffer (who to be fair wasn’t too bad for us) took up the reins once again at the New Den back in February, managing to steer the Lions away from relegation danger and turning them into a generally hard to beat outfit, in fact they picked up 26 points from their last 13 games, with Harris now boasting a near 48% win record as boss in this spell. The Millwall side actually look pretty decently equipped with the likes of Duncan Watmore starting this season like a freight train with 5 goals in 6 starts, Welsh International Tom Bradshaw and ex-Notts prolific marksman Macauley Langstaff up top. Defensively they have the experienced Jake Cooper and ex-Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga in their ranks and a midfield that contains Georges Saville & Honeyman, Joe Bryan & the talented Romaine Esse. They do of course also have our very own Ryan Wintle on loan (2 subs appearances thus far) but he will no doubt be barred from playing against his parent club (shame really as at least we’d know what to expect from him!!). Looking at those names it actually starts to make our squad look pretty average – so perhaps a sign of where we actually are with things!? Last Time Out & Form After taking up the job of saving Millwall, Neil Harris helped guide his new (old) charges to a victory over the Bluebirds last time around, with our stuttering team going down 3-1 at the New Den. Ex-Jack Michael Obafemi put the hosts 1 up only for Yakou Meite to equalise (yep, you read that right – he scored!!). Unfortunately the travelling fans joy wasn’t to last as Jake Cooper popped up in 1st half added time to restore the hosts lead and Watmore wrapped things up in added time at the death, putting a gloss on a game that saw our boys control the ball but (as is now familiar) fail to make anything of it. This season has seen Millwall start a little shakily, though they do still have an eye for goal. They only have 1 victory to their name so far this season (a handsome 3-0 win at home to Sheff Wednesday) but have also narrowly lost late on away to the Wurzels in a 4-3 thriller and have picked up a few draws too (the last one coming on Saturday away at QPR). In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About Will he stick or twist on the team that he picked for Saturday?? Will there be a change of formation?? Predicted Starting 11 Discuss! The Odds Bods Current matchday odds are; Home Win: 15/8 Draw: 21/10 Away Win: 6/4 Anyone tempted?? Match Day Melody Anyone would swear I was sitting somewhere warm/exotic to think of this one… bit of a classic though. Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
FFB - I have put my prediction on the match day thread as I may be on a ferry by the time you get the Prediction League thread up City 2 Millwall 0 El Ghazi
The game is tomorrow which doesn't give us enough time to change the owner and the board and the first team manager/coach. So what do we need to do to get a good result? Time to introduce more youngsters with a bit of hunger about them?
Cardiff City XI: Alnwick; Ng, Chambers, Goutas, Bagan; Robertson, Ralls; Tanner, Colwill, El Ghazi; Robinson. Subs: Horvath, Kpakio, Collins, Rinomhota, Turnbull, Willock, Ashford, Meite, Kanga. Similar to Saturday. Hope Willock, Ashford and Turnbull get to show what they can do later in the game.
I think I'd prefer him over Siopis. Might as well go the whole hog though. Stick Turnbull next to Robertson. Either that or play Rino as the defensive mid.
Well done City The second half performance should have seen us 2-3 clear but 1-0 will do. Goutas, Tanner, Colwill and Robertson in particular had excellent games.
The view around us was that Bagan should also be in that group. Ralls had a better game as well. However Meite
Watched the game on the box - two poor sides both missing the sort of creativity you need to challenge at this level. 3 points from a dogged City display, and at this point in time that's all that mattered. At the back Alnwick and Goutas were at their best and Ng had his best game this season - I thought Bagan looked more mature as well. Chambers is a bloody nightmare waiting to happen - Daland please get fit! Colwill needs support around him - he certainly has the potential, but how many times have we said that? For the life of me I can't see the game changing play attributed to Man City's Robertson - I much preffered Tommy Doyle from the same club a couple of seasons back. I know he's been injured, but Turnbull needs a break and a start. Tanner has the "terror" factor and would benefit from a Colwill/Turnbull combo feeding him. On the left El Ghazi is way off the pace, and although Willock tends to go around in circles, I'd prefer him out there. Up front Robbo has class and is streets ahead of anyone else we have to lead the line unless you chuck a curved ball and throw Reindorf or Ashford into the mix - Kanga can go back to where he came from. It must be tough for Riza picking up the baton the way we've been playing this season, but the correct team selections and tactics for next Sunday won't do him any harm whether he's the right one or not.
Funny how we see things differently. I thought El Ghazi did well first half. He has some tricks in his book and good pace. We really lacked someone in the box to get on his crosses - no change there. He is still improving his fitness after a year off so there is more to come. Other than to rest them for Sunday I couldn't see why he and Robbo were taken off. A half fit, knackered Robbo was still way better than Meite. Most of us on here would have taken that chance. How the hell did he miss it completely? I don't see Robertson as a game changer. He is a neat midfielder who, mostly, keeps and uses the ball well. Again still getting to match fitness, not helped by 2 bad fouls which could have seen him go off. Goutas had his best game for some time. Agreed on Chambers. Get Daland and Fish back and we have some good cb choices.
