crowd on saturday

[ninian opinion]

That's what I think as well isaw - with the exception of Ralls in place of Kennedy.

Is this the season that Ralls steps up a notch and becomes a quality act? I hope so.

Plus it would be good to see a fit Dikachoi make Gunnarrson work to reclaim the shirt after a poor season last time around when he rarely did the bare minimum.

One who will be looking to improve is Whittingham, who must be given a free role higher up the pitch and hopefully Pilkington will stay fit and be a real goal threat.

 

[Oldsparkey]

Is this the season that Ralls steps up a notch and becomes a quality act? I hope so.

Plus it would be good to see a fit Dikachoi make Gunnarrson work to reclaim the shirt after a poor season last time around when he rarely did the bare minimum.

One who will be looking to improve is Whittingham, who must be given a free role higher up the pitch and hopefully Pilkington will stay fit and be a real goal threat.

I don't want to see Whitts collecting the ball from the back 4 this season. He's wasted in that role and has very little impact on the game lying so deep.

Bringing the ball out of defence to feet rather than launching route one punts upfield is obviously the best way to control a game, but Whitts can't run with the ball to any great effect. He holds it and looks for a pass, but 70 yards from their net is not his position.

If he was given the ball in the opposition's half rather than ours, his skills could slice teams open where it matters instead of labouring to create something from the back.

 

[remote]

Is 'Dicky wats it' the guy to pick the ball up from the back 4. Heard he can pick a pass when given time but loses the ball under pressure. It won't take long for teams to start pressing.

Sounds like we'll be playing a diamond with Dicky in front of the back 4, Whits further up the field and Ralls and a right mid field (Pilks?) playing narrow.

I'm hoping that Pilks and Ralls play to the width of the 18 yard box and get forward as they both like a pop at goal. If defenders need to come out and close them down it will also give Mason / Doyle / Revell space in the box.

As stated often before, we have the players, we need the formation and the game plan. I'd still prefer a midfield 5 though.

 

[BluefromBridgend]

Is 'Dicky wats it' the guy to pick the ball up from the back 4. Heard he can pick a pass when given time but loses the ball under pressure. It won't take long for teams to start pressing.

True Remote but having had a year out it will take a little time for him to get fully up to speed. From what I saw at Bournemouth, if our other players support him and give options for passes he does a good job. It is when he gets isolated that he is not so strong. However, that will improve he more game time he has and the fitter he gets.

Nin's comment about competition for Gunnar is also relevant although I think both he and Whitts got overwhelmed at times last season and they were made to look worse than their true abilities. With Ralls and Pilks playing narrower and giving support in the middle it should make things a little easier on the 2 central players.

 

[ninian opinion]

I don't want to see Whitts collecting the ball from the back 4 this season. He's wasted in that role and has very little impact on the game lying so deep.

Bringing the ball out of defence to feet rather than launching route one punts upfield is obviously the best way to control a game, but Whitts can't run with the ball to any great effect. He holds it and looks for a pass, but 70 yards from their net is not his position.

If he was given the ball in the opposition's half rather than ours, his skills could slice teams open where it matters instead of labouring to create something from the back.

Cast your mind back to the season when he got 20+ goals. He was hovering outside the box, and taking shots at goal left right and centre.

This "quarterback" role is a waste of time, and as we all tend to agree, he needs to get up the field, and let Ralls and Dikachoi/Gunnarrson do the graft.

 

[Stevoldinho]

Cast your mind back to the season when he got 20+ goals. He was hovering outside the box, and taking shots at goal left right and centre.

This "quarterback" role is a waste of time, and as we all tend to agree, he needs to get up the field, and let Ralls and Dikachoi/Gunnarrson do the graft.

His ability to pick the decisive pass around the edge of the box is the other massive reason not to have Whits playing 60 yrds from the oppositions goal.

In fairness to Russ he does seem to have based this entire selection around making Whits as effective as possible.

 

[LIBERTARIAN]

The point i am trying to make is, the club should be better supported by those who actually live inside the City walls, aka most of the Bluebirds Unite gang, they got their wish and then turned on the owner ....wtf is that all about. The vast majority of people from my neck of the woods (Blackwood, sirhowy valley) grumbled about re newing but did re new, i left it until this Monday to renew. I really do see light at the end of the tunnel now, and it must have been a hell of a job offloading all of the bad signings on huge wages made by previous managers. We are almost there now and we have what looks like on paper a decent team. I would add another midfielder and if there is cash in the pot, i would go all out to try and sign Hennessey if Marshie is sold, chances are he will get sold to a Midlands club as that would enable him to still live in Cardiff where he is apparently well settled with his family. Apart from that we are good to go. Who will partner Mason up front though is a conundrum, personally i think he will give Revell the nod on Saturday. Lets hope for a successful season, where the football on offer is improved from last year. But more importantly lets get behind the team, if they do thier bit and give 100% then we should do the same. Anyway off to read Churchills autobiography again !!

"Anyway,off to read Churchills autobiography again".

That's one heck of a smart dog.

 

[Shaper]

The attendance was 15,429. We're the 10,000 empty seats all in the new bit or scattered around?

 

[BluefromBridgend]

The attendance was 15,429. We're the 10,000 empty seats all in the new bit or scattered around?

New bit closed so still 12k empty seats elsewhere. Expected with egg chasing at 2.30. Ridiculous scheduling.

Good draw for Swans today.

 

[Swamp]

Just goes to prove that the vocal minority who see themselves as the true supporters of the club actually speak for no one.

The current malaise affecting the club has nothing to do with the colour we play in. The level of stadium support is reflected in the purpose and intent of the club coupled with the recent experience of the ****e played on the pitch.

Although some fans see alleged "green shoots" in the pre-season games, it will only become clear after those first half dozen Championship games are under our belt.

I think 12K is a bit low for the Fulham game isaw, more like around the 17K mark for me given they'll include the ST sales in the official figure. Mind you, that will be toward the top end of the season's game figures if we don't get off to a decent start, but that we could quickly improve on that if we achieve and maintain a top 6 position.

spot on its not about the red anymore its just the football is average at the moment.

that said we have shown flashes of decent football in both games so far this season but one thing i wish we'd stop doing is hoofing it up from kick off and maybe it would be better to have a 5 man midfield....

 

[Jay-Rede]

Wish I'd read this before I renewed.! No point in watching now I know how it ends

If we're not threatening promotion Slade needs to go. With parachute and the squad we have we should be contenders. We might well end up not getting promoted but we shouldn't consider mid table to be 'fine'.

Agree Steveo

We should be striking fear into teams. Kenwyne and Mason upfront for me should be a very good partnership!