I'm just holding on a little longer before I form an opinion. Played away to two relegated sides that are expected to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. The game against QPR was a concern and did ring alarm bells about our continuing and inexplicable inability to play at home for more than 20 minutes per game. For me today marked the end of the getting to know the players for Bullut. His starting squad was surprising and he then used his full quota of subs. So I reckon he should have seen enough now to set out a plan for the season. As others have mentioned, the game against the Wendies must be seen as an opportunity to boost confidence in players and fans alike. We just have to grasp the opportunity. Lots if talk about our defence and I agree there's a propensity for a lack of concentration. However, I also feel that the lads at the back are now expecting to into games and to be under fire for prolonged periods. For me, the problem still lies in the middle and up front. We need to score more goals and keep the ball when the pressure is on. Don't know how it will pan out but I'm keeping an open mind until next Saturday. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Just a follow up for those that may be remotely interested................ The scorer "investment" rather than going for a result paid off with a profit of £68. £31 split proportionately between 4 starting players tailored to each return around £100. Rambo was one and £99 came back - it's about time one of our CBs got on the scoresheet... Details below - click image for full size............. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I put 2 small bets on the cb`s as the prices were good but I would be happy if they kept a clean sheet.
https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/vid...§ion=72299090-b6a1-4281-8de9-902758f8fe92 So our weary Bluebirds suffer late heartbreak again at the hands of one of the "fancied" teams. My reading of things from the highlights and several match reports was that we were under the cosh quite badly for the majority of the 1st half, only for Rambo's incredible strike (which for that alone, plus his reaction earns him the MOTM award) to put us right back in it, after which the 2nd half was a far more even affair. It seems our defensive frailties continue however, and as many of us have said, cover at the back is much needed now because with Ng missing through illness, Simpson is our only real option and he still remains a little off the required standard. It also sounded very much like we improved once Siopis entered the fray. Could he be the man to help provide a little more assuredness in front of our back 4/5? Man O Man we hope so.... also, on the subject of Manolis, have we engineered a way around the transfer embargo there?? I can only assume that the club are reimbursing the guy for the money lost in paying up his contract so he could join the Bulut revolution? All eyes on the gaffer and his next transfer moves from hereon with the windows end starting to draw closer.
Excellent write up Brizzle. I think your comment about having someone to offer some assuredness in front of the back line is key. That said, I agree that cover at the back is needed. For me though, the problem still remains at the other end. Creating and putting away chances would take a lot of pressure off. The Wendies game as others have said is already carrying some importance. I want us to play an agressive, attacking game. Gotta go for it.
My thoughts on it clingo. I don't think the problems have changed that much. The logic (pretzel?) is that keeping a clean sheet guarantees you a point and would probably keep a team up, but is that the extent of our ambition? Unless you score at the other end that's all you'll get out of a season. This game we follow is supposed to be entertainment and that means creating and scoring goals as well as bodies on the line defending. The solution is obvious - score more than you let in. Keegan's "if you score 3 then we'll score 4" mantra at Newcastle may have been simplistic, but I enjoyed that sort of football. This tippy tappy stuff is killing the game to the same extent as the abject fear of losing is stifling innovation and flair. You can never guarantee to stop the opposition scoring, but if you can score yourself you're in with a shout - nil never won anything. You can point to the 4 goals we've scored this season so far and say we're doing it, but apart from Rambo's rocket, Ugbo has had 2 toe pokes on a plate and although Bowler took his chance well, none were the result of playmaking or individual flair. We can forget the 20 goal season striker - we're not in that market, but there is more than one way of skinning a cat and Bulut has to find it - that's his job.
All good and relevant points Sparks. We seem to have a number of people with some goal scoring experience but not one who will find the net consistently. Unless we stumble on one by accident, e.g. Kaba, we won't get a 20 goal man but if we had 2 or even 3 who could conjure up 10 to 15 a season that would get us in the right direction. As it stands I can't see anyone who can do that unless we regularly give Ugbo the ball within 6 feet of the goal with no one in front of him. Perhaps that will change as our new man from Greece finds his feet and helps us transition the ball forward much more quickly then the likes of Robbo, O'Dowda and Grant and even Ogbo or Etete may be able to put away more than we have managed so far. It's not a time for breath holding though.
